What Chicago is talking about this week ...
... maybe some haven't given up on talking about the maddening debt ceiling debate, and there could be a few that are still moaning about the early week midnight thunderstorms that were keeping folks awake, and I'm sure one of two is chatting up the fact that Sir Paul performs at a transformed Wrigley Field tonight ... but I know the cool kids are all talking about the fact that Toad the Wet Sprocket plays the Taste of Lincoln festival tonight!
Talk about a band being responsible for a soundtrack of a few years of your life ... Toad takes me back to college twenty years ago, when ...
* we got our student council to get them to come to LVC for a spring concert ...
* at which, we set them up in the gym with too many "security" volunteers so it was like they were playing for a prison (they politely asked us to disperse after the first song) ...
* before which I was sent to the local Quality Inn to pick up everyone but the lead singer -- in my little Ford Escort ...
* during which I got them to sign my copy of the cassette for their release of Pale (and they got the lead singer to add his autograph from the tour bus for a complete set of signatures)!
I titled one of my audience participation murder mysteries "Indecision" based on one of their songs, and said sad and poignant goodbyes to a college friend-like-a-brother who was returning home from school with "Don't Go Away" in the background. I walked around as an employee of Hills department store singing along to "Walk on the Ocean" as it played over the Muzak. As it is now, I can play any number of songs and end up transported back to my "youth".
Bring on the Toad tuneage!
WHO KNEW THEN THAT I WOULD ONE DAY WORK IN SCHAUMBURG:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lMTGMAhlGM
AGE IS HEAVIER, IT SEEMS, THAN YEARS ALONE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvSad1XEys
I MISS HILLS DEPARTMENT STORE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcHB060NKYo
July 31, 2011
July 30, 2011
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/30/11
I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...
... for ^%*^'s sake, FIX IT!
Compromise and consensus-building -- that's what leadership in politics is. This death-match of a debt-ceiling charade is all pompous partisan posturing for an election cycle still many crises away. I have a father in a nursing home dependent on his social security check and two nephews who rely on the military for a paycheck, so let's figure this out and move beyond it as quickly as possible. (As we've done scores of times since 1917, apparently.)
[As an aside, having grown up in Lebanon County, PA -- I do have to admit that my first thought when I heard about the Gang of Six was to wonder whether they all had blue eyes. If you're from there, you'll get that. If not, you'll just think I'm loonier than normal today.]
There are so many other more important issues to debate and discuss, and more action to be demanded from those in our government. For instance, we may have started the troop withdrawal, but there are still casualties happening daily -- and lives can be saved with a few simple improvements. The Army and Marines are slowly rolling out silk underwear for their boys (and their boys' bits) as special protection against IEDs. Kevlar bike shorts, titanium athletic cups, heavyweight assless chaps -- this isn't the Christmas list for a fetishist, but actual items that need to be rushed to our troops to fight this very special "modern" warfare.
On the back of the debacle with helmets that barely protected a soldier's cranium (which was met by an outpouring of support from private citizens to send helmet upgrades to our troops at risk), you'd have thought we'd have spent some of this money to improve the basic uniform and to get those improvements to those in harm's way immediately.
I've checked my tax receipt for the year (type in your 2010 tax numbers and see how your money was spent at www.whitehouse.gov/taxreceipt) and I most surely don't want any more of it to go to paying interest because our rates were raised because our leadership groups couldn't think long term about our country's future -- especially when there are so many other pressing monetary demands that translate to saving lives.
As one of my favorite SNL characters of late says (Keenan Thompson's angry old man) -- FIX IT!
THEY CALL THEM BALLISTIC BOXERS:
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-19/us/army.protective.gear_1_boxers-head-protection-kevlar?_s=PM:US
IT's THIS GENERATION's ROSIE THE RIVETER MOMENT:
http://www.operation-helmet.org/contribute.html
I "GAVE" $650 FOR MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN 2010!:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/taxreceipt
FIX IT!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo3uxqwTxk0
... for ^%*^'s sake, FIX IT!
Compromise and consensus-building -- that's what leadership in politics is. This death-match of a debt-ceiling charade is all pompous partisan posturing for an election cycle still many crises away. I have a father in a nursing home dependent on his social security check and two nephews who rely on the military for a paycheck, so let's figure this out and move beyond it as quickly as possible. (As we've done scores of times since 1917, apparently.)
[As an aside, having grown up in Lebanon County, PA -- I do have to admit that my first thought when I heard about the Gang of Six was to wonder whether they all had blue eyes. If you're from there, you'll get that. If not, you'll just think I'm loonier than normal today.]
There are so many other more important issues to debate and discuss, and more action to be demanded from those in our government. For instance, we may have started the troop withdrawal, but there are still casualties happening daily -- and lives can be saved with a few simple improvements. The Army and Marines are slowly rolling out silk underwear for their boys (and their boys' bits) as special protection against IEDs. Kevlar bike shorts, titanium athletic cups, heavyweight assless chaps -- this isn't the Christmas list for a fetishist, but actual items that need to be rushed to our troops to fight this very special "modern" warfare.
On the back of the debacle with helmets that barely protected a soldier's cranium (which was met by an outpouring of support from private citizens to send helmet upgrades to our troops at risk), you'd have thought we'd have spent some of this money to improve the basic uniform and to get those improvements to those in harm's way immediately.
I've checked my tax receipt for the year (type in your 2010 tax numbers and see how your money was spent at www.whitehouse.gov/taxreceipt) and I most surely don't want any more of it to go to paying interest because our rates were raised because our leadership groups couldn't think long term about our country's future -- especially when there are so many other pressing monetary demands that translate to saving lives.
As one of my favorite SNL characters of late says (Keenan Thompson's angry old man) -- FIX IT!
THEY CALL THEM BALLISTIC BOXERS:
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-19/us/army.protective.gear_1_boxers-head-protection-kevlar?_s=PM:US
IT's THIS GENERATION's ROSIE THE RIVETER MOMENT:
http://www.operation-helmet.org/contribute.html
I "GAVE" $650 FOR MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN 2010!:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/taxreceipt
FIX IT!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo3uxqwTxk0
July 29, 2011
Random Flashback for Friday 7/29/11
Well ... the end.
That is, it's the end of my series of pictures from a trip I never took to a place I've never been with people I've never met.
Well -- that's not completely true. This is my Mom (probably can't see too much of a resemblance what with the giant sunglasses, the hat and all that hair ... but maybe in the smile?) at the end of that vacation twenty years ago, with her companion, Skip (whom I never met -- and who has since passed on). [That might be another family member hiding behind the side mirror there -- I just don't know.]
So -- next week, my pictorial auto-biography continues with a return to MY life in 1991 -- a life before any pets, before I had my first car (yep, I biked everywhere back in the day), when I lived on E Locust street with the Woodwards in Lebanon, with just a final month of summer before I started my second of many many years at Lebanon Valley College. But that's all next week ... for tonight, rest in peace Skip.
July 28, 2011
Random Thought for Thursday 7/28/11
[... it's the last (in awhile) for this month's occasional series ...]
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... are spray paint cans, little liquor bottles and guns banned (well, guns were banned until lately) in order to guide human behavior -- and ... ONLY IN CHICAGO is the news media full of stories of gang taggers, drunks misbehaving and shooting after shooting after shooting. Kind of makes that libertarian thing look more and more attractive all the time (if only we all could be trusted to uphold a social contract of sorts).
BANNED -- SPRAY PAINT CANS!:
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/04/us/justice-stevens-allows-chicago-to-ban-spray-paint.html
BANNED -- LITTLE LIQUOR BOTTLES!:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-08-05/news/0208050152_1_liquor-bottles-stores-and-taverns
BANNED -- GUNS (well, now UNBANNED)!:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/29/national/main6629306.shtml
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... are spray paint cans, little liquor bottles and guns banned (well, guns were banned until lately) in order to guide human behavior -- and ... ONLY IN CHICAGO is the news media full of stories of gang taggers, drunks misbehaving and shooting after shooting after shooting. Kind of makes that libertarian thing look more and more attractive all the time (if only we all could be trusted to uphold a social contract of sorts).
BANNED -- SPRAY PAINT CANS!:
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/04/us/justice-stevens-allows-chicago-to-ban-spray-paint.html
BANNED -- LITTLE LIQUOR BOTTLES!:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-08-05/news/0208050152_1_liquor-bottles-stores-and-taverns
BANNED -- GUNS (well, now UNBANNED)!:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/29/national/main6629306.shtml
July 27, 2011
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/27/11
Jar Dee Gai.
Used in a sentence: "It was one of those rare times when I strayed from my typical menu choice when it comes to food of asian persuasion -- and the Jar Dee Gai remained a mystery even after it arrived."
Back in the days before I labored exclusively from home, the workday lunch was a communal experience that was always the first order of business of the day with my team in the center. There was a drawer, and in that drawer was menu after menu of establishments within walking distance or within their own delivery area. And with the variety of asian-influenced restaurants in the vicinity, we were bound to stumble on that cuisine frequently.
In some things, I'm predictable -- chicken and broccoli with appetizer of crab rangoon and a wonton soup if I'm just eating one meal that day. But on this day, it was about picking the item on the menu that I had never heard of before -- and that actually had no description. [So long as I plan it in advance, I can be spontaneous.] And so the order was placed for Jar Dee Gai.
It arrived served in a styrofoam container (no bottomless Chinese magical food box here), and it was spread out over flavored rice, heavy on the green onion. But it was the animal itself that remained mysterious. It wasn't pretty -- and it looked like another animal had torn it asunder, as the pieces were still on the bone. Still not knowing what exactly we were eating, the group of us applied our deduction skills to figure out what animal it once was.
We found a wing of normal size (but couldn't locate a second one). We uncovered two drumsticks -- but one seemed much larger and meatier than the other one. We found a piece of meat that was attached to a backbone/spine of sorts. And then -- we gathered around the whiteboard and drew in what we had identified. A big-legged-bird-like creature with at least one wing and one smaller shorter leg with an elongated spine -- and then, it was suddenly clear to us -- we had consumed a flamingo!
[Actually, we later learned that it was supposed to be chicken cooked in a Cantonese style. We never did quite figure out why the meat pieces were so unusual and atypical. And it may go without saying, but we never ordered Jar Dee Gai again.]
IF ONLY GOOGLE SEARCH HAD BEEN AS POWERFUL BACK IN THE DAY:
http://www.usdiners.com/cgi-bin/menuprint?State=OH&ID=22CDE3D11HII6HOHKN19UP915X61Q7
SO I GUESS IT WOULD TASTE LIKE SHRIMP IF THAT'S WHY THEY ARE PINK:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-flamingo.htm
AND TO THINK WE HAD OVER 250 LOCAL EATERIES FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE:
http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/all-areas/lincoln-park-depaul/all-cuisines/
Used in a sentence: "It was one of those rare times when I strayed from my typical menu choice when it comes to food of asian persuasion -- and the Jar Dee Gai remained a mystery even after it arrived."
Back in the days before I labored exclusively from home, the workday lunch was a communal experience that was always the first order of business of the day with my team in the center. There was a drawer, and in that drawer was menu after menu of establishments within walking distance or within their own delivery area. And with the variety of asian-influenced restaurants in the vicinity, we were bound to stumble on that cuisine frequently.
In some things, I'm predictable -- chicken and broccoli with appetizer of crab rangoon and a wonton soup if I'm just eating one meal that day. But on this day, it was about picking the item on the menu that I had never heard of before -- and that actually had no description. [So long as I plan it in advance, I can be spontaneous.] And so the order was placed for Jar Dee Gai.
It arrived served in a styrofoam container (no bottomless Chinese magical food box here), and it was spread out over flavored rice, heavy on the green onion. But it was the animal itself that remained mysterious. It wasn't pretty -- and it looked like another animal had torn it asunder, as the pieces were still on the bone. Still not knowing what exactly we were eating, the group of us applied our deduction skills to figure out what animal it once was.
We found a wing of normal size (but couldn't locate a second one). We uncovered two drumsticks -- but one seemed much larger and meatier than the other one. We found a piece of meat that was attached to a backbone/spine of sorts. And then -- we gathered around the whiteboard and drew in what we had identified. A big-legged-bird-like creature with at least one wing and one smaller shorter leg with an elongated spine -- and then, it was suddenly clear to us -- we had consumed a flamingo!
[Actually, we later learned that it was supposed to be chicken cooked in a Cantonese style. We never did quite figure out why the meat pieces were so unusual and atypical. And it may go without saying, but we never ordered Jar Dee Gai again.]
IF ONLY GOOGLE SEARCH HAD BEEN AS POWERFUL BACK IN THE DAY:
http://www.usdiners.com/cgi-bin/menuprint?State=OH&ID=22CDE3D11HII6HOHKN19UP915X61Q7
SO I GUESS IT WOULD TASTE LIKE SHRIMP IF THAT'S WHY THEY ARE PINK:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-flamingo.htm
AND TO THINK WE HAD OVER 250 LOCAL EATERIES FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE:
http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/all-areas/lincoln-park-depaul/all-cuisines/
July 26, 2011
Random Tune for Tuesday 7/26/11
Oh my ... I'm up to the letter 'O' in my occasional series where I dig out my old cassette tapes and find some randomness mixed in with all the dust. (Oh -- and I take back any and all 8 track jokes I once made to those older than I.) And tonight -- it's from the lady who was a little bit country before she was all Vegas, from a time before she fainted while dancing and way before the creepy dolls were part of her marketing strategy. Now I'm sure I bought this cassette after her duet of "Meet Me in Montana" was released (see the post almost exactly one year ago on 7.27.10 about a jealous step-mother's reaction to that), but the title track of it only made it to #70 on the charts, so tonight it's like a new song to me!
O is for OSMOND, MARIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMgYFjJ5AV0
O is for OSMOND, MARIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMgYFjJ5AV0
July 25, 2011
Random Memorial for Monday 7/25/11
Gone but not forgotten: what I consider to be just another form of bank fraud.
Well only one major bank has announced the change, to the best of my knowledge, but Citibank will now (starting today!) apply items against your account from smallest to largest (instead of the opposite), sparing its customers from financing their operating costs through the overdraft fees of the working class. Now if only the rest of them would follow suit on what always seemed to me like a crime (agreed, a clever one) against those of us that live from paycheck to paycheck.
[I was considering asking the bank to just raise my debt ceiling, but it turns out I don't have that kind of relationship with them. Putting off that underlying issue might just lead to a personal financial crisis of unknown magnitude, but I'd have a better chance of getting elected next year ;) ]
That policy of paying an $1100 check and "bouncing" six $10 ones just so you the banker can collect $200 in fees (of money I clearly don't have) just because I've made a mistake in my ledger, you will not be missed!
LEADERS IN THE FIELD (ALTHOUGH THEY WILL MAKE UP THAT $ SOMEWHERE):
http://archive.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2011/04/citibank-to-pay-small-checks-first.html
THE TRAP (PRINTED BEFORE THE CHANGE):
http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/how-five-banks-post-your-deposits-and-withdrawals-do-they-trap-you-into-overdrafts/
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!:
http://w2.eff.org/congress/#finding
Well only one major bank has announced the change, to the best of my knowledge, but Citibank will now (starting today!) apply items against your account from smallest to largest (instead of the opposite), sparing its customers from financing their operating costs through the overdraft fees of the working class. Now if only the rest of them would follow suit on what always seemed to me like a crime (agreed, a clever one) against those of us that live from paycheck to paycheck.
[I was considering asking the bank to just raise my debt ceiling, but it turns out I don't have that kind of relationship with them. Putting off that underlying issue might just lead to a personal financial crisis of unknown magnitude, but I'd have a better chance of getting elected next year ;) ]
That policy of paying an $1100 check and "bouncing" six $10 ones just so you the banker can collect $200 in fees (of money I clearly don't have) just because I've made a mistake in my ledger, you will not be missed!
LEADERS IN THE FIELD (ALTHOUGH THEY WILL MAKE UP THAT $ SOMEWHERE):
http://archive.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2011/04/citibank-to-pay-small-checks-first.html
THE TRAP (PRINTED BEFORE THE CHANGE):
http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/how-five-banks-post-your-deposits-and-withdrawals-do-they-trap-you-into-overdrafts/
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!:
http://w2.eff.org/congress/#finding
July 24, 2011
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/24/11
What Chicago is talking about this week:
Com Con!
And that's not our version of the event running right now in San Diego for the cultish fans of all matters of shows -- but the con perpetrated on me by ComEd and Comcast with my power outage. The basic framework -- a transformer in the back alley blew up Thursday night around 6:15 local time and the power didn't return in full until Saturday evening (by which time, I was in a suburbs hotel because I couldn't deal with it any more). And electricity is apparently just one step in the process of supplying cable to a household, as Comcast didn't re-boot my access until Sunday late afternoon.
What follows ... the (baker's) dozen things I learned dealing with this "crisis":
1.) Thinking that the items in my frig or freezer were at risk, I added up what I expected to be the total loss -- approximately $500. I then checked the deductible on my renter's insurance and it was -- exactly $500. Of course it was.
2.) I've spent my whole career in various forms of customer service knowing that it is key to underpromise and overdeliver. So then why is it that the Com companies played the game of automated "power tease" by updating their "estimated restore time" every two hours with a time two hours in the immediate future. And why is it that it took me 36 hours before I finally realized they weren't going to satisfy me and that I should give up making temporary plans.
3.) Cats are just creepy sometimes. It's like they knew that the power outage meant the electric can opener wouldn't work. (And why is it that my Campbell's soup reacted to 9/11 disaster buzz by changing the can to a tear off top, but the cans of tuna are still so impenetrable.) I would say that I came to the conclusion that I needed to go buy an old-fashioned manual can opener myself, but I also wouldn't be surprised if one of the cats used mind control and "stared" that thought into my brain.
4.) Faint memories of extreme cold from this winter aren't enough to cool me off when I'm lying in a puddle of sweat attempting to adjust to the triple digit heat indices -- at midnight no less!
5.) I now believe that I can tell how old a Starbucks branch is by how many outlets they have available for their customers.
6.) I've previously learned that the ability to successfully work remotely (as I've done since last fall) is predicated on having a quality internet connection. I now recognize that having a quality electricity connection is even more important!
7.) The sound of my neighbor across the street running his or her air conditioner (the outage was just my block) is infuriating when I'm lying in a puddle of sweat attempting to adjust to the triple digit heat indices -- at midnight no less!
8.) During daylight hours when the only thing to do is read the local TimeOut sitting near a window is the perfect time for me to stumble on the advert on the back cover suggesting that I consider taking advantage of the new utility reform and purchase electricity from a private competitor.
9.) The last time I remember being near a transformer that blew, I cowered in the corner of my childhood bedroom thinking it was the apocalypse (see my post from 8.24.10 for the full story -- including how my step sister captured the noise when she was taping the classic 80's Madness tune "Our House" off the radio and on to her boombox). Ah transformer destruction memories that have nothing to do with Michael Bay!
10.) That first sound of a raindrop when I'm lying in a puddle of sweat attempting to adjust to the triple digit heat indices -- at midnight no less -- is amazing when it is accompanied by a breeze. I don't know how else to describe the feeling other than to say it's like the moment that Ma Ingalls turns to Pa and says "we'll be able to eat this year after all now that the drought has ended".
11.) Japan had it much worse and I know it's not even comparable, but when that same raindrop was followed by its brethren in a torrential downpour that ended up dumping a foot of water on Chicago (that's a slight exaggeration -- but it did break records) in the course of an hour, resulting in flooded basements in my neighborhood (taking out the apartment's water heater apparently), I did feel like I was auditioning for the revival of the "Book of Job: the Musical".
12.) If there's one silver lining, it is comforting to know that a crisis brings folks together. I exchanged power outage stories with both the upstairs and the downstairs guys -- more words than I've spoken to either of them in all my time here. I met down-the-street neighbors at the local bar the first night when I attempted to escape into air conditioning. If it weren't so damn hot, we should have just all had a neighborhood block party!
13.) The only item delivered to the house on Saturday by my mail carrier in the midst of this "event" -- the electric bill from ComEd. Of course it was ...
OUR HOUSE ... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4RWBCEFRo
I THOUGHT IT WAS 9/11 INFLUENCED ... BUT IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN 2000!:
http://www.just-food.com/news/campbell-announces-largest-new-soup-initiatives-ever_id90330.aspx
THEY CALLED IT "EXTREME" WEATHER:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-22/news/chi-heat-expected-to-wane-but-not-until-monday-20110722_1_storms-roll-excessive-heat-flood-warnings
Com Con!
And that's not our version of the event running right now in San Diego for the cultish fans of all matters of shows -- but the con perpetrated on me by ComEd and Comcast with my power outage. The basic framework -- a transformer in the back alley blew up Thursday night around 6:15 local time and the power didn't return in full until Saturday evening (by which time, I was in a suburbs hotel because I couldn't deal with it any more). And electricity is apparently just one step in the process of supplying cable to a household, as Comcast didn't re-boot my access until Sunday late afternoon.
What follows ... the (baker's) dozen things I learned dealing with this "crisis":
1.) Thinking that the items in my frig or freezer were at risk, I added up what I expected to be the total loss -- approximately $500. I then checked the deductible on my renter's insurance and it was -- exactly $500. Of course it was.
2.) I've spent my whole career in various forms of customer service knowing that it is key to underpromise and overdeliver. So then why is it that the Com companies played the game of automated "power tease" by updating their "estimated restore time" every two hours with a time two hours in the immediate future. And why is it that it took me 36 hours before I finally realized they weren't going to satisfy me and that I should give up making temporary plans.
3.) Cats are just creepy sometimes. It's like they knew that the power outage meant the electric can opener wouldn't work. (And why is it that my Campbell's soup reacted to 9/11 disaster buzz by changing the can to a tear off top, but the cans of tuna are still so impenetrable.) I would say that I came to the conclusion that I needed to go buy an old-fashioned manual can opener myself, but I also wouldn't be surprised if one of the cats used mind control and "stared" that thought into my brain.
4.) Faint memories of extreme cold from this winter aren't enough to cool me off when I'm lying in a puddle of sweat attempting to adjust to the triple digit heat indices -- at midnight no less!
5.) I now believe that I can tell how old a Starbucks branch is by how many outlets they have available for their customers.
6.) I've previously learned that the ability to successfully work remotely (as I've done since last fall) is predicated on having a quality internet connection. I now recognize that having a quality electricity connection is even more important!
7.) The sound of my neighbor across the street running his or her air conditioner (the outage was just my block) is infuriating when I'm lying in a puddle of sweat attempting to adjust to the triple digit heat indices -- at midnight no less!
8.) During daylight hours when the only thing to do is read the local TimeOut sitting near a window is the perfect time for me to stumble on the advert on the back cover suggesting that I consider taking advantage of the new utility reform and purchase electricity from a private competitor.
9.) The last time I remember being near a transformer that blew, I cowered in the corner of my childhood bedroom thinking it was the apocalypse (see my post from 8.24.10 for the full story -- including how my step sister captured the noise when she was taping the classic 80's Madness tune "Our House" off the radio and on to her boombox). Ah transformer destruction memories that have nothing to do with Michael Bay!
10.) That first sound of a raindrop when I'm lying in a puddle of sweat attempting to adjust to the triple digit heat indices -- at midnight no less -- is amazing when it is accompanied by a breeze. I don't know how else to describe the feeling other than to say it's like the moment that Ma Ingalls turns to Pa and says "we'll be able to eat this year after all now that the drought has ended".
11.) Japan had it much worse and I know it's not even comparable, but when that same raindrop was followed by its brethren in a torrential downpour that ended up dumping a foot of water on Chicago (that's a slight exaggeration -- but it did break records) in the course of an hour, resulting in flooded basements in my neighborhood (taking out the apartment's water heater apparently), I did feel like I was auditioning for the revival of the "Book of Job: the Musical".
12.) If there's one silver lining, it is comforting to know that a crisis brings folks together. I exchanged power outage stories with both the upstairs and the downstairs guys -- more words than I've spoken to either of them in all my time here. I met down-the-street neighbors at the local bar the first night when I attempted to escape into air conditioning. If it weren't so damn hot, we should have just all had a neighborhood block party!
13.) The only item delivered to the house on Saturday by my mail carrier in the midst of this "event" -- the electric bill from ComEd. Of course it was ...
OUR HOUSE ... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4RWBCEFRo
I THOUGHT IT WAS 9/11 INFLUENCED ... BUT IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN 2000!:
http://www.just-food.com/news/campbell-announces-largest-new-soup-initiatives-ever_id90330.aspx
THEY CALLED IT "EXTREME" WEATHER:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-22/news/chi-heat-expected-to-wane-but-not-until-monday-20110722_1_storms-roll-excessive-heat-flood-warnings
July 23, 2011
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/23/11
I don’t mean to go off on a rant here, but …
I may have taken the high road this past Wednesday, but it was admittedly just so I could scout out the low road. So, if you want, join me on that particular journey (you may need a few minutes to get it through it, though -- so curl up with a beverage of choice). If you don't want, move on -- after all, as you'll soon see, THAT is exactly the point.
Here’s what happened approximately 72 hours ago: I posted my randomness as a status update, as I’ve done nearly 1000 times before since starting down this creative avenue, only to have this comment appear --"BORING....STOP WITH SUCH BULLSHIt!!!!!!!!!!!!!....I IGNORE!!!!!!!!!" (after which I promptly and politely thanked the individual for her feedback), which was then followed by --"yeah well...such long and comments [sic] make me just freakin pass your shit good bye!!!!!!!!!!!"
One might say, “oh just let it go”, but the choice to use all caps served the purpose to convey that this message was delivered with a heightened sense of urgency, so I drew the conclusion that it deserves a more thorough analysis. And, can I just get this off my chest – I don’t know if punctuation is a limited resource like the rain forest, but I am a fan of the exclamation point, and I simply am putting out there that I hope others see the value in making sure there are still some for all of us to use as we see fit. Let’s not waste them such that the next generation might never know the power of punctuation.
On to the main idea presented in the exchange. I haven’t yet watched The Social Network (damn power outages caused by triple digit heat indices messing up my regular internet access and DVR plans -- more on that tomorrow), but I have taken the time to interact with some young’uns and they assure me that no one is under any obligation to read everything that is posted in the social media sphere. And let me say that again to be perfectly clear – I could not find a constitutional nor a religious imperative to do so. Not an article nor a chapter/verse could I cite. (To the contrary, there were tenets of “free will” that were undercurrents of both documents.)
After all, let’s not get it twisted (I promise that I will soon retire that phrase -- but, for now, it makes me feel all double snap sassy when I use it). I will post. I will post daily. I will nigh unto guarantee that there will be seven posts from me by the time a week has ended (eight, once the Penn State football season starts). Sure, a vacation or a power outage or a multi-day hangover may occasionally force me to catch up by posting multiple times in one day – but the volume is going to be predictable if you consider the larger time frame. Oh – and my tech generation representative nephew set it up so that each post also shows up as a note on my Facebook page. Since the synching of that process is a little more unpredictable, you may even see a day where four fortnights worth of posts appear as notes at the same time (that just happened recently, maybe me look even more annoying?). But have no doubt – I will post. This is my creative outlet. This keeps me on the right side of that little line between sanity and insanity. This is what I do and how I roll.
Enough grandstanding – how about I get down to the brass tacks and provide some action steps for those feeling the same way as my cyber-commenter. Because I recognize that you don’t have to be my captive audience for my thoughts. But here’s where the beauty of Facebook comes in. You have options.
Tip #1: Remember that concept of free will. It may be a shocker (although I thought it was obvious), but you can ignore what I post. To do so on a laptop view of Facebook, simply keep on moving your mouse down the page. If you follow social media on a smart phone, it will require you to expend a little more energy – but with practice, I have confidence that you can master the finger slide to move on to another’s status update with just little effort. When I was younger, TV was a main source of information – so if you’re of that age or older, look at it this way – it’s like changing the damn channel, that’s how easy it is. For instance, if you don’t like Fox News (insert the downfall of Rupert Murdoch reference here) because the subtext of every scene is that Obama is the Antichrist, then turn the channel. If you don’t like MSNBC (insert left liberal leaning media lament here) because the subtext of every scene is that Obama is the second coming of the actual Christ, then turn the channel. It doesn’t get much simpler or less obtrusive on your daily routine.
Tip #2: If, for whatever reason, you are under the influence of something or someone or some amount of alcohol and can’t enjoy the exercise of free will, then the functions of Facebook provide you with a way to hide my content. I recognize it’s the more WASPY approach to conflict, but if it accomplishes what you need it to, than, by all means, hide away. And, because I’m that kind of guy – here’s how you do it: Move your mouse over any of my random posts, click on the "X" button that appears to the right, and then select the option to hide me.
Tip #3: Feel like taking it a step further? Want to exercise that free will and make a personal statement at the same time? Offended by something I’ve said or implied or inferred or that you took out of context? De-friend me (and here’s how it is done: click on the picture of my increasingly chubbier face, scroll down to the bottom of my page, and click on "defriend" on the left hand side of the screen). Of course I’ll miss you, but in a karmic way, I’ll be much happier knowing that you are much happier by not having to see my posts. I’ve ranted about the de-friending process before (ironically, one year ago -- see post for July 24, 2010 on http://www.capcognition.blogspot.com/), but just know that “I get it”. As I said, I’m not everyone’s “flavor” – and I’m actualized enough to be OK with that.
Tip #4: Still not satisfied? Here’s where old Zuckerberg's intelligence and stubborn streak and vindictiveness will work to your advantage. Facebook has an unbelievable feature that makes people disappear. It’s amazing – like your own personal “Eraser” at your fingertips – like contracting out a mob hit but in the least messy way possible and without having to carry the side effects of paying to have a life snuffed out for the rest of your existence. Either you or I can take that extra step to block a person (and it's easy -- do the same thing I say in step 3 but choose "block" instead of "unfriend" -- and I guess you could "report" me too, although I don't think that the fact that "you don't get me" is going to be actionable by the folks in charge). I promise that our social media paths will never cross again, and I have to imagine, for some, it’s a bit of freedom to seek out the next target against which you can demonstrate your general lack of manners.
Oh -- and I have one last bee in my bonnet, thorn in my side, burr under my saddle, etc. etc. that I just have to say. If you can count on one hand the number of face to face interactions that you and I have had in my adult life (my childhood doesn’t count unless those interactions were of the way memorable kind), chances are that your feedback isn’t going to be as valuable to me. Seeing that sentence in print just now – it looks like it might be mean-spirited. But please know that it’s just me being direct and a little extra blunt. Instead, if you would have to borrow the tiny hands and bound feet of all the females that were allowed to survive their birth in government-mandated –one-child-China just to have enough digits to enumerate our time spent together, then I look forward to your feedback. And, if you’re in that second camp (that I just inadvertently made Communist through my choice of imagery), I already know that you’ll have the decency and class to communicate with me privately about your concerns.
So -- I guess it all comes down to freedom of expression, and, in a full circle kind of way, that hasn’t been lost on me. That drive and determination that I have to post daily ultimately stems from the same concept that allowed this incident to happen in the first place – she was just as free to express herself as she did in the comment(s). Now I know why it’s so hard to stop those Westboro Wackjobs on their protest tours. But now I also know why the most effective counter to their spewing of hatred and assorted vitriol are the expressions in the way of counter protests – the bikers who provide the safe passage for grieving military families. The angels with the giant wings who show up with a simple but powerful message of love to block out the crazy scribblings on the signs of the cult of hatred. So yes, express away – but don’t you dare attempt to stop me from doing the same and from doing it my way (in what now has officially become my longest rant/post/update ever)!
If this sermon-esque status update were presented in a different format, we might close by passing around the collection plate. But since I’ve never attempted to monetize my blog, that’s not relevant. Instead, I’ll close with a selection of songs that communicate my deepest and most random thoughts on this issue: “You’re not the boss of me now”, “I fly above all the haters”, “I won't back down”, "I will not go quietly", “I gotta be me” and “I’m not here for your entertainment”. Oh, and I’m not above a little pandering – so, in conclusion, “God bless America”.
I may have taken the high road this past Wednesday, but it was admittedly just so I could scout out the low road. So, if you want, join me on that particular journey (you may need a few minutes to get it through it, though -- so curl up with a beverage of choice). If you don't want, move on -- after all, as you'll soon see, THAT is exactly the point.
Here’s what happened approximately 72 hours ago: I posted my randomness as a status update, as I’ve done nearly 1000 times before since starting down this creative avenue, only to have this comment appear --"BORING....STOP WITH SUCH BULLSHIt!!!!!!!!!!!!!....I IGNORE!!!!!!!!!" (after which I promptly and politely thanked the individual for her feedback), which was then followed by --"yeah well...such long and comments [sic] make me just freakin pass your shit good bye!!!!!!!!!!!"
One might say, “oh just let it go”, but the choice to use all caps served the purpose to convey that this message was delivered with a heightened sense of urgency, so I drew the conclusion that it deserves a more thorough analysis. And, can I just get this off my chest – I don’t know if punctuation is a limited resource like the rain forest, but I am a fan of the exclamation point, and I simply am putting out there that I hope others see the value in making sure there are still some for all of us to use as we see fit. Let’s not waste them such that the next generation might never know the power of punctuation.
On to the main idea presented in the exchange. I haven’t yet watched The Social Network (damn power outages caused by triple digit heat indices messing up my regular internet access and DVR plans -- more on that tomorrow), but I have taken the time to interact with some young’uns and they assure me that no one is under any obligation to read everything that is posted in the social media sphere. And let me say that again to be perfectly clear – I could not find a constitutional nor a religious imperative to do so. Not an article nor a chapter/verse could I cite. (To the contrary, there were tenets of “free will” that were undercurrents of both documents.)
After all, let’s not get it twisted (I promise that I will soon retire that phrase -- but, for now, it makes me feel all double snap sassy when I use it). I will post. I will post daily. I will nigh unto guarantee that there will be seven posts from me by the time a week has ended (eight, once the Penn State football season starts). Sure, a vacation or a power outage or a multi-day hangover may occasionally force me to catch up by posting multiple times in one day – but the volume is going to be predictable if you consider the larger time frame. Oh – and my tech generation representative nephew set it up so that each post also shows up as a note on my Facebook page. Since the synching of that process is a little more unpredictable, you may even see a day where four fortnights worth of posts appear as notes at the same time (that just happened recently, maybe me look even more annoying?). But have no doubt – I will post. This is my creative outlet. This keeps me on the right side of that little line between sanity and insanity. This is what I do and how I roll.
Enough grandstanding – how about I get down to the brass tacks and provide some action steps for those feeling the same way as my cyber-commenter. Because I recognize that you don’t have to be my captive audience for my thoughts. But here’s where the beauty of Facebook comes in. You have options.
Tip #1: Remember that concept of free will. It may be a shocker (although I thought it was obvious), but you can ignore what I post. To do so on a laptop view of Facebook, simply keep on moving your mouse down the page. If you follow social media on a smart phone, it will require you to expend a little more energy – but with practice, I have confidence that you can master the finger slide to move on to another’s status update with just little effort. When I was younger, TV was a main source of information – so if you’re of that age or older, look at it this way – it’s like changing the damn channel, that’s how easy it is. For instance, if you don’t like Fox News (insert the downfall of Rupert Murdoch reference here) because the subtext of every scene is that Obama is the Antichrist, then turn the channel. If you don’t like MSNBC (insert left liberal leaning media lament here) because the subtext of every scene is that Obama is the second coming of the actual Christ, then turn the channel. It doesn’t get much simpler or less obtrusive on your daily routine.
Tip #2: If, for whatever reason, you are under the influence of something or someone or some amount of alcohol and can’t enjoy the exercise of free will, then the functions of Facebook provide you with a way to hide my content. I recognize it’s the more WASPY approach to conflict, but if it accomplishes what you need it to, than, by all means, hide away. And, because I’m that kind of guy – here’s how you do it: Move your mouse over any of my random posts, click on the "X" button that appears to the right, and then select the option to hide me.
Tip #3: Feel like taking it a step further? Want to exercise that free will and make a personal statement at the same time? Offended by something I’ve said or implied or inferred or that you took out of context? De-friend me (and here’s how it is done: click on the picture of my increasingly chubbier face, scroll down to the bottom of my page, and click on "defriend" on the left hand side of the screen). Of course I’ll miss you, but in a karmic way, I’ll be much happier knowing that you are much happier by not having to see my posts. I’ve ranted about the de-friending process before (ironically, one year ago -- see post for July 24, 2010 on http://www.capcognition.blogspot.com/), but just know that “I get it”. As I said, I’m not everyone’s “flavor” – and I’m actualized enough to be OK with that.
Tip #4: Still not satisfied? Here’s where old Zuckerberg's intelligence and stubborn streak and vindictiveness will work to your advantage. Facebook has an unbelievable feature that makes people disappear. It’s amazing – like your own personal “Eraser” at your fingertips – like contracting out a mob hit but in the least messy way possible and without having to carry the side effects of paying to have a life snuffed out for the rest of your existence. Either you or I can take that extra step to block a person (and it's easy -- do the same thing I say in step 3 but choose "block" instead of "unfriend" -- and I guess you could "report" me too, although I don't think that the fact that "you don't get me" is going to be actionable by the folks in charge). I promise that our social media paths will never cross again, and I have to imagine, for some, it’s a bit of freedom to seek out the next target against which you can demonstrate your general lack of manners.
Oh -- and I have one last bee in my bonnet, thorn in my side, burr under my saddle, etc. etc. that I just have to say. If you can count on one hand the number of face to face interactions that you and I have had in my adult life (my childhood doesn’t count unless those interactions were of the way memorable kind), chances are that your feedback isn’t going to be as valuable to me. Seeing that sentence in print just now – it looks like it might be mean-spirited. But please know that it’s just me being direct and a little extra blunt. Instead, if you would have to borrow the tiny hands and bound feet of all the females that were allowed to survive their birth in government-mandated –one-child-China just to have enough digits to enumerate our time spent together, then I look forward to your feedback. And, if you’re in that second camp (that I just inadvertently made Communist through my choice of imagery), I already know that you’ll have the decency and class to communicate with me privately about your concerns.
So -- I guess it all comes down to freedom of expression, and, in a full circle kind of way, that hasn’t been lost on me. That drive and determination that I have to post daily ultimately stems from the same concept that allowed this incident to happen in the first place – she was just as free to express herself as she did in the comment(s). Now I know why it’s so hard to stop those Westboro Wackjobs on their protest tours. But now I also know why the most effective counter to their spewing of hatred and assorted vitriol are the expressions in the way of counter protests – the bikers who provide the safe passage for grieving military families. The angels with the giant wings who show up with a simple but powerful message of love to block out the crazy scribblings on the signs of the cult of hatred. So yes, express away – but don’t you dare attempt to stop me from doing the same and from doing it my way (in what now has officially become my longest rant/post/update ever)!
If this sermon-esque status update were presented in a different format, we might close by passing around the collection plate. But since I’ve never attempted to monetize my blog, that’s not relevant. Instead, I’ll close with a selection of songs that communicate my deepest and most random thoughts on this issue: “You’re not the boss of me now”, “I fly above all the haters”, “I won't back down”, "I will not go quietly", “I gotta be me” and “I’m not here for your entertainment”. Oh, and I’m not above a little pandering – so, in conclusion, “God bless America”.
LIFE IS UNFAIR ... LIFE IS A TEST:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Za8HggalY
I'M SECURE ABOUT WHO I AM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eebbhTapbY
AND I'LL STAND MY GROUND:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUTXb-ga1fo
WOKE UP WITH A HEAVY HEAD:
(video deleted cause Don Henley protects his creative output -- but you get it, right?)
... JUST GOTTA BE ME:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbLlCxK0pHY
IT'S JUST U AND UR "TYPING" HAND TONIGHT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUtHjOvPKT0
I'M NOT REALLY PANDERING, I MEAN IT (PARTICULARLY FOR THAT 1st AMEND):
July 22, 2011
Random Flashback for Friday 7/22/11
Last week, I showed a picture of a sign from my Mom's wild west exploration in 1991 that read Lost Trail Pass.
Well, apparently -- she found it. Here's the top of the trail on the border between Idaho and Montana, inexplicably taken in the slightly slanted and sideways style of the 60's Batman live action comedy.
[And it's the penultimate photo in my "filler" series since I had none of my own from that summer twenty years ago. One more next week (and I promise it is not just of trees or nature or animals near the trees in nature) ... and then it's back to my life twenty years ago.]
July 21, 2011
Random Thought for Thursday 7/21/11
[Thursdays in July ... my new occasional series continues ...]
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... can a whole neighborhood get behind an (all-too-rare) Cubs win. I was gobsmacked to drive through a northside 'hood yesterday (power outages have me a day behind and have me posting this at a 24 hour Starbucks tonight ... uggh) where I saw a big orange W (Cubs Win!) placard on every tree and signpost on one side of the street for blocks.
[Sadly, this was just my first thought and it turned out to be farthest from the truth. First, the Cubs played the all-but-guaranteed-a-spot-in-the-World-Series Phillies the day before I witnessed this -- so it was most definitely not a win situation to be celebrating. Second, the orangeness of the W signs should have given it away -- this 'hood had Wednesday street cleaning lined up!]
THIS SIGN ...:
http://lifeofbmar.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/cubs-win-flag.jpg?w=400&h=297
... IS NOT THE SAME AS THIS SIGN ...:
http://www.edgevillebuzz.com/uncategorized/street-sweeping-schedule-2
THIS PROGNOSTICATOR CALLED IT BACK IN DECEMBER:
http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978799873
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... can a whole neighborhood get behind an (all-too-rare) Cubs win. I was gobsmacked to drive through a northside 'hood yesterday (power outages have me a day behind and have me posting this at a 24 hour Starbucks tonight ... uggh) where I saw a big orange W (Cubs Win!) placard on every tree and signpost on one side of the street for blocks.
[Sadly, this was just my first thought and it turned out to be farthest from the truth. First, the Cubs played the all-but-guaranteed-a-spot-in-the-World-Series Phillies the day before I witnessed this -- so it was most definitely not a win situation to be celebrating. Second, the orangeness of the W signs should have given it away -- this 'hood had Wednesday street cleaning lined up!]
THIS SIGN ...:
http://lifeofbmar.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/cubs-win-flag.jpg?w=400&h=297
... IS NOT THE SAME AS THIS SIGN ...:
http://www.edgevillebuzz.com/uncategorized/street-sweeping-schedule-2
THIS PROGNOSTICATOR CALLED IT BACK IN DECEMBER:
http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978799873
July 20, 2011
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/20/11
Gullah-Geechee.
Used in a sentence: "I'd be lying if I didn't say that I scanned a newspaper article about the demise of the Gullah-Geechee language and didn't immediately think of the classic Eddie Murphy/Kyle K. "goonie goo-goo gus" routine."
[MY SHOE!]
Turns out that these are a real people, though, descendants of slaves who live in the coastal areas from Wilmington, NC all the way south to Jacksonville, FL, and whose language and customs are fading away as modernity (and a touch of intolerance) move in. The language was even used during WWII as code -- so it is sad to see the group at risk of fading away.
In my opinion, a less diverse world gets mighty boring mighty quickly ...
WARNING: RAW LANGUAGE AHEAD (pun intended):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_n5JWzj6yU
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS DESIGNATED A CORRIDOR:
http://www.nps.gov/guge/index.htm
JUST 1 of 26 STORIES FILED UNDER "I LOVE RICE" -- WHAT?:
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Love-Rice/394289
Used in a sentence: "I'd be lying if I didn't say that I scanned a newspaper article about the demise of the Gullah-Geechee language and didn't immediately think of the classic Eddie Murphy/Kyle K. "goonie goo-goo gus" routine."
[MY SHOE!]
Turns out that these are a real people, though, descendants of slaves who live in the coastal areas from Wilmington, NC all the way south to Jacksonville, FL, and whose language and customs are fading away as modernity (and a touch of intolerance) move in. The language was even used during WWII as code -- so it is sad to see the group at risk of fading away.
In my opinion, a less diverse world gets mighty boring mighty quickly ...
WARNING: RAW LANGUAGE AHEAD (pun intended):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_n5JWzj6yU
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS DESIGNATED A CORRIDOR:
http://www.nps.gov/guge/index.htm
JUST 1 of 26 STORIES FILED UNDER "I LOVE RICE" -- WHAT?:
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Love-Rice/394289
July 19, 2011
Random Tune for Tuesday 7/19/11
On those competition reality cooking shows, they are always serving up duos and trios of menu items to demonstrate their cleverity (I know it's not a word -- I'm feeling rebellious tonight) and their confidence in their craft.
So I've been inspired to do the same with tonight's random tune-age. Here's a seminal anti-war song, served up in the style of original, classic hippie and modern day extra indignant. "And I'll stand over your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead!"
[Note -- don't Hanoi Jane me here, as I most certainly do support our troops. Instead, I'm saddened by the industrial military complex that runs the "business" of war -- and that's a common theme through multiple posts of mine over the years. Don't you dare get it twisted.]
MASTERS OF WAR, the ORIGINAL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onRobFQchS0
MASTERS OF WAR, a la CLASSIC HIPPIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ZErkwDTEk
MASTERS OF WAR, served up EXTRA INDIGNANT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOqotMqV9V8
So I've been inspired to do the same with tonight's random tune-age. Here's a seminal anti-war song, served up in the style of original, classic hippie and modern day extra indignant. "And I'll stand over your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead!"
[Note -- don't Hanoi Jane me here, as I most certainly do support our troops. Instead, I'm saddened by the industrial military complex that runs the "business" of war -- and that's a common theme through multiple posts of mine over the years. Don't you dare get it twisted.]
MASTERS OF WAR, the ORIGINAL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onRobFQchS0
MASTERS OF WAR, a la CLASSIC HIPPIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ZErkwDTEk
MASTERS OF WAR, served up EXTRA INDIGNANT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOqotMqV9V8
July 18, 2011
Random Memorial for Monday 7/18/11
Gone but not forgotten: when a kilogram weighed a kilogram.
In a way, I'm kind of excited. I know there are no quick fixes for losing weight, but now that I know that the International Prototype (a piece of metal stored in a triple-locked vault in France) has lost 50 micrograms since it was last weighed in 1990 -- and with the pound apprently being defined as a derived measure of the kilo, that means I am automatically losing a little weight every decade!
Of course, with a modest (?) goal to lose 40 pounds before I turn 40 next January, I may have to rely on more traditional methods (less slathering of bacon and cheese on all my edibles, more movement then just the current pattern of bed->work laptop->couch->work laptop->personal laptop->couch->bed, more water and less sugar based potables in my routine, less bingeing* and more purging). But at least I now have a way to trick my mind into thinking I have a head start!
[*apparently binging is also acceptable, but in today's world, that seems to imply that I chose a Microsoft search over a Google one -- and I don't usually do that]
Once upon a time when the cylinder of metal made up of 90% platinum and 10% iridium that's 1.54212598 inches high by 1.54212598 inches in diameter weighed 50 micrograms more, you will not be missed if it means I've lost weight too!
THE MORE SARCASTIC TAKE:
http://www.crispinsartwell.com/kilo.htm
I KNOW, I KNOW --> BULIMIA IS NOT FUNNY:
http://www.bulimiahope.com/
DARE I SAY IT? CAN I LESS 40 LBS in 40 DAYS WITH A PREGNANCY HORMONE?:
http://healthybodydaily.com/dr-oz-diets/dr-oz-hcg-diet-does-dr-oz-approve-of-the-hcg-diet
In a way, I'm kind of excited. I know there are no quick fixes for losing weight, but now that I know that the International Prototype (a piece of metal stored in a triple-locked vault in France) has lost 50 micrograms since it was last weighed in 1990 -- and with the pound apprently being defined as a derived measure of the kilo, that means I am automatically losing a little weight every decade!
Of course, with a modest (?) goal to lose 40 pounds before I turn 40 next January, I may have to rely on more traditional methods (less slathering of bacon and cheese on all my edibles, more movement then just the current pattern of bed->work laptop->couch->work laptop->personal laptop->couch->bed, more water and less sugar based potables in my routine, less bingeing* and more purging). But at least I now have a way to trick my mind into thinking I have a head start!
[*apparently binging is also acceptable, but in today's world, that seems to imply that I chose a Microsoft search over a Google one -- and I don't usually do that]
Once upon a time when the cylinder of metal made up of 90% platinum and 10% iridium that's 1.54212598 inches high by 1.54212598 inches in diameter weighed 50 micrograms more, you will not be missed if it means I've lost weight too!
THE MORE SARCASTIC TAKE:
http://www.crispinsartwell.com/kilo.htm
I KNOW, I KNOW --> BULIMIA IS NOT FUNNY:
http://www.bulimiahope.com/
DARE I SAY IT? CAN I LESS 40 LBS in 40 DAYS WITH A PREGNANCY HORMONE?:
http://healthybodydaily.com/dr-oz-diets/dr-oz-hcg-diet-does-dr-oz-approve-of-the-hcg-diet
July 17, 2011
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/17/11
What Chicago is talking about this week:
A pitchfork, two [dah-lee]s and an ex-Beatle.
If Carnac the Magnificent were still entertaining regularly, the message inside the envelope would read something to the effect of "what are your performance choices in the area for the next fortnight".
The sold out indie-music Pitchfork Festival concludes today (with hellish temperatures all around -- a dew point of 80, I'm told), a guy named Tenzin Gyatso (the actual name of the Dalai Lama) espouses inter-faith cooperation as he spiritualizes on a local campus tomorrow, the Dolly Parton is coming to town the weekend after next to promote her new album, and the month closes out with a Paul McCartney, MBE concert or two at Wrigley (or, an evening to open my windows to hear the sounds of Beatles and Wings and the Firemen ...)!
There's always a little something for everyone in Chicago!
Y'ALL BEST DRINK LOTS OF WATER TODAY!:
http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/
PRESENTING THE 2011 BETTER DAY WORLD TOUR:
http://www.dollyon-line.com/tour/
TENZIN GYATSO hosted by the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY in AMERICA:
http://www.dalailamachicago.com/
A pitchfork, two [dah-lee]s and an ex-Beatle.
If Carnac the Magnificent were still entertaining regularly, the message inside the envelope would read something to the effect of "what are your performance choices in the area for the next fortnight".
The sold out indie-music Pitchfork Festival concludes today (with hellish temperatures all around -- a dew point of 80, I'm told), a guy named Tenzin Gyatso (the actual name of the Dalai Lama) espouses inter-faith cooperation as he spiritualizes on a local campus tomorrow, the Dolly Parton is coming to town the weekend after next to promote her new album, and the month closes out with a Paul McCartney, MBE concert or two at Wrigley (or, an evening to open my windows to hear the sounds of Beatles and Wings and the Firemen ...)!
There's always a little something for everyone in Chicago!
Y'ALL BEST DRINK LOTS OF WATER TODAY!:
http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/
PRESENTING THE 2011 BETTER DAY WORLD TOUR:
http://www.dollyon-line.com/tour/
TENZIN GYATSO hosted by the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY in AMERICA:
http://www.dalailamachicago.com/
July 16, 2011
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/16/11
I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...
... I think we've turned a dangerous corner where our cars can kill us in more and more creative ways.
I'm not cross-promoting the latest Transformers movie (actually, I just missed that cartoon when I was younger -- I was raised more on Tom and Jerry and Starblazers and Speed Racer as a child), nor am I bemoaning the latest drunk driving statistics or Oprah-led vows to attempt to prevent teens from crashing while texting (although both newsworthy people-killer stories, they're "old hat" and so commonplace, they're almost predictable). And I'm not naive enough to think that we all live in a Pixar Cars 2 world (that was a plug -- you can't go wrong with Pixar ...), but after reading these three stories back to back recently, I'm beginning to get paranoid that
every vehicle might just be idling, waiting to ignite its inner Christine.
First, Toyota decided to add "pedestrian-warning systems" to its otherwise-silent hybrid car, because it was messing with the minds of walkers who couldn't judge how quickly it was going. Too stealth for its own good, it needed to be upgraded to give pedestrians a fighting chance.
Then Mazda had to recall nearly 70 thousand vehicles -- not because of rollover tendencies or faulty brake lines or airbags that didn't inflate -- but because the yellow-sac spider infested them, taking up residence in the vent line and causing pressure problems in the fuel tank, which could cause a crack and lead to a gas leak.
Finally, a series of lawsuits were filed to protect disabled people from getting third degree burns from seats that heated to 120 degrees (or even one that maxed at 160 degrees), scorching their skin and putting them squarely in the hot seat (bad pun fully intended).
I know it's frowned upon right now to suggest a bigger government, but I'm thinking we need a secret X-files division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Maybe those same people who avoided LA's Car-mageddon can be tapped to address these concerns -- and others about which we've yet to hear! The Automotive Truth is Out There!!
YOU CAN CHOOSE THE SOUND OF A SPACE SHIP (of course you can)!:
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/silent-toyota-prius-to-get-sound-generator-50000485/
ARACHNID INFESTATION IN MAZDA 6s:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/0304/Yellow-sac-spiders-infest-Mazda-cars-cause-recall
THIS ONE IS SERIOUS IF YOU BELONG TO THE "-PLEGIC" COMMUNITY:
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/carseatburns.shtml
... I think we've turned a dangerous corner where our cars can kill us in more and more creative ways.
I'm not cross-promoting the latest Transformers movie (actually, I just missed that cartoon when I was younger -- I was raised more on Tom and Jerry and Starblazers and Speed Racer as a child), nor am I bemoaning the latest drunk driving statistics or Oprah-led vows to attempt to prevent teens from crashing while texting (although both newsworthy people-killer stories, they're "old hat" and so commonplace, they're almost predictable). And I'm not naive enough to think that we all live in a Pixar Cars 2 world (that was a plug -- you can't go wrong with Pixar ...), but after reading these three stories back to back recently, I'm beginning to get paranoid that
every vehicle might just be idling, waiting to ignite its inner Christine.
First, Toyota decided to add "pedestrian-warning systems" to its otherwise-silent hybrid car, because it was messing with the minds of walkers who couldn't judge how quickly it was going. Too stealth for its own good, it needed to be upgraded to give pedestrians a fighting chance.
Then Mazda had to recall nearly 70 thousand vehicles -- not because of rollover tendencies or faulty brake lines or airbags that didn't inflate -- but because the yellow-sac spider infested them, taking up residence in the vent line and causing pressure problems in the fuel tank, which could cause a crack and lead to a gas leak.
Finally, a series of lawsuits were filed to protect disabled people from getting third degree burns from seats that heated to 120 degrees (or even one that maxed at 160 degrees), scorching their skin and putting them squarely in the hot seat (bad pun fully intended).
I know it's frowned upon right now to suggest a bigger government, but I'm thinking we need a secret X-files division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Maybe those same people who avoided LA's Car-mageddon can be tapped to address these concerns -- and others about which we've yet to hear! The Automotive Truth is Out There!!
YOU CAN CHOOSE THE SOUND OF A SPACE SHIP (of course you can)!:
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/silent-toyota-prius-to-get-sound-generator-50000485/
ARACHNID INFESTATION IN MAZDA 6s:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/0304/Yellow-sac-spiders-infest-Mazda-cars-cause-recall
THIS ONE IS SERIOUS IF YOU BELONG TO THE "-PLEGIC" COMMUNITY:
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/carseatburns.shtml
July 15, 2011
Random Flashback for Friday 7/15/11
According to the back of this picture, this "lost trail pass" sign was on the border of Montana and Idaho in 1991 when my mom went exploring out west and sent me copies of photos of the trip.
As I've been saying, I don't have any pics of my own from that summer -- but that doesn't mean I wasn't doing anything. According to my notes, I was out on a trail of sorts myself that year -- the campaign trail to elect a certain Joe Mesics for Judge in Lebanon County.
Yep -- dabbling with volunteer work for the county Young Republicans was the perfect pairing for the Political Science degree I was getting at LVC. Some twenty years later, I've pretty much given up on both parties and their inability to compromise and build consensus to demonstrate leadership ... but back then I was all awestruck to see local AM Radio legend Henry Homan interview folks on election night for WLBR!
July 14, 2011
Random Thought for Thursday 7/14/11
[I'm keeping this occasional series going on Thursdays this month ...]
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... can property miles and miles from Lake Michigan still be considered "lakeview" -- mostly by anxious realtors trying to sell or rent, or poor folk trying to pose as if they've "moved on up".
CHECK THE MAP -- THERE's NO VIEW OF THE LAKE IN SIGHT!:
http://www.dreamtown.com/neighborhoods/lakeview.html
AND THIS ONE GOES EVEN MORE TO THE WEST:
http://www.apartmentpeople.com/find_apartment/neighborhood_information/about/lakeview
THE CLOSEST VIEW OF THE LAKE YOU CAN GET (note the swim bans ...):
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/beaches/
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... can property miles and miles from Lake Michigan still be considered "lakeview" -- mostly by anxious realtors trying to sell or rent, or poor folk trying to pose as if they've "moved on up".
CHECK THE MAP -- THERE's NO VIEW OF THE LAKE IN SIGHT!:
http://www.dreamtown.com/neighborhoods/lakeview.html
AND THIS ONE GOES EVEN MORE TO THE WEST:
http://www.apartmentpeople.com/find_apartment/neighborhood_information/about/lakeview
THE CLOSEST VIEW OF THE LAKE YOU CAN GET (note the swim bans ...):
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/beaches/
July 13, 2011
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/13/11
Colony Collapse (&) Dis(-)order.
Used in a sentence: "Not to go all 'chicken little' on y'all, but the disappearing bee phenomenon now has a name -- (actually, it's had one for awhile, but this is the first time I've heard it called this, so I'm linguistically excited) -- it's called a Colony Collapse Disorder."
[I may have seen too many Walking Deads and Falling Skies in this last year, but it did immediately make me think of a post-apocalyptic bee world where honey is the new world currency, and nations fight over the last hives. And then most of us suddenly develop that allergy to bee stings, and those that were allergic before become sting-resistant, the only super humans that can prevail in a deadly game of bee or human survival. The title of that zygote of a graphic novel -- Colony Collapse & Dis-order. (See what I did with just two additional characters?!)]
Coming so quickly on the tale of the deformed frogs so frequently found in the wild, I have to wonder how many harbingers of impending ecological doom we need before we take action. Bring on the Mayan end-of-the-world before we all pollute ourselves out of existence!
ADMITTEDLY, THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN PROTECTING THE BEES:
http://www.burtsbees.com/c/root-bee-colony-collapse-disorder-save-disappearing-bees-burt-s-bees.html
DEFORMED FROGS IN THE WILD HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec96/frogs_12-23.html
GIVE A HOOT, DON'T POLLUTE (THE CRYING NATIVE AMERICAN WAS TOO SAD):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zpz1k5Mv4o
Used in a sentence: "Not to go all 'chicken little' on y'all, but the disappearing bee phenomenon now has a name -- (actually, it's had one for awhile, but this is the first time I've heard it called this, so I'm linguistically excited) -- it's called a Colony Collapse Disorder."
[I may have seen too many Walking Deads and Falling Skies in this last year, but it did immediately make me think of a post-apocalyptic bee world where honey is the new world currency, and nations fight over the last hives. And then most of us suddenly develop that allergy to bee stings, and those that were allergic before become sting-resistant, the only super humans that can prevail in a deadly game of bee or human survival. The title of that zygote of a graphic novel -- Colony Collapse & Dis-order. (See what I did with just two additional characters?!)]
Coming so quickly on the tale of the deformed frogs so frequently found in the wild, I have to wonder how many harbingers of impending ecological doom we need before we take action. Bring on the Mayan end-of-the-world before we all pollute ourselves out of existence!
ADMITTEDLY, THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN PROTECTING THE BEES:
http://www.burtsbees.com/c/root-bee-colony-collapse-disorder-save-disappearing-bees-burt-s-bees.html
DEFORMED FROGS IN THE WILD HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec96/frogs_12-23.html
GIVE A HOOT, DON'T POLLUTE (THE CRYING NATIVE AMERICAN WAS TOO SAD):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zpz1k5Mv4o
July 12, 2011
Random Tune for Tuesday 7/12/11
I'm up to the letter 'N' in my occasional series of musical eccentricities pulled from my 500+ cassette collection (again, thank you very much, Columbia House) ... and, unlike the last entry for 'M' (which was an embarrassment of riches, focus on the word embarrassment for some of those from which I could choose), my 'N's are a smaller bunch. I guess I'll pull one of the prettiest songs about adulterating-in-your-heart that I know (and the youtube video is supposedly from an overseas telly performance in 1974 -- when I was two years old!) ...
N IS FOR ... NEWTON-JOHN, OLIVIA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3TgdZM_FKY
N IS FOR ... NEWTON-JOHN, OLIVIA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3TgdZM_FKY
July 11, 2011
Random Memorial for Monday 7/11/11
Gone but not forgotten: communicating by a windshield note.
I don't know if it was in a world before the text message, or just because I was in a small town, or if the people with whom I interacted had a flair for the dramatic, but I miss the old "note on a windshield" routine -- coming out after a shift at work (like McDonalds or Hills), and finding something tucked under your wiper. Ah -- the days of innocence in my youth.
Since now all I get under the wiper is parking tickets, windshield missives, you are missed.
SO THERE IS A MODERN TAKE ON IT AFTER ALL:
http://www.notesonawindshield.com/
AND THERE'S EVEN A POST-MODERN NEW AGE-Y TAKE ON IT:
http://abcadventures.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/w-windshield-notes-of-encouragement/
AND EVEN A NotSafeForWork VERSION (WARNING -- FOUL LANGUAGE AHEAD:
http://www.whyleaveastoria.com/profiles/blogs/the-worlds-most-entertaining
I don't know if it was in a world before the text message, or just because I was in a small town, or if the people with whom I interacted had a flair for the dramatic, but I miss the old "note on a windshield" routine -- coming out after a shift at work (like McDonalds or Hills), and finding something tucked under your wiper. Ah -- the days of innocence in my youth.
Since now all I get under the wiper is parking tickets, windshield missives, you are missed.
SO THERE IS A MODERN TAKE ON IT AFTER ALL:
http://www.notesonawindshield.com/
AND THERE'S EVEN A POST-MODERN NEW AGE-Y TAKE ON IT:
http://abcadventures.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/w-windshield-notes-of-encouragement/
AND EVEN A NotSafeForWork VERSION (WARNING -- FOUL LANGUAGE AHEAD:
http://www.whyleaveastoria.com/profiles/blogs/the-worlds-most-entertaining
July 10, 2011
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/10/11
What Chicago is talking about this week:
If I were writing this yesterday when I intended (I've been a little under the weather for the last two days), I would have been taking an opportunity to bemoan my own suggestion that today's youth return to settling their disputes with old fashioned fisticuffs (ironically, the subject of my post last Fourth of July holiday -- see the Soapbox on 7/3/10) ... as a beach disturbance that didn't end with knives or guns drawn and used (of course, there were plenty of those over the weekend as well) still turned fatal as a teen trying to break up a fight was hit in the head, and never recovered. [A side note ... I know better than to think that the whole world has gone mad, but I'm beginning to fear it might be a majority ...]
But, since I'm writing this today, the conversation is all about surviving my first derecho. Well -- at least the first derecho that I knowingly survived. [Another side note ... I know I'm aging quickly when the weather forecast (which explained this particular wind-weather-phenomenon to me) becomes one of the things about the news to which I look most forward.] I lost power for half the day, so it was a good thing that I called off sick to work, as I couldn't have worked anyway without the juice from ComEd ... but it appears to have been mostly wind damage (trees knocked down on houses or cars in the 'hood), so I've really got nothing about which to complain.
[Final side note ... how concerned should I be that even the wind is on this trend toward ultra-violence?]
HE JUST WANTED TO BREAK UP A FIGHT:
http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/Teen_dies_after_fight_in_Long_Beach_police_searching_for_suspect_125118779.html
I WAS 1 OF 852,000:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-severe-thunderstorm-watch-for-northern-illinois-20110711,0,1006535.story
NOW I KNOW ALL ABOUT DERECHOS:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm
If I were writing this yesterday when I intended (I've been a little under the weather for the last two days), I would have been taking an opportunity to bemoan my own suggestion that today's youth return to settling their disputes with old fashioned fisticuffs (ironically, the subject of my post last Fourth of July holiday -- see the Soapbox on 7/3/10) ... as a beach disturbance that didn't end with knives or guns drawn and used (of course, there were plenty of those over the weekend as well) still turned fatal as a teen trying to break up a fight was hit in the head, and never recovered. [A side note ... I know better than to think that the whole world has gone mad, but I'm beginning to fear it might be a majority ...]
But, since I'm writing this today, the conversation is all about surviving my first derecho. Well -- at least the first derecho that I knowingly survived. [Another side note ... I know I'm aging quickly when the weather forecast (which explained this particular wind-weather-phenomenon to me) becomes one of the things about the news to which I look most forward.] I lost power for half the day, so it was a good thing that I called off sick to work, as I couldn't have worked anyway without the juice from ComEd ... but it appears to have been mostly wind damage (trees knocked down on houses or cars in the 'hood), so I've really got nothing about which to complain.
[Final side note ... how concerned should I be that even the wind is on this trend toward ultra-violence?]
HE JUST WANTED TO BREAK UP A FIGHT:
http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/Teen_dies_after_fight_in_Long_Beach_police_searching_for_suspect_125118779.html
I WAS 1 OF 852,000:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-severe-thunderstorm-watch-for-northern-illinois-20110711,0,1006535.story
NOW I KNOW ALL ABOUT DERECHOS:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm
July 9, 2011
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/9/11
I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...
... I'm finding it way too hard to follow along with all of the latest recreational drug trends -- and I'm a fan of Showtime's Weeds, so I hope this new season educates me a little.
I mean I get the old guys trying to recapture their youth by going "skiing" every now and then, or the young guys trying to hang on to their youth by keeping their ritalin/adderall prescriptions up to date (or the old guys trying to siphon off the youth of those young 'uns by sharing a prescription or two). And I love me some neighbors who smoke up often (they're so peaceful and quiet as they zone out in front of their televisions) and have adjusted to the smell of skunk that fills the lobby pretty frequently. And if you want to love everyone and party until six in the morning, well then going on a "roll" or two is just strategic. Or if you're familiar with the "wonga wonga" of a Whip-it, then you were most likely a wild and crazy teen in the early nineties, but you more than likely grew out of that phase.
[I've got nothing to say about the meth heads (except Breaking Bad comes back next weekend on AMC), or the heroin junkies or the crystal freaks -- as I don't really attribute the word "recreational" to those drug using communities.]
Here's what I don't get. The K2 craze ... the Spice phenomenon ... a touch of Wicked X ... (I thought it was the naturalness of the hemp that got people excited, what's with all this synthetic weed?). Or the fun from a night of doing "bath salts" -- Cloud Nine ... Ivory Wave ... Blue Silk -- who sat around on a boring night and said, "let's snort some plant food or insect repellent!"?
And I'm firmly convinced it's all about the money (it's a huge business and always will be, whether legalized or not) -- and the news that a CA entrepreneur is mixing his medical marijuana with soft drinks really doesn't surprise me -- according to him, coming soon to your local dispensary will be Canna Cola, Dr. Weed, Sour Diesel, Grape Ape and Orange Kush!
I know that every generation needs to go bigger and badder and bolder than the rest, and I normally support creativity and innovation, but on a day when we remember Betty Ford and what she did for those who turn the dial up way beyond recreational, I'd just like us to stick to what we know instead of having youths dabbling in what we don't.
CANNA COLA, THE HEMP FLAVOURED SOLUTION:
http://www.dupetit.de/cannacola/index.html
THE FEDS ARE COMING! THE FEDS ARE COMING!!:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20101124/k2-spice-legal-highs-illegal
FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE ADDICTION COMMUNITY:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/08/betty.ford.dies/
... I'm finding it way too hard to follow along with all of the latest recreational drug trends -- and I'm a fan of Showtime's Weeds, so I hope this new season educates me a little.
I mean I get the old guys trying to recapture their youth by going "skiing" every now and then, or the young guys trying to hang on to their youth by keeping their ritalin/adderall prescriptions up to date (or the old guys trying to siphon off the youth of those young 'uns by sharing a prescription or two). And I love me some neighbors who smoke up often (they're so peaceful and quiet as they zone out in front of their televisions) and have adjusted to the smell of skunk that fills the lobby pretty frequently. And if you want to love everyone and party until six in the morning, well then going on a "roll" or two is just strategic. Or if you're familiar with the "wonga wonga" of a Whip-it, then you were most likely a wild and crazy teen in the early nineties, but you more than likely grew out of that phase.
[I've got nothing to say about the meth heads (except Breaking Bad comes back next weekend on AMC), or the heroin junkies or the crystal freaks -- as I don't really attribute the word "recreational" to those drug using communities.]
Here's what I don't get. The K2 craze ... the Spice phenomenon ... a touch of Wicked X ... (I thought it was the naturalness of the hemp that got people excited, what's with all this synthetic weed?). Or the fun from a night of doing "bath salts" -- Cloud Nine ... Ivory Wave ... Blue Silk -- who sat around on a boring night and said, "let's snort some plant food or insect repellent!"?
And I'm firmly convinced it's all about the money (it's a huge business and always will be, whether legalized or not) -- and the news that a CA entrepreneur is mixing his medical marijuana with soft drinks really doesn't surprise me -- according to him, coming soon to your local dispensary will be Canna Cola, Dr. Weed, Sour Diesel, Grape Ape and Orange Kush!
I know that every generation needs to go bigger and badder and bolder than the rest, and I normally support creativity and innovation, but on a day when we remember Betty Ford and what she did for those who turn the dial up way beyond recreational, I'd just like us to stick to what we know instead of having youths dabbling in what we don't.
CANNA COLA, THE HEMP FLAVOURED SOLUTION:
http://www.dupetit.de/cannacola/index.html
THE FEDS ARE COMING! THE FEDS ARE COMING!!:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20101124/k2-spice-legal-highs-illegal
FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE ADDICTION COMMUNITY:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/08/betty.ford.dies/
July 8, 2011
Random Flashback for Friday 7/8/11
Last week, a deer dear -- this week, a goat. Not just any goat -- but a Montanian Mountain Goat about to cross a road in front of my mother twenty years ago on that trip of hers from 1991 that I'm using to bide my time as I flashback to that summer when I took no pics of my own.
(Only three more left, and then I stop representin' my life back then vicariously through another ...)
What was I doing in July 1991 (besides not taking pictures)? Apparently, I was still pretty involved with the youth of Hebron, and it pains me that there are no pictures of me being "Doc" in Sonward Ho (the oddly named vacation bible school theme that summer at my Methodist church), or of the work I did in Summer Fellowship or the Summer Retreat (where we most certainly were NOT in the vicinity of mountain animals).
July 7, 2011
Random Thought for Thursday 7/7/11
[Time to try out a new occasional series ... "Only in Chicago..." -- and, bonus, it's short enough to be re-tweetable!]
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... can you text a loved one that you're on LSD and they interpret it to mean that you'll be home soon instead of gathering up friends and family for an intervention.
I LOVE ME SOME LSD HISTORY:
http://forgottenchicago.com/articles/lake-shore-drive-redux/
TIMOTHY LEARY JUST PLAIN OLD LOVED HIS SOME LSD:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104075
ADDICTION ASSISTANCE (I CAN'T BE ALL SNARK ALL THE TIME):
http://www.chicagona.org/
ONLY IN CHICAGO ... can you text a loved one that you're on LSD and they interpret it to mean that you'll be home soon instead of gathering up friends and family for an intervention.
I LOVE ME SOME LSD HISTORY:
http://forgottenchicago.com/articles/lake-shore-drive-redux/
TIMOTHY LEARY JUST PLAIN OLD LOVED HIS SOME LSD:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104075
ADDICTION ASSISTANCE (I CAN'T BE ALL SNARK ALL THE TIME):
http://www.chicagona.org/
July 6, 2011
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/6/11
Rock snot.
Used in a sentence: "When I read about this issue the other day, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my mind wandered back to 5th/6th grade at Southeast Elementary when we all played "Snot-man" at recess (hey -- we were kids, it was a pre-video-game world, and we entertained ourselves by calling "tag with a base" by some other name) ... but my introduction to this concept is actually legitimate as I've learned that felt-sole waders are being banned by states because they carry didymo (or "rock snot"), an algae that is spreading from river to river."
Apparently Maryland was the first state to ban this gear used by fishermen -- but Vermont soon followed and Alaska will do so starting New Year's Day, 2012 (and Idaho, Oregon and Nevada have all tried). I think I can say that I've never been fishing (not that there's anything wrong with that lifestyle, mind you), so I can't really have much of an opinion (really -- me? with no opinion?) -- but for those of you who enjoy a life in or about the water, be informed and keep the didymo-rock snot to yourself, please!
THOU SHALT NOT WEAR FELT SHOES IN THE WATER:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-04-28-rock-snot-felt-sole-wader-ban_n.htm
NO, REALLY, THOU SHALT NOT WEAR FELT SHOES IN THE WATER:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-buzz/2011/02/footwear_blamed_for_rock_snot.html
... BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT THE ROCK SNOT LOOKS LIKE!:
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/ans/didymo/faq_didymo.htm
Used in a sentence: "When I read about this issue the other day, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my mind wandered back to 5th/6th grade at Southeast Elementary when we all played "Snot-man" at recess (hey -- we were kids, it was a pre-video-game world, and we entertained ourselves by calling "tag with a base" by some other name) ... but my introduction to this concept is actually legitimate as I've learned that felt-sole waders are being banned by states because they carry didymo (or "rock snot"), an algae that is spreading from river to river."
Apparently Maryland was the first state to ban this gear used by fishermen -- but Vermont soon followed and Alaska will do so starting New Year's Day, 2012 (and Idaho, Oregon and Nevada have all tried). I think I can say that I've never been fishing (not that there's anything wrong with that lifestyle, mind you), so I can't really have much of an opinion (really -- me? with no opinion?) -- but for those of you who enjoy a life in or about the water, be informed and keep the didymo-rock snot to yourself, please!
THOU SHALT NOT WEAR FELT SHOES IN THE WATER:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-04-28-rock-snot-felt-sole-wader-ban_n.htm
NO, REALLY, THOU SHALT NOT WEAR FELT SHOES IN THE WATER:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-buzz/2011/02/footwear_blamed_for_rock_snot.html
... BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT THE ROCK SNOT LOOKS LIKE!:
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/ans/didymo/faq_didymo.htm
July 5, 2011
Random Tune for Tuesday 7/5/11
In a way, I guess this post pairs nicely with "yesterday's" speaking about honoring those lost in war. I ran across this tune rather unexpectedly, sung by a singer I certainly wasn't expecting to sing it ... in a song that I understand much more than when I sang it years ago to audition for the LVC muscial "The Pajama Game" (it worked -- I got the part -- pictures are in my 1991 album, posted there this past spring). It is actually much sadder than I remembered it to be ...
FROM THE 25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AIRED ON PBS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYToP5ZfydE
FROM THE 25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AIRED ON PBS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYToP5ZfydE
July 4, 2011
Random Memorial for Monday 7/4/11
Gone but not forgotten: having too many tombs of unknown soldiers at Arlington.
It's supposed to be on its way to being fixed. Computer records are to be replacing paper ones. Metal tags are being used to make sure that remains do not get lost, misplaced or mischaracterized. And for those of you in the Chicago area, I'm not talking about the Burr Oak scandal that's gone on for the last few summers. I'm talking about our national burial grounds in DC. Whereas Burr Oak's problems appeared to be about money (selling the same grave site multiple times), the Arlington confusion (almost two dozen grave sites that were empty or had tombstones with wrong names, or went unmarked) seems o be about ineptitude.
Get new people in charge and get rid of the buffoons who desecrate the final resting place of those that make the greatest sacrifice -- those men and women who are most definitely missed.
BURR OAK ABOUT THE BUCKS:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5150755-504083.html
ARLINGTON ABOUT THE BAD PAPERWORK:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/arlington-national-cemetery-grave-mixups-unknown-soldier/story?id=13377606
SORRY, BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO MARGIN OF ERROR IN THIS SITUATION:
http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2060353,00.html
It's supposed to be on its way to being fixed. Computer records are to be replacing paper ones. Metal tags are being used to make sure that remains do not get lost, misplaced or mischaracterized. And for those of you in the Chicago area, I'm not talking about the Burr Oak scandal that's gone on for the last few summers. I'm talking about our national burial grounds in DC. Whereas Burr Oak's problems appeared to be about money (selling the same grave site multiple times), the Arlington confusion (almost two dozen grave sites that were empty or had tombstones with wrong names, or went unmarked) seems o be about ineptitude.
Get new people in charge and get rid of the buffoons who desecrate the final resting place of those that make the greatest sacrifice -- those men and women who are most definitely missed.
BURR OAK ABOUT THE BUCKS:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5150755-504083.html
ARLINGTON ABOUT THE BAD PAPERWORK:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/arlington-national-cemetery-grave-mixups-unknown-soldier/story?id=13377606
SORRY, BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO MARGIN OF ERROR IN THIS SITUATION:
http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2060353,00.html
July 3, 2011
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/3/11
What Chicago is talking about this week ...
... the animal rescues!
I've said it before and I'll say it again (today and many more times as relevant): I tend to like animals more than people on most days. (But not you -- you who are reading this is my favorite person ever.) So it was heartwarming to see two big news stories leading up to this holiday weekend.
First there was the daring duckling disentanglement -- that apparently started with someone moving a mama and her brood from a city garage to Lake Shore Drive (really? was that helping?) -- where they did survive the traffic but where some of the little ones fell into a sewer grate. City police, firefighters and streets and sanitation all were involved in the rescue -- as the mother duck watched from a safe distance!
And then there was the AC copper-crook caper -- that apparently started with some unscrupulous scrapper thieving the copper coils of a rooftop air conditioner (to turn in for a couple of bucks at the junk yard) -- in a building that housed row after row of dogs, cats and rabbits being held awaiting their "shelter pet" fate. With national coverage of the story, it wasn't long before Trane HVAC donated portable air conditioners for the pets, and now a fundraising campaign is underway to restore the AC units!
For a guy who often brakes for folks in the road only if they are walking a pet, the fact that people rallied makes me feel all tingly inside. [And I can't deny that there is a little voice wondering why we can't seem to have the same kind of response for the down and out and in need humans in this world ...]
CUTE LITTLE DUCKLINGS -- SAVED:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8221006
DOGS AND CATS AND RABBITS -- SAVED (by Trane HVAC in Chicago):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/onwisconsin/south-side-animal-shelter_n_889022_95313421.html
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO DONATE?:
http://www.animalwelfareleague.com/
... the animal rescues!
I've said it before and I'll say it again (today and many more times as relevant): I tend to like animals more than people on most days. (But not you -- you who are reading this is my favorite person ever.) So it was heartwarming to see two big news stories leading up to this holiday weekend.
First there was the daring duckling disentanglement -- that apparently started with someone moving a mama and her brood from a city garage to Lake Shore Drive (really? was that helping?) -- where they did survive the traffic but where some of the little ones fell into a sewer grate. City police, firefighters and streets and sanitation all were involved in the rescue -- as the mother duck watched from a safe distance!
And then there was the AC copper-crook caper -- that apparently started with some unscrupulous scrapper thieving the copper coils of a rooftop air conditioner (to turn in for a couple of bucks at the junk yard) -- in a building that housed row after row of dogs, cats and rabbits being held awaiting their "shelter pet" fate. With national coverage of the story, it wasn't long before Trane HVAC donated portable air conditioners for the pets, and now a fundraising campaign is underway to restore the AC units!
For a guy who often brakes for folks in the road only if they are walking a pet, the fact that people rallied makes me feel all tingly inside. [And I can't deny that there is a little voice wondering why we can't seem to have the same kind of response for the down and out and in need humans in this world ...]
CUTE LITTLE DUCKLINGS -- SAVED:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8221006
DOGS AND CATS AND RABBITS -- SAVED (by Trane HVAC in Chicago):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/onwisconsin/south-side-animal-shelter_n_889022_95313421.html
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO DONATE?:
http://www.animalwelfareleague.com/
July 2, 2011
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/2/11
I don't mean to go off on a rant here (communicated in the form of an open letter to those drunks who woke me up last night), but ...
... Dearest Drunken Revellers:
You may not know it, but I've installed my $9 air conditioner (it cost $109, but I cashed in those PNC points for that Home Depot gift card at just the right time) in my bedroom window in anticipation of the oppressive heat that was forecast (?or is that forecasted -- what is the correct past tense? I don't want to sound all CLTV-weather-personality-Duffy-Atkins-esque [hope you pop soon, 'cause you look miserable on camera with what looks to be a small village you're about to birth]), and there is a section of it that now lets in a small strip of light (by the way, I think I might be addicted to parentheses and brackets -- or I might have abandonment issues and so I never want my sentences to end).
And it is through this portal that your loud chanting and cheering snuck in last night to waken me from my usual crazy-dream filled slumber.
I get it -- I chose to live in the shadow of Wrigley Field, so I must accept some degree of public drunkenness at all times of day and night. And I'm fully aware of the color of my own pot (that's in a "pot calling the kettle kind of way" as opposed to a "Mary Louise Parker returning Showtime sitcom connection -- and welcome back to the Botwins!"), but here's the difference. If I get loud in a residential area, it's much more likely that I'm demonstrating reverse peristalsis on a sidewalk in the 'hood and not rallying a group of inebriated folks to some unknown cause.
It probably wasn't your purpose and I know I shouldn't take it so personally, but your robbing me of a half hour of sleep or so did not prevent me from my holiday plans for today. I've already been to the beach for two hours, the steak's been marinating since last night, the seedless watermelon has been prepared (there's no spitting of seed in this household (c)), the vegetable skewers have begun their bath in Gazebo Room dressing (that trip to PA wasn't just for Tastikakes and Yuengling Lager) and the impulse buy S'mores ingredients are waiting to play their role in the scene that will best display my regression to childhood this evening.
But back to those drunks and that unwanted revelling I heard through my air conditioner portal -- the only thing I remember thinking this morning was how badly I wished you had been silenced. And if that is what a silencer is for ... then my last thought is ...
That is why I shan't have a gun (even if our city's ban has been declared unconstitutional).
[And that may be the one and only time I use shan't this year.]
Happy Holiday weekend to you and yours ...
XOXO
Troy
IS THIS S'MORE BLASHPEMY OR S'MORE INNOVATION (YOU BE THE JUDGE):
http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/new-smores-recipes-00400000043561/
SEASON 7 HAS BEGUN:
http://www.sho.com/site/weeds/home.sho
IT's NOT LIKE IT HASN'T BEEN ILLEGAL GUNS BEING USED IN ALL THE KILLINGS ANYWAY:
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-28/justice/us.scotus.handgun.ban_1_justices-two-years-gun-control-justices-john-paul-stevens?_s=PM:CRIME
... Dearest Drunken Revellers:
You may not know it, but I've installed my $9 air conditioner (it cost $109, but I cashed in those PNC points for that Home Depot gift card at just the right time) in my bedroom window in anticipation of the oppressive heat that was forecast (?or is that forecasted -- what is the correct past tense? I don't want to sound all CLTV-weather-personality-Duffy-Atkins-esque [hope you pop soon, 'cause you look miserable on camera with what looks to be a small village you're about to birth]), and there is a section of it that now lets in a small strip of light (by the way, I think I might be addicted to parentheses and brackets -- or I might have abandonment issues and so I never want my sentences to end).
And it is through this portal that your loud chanting and cheering snuck in last night to waken me from my usual crazy-dream filled slumber.
I get it -- I chose to live in the shadow of Wrigley Field, so I must accept some degree of public drunkenness at all times of day and night. And I'm fully aware of the color of my own pot (that's in a "pot calling the kettle kind of way" as opposed to a "Mary Louise Parker returning Showtime sitcom connection -- and welcome back to the Botwins!"), but here's the difference. If I get loud in a residential area, it's much more likely that I'm demonstrating reverse peristalsis on a sidewalk in the 'hood and not rallying a group of inebriated folks to some unknown cause.
It probably wasn't your purpose and I know I shouldn't take it so personally, but your robbing me of a half hour of sleep or so did not prevent me from my holiday plans for today. I've already been to the beach for two hours, the steak's been marinating since last night, the seedless watermelon has been prepared (there's no spitting of seed in this household (c)), the vegetable skewers have begun their bath in Gazebo Room dressing (that trip to PA wasn't just for Tastikakes and Yuengling Lager) and the impulse buy S'mores ingredients are waiting to play their role in the scene that will best display my regression to childhood this evening.
But back to those drunks and that unwanted revelling I heard through my air conditioner portal -- the only thing I remember thinking this morning was how badly I wished you had been silenced. And if that is what a silencer is for ... then my last thought is ...
That is why I shan't have a gun (even if our city's ban has been declared unconstitutional).
[And that may be the one and only time I use shan't this year.]
Happy Holiday weekend to you and yours ...
XOXO
Troy
IS THIS S'MORE BLASHPEMY OR S'MORE INNOVATION (YOU BE THE JUDGE):
http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/new-smores-recipes-00400000043561/
SEASON 7 HAS BEGUN:
http://www.sho.com/site/weeds/home.sho
IT's NOT LIKE IT HASN'T BEEN ILLEGAL GUNS BEING USED IN ALL THE KILLINGS ANYWAY:
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-28/justice/us.scotus.handgun.ban_1_justices-two-years-gun-control-justices-john-paul-stevens?_s=PM:CRIME
July 1, 2011
Random Flashback for Friday 7/1/11
Oh Deer.Not a "I want to live in Lakeview, Chicago" deer (see my Sunday post from 6/19), or a "perfect for a game of Bambi-esque punchbuggy" deer (see my Wednesday post from 6/1) -- but a real "mountain deer" from my mom's trip twenty years ago.
As I've said, I have no pics of my own until August, so I hope this cute critter helps fill the gap until my personal pictorial autobiography continues.
And as I've been doing, I still am trying to figure out why I was too busy in the summer of 1991 to take any pictures of my own, and I have uncovered my plans for fireworks that year. According to my notes (the Fourth is actually my second favorite holiday after New Year's Eve), I was sitting on the deck at home with the Woodwards. And there are two scribbles in the margins -- South Hills and Jarrod's Aunt Jill. I might need hypnotherapy to remember what they all have to do with each other -- unless anyone that was there can remember the connections?
Regardless, Happy Fourth to you and yours! Celebrate safely!!
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