Chicago: Betting Line on the Next Mayor

http://candidcandace.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55455088488330120a5c084c1970c-250wi
http://cms.colum.edu/demo/jeremyPiven.jpg

Is that Jeremy Piven?

As I was going to post in the defunct thread, I hope Rahm takes over, but not for any good reason.

lol

we could just rename chicago frontera city.

i do not hope rahm takes over, for a good reason

If we can't get Rahm, at least we can get the hometown guy who plays his brother on TV.

I tried to find a photo of Billy Corgan with Daley, but no luck.

Some asshole who says he works for the City keeps calling the office from a private number, asking to speak to the managing partner (whose name he pronounces really wrong), but he refuses to leave a message or voice mail, claims he has no supervisor or department, and says that he is calling "multiple Chicago attorneys."

It's Daley pranking us.

Would vote for Rick Bayliss.

Maybe Oprah?

obama would be a good mayor i think

if Oprah wanted it, she woulda had it by now
xpost

my parents got Sarah a Kindle for her birthday, because it's hard for her to hold books while she's feeding Evvie so she never gets to read anymore. anyways I am jealous and I want a Kindle.

awesome! it would be horrible if sarah couldn't read anymore.

Yay Kindle!!!!

Get the missus an audible.com account and borrow the Kindle 'til she's ready to read.

I was wondering the other day when EB would be getting her first email address.

why, do you need to email her something?

I was going to set up an ILX account for her.

I want to sign her up for special offers.

My office is FREEZING. You'd think they could get the climate control at least in the ballpark when it's so mild out.

You guys. Ron HÜber-Dude for mayor.

We should just go without a mayor for awhile.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1953/kanyewestcomplex.jpg

I'd vote for Kanye, he's got enough money already that he'd be incorruptible, and his press conferences would be hilarious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcmqktc_060

The general hilariousness of a Chicago politician is very important to me. I would also vote for Kanye.

Other possibilities:
Rod Blagojevich
Svengoolie
The Blind Busker on the Red Line: "Attention everybody in this city. I do not mean to disturb anyone in this city. I am running for mayor of this city."

lol

LOL

How the hell did I not think of Rod Blagojevich???

Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Does Tamale Guy have to be a naturalized citizen to hold office?

xp I mean, he's in bed with Blago, we all know that, and while that may hurt his shot for President, which I'm sure has crossed his mind once or a million times, it won't do him any harm at all in Chicago. He could rule the city. Mayor of Chicago is a more powerful office than governor of Illinois, and more powerful than most people even know about.

NO TERM LIMITS W00T!

Cheap Trick should govern as a joint council.

I just saying, if I were Jesse Jackson Jr., I'd run for mayor. That's all I'm saying.

Dumb question (and one I could google), but when's the election?

I always think of the Bill Hicks bit where he says that when you get elected president, the first thing that happens is you sit down in a smoky room full of the rich guys that got you there, and they show you footage of the Kennedy assassination from an angle you've never seen before, and then they tell you what your agenda is. I wonder what happens when you're elected mayor of Chicago. I wonder if for that film they strap you to a chair and hold your eyes open, Clockwork Orange-style.

Me? Cynical?

February. The 22nd I think.

The Tea Party candidate from Delaware is extra terrible. She claimed that she when she was a Republican candidate in 2008, she beat Biden in 2 out of 3 DE counties. Then when she got called out, she blamed gotcha journalism, but said that she tied him (she didn't).

Can someone explain what is up with all the terrible, terrible conservative female politicians lately? Is it because of Palin?

So I don't get how the mayoral elections work -- there're non-partisan? How do you get on the ballot? Will there be like 7,000 people running??

Or does the machine just take care of everything?

She also says that masturbation is adultery. xp

You need to get 12,000-some verified signatures to get on the ballot. On WBEZ this morning they were saying you'd need about $3 million to mount an effective campaign. This doesn't count, of course, things like base or name recognition.

I was surprised that it's non-partisan and that there's no primary. I guess a republican could never win anyway.

(Political) BASE
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO

I just feel like we all (not we CHILXors but the Red Eye and Reader readers too) haven't really dealt with the how and why we put Blago in office, and how we could have done otherwise, and so it makes me wary about how we'll choose a mayor as well. Been reading some interesting debates, mostly in FB status comments, about the two sides of Daley: ding-dong-he's-dead vs. you-really-think-Chicago-in-1988-was-a-better-city?

oh god did you guys see the video of the jan brewer TV speech from last week? It was so embarrassing I almost felt bad for this terrible terrible woman

http://gawker.com/5628587/jan-brewer-embarrasses-self-with-disastrous-opening-statement

I have seen that (pre-debate) speech, her answer to the beheadings questions, and I saw her awful, awful interview about the beheadings afterward. It was stupid and ballsy - "Hmmm..........Bye bye!"

I want the driver of the Blessed Train (aka the best train) on the ballot.

(Not really, but if the red line busker guy is going on there, why not)

I think we should elect an inanimate object mayor, like the bean.

Next piece of CTA property to fall apart and kill someone gets to be mayor.

now we're talkin

Peesoaked Planks on the Jarvis Stop for Mayor

That Jan Brewer thing is difficult to sit through. She having the dream where you're in class in your underwear, only in real life.

The Smell of Mid-Summer Garbage at the Argyle Stop for Mayor

also i am so using that opening statement in my speech class

Rachel Maddow had fun with Jan Brewer's recent flubs.

Here is the punch line of her cutting the press short. They had been asking over and over until she finally pursed her lips and walked off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arGYGaUb6i0

Christine O’Donnell is the Delaware Tea Party candidate (though I feel like I probably shouldn't capitalize that). She once said this: "The Bible says that lust in your heart is committing adultery. So you can't masturbate without lust."

First of all, of course you can. Ever just have a slow Sunday afternoon? Maybe you're lusting for a nap after you're done, but the Bible isn't against napping, I'm pretty sure. And secondly, the list of other things you can't do without lust is going to cut right to the core of that whole family values thing.

It seems like a shallow point to make, I know. But then why hasn't anyone made it to her?

Too busy beating off.

yeah, also doesn't the Bible specifically frown on masturbation anyway? why mention lust at all when you've got Onan to hate?

These people's sex lives must be as twisted as a tree that's grown around a barbed wire fence.

Kenan, you need to find out when this gal is doing taking phone-in questions and ask her about non-lusty pre-nap self-pleasure.

Askance Johnson, since I know your dad reads your Facebook page, I cannot post my suggestion for what you should do, so I will post it here:

"Smoke pot."

Ha. Pot and me do not really mix well together, alas.

If my dad ever starts reading ILX I will weep openly.

This is actually hard getting back into the swing of working full time, but loving the job so far. Any good lunch/after work drink recommendations for the South Loop not terribly far from Wabash & 8th?

That's just south of my area of comfortable familiarity, but this place is real good for lunch: http://www.cafecitochicago.com/. I can be a little more helpful a little further north around Jackson.

Does your lady friend knit or crochet? There's a great yarn shop at Dearnborn and Polk.

Or do you knit or crochet, even. Sorry for my rampant gender normativity.

I like 11 City Diner at Wabash and 11th. Also there is a Harold's Chicken place near there. And

Oops. And Hackney's.

Especially Hackney's.

EPICBURGER

Yeah, I've heard Hackney's recommended quite a bit.

CAFECITO IS THE BOMBDIDDIO TOO

I have been known to travel to Cafecito from the JRTC for lunch is how bomb diggity it is.

SO GOOD, BREAKFAST TOO

Definitely going to add that one to the list then. Unfortunately neither of us knit or crochet, but there is a fine chocolate shop across the street I've been trying to avoid.

Sadly the Taco Bell that used to be around there is long gone.

Really not a loss.

Differing opinions on Taco Bell would make a nice foundation for a clusterfuck thread.

Do people get that worked up over Taco Bell?

Well, I think the conventional stance is that it is repulsive, but I disagree, and it's a good place for vegetarians, so it has that in its favor. I think the anti-TB crowd would be pretty hard line in opposition to the "It's not that bad" folks.

Biked down to South Loop for the NYC Bagel interview — the guy I was supposed to talk to wasn't even there and the other employees were confused as to why I was there at all. Finally I talked to one person and it turns out they aren't looking for just a cashier/server but a full-on certified baker. Oh well.

Argh. That sounds frustrating as fuck.

http://www.betterphoto.com/uploads/processed/0010/020612005850frog-bud.jpg
(hang in there)

Ha

http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/0808/hang-in-there-i-said-kitten-gun-hang-in-there-baby-motivate-demotivational-poster-1218183999.jpg

When I worked in the south loop (11 years ago!) I'd always eat at SRO. Dunno if it's still there.

Hate epic burger.

Have no other recommendations.

Oh god, Corey, I just got so frustrated on your behalf. Look at it this way: you don't want to work at a place that's so fucking disorganized.

http://www.danthomas.me/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/keep-on-truckin.jpg

Taco Bell: Classic or Dud?
Chipotle vs. Taco Bell - Which Treats Your System Worse?

xp Yeah, and I really don't think it would be the kind of atmosphere I'd want to work in (hyper-masculine sports fan types), so it's not too much of a loss. So far I've applied at Crate and Barrel, World Market, The Container Store, Peet's Coffee and Borders, so there are still possibilities.

Well, I think the conventional stance is that it is repulsive, but I disagree, and it's a good place for vegetarians,

whaaaaaaaat?

i guess I haven't eaten there in about 10 years but when I did it was a) disgusting refried bean burritos or b) nothing

I hate Subway but I walked by one downtown the other week that was advertising falafel sandwiches. Is this a chain-wide thing? It's probably gross falafel but it has to be better than their "veggie patties"

xp Ooo I don't know you IRL but I sure have been to Crate and Barrel and I think that would be a good fit! The sales associates have a kind of classy, individual vibe that I am assuming C&B corporate carefully cultivates.

I am suspicious of Subway falafel.

If you're going in that direction, maybe you should try Pottery Barn and some other places on Michigan Ave.

I think there's a Pottery Barn around North/Clybourne. I'll check it out.

i guess I haven't eaten there in about 10 years but when I did it was a) disgusting refried bean burritos or b) nothing

Seven-layer burrito is vegetarian, too. I haven't eaten there in 10 years, either, but I used to stop there on road trips when I couldn't find a/didn't feel like Subway.

Taco bell was the goto place for college vegetarians but tbh I don't know what they were eating.

Container store is apparently a good employer according to some magazine's yearly rating. And in the basis of what Jenny said about employees I've seen, it seems like a place you might like to work.

just got called to set up an interview for ANOTHER p/t library job (also in the burbs). I am now currently interviewing for three p/t library jobs!? Maybe one of them will pan out.

weird this is happening after like two interviews in the past eight months, maybe the job market's picking up a little

That's how it goes. You'll end up having to chose between competing offers, I bet.

Emily gave me a cherry amaretto truffle and it tastes like Christmas. This probably says more about how my family celebrates holidays than it does about anything else.

Nice, Nick.

Man, I thought this newest interview might be closer but it's also about an hour away (it's in Naperville). Makes me really hope I get the downtown job.

Isn't left-justified text conventional in business documents? I'm seeing a bunch of fully-justified stuff and it's pissing me OFF.

No, that's cool, we don't have to talk about paragraph justification. IT'S FINE.

http://www.lamebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/exex1.png

My family almost moved to Townsville, Queensland, once upon a time. True story.

As far as baby pics go, I still think I've got the cutest nephew in the known universe.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs430.snc4/47332_611296439925_5404746_34749549_4449798_n.jpg

He is a cute baby, it's true.

He is so smiley!

Another notable politician's speech....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIh_Vd7cvT8&feature=player_embedded

Oh, shoot. The YT one is private now. Here is a copy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-olson/phil-davison-gop-speech_b_710642.html

Ugh. I hate writing project proposals. Even though they're totally useful to get the scope of the project straight in my own head. It's just not the fun part.

I just want to send a page that says in large decorative type, "Trust me."

Very Han Solo of you.

imagine how many trust me signs they get
you be the guy who says this is what i'm gonna do and this is how i'll do it

Yeah, that's what ends up happening. I just wrote six pages that took me (an unpaid, mind you) two hours.

that's making pretty good time! do you have a basic proposal template that you can tweak for different kinds of proposals? that might save you some time.

i can't focus on one task for 2 hours -- that shit would have taken me 2 days

xp Oh, of course. It's getting a workout this week, too.

that shit would have taken me 2 days

Well, it was due by end of day. It's like the cartoon I have posted on my computer.

Calvin: You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
Hobbes: What mood is that?
Calvin: Last-minute panic.

Oh, can I just say how much I love iWork? How incredibly much better it is than Office? Have I said this before?

Word '07 drives me NUTS. I can never find even the simplest features in it anymore. What do they think people are doing with this program, anyway? I need headers, text, and bullets. Can you please make that part the easy part?

I probably sound like an idiot to people that use it all the time and have figured it out already.

i can't focus on one task for 2 hours

I use this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

And it helps. A lot.

i guess i do that too, just without the tomato timer. if i am grading papers, i am not allowed to move until they are half-done. then i am half-done and the rest feels less horrible. sometimes i use a timer on my phone, though.

i also always listen to the same 3 albums when grading exams.

I often listen to nothing at all when I'm working. I lose focus too easily; I don't need another program open on my computer to switch over to and mess around with. Picking a new song is too easy a way to take unplanned and unproductive breaks.

oh, that's why i only play them on the stereo!!

hey i got tickets to see rangda tomorrow but my companion changed his mind about joining me.
anyone want to buy the other ticket from me? you don't have to talk with me once we're there if you don't want to. i plan on bringing a book. send me an email me if you want it and we can arrange something. i was being optimistic about convincing him to go :(

My computer is the stereo.

Well, it's not the receiver, but it's where all music comes from.

WFMT is my noise of choice when I'm working at home.

They should put that on billboards.

WFMT
YOUR NOISE OF CHOICE

EZ, what have you heard about Detroit at Steppenwolf? 2-for-1 preview tix sounds appealing.

Also, note to Steppenwolf's marketing department: "Cheap Tickets and Free Beer!" is a great way to get me to click on an e-mail.

I saw a model of the set a few weeks ago, and that looks good, the director does good work, and the cast is good. I heard one mixed thing from someone who read the script, but if the price is decent, I'd say go for it. How much are the tickets with that deal?

(Also, J-C, did you read the article about John Lurie in the New Yorker a few weeks back? I just read it today and thought you'd share my fascination that Lurie has been getting into Facebook arguments and ran off to Granada with a gal he met on MySpace.)

That was a fascinating article but, yeah, I feel like it might have humanized the guy juuuuust a bit too much.

Yeah, super-interesting piece.

I just bought the tickets -- with the handling fee, it ended up being $24 a piece. Not bad, I s'pose. We're in the balcony; hopefully that doesn't make too much of a difference.

Not that there is anything wrong with humanizing a famous figure, but I felt kind of bad for the guy.

Any recommendations for a decent bar in the loop where I could hang out for a few hours after work tomorrow night without looking like a total dork by myself? Found out I've got several hours to kill before meeting up with some friends. Was thinking about Kasey's on Dearborn, but I really have no idea.

RIP old timers

I heard about that closing, never had been there though.

Where in the Loop? Emerald Loop, Elephant & Castle, Maxims, the place under Macy's, The Renaissance Hotel, and all those places on Wabash between Washington and Jackson-ish (Millers, Ada's, etc.).

Doesn't really matter where I guess, meeting a friend at Union Station eventually though.

Courtney used to talk about some bar by the Board of Trade where they serve highball drinks by serving a glass of liquor with the mixer on the side.

Hey - what's up with your +@rg3+ block, jvc?

really? i used to work near there -- is she talking about a fancy place or Cal's?

Ha - Not Cal's, though I thought about posting about it (http://www.drinkatcalsbar.com/ CAUTION: this website makes noise upon opening).

I don't think it was fancy, either. It always sounded sort of apocryphal; a hidden, hard-drinking-traders' bar.

I'll make her tell us.

It is Ceres - under the Board of Trade. They serve mixed drinks like Jesse said - high ball glass of booze w a mixer on the side and it's super cheap. It's a cafe by day and bar by night. Definitely a place you can go to alone.

Ceres drinks are toxic.

We have work events there.

Ceres is the only asteroid in the asteroid belt that is large enough for its own gravity to have made it spherical. It's the smallest "dwarf planet" in the solar system, the largest being Eris, which is quite a bit larger than Pluto.

http://blog.ascentis.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/The_More_You_Know.jpg

Courtney used to talk about some bar by the Board of Trade where they serve highball drinks by serving a glass of liquor with the mixer on the side.

Ah! My friend Adam was talking about this place the other day.

i know that place! my dentist is in the BoT building and i have always wondered if the food is good. in the morning it smells like eggs.

I don't mean this in a "GOOGLE IT MOFO" kind of way, but just in a helpful way (I pulled it up to try to find this one hilarious bar I went to a few years ago), but http://mappyhour.nerl.net/index.php is an A+ use of Google Maps.

I found it - Sky-Ride at Clark and Van Buren, also near the BoT. I'm not saying it's a nice bar, but nobody is going to think twice if you sit there and drink alone. For hours. Possibly for the rest of your life.

Heh, had never seen MappyHour before. Probably much more useful than effing Y3lp.

Hey - what's up with your +@rg3+ block, jvc?

Did you mean "blog" here? I'm trying to work up some further posts to wrap it up, but obviously the new job is slowing that process down.

I use a combination of Mappy Hour to find conveniently located bars, and Yelp to determine whether those bars are going to be too crowded/unpleasant around the time I am looking to drink there. It's a good system! I like to think that when Al Gore invented the internet, this is exactly what he envisioned as the end product of his labors.

My problem is that most Y3lp reviews end up making sound all bars awful, even the positive ones. I end up thinking, "do I want to drink somewhere this person goes?". But perhaps I judge too harshly.

I don't mean this in a "GOOGLE IT MOFO" kind of way

heh. I have no idea what you're talking about.

There's some dark bar, I think it's on Dearborn just north of Van Buren, across the street from the Monondock Building, that I've been curious about.

Or just go drink at Union Station itself.

Dudes, gals, there's going to be a 1000 sq ft skating rink on the 94th floor of the John Hancock tower.

sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit
that's awesome

Yeah, people in my FB feed have been going nuts about that. I haven't ice skated since I took it as a class in college.

What is synthetic ice, exactly? Why not, you know, ice? Is that too hard to come by?

Probably way too heavy for the structure up there.

that thing is going to be teeming with people

Actually, I muhfuggin googled it. Here's the skinny: It's not a weight thing, necessarily. Synthetic ice is made of super-duper-high-density polymer. The advantage is that you don't have to resurface or refrigerate it. It's way crazy cheaper than maintaining ice. I can see how a zamboni might be a little awkward on just 1000 sq ft (which is not very much for an ice rink). The downside for the skater is that while it tries it's damn best to be dense enough to not offer much resistance, it's at room temperature, so you can't get the microfine layer of water under your skate blade that results from your blade being slightly warmer. You can't go quite as fast, and your blade will get dull much more quickly. You won't see this stuff in the olympics.

It feels a little 1929/Ski-Dubai, but let's hope this golden age continues.

Indeed we do live in interesting times.

Interesting stuff kenan. All of that makes sense, the weight thing was just an off-the-cuff guess.

They should save money and make it a roller rink.

Absolutely.

Jenny for Mayor!

And spend that extra money on disco balls, lighting, and a nice sound system. No couples only skate allowed though.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_834L0hL0hPk/SXe_38J_7pI/AAAAAAAABls/NRCssk4mDMg/s400/roller-disco.jpg

My mom still has her old roller skates. They're just like those, iirc, but the wore them with a gold lamé jacket.

SHE wore them etc

Absolutely.

Jenny for Mayor!

I can't even skate and I will still fight for your right to roll because I am the true people's candidate!

Are roller blades allowed in roller rinks? Because if not, I'm going to have to think very carefully about my vote for Jenny as Mayor. I have never been able to rollskate.

Jesse, when you rollerblade do you do so a) on the sidewalk, b) in the bike lane, or c) just on park paths? I can't decide if it's more annoying when people rollerblade on the sidewalk or in the bike lane.

park paths. i'm too timid and unable to stop to bike on sidewalks or streets.

Rollerblades are such a huge improvement over rollerskates. If you're never rollerskated, you can't believe how difficult it is. Absolute hell on your ankles, too. It's like having a pickup truck strapped to each foot.

My wedding date, Michael, (it's not a date-date, we're friends) has laid down some rules re interaction with his family, the most interesting of which is to not let his younger brother that his father is not also Michael's father. His mom did not tell her younger kids that she is divorced and that their two older children are half-siblings.

She has been perpetuating this increasingly complicated lie for 20 years because she grew up in a poor and broken home and she doesn't want that "shame" for her kids. ;asdlkfa;dsljk

Jesus, that's complicated.

Jenny, I think you should seriously consider this run. You're the perfect middle ground between reaching the feisty old-school and the progressive new-school.

NOTE: her younger daughter found out about the re-marriage through a seamstress who knew her mother when she was previously married. Now that daughter is charged with keeping the secret from her brother.

All of them know, they're just waiting for Mom to die so they can talk about it openly.

I lost a lot of skin from my knees and elbows on rollerblades (actually, Bauer in-line skates).

http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/87114/200.jpg

Fortunately, this was about 16 years ago in my more "radical" days.

I just listened to a TAL episode about an Italian American family who all lived in denial that their oldest son's father was black until the kid was in his 20s and was like, "MOM, seriously, am I black or what?"

The mom knew, but never told anybody.

Reminds me of a Philip Roth book.

Isn't there another TAL episode about kids who were switched at birth and their mothers knew but never told them? Or something like that. I got through about 10 minutes of it. God, that show is boring.

I rely on others to alert me to good segments that may occur later in given episodes, but I honestly rarely make it through half a show.

Yes. It was pretty fascinating. You are what is boring.

Only objectively.

Only boring ppl find TAL boring.

Seriously Kenan, I think maybe the problem is in you.

(jaunty music)
today
on this american life
freedom
what does it mean to one man
who learned a secret about his family
and their flag production company
(jaunty music)
also
david sedaris
on the french
and their attitudes on smoking
(jaunty music)

Seriously Kenan, I think the problem is Nick.

You're all what's wrong with This American Life.

i still have some sweet white rollerskates and i'm not afraid to use them
some of my best childhood memories are from rollerskating at rocky's - it was like heaven

ira glass's voice and intonation are what's wrong

I just listened to a TAL episode about an Italian American family who all lived in denial that their oldest son's father was black until the kid was in his 20s and was like, "MOM, seriously, am I black or what?"

a guy i know had a similar situation occur with his italian-american family, only he found out that he's mexican.

(ambient vibraphone music)
today
on this american life
human nature
part one
jesse ---- confronted a pack of wild raccoons
and learned something
about nature
and about
himself
(acoustic guitar plays clusters of artificial harmonics)

part two
david sedaris
on a memorable childhood family vacation
(jazzy piano)

LOL Dan and Nick.

I went back to try to find those raccoons a couple of times, but it wasn't close enough to dusk, I guess. I want to see them again.

I'm glad you LOLed because it means I can stop.

I don't really listen to the show that often. I've heard a few things on there I really liked and a lot of stuff that was pretty snoozy. I'm sure I've mentioned on here before that I think the show was ruined for me because the first episode I ever heard was one of the funniest things I've ever heard and no other episode could ever live up to it. It was Act One of this episode.

Do you want to mod request a googleproofing on your full name?

Jesse?

oh sorry

Nick, you dick. Fix that. I didn't even notice. YOU FUCKING DICK.

Though I guess my limited web presence would be enhanced by being associated with raccoons.

ok sorry, I'll get a mod on it

thank you.

All fixed!

OK, where were we?

You are all doing it wrong.

Produced by WBEZ in Chicago, it's This American Life, and I'm Ira Glass.
Each week we choose a theme and do a variety of stories on that theme.
This week: family vacations. The memories, the grueling road trips, the wounded psyches. It kills me just to think about it.
Our show this week in three acts.
Act one, our producer Sarah Koenig interviews her mother, yes her own mother, about that unforgettable trip to Milwaukee when she was nine, and just who was that man at the lunch counter?
Act two, sociologist Marty Judson has always wondered: why do we go anywhere? Why don't we just stay put?
And finally, David Sedaris returns to his hometown in North Carolina and finds ... ?
Well, stay with us to find out.

Also, you and the Little Mermaid can go fuck yourself. G'byeeeeee.

Haha I got that TAL joke! That makes me really cool, right?

i watched a couple of episodes of the show and i could hardly stand to watch him. i'm sure he's a nice person but his speech tics drive me bonkers.

Jeff will be pleased he is not alone in his feelings towards Ira.

the more he talks, the more annoyed i get. it's like listening to a guy who's tired of his schtick, so he turns it up to 12.

I don't know, I guess I've always found the Jewish nebbish act kind of endearing.

Btw, I should've had the second line read: "Each week, of course, we choose a theme..."

"of course" = I want everyone to know that I'm aware that I've been saying variations on this line for nearly 15 years.

Jewish nebbish act
there has never been an act that is less my thing that this

I used to be okay with it, but now Ira's voice annoys me. The worst was an episode from a month or two ago when he SUNG. it was excruciating. I turned it off.

Sarah Vowel's voice is too much for me as well.

that = than

I can deal with Ira, but as JuliaA says, Sarah Vowell reaches epic levels of annoyingness.

I don't think you guys realize how great the experienced NPR voices are. This morning I was listening to an interview of the Libertarian candidate for IL comptroller (lol I know) and her stammering, vocalized pauses, and all-over-the-place pitch were way, way too much to take.

I mean yeah, you may not like the cadence or whatever, but at least they sound confident.

regular npr people sound great, the regular trained newspeople
ira glass doesn't have that same phrasing

Christian nebbish vs. Jewish nebbish vs. Muslim nebbish

Ira Glass flipped the script on what constitutes a trained radio voice.

I think a lot of the CBC folks (Ian Brown, the As It Happens crew, Jesse Brown with Search Engine) have a good middle ground between naturalistic, individual voices and good radio training. As It Happens is like All Things Considered after a few gin and tonics.

no nebbish pls, regardless of faith

it is precisely that ira glass script flipping that i do not like. i can stand radiolab a little bit more, but not much. everyone always sounds so bemused CONstantly.

yawwwwwwwn

slowest afternoon ever

huh, so now I have a phone interview for a full-time library job at an academic library. this would be a job I'd be more excited about than the other jobs but it's also a job I'm much less likely to get (competition's probably going to be tougher/more experienced, it involves teaching classes (?!?)).

so now I'm actively interviewing for four jobs, which is crazy. also I confirmed that I only need to work 30 hours a week at my current job to keep my benefits, so that means I could theoretically open up all my afternoons without losing my insurance, which is good. I'm kind of contemplating canceling the interview I have set up for next Friday because a) the commute to Naperville looks pretty horrendous and b) they want someone for 30 hours a week, which means I'd be working 60 hours a week total. But Sarah thinks I should wait and see how my other interview goes next week first.

Good practice, interviewing.

I like Radiolab lots, too, although the wacky sound effects are a bit much sometimes. I pretty much like people on the radio to tell me stories.

I think you should wait, too, for two reasons: 1) interview practice is good; and 2) if you get an offer, you can use it to in negotiations for any other offers you get. Bonus: it might be the most awesome job ever and could make the commute worth it.

This is good stuff, all these interviews.

The worst was an episode from a month or two ago when he SUNG.

Hahaha, IIRC, Kelsey encouraged him to do it.

I need a raise. I think I'm going to ask for a raise.....

Even my parents, die hard fans of A Prairie Home Companion, lost some interest when Garrison started singing in every episode.

Nick, I agree, you should keep the interview, mostly b/c of Jenny's point #2.

Ira Glass flipped the script on what constitutes a trained radio voice.

Yes!

I remember when I first heard TAL. It was the summer of 1998, and I was driving from Bolingbrook to Palatine to record some music with friends.

I heard Ira's voice on the radio and was totally sucked in. I felt like someone was sitting next to my in the car, telling me a story. The conversational ums and ahs were totally a big part of what made it great.

Garrison Keilor can do whatever he wants on his show, imo.

Nick, I had to drive out to Naperville for hockey games, it sucks.

I'm OK with IG's voice, but I can see how it might bug some people. There is a whole NPR type of voice that is sort of milquetoasty and naive yet enthusiastic - they remind me of Renaissance fair-goers and groups of HS drama kids sometimes.

That reminds me, I saw a dude the other day with a Society for Creative Anachronism tattoo on the back of his calf.

How do I ask for a raise?

google it mofo

First, pee on the ground to establish territorial dominance.

Sometimes I think I would enjoy SCA activities. I lack the dedication and sewing skills, tho.

xp search Ask a Manager and Evil HR Lady blogs. Good advice there.

What have you done to deserve a raise? Do you have a review process?

prove you are invaluable by not showing up for work for a week beforehand

Pee on your boss to demonstrate newly acquired skills.

prove you are invaluable by not peeing for a week beforehand

You guys blow.

I am good at my job now. I do more than goof off online. I can do actual skilled paralegal shit.

oops! xps -

Jenny: Thanks

Jeff: We do not have review processes. I deserve a raise b/c I am capable of writing a number of legal documents, doing so independently, I have learned many rules of procedure, and I am really great with clients.

Nick: LOL. You're on fire today.

Please tell me what you think of this idea (noting that I will check out Jenny's suggestions):

I will prepare to say what I said above with concrete supporting examples.
I will remind them that it's been 2 years since I've had a raise.
I will point out that whereas I was hired to support 3 lawyers, I now support 5.
I will also offer to become non-exempt for overtime and ask that they take note of the fact that once a week or so, they kick me out of the office at 5:30 b/c they don't want me to go into overtime or to work off the clock.

I will stop farting quietly into my chair.

I googled (mofo) the name of the owner of the truck that hit me a while back. I have his home phone number. Can anyone think of a good reason I shouldn't call and ask for his insurance information since the cops in the bumfuck WI town where the accident occurred didn't think to request this information?

btw my insurance company has basically completely given up on me w/ this and since I only had liability coverage there's technically nothing they're required to do about it

I fucking hate everything.

you should totally go nuts on that dude

i feel the same way, i can help you

I called his number and got an answering machine. Didn't leave a message.

Did you ever get hold of a lawyer?

I haven't yet. I am seriously considering it now.

Gonna wait until my insurance people "fully exhaust their resources" in helping me figure out who insured this truck (the person that owns it was not the driver, in case I hadn't mentioned that).

they kick me out of the office at 5:30 b/c they don't want me to go into overtime or to work off the cock.

I would not call him until you talk to a lolyer.

Just in case you sue, you should be Little Miss Mary Prettypants on your best behavior on this issue starting right now.

I have to go to the gym to work off all that cock.

xp - ha

Hey, if anyone's interested, Will Oldham is playing two shows at Ronny's on 9/28, the night before his Lincoln Hall show. tix: http://bit.ly/aNWL7Q

I am stifling punchy, late Friday afternoon laughter thinking about calling Dan "Little Miss Mary Prettypants" to his face.

lol

Dan doesn't wear pants iirc

btw the lolyer suggested IF I were to call I should be civil and treat it like we were exchanging info after a fenderbender... I'm not going to do it just yet

btwbtw my grandmother's name is Mary and so is my aunt's

Hope you'll be using that phrase with the old-school foremen, etc., Jenny. Love it.

And of course in the mayoral debates against Rahm Emmanuel.

Guess what? I'm going to go to 7-11, buy a walnut brownie, then walk downtown while eating it.

(I'm getting burned out on 7-11. I visit the one by my house every bit as frequently as I thought I would. Ugh.)

hey guys anything cool goin on this weekend?? like, something i could take a daet to

They're showing 2001 in 70mm.

good idea

Take acid. It will be amazing.

Ha.

I know of nothing going on this weekend, but I will let you know if I find out anything.

Sat. night/Sun. morning a friend and I closed down the Green Mill. I'm pretty sure that marks the first time that I've been out until 5 a.m. and liked myself in the morning. On the way there we saw this on Lake Shore Drive (LSD!!LOL!!!!)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs660.snc4/60065_1611781336991_1309983927_31638277_6632581_n.jpg

It looked like it hit a cab and sent it off an embankment (leave much of its rear end in traffic). We turned around and went back to the scene of the burning car to take video, but the fire trucks were already there putting it out.

Jordan, do you know anything about this crazy notion that WI only just started requiring people to carry auto insurance?

http://www.jsonline.com/business/95587634.html

This is making me upset this morning.

show was awesome on friday, btw. only one weirdo talked to me (would not shut up about his veganism/buddhism) and i bought a coke from bruce lamont!

It's shocking that a "normal" state like WI wouldn't have had mandatory liability auto insurance for ages. Like I said elsewhere, even fucking backwards ass Montana required it when I lived there. Cars are dangerous things that hurt a lot of people! No one should be allowed to drive one without having some protection for the people they are going to squash and maim!

oh and after i dropped you off jesse i turned on the radio and heard "ridin' solo" and it kind of made me lol

Emphatic Jesse emphatically OTM. That's ridic. The woman in the article who said she didn't want to pay $50/month for car insurance bc that's $50 she could use to take her daughter places is not OTM.

yeah that's ridiculous

a "normal" state like WI

was never normal to me tbh

I have started walking to work everyday and my stress levels have dropped considerably.

"I have a junk car that I don't want to insure," she said. "Basically, I don't really want to be bothered about it."

Attention DB: You are not insuring your junk car, you are insuring that when that junk car runs over my neck, you won't have to pay to get it replaced

Re WI: I just mean it's doesn't have the national reputation of weirdness like Utah or Mississippi.

So wish I would have seen that Rangda thread, would've loved to have seen that show.

xp I've always thought it should, is what I'm saying.

i posted it on here too! and facebook (but i know you're not on fb)

Totally missed it on here too! Oh well, glad you enjoyed the show.

i uploaded false flag to grooveshark if anyone wants to hear it (didn't find it there before)

this picture made me lol
who does this kid think he is?

http://cache-04.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/39/2010/09/bieber.jpg

He's J-Bieb! He's less ridiculous than Corey Feldman.

I cannot wait to watch his career disintegrate when his voice changes.

Jordan, do you know anything about this crazy notion that WI only just started requiring people to carry auto insurance?

http://www.jsonline.com/business/95587634.html

This is making me upset this morning.

actually i hadn't heard about that, i still thought that no one was required to get insurance.

at least we can buy beer in grocery stores and on sundays (AHEM MINNESOTA). then drive drunk in our uninsured cars.

if you were in ohio you could get liquor from a drive-thru

and louisiana of course

even better are the drive-thru daquiri stands.

Jordan, is your car insured?

I had honestly started to come around from my MI-upbringing-induced anti-WI bias, but it's back in full effect now. (no offense intended towards you, Jordan)

dan, was your accident in wisconsin?

yeah my car is insured, come on now.

JENNIFER: I forgot to tell you that I had a dream with you in it. We were working at a supermarket and there was a derelict old man shopping. I accidentally knocked off his filthy, ratty shoe and he told me that his prosthetic tongue was in it and I needed to wash it. I went to the deli where you were working and I washed it in the sink and it was fucking disgusting. You helped me put the tongue back in his mouth.

The tongue was firm, pink foam rubber with big fake taste buds on it.

The Pope sure is wearing a funny hat

http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0134874a1f24970c-300wi

dan, was your accident in wisconsin?

Yeah, the accident was in Wisconsin, with a driver from Florida, driving a truck from Minnesota. In other words, I'm at least 3 state's worth of fucked.

The Pope sure is wearing a funny hat



Blasphemy! That also looks like Jeff's running hat. Ergo, Jeff is the pope.

ugh the place where I have interviewed twice has decided to "hold off" on the job for now for budget reasons. they might bring it back within the next couple of months. it didn't look like the perfect job but it seemed like the one I was most likely to get since they'd already scheduled me for the third interview. oh well.

ugh that sucks

hey guys i know it's the middle of sept but where are we having the halloween party this year? i have some decorations that have been in my trunk for 2 years that i need to give to the host/ess, whoever that may be

also guess our book club died, eh (no worries, i can't keep up anyway)

I read "The Sheltering Sky" by Paul Bowles a month or so ago and thought it would have been a really good book club book (lots to talk about re: book and author) if we still had book club. I recommend people read it anyways, it's pretty great.

show was awesome on friday, btw. only one weirdo talked to me (would not shut up about his veganism/buddhism) and i bought a coke from bruce lamont!

― The Great Jumanji, (La Lechera), Monday, September 13, 2010 10:41 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Never heard of RANGDA, but the show I went to on Friday (Sam Amidon) was awesome, too!

Also I am currently listening to the new Steve Reich album, which rules.

Amanda, I was just asking someone yesterday where the Halloween party would be this year. I have several costumes that have already been shot down. They get progressively more obscure.

there are too many dogs to make it at chez moi
also my neighbors are old and complainy

yeah I don't think we can host either, babies don't mix with lots of people being over late

We can't host it because it would break my streak of not attending Halloween parties.

that's the only reason? jeff we can make it easy on you -- the marathon will be over!

Which opera do I want to see: Midsummer Night's Dream or the Masked Ball? I'm also going to see Carmen and Macbeth.

A full blown nighttime party is not in the cards at our new place because we live in a three-flat with a bunch of adults, so hosting a party would represent the kind of imposition on our neighbors that I would lose my shit about if our neighbors did the same to us, if that makes any sense. Game nights, afternoon barbecues = good. Halloween parties = not good.

I'd offer my place, but last time I had people over, I got so pants-crapping drunk that they all left. That wouldn't happen this time -- I haven't been that drunk in a couple of years, I don't think -- but I haven't earned that much trust back yet.

My place is far too small. If I was in the old place I'd volunteer.

I am curious about a Shakespeare opera. So much of what is great about Shakespeare is the language and I wonder how that translates to song.

Jenny I would like to go with u to the opera again and I'd like Macbeth.

courtnoodle, k8ty and dan are our only hopes

I'll do it, but it would have to be that Saturday. Also, everyone has to come b/c I have party-throwing anxieties (mostly revolving around people not showing).

it's halloween
we're coming!!

at least i am

I don't know if our place is quite big enough to host, but we are considering some sort of housewarming thing once we get a couch.

Right now there are limited seating options.

I went with A Masked Ball. Verdilicious!

Courtney I will definitely come to your party.

I'd offer my place, but last time I had people over, I got so pants-crapping drunk that they all left.

Was that July 4th weekend, 2007? (I remember that b/c that was the one weekend that entire summer I went out as I was studying for the bar exam.)

I'm super excited about these operas because I got Friday matinee tickets for two of them and I am like, bouncing with joy at the thought of leaving work early and going to the opera all afternoon and then being able to go home and go to bed before midnight. Macbeth is a 7:30 performance, but it's Macbeth so it will be okay.

xp I think that was it, yeah.

Oh, unless k8tie or dan want to do it...I didn't mean to answer for everyone!
Xp

tradition is what halloween is all about, and tradition dictates that the noodle host the party

also it is easier for me to bike there in a dress

Cool! Now I need to figure out how to hang a piñata in a garden apt.

usually we just bash it on the floor, right?

News on the TJ opening on Diversey. http://www.yournews.com/copyroom/mynews.asp

I'm happy to hear that they're putting in signal lights at Orchard, as it will give me a nice opportunity to cross the street.

This is a little ridiculous:
A new Trader Joe’s market is slated to open in Lake View as early as July 2010, filling a void in grocery shopping options.

the cat peed on my gf's couch over the weekend (when we were in minneapolis), then i cleaned everything and she did it AGAIN last night. :/

Courtnoodle should host--I'll have just moved into my new place that month, which is in a condo building (don't worry, I'm still renting)--so I'd like to get to know people before hosting an evening party. Still planning on a holiday gathering, though. Plus, she throws delightful parties and needs to learn that people will always show up.

why is your cat being that way? that sucks. i found out that one of my cats peed on my gym shoes and maybe my gym bag (they were damp and sticky (!) i suspected cat pee, so i had a friend smell them, and sure enough) and i don't know why.

the motion is passed. courtney will be the hostess.

BTW, this website has a lot of interesting information about construction going on in Chicago (and elsewhere).

jvc, if you're there, would you know of other similar sites?

kind of last-minute but any interest in pub quiz? I'd like to go again someday:

1) Mars Bodega 12 pts
2) Sears Toot Net 11 pts
3) Finish The Lyrics 15 pts
4) Chemical States Round 16 pts
5) Dead Or Canadian 11 pts
6) Pictures 15 pts
7) General Knowledge 20 pts

Not tonight, since I'm having dinner with my mom.

I don't recall if I mentioned, but I went two weeks ago with some other folks (Matt P., Renee, etc.) and we finished 3rd.

shot down for two jobs in as many days :(

Bummer.

So just now I was called into my boss' office and she tells me that one of my coworkers is leaving, and asks if I would like to stay on permanently.

My mind is completely fucking blown, what a rollercoaster.

I accepted, btw.

.remmuB

:D

That sucks, Dan, that's great!

I didn't realize you were a temp. Or maybe I forgot.

congrats

I feel like I don't have as many LOL crazies WTF moments as some of you guys because I don't really leave the house as much so I just wanted to say that at the library yesterday I was witness to an interesting one-sided argument. There was a dude in the stacks talking on his cell phone in a foreign language that, to me, sounded Eastern European/Russian. He wasn't yelling but he was talking at normal cell phone volume which is fairly loud in the library, plus you're supposed to take cell phone conversations out to the lobby. Then there was another dude, maybe in his 50s, sitting at a table near the stacks, who kept yelling "HEY ASSHOLE. GET OFF YOUR PHONE, MOTHERFUCKER. YOU MOTHERFUCKER. GET OFF YOUR FUCKING PHONE, THIS IS THE FUCKING LIBRARY, ASSHOLE" and while I understand his anger, he was like four times as loud and distracting as the guy on his phone. Then he was like "YOU AREN'T AT HOME ANYMORE, THIS IS AMERICA, YOU CAN'T TALK ON YOUR FUCKING PHONE IN THE LIBRARY, MOTHERFUCKER" but he also had an accent that also sounded Eastern European/Russian to me, so that was interesting.

Haha. Classic.

Dan! Great news and congrats!!!

Hahaha.

look who's got her own fan art

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4990869906_8696a77107.jpg

That's not bad! I have seen you make that facial expression.

congrats dan & amanda

back home in communist russia something cell phone library something something YOU

yeah, i say in all earnestness that i feel like this captures my essence. wtg stood!

no one has ever drawn a picture of me before btw
one time a friend asked if he could take a profile picture of my nose but that's it

John, Courtnugget, Dr. AJ, etc: The back door to lolWolcott's was open last night and it looked like they were doing work on the inside.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs328.ash2/60873_1615259463942_1309983927_31645897_4987849_n.jpg

frankly, even if lolWolcott's every actually opened up, I think I'd be too weirded out at this point to ever go. Hopefully they are turning it into something else. Something awesome. Like donut shop.

Something awesome. Like donut shop.

One can only dream.

SHE PEED ON ANOTHER COUCH

oh man jordan this is horrible

if she were a dog, i would say that she needs more exercise and just to tire her out by jogging with her, but that doesn't really work with cats. why is she so angry?

because we moved. but she didn't pee on anything for the first few weeks (except for that first night), and is otherwise acting normally. normal for her, anyway. i'm going to pick up some orange & rosemary oils tonight, cats are supposed to not like those.

Is she physically okay? No bladder infection or anything?

i would assume not, because she's pretty young (~4)? should i take her to the vet to check?

ha, "the chants": http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004162OOO/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1284499801&sr=8-13

oh well.

Definitely. Any unexplained peeing behavior deserves a physical checkup. Any age cat can have a bladder infection.

okay, i will get on that. that would be awesome if it was physical rather than psychological.

I hope so, too!

okay, i made an appointment, but they want me to "trap" some urine beforehand. that's going to be pretty difficult, considering that she hasn't been using the box much and is even less likely to do so if i take the litter out or put plastic over it. if i can't get any, they have to go in "directly through the bladder", which apparently is not fun.

Ugh. They wanted me to collect a sample from my cats, too, but I couldn't do it. When I got there, they said that they would have to take a sample by putting a needle through Brenda's abdomen, into her bladder. But she was too fat to palpate the bladder, so we just declared her well and the vet told me to wash her pussy. (The doc said it didn't look like she was infected, but only the sample would let us know for sure.)

ugh

Yeah I never could figure out how they expected anybody to do that either. My cats would immediately suspect shenanigans and stop peeing out of spite just to show me who's boss.

for real. hopefully the other method isn't too painful. :/

dogs are so guileless in comparison

My vet said it's not very painful at all. Sorry I meant to say that earlier.

Again, that was insensitive of me to talk about poking needles in cats' guts, but for real, my vet said it was NO BIG DEAL and it was more painful to the kitty than a shot.

Jenny, in the name of Delaware, please explain Christine O'Donnell to me. What happened. "They look, and talk, and sound like Republicans, but they are actually ___________________"

*sigh*

Remember the good old days when the only thing I had to explain about Delaware was Joe Biden and why our largest state university's mascot was a giant blue chicken?

I can't explain her. I am, however, very concerned that my parents are going to vote for her. I cannot explain that, either.

I like that Jenny is responsible for Delaware. I'm glad that I don't have to be responsible for Florida.

You're not /certain/ they'll vote for her?

I certainly can't answer for Ohio.

just wondering what you thought, really. and if it scares you. because it scares me. they scare me.

They scare me to no end too. It seems like almost weekly now a formerly sane-seeming FB "friend" from high school or college starts to post Tea Party stuff almost exclusively. The most recent was one of the more surprising, because as of about six months ago she was all about Obama. But she posted this long rambling thing about "giving up the hope kool-aid" and realizing "we need to take our country" back. I'm assuming that, by "we", she means all of the other upper-middle class stay at home moms like herself.

wow

yeah. for my teacher ed program i have this class on the sociological bases of education and last time it met we kind of all got off on a tangent that basically seemed to be about the tea party movement, though no one named it as such. the professor sounded so genuinely confused, all when did emotion trump reason so thoroughly in the public life of this country?

I'm in training today and the job title of my instructor is Chief Empowerment Officer. This is going to be fun.

do you think he refers to himself as the CEO?

I'm sorry, him or herself?

I can imagine the terrible jokes... "My name is Jesse and I'm the CEO - Chief EMPOWERMENT Officer!"

Jenny answers for DE b/c it's a weird place to be from.

There is a FB page for November 2: Masturbate to Christine O'Donnell Day.

I'm glad I'm ignorant enough of the news to not know who Christine O'Donnell is. And I'm not going to google her either.

so, i actually "trapped" some cat urine. this was because i was reading on the bed and she peed on me, basically. i was as surprised as anyone. glad i made that vet appointment though, that's just not right. we're quarantining her in the bathroom now.

Yeah, I know a tiny bit about Christine O'Donnell, but I fear finding out more would give me a panic attack.

xp

Jordan I am sorry but I laughed bc your cat peed on you. I feel really bad about it, tho.

how did you trap the pee?

The cached Google version of the wiki page does a good job of explaining:

Christine O'Donnell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christine O'Donnell (born August 27, 1969) is an American marketing consultant, political commentator, and total nut job. She is the Republican Party ...
Biography - Senate Candidacies - Election results - References

my gf had the presence of mind to grab a plastic container, and it had kind of pooled on the comforter, so we were able to kind of pour it in. gross.

from fox news:

Karl Rove Questions Christine O'Donnell's 'Serious Character Problems' | Hannity

lol

what if Christine O'Donnell was just Chris O'Donnell after a sexchange?

http://www.grouchoreviews.com/content/interviews/249/1.jpg

funny how they've never been seen in the same room at the same time

I mean maybe she's not so bad if Rove and Hannity are "question"ing her? xp

totally unrelated: I am going to the Sox/Twins game tonight w/ a very excited Minnesotan.

sox have been so shitty since they signed manny (probably not a direct correlation), have fun watching the twins win and basically put the sox out of realistic playoff contention

Dude on NPR just said that Christine O'Donnell's victory probably destroys republican chances of retaking the senate in November!

Hey I'm going to the game tonight, too! Where are your seats, Dan?

Cheapo upper deck somewhere, I'm not exactly sure. We're thinking of meeting at the library at maybe like 5:30 if you'd like to get a pre-game beer or something.

We're in the upper deck, last section above left field.

I mean maybe she's not so bad if Rove and Hannity are "question"ing her? xp

― dan m, Wednesday, September 15, 2010 10:15 AM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark

Hahaha. No.

Pretty much all I've heard is that she's such a fucking wack job that the general election is (knock on wood) in the bag for her opponent.

Yeah, I'm upper deck on the first base side. Going with my brother.

Not sure I'll be able to leave work early enough to meet up beforehand, but we should try to meet up at the stadium.

Cool, I'll drop a line when we get there.

I have to go renew my driver's license this afternoon, is that Loop Express DMV really as fast and efficient as I've heard?

YES!

I was in and out in <10 minutes.

This was at about 2 p.m., but still, it was crazy fast.

Plus the lady at the counter and I bonded over our love of George Michael, which she was playing on her CD player. We agreed that he was a hot mess, but he was lovely crooner.

WOW. Yeah, got there at about 12:50 and was in and out in 7 minutes total. Super super friendly too, which I've never encountered at the DMV. Ugly picture, but that one is more the fault of my face than anything on their end.

This is reassuring to hear. When I went through there for my (new, not renewed) license a couple of years ago, it was a 6th circle of hell kind of affair.

It helped that I must have hit it at just the right time, there was only 5 non-employees in there.

I used to defend the (regular) SoS office b/c I never had to wait much more than 30 minutes for renewal or replacement, but man, the express place is awesome. My boss went there the other day and she said it took her maybe 10 minutes, also.

The time I went there there were about 5 people working, too. There were 6 or 7 people in line.

Oh - jvc - did you have to pay to get your license renewed? I got mine replaced and I paid $0!

I think that might have been a mistake. Their website says it costs $5 or $10 (I forget which).

can anyone explain to me that story about the dude blowing his head off on purpose/accidentally with a pipe bomb in evanston? a friend of mine lives across the street from where it happened.

Do you need to bring any specific documentation for renewal?

All I know is it was front page news on the Red Eye this morning. Haven't heard anything else.

I live about a mile from the decapitated pipe bomb dude, but don't know anything more than the news stories. It is causing an uproar among the citizens in Evanston though because a bunch of people reported the explosion, cops came out and claim they found nothing, and then several hours later random dogwalker guy finds the body and bomb. Its been a longtime complaint that the cops in Evanston respond to calls by driving by and claiming that nothing was seen and heading back in. Which lines up exactly with what happened when my wife and I heard gunshots down our street - the cop car drove down the street once and turned around, didn't even shine a light out of the car window.

I didn't need to bring any documentation with me, but it costs $30 now. That was annoying.

I didn't hear about that. Link?

Dan: If you have your old license, I think that's all they need. If not, a passport seems to be the easiest thing. They need govt issued photo ID and proof of signature which your old license and passport provide. (I would look this up on the SoS website to be sure)

Duh, yeah, I meant nothing beyond my old license.

what? i didn't hear that either. how gross to find a body while walking the dogs.

i have always been nervous about this actually because i walk my dogs in the alley at like 6am.

$30 to renew your drivers license???!!

Body without a head???!!!

6 a.m.???!!!

That's why cats are better. Sure they shit in boxes in the house, but you hardly ever find dead bodies in there.

Yup, its $5 for a license until you hit 21, then from 21 to 68 it costs $30, then $5 again after that.

Fees.

what if your cat shits a dead body
then what

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/witness-decapitated-body-found-near-evanston-school.html

good lord
that is north of my usual jogging route, so gracias a dios it couldn't have been carl and i who discovered the body.

WTF. They charge the same for a renewal as for a brand new one?

The commenters on that article are saying what you said, jvc, re cops not duly investigating.

what if your cat shits a dead body
then what

Don't feed them dead bodies and it's not a problem.

What's the best smart phone that is not an AT&T product?

Are they? I typically avoid comments on Trib articles to maintain my sanity. I heard the griping via our neighborhood email list that our alderwoman sends out.

Yeah, its ridic to pay $30, but what are you going to do? I tried to deposit a check and get cash back yesterday and my bank and they wouldn't let me get the cash with my license expired.

Hahah - great comment. Howling squirrels?

I live four blocks away from nichols and it woke me up. I didn't hear rain, sirens, nothing. So I went to bed and the squirrels in my backyard woke up. They began freaking out. The were still at this howling when I was on my way to school. My mom got a new phone and i kept her old one and the number. And not until an hour after I had gotten back to the scene did they call me. If It wasn't an automated message I would have complained. The cops didn't come around or even leave their cars for like, Ever. After the Squirrel indecent and the sound of many helicopters fresh in my mind, I knew something was up.

Jenny - you mean not on AT&T's network? I liked my G1. Other Android phones are good, too.

I typically avoid comments on Trib articles to maintain my sanity.

words to live by, I swear there is some sort of crazy-waves emanating from their site that drives people to post the most awful shit there

I blame Jenny for instilling in me this perverse lust for comments in "the blogs" section of news stories.

Another good one: My sensible hat goes off to our gallant police force....Thank you to all the brave men and women who fight crime in Evanston. May St. Michael the Archangel protect you all.

Amber M on September 14, 2010 10:01 AM
People of Evanston need to move somewhere safe like Chicago.

Ha.

Yes not on AT&T's network.

i'm trying to think of a comments section anywhere that is of any use whatsoever or even does not have a negative impact in a minor way, but i can't. the trib is horrendous though, one of the worst.

Sensible hat!!!!

I know! Jenny, let's be friends forever!

Eww. Sorry.

the associate atty. recently had to get Windows 7 on his computer* (he had XP) and I saw that he was using 7 on his laptop. I said "Oh good, you're familiar w/ Windows 7." His verbatim response: "I don't know what that is."

He had been using two different versions of Windows for months and didn't realize that there was any difference at all. THEY LOOK WAY WAY DIFFERENT.

*He had to get Windows 7 b/c he ignored really bad flare-ups of spyware and viruses for weeks. It was so bad that he had to close a pop-up fake anti-virus ad every couple of minutes. He closed that ad every couple of minutes FOR WEEKS and didn't tell anyone.

a;dlfkjasd;lfa;rogwn hbgnhghggh

Tribune comments are hilarious. I read them all the time!

so they stuck the cat even though i brought some urine, oh well. she's got crystals in there that make it painful to urinate (you know, like al swearengen) so i've get special kitty food and kitty meds. they suggested filtered water too, i wonder if it could be as simple as having moved to a neighborhood with lots of mineral deposits or whatever in the water.

Oh, good that they identified the problem and gave you some means of fixing it!

Did they say anything about associating the litter box with the discomfort?

yeah totally. i'm really glad it's a physical issue and psychological. now i can address the problem with money and pills, like everything else.

LOL.

I am jealous that I didn't say that. It sounds like an Ab Fab quote.

ha. i meant "and NOT psychological" obv.

that's what i read, and i loled

OH how i loled

i got my hair cut today, but it looks pretty standard ie not that different than a regular haircut for me
at some point i got it in my head that every haircut needs to be DRASTIC and EXCITING but now i know that this is not always a good thing

You'll need a new drawing.

very true

Jordan, Sample the Cat had the same problem, except she's such a bitch ass at the vet, the doc could never examiner her (just reached in her carrier, gave her a shot, and ran for her life) so we didn't do anything until she had to have major bladder surgery to remove a stove that was taking up most of her bladder. I figured out there was something wrong with her because her little catgina was majorly infected and swollen. :( anyway, I'm glad you caught it early and that it's something you can address easily!

what's a stove?

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I meant "stone." Bladder stone. If they removed a stove from Sample's bladder, well, I just don't even know how that would work.

well first you have to turn off and disconnect the gas valves

once i stoved my middle finger playing basketball in gym class in elementary school
my bladder was not involved

As a part of the Halloween party planning committee, I hereby invite anyone who didn't get an Evite to Courtney's Happy Halloweenie, Part III (I don't know what Part III means) at chez Courtney, October 30, 8:00 on. Let me know on ILX if you have questions and you don't have Courtney or my email address. Thanks.

Jaymc, Detroit is weak sauce. Good actors, decent staging, but I think the play itself would bug you in the ways that it bugged me.

Unless you like those scenes in movies where Diane Keaton takes two puffs off a joint and dances on a coffee table.

And unless you don't mind a show that is set in a postwar suburb in 2010, but with lots of implausible details.

And, you know, a show called Detroit that has nothing to do with Detroit, which, I would think, would piss off folks who think about what a Steppenwolf show called Detroit could be versus this one.

Container Store sent me an email saying they didn't have any positions for me.

I saw that aforementioned chalkboard outside of Lincoln Ave. Trader Joe's. It says apply on line or else walk in. Maybe if you walk in and ring the big bell they'll hire you on the spot.

"that's just the kind of go-get-'em attitude we've been looking for ... you're hired!"

Jaymc, Detroit is weak sauce. Good actors, decent staging, but I think the play itself would bug you in the ways that it bugged me.

Hmmmm.... I'm going tonight, I'll report back later.

And, you know, a show called Detroit that has nothing to do with Detroit, which, I would think, would piss off folks who think about what a Steppenwolf show called Detroit could be versus this one.

I knew this much. Why do you think that particular title was used? Just because the suburbs of Detroit are emblematic of a particular kind of suburb depicted in the show?

There is a semi-hilarious Chicago Fire fan chant that goes "Columbus is a suburb of Detroit", sung to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it".

btw John it was nice to hang for a bit at the game last night, sorry we rushed off the train at the transfer

Doesn't Part III mean it's the 3rd year she's thrown the party?

Jaymc: I may be wrong, but I don't think the show has anything to do with any kind of research. I've got an idea or two about the title, but let's talk after.

K8tie, you are quite right.

btw John it was nice to hang for a bit at the game last night, sorry we rushed off the train at the transfer

Oh that's fine, it was a crowded el anyhow. And yeah, good to see you and R as well.

I have been thinking about it, and I would like to do Globe trivia again sometime soon, though perhaps not next week.

I dunno if anyone's looking, but the colleague of mine who is leaving needs someone to take over their lease. Pass it along if you know anyone interested. Deets:

2 bed 1 bath apartment in Lincoln Square. 1st floor in a 2-flat building. Plenty of storage. Garage, backyard, pantry, free street parking, laundry, AC, close to shops, restaurants, and public transit (Brown line and Ravenswood metra.) Awesome place in an awesome neighborhood. $1250.00 per month.

jesse I think you need to go on this thread and tell your racist stand-up karaoke story once again

Karaoke and the "n word"

That was the first thing I flashed back to, too.

lol I told him about that via IM the second I saw it

I don't know if you guys are following the suggest ban thread but apparently there was a bug where if you are banned on any board, your SBs haven't been applied to the people you're trying to SB. So for example none of my SBs until now have counted because I was banned from the noize board. But now I'm unbanned.

That's strange...I'm glad I've never been banned from any board, because I love SBing people, it is generally my only outlet for my righteous indignation.

Why were you banned from the noize board??

I never SB anyone unless Calum is back or something. I remain astonished that I have never racked up enough demerits to be banned myself.

I have never SB'ed.

I was banned from the noize board for making fun of Dr. Morbius to the point where he complained to his bro jon who was in charge of the noize board. It's never been that big a deal, because the board has been pretty dead for the past four years or so, but I wanted to be able to SB annoying people.

I bookmarked the karoake and the nward thread and will contribute as I can soon.

What did you say to and about Dr. M that he got so pissy about?

I can't believe Jeff has never SB'ed anyone.

Where is the SB thread, Nick?

I don't even remember anymore, I think I was just ragging on him for an extended period of time. He used to really push my buttons. He doesn't bother me anymore, I don't know if he's mellowed or maybe I'm just more mature now.

Thanks.

I don't get the sense that he's mellowed. At all. He's ridiculous to the extreme.

I guess I'm just more mature now. Now that I'm a parent.

morbs used to bug me but not these days. i think he's mellowed a little. there are far worse ones out there currently.

Sorry, n/a. I'm done being silly.

I like Morbs.

You like people to be mean to you.

DUMPLINGS!

dammit - my new display name doesn't do what i wanted it to

Morbs is not actually mean to me or anyone else. He's John Cleese in the Argument Clinic.

http://katiebook.com/

http://katiebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/katiebook.jpg

Katie: Up and Down the Hall: A Hot Dog's Story.

That dog has the most hilarious expression on her face
I wonder if she's aware that she turned 5 strangers into family

the expression is somewhat yodaesque

"do, or do not. there is no try. woof!"

more like WHERE'S MY FOOD MOTHERFUCKERS

this dog saves lives, plain and simple

Holy shit, this is a bizarre car accident (no passenger was injured)
http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=783611

http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/attachment.php?s=191a213835e24ebf52a597a67347aad4&attachmentid=8556&stc=1&d=1284586624

WHOA! COOL!

The guard rail looks like it was sprayed from a can.

that is terrifying and a nice reminder of why I switched to the CTA instead of driving to work

I just don't drive at all, not ever other people's cars. I've never had a car that didn't meet with a bad end. I'm lucky to be alive, what with my attention span and all.

not eveN

i drive all the time out of necessity so please stop it with the scare tactic shit if you can kthx

"Tactic"

fwiw the kid driving that suv fell asleep at the wheel.

whatever dude
i get it
i'm just saying that there are people out there (COUGH COUGH) who have to drive places and don't need to be whacked over the head with how scary it is

Ugh - rob e, your post makes reminds me how frustrated I am with IDIOTS (like some of Jeff's former co-workers) who, in reaction to an El derailment or fire say - See, that's why I drive instead of taking public transit!

Why didn't that guy stop before his truck ate 1/2 mile of that guard rail. You would think the rail would have slowed him down.

xp - Amanda, I love to drive and I think we are both as safe in cars as anywhere.

Jesse, after reading your retelling of karaoke night, I think what you could do is: My Life So Far in 10 Chapters (but a funnier title than that), and then just two paragraphs or whatever: the phone-sex-bill story, the swastika-on-forehead story, the karaoke story. It'll be a hit.

xposts: I've never fallen asleep at the wheel, thank God. Once I was driving from Austin to San Antonio late at night, though, and felt myself nodding off, and so took the first exit, pulled into a subdivision, parked on the street, and slept in the backseat. In the morning, I got out of the backseat and closed the door behind me, locking my keys inside. I had to call a locksmith and pay him $75 to open my car for me. Still beats falling asleep at the wheel.

as safe in cars as anywhere.

is certainly true

maybe "asleep" really means "drunk as hell"?

I don't GET falling asleep at the wheel. When I'm in a car, whether driving or as a passenger, I'm awake. The only two times I've been close to falling asleep have been the two times I drove from Atlanta to northern NC after more than 24 hours of being awake (one time I drove there and back in the same night).

Those times I didn't get sleepy, exactly, but I kept seeing things like a deer or person right in front of my car.

xp - EZ, that sounds fun. Do you mean for that reading thing?

Why didn't that guy stop before his truck ate 1/2 mile of that guard rail. You would think the rail would have slowed him down.

Looks like he was driving something that weighed at least two tons, and likely at 70mph. Newton would be the one to explain the force vs. resistance math, but it's probably pretty ugly.

And in this case, with surreal results.

Yeah, J., for the reading thing if they've still got a slot open. You can write the thing sober (just take your posts from here and put 'em together, even), but can have some whiskey before hitting the stage.

I don't GET falling asleep at the wheel.

You get falling asleep, right? Same thing.

what thread is "swastika-on-forehead story" on?

Yeh, I take back what I said. I DO get falling asleep at the wheel. I was looking for conflict. What I don't get is JESSE falling asleep at the wheel. Jesse simply does not do that.

When my dumbass xp boyfriend would drive down to Jacksonville, FL to see his folks, he would sometimes eat acid to stay awake.

I thought Hemingway said "write drunk, edit sober."

he would sometimes eat acid to stay awake

okay, now that is way more terrifying than what I said!

The swastika on the forehead thing isn't necessarily on a thread.....

1. I did a bunch of shots and ate a Percocet
2. I went back to friends' house and passed out
3. [redacted]
4. One of my friends drew a swastika on my forehead (and an arrow on my pant leg, pointing to my crotch)
5. I got kicked out and I stumbled to the leather bar ....
6. ...with the swastika on my forehead

On another board I read, some people said that writing stoned is useless but editing stoned works wonders. Like: "It really helps you see the piece in a new light." I guess that makes sense, but the last thing I want to be doing when I'm stoned is editing.

Waste of weed.

Important to the story: #5-6 went into leather bar not knowing you had a swastika on your forehead.

I always imagine the scene to involve funny conversations like Jesse shrugging and saying, "Why do you want me to call you kike? What's up with that?"

I used to write stoned a lot (not *serious* writing, like with a goal, but something like a journal or putting thoughts on paper) and I have to say, some of it shows signs of benefiting from being high. I can see writing stoned and editing sober, for sure.

xp - OH YEH! hahaha Thanks, EZ.... that is completely key. I didn't know until the next day.

as safe in cars as anywhere.

is certainly true

maybe "asleep" really means "drunk as hell"?

Certainly NOT true, statistically. For people under 30 in this country, traffic accident is the leading cause of death. (After that, heart disease begins to take over.) Of the top five causes of accidental death, traffic accidents make up 80%. (Followed by floods, which are another 40%, and then fire.)

I do not mean to lie with statistics, mind you. The vast majority of people do not die accidental deaths. But of those who do, a staggering amount of them die in their car. You're still more likely to die from smoking, though.

lol, yeah, that is an awesome story.

the last thing I want to be doing when I'm stoned is editing

otm. never understood the appeal of getting high before class* or work.

*in high school especially, college classes like art or astronomy make more sense

Yes, I know that, Kenan. And I'm sure Amanda does, too. My point was that there is no more need to be terrified of cars than there is to be terrified of the countless other risky things we do every day for all of our lives.

I thought Hemingway said "write drunk, edit sober."

― DUMPLINGS! (Jesse), Thursday, September 16, 2010 4:13 PM (15 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

weird, I'm reading "The Anthologist" by Nicholson Baker and he uses this same quote, though he attributes it to someone else (I'm blanking out but it was a poet)

ugh car accidents please stop

he attributes it to Auden
(self xpost)

I thought Hemingway said "write drunk, edit sober."

My Googling seems to bear that out, but I can't source it. I does sound like fine advice, though.

Though bear in mind, Hemingway also ate a shotgun barrel while drunk, so.

I don't take that saying literally, but I wonder if Hemingway meant it literally. It probably works that way for some people.

My sources attribute it to Hemingway. xp (Google)

ugh car accidents please stop

― dan m, Thursday, September 16, 2010 4:32 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark
this ^^^
a little respect, will ya!

also who would want to be stoned and do something as detail-oriented and tedious as editing
blech

Jesse, is your phone-sex-bill story as easily told?

also who would want to be stoned and do something as detail-oriented and tedious as editing

Different strokes. I tend to get MAD detail-oriented when stoned. And if what I'm focused on is interesting to me, I'll keep my attention on it, too. This is why I can't clean my apartment when stoned. I just end up reading all the magazines.

I mainly like to play video games or very long drum beat/solo things. Basically I'm a stereotype.

Xposts Jesse you're also missing the part where I found you (redacted) and be-swastikaed wandering around Uptown in the dead of winter after you were forcefully ejected from the leather bar.

I don't take that saying literally, but I wonder if Hemingway meant it literally.

Assuming that he did say it, I'm almost certain that he meant it literally.

the other story is on ILX somewhere,

Jenny, this was the short version of the story.

Anyway:

1. I was 19 y.o. living at home, and I did not think I was gay
2. But I called gay "chat" lines (regular telephone numbers in, like, IA and Puerto Rico that operate like a chat room, including private chats for meet-ups)
3. Upon calling those lines, a caller is greeted with dance beats with thumping bass, and a sultry sounding male voice saying "Hey *stud*, wanna talk to the *hottest*, *horniest* guys in *your* area?"
4. I ran up a $900 telephone bill on an AT&T calling card, so I started calling directly from my parent's phone and explaining the calls to IA and PR as calls to my friends from high school
5. One day I returned from work and found my dad holding a phone bill
6. He had called the numbers on the bill
7. He got called a stud and asked if he would be interested in finding the hottest and horniest guy in his area
8. He was not interested, but he asked me just why the fuck I was
9. I told him I was "experimenting."
10. I paid up my AT&T card and a couple months later I was smoking pole
11. But still thought I was straight

Every female in your near proximity thanks you for not trying to marry them.

And your dad's like 80, right? And doesn't speak much English or something? It's like the perfect Quimby's-cartoon/Chris Ware/Clowes drawing, this guy standing and holding the phone with a cartoon bubble saying "Hey *stud* etc etc."

ty Jesse

Damn it, I keep forgetting key details.

He spoke perfect English, but he was raised in Old World German style, and he was in his '80s at the time.

xxp: And in the next panel Dad puts the phone down somberly. End of page.

I can totally see it.

car accident update if anyone cares: Remember how the driver of the truck and the owner were not the same? Well, we tracked down the owner. He says he sold the truck to the driver the day before the accident. This, if true, does not bode well for the driver having legit insurance. It also makes the cops look even dumber than they already did. I do have a lolwyer waiting in the wings if/when he is needed. More to come as it develops...

wait but your dad is not actually GERMAN like from Germany German-speaking German, right?

dan i care about your car accident, and i am sorry but glad you have a lolyer

I know u care, I just didn't want to break up the momentum of lolJessestories too much

Sic 'em, Dan.

All this karaoke talk makes me want to thirsty Thursday the Hidden Cover right now.

Sounds like you might need that lawyer, and for that, I can only sympathize.

Yeah I'm not exactly excited about it.

tbh all this really does is make me regret not taking a swing at the dude when I had the chance, even though I know that would not have been helpful.

that's such a manly impulse
i can't imagine actually hitting someone i don't know

http://www.firstworldwar.com/photos/graphics/cnp_german_phone_post_01.jpg

bump-chish-bump-chish-bump-chish

"Hey *stud*, wanna talk to the *hottest*, *horniest* guys in *your* area?"

Try getting run off the road at 70mph in the dark and rolling over a few times, then being hit with incredible adrenaline-fueled rage when you figure out you're still alive and the person who caused it to happen is only a few yards away. I totally saw the red mist and the witness on the scene had to yell at me to sit down.

xp I mean I know it's ridic but I watched this a-hole pull out right in front of me and was convinced my life was over.

xp Eric, You should be ashamed. :)

sorry, I don't mean to be overly macho but that was some extreme circumstance imo

also lol eazy

Wonder who the horniest guys at Verdun were?

i wasn't making fun of you d -- i was just noting that it was very impressively manly.

Dan, the second-to-last car I drove lost its life in a really bad accident. I was ambling in a two-ton pickup, looking for an address I couldn't find, across what I did not realize in the darkness was a highway. I was broadsided at about 50 mph. The truck was totalled, and I found my glasses perfectly folded right in the middle of the back seat. Anyway, the driver of the other car was literally LEAPING mad. The dude jumped up and down while he sceamed, "WHAT. THE FUCK. IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?" Then he asked me a question that the cops would ask me ten more times before the evening was over: "Are you drunk?" I wasn't. I'd just gotten off of work at a coffee shop, and if anything, I was over-caffeinated.

Anyway, your story makes me fear being the "other guy" in that scenario, especially opposite you. I think what saved me was that I was a) still in the truck and b) very obviously dazed. "I'm not drunk," I kept saying. "I was just lost."

That's what saved me from a mean punch, I mean. What saved my life was being in a two-ton pickup. What saved the other driver's life was airbags.

And this among many other reasons is why I do not drive. I'm terrible at it.

I've been in 3 car accidents in my life, 2 of which have just been rear endings. The other was much rougher. But I got to ride in a helicopter as a result of it! But I don't remember the ride. So no value add.

Jesse, it was my snl classmates not coworkers that would not ride the cta. And it was because of that train that fell off the tracks in the loop in '77.

Hey Troll 2 is on Netflix streaming now, I can finally watch the whole thing.

From what I understand, you won't be happy about it.

Like, it's not a good bad movie, it's just baffling and kind of painful to sit through.

god you are SO WRONG

Dan, I think that's a pretty normal reaction! I mean, you're in fight or flight mode, and flight doesn't make sense, so FIGHT!

EZ: actual LOL! And also at "Wonder who the horniest guys at Verdun were?"

I have heard that Troll 2 is right up (down) there w/ The Room as necessary terrible movie viewing....

xp

xp Happened before, will happen again.

unless you have actually seen this movie and found it lacking in wtf awesomeness, stfu

i will stan for it til my head falls off. just ask grandpa seth.

in fact, i'm on break from my speech class and i'm getting all het up about troll 2

back to class now, i'll be back when you can show me another movie about flesh eating predatory vegetarians

Kenan and Jeff, I'm glad you guys were alright.

Me three!

what's your favorite Ethiopian restaurant north of Lawrence, east of Ashland, and south of Devon?
Demera, Lalibella, Ras Dashen, or Ethiopian Diamond (or other I don't know of)?

I'm trying to organize an outing tonight and can't decide which one to go to. Have never been to the first two and slightly prefer RD but everyone seems to love ED.

Ras Dashen

Ras Dashen

^^

Ras Dashen

(I have not been to Lalibela, but I prefer Ras Dashen to the other two.)

I have a sudden injera craving. So sour, so nearly fizzy with fermentation, so full of holes to mop up greasy orange-colored juices with...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4v1ESLm8m6E/SZDMuA31EMI/AAAAAAAAATU/_2z3qf934uA/s320/drooling_homer-712749.gif

hooray, I knew "everyone" was wrong :D

now I just have to remember which of the Ethiopian beers is the one I really like

does anyone have any opinions over whether it would be faster to take 90/94 to 55W or just drive down Western to 55W? In the next hour? It looks like traffic on 90/94 is already pretty heavy downtown

I've never seen the legendary Troll 2, but hearing that its on Netflix streaming makes me want to change that. Gotta figure out how to convince my wife to watch it though. As open as she is to new cinematic experiences, past discussions have proved that "but its so bad its awesome!" doesn't really work on here.

Super excited because I just found out yesterday that I get paid for my overtime hours. Which is basically unheard of for an architecture firm.

That drive down Western is awful, I've done it a couple of times. If 90/94 is SUPER bad, I'd consider it... but otherwise, the expressways are probably still faster. There are just so many stoplights along Western.

Yeah the expressway is basically always faster unless there is an accident/fire/snow.

the one that starts with b or hakim are my favorite ethiopian beers

i always take LSD to 55

bedele

I'd suggest taking lakeshore drive to 55, it's probably not too trafficy at this time of day and at least it's scenic

ha xp

just take lawrence to lakeshore and then down past roosevelt to 55
done it a zillion times

gets crowded heading south around 5 or so, but it's usually more or less clear before that

When I lived a bit further east, I always took LSD to 55. Now I take 90/94 but sometimes wonder if LSD would be just as quick.

you don't get semis on LSD ime

they are not allowed except between 55E and the first exit that goes to McCormick place iirc

well that explains m e then

I have to drive home down 90/94. So sad.

Where are you going, Nick?

Jeff, can't you take regular streets?

Everyone: Do people call non-expressway streets "surface streets" normally? Have you heard that term? I wonder if it's just a West Coast thing?

I tried yesterday and it took longer. I may have just had poor street choices.

I've heard the term somewhere, maybe in movies? Don't think I knew exactly what it meant, but I probably could've guessed it from context
xp

jeff why are you driving to work? did you guys buy a car? i feel confused. also never heard the term "surface streets" ever

I googled "surface street" and what I found was mostly sites about navigating roads in CA and AZ. Also a post on Wordreference.com from a Francophone asking what that term meant.

people do say "surface streets" in LA but i in no way realized it was a CA "thing."

Yeah, I've heard "surface streets."

I feel like Surface Streets could be a good electro-pop band/album name.

I'm only finding that term used in CA, AZ, and WA state.

I first heard it in a stand comedy piece about the comedian's family's constant praying. They would pray when they got on the freeway, "Lord protect us on the 5" and then on the exit ramp, "Lord guide and protect us as we drive on the surface streets." But I've also heard it from others, but never locally on the E. Coast or in Chicago.

xp - There is a band called Queens of the Surface Streets.

Google Books is turning up a lot of references to "surface street railroads."

My guess is that it's probably in use everywhere but more common on the West Coast?

My alternate to the freeway is always Elston --perhaps Elston to Milwaukee to the Lake Street onramp--at least you bypass a chunk of 90/94, then.

We did not buy a car. Jeff is attending an inconveniently located training thing for three days so he rented a car.

i didn't figure

Amanda: in answer to your question yesterday, My dad's parents came here from Germany, but my dad was born here. However, he spoke only German until he started school at age 6.

I was going to a job interview in Naperville. Here's how it went:
* drove for 1.25 hours to get to the interview (I did take Western to 55. It wasn't that bad. I think even if it is slower it feels faster because at least when you're stopped you know why you're stopped. I hate being on the highway and not going anywhere and not knowing why it's happening).
* filled out a background check form
* took a 20-minute written assessment
* started the interview. Within 5 minutes, they gave me a sheet with the job's hours on it, I see it has morning hours, I tell them I can't work in the morning, and the interview is over.
* I drive for 1.25 hours back home. I take Western back home too, which is worse than on the way down. I see Kevin walking down the street but don't yell at him.

Is it that hard, if you are hiring for a p/t job with SPECIFIC HOURS, to put these hours in the job listing or tell them to candidates when you first contact them on the phone? I guess I should have asked.

Oh man, that really sucks. Sorry dude.

so for those of you keeping count, out of the four interviews I had lined up about a week ago:
* one canceled the position
* one has hours that I can't work
* one was supposed to make a decision yesterday and I haven't heard from them so I'm guessing that's a no
* one is a phone interview for a job I am very very unlikely to get