Chicago: Become Familiar with its Distinctive Neighborhoods

Did any of you ever watch the Peanut Butter Solution?

i guess harry potter, plus just a general sense that adults are reading too many kids books in lieu of adult books, plus movies being made of hp/golden compass/dark is rising/wizard of earthsea/any decent middle-school level fiction (resulting in more adults reading YA books).

but you know, people like what they like, whatever

At least those people are reading something.
Hey, guess what? I'm reading Sister Carrie, which Jenny lent me, which takes place here in the 1890s. It is very enjoyable. I want to be home reading it in bed.

that's true. i got depressed last night, listening to a teacher talk about how so many kids seem to actively dislike reading these days.

Ahh I see. Well, I suppose it helps to have some perspective on what "really good" means, or who's telling you so. But I've never stopped reading YA so whaddo I know? :)

Also if you think YA literature is just for kids and too simple/silly/immature/unsophisticated for adults who should really be reading Dickens or Amis or White Teeth or something, you could stand to broaden your understanding of YA. Sorry to be cranky, but it's true.

this is what I'm in the middle of:

http://www.amazon.com/Driver-Dangerous-Pursuit-Outlaw-Racing/dp/0061227935

Entertaining, and quite interesting at times, but wow the guy is an asshole.

Won't someone answer my plea?

Tell him what you want for xmas.

Let's start a SVHigh revivalist movement.
Bruce removed Jessica's bikini top in the pool!
Elizabeth keeps finding her clothes crumpled in a pile on her sister's floor!

Her. You racist.

xpost

kids books are for kids
young adults books are for young adults
adults books are for adults
large print books are for large prince
thesauruses are for dinosarauruses
picture books are for illiterates
internets books is for cum-muters
picture pages is for bill cosbies
nonfictions is for the truthees
fictions is for the liars

Besides, all the books you listed that have been movie-fied, Jordan, aren't just middle school-level, they're also all sci-fi/fantasy specifically, and the bubble of interest in that genre should prob be considered separately from the rise of YA lately -- seeing as how historically everything but the coldest, most technical sci-fi has generally been downgraded in age by publishers and booksellers and the public opinion because of a lingering prejudice that adults "don't" read about things that "aren't real".

The upswelling of YA in the last few years should really be taken as part of the aging of a generation of readers -- there was a partic large bunch of children born about 12-15 years ago, and they've been carrying the industry with them as they aged. Five or eight years ago the surge was in picture books, and movies were made of Jumanji and that silly Christmas thing about the jingle bell (a great book but ew, TOM HANKS??), and others. Harry Potter just helped to open the way for those kids to read SF/F, but the age group was already poised to latch onto SOMEthing.

I don't read fiction that is real.

Yeah, me neither except for middlegrade and YA. I think I lose interest in people older than about 14 unless they're very good at remembering how to be 14 (or younger).

That all may be true, but still, I don't remember adults being aware of/into the books I was reading in middle school.

xpost, you mean only fake f1ction?

I like reading about old people!

hey laurel, something you wrote about BF being offputting made me think that you would really like plexi 3. see if ian can burn you some of their singles.

xpost- I think I lose interest in people older than about 14 unless they're very good at remembering how to be 14

laurel kay letourneau.

I think I've seen plexi 3, oddly enough, with LiveFastDie at gl@sslands. I'm not sure they made a giant impression but maybe I was distracted and/or it was an off night? Certainly didn't DISlike!

how long ago was it? they haven't even been together a year yet!

Over the summer, with Theresa and sleep...it was warm weather. The rest of the line up was LFD and Aa and a very Joy Div-y post-punk band from Paris called Frustration.

i know the frustration, on s-s records?
i still think you'd dig the plexi 3 singles.

Yeah! And yes, you're probably right -- I like what they have on mice pace.

apropos of nothing, just saw it elsewhere and it made me laugh:

http://funkyimg.com/u/50442AngryGirl.jpg

Wu-Tang is for the children.

Here come the Martain Martians,
And I wouldn't be surprised if they were riding on their Martian bike.
And we have to find out right now
What kind of flavor do these Martians like.

Here come the Martian Martians
And they're riding on their Martian bike
Well, we have to find out right now
What kind of ice cream do the Martians like?
Here come the Martian Martians
Why staying in such a cheap hotel?
Maybe we should help out the Martians
Looks like the Martians ain't doin' too well.

Martian time time time
Well, it's Martian rhyme time
We got a Martian rhyme for Martian Martian time
And the Martians got notebooks in their little hand
Well they're strangers in this land
Martian time It's Martian Martian time

Well, here come the Martian Martains.
They're trying to fight with rocks and sticks
Don't the Martians know better?
Looks like they're up to their same old tricks.
Well, here come the Martian Martians,
They got notebooks in their hand.
What are they trying to write down?
I guess they must be strangers in this land.

Martian rhyme rhyme
Well, Martian time time
Well, you got Martian rhymes for Martian Martian time.
See, the Martians have notebooks in their little hand.
See, they're still strangers in this land.
Martian time, it's Martian Martian time.

Well, here come the Martians
Baking up a Martian cake
We better find out right now
What kind of flavor do these Martians make.
Well, here come the Martian Martians,
There're Martian schoolgirls too
Well, I like the Martian schoolgirls,
And I hope they like me too.
Martian rhyme rhyme rhyme
It's Martian time time time
You got the Martian rhymes for Martian Martian time.

The Martians have notebooks in their little hand
Because they're strangers in this land.
Martian rhyme, it's Martian Martian time.
Well, here come the Martian Martians
Well, they're baking up a Martian pie
I hope the Martians like me
And give some to I.
Well, here come the Martian Martians,
Well, they're setting up a Kool-Aid stand.
Where's their financial advisor?
Somebody should take him by the hand.
Martian rhyme rhyme rhyme
Martian time time time
You got a Martian rhyme for Martian Martian time.
And the Martians have notebooks in their little hand
They're still strangers in this land
Martian rhyme, it's Martian Martian time.

that was after j.r. had lost his already tenuous grip on reality.

I like reading about old people!

-- Jordan, Friday, December 7, 2007 5:00 PM (29 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

this made me larf

i just finished grading one set of exams and i have some news for you.
guys, just so you know these are the other ways that you can spell "Ecuadorean" (which is the NYT's preferred spelling)
* ecuadoreas
* ecuatidians
* equatos

What about equator?

no, equatos

i cannot stop laughing

http://t-rex.hobix.com/archives/sparks.jpg

I'm reading Benjamin Kunkel's Indecision, and the narrator (who, to be fair, isn't so sharp when it comes to the world around him) calls them "Ecuadoris."

hahahaha oh god

equations

Also, FYI
The ancient pyramids of the Aztecs were made 100 years ago.

NO. Wait, really? Can't be.

so THAT'S who built the pyramids!

100 year old Aztecs.

that's what my dad said

someone explain this crossword clue: big foot? = EEE

is that a european shoe size or something?

width?
or maybe it's like OMG BIGFOOT EEEEEEEEEEEE

EEE indicates width in a shoe size. It also shows up in a lot of crosswords.

Tausig's puzzle this week was the easiest of his I've ever done: I did it on the way home the other night, and I was done before I got to Fullerton.

yeah, i agree, super easy (both the inkwell one and the one in the Onion)

i like doing easy crosswords though :>

Yeah, I meant the Inkwell one. Haven't done the Onion one yet.

the past couple of weekends sarah and i have taken the onion and reader crosswords with us to brunch and traded them back and forth while waiting for our food. most obnoxious cute couple thing to do y/n?

y

no, that's a good system