Chicago: They paved a fetid swamp/and put up a parking lot

And it's better now.

I like this title!

I saw it too and loved it. Kristen Wiig was great, way better than I've seen her do on SNL. Not that I judge anyone for not being impressive on SNL - I just hadn't noticed her much. I think I might want to own the DVD so I can watch it in bits and pieces while cooking or sewing or just to watch it. Also I am looking forward to the special features.

If we're talking about Bridesmaids, I liked it too. I have to admit, though, I really don't understand what's funny about gross-out humor like the scene in the dress shop. Apparently Apatow fought for that scene to be included, despite Wiig's reservations. Maybe he was right to do so, since the audience with whom Kr and I saw it was uproarious with laughter, but we just kind of looked at each other, baffled. Thankfully it was the only scene like that in the movie.

I dunno. The girl sitting on the sink screaming "DON'T LOOK AT ME!" made me larf.

Fisrt HUGE laugh for me, though, was, "I cracked a blanket in half."

My companions (whose identities I will let them reveal if they want to) and I laughed hard at that scene.

God yes, "DON'T LOOK AT ME" and "LOOK AWAY!" were pretty hilarious.

I want to recommend to you guys The Antlers' new album, Burst Apart. It's great - very quiet and contemplative. At first I was concerned that I wasn't going to love it b/c it isn't devastatingly depressing like Hospice (a critic said that the new album "marks a move away from the stifling bleakness"), and b/c sometimes slow, quiet music is hard for me to get into, but I love it.

Courtney and I (and one of the bartenders from 5c07's) are going to see them in June. Yay!

I laughed at that scene because poop jokes are funny but I don't think the movie would have suffered too much for its absence. I also hid my eyes for most of it so I'm not entirely sure how gross it got (saw the woman pooping in the sink, which was just horrifying, and Lil pooping in the street, which made me LOL, especially when the car honked at her and she just waved it passed). Annie stubbornly eating a jordan almond while sweat poured down her face made me howl. Also the conversation in the car afterwards was pretty funny.

Yes, the best parts of that scene were Wiig trying to deny that she wasn't suffering and Maya Rudolph plopped down in the street in her dress. The projectile vomiting was just ... no.

Yeah, I hid my eyes for that. I am of the belief that projectile vomiting is pretty much never necessary.

But people love it! Why?

I watch Black Swan on the plane. I think I could really be a good ballerina.

John, it's been a long time since we've seen you not get something. Welcome back.

(said in the spirit of friendly ribbing)

Ha.

John - One theory of humor says that we find things funny due to a clash between how we think things should be and what we actually see happening. Women in fancy dresses vomiting and shitting in a sink and in the street goes against our expectations, so we laugh. It's not only the juxtaposition of the setting and the activities that makes the scene funny, it's that seeing such extreme examples of bodily functions that are normally private is a violation of norms, and many people find that transgression funny. From there we have to get into questions that are biological and psychological mysteries.

While my first reaction to your question is "People find it funny because that's just how it is!" I also love dissecting humor. It bugs the shit out of me if I hear somebody say that that kind of analysis ruins a joke - for me it a joke new life and maybe leads to discovery of further humor. Analysis some time after the moment of the joke being different from explanation while the joke is still fresh, of course.

Analyze battleshits from Harold and Kumar.

Damn is this this Bridesmaids analysis thread o que

Godammit I am on the train on the way to the dentist. This is what I get for being snotty.

I am finally watching Lost, am on S2. Major negative feelings about M Rodriguez's dental makeover. Speaking of the dentist, I mean.

Oh man, Amanda. Are you sure you want to do this to yourself? :(

I think in many ways watching Lost on DVD would be much healthier than committing to the broadcasts.

I recommend stopping at season three and making up your own ending.

Agreed with the both of youse.

It's on netflix streaming so why not watch it? It feels like an exciting escape at this point even if I basically hate everyone.

Treated myself to latte and croissant from intelligentsia after the dentist and it is soooooo good.

The first few seasons were awesome, then it dipped, which would have been no problem, except that the finale was fucking horrible.

Not horrible: my croissant. Good lord that was tasty.

Cool map of IL in 1818

http://www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/SiteCollectionImages/1818il.jpg

that needs some serpents/dragons/etc

Indiana: Here Be Dragons

Spoiler: Soiler

Hey, do any of you have a cooler I can borrow on Sunday?

No but you have a porch and a large apartment so you should own your own. Let me know if you want me to go pick one up for you I you don't have time.

I'll get back to you on that, Daddypants.

Heh. http://www.theawl.com/2011/05/andy-rooney-for-president

Awesome. I'm totally stealing that link for Facebook.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn8TOFd_eLg/TdJoZCWvNLI/AAAAAAAANcw/inUbMjUQdOs/s1600/patridiot.jpg

kind of amazing it's all on a japanese car... maybe that's progress being made?

I think they're trying to convince themselves of something.

btw you guys, inflicting malort on jjj's bachelor party was a smashing success

next up: inflicting it on Boston ppl

You are like Johnny Appleseed except with Malort and your name is Dan. Danny Malortinflicter.

Jesse: Where did you get that cool little sweater shaver that gets rid of pilling? I have some pilling going on on a couple of critical items.

You can use a cheapo disposable razor (without the lube strip) to depill, too.

I've tried that, and it does do something, but it doesn't work nearly as well as that thing that Jesse has. It's like how some devices for removing cat hair are great, and some aren't so great.

LOL! I thought, if Jenny sees that post before me, she's going to try to talk him out of it.

Kenan, I think I bought that one on Amazon. The ones at Bed, Bath, and Bajingo were tiny and really flimsy. Maybe call Michael's, or try Target.

I love my sweater shaver and I will never let anyone come between us again.

I'm thinking Target might be good. That giant fuck-off box of a store at Clark and Roosevelt might be the way to go.

You have one much closer. Is it smaller?

I want to go to Target.

Jesse, steal a car from one of your bosses and let's go to Target after work.

You should borrow the town bicycle.

http://i.imgur.com/iW0dP.png

Screenshot in case this changes.

Cooler problem solved. In case anybody was about to spring into action on that request.

ohhhhhh myyyyyyyyyy goooooooood
what will i do with my cooler

i am so ready for summer y'all

Did you know that Target is going to open a store in the Carson Pirie Scott building? And WalMart is going to open a small format grocery store in Presidential Towers? I feel like I should have been aware of this. I must not be on the correct mailing lists.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0518-loop-retailing-20110517,0,3336615.story

Also, a surprisingly sympathetic article about CPL, with only two comments, both of which are pro-library and neither of which blame Obama for the problems with the library's hold system: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-x-c-chicago-public-library-backlog20110518,0,982985.story

They refer to Block 37 as struggling, but name a bunch of Block 37 stores in their list of new stores that are revitalizing shopping in the Loop. Of course, large parts of Block 37 are still boarded up. I wish they would open the promised movie theater in there, dammit.

I did know about the Target. I hope it doesn't get in the way of the four story Billabong store that I've been looking forward to!

I did not know about the Walmart.

A movie theater in Block 37 would be convenient.

That summarizes my knowledge and opinions on Loop commerce.

I sincerely appreciate your contribution to this conversation.

I knew about everything.

I'm beyond special.

i referred to "everyone's the best at everything" the other day in class

Art disrupts wedding plans at Chicago's Art Institute

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2011-05/61683742.jpg

"They sold us a wedding site that was being used as a sculpture terrace," said Sainati. "(But) this installation is like a clown's nightmare. … (So) it would seem to violate the spirit of the contract." "A riot of color and play" is the museum's description.... An "acid-trip funhouse" is Berger's take.

Shut up.

Shut up.

x1,000,000

I kind of think this story belongs in the quiddities and agonies of the ruling classes thread.

Please replace it with a billboard sized print of Piss Christ with a related sound installation.

That thing is subtle as fuck but you know these people have special wedding colors and they're throwing a shitfit now

Its entirelty that sense of entitlement about "our wedding day" that drives me batshit bonkers.

you know, if I had booked a space in a modern art museum I would have basically already come to terms with the fact that my wedding guests would likely be spending part of the evening walking past the analogue of a painted toilet masquerading as art, so I have no idea wtf these idiots are thinking

I feel like I never go out during the week anymore, but tonight I'm doubling up on shows at the Beat Kitchen (a series of readings featuring, among others, M. Priest) and Schubas (our very own n/a). Rock and roll all night long, wooooooooo.

I think I was just in a bar sitting beside christina hendricks.

Or at least someone who looks very much like her. Should have instagramed.

OMG YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER THAT I LOVED HER

If you find yourself sitting next to Christina Hendricks and she offers to make out with you, I wouldn't even be upset if you did.

Because I would.

Holy shit.

Summarize ilx in 1 post ^^

Xp or 3 hahaha

Maybe she says she's Christina Hendricks when she feels like making out with strangers.

Always works for me.

Pretty sure we've talked about it before but the new UofC library is sweeeeet. I love the idea of robots retrieving books from storage below ground.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2011/05/beneath-this-bubble-a-book-storing-marvel-jahns-ambitious-design-for-new-mansueto-library-will-prove.html

that is absurdly awesome!

Wow.

http://neighborhoods.redeyechicago.com/lakeview/latest-scoop/1696/grilled-cheese-joint-coming-to-lakeview/

Didn't we already go through one grilled cheese restaurant?

I could so go for a grilled cheese sandwich right now....

The problem with grilled-cheese-themed restaurants is that most grilled-cheese sandwiches that go beyond the basic cheese/bread concept aren't really grilled cheeses. They're panini. I'll allow condiments and garnish, like pickles and tomatoes and avocado, but I feel like the cheese has to remain the central player in the equation. Once you start shoveling marinated chicken on there, it ain't a grilled cheese. 44th Ward Dinner Party was basically a hip Corner Bakery.

Bacon might be OK.

Yeh, it seems like making a grilled-cheese-themed place is about being cute and conceptual.

I had a vivid dream last night that I told my boss that I quit b/c I wasn't getting a raise and then I was unemployed. Before I left, I had to fix the copier b/c it was cross-cut shredding all copy and print jobs.

Strangely, IRL at 9:30, the copier guy called my mobile from the office with questions about the stapler attachment. Not super weird, since I knew he was going to come someday, but still.

I went to get a leaky tire fixed on my lunch break. The folks at the 79th St Sears auto center said it would be about an hour. Nearly 3 hours later I'm back at work.

Scenarios like that are what make me glad I don't own a car anymore. They always stressed me out. Not to begrudge any car owners; I'm sorry you have to deal with it.

I did read pretty much all of the Sunday Tribune, an issue of Complex magazine, and an issue of Billboard magazine. Have you guys heard about this Lady Gaga person? She's fucking crazy! Wearing a meat bikini and shit, wooooooooohoo!

Meat bikini really sounds like a euphemism.

http://static.regretsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/wedding-card-and-they-lived-happily-ever.jpeg

this is the pic

http://gliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/lady-gaga-meat-dress-vma-awards-01.jpg

kinda nsfw depending on where you work

Actually, "meat bikini" sounds like a dysphemism, not a euphemism.

xp - I know about the meat bikini!

I'm having mixed feelings about this new Half Acre beer:
http://halfacrebeer.com/wp/MeatWave-iPhone_lock.jpg

that label looks like the sarlacc

Ew.

That is my iPad wallpaper.

Meatpad meatpaper

Also, someone please pick me up about 4 bombers of that beer tomorrow. Thanks.

Classic cover for Bobcat Goldthwait comedy LP:

http://www.eggcityradio.com/sharity/bobcat_meatbob.jpg

I'll go anywhere with Half Acre, and it makes sense that they're selling a summer grillin' wine, but still.

Step two of the instructions on my box of tea: "…place one Tazo (R) filterbag in your cup, mug, or gourd."

Gourd. Fuck you, Tazo (R). Fuck you in your gourd.

Step one was "Open the front flap of your yurt and breathe in the dewy morning air".

LOL

Hahaha oh man. When I lived in CO I knew people who lived in a yurt. Also multiple people who lived without running water/electricity. They'd come down out of the mountains every month or so, get wasted on whatever substances were available, get into fights/puke all over Pearl St./pass out in inappropriate places, and then go back up into the mountains to live the good, clean, sanctimonious life.

On the scale of human scourge, that does not even rate, aside from the puke/fight part. I am proctoring an exam right now and enjoying the zing of my bike ride to work.

Ooh, its like their very own Rumspringa.

(xpost)

I am no tea-drinker, but I think that 'gourd' in this sense may be a yerba mate thing.

So, like, they're assuming you're Uruguayan or something.

It's not Yerba mate tea, but that's okay. I love everybody and everything is grand.

Your story about Colorado hill people is funny, I have had a few friends like those. Train-hoppin' hippies, gotta love 'em. Until they end up sleeping on your couch for 6 weeks.

Until they end up sleeping on your couch for 6 weeks 10 months.

experience may differ

"Colorado hill people" is cracking me up.

http://www.grindhousedatabase.com/images/thumb/The_hills_have_eyes_1977.jpg/300px-The_hills_have_eyes_1977.jpg

i'm not going to do it, but i would love to stand outside of excalibur tonight wearing a disguise and a giant placard that reads "the rapture is NOT effective birth control, ladies - PROTECT YOURSELVES"

maybe i could hurl condoms at people too

I don't think there is a lot of overlap between the typical Friday night Excalibur crowd and those that 100% beleive the Rapture will happen tomorrow, but I'm all for your plan in any case.

Hey guys look at my new display name how cool is taht?

could increase google results for this thread
therefore not that cool

I'm coming home people.

jesus christ

could someone delete that please?!

It's google-proofed!

I will put in a mod request if you're serious.

i am serious

pardon my paranoia but i am paranoid and i would appreciate not being mentioned even in jest in this manner
even googleproofed

just please don't do it
simple honest request

done diddly-ding-dang done!

Sorry A - I will respect your caution.

should something be showing up on the mod request board? because it's not.

It worked this time.

Gone.

OK what did I miss?

I showed everyone my boobs.

Now it looks like La Lech wants to delete Jeff's homecoming.

Yeah, poor Jeff.

LOOOL.

I showed everyone my boobs.

http://skepchick.org/wp-content/uploads/dossier.jpg

???

I'm having rapture/Gaga overload.

:(

I remember being at a topless party in college and thinking that Japanese businessmen would pay $500 to be there, and now I think it wouldn't just be businessmen of any ethnicity.

Which is my way of proposing topless game night.

Jeff, stay in California, or wherever you are. Amanda will tell you when it's OK to return.

xpost Afterwards, it would be like we went to camp or Vietnam together. We would be bonded forever.

http://skepchick.org/2011/05/your-body-is-obscene-if-youre-a-woman-or-look-like-one/

Personally I think folks are missing an important point of analysis - what is also considered obscene is the way that cover fucks with binary gender. Boys made up like girls and looking sexy = obscene.

Anyway, no to topless game night.

How better to fight this disparity than shirtless Balderdash.

Which is my way of proposing topless game night. Missed that - lol.

xp - also lol

Sorry Jeff
Please come come

I meant come HOME
Goddammitall

Goddammitall to hell

http://www.leethacker.com/images/9imh4zfvvdvaunjxvwv5.png

crash your unwanted church van into a telephone pole

Helium filled full size sex dolls released at 6 pm sharp.

I'm enjoying this album: http://www.junodownload.com/plus/2011/04/05/taragana-pyjarama-taragana-pyjarama-review/

http://i.imgur.com/uNUtJ.gif

I saw a bunny on Halstead on Thursday

The bunnies have disappeared from our courtyard is and it is very sad. I did see one crossing the street today though.

I found out who does that song I was all in a tizzy about the last time Jeff and I went driving around in a car. It's Pit Bull. Should I be embarrassed by that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LefQdEMJP1I

Here it is. It kind of makes me hate music.

Wait, did you like it?

I'm not going to judge YOU but my this is my opinion: wow that is garbage.

I don't know about that one. I like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLGbfEf7o7c

It's starts off a little stupid but by the time it gets to the "Excuse me, but I might drink a little bit more than I should tonight" part, I think it's pretty groovy. I don't like that one guy's nasally voice, who sings the chorus and the "Grab somebody sexy tell 'em HEY." Is that Ne-yo?

I jus t listened to "Hey Baby" and... I don't hate it.

I mean, I'm not going to like buy the album or anything. Probably.

No. I'm not.

Hmmmm. This genre is very entangled with an unpleasant period of my life, so I can't tell if I just plain don't like it through the dark icky feeling it gives me in my chest. I suspect it's deeply not for me on all levels.

xp - I'll check back with you in a few days.

Look at this awesome photograph

http://i.min.us/icCPzK.JPG

Wow!

The fog the past few days has been kind of creepy, and that picture is also creepy.

I tried to tell you it was that song, but you didn't believe me!
All of Pitbull's songs are catchy, sound the same, and are about taking girls home on the dawn of the apocalypse. (Ok, not all, but basically yes)

Did you guys miss my yammering about "excuse me" in pop songs?

The fog in Hyde Park is always kind of cool, the way it fills up the Midway and the other parks. Driving through it on Lake Shore made me a little antsy though.

Amanda! I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I don't know why I didn't, since I could not have identified a Pitbull song (obviously). Vindication is yours and also your Pitbull synopsis is OTM.

I also remember the "excuse me" yammering but I didn't connect the two because I had forgotten the "Excuse me" part of the song. I only remembered the part about drinking too much, which as you said, is not exactly a unique pop song identifier. For some reason, I thought you were talking about the Black Eyed Peas. Probably because you are like ALWAYS talking about the Black Eyed Peas. NON STOP.*

*j/k

What is "the Midway" - Goggling it was challenging for obvious reasons.

Another question for everyone: is the phrasal verb "to call down [someone]" one you would understand? Or is it one you use? Example The teacher called down the student for shooting spitwads.

I used it around someone recently who said that it was not a thing. Now I'm wondering if it's a Southernism.

What is "the Midway"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_Plaisance

I've never heard "call down." From your example, I wasn't sure if it meant "reprimand" or "summon."

I have heard someone use that in a semi-religious sense, as in:

Coworker says something ridiculous.
I respond, "Good lord, coworker."
Coworker says, "She's calling down the Lord! Do you hear her? Calling down the Lord on me."

Similarly:

"What is with people calling down Jesus while they poop in our work bathroom? They don't need Jesus; they need a dietitian."

Did you know: The Midway is the reason all Midways are called "The Midway"!

Jesse, bad news: I officially like that Pitbull song you posted.

Dan - Thanks.

Corey - I did NOT know that. I have wondered, and I always figured it was b/c the areas of fairs with the rides and concessions were the center or middle of the action.

Did YOU know that Midway Int. Airport is not named after the Midway Plaisance? It's named after the Battle of Midway.

Re "to call down": It's apparently a Southernism that I picked up without realizing it was a regional thing. I thought it as a variation of "to call off" (in the sense of to order to desist, as in "to call off the dogs").

Jenny - We can discuss it when we're drunk.

Dan - Thanks.

what'd I do?

Thank u 4 being a Dan
U showed me Midway Plaisance
And other thangs
Ur heart is so tru,
I overlook that u pee in a pan.

rofle

several things, may be tl;dr

1) meant to tell you guys this yesterday but i forgot -- i can't remember whether or not any of you have seen BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR but if you haven't, you should
a (the) musical selection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvM3ymUKrn8
the most epic scene ever filmed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrxZblVUkMU&feature=related

2) i have officially watched enough lost to start having severe and terrifying paranoia dreams about a cult holding me hostage in an underground bunker in madison. in this dream i realized that they ("they") were controlling my thoughts via songs that contain the phrase "excuse me" and a woman named vera tried to steal my blood because she wanted me to be her husband. it was TERRIFYING and i woke up with one eye competely open underneath my (don't laugh) sleep mask and it was super painful. the end.

I wear a sleep mask sometimes and I will open my eyes while wearing it and dream I have sand in my eyes or that I have pink eye.

Also, when we watched Lost on DVD in rapid succession I had some fuuuuucked up dreams myself. I think Jesse had some creepy moments watching it in a lonely apartment in NO shortly after Katrina.

I mean, it's not that scary when you're watching it but then? The dreams were way way way scarier than the show. I think it's Lost combined with rapture combined with being really really tired and going to bed before 11 for the first time in recent memory. My eye is ok now, fortunately.

"Excuse me, but I might drink a little bit more than I should tonight"

Was going to say (even before Lachera's dream) that this fits with LaL's observation of a wave of "opening gambit: apology" lyrics in recent club pop songs.

What I have only now learned through the power of dreams is that this is a pretty major cult trying to control our brains and thoughts remotely through these songs. That's new news. At least to me.

Uh-oh.

Man, Birdemic was a huge let-down for me. The first half, where the couple is getting to know each other, before the birdemic happens, is very funny and great, but the rest was boring for reasons I can't quite figure out. Maybe because action and adventure scenes are more intense than mundane ones, so the intentionality of the cheesiness showed through more.

Yes, I watched Lost season 1 in marathon sessions + living in a house with a floor-to-ceiling crack in one forbidden room and collapsed houses all around it + iguana sized roaches left me scared and unsettled.

I may go home sick. Last night was horrible - I ate some pizza at about 9:00, drank a ton of water, and went to bed at about 9;45. Then I had acid reflux all night long. I tried many things, including propping myself upright, and chugging Mylanta and baking soda. My bronchial tubes are raw now. Once I woke to liquid squirting out of my nose. I tried to vomit, but couldn't. Fucking miserable!

I had a weird thing while trying to fall asleep last night where I repeatedly felt like I had to yawn, even though I was already in bed with my eyes closed. Like I did that involuntary eye-tightening thing that precedes yawns. I think I must have been lacking oxygen or something.

Last two nights I have had crazy action movie dreams, they have been really entertaining. Hopefully another one tonight.

Jesse, do you take a prescription reflux pill? Because you should! What happened to you is miserable and totally preventable, poor guy.

I had a hard time sleeping last night because my brain was playing me a mix of pop songs (Give Me Everything, Till the World Ends, S&M). I combatted it by making my brain play me Rhapsody in Blue from start to finish until I exhausted myself and fell asleep.

Maybe the rapture did happen and that's why we all had restless nights.

Jenny, can you provide me with a good article detailing some of the pitfalls of modern students going into law and ending up with huge debt and no job prospects? I'd fuckinggoogleit but I keep ending up with crap results.

I had a hard time sleeping last night because my brain was playing me a mix of pop songs
mind control in action -- kudos for fighting it

i realized that "blow" has the same "you're one of us now" theme and fart synths

my horrible dream had the positive effect of making me thankful that i do not live in a place where i can be held hostage/tortured for having subversive thoughts. freedom fries.

Jenny, can you provide me with a good article detailing some of the pitfalls of modern students going into law and ending up with huge debt and no job prospects? I'd fuckinggoogleit but I keep ending up with crap results.

Probably. Let me poke around. I would love to discourage someone from going to law school right now (as in, "right now is a terrible time for somebody who does not have a hefty scholarship to a top ten school school to go to law school," not "right now I feel like discouraging someone from following their dreams."

).

The argument I'm involved in is based on lawyers immediately making more money than engineers. This argument is, of course, with an engineer who hates his job and resents other professions that (allegedly) don't have to study as hard as he did yet get paid more.

Oh man, I lived with an engineer who resented me as an English Lit major bc I dint have to study as much as he did. They are so bitter.

Until I find an article you could tell him about how I have good academic credentials from a top 100 law school and an awesome resume and my yearly salary is 1/3 of my student loan debt, not including interest. I will finish paying my loans when I am in my 50s. Also my job makes me want to die.

I do not take a prescription acid reflux med b/c I don't have it very frequently. Last night was a perfect storm of mixing foods, eating late, and, I think, too much water, which didn't drain for hours. Usually antacids take care of it.

xp Basically lawyers who graduate in the top 10% of their class and go to a top ranked law school will make more than engineers, provided those lawyers go work for big firms with onerous billable hours requirements. The rest of us are lucky to start off making $40-50k/year.

I have talked to some people (no specifics available - just believe me) who thought that $50K was a totally awesome starting salary for a lawyer, regardless of the student loan debt, as they were sure that in a few years the salary would skyrocket and it would be all power lunches and tureens of cocaine in various homes around the world.

hahaha engineers v. english majors is exactly how this argument started

I mean the fact that this guy thinks designing drainage systems for parking lots merits gold and silver and tureens of cocaine is LOL to me.

the main problem here is starting down the road of comparison in the first place
deal with it, shit is unfair, the end

one of my favorite memes of recent times

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii12/REexpert44/Deal_with_it_dog_gif.gif

i liked the rapture deal with it gif

xp to Jesse - I really hope those people are right. I'm about due for my coke tureen!

To be fair to my old roomie, I really didn't have to study much in undergrad. He actually shifted his sleeping/waking schedule so he would sleep all day, study all night then go to class, come home and go to bed so he didn't get distracted by the joys of the daylight world. Meanwhile, I was up all night doing drugs. So I was probably the asshole in that living arrangement.

Courtney and I just bought rock climbing lessons on Groupon.

The Cosmos (Consumer Division) has really been treating me well the past few days. I wanted affordable art, and the next day I found some. I needed clothes, the next day I found a really amazing sale. On Saturday I decided to start climbing lessons, today's Chicago Groupon is for lessons at the place I was looking. What's next?

A job at Trader Joes

for me.

The shoes I bought at the Gap were marked way down to $15 and I got 30% off that price, and the sale was final. Only when I unpacked them at home, did I realize that they were both LEFT. Fortunately the "final sale" rule had an exception.

Why can't all of summer be like this?

I'm still wearing a scarf. Give me 10 more degrees pls.

I didn't wear a jacket today. Wish I did.

This weather is absolutely perfect.

This weather is perfect, but I didn't wear a jacket. I wore a very light polo w/out an undershirt, which was a mistake based on mishearing the weather on NPR while I was in the shower. But once I'm out of the door of my building, it takes a lot more than brisk air to send me back.

Considering home surgery to remove a millimeter or two off the tips of my nipples b/c they're just too much.

Though some leather bears put in years of hard work to get what I want to get rid of.

Anyway, as much as I love this weather, I look forward to a couple of sweltering days by the pool and the lake.

you take that back

I know. If I were an otter, I could enjoy salpicando con surfer Rosa in any weather.

Why can't all of summer be like this?

I had this exact thought as I lay in the midst of the homeless people and bike messengers on one of the bench things in front of work today. It was perfect and gorgeous.

You guys it's WAY too cold and windy for this otter.

At least without a warmer coat.

I also failed to bring a jacket. Plus I have about 2.5 hours to kill before my haircut appt in the south loop.

I had to wear my work sweater home. I also have a haircut today

I may have to run in tights tonight.

On further reflection, it is actually probably slightly too cool and windy to be fully comfortable unless in direct sunlight or wearing warmer clothing than I am.

You guys it's WAY too cold and windy for this otter.

Yeah, I went outside a couple hours to enjoy the weather (and buy a cookie) and it was a bit nippy. Perfect summer weather was Sunday morning before the sun became oppressive.

It is perfect weather, though, to sit in the window of a coffee shop or bar somewhere with a good book.

I like 80 degree days at dusk or sunrise. That's ideal for THIS otter.

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/bluske_brit/yawning.jpg

No, I'm sorry. You are all wrong, except for Dan, who is OTM. This weather is lovely. It was nice and warm in direct sunlight this afternoon. It's cool now, just like it should be.

80 degrees at dusk or sunrise is just perverse. Move to Florida, woman!

This person looks a little bit like Jesse:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj242/donaldparsley/Suglia.png

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2203/139/121/1309983927/n1309983927_30289457_8523.jpg

I do think the heat would help my arthuritis.

I'll buy you a case of those stick-on heating pads and you can heat yourself up to the personal equivalent of an ambient 80 degrees until the weather warms up for real.

I love those things.

To clarify, though, I was talking about a day that peaks at 80 degrees -- the dawn or dusk of that day is my perfect temp/environment.

omg that person you linked to?
i know that person

A day that peaks at 80 is okay, but today at noonish was really nice. Sunday morning was good, too, R and I had a picnic in Horner Park.

omg that person you linked to?
i know that person

It's just a screenshot hosted in imageshack, not a link. Somebody posted it on the David Foster Wallace thread.

I like those stick on heating pads, too. They are nice on my knees.

I had this exact thought as I lay in the midst of the homeless people and bike messengers on one of the bench things in front of work today.

What?

Jenny, I'm going to say something that might make you hurt and confused: With the wind, it was too cool today. Considering the fact that we disagreed about the actual, objective, empirically quantifiable temperature earlier today, perhaps we should never discuss the weather again, and stick to safer topics.

Amanda, I'm glad you clarified that, because 80F is way too hot for sunrise or sunset.

Oh!! I just saw this This person looks a little bit like Jesse:. I was wondering why the heck you posted that picture of me! He's totes cute, so thanks! I look like the greatest author in the whole world!

But the typical dawn or dusk of a day on which the high is 80 sounds wonderful. You are OTM in my book.

If you like things that heat up, I was in Jewel on Southport tonight and there were little hand-warming heating whatever-those-are-called winter things on clearance.

If you stick one of those in a long sock or the cut off leg of a pair of discarded tights, they make really useful heating pads that you can tie around yourself. So if you ever come over on a cold, wet day and I've got cut off tights legs tied around my knees, you know why.

What?

I went outside to the front deck of the JRTC and laid on one of those planter walls that also serve as benches because I was super sleepy and the inside air was getting me down. There's about a 1/3-1/3-1/3 division of homeless people, bike messengers, and state employees draped all over those things on nice days.

We didn't disagree about the temperature so much as consult sources that gave us wildly disparate temperature information, presumably because they were located in different areas of Chicago. It just goes to show that if you don't like the temperature in Chicago, walk half a mile towards the lake or stand in the shade. And then go fuck yourself.

Ha. OK, I just wanted to make sure I understood correctly that you were lying down with the homeless and the dirty bikers and state workers.

This morning both of my shoulders have lurid red scratch-like marks on them, but the blood is under the skin, which is not broken. What the hell happened? I have no idea.

You're a black swan!!!

I suppose so. I do have peeling cuticles.

That swan so black, it can't even get a cab.

I fell asleep on Julia's bed of nails last night, and went so far under that Julia couldn't wake me up to get me off the mat or get me to roll over and stop snoring. She was yelling at me, but I was not in this world. I finally did sit up and get off the mat, hours later, but I have no memory of doing so.

So I guess my advice is, don't fall asleep on a bed of nails.

Wow. I have not been this dubious of a consumer products health claims since they came out with detox foot pads.

Wait, to me this seems way better than detox foot pads or health bracelet -- this mat has a real psychological and physical effect. It may not be particularly scientific, but it seems real. Detox foot pads are claiming to actually do something, not make you feel something. I dunno, seems ok to me but I am a fruity acupuncture enthusiast!!

I don't know if it improves your overall health, but I can for absolute certain that the pain it causes is real, and the chemicals that your body releases to counteract the pain are real, and the warmth and sense of calm that eventually take you over are real.

Just because something does something doesn't mean it's a legit treatment for what ails you. If my low back hurts, I can stab myself in the hand with my work scissors and it will 1) cause pain that results in 2) an endorphin rush and 3) sense of well being after I stop jabbing myself leading to 4) temporary distraction from low back pain.

I mean, if you want to lie around on that mat because you like it, go ahead with your bad self but don't buy into the medical claims (which to that site's slight credit are very and admittedly unproven).

What if what ails you is a lack of well being, and it increases that sense of well being? Who decides what's legit and what's not?
I mean, I will not win any argument with you Yenny, and I am not arguing, but I don't understand why you are lumping this in with foot pads. It doesn't seem like the same thing to me at all.

And you know I think that detox shit is totally bogus.

God, know what is so nice to listen to when the rain stops? This.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSTBB8TExi4

I'm lumping it in with footpads because it is a product that makes medical claims that are unproven. It is different than footpads because it causes an actual physiological response (besides sticky feet). If you find that physiological response desirable and have a spare $69 plus shipping, that is great. I pay more than that for a massage every few months.

Who decides what's legit and what's not?

Oh man, no. That's a terrible road to set foot on.

It seems like it might feel really good to lie on a bed of nubs, but any claims besides "it feels good (to some people)" are every bit as dubious as those of advocates of ear candling, liver fluke cures, detoxers, and footpads.

So are you guys saying I shouldn't slap this ear detox pad on my liver?

It may not surprise you to learn that Kr also owns a shakti mat.

She probably wears her toe shoes on it.

TBH, I have never read that website, and I do not know what it claims to do. I only know what it does do.

Does Kr. really have Five Fingers shoes? I thought she was against those.

She probably wears her toe shoes on it.

LOL. I <3 you both (in different ways). Also I can hear Kr saying "Nooooooo shut up" to Jeff in response to this comment.

I see ads for those fucking hologram balance things for sale at my gym and I always think that I should get stickers or a rubber stamp that says "SNAKE OIL."

This picture always makes me make that tense, inhaling slurpy sound, like you're looking at someone's terrible sunburn.

http://www.shaktioriginal.eu/images/yoga/Yoga_basic_stomach.jpg

Are the steel nipple guards come sold separately?

(BTW, damn me and my sloppy self-editing. At least on Facebook, I can delete the post and correct it quickly, before anyone notices.)

I see ads for those fucking hologram balance things for sale at my gym and I always think that I should get stickers or a rubber stamp that says "SNAKE OIL."

I wear 5 hologram balance bracelets at a time. I never fall down.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/228676295.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1306344303&Signature=6QlnkBo69giLs6Cx3APSUC9NH5g%3D

I mean, color me brainwashed, but I just mentally do not place placebo bracelets and shakti mats in the same category. One promises something for nothing, and the other gives you something for something. It's just not the same in my mind. My fruity brainwashed mind :-/

I'm with Manda on this, of course. It gives you something. It gives you pain. That much is guaran-freakin'-teed.

I'll concede that both provide an often satisfying placebo effect. One augments it with a physical sensation. It is possible that the mat can work wonders, but until we get a little science on the case, I reserve the option to be extremely skeptical.

Please note that nobody is calling anybody fruity or brainwashed or even criticizing anybody's choice to lie on a bed of plastic nails.

I am criticizing potentially spurious medical claims that the mat manufacturer is making, not Amanda or Kenan or Julia or Kr.

Seconded. Some of my family members have spent a lot of their limited money and put a lot of hope into alternative medicine of various degrees of outrageousness, so sorry if I'm being harsh.

i'm still happy to talk to you about acupuncture even if you think i am a stupid fruity monster :)

you're all fruity and brainwashed

there, I said it

I'd like to know what I said/did to deserve this designation, please.

so is there going to be a ballgame at Wrigley tnite?

btw my next visit will probably be next summer, going to or from the baseball nuts' convention in Minneapolis. Prepare now.

dan it's guilt by association
sorry about that

wait, no i'm not
all fruit no shame

Chicago, all fruits, the rest nuts

I thought about Morbs when I saw the final score last night.

you're all fruity and brainwashed

there, I said it

Have you considered a cleanse to rid yourself of toxins and negativity?

Chicago Cleanse: nothing but Malort, giardiniera, and fresh lake water for seven days, followed by an Chicago dog all the way on day eight. Then we bury your corpse on Northerly Island.

Too bad today is the last Oprah, otherwise she'd probably make you and your Cleanse a Favorite Thing.

Sometimes I want to poll Subway workers and hear all the ways people have tried to pronounce "giardiniera" because I've heard some howlers myself. My favorite was "that garden yeara stuff".

Patent pending, trademarked, and copyrighted!!

I don't know how to pronounce giardiniera. :(

I find that hard to believe.

jardiNERa

I'm serious! I never knew definitively whether it got a hard or soft "g" and whether you pronounced the "I" in the first syllable (like giardia).

One site I saw says jahr-dee-NYAY-rah but others say it just like I did above, the only difference being "NYAY" v. "NAIR." I'm more right.

giardia near-ya

I say "zhar-dih-NAIR-uh."

Don't drink Chicago river water. You'll get giardiniarasis.

It is when your red blood cells turn into pickled carrots.

dangit, I wanted to make a giardia joke

There is room for more giardia jokes ITT IMHO.

Have you considered a cleanse to rid yourself of toxins and negativity?

Chicago Cleanse: nothing but Malort, giardiniera, and fresh lake water for seven days, followed by an Chicago dog all the way on day eight. Then we bury your corpse on Northerly Island.

Stop making me LOL at work.

oh man, I just realized I've been to Northerly Island

I always thought it mildly amusing that they dye the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day. IT'S ALWAYS GREEN. If you drink Chicago River water, I believe you turn into a leprechaun, regardless of the day of the year.

Northerly island is fine to run around. I've never seen more than a couple of people out there at a time.

Fine = fun

xxp It's just that if you drink it on St. Patrick's day, it comes with a complimentary pot of gold. Like a gift bag backstage at the Oscars.

And yes, Northerly Island is great exactly because it's an abandoned wasteland of native tall grasses. It's the best place in the city to stargaze as well, because there's very little light pollution. It's a place of nothing, and the world needs those.

I'm assuming you guys are talking about Northerly Island when it isn't converted to a miserable outdoor venue for 311 concerts.

I've never been to a miserable 311 concert there, so I wouldn't know.

I was there once for a concert I was covering for a website I used to write for (two dudes from Phish, lol) and it was pretty miserable (horrible sound, not very well run, etc). Thankfully can't speak to how much more miserable it would be with 311, just seems like those guys play there every summer.

There's a certain base level of misery inherent in being within hearing distance of 311, so.

I don't believe I've ever been to Northerly Island. FYI.

I have, I wouldn't exactly call it an abandoned wasteland. It's more of a pier covered with grass.

Nitpicking.

just sayin', the southwest side around the shipping canal is way way more wasted, if not actually abandoned

Being from the UP, Dan knows from abandoned wastelands.

let me tell you about stampsand

no but seriously even w/o being all UP on you guys there are multiple superfund sites all over this city & those seem a little more like abandond wastelands in my mind, ymmv

For the millionth time: My last ex-boyfriend's (the younger, non-redneck, party time one) favorite band ever was 311.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-DNt7RKuyI

Seems like such a weird band to have as a favorite ever band. I dated a girl in college who was way into them, but this was also right at their commerical peak and I don't think even then she would have said they were her favorite ever.

ardent 311 fans are disgusting savages

This is not in debate here.

I was on NI for a mini-festival and it had some interesting stuff to the side, but the main stage act at the end was DJ TIESTO

needless to say, we got off the island

They were his fave in 2001.

For the millionth time: My last ex-boyfriend's (the younger, non-redneck, party time one) favorite band ever was 311.

I am reading this as though you are exasperated by having to tell us again, like "For the millionth time, no running in the house!"

I had the 311 album with Down on it and I'm pretty sure I saw them live at least once in the 90s but I was on a lot of drugs back then.

I also owned the G Love and Special Sauce album and saw him live more than once.

To my credit, I have never owned anything by 311 or attended a concert, despite being in the exact demographic (in high school 1995-1999, in Iowa) that they probably count as their base.

Don't make me have to tell you again. Xp

There are strangely placed quotation marks in the suit I'm reading, such as

he would tell Plaintiff which employees “jerked” him off.

and

would call Plaintiff offensive names such as "punk" ass

yeah I would think it should be "jerked him off" and "punk ass"

Yeah - "'jerked' him off" makes it sound like "jerking" is the slang part of that term, which is clinically known as "whacking off."

I also owned the G Love and Special Sauce album and saw him live more than once.

oh dude, by choice?

The first time, yes, and it was not good. The second time he either opened for somebody or I went bc friends were going, but I was distinctly unenthusiastic about it.

In my defense: I listened to music I am proud of back then, too, but it's not as funny to confess an abiding love of like, PJ Harvey as it is to admit that I once wrote Eddie Vedder a gushing fan letter.

Also I hung out with people whose musical tastes went: Phish, Grateful Dead, JGB, Bob Dylan, the end so I was really branching out here.

Also your display name is horrible and fascinating.

I always thought G. Love & SS had the energy of street musicians, in a good way. Never seen them live.

I saw Phish once. It was OK. I took two rolls of E though, that might have accounted for it.

Bob Dylan is the best of any of the artists we're talking about here but may also be the worst in concert of any of these.

I always thought G. Love & SS had the energy of street musicians, in a good way. Never seen them live.

They were really, really boring! Like, shockingly boring. This was a long time ago so maybe they stepped up their game but lord. It is one of the five worst shows I've seen.

Damn. I'll just stick with the "Baby's Got Sauce" video and keep my good impression of them.

This made me think of Jeff, and Tom Skilling. And it made me laugh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSHi4_kkUc

I love this clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ScvAJG51V4&feature=player_embedded

Ugh there were horrible fundie wackos having a loud, exceedingly hateful, anti-gay protest in front of my work today. I wish them all ill.

See Dan's post immediately above yours.

"They hold an anti-gay protest, you bend them over a bar stool and bugger them. That's the Chicago way."

Mmm no.

Well, neither of us are natives, so we're not bound to that.

Per the CPL, I can't be a true Chicagoan due to my lack of mustache anyway.

I got to the theater in Evanston way faster than I thought I would, so I killed some time in the Urban Outfitters on the corner. Serious question: am I not to be trusted anymore to wear out my own t-shirts? They have to be PRE-worn-out for me? This is getting ridiculous. As if there aren't enough areas of my life that I feel I'm being unnecessarily and willingly hand held through, not they're wearing out my t-shirts before I've even bought them.

*I bought a yellow t-shirt with the Rolling Stones logo on it, pre-worn-out. Maybe if they'd had more than one I would have skipped it, but it was the last one in the store. That can be powerfully compelling.

**The new Woody Allen movie is good. Not mind-blowing, but very funny. The Hemingway character (played by Corey Stoll) had me cackling. There's no joke, except that it's Hemingway, and he speaks in terse sentences, and always about courage and manhood and shooting large animals. (OK, I guess that does count as a joke.) Adrian Brody as Dali has one of the funniest scenes, and sadly there's only one of them. But thumbs up all around.

OH! My favorite gag was the Owen Wilson character pitching a movie idea to Luis Bunuel. "There are a bunch of characters in a room, and they can't leave." Bunuel doesn't understand. "Why not?" That, as they say, works on so many levels.

does anyone have a sleeping bag i can borrow for a few days? i won't stank it up.

Are you going camping?

I don't have a sleeping bag.

Sure, Kr has one. When do you need it?

I may be looking for a new apartment within the next couple of months, so if anyone hears anything (pref. cheap and further East than Humboldt Park) please let me know!

also pardon the craigslistyness of that post :|

How many bedrooms and what is your preferred price range? There are lots of apartments for rent up and down Diversey, including an apartment in the ridiculous beer pong party house two doors down. You'd fit right in there...

I just need one room for myself. I'd prefer staying in a two-bedroom but it doesn't matter much as long as the roommates are nice. I'd say $450 is probably the absolute maximum I'd be able to spend.

So more of a roommate wanted kind of thing than a whole apartment to which you will bring yourself and a roommate? Word word.

busy weekend!

posting about apartments is mundane, but i'm about to go one step beyond:
do any of you have amazing office chairs, and if so, where did you get them? do you have a recmmendation for where to get a fantastic office chair?

xp Yeah. This will probably happen maybe August or so. My roommate Jess is moving out, and if he's going there's not really any reason for me to stay here. The landlord is awful — things have needed to be fixed for more than a year now and they still aren't — and I'm tired of hearing screeching tires and gang whistles at night.

How do you feel about Rogers Park? Rent is really cheap up there and w/ Loyola, you will probably be able to find folks looking for a roommate. Plus it's an easy, if long, commute to the Loop.

I want a new office chair.

It's not that long of a commute! You should move to Rogers Park. There are more hip young people in my immediate neighborhood than there were 6 years ago for sure.

If Jeff doesn't know where to get the best office chairs, then I don't know if anyone else will :-/

Yeah Rogers Park/Edgewater is exactly where I'm thinking about.

I won't have to commute to the Loop for much longer since I'll be doing my sales job full time, which is right by the North/Clybourne red line stop.

if you come up here to scope things out, lemme know. classes are over and i like to walk around.

:)

I'd actually just like an aeron for home. I love mine at work. Too expensive though. There needs to be another dot com crash so they can be found on the cheap again.

Aeron chairs are not easy to fart quietly into.

^ Crucial for a shared office setting.

Hi, Chicago. I'm having another of my regular "I've got to get out of here and live in a real city someday" fits, and your fair town, Seattle and Mnpls/StPaul always seem to push to the front of my mental queue.

Hi WmC. I like you. You banned the bad person from the trypophobia thread.

Where do you live now?

Chicago is awesome. Mpls/St. Paul are too cold. Seattle is the only other place besides Chicago I would consider living.

In conclusion, move here.

I have never been to SF, but it seems like a perfect place to live. Though very expensive.

You should move here and we can start a food truck.

I'd live in SF or Seattle. That's basically it for the US of A. I'd probably like Portland, but I've never been there to find out.

I'm in Mississippi. Family ties holding me here are hard to untangle. I keep saying "someday..."

I love cities. I love their energy, and feed off it. I've loved almost every minute I've spent in them. Some cities (NYC, Boston) get disqualified because of what I read about cost of living. I love San Francisco, but along with cost of living, there's the fact that California's state government is collectively crazy as a bedbug. Montreal and Amsterdam are wonderful, if their countries would have me.

LL, a food truck sounds like so much fun! A southern home-cooking food truck, a meat-and-three place on wheels.

IL state government is not much better, if at all.

Well, I lived in CA long enough (1998-2001) to experience their gridlock, and haven't experienced IL's yet.

TBH, state government is pretty much screwed everywhere.

real talk

Wouldn't want to live in Seattle, would want to live in Twin Citiez.

Yeah, I would love to live in San Fran but only if I were rich. Rent is nuts there.

Twin Cities are awesome, I had forgotten how great they are until I was there for a week

I actually think Mississippi's legislature does a decent job. I'm way to the left of Haley Barbour, but even I have to admit that he's far from the worst Republican governor in the country.

Got one Southern food truck already.

List of Movies in the Park for summer 2011

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/docs/14ccb53a-8955-4128-aed8-f4a2ef6f4c38_document.pdf

Mac and cheese truck never comes down dearborn. Annoys me.

guys i saw the shortest show i have ever seen last night -- richard pinhas played for like 20 min? maybe? i thought it was just a first set, but then they started stacking the chairs and gathering equipment and i felt disappointed.

20 kinds of mac & cheese? We can do better than that! Where's the mustard greens, where's the cornbread, where's the sweet potatoes, where's the fried okra, where's the meat loaf? Seriously, I think my meat loaf is the best on the planet.

I think a food truck, appropriately painted and called The Meat Loaf, would be a hit.

Re: movies in the park. What a great list.

Please move to Chicago and cook that food for me. Thanks. xp

OK!

Twin Cities are nice, especially for walking around and biking, but I was always disappointed in the lack of "city" feel when I was living there. Felt like there should have been much more going on at any given time than there was. I would live here, New Orleans (except Jesse and Malortney and Matt will concur that I would melt away over the summer months), and that's about it. The lack of sun in Seattle would drive me to depression in short order. Sometimes I think I'd also consider Louisville and Madison and Nashville as smaller cities...but worry that I'd run into my same frustration as Minneapolis.

i.e. I was more bored than I thought I should be in Minneapolis.

I think I'm over my interest in NYC, though sometimes I wish I had lived there for at least a while. The only other city I would want to live in would be NOLA, but it feels so small, though the beauty and general fucking awesomeness make up for the smallness.

The West Coast is too far west.

I don't want to live anywhere else but in Chicago, at least not in the US. Maybe northern CA or PNW when I get old.

There are many cities/town I would live in, but I have low standards.

though, yeah, most America cities are pretty shitty.

And I guess I concur as to which cities are best -- Seattle, SF, etc. Both Portlands seem awesome too.

Yes, given that moving to another state would require dealing with some bullshit re: bar admissions, we're staying put. Unless one of us gets a mid-six figure job offer doing something awesome. Then I might reconsider.

But not if WmC is coming with meatloaf and mustard greens and fried okra.

Sigh. Food is about the only thing I miss about living in the south.

I think Jeff would like and be annoyed by Portland in equal measure.

If I had the right job or right something to do, I'd be happy in L.A., Toronto, back in the Twin Cities.

It's funny how my memories of Minneapolis/St. Paul are so different from reality. I remember it being a swirling megalopolis of skyscrapers, freeways, and hustle and bustle. Street View makes it clear that I was more easily impressed when I was 9 years old than I am today. Now I look at it and go - Where is all the STUFF???

I was up there weekend before last (my ma and pa were there for their 75th birthdays) and really loved it. Scale doesn't matter so much as quality--great design, great stuff, decent freeway system, good people.

seeing as most of my insane high school friends still live in the Twin Cities, I don't think I would ever be bored living there

Do they have a rail system?

They do. It's light rail.

it's also expanding; work is happening right now to connect downtown Minneapolis to downtown Saint Paul

one big lol I had trying to navigate around was how directions going anywhere always went back to an interstate highway; 20 years of Boston living has completely trained me away from even considering that to be an option

Having grown up in rural Nowheresville (ha iPhone auto-capitalized that) and lived in college towns and small, often boring cities as an adult, I have a pretty low tolerance for civic boredom.

Also, God help me, I really like you people (and ppl I know who do not post on ILX. I haven't been this satisfied with a peer group in like, maybe ever.

xp oh duh, I knew that and have actually ridden on it.

DJP reminded me -

Did anybody else who grew up rural learn directions as left-right-straight as opposed to NSWE? It fucked me up having to shift my thinking to cardinal directions (especially given my absolute lack of an internal compass).

Maybe? (though I didn't grow up rural). I think NSWE only kind of makes sense in someplace with a grid system like Chicago? Unless we're talking about interstates.

Nope. My dad was very firm about using cardinal directions. Once we lived in a house that faced just slightly off due north and it bugged the shit out of him.

I was actually daydreaming yesterday about a weekend trip to the Twin Cities this summer.

I'm seriously not sure how people would know which direction is which w/out the grid system. Unless you're Jesse's dad.

My dad was also devoted to highway numbers as opposed to common regional names. I think Chicago's freeway naming system would have given him a shit fit. One time a couple asked him for directions and he said "take Highway 6 to Highway 2," to which the people responded "Is that Ball Club Road?" (or something like that) and he didn't appreciate their not knowing the roads' rightful names.

xp - I have a pretty reliable internal compass. In New Orleans (which has a roads system based on spirals) I tried to use the cardinal directions, but realized that no one there has a clue where N, S, E or W are ever at all.

In Chicago, prep under way for wet, steamy future: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/article_bf5e0168-84d5-11e0-ad1e-001a4bcf6878.html

This is fascinating and scary and sad.

Did anybody else who grew up rural learn directions as left-right-straight as opposed to NSWE?

Yes! But the transition to NWSE was kind of seamless and unconscious. I don't know exactly when I made the switch. It was a few years after I started driving.

l-r-s makes so much more sense when you only have like 3 roads to deal with (ie driving out to my parents' house)

I'm going up for a wedding in Mpls weekend after next, if anyone wants to split a room and have their own adventures.

xp yes

Never used NSEW.

The post office at Division and Ashland is really one of the more delightful places in this fair city of ours. All joking aside. I don't know what they put in the water, but they're so very attentive it makes me feel like I'm at the elite spa of postal offices. You walk in and are immediately greeted by someone, who then offers to help you and will often take you out of line to assist you in using the automated machines or pointing out forms you might need. Then they check on you multiple times, and when you leave they thank you profusely.

I was also complimented on my attire today, and asked where I was headed looking so pretty.

It's weird, but delightful. I plan on hanging out there regularly.

I wouldn't be surprised if they start offering tea and water when I walk in.

xps I didn't use cardinal directions until I moved here.

I have to stop at that post office today! I'd better be wowed. I demand wowing.

We had the Atlantic ocean as a cardinal navigation point, but as soon as I was out of sight of landmarks that told me where the ocean was, I was lost.

The twisty backroads throughout the swamps of southwestern DE are a particularly nightmarish for me. My mother still gets surprised/annoyed that I don't know where things are out there. "You know, the gas station on route 9 right past Heron's Landing, out by the fire tower!"

(She's also starting to do the "You know Tammy Brittingham who worked at the bank? Her daughter graduated from (a totally different) high school six years before you. Well, she has cancer" thing, but that's a different story.)

Every time I call my mom I get a new story about the death of some redneck moron I went to school with. Last night it was some absolute douchebag who pissed someone off and got stabbed. My only memory of him is calling me a faggot in 10th grade and trying to start a fight for no reason.

The Division/Ashland post office used to be hell on earth--terrible service and the rest--so someone must've kicked the bums out and turned it around. Same thing happened years ago with the 60640 post office in Uptown after 60 Minutes filmed them, like, throwing mail into a bonfire or something like that.

I was just about to say that the only place I have received that level of service is at the Uptown USPS. Didn't know about the bonfire.

hahaha I just got a text from R that reads "I am fed up + disgusted with the Chicago USPS"

Loop post office is horrible.

Eazy-this is the place in the strip mall off of Ashland--not the post office that got shut down on Division (a couple blocks west of Ashland). Not sure if it's a reincarnation or what, but the one on Division was shi-tty.

Tell her to go to Ashland! That said, I had a letter returned to me the other week with an "invalid" address notation. Nevermind that the address was 100% correct, and that I could address a letter to "Ted Fredrickson, the Tech Bank thing, Houghton, MI 49931" and the post office in Houghton would figure out to deliver it to the Michigan Tech Credit Union. The only explanation is that the thing never even left Chicago.

Yeah, I like that strip-mall PO on Ashland. Quick, easy, friendly.

A friend of mine wrote a nice little thing on Chicago beaches.

Are you sure that Ted Fred is OK w/ having his full name and adequate address on the internet?

The thing about the beaches is only that paragraph, right?

Tina Fey said of Chicago that it's great that we have beaches right in the middle of everything, and you can even use them like 10 whole days out of the year.

Yeah, it's just that paragraph, no big thing.

No, it's cool. It's just that I was trying to click on things. And I got confused and gave up.

Every time I call my mom I get a new story about the death of some redneck moron I went to school with. Last night it was some absolute douchebag who pissed someone off and got stabbed. My only memory of him is calling me a faggot in 10th grade and trying to start a fight for no reason.

Car accidents
Hunting accidents
Four-wheeler accidents

I'm LOLing at Chicago USPS ppl throwing mail in a bonfire. You know it happens! JRTC PO is okay, not great.

Bad life decisions in general.

Jess and I have a running joke that everyone we dislike/has been an asshole to us eventually dies.

Well, tbf, everybody who is nice to you eventually dies, too.

It's too hot for accuracy.

The girl who bullied me on my teeball team was arrested for selling narcotics out of the pharmacy where she worked. My mom sent me the clipping. That was a quality update from mom.

An interesting question, Jesse. I could see about having it removed. On the other hand, both his name and address can be found through the business website.

It's too hot for accuracy.

OTM

i am going to be in minneapolis next week! and iowa city! (i'm going to play a couple of shows with the band i've been playing with, hence the sleeping bag query).

sarah and i went to the twin cities for a long weekend and my impression was that it was kind of a boring place to visit (we felt like we ran out of stuff to do before the trip was over but that might have been our fault for being boring) but probably a very nice place to live. i like midwestern cities a lot.

i could probably be happy living most place but i don't think i would choose to live in san francisco. it never seemed to get really warm and there were too many hills.

The hills might get old, but the weather seems ideal.

The hills are already old.

ZING.

Hills are great and I really miss them. Chicago's flatness can drain me sometimes.

Yeh, I miss the visual appeal of hills.

You guys that's what vacation is for.

I don't vacation much :(

n/a is there a day between mpls and iowa city? I don't know how much luck I'd have, but I could try to see if there's an opening in Des Moines.

Oh yeah, I was in Chicago this morning. Took the metra in, did a quick loop around the loop, and took off from midway.

nope, thanks though. we were going to try to play madison the night before minneapolis but couldn't get anything put together.

The SF hills would take some adjustment, but would make me stronger in the end.

fine, all you fuckers move to san francisco, more room on the el for me

Never fear. There's no way I'm taking the CA bar.

Never been to SF, but the hills look glorious. Probably be a bitch to walk up though, obv.

Well, let me know if you're worth traveling for, or come to DM sometime!

Is the CA bar especially hard? Or did you mean to say that you would never take the BART?

ha ha. iowa city will be our third show ever so probably not worth traveling for, unless maybe you're a huge casiotone fan.

oh and to keep things relevant we're playing at subterranean next wednesday (the 8th) if any chicagoans are interested

Wait are you playing w/ casiotone ftpa? or the other side project?

It's especially hard (that's what she said) but also I never want to take a other bar exam. I would gladly take BART again.

xp is that the show where you promise to start promptly at 8? As an old, I appreciated that.

CFTPA is no longer. this is dude's new band.

and yes i think it's going to be an early set for us on wednesday.

I really loved that band's name :(

the name still exists

Today is the first day of civil unions in our state.

hooray!
i am cleaning my office

Now to read the comments or not.... http://www.suntimes.com/5703018-417/civil-union-law-for-same-sex-couples-takes-effect-in-illinois.html

A lesbian we know is not excited about this because she feels IL is merely condescending to bestow second-class status on gays, rather than legislating full equality. I get where she's coming from.

Like, if we were getting married now, would we opt for a civil union instead?

i was just saying this to my coworker! yes, i would.

While Jeff and I would probably have eventually tied some kind of knot, we got married when we did for health insurance that I had through my (Catholic) school (and then Jeff got a job and didn't need my student insurance anymore so now we are getting divorced. Just kidding), so if that policy refused to recognize civil unions, we would have opted for marriage. Plus would a southern state recognize a Yankee civil union for the purposes of hospital visitation? Like if one of us ended up in a car accident while visiting family in NC and we had a civil union, are those rednecks going to try to limit visitation?

(I know that's a weird contingency but hospital visitation rights was actually a big draw for marriage for me. Just thinking about Jeff hurt and somebody trying to keep me from seeing him gives me an unpleasant combo of anxiety and the rage).

Anyway, I just signed up for a two hour CLE program presented by the bill's sponsor so I'll tell you more on The afternoon of June 22.

Please excuse the grammar and punctuation issues in that post. I am drinking a "kefir" smoothy and I think it's making me trip.

I'd kind of like a civil union bcz marriage has all kinds of religious connotations, but, then again, why should religious people get to bogart marriage?

Well that's just it. As an atheist who is actively hostile to organized religion, I would prefer a union without all the religious connotations. But most states set up civil unions as a legal partnership carrying fewer rights than marriage (dunno about IL, tell you on 6/22). So then you've got religion bogarting the good stuff, but the only reason it's the good stuff is because we pass laws that make a secular option less attractive. And then also restrict some people's access to the good stuff.

I think the fact that civil unions won't result in the utter collapse of civilization is going to help bring more people around to gay marriage.

cleaning maniacs: my FIL is coming over in a matter of maybe 90 min and i have to do some rush cleaning

what are the most important things to clean, like scrub clean, if i don't want him to know that i am a disgusting savage?

(already vacuumed and dusted)

dishes are done
have not scrubbed stove after cooking messy meal last night

The quickest clean with the most bang for the buck is wiping down the counters and sinks in bathroom and kitchen, if you ask me.

I always wipe off the sink and fixtures, clean the toilet, and sweep the hair off the bathroom floor. Close the shower curtain.

Get the visible pet hair off everything.

Wipe off kitchen counters/stove.

That's what I would do. Oh and light a scented candle.

Good ideas!! If he is likely to touch it or consider touching it, I should clean it. I won't bother with the candle, though, since he is anosmic as of last time we saw him. The toaster oven is just...I mean, it's gross, and there's nothing I can do about that.

Wipe off the top and keep it closed. Alternatively, throw a dish towel over it and stick a plant on it. Alternatively, hide the whole thing in your regular oven (set a reminder to take it out, though).

I can't wait to have a toaster oven again. I've lived one year without a toaster.

I keep wanting to buy crumpets, but without a toaster there is no point.

Whoa that is too much work -- we're going for a walk and then going out to dinner in the hopes that we can avoid the scrutiny entirely.

I love my toaster oven, esp in the summer. Perfect for fish and making little appetizers w/o heating the oven.

Please excuse the grammar and punctuation issues in that post.

^^Opening line to new Enrique Iglesias single feat. Akon.

Does anyone want to see Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique on the 15th with me? It's free! Enjoyment of classical music not required.

Where?

And when?

Grant Park, 6:30

http://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/2011-season/opening-night-symphonie-fantastique

I should also mention that you can bring alcohol there too.

That sounds really nice, pending reasonable temperatures. I will tentatively say yes.

I would like to see that, but I have plans for that night :(

That sounds so lovely, but I'll be in Austin....basking in 100 degree temperatures...ugh.

There are other free concerts! I just really want to hear Berlioz live. Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde in July looks amazing too.

I feel like we should pitch in and buy this for someone - http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11487214

Also, I posted this on Facebook but I really don't think it got the attention it deserved:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBC6z6xcnFM&feature=player_embedded

There are some strange things at Costco

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Search/566423f.jpg
Food For Health™
Vegetarian Emergency Food Supply
275 Servings
Up to a 20 Year Shelf Life
Weather Proof Bucket

xp - dammit I hate that!!

I mean, I appreciate it, but it makes me uncomfortable.

I feel like I should have a bucket of "food supply" tucked in a closet, just in case.

I have to to be able to watch that entire video.

i was not interested in watching something called "grandma and baby day at the park" but i have since changed my mind. i will not watch it again though.

last night i had a dream that i had a baby robot and it was born out of a bag of generic nacho cheese chips.

You either meant that you haven't been able to watch the entire video, or that you think it is necessary for you to someday be able to watch the whole video.

Besides finding the baby freaky as hell, I get nervous and uncomfortable when people in the park walk by him.

xp - ha

Dear J3nny B., Dream Interpreter, can you help me?

I had two of my top recurring dreams again last night:

1. I am in school (high school or college) and realized that I have forgotten to attend my science class all semester. It's always a science class.

2. I am moving west, driving through Western states, mostly in the mountains. The details of the scenery and routes are vivid.

Actually, the first one I don't need that much help figuring out. It's one of those ones that make you concerned that your subconscious is a simp.

hey guys I put this on fb but some of you might not check so here

http://www.npr.org/series/136238533/live-from-sasquatch-music-festival

a bunch of archived sets from the sasquatch music fest in WA, lots of good stuff

Oh neat--Thanks, Dan.

I just read one of these million out-of-town articles about visiting Chicago, and Grant Achatz recommended this sushi place on Peterson. Never heard of it. Sound pricey but intriguing.

That place is in the A La Card deck. I want to say that Alexis (of K1tchen Ch1cag0 fame) had a bad experience there, though I've also read great things elsewhere.

Not sure if I mentioned this here -- I know Kr posted it on FB -- but we spotted Grant Achatz pick up carry-out from TAC Quick when we had dinner there a few weeks ago.

Katsu is great! I've been there a couple of times. D really likes the asparagus beef dish. The Colombian place a few blocks away is also really good and has items I've not seen at other Colombian restaurants (agua de panela, for instance).

I would also like to recommend the coconut almond ice cream from George's in A-ville. If you're at the Hopleaf, you should go up there for <D ice cram.

some ppl I know are talking about making Malort jello shots... using plain gelatin so the flavor of the Malort shines through

eeesh

also

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247902_10150203615439631_30053384630_6939291_7411280_n.jpg

Oh man to both of those things.

One of my sapphic friends posted last night how much she dislikes the nickname A-ville because to her it always reads like Assville.

BLE:SDV:HCH, then LOL

xp - also lol

hey guys shameless plug but d is going to be at a panel for printers row, should you find yourselves down there tomorrow morning

Hey, I was just looking at the schedule and saw that all of five minutes ago. Love that fest every year.

~spooky~

I just learned that one of my coworkers gave his kid the middle name "Skywalker." SMDH.

Oh gross.

that's awful

in other news, i bought tickets to see swans/sir richard bishop and i will tell you I AM PSYCHED FOR THIS SHOW

wow, where/when is that show? Though I'm not super familiar w/ either artist, still sounds awesome.

9/22 @ bottom lounge
listen here for preview (this is primavera set, sounds really massive) http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/40503

scroll down for swans

streaming now, sounds good

Hmmm, maybe I'll time a Chicago trip for that show. September's a good travel month for me.

FAP FAP FAP

I'll probably be on my honeymoon. :/

Pobrecito :(

Where are you going?

xxp the fact that 'fap' means something different on ilx that the rest of the internet has never ceased to amaze me

*than the rest of the internet

John what is that person like??

xxp the fact that 'fap' means something different on ilx that the rest of the internet has never ceased to amaze me

Hahahaha I thought Amanda was making a joke about just how thrilled she was about that show!

hahahahaomg

jesus christ

^^ someone just googled

it was more exasperation but nevermind
gah

Shit. Guys? I'm sorry. I'm about to be a total bonerkiller but something really sad just happened and I am like totally reaching out here but anyway a friend of mine, like a real friend that I really liked, from DE got hit by a train and died last night. I found out on FB when another friend who doesn't know Aric posted a news link with some dumb commentary. And so I am just really really sad but then also 1) it was almost certainly a suicide,and 2) it happened right behind my old house.

Ugh. I'm sorry. This sucks and I'm trying to be cool
Bc I don't want any coworker hugs but it's not working.

Ugh, Jenny, that's terrible.

Aw shit, that's horrible. I'm sorry.

man, Jenny, I'm sorry, that is truly horrible.

:(

I'm sorry, Jenny.

Ugh, that's awful. So sorry, Jenny.

There aren't a lot of ppl from my past that I care about as you may know and he was one of the really good ones.

Here's a story: when we were in fourth grade, he brought his guitar to school and played us all classical guitar songs. And ppl teased him bc we were dummies who didn't know about classical guitar but I was totally amazed and impressed because he was good and also because it takes some bravery to put yourself out there in front of you classmates like that with some weird classical guitar shit!!!

Also, thank you.

Also, Facebook memorial wall posts are awful. "We miss you Aric! See you on the other side!" It sounds chipper and like he's going on a transatlantic flight.

Yeah I appreciate levity in these situations but that is just trivializing and stupid.

Very sorry Jenny.

Thanks, corey. I have to say I feel kind of gross about our recent conversation about dead classmates.

Hey, it's okay to talk about something else. Thanks for the nice posts. I'm cool now. Sad but not no longer freaking out. There is Aric-related FB talk so I have an appropriate outlet.

So please don't be like "I was going to post this awesome article about an adult baby but to do so now would be tacky and insensitive!" It is okay to post other things, especially articles about adult babies.

http://nation.foxnews.com/adult-baby/2011/05/18/30-year-old-adult-baby-receiving-social-security

there you go

(my condolences, Jenny)

We talked about that adult baby in a bar on Sunday!

(thanks, Dan)

And yes, adult babies are a regular topic of conversation for me.

Not sure what to make of this chewie I saw at Psmart today
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/5794762212_fd787f8892.jpg

I mean, I would say that this picture is NSFW except it is a dog chewie for sale at a pet store. It is the majestic "Galileo" model Nylabone.

Galileo may have wanted to see a doctor

lol I can see that being a screwup at the dildo factory

"Well sir, we poured the wrong plastic mixture and now we've got all these malformed dildos... how are we going to explain this one to managment???? We're fucked!"

"Don't panic, Johnson... I have an idea that just might make us millions, and save the company."

What did one dildo factory employee say to the other dildo factory employee?

"We're fucked!"

A new bookstore has opened across the street from my house which makes me very happy, even if I'll never buy anything there. It's just nice to see things in this neighborhood that are not condos that will never be finished or empty buildings with broken windows.

My bus driver and a guy in a wheel chair are having a yelling match about the way the driver let down te accessibility ramp.

I'm surprised people are opening bookstores these days.

What kind of bookstore is it?

Used stuff, seems like mostly books on art.

Why do you not want to live in Rogers Pk (or Edgewater or w'ever)? There's tons more awesome stuff up there.

Or you can live near us and be surrounded by condos.

Not that I mind, I just wish I could afford them.

xxp I'd much rather live in Rogers Park/Edgewater, I'm just glad this neighborhood is getting nicer, regardless of whether I live here or not.

Oh. I thought the other day you said you weren't interested in those areas.

No, those are exactly where I want to move (if I move).

Speaking of which, new roomie is moving in tomorrow. Pretty sure he's gay. All my roommates here thus far (apart from Jess) have been corny Midwestern ex-suburbanites so it should be a nice change.

Jesse, the coworker I referenced isn't a weirdo shut-in sci-fi nerd or anything, but he is the kind of person who's into and savvy about geek culture: comic books, video games, etc. Like he has little action figures in his cube. Probably has BoingBoing and AV Club bookmarked. You know the type.

What's wrong with being a shut-in sci-fi nerd? Too many hyphens?

Nothing wrong with it, just trying to accurately portray this dude.

wu tang fan?

jk

Wouldn't surprise me, though he's probably more of a Beastie Boys guy. Looks like he wrote the Br1t@nn1ca entry on Tupac, so you never know.

I went back to see how I misread your opinion on living in RP/EW and I think that I read this as "Yeah Rogers Park/Edgewater is not exactly where I'm thinking about

Yeah Rogers Park/Edgewater is exactly where I'm thinking about.

I won't have to commute to the Loop for much longer since I'll be doing my sales job full time, which is right by the North/Clybourne red line stop.

― corey, Tuesday, May 31, 2011 8:18 AM (3 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

J3ss is being a moody fuckhead right now and it's times like these I wish I really did live somewhere else.

Hey I'm in this week's Time Out. I'm the one over 25.

That sounds really cool. Are they being put on stage? I feel like I'm missing some information.

Nice, Eric!

http://m.chicago.eater.com/archives/2011/04/04/the-38-essential-chicago-restaurants-april-11.php

This is a good list of Chicago restaurants to try. A lot of price ranges.

13/38

enh, not bad

22 for me.

10! I have a lot if eatin to do.

What? I have a lot of eating to do.

Jesse: yeah, they're short plays set in specific places all over Chicago, but the show's taking place at a conventional theater (at the Greenhouse, near Lincoln and Belden). We had our first preview tonight, and mine's turning out well--same playwright as the short play I did at the Side Project a few years ago, though my play this time is set at Laurie's Planet of Sound.

OK, cool. When are the plays showing? I might be too groggy and dense to find that info in the Time Out story, sorry.

12/38 btw

I need to work on that!

Pretty sweet. View in full size at this link http://i.imgur.com/0gtKX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0gtKX.jpg

What is it?

It's a picture of a monkey killing a duck.

u_________________________________u

(for real tho, is the image not appearing?)

No, I see it — but what's on the lake?

That would appear to be ice or slush. And shadows.

Oh. I thought it might have been a layer of steam or slime because that's how I feel right now.

Ayo Corey are you still looking for a place to live? I have a friend looking for roomies in Ukrainian Village starting next month.

Thanks dan — the move is merely a possibility at this point, dependent upon whether or not my current roommate moves in with his girlfriend.

speaking of which, our new roomie is here and seems really sweet.

Dan, is that friend K3v!n R.?

no, actually

although the idea of he and corey sharing a place is entertaining

Hay danm -- look for us @ the fire game tonight if you're there !!

yes we will!

was actually looking at traffic just now... it SUCKS the whole way out there

although the idea of he and corey sharing a place is entertaining

― dan m, Saturday, June 4, 2011 4:28 PM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Definitely some odd couple shit there.

is this former chilxor "ch1cago k3vin"

oui monsieur

it got really nice outside.

It did! Courtney was going to come over and sit on my roof (in my new $5.88 canvas folding chair) but then it poured and now she's gone and I'd pay the devil to replace her.

Dan, I associate Ukie Village w/ ChiKev and I saw on FB that he was moving, so I thought maybe you were going to try to set up a social experiment.

To all the bitches out there with electric toothbrushes: TAKE THEM APART AND CLEAN THEM REGULARLY.

It occurred to me today that I hadn't broken mine down for a good scrubbing in a while and all I'm gonna say is that I bought a manual toothbrush today and I'm finna replace the electric one. #0_o #:( #;__; #thereisnoemoticonforvomitingafaik

ewwww

I'm ok with what is growing in my electric toothbrush.

Also, keep your fucksaws clean.

The threads of the inside of my toothbrush looked like a gay couple's used fucksaw after a chili banquet.

I know what's happening in there and clean mine on the regular, but I appreciate the PSA (and will probably go clean mine).

Also that is one of the most disgusting similes in the universe.

i'm surprised so many of you have electric toothbrushes

I'd never go back.

I have a $7 CVS-brand electric toothbrush, but I should really upgrade to a Sonicare.

Never got down with the electric -- I still have an acoustic.

so -- without being too graphic because YOU KNOW how i feel about gory/painful/graphic dental details -- why would I want an electric toothbrush?

Even the switch from a regular toothbrush to a cheap spin brush made my teeth feel so much cleaner that I felt like I hadn't really been brushing before.

^^^

My wife brought home a Sonicare and I kind of scoffed, thinking it was such a waste of money, but that is pretty much exactly how I felt - like I'd never really brushed my teeth before. Also, I've had much better dental checkups since I switched, always getting compliments from my dentist on how well I've kept up.

i'm dubious because i worry about enamel erosion
also so many traumatizing experiences involving a buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz machine in my mouth that i just...it seems like it would have to be way measurably better than my regular brush + floss routine to warrant changing at this point

i'm dubious because i worry about enamel erosion

That was one of my concerns, but my dentist told me that it shouldn't be an issue as long as you remember to let the spin-brush do the work for you and that you don't need to press as hard as you would with a regular toothbrush.

I was a long time hold out until my mother forced the issue by buying me a Sonicare for Xmas last year. Took some getting used to but I really like it now for all of the reasons already stated.

The only downside to the electric toothbrush for me is that I sometimes multi-task while brushing my teeth and forget to move it.

I was going to replaced the offensive head on my old Sonicare, but it's out of production and the ones that are available are too expensive.

that's a drawback - expensive replacement heads.

I had such a truly lovely Sunday! Took my bike in for a tune-up, and then walked up to Scot's to meet Malortney and Jesse, and to my surprise and pleasure jaymc, askance johnson, and kr1st@. AND waved frantically to the @mm3m@n family from across the great divide of Lincoln Ave.

I walked all the way from Scottt's to my house and now my knee is feeling funny again. I was surprised to find that the trip was under 5 miles.

Yesterday I walked around the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette for about three hours, taking pictures. There couldn't possibly have been a better day for it.

I biked to the zoo on Saturday and it was extremely dreamy.

I ran a beer mile on Saturday. Highlight of my weekend and perhaps my life.

I attened a very nice civil union ceremony on the lakefront Saturday morning, the rest of the weekend was pretty much a draw between yardwork and laziness.

speaking of draws, the 0-0 fire/seattle game on saturday was a bit of a snoozer... but at least it cooled down a bit in the evening

was it ever! but the weather was AMAZING. also i had a p delicious veggie burger there, and that was a huge surprise. i've had much much worse at restaurants. i had a really great weekend, actually -- lots of fun times & good meals, little to no stress. slept well. good times.

86º at night? I want to fucking die.

Like a fetid swamp out there.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/5807665-417/flash-mob-victim-it-just-happened-too-quick.html

It kind of feels like the 50s. Teens! On a rampage!

86º at night? I want to fucking die.

I hate it, too, but ... aren't you from Florida?

xp Or this awesome movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ereen__ld8g