Chicago: Totally hands-free!!!

Jesus.

HAHA much better.

It's a thread about driving and talking on your cell phone, legally. Do you see?

I wish I had left the Fing word out...

:(

I had already suggested a new thread title.

haha jesse's thread loses, this will go down on yr permanent record

Heeeey, guess what? I don't want to be at work.

Chicago, why do your craigslist ads insist upon showing photos of the toilet?

Fing fang fong.

HI SARAH. I had potato pancakes with applesauce.

xxpost The one toilet in Chicago, you mean? Yeah, that thing is a mess.

I think you have a doctor appointment at 3, in milleneum park.

How were they, Nick?

Really, EZ? Lemme check my calendar... It's just so dumb because the bosses aren't here, I have no work to do, and it is LOVELY out.

How does this photo lead to an apartment rental?
http://www.postlets.com/create/photos/20070908/154121_DSC01732.JPG

Are you saying that's the *only* photo of the apartment?

I will not mention it except vaguely, but I am still curious about the man on the end of that other thread that can do that thing. It seems very special to me, but for all I would know, 50% of everyone can do it. How would I know? Where do I find this research?

xpost Shower curtains are very hard to buy yourself, and so increase the value of an apartment hugely.

Is that the only photo in the post?
I like seeing each room, including the bathrooom.

xp

Do you guys think I should go back to playing a semihollowbody guitar? They have this guitar at Music-Go-Round for pretty cheap, and it got good ratings on Harmony Central:

http://www.geocities.com/tresmanera/eco.jpg

I kind of miss playing a semihollowbody, and the strings keep breaking on my new guitar.

i know nothign about guitars, but i think you should get that.

it's RED.

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Festiva1/images/photos/gm12-500.jpg

I like it. Go try it out after work!

Usually, the toilet photo isn't the only one, but I think if a view doesn't "sell" it has no place in an ad. If anything, that kind of photo would deter me from checking a place out.

julia otm, it's not just red, it's beautifully round. That is an attractive guitar, srsly.

http://www.ecardica.com/ecards/postcards%5Ccandy/candie_apple.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/tresmanera/eco.jpg

Oh, I think it's fine if it shows several photos of the apartment and that's one of them. That photo at least shows me that the bathroom is kind of small.

Laurel is that a FASHION suggestion for me?

Yes, to be worn while guitar is played.

no no orange and red?!

That guitar is screaming for a black shirt.

I had potato pancakes with applesauce.

Wrong Jewish holiday.

yes, you will have to buy outfits to accessorize with your awesome guitar. i don't think sarah would mind helping you shop.

Yo, Hammer, Don't hurt 'em.

I think the red value is off :( Tried to find a better photo quickly but no luck.

(by which I meant Hamer)

xpost NOpe Don't mind.

I can't stop thinking about cookies & I believe this is only because I've decided to try & be healthier.

Jordan, did you hit up the RH service last night? I'm actually attending a RH dinner tonight.

I know 0 about guitars, but I always thought that that kind would be good to play. It seems like it would have a nice resonance or something.

http://www.kshs.org/cool3/graphics/faulknershirtlg.jpg

there's your shirt, brah.

Yeah Kelsey, I went for 20 minutes and then they stopped to have a dinner, and I left.

what is the 'a' vs. 'an' rule when using a vowel-sounding initial for a word that does not sound like a vowel?

did you eat apples & honey? does that happen?

there was an ad on tv last night for some sort of oreo pizza and it had this guy with a fake mustache made up of bits of oreo and frosting and it made me want to never eat oreos again.

i am eating mangoes and watermelon.

WAIT NO NO THIS SHIRT

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/deadkitty13/cowboyshirt1front.jpg

I have seen that ad & I completely agree!!! The cookies I am thinking of are of the homemade variety.

I did not, but I remember apples & honey when I was a kid.

IT HAS TIGER STRIPES AND BONES AND A BOTTLE OF POISON AND IF YOU DO NOT GET THIS SHIRT I WILL

You go by the sound, not the letter. Like "a university." If that's what you're asking?

FRINGE! ALSO FRINGE!

I have been killfiled for the day, haven't I? I deserve that.

That looks like a Kenan shirt. :>

Yeah what the fuck is up with that oreo pizza WTF

OMG, the Western shirts just made me remember Chris and Heather's Record Roundup, which, uh, closed like 6 years ago, AOL City Guide.

I am not wearing that shirt.

that isn't what I'm asking.

what i mean is if i say "I'm attending a/an RH dinner tonight" vs. "I'm attending a Rosh Hashanah dinner tonight"

xpost: john! i was remembering that recently!

that shirt is a postmodern melange.

So this was only the second time I've had potato pancakes. The first time they were kind of thick and greasy. This time they were small and thin, basically the size and shape of silver dollar pancakes. The first time was better, and I'm presuming they were more "authentic" since they came from a Chicago deli instead of an Evanston pancake shop.

It would be "an RH dinner."

Can I get away with "a RH" or do I have to use 'an'?

nick, that is what i thought despite my typing otherwise out of rebellion.

Potato pancakes/latkes should be unctuous

My instinct would be "an RH," but it's tricky, because I know you're just using that abbreviation as shorthand and would actually say "Rosh Hashanah" if you were saying it aloud, like you would never actually pronounce it as "arr-aitch."

What John said applies, it's just weird because you go based on pronunciation, and R is pronounced "arrr" like it has a vowel sound at the beginning so you would use "an." I'm not sure why it's that way, because it doesn't usually seem like the written word to anything based on verbal rules if it doesn't want to.

IT'S A PERFECTLY CROMULENT WORD

xpost

So this was only the second time I've had potato pancakes

waht

I LIVED IN INDIA etc.

I've only had them once in my life (in Jefferson Park), and I don't have the India excuse. I thought they were incredibly greasy and it grossed me out.

I don't think Indian food is all that different from Eastern European food.

HAHHAHA

High-five to jaymc!

I just have this urge to give high-fives!

There are potatoes in some Indian food, and naan is kind of like pancakes.

(Note: I basically ate no Indian food the whole time I was in India.)

yeah, aloo paratha is not dissimilar from potato pancakes, in seriousness.

wait, Nick, waht?

I'm not true to my Scandinavian heritage. All of the food looked mushy and colorless to me (and meaty).

I would probably prefer the ones Nick had today.

Ha ha. It was a combo of:

1. Me being an obnoxious teenager
2. Me insisting that I didn't like spicy food
3. Me desperately trying to hold onto any sense of an American identity that I could

We did eat out at Indian restaurants sometimes, I would usually just eat meat and bread.

I get that, actually. I missed American food something fierce after the second week of my most recent visit.

Do yourselves a favor, please read this http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/bro_youre_a_god_among_bros

it just saved Jenny's life.

Haha I love that one

ahahaha potassium bromide

That went above and beyond.

it brovercame!

eh

I like how it ramps up the silliness throughout the article, so that by the end he's just saying random stuff like "Brover Norquist."

Brosh Hashanah

Bro v. Wade!!!

It gets to be a frenzy.

what rights were guaranteed in the Bro vs. Wade case, do you think?

also, what is the distinction between "to bro down" and "to bro up"?

I have never heard "bro up"!

I've never heard bro up. Bitch up, yes.

Bitch up? I've heard "man up" and "cowboy up."

I remember having long conversations in college about "smoke up" vs. "smoke down" in which we determined that one of the two (no idea which now) was "an Ohio thing."

bro down: chillin, hangin at somebody's house with some tunes and some video games

bro up: donning the striped shirt, getting serious, getting wild, getting drunk, getting teh ladiez (or not)

"down" and "up" indicate the overall energy level required.

"Smoke down" must be the Ohio thing, I've never heard that one.

"bro up" is from that article!

"Who was the first to bro up and carry that fucking keg of k*ll*an's up four flights of stairs for Duke's surprise party?"

I guess it's like "man up" but more bro-y.

I don't think I like interviewing bands. I kind of felt like a tool.

Urbandictionary.com sez "smoke down" is Michigan slang, which means that "smoke up" may have been the "Ohio thing," since my school was something like 70% in-state.

I've always heard smoke up.

yeah, smoke up is what they say everywhere I've ever lived.

For example,

Who's going to smoke down at 4:20 on 4/20? - SpartanTailgate.com ...
SpartanTailgate.com - Michigan State Spartans Forums > MSU Spartans Forums > MSU Red Cedar Message Board. Reload this Page Who's going to smoke down at 4:20 ...
www.spartantailgate.com/forums/msu-red-cedar-message-board/247432-whos-going-smoke-down-4-20-4-20-a.html - 166k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

http://www.movieactors.com/freezeframes-77/BreakfastClub14.jpeg

Down bro with the brown dough.

"Smoke down" sounds more like an event you attend while, "smoke up" is what you do once you get there.

Also, Hell, you can go smoke down if you want, but what was once a serious protest of the criminalization of marijuana has been made into a mockery.

when i went to school in ohio everyone said 'up'

Down bro with the brown dough.

is this a euphemism for something... else?

I didn't have much (read: any) experience with weed in the Chicago suburbs prior to college, so I heard the two terms interchangeably and wasn't sure which was the anomaly.

Your search - "Down bro with the brown dough" - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:

* Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
* Try different keywords.
* Try more general keywords.

PHEW! I was really afraid that would to an urban dictionary definition that would give me night terrors.

http://admissions.wooster.edu/area/campus_map/images/holden.jpg

http://admissions.wooster.edu/area/campus_map/images/kauke.jpg

A lot of my dad's side of the family lives near W00ster. My cousin goes to Ashland College.

cross thread pollination

Results 1 - 10 of about 33,500 for "down bro".

1. MySpace music profile for FREE MA FUCKN BRO YUNG D IMA HOLD IT DOWN BRO! with tour dates, songs, videos, pictures

2. you need to calm down bro. it is ok that you are jealous bro, let it all out and tell sup bro how you really feel. sup bro? ...

3. YouTube - face down(bro nd sis style)

4. Anxieties bash my mind in Terrorizing my soul like Bin Laden But I ain't fallin' down bro (no, no, no) I won't lose control bro (no, no,

5. calm down.. bro,i do understand ur frustration and am sure u are not alone. this viruses that infected our truly asia is spreading like its beyond control. ...

http://admissions.wooster.edu/traditions/images/tootsieroll2.jpg

the "face down" video is really a let down. No one is face down at all!

I was just thinking this morning how it would be fun to be in Gambier, Ohio, having coffee in the bookstore and going to a class today.

My heart is not really in this recurring two-year-old joke wherein I post photos of Wooster on threads that deej is on.

http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_4/images/islam_prayer.jpg

this thread is quickly going monkey side, and I fear I am to blame. :(

Kenan now has the artwork for his electronica project.

Any ideas for something fun to do tonight?

Fun and cheap?

I'm thinking of going to free Thursday at the Art Institute and checking out the Jeff Wall exhibition before it's gone. But you guys saw it in NYC, right?

stay home, open the windows, feel the cool night air as you snuggle under a blanket and watch TV.

No,E. That looks good!

better than snuggling, though? Be honest.

The problem is that we're still getting used to this new routine of not having band practice a couple times during the week. Also, I've had this dumb cold. So basically we've been homebodies all week.

If you guys want to meet up, name a time that's good -- I think the museum's free anytime after 5 and open 'til 8.

Art Institute is free on Thursdays now?

And why no band practice?

Ben is on a design project team. He had to apply to get in, and it lasts until next summer I believe. So, he's working full time and going to this other thing in the evenings during the week. Thus, he can't play shows or practice during the week any more.

This means we only practice on Sundays. Once a week is probably the norm for most bands but we're used to 2-3.

Oh, we do two three-hour practices, so I feel ya.

There's also an exhibition (closing this weekend) of communal poems from Japan, basically the kind of thing we all do in bars:
http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/exhibition/surimono

N & I had also talked about maybe seeing that new western, 3:10.

Bro up is just like man up or cowboy up

Bro down is just like throw down or party down

Bro v. Wade ensured that you can fuck all teh bitchez you take a mind to and not have to marry a bitch

Any ideas for something fun to do tonight?

-- KitCat, Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:05 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

Fun and cheap?

-- KitCat, Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:05 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

dunno what u guys are into but this will be awesome

September 13, 2007

BUTTERED BUNS (2): ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

Good for Party magazine and Mr. Peabody Records present....

Buttered Buns 2: Electric Boogaloo

In the world of rare vinyl, DJ's Mike Cole and Mark Grusane own the store....literally. Everyone else is just shopping in it.

Their record store, Mr. Peabody's, is the finest in Chicago, boasting a collection of rare vinyl that no one else in the city can touch. When your favorite international DJ's come to play, Mr. Peabody's is where they go to find obscure dancefloor vinyl no one else has. Everyone from Dimitri from Paris to Kool Herc has bought from Mr. Peabody's.

Playing Sonotheque for the first time ever, Mike and Mark open their vaults for a very special night of classic dance music and sexy bullshit. This is a rare, special treat that you music fans do not want to miss. They pack more heat than an oven door, tastefully folding rare disco, soul, funk, into New Wave, house, hip-hop and boogie. Listening to them play records is like being on a time traveling Be prepared to dance...hard.

Please rsvp to rsvp.goodforparty.com for reduced admission. Early arrival is strongly suggested.

9pm-2am
$10 cover after 10pm

http://rsvp.goodforparty.com/

supposedly u get a discount on cover if you are arriving after 10pm and have rsvp'd

That sounds fun.

5 MIN TO OFFICE MEETING!

I understand they're fun. We're going to sit on a patio in Greektown, drink and talk.

Nice meeting!

11:00 AM
jesse: but we're having an office meeting in 4 hours! yay!
jesse: (booze!)
Dan M: I like booze
jesse: not me
jesse: it's yucky
Dan M: wow, how do you manage to drink so much of it?
jesse kehr: FUCK YOU

Goddamit! Where is my fucking meeting!?

jaymc: "unironic" or "un-ironic"?

This is like a Death Row Records meeting. You go and try to find them and then they jump you.

"a historian" or "an historian"?

Webster's sez "unironic."

Also how do you set off song titles? Quotes?

a historian?

song titles, quotes; albums, italics

An album is like a book title (itals) and a song is like a poem (quotes) -- that's how I remember.

cool, that's what i "thought"

With punctuation outside the quotation marks, because who would really respect one inside "I Walk The Line"?

Hmmm. Askoxford.com is inconclusive:

The form an for the indefinite article is used before a spoken vowel sound, regardless of how the written word is spelt. If you say 'an otel' when speaking (which is now often regarded as distinctly old-fashioned), then it may be appropriate for you to write 'an hotel'; but most people say 'hotel' with a sounded 'h', and should write 'a hotel'.

By contrast, words such as 'honour', 'heir' or 'hour' in which the 'h' sound is dropped are written with 'an'.

-- CharlieNo4, Tuesday, April 24, 2007 6:03 AM (4 months ago) Bookmark Link

I think the BBC decided that it's "An Hotel", weirdly.

-- the next grozart, Tuesday, April 24, 2007 6:12 AM (4 months ago) Bookmark Link

There was another recent thread all about ans and as (what is the best way to write that, by the way, "an"s and "a"s?) and aspirated hs, Charlie. Can't rememeber what it was called.

I think "an historical" etc is widely deprecated, yes, though it seems to be one of those hypercorrective things that people do to try to sound right. I can't believe you really want to write "an hotel". Why?

-- Alba, Tuesday, April 24, 2007 6:39 AM (4 months ago) Bookmark Link

in the same way an American might write "an herb" i suppose; or indeed in the same way i'd write "an honour".

-- CharlieNo4, Tuesday, April 24, 2007 6:43 AM (4 months ago) Bookmark Link

Peaches and an Herb

Wait, we've been through this, because I posted "an" and a photo from WKRP sometime in 2006.

Hahah. Isn't the exception for "historical" done because of the word "ahistorical", meaning, not historical at all? That is what has been exlpained to me but I'm suspicious and stick with an.

Er, sorry, I meant to say that I stick with a.

I'd never heard that, Laurel. And I'm not sure it holds up because you're more likely to pronounce the "a" in front of "historical" (and related words) as "uh": "uh historic moment," "uh historian of the Civil War."

xpost Good. I was about to say.

Anna's an anorexic.

Ahistorical - you think this shit just dropped right out of the sky
My analysis: it's time to harvest the crust from your eyes
To surge and refine, to rage and define ourselves against your line
So sorry friend but you must resign
You want to figure it out we'll throw down, we'll throw down
Wou want to figure it out well throw down your bulldog front
Bold bold mouthtalking not so bold now that you've eaten your own
Lips flecked, mouthspecked you strip the skin right off of the bone
And I would never say you act without precision or care,
But it's all attention to armor, to the armor you wear so well
Let's knock and check to see if there's somebody home

Re pronounciation of "a", I doubt "uh" is any more likely to be used before historic than any other word. I'm not up on my regional linguistics hallmarks, but isnt the ay/uh distinction partly geographic?

WTF

MarryOurDaughter

I doubt "uh" is any more likely to be used before historic than any other word.

Agree with you there. I'm unaware who actually pronounces "a" as "ay" in contexts other than wanting to emphasize the word.

The distinction between "thuh" and "thee" has to do with whether it's before a vowel or not, but "a" has already solved that with "an."

oh wow

Marry Our Daughter is an introduction service assisting those following the Biblical tradition of arranging marriages for their Daughters.

Oh, I meant to mention this to John earlier, but there is this essay/review of a book about e-mail etiquette, and it talks about why exclamation marks are more common in e-mail than in other forms of writing.

Also for some reason I thought of John when I read about this book.

ok holy shit @ marryourdaughter

Kyra likes the outdoors, more the open air of the beach or the desert than the woods. She would love to live somewhere away from it all. She is bright and funny and full of life and while she has little direct experience with the opposite sex we have made sure she is aware of everything she needs to know to be a good wife and mother.

Kristin has a wild streak. She likes parties and has spent more time with boys than we’d have liked her to. We had a family talk and decided that it was time she settled down with a man who could meet her needs and help her fulfill her dreams of being an actor or singer. She’s a bit fiery but worth it.

Is that "Marry Our Daughter" thing a joke? It has to be, right?!

I don't think it's a joke.

"Sarah calls herself a Goth but we insisted she not dress in black for this photo. She reads and writes a lot of depressing poetry and it takes a lot to get her nose out of a book. She says she’s an Old Soul in a new young body and she’s already been married lots of times and she might die again tomorrow so why wait?"

OH YEAH

RW, your prayers are answered.

When I was a kid my parents would always watch The McNeil/Lehrer News Hour. I, of course, thought it was boring as hell. Once I counted all the "uhh"s, "um"s, etc from all the guests and the hosts. I don't recall the exact number but there were several hundred.

xposts: hm, some googling indicates it may be a prank

okay maybe it's a joke

EZ- We are going to be homebodies again (well, going on a walk and checking out the guitar nick posted/ going to library..)! Thanks for the idea though (and you too, deej).

Kristin has a wild streak. She likes parties and has spent more time with boys than we’d have liked her to.
We’re a Christian family and Cheyenne has had trouble with unchristian desires although at heart we know she's a good Christian girl.
WHAAA?

the goth one is ridiculous

That's a better review of Send than the one that appeared in Slate.

It better be a joke, there's a 13-yr old on here.

How does one determine their price? One of the girls is just over $99K whereas one is just under $6K. Is that the price of virginity?!

I think it HAS to be a joke.

no way that's real
sorry

sorry GENTLEMEN INTERESTED IN 15 year old MARTHA STEWARTSES

http://digg.com/tech_news/MarryOurDaughter_com_is_a_Prank

RW, your prayers are answered.

-- Laurel, Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:10 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

finally!

The site design is pretty hip-tastic, I suspect aspiring graphic designers.

Is it some kind of internet performance art?

Not real according to Urban Legends page.

I love reading transcripts of speech with all the "uh"s and "um"s included.

MarryOurDaughter is a great hoax, though, inasmuch as it preys on our willingness to believe the worst about Christian fundamentalists.

I figured it was totally fake, but I figured it would be worth a look anyway.

Surely no one has ever married their daughter off at a young age in order to keep her out of trouble, no.

jaymc otm :-/

I mean, we don't believe that stuff for no reason at all, there's at least a reasonable amount of weirdness to go on.

And according to the NYT.

Mr. Ordover is a science-fiction editor with a prankish history and an interest in urban nudism.
YES

HA! By the same dude that did technicalvirgin.com.

an interest in urban nudism
an interest in urban nudism
an interest in urban nudism
an interest in urban nudism
an interest in urban nudism

totally different from suburban and rural nudism

It's broken glass-ier.

Dov Cheney?

Charney.

You know, the American Apparel dude.

Who likes to whip it out.

Wait, who?

The CEO of American Apparel.

I thought he was no longer CEO.

According to Wikipedia, he's still in charge and three of the four sexual harrassment cases have been settled.

Yep, it's always that fourth sexual harassment case that'll get you.

http://misteriotremendum.sevenandsix.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/uki-d_du.jpg

i'd imagine if four people file sexual harassment charges against you you begin to examine your life.

Jenny, what is that?

Is it an actual ad for Am. Ap?

WTF that ad.

xp, yeah, is that real?

More on the "ad":

http://www.theaestheticpoetic.com/2007/08/28/american-apparel-is-sosoretail/

Unless you're that dude. He did notoriously jerk off in front of a Jane interviewer. That seems to suggest that he lives a wholly unexamined life, vis a vis his interactions with women.

xp - it's a fashion spread in i-D magazine. (warning - will resize yr browser.) Here's some commentary on it.

i'd imagine if four people file sexual harassment charges against you you begin to examine your life.

i'd say by the time you get to four, you are already suffering from an acute lack of self-examination.

HA xpost!

I owned that Jane issue!! I bought it for a plane trip & literally had to read the incident THREE times because I kept thinking, "Wait. What?! No..." but yes.

That ad is so demeaning. Not only does she look reminiscent of Aunt Jemima but the bold, exaggerated lips conjure "pickaninny" which is also awful.

http://www.americanapparel.net/presscenter/articles/images/20040410drapers1.jpg

ah ha. now i read what jenny posted. so i agree with that article!

Jane is racist

xp to Kelsey - Aye, me too. And I am very disappointed (although unsurprised) by the first couple comments on the post that John linked.

the comments on that post remind me of the ronaldinho thread. I think a lot of people are just not aware of the history of racist iconography. which is a problem.

wow. Even that dude's Lemmy beard looks lame. :(

the AA dude, obv.

Yikes! Just read those . . . isn't it amazing how ignorant seemingly educated people are? That second person who commented writes like a perfectly intelligent person they just aren't thinking the ad through in its entirety.

The jerking-off-in-public is why I mentioned him in the first place. "Urban nudism."

See also: Joe Francis rapes, assaults women while being followed by an LA Times reporter profiling him for the paper.

These guys are neck and neck for the gold in the Douchebag Olympics.

oh god that Joe Francis article made me sick for, like, a week. that dude is disgusting.

DO I KNOW HOW TO JAZZ UP THE PARTY OR WHAT????

Who wants to talk about GENOCIDE?

WAIT DON'T FORGET FGM

ugh. Guys, this thread is about the consensual, joyful, and curiously hands-free.

haha ilu Jenny

Gotta run! BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/miss-rebecca/HAPPY-BIRTHDAY-OTTERS.jpg

Kenan, you're assuming a lot about our cellular phone calls.

heh.

Speaking of FGM, Doc Films is doing an Ousmane Sembene retrospective this fall and I thought about seeing Moolaade, since it's still unavailable on DVD.

What I wouldn't give to have a chance to punch Joe Francis in the face.

HEY. Recommend me an amazing Chicago brunch joint that I may not have tried yet.

-- KitCat, Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:46 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Being an avid brunch hater myself, I guess people wouldn't like my choices if they are looking for a traditional brunch (whatever that is). However, I really like going to Kanok right down the street from us. I ge the Kanok Lunch Box

Comes w/ miso soup, house salad, 2pcs. Of gyoza, california roll & rice and your choice of:

(chicken or beef or vegetables)

Spicy kung pao
Cashew
Thai spicy basil
Mild curry
Fresh vegetables with tofu
Red curry
Ginger chicken
Teriyaki

All for 8.50, and it's all really tasty. AND IT'S NEVER CROWDED, all the douches are down the street at Adesso/Angelina Ristorante/Ann Sather/Stella's/The Bagel.

Also, I'm not going to get into the cage free/organic food thing. However, I'll gladly host a pepsi challenge with cage free vs normal eggs.

Brunch:
-Orange, across the street from Hard Boiled
-M. Henry
-Flo

i went to Orange in Roscoe Village. It was scrumptious.

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/09_02/monkeypigPHTSHT1309_700x463.jpg

Monkey love pigeon.

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/09_02/monkeypigPHTSHT1309_700x463.jpg

bears repeating!

So, the meeting went OK.

I like this job b/c they take me seriously, and I have the opportunity to be taken seriously. And the opportunity to drink outdoors on a gorgeous late-summer day in dappled sunlight while getting paid for explaining what exactly it is I do in my job.

I'm concerned b/c there's going to be a merger and I don't want things to change....

Sorry, we're acquiring you next week.

An earnest goal of mine is that I intend to touch a monkey.

xp--haha it would be all right with me I guess since it would likely result in a pay raise and resume padding. Actually, more likely it would result in a lay-off....

But we are merging with a small downstate firm.

I'D VOUCH FOR YOU.

Which would result in 2 layoffs.

HAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHADSFJKOH;

yr n asshole

Hey, you know what would be another great Sunday brunch? You get up early, you to over to Fox & Obel, and then you go over to the lake, or vice versa.

R. Kelly a cappella

I went and tried that guitar last night. I decided I didn't like the way it sounded, it was really midrangey, like a duck quack sound.

I get intimidated by the Chicago threads. Even when they're brand new, they're huge.

Y'know, I hate to waste a great word like "douche" on people like Dov Charney and Joe Francis. I prefer to think of them as scumfucks. Or, y'know, Scumfucs, in honor of the purest distillation of that lifestyle. That whole subset of society really, really skeeves me hardcore. I wish we could have them all shipped off to an island somewhere. And then set the island on fire.

I may go to this tonight:

FRI . 9/14/07 ( 9:00pm , $12 buy )
OM
Circle (Finland)
Endless Boogie
Ecstatic Sunshine

at Empty Bottle

Nick, I want you to keep us posted on whether you buy that guitar or not. I think it's a thing of great lovliness.

I slept last night! Yay me!

Great! (And, Nick just SAID he tried it out and it was too midrangey)

I shouldn't have read about Charney and Francis so early in the morning. Yuck. I'm trying to erase them from my mind. Also, I don't feel like talking about chickens any more either.

Brainwashing instructions:
* listen to new Black Lips
* while worshiping this kitten
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/218312595_9f2240744a.jpg?v=0

(Sorry for yelling 'said' at you, Kenan)

oh wow. He really did JUST say that, didn't he? :(

I'm learning to read, but English his hard.

LOVE THE NEW BLACK LIPS, YES AGREED

I hate this day. I'm being bullied on email by a group within my company and a group from another company, and my roommate who went to Cairo for a month left a bunch of shit undone at the house (including her underwear on the couch and a sinkful of dishes) and packages she asked me to put in the mail for her. I brought them to work and forgot, cos I didn't have any stamps.

Now one of those unsent packages has incurred a $250 late fee. The girl who goes shopping every weekend and bought an iPod and a new computer on a whim just called me in tears about the extra expense. I could give a shit about her problems, really, but this one is my fault. I hate people. I hate this day. I'm going to move to Australia.

Everybody has terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. Even in Australia.

Sure, maybe it's your fault that she got a late fee, but if there was such a risk she should have AT THE VERY LEAST told you that would be the case (ie: Could you please mail this for me and BY THE WAY it has to be done immediately or else...). OR she could have just done it herself if it was so important. Don't beat yourself up about it. I know it still sucks to be in that situation though. Sorry. :-(

Today will get better! Then it will be all over with!

I'm liking the new Black Lips as well, much better than that live album. I mean, I'm sure the live show was awesome to see... but just doesn't work without the visual aspect.

She SHOULD have done it herself, she spent the 2-3 weeks before she left the country basically shopping and partying, as far as I could tell. She sure as hell didn't lift a hand around the apartment, after *I* got called on the carpet in front of both my roommates a while ago for being the messy one, and emotionally strong-armed -- I cleaned up after her even after she LEFT, because there was a whole shopping bag of her personal possessions strewn around the living room. I resent so many things about this situation.

How does the other roomie feel about her?

He was in Greece for five weeks on his parents' dime while she was cutting lose here in NYC. And when he got back from Greece, he told me to get a move on with the dishes in the sink before he had to get on my case. You know, apply a little elbow grease.

My problem is that I'm trying to be polite and I don't feel like they are. My upbringing was a little inhibited, so I try to solve things as politely as possible, and then I get really, really mad.

I'm trying not to get really angry at both of them, but today is not the day of self-control.

Also the one who went to Greece doesn't appear to have paid the utility bills for about three months, because the cable got turned off while he was away (I paid it), and he had to ask me for the electricity account # to pay THAT bill before disconnection. Each of them were up to hundreds of dollars, that's like three months behind.

ARRRRRRRGLGLHGHGG

Another possible activity for tonight: A sketch comedy show my coworker cowrote is playing at the Second City Skybox.

coworker cowrote

A coworker just lent me the new Kanye album, so I guess I won't not listen to it now.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/pitchfork_gives_music_6_8

good lord, laurel. that sounds like a super shitty situation. i agree with sarah that the late fee package is totally NOT your fault & I really hope you didn't admit fault.
I don't quite know how one would resolve all of these issues, but you are not at fault here!

I didn't offer to pay it but I kind of feel like I should. :(

Nonsense, Laurel! You have been a great roomie to agree to do all that stuff for her.

Time to get new roomies!

The funniest jokes in The Onion are always the one-line headline jokes:

"Djimon Hounsou To Play Every African In The World"

"When Will They Invent a Buffet for the Taller Gentleman?"

"Picture Of iPhone Used As iPhone Wallpaper"

"News Van Driver Sick Of Helping Anchors Move"

"Bluetooth Headset Worn Throughout Date"

"Unconsciousness Faked To Make Anesthesiologist Feel Better"

"Dog In Purse Stares Longingly At Dog In Yard"

etc.

The headlines are really all you need, after that the stories pretty much write themselves.

Although you're not normally superstitious, you will still fear the worst today when a black man crosses your path.

Real Life Log Flume Kills Family

You will have your mind blown this week by nothing more than a shotgun slug traveling at near supersonic speed.

Hahha, I didn't agree to do any of it except mail the packages, the rest she just walked away from. Still, there's a reason I don't volunteer to do favors of that kind for people, I don't even organize my OWN life/bills/taxes.

Greek guy is the reminder that people who don't pay their own bills aren't reliable to cover their end of yours.

I heard some old-time radio drama on the way to work, it was great (http://nocolordrama.blogspot.com/).

Is "douche" mentioned in Superbad or something? It seems to have reemerged as a go-to word in the past month or two.

It has been the go-to word for years.

I think The Daily Show play a part in the revival of "douche" as well. At least, I started to notice a few years ago that they were using it a lot.

I think Nick may be personally responsible for the comeback (for using the word, not being one).

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Technology/rt_frog_mouse_070716_ssh.jpg

Mice are so cute. :)

Who would win in a fight? A mouse riding on a frog or a monkey who is friends with a pigeon?

Man, Ebert gives something like five four-star reviews in today's Sun-Times. I'm seeing the Jodie Foster one later today.

I have a new task on my agenda: hiring a debt-collection agency. Apparently in the past my predecessor was in charge of this unpleasant work, which explains the stack of bills marked "Will not pay--delete."

I don't think after Flightplan I ever, ever want to watch Jodie Foster worry about a child again.

I want to see "Eastern Promises."

Terrence Howard is in both the Jodie Foster Death Wish movie and in the Richard Gere black comedy movie that also looks good.

I don't think there are any kids in the Jodie Foster movie? Her boyfriend, the dude from Lost, gets murdered by hoodlums and she turns into street justice killer lady. It looks ok.

That "In the Valley of Elah" looked ok until I found out it was a Paul Haggis joint, ugh I hate that dude.

Oh my point was that Terrence Howard is in lots of stuff.

wait, though... there's no child worrying in this movie? I could have sworn there was a line in the trailer about "omg my son!" or something. Maybe I'm just so used to hearing he say tht, I hallucinated it.

ooh... and Neil Jordan. Ok, that looks like it might be a solid rental.

Guys, I was recently informed that douche no longer comes in bags, it's bottles, so I now refer to assholes as "douchebottles" and I think you should too.

Ha ha Ebert gave Mr. Woodcock three stars?

There is no kid in the Jodie Foster movie. She is actually pursuing the guy who took her German Shepherd

It's no fun to be stuck in a bus shelter for 20 minutes with nothing to read but a giant poster for Mr. Woodcock.

That Beatles movie looks really bad too. At least the preview is obnoxious.

But yeah "Eastern Promises"!!! Looks awesome.

I want to see Eastern Promises, too.

Let me know how you like the Jodie Foster joint, Eazy. Whoever reviewed it in the Reader (JR Jones, I think) didn't like it much at all, but I was kind of curious about it.

Eastern Promises does look good, yes. But I'm totally biased because it's Cronenberg, and I have to have high hopes for it even if it turns out to be thin and pretentious like History of Violence. This looks... well, honestly, I'll just have to see it. I can't makes haeds or tails of the previews, except that Viggo is looking way buff.

I want to have a guy-movie doubleheader of Eastern Promises and 3:10 to Yuma, then go out and shoot a bunch of guns.

The Onion liked the Jodie Foster thing, gave it like a B+ I think.

That Beatles movie looks really bad too. At least the preview is obnoxious.

The Reader: "If a bullet hadn't killed John Lennon, this movie might have."

xXpost I KNOW! Marcy wants to go to the movies tonight, and I warned her that the odds are really good that we'll be seeing a guy movie. :)

I want to have a guy-movie doubleheader of Eastern Promises and 3:10 to Yuma, then go out and shoot a bunch of guns.

Dude, I am so in. Not even joking. I should see if Cam wants to do this.

Eastern Promises, 3:10 to Yuma, and then some comedy.

The Century Evanston is really good for the double and triple features. I've only done it once: United 93 to Mission Impossible 3 and then I ducked out before my friends made Friends with Money the trifecta.

nick, we're going to the om show tonight...

I wasn't sure Kr would want to see Eastern Promises, so I tried to get her interested by saying that it was by the screenwriter of Dirty Pretty Things, which I know she liked (I never saw it).

The Century is good if you're seeing two indie films, or two big studio films, because you can't cross from one side to the other. The River East is easier.

I'm just excited that movie season has begun.

Cool, I might see you there. I kind of doubt Sarah wants to go though.

Anyone up for dinner and a movie tonight or dinner and a sketch comedy show? I'm up for being social, but not going to a bar or hearing loud music. We could go to one of these places we've been talking about, like Andies??

that was to colette obv.

"It's got the gaffer from The Libertine, honey."

that was to colette obv.

Heh, I read that thinking it was to your wife and thinking "Dis!"

Oh, wait, I thought it was Sarah saying "But we're got that om show..." My head's racing.

And I think I've only sneaked into a movie without paying once, when I was 15. Forrest Gump was sold out so my friends and I saw The Shadow (Alec Baldwin!), which was so terrible that we felt we owed it to ourselves to sneak into something else, which ended up being the next screening of Forrest Gump.

Deep breaths, EZ.

Sneaking into a movie is one of those silly little things I doubt I could do. I would feel too guilty and scared.

Dirty Pretty Things is good.

Eastern Promises -> 3:10 to Yuma -> http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/358825702_3d861853dc.jpg

"But we've got that show tonight..."
"OK FELLAS WHAT TIME'S THE MOVIE?"

I had a clear conscience sneaking into Mission Impossible 3 after buying a United 93 ticket.

It always seems like a good idea, but you've definitely got to plan ahead. I never think about it until I'm actually at the theater.

I'm in Michigan this weekend tonight and tomorrow, btw, so I can't hang out with any of you chumps.

I would feel too guilty and scared.

I feel like I've said this before somewhere... but the absolute worst thing that can happen to you is that they kick you out of the theater, and you are forced to have only seen the movie you paid for. I have never seen or heard of this actually happening.

people have really low expectations about temps, don't they? i'm working at a magazine today and until tuesday. i was 'trained' yesterday, most of which involved me watching the girl i'm replacing packing and re-packing her ziploc bag for her flight.

so the only person that's here at work has sent me a couple things to work on. they're basically proposals to advertisers, and she wants me to fill in 'what i can'. she printed an email with much of the info, and i've found other stuff. under 1 page of information total, really about 20 items. i kind of got the impression that this might take all morning, but obviously it took 10 minutes. do i send it to her and therefore raise expectations? wait until she asks for it?

I've found it's best not to blow their minds too much because they'll just expect more from you and pay you the same. ha
But seriously, when I started here (not a temp job), this one woman actually asked me if I was good with letters. What do you mean? You know, can you alphabetize things?

Hang out reading ILX and wait. This is the whole point of temping.

xp Should have said "you mean like calligraphy?"

ha, that's funny, sarah! you should have started singing the alphabet song, or something from sesame street.

yeah, i figure if she hasn't asked for it in a half hour i'll give it to her, and meanwhile do the rest of the stuff i'm supposed to do today, just in case something big comes along. i'm all about managing expectations...

xp

I once got let go from a temp-to-perm job because I was too efficient and went above and beyond my job duty. When they caught me organizing the file room (which it REALLY needed!) they decided there was no need for me because I obviously didn't have enough work to do. Meanwhile, I had felt like such a good worker bee always asking everyone if they needed help and keeping on top of my tasks.

Everyone needs to go vote in Nick's poll. It's important.

What song is that?

Is it ... Serge Gainsbourg?

Plastic Bertrand

But you probably know that and you're just yanking chains.

No, I didn't know that. It appears there is a Plastic Bertrand song on my iPod, though, which I am listening to right now. ("Le Petit Tortillard.") I think it's from a mix that Sc0tt Mass0n made me a couple years ago.

He has good taste then. We have a (the?) PB record.

HOW CAN YOU GUYS NOT KNOW "CA PLANE POUR MOI"?!?!?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PITnJAnmjqw

Sorry for my indignation, but it's basically the best song ever.

Eh. It's more interesting than if it weren't in French, but it's not really doing much for me.

I don't listen to French music.

http://digilander.libero.it/oge/Musica/Galleria_musica/images/Daft%20Punk.jpg

Daft Punk doesn't know what to do with you.

Oh wait, it's THAT song. I guess I do know it. :>

sorry nick, I slept on Plastic Bertrand. :(

Are we still friends?

HOW CAN YOU GUYS NOT KNOW "CA PLANE POUR MOI"?!?!?!?

How would *I* know Plastic Bertrand?

(Whenever I actually say "how would *I* know" these days, it's an impression of Jesse's impression of me.)

Most of what I've learned about old-school music-geek stuff comes from either the SPIN Alternative Record Guide that I got for Christmas 1995 or random threads on ILM in the last four years.

I just looked it up on YouTube. No, I've never heard it. But I like it!

I'm not really indignant, I just thought it was one of those songs everyone knew. It's in a Pepsi commercial right now, albeit in a weak cover version.

Soooo hooky and P!O!P!

I never had the Spin guide! I had the Rolling Stone Album Guide, which was instrumental in my classic rock education. (But not of much use apart from that.)

Everyone knows Belgian punk songs from 1978?

Yeah, I've never heard it.

Soooo hooky and P!O!P!

Monotonously chanting over '50s-style rock-and-roll blues progressions = hooky?

http://blog.apocalypse.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/picture-4-4.png

I don't even know WHERE I've heard it, and I didn't know the title, but I deffo know the song. And usually *I'M* the one going "WAH? HUH?" about music!

*Sonic Youth has covered it

*It's been in lots of John Hughes movies, or it seems that way

*It's just one of those songs

*I am the Kingofthedivan

It's not amazing. It's just plain fun. It's happy.

John, I love how your unfamiliarity with something moves right along into insulting everyone who doesn't share your subjective opinion. Well done.

OK YOU TWO

You forgot to mention how stupid and unrewarding post-punk and DIY are, though.

What? I'm just making sure John is feeling all right today. It's unlike him, he's usually so detail oriented.

Listen to Dystopia, its rewarding as hell.

"""But seriously, when I started here (not a temp job), this one woman actually asked me if I was good with letters. What do you mean? You know, can you alphabetize things?"""

!! Jenny has a story just like that. She started at an admin job in G'boro and her boss said, "How are you with your alphabet?"

it's, I meant to type it's plz no judge me

I remember that story, Jesse!! OMG.

She should have said the alphabet makes her ovaries hurt.

*Sonic Youth has covered it

For a compilation, apparently. Not on any official SY release.

*It's been in lots of John Hughes movies, or it seems that way

You're kidding. John Hughes movies play songs by Belgian punk bands? I guess I wasn't paying attention.

i love ca plane pour moi. i think someone played it at our wedding. i'll admit i mostly know it from a shoes commercial in the UK a few years back, which led to me downloading it.

i think i've ticked off other admin people here by sending a load of stuff to the apparently slow color copier. which i was asked to do, but they're all kind of glaring at me like i should have known it was slow and to do in bunches. sigh.

Monotonously chanting over '50s-style rock-and-roll blues progressions = hooky?

OOOOO WEEE OOO OOOO

^Hooky part

I am drafting an email to my superiors asking them to do a little bit of extra work. I'm not looking forward to sending it. All I'm asking for really is that they start using shared calendars on Outlook, and turn in their billable hours to me more than once per month....

Should I be scared?

Should I just quit?

Wait, that song is by a band? I saw one dude.

also, LOL I know nothing about movies

European Vacation (1985) (performer: "Ca plane pour moi")
... aka National Lampoon's European Vacation (UK: video box title)

Hm. Hard to say, Jesse. Are they all jerks?

The thing is, at some point your man-hours and your productivity should be worth something to yr company. It's really up to your manager to put his or her authority to work to either a) defend you and require people to be more accountable so you can work efficiently, or b) let you know that regrettably yr superiors' laziness is more important than your time. In either case, you find out where you stand.

Jesse, it sounds like the kind of thing they wouldn't mind doing, but want to be reminded of so they don't have to think about it, i.e. you're fine.

Just make it as easy as possible for them, Jesse, and it shouldn't be a problem. Offer to help them set stuff up or answer questions if need be. Also couch it in terms that sound more like a suggestion than a command, and stress how it would help increase efficiency.

John, I love how your unfamiliarity with something moves right along into insulting everyone who doesn't share your subjective opinion. Well done.

Not insulting you, I just thought it was odd use of "hooky." But I've only heard it once, maybe I'll come around. I do think it's pretty "pop," although not the kind of pop I usually like.

You forgot to mention how stupid and unrewarding post-punk and DIY are, though.

I don't think they're stupid, they're just really not my bag at all. So they're unrewarding for me. And I guess when you talk about particular songs or bands you like, I get a little frustrated because I really don't see what you see in them. The frustration is not meant to be directed at you, although I'm sure it occasionally comes off that way.

Just, like the other week, I was driving Matt home from band practice and I had my iPod on shuffle and a Times New Viking song from Nick's Q1 mix came on, and Matt was kind of like, How do bands like this get signed, it sounds like shit! And I shrugged and was like, yeah, I don't get it either. Maybe they're good live.

haha

Maybe if they added another keyboard.

I was kidding about the quitting part. I love it here. I really do. They are TOTALLY not jerks at all. Some of the best employers I have had ever.

Still, I hate asking for things.

What bothers me most I know how emails tend to get skimmed and forgotten, so I am probably going to have to pester them about this, which I really don't want to do.

The main thing I'm thinking they'll balk at is the Outlook calendar thing. Either balk or forget to do. Esp. the guy. He is a MESS.

xpost Maybe. That wouldn't change the shoddy production, though.

Tell them in words they'll understand: "This is about YOUR MONEY."

John is going to hate the next FF album (assuming it sounds the way I want it to sound).

:(

Maybe it will be the album to change your mind.

Or the exception to your rule.

Of course, we aren't "signed" though.

There's no "rule," it's just that some stuff (like Times New Viking, Husker Du, early Ponys, etc.) is hard for me to listen to because I want it to sound "better." By which I usually mean more polished -- not as sloppy and tinny and thin and distant.

Like, there are good songs in there, do 'em justice!

sometimes people like fuzzy shit

Also sometimes people don't have money for shiny studios but they put their stuff out anyway.

Pandora is feeding me Smiths and Jesus and Mary Chain

Of course sometimes they're just really hungover and the sound engineer is still passed out on someone's bathroom floor but they put their stuff out anyway. Y'know, shit happens.

(Although I agree a little bit w/you jaymc, on band specific instances. Like sometimes on some songs on Let It Bloom by the Black Lips, I wish it wasn't so fuzzy-ish.)

John, you can't listen to that lofi stuff quietly. I think you have to blast it from your speakers to get the right effect.

I will probably regret this post but ANYWAY....

Appreciation of lofi/punk music (to me) includes, but is not limited to:
* Enjoying the basic elements of a song without fleshing it out completely... There's a comfortable simplicity to it.
* Similarly, enjoying individual elements, like the kind of distortion used on the guitar, that you might not normally pay attention to or hear in a more produced album/ polished act.
* Believing that anyone can express their creativity in the music medium and come up with great ideas even if they can not play at a professional level that would push product
* A certain class angst, tied in with the above (ie: anyone can do this), combined with the feeling of unity it can bring among common people

john, what's your position on VU?

I don't think people should make stuff sound bad on purpose, but sometimes things that sound "bad" actually sound better. Like I think the Times New Viking songs sound way better the way they are then if they were recorded really clean.

Dan and Mr. Que both make good points, but it doesn't make it any easier for me to like this stuff. I certainly don't begrudge bands for doing their thing, since there are obv. plenty of people who don't have the hang-ups I do.

Like I think the Times New Viking songs sound way better the way they are then if they were recorded really clean.

yes yes.

I like "fuzzy" a whole lot more than "tinny" or "thin".

(way xxxx-post dammit)

Sometimes it's like a trick, like if you record something so that it distorts a little, it tricks you into thinking it's more rocking, like "Aw yeah they rocked it so hard the recording equipment couldn't handle it!"

I make good points too! me me me!

Also there's the element of if you DIY, even though it might not sound perfect, you have total control over everything and can take your time and try different things and not have to worry about shelling out thousands of dollars in the studio and looking at the clock the whole time and getting really aggravated because every time you mess up you have to pay more money. It's a tradeoff.

Sarah, you do! Nicely put.

Sometimes good production just isn't appropriate.

xxpotm

I like the Velvet Underground. I'm not sure how it relates.

Sarah, your point about (DIY/"anyone can do this"/bringing people together) is why I sometimes like bands like this when I see them live. There's an infectious amateurish energy. On my iPod, though, I'd rather just listen to Steely Dan. You might be right about blasting it from speakers, too. I don't have stereo speakers.

I like "fuzzy" a whole lot more than "tinny" or "thin".

Yeah, there's nothing wrong with "fuzzy." I mean, I like indie rock. My problem with a lot of this stuff is that it just sounds weak, like there's no bottom, I have nothing to grab onto.

jaymc all kinds of OTM on this one, that's what bothered me about that Times New Viking album.

Nick, your point about studio time is good, but it's becoming less relevant in a world where everyone can make awesome-sounding songs with cheap recording software on their computer. Not always as awesome as if it were professionally engineered in a studio, but better than a mic-in-the-middle-of-the-room set-up.

Times New Viking is an extreme example, I think. That's why I mentioned VU -- the production can range from DIY to pretty shitty, but who would want it any other way?

sometimes people want to make fuzzy shit instead of clean shit.

IHM

I like fuzzy shit! I mean, I'm a Pollard fanboy ferchrissakes. But Pollard also likes the rawk, so he drops in that low end.

Ok, so John can not chizill tonight. Anyone else up for dinner & a movie? Maybe we could eat somewhere up north and then go to the big Evanston theater?

everyone can make awesome-sounding songs with cheap recording software on their computer

I don't agree with this.

Also I think maybe TNV doesn't have a bass player, which may be part of the reason for the reason for a perceived 'tinny' sound.

Yeah, this is ultimately kind of a stupid argument, people have different tastes, blah blah blah. Despite listening mostly to indie rock from about 1996-2002, a lot of what I gravitated toward was glossy-sounding bands like Stereolab and Tortoise. Pavement and Sonic Youth were the two most traditional indie bands I liked, but in both cases I didn't like their early lo-fi stuff nearly as much as their later material. Maybe it's because of all of the Top 40 I loved as a kid, I dunno.

That's fine, and I realize that my production tastes are really different from those of most people.

Sometimes it's like a trick, like if you record something so that it distorts a little, it tricks you into thinking it's more rocking

This is OTM. Like on all those old soul records where the vocals distort when the singer screams or does something really loud, and it's the best thing ever. This is also why some lo-fi bootlegs and radio rips I have of brass bands sound like the most intense thing ever, but you can't exactly put that out as a proper record.

I am probably going to a bar tonight sort of with Courtney I think. It's weird. I guess I could invite other people since it's a bar. It's sort of like a date....it's this guy's pre-vacation-fest at a bar and I'm sort of invited. Anyway, if that falls through, I would really like to join you fuckers in Evan's town.

hey photoshop/indesign pros: don't either of these programs have any stock things you can import as pictures? i'm specifically looking for some kind of border-y thing . . . thanks dudes!

people have different tastes, blah blah blah

Kels -- Adobe has a stock library, but it's not free. I use iStock more than anything. Also not free.

I don't know what point you're trying to make by italicizing that, Laurel, I've always believed in that! I'm a big subjectivist -- I dislike the pretense of objectivity that a lot of criticism falls into and sometimes find it hard to write music reviews without qualifiers like "for me" and "I think." But that doesn't mean it's not fun to argue and grandstand for your POV once in a while.

I guess to me the only really bad kind of production is the kind you hear on demos that bands recorded at some local small studio and/or on ProTools, and the sounds are all clean and audible but not very interesting and the hi-hat sounds really bright and the snare sounds really flat and the bass sound is like WHUMWHUMWHUM and since they are a democracy all the instruments are mixed equally except somehow the vocals seem too loud and when the album comes on your iPod it sounds a little quieter than everything else.

(well, it's not the only bad kind of production but it's the only broad category of bad production I can think of)

is it bad to be applying to jobs on monster.com while on a temp job?

i don't have much to contribute to the music discussion, except that i suspect my taste is closer to jaymc's than everyone elses. i like pop, i like shiny, glossy pop. one of my favorite things about london was that it was ok to like pop there, whereas here it seems incredibly uncool.

xp

John, you don't seem to realize it, but the way you state your opinions makes them sound like more than just personal opinions. There is no unspoken but understood "I think" or "For me" there.

Oh I totally know what you're talking about, Nick. Actually the song "Fury" off of Prince's 3121 sounds exactly like this and it really bothers me, because he should know better.

major xpost to myself: You should also realize that a lot of it's borne out of insecurity. I could do a pretty good job of ignoring Bob Dylan except for the fact that I'm surrounded by people who talk about how great he is (both friends and critics I read) and so I feel like, Jeez, what am I missing? I really have tried to like his music, but it's a lot easier to loudly opine about how much he sucks than to change my entire mode of listening (e.g., paying attention to lyrics more) to accommodate any potential enjoyment.

I'm not busting your balls, honestly! Just saying that you could avoid a shitstorm by either re-wording or simply adding an "in my opinion" here and there.

xpost

To be fair, any assessment of music is by nature subjective, so qualifiers like "in my opinion" are pretty much redundant.

Or you could quit with the underlying sense of incredulity that anyone might find perfectly normal things normal and comprehensible. Which is harder than just rewording the occasional post, maybe, because it would require you to actually stop believing that your experience of the world is the obviously accurate one.

Oh fuck off.

xpost to Nick -- Not if you state your opinion as unassailable fact.

Jesse, find me a case of where I stated my opinion as unassailable fact.

It's esp. helpful when stating a negative opinion of something, and even more so when responding to someone else's positive estimation of something.

Wow. Seriously dudes. Why argue like this on a public internet forum? No offense, but who really cares? Clearly there are some personality clashes but unlike real life, you can totally avoid each other and you don't need to respond to one another directly. You wouldn't necessarily treat each other like this in person so why is the internet okay?

Actually I left the Chicago thread for a while because of John, but I missed the rest of you.

What I mean is sort of what Laurel said--the incredulity that anyone else could ever have [this or that opinion] about something is what leads to contention and what makes it sound like you're the other arbiter of taste around here.

Again, not trying to sound like a dick, or criticize you, but that's how things come across! (And you are not like this in person AT ALL which is why it's odd when I read what you write here and realize that you're opening yourself up for a lot of shit.)

i feel like i've seen people saying 'john, when you post, you sound like you're making a pronouncement rather than opinion' several times already. i don't get it, maybe i'm missing something? i think that basically any crap posted on ILX or anywhere on the internet should be read as 'my opinion...' rather than assuming the person is trying to tell you that what you think is bad. i mean, if you can't handle someone saying they don't like something you like, why are you posting about it on the internet, especially on ILX?

this isn't directed at anyone in particular, it just seems weird to me that this discussion seems to happen again and again.

Actually it's not weird at all.

i'm totally with colette on this issue. if john rubs anyone the wrong way, then just take him with a grain of salt & move on with life.

Haha. FWIW I think there's always an implied "in my opinion" behind John's (and anyone's) posts.

xpost

You guys need to chillax.

Here, watch a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6vdD5HOSgw

And I don't buy that the internet, ESPECIALLY the Chicago thread, should be taken any differently than conversation. It's not throw-away just because it happens online.

Basically Laurel and John just have a personality conflict.

Let the record show that Laurel doesn't like John. Ok now we can move on.

I'm not trying to pick on John. I'm just saying that there is a reason for this conversation happening repeatedly.

An *understood* "IMHO" is different from having to make a special effort to throw read something "IMHO" in mind.

Oh whatever, Nick, I'm just the only person who doesn't care about the repercussions of expressing it.

Lunch time.

throw??? why the hell did I write "throw"???

Jesse, I think you're right that certain things I say come off as incredulous, and I apologize for that -- but it's not out of a determined sense that I'm right and you're wrong (because art doesn't work like that), rather from a frustration that we don't see things the same way. It bothers me that I don't like "Ca Plane Pour Moi" because if I did, we could bond over that. I don't mean to be as harsh as I usually come across, it's just ... I dunno.

And you are not like this in person AT ALL

Thanks for saying that, because it's why Laurel's snap judgments of character bother me so much: I feel like she doesn't know me as well as pretty much any of the rest of you do, and if there's one thing I hate, it's being misunderstood.

I'm just the only person who doesn't care about the repercussions of expressing it.

Seriously, fuck off.

Oh whatever, Nick, I'm just the only person who doesn't care about the repercussions of expressing it.

-- Laurel, Friday, September 14, 2007 5:01 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

Sorry, shouldn't this be "In my opinion, I'm just the only person who doesn't care about the repercussions of expressing it"?

It wasn't really clear to me whether that was an opinion or a fact.

I mean, the way you say, you seem pretty sure it's a fact.

I don't think it's a throw-away thing necessarily, but it's certainly a less direct kind of communication than in real life. I just think this arguing in front of others comes off as - and I seriously don't mean to offend anyone - less-than-adult-like behavior & it makes it awkward for everyone else "in the room." if someone has an issue with someone else, would emailing them directly be an option? I, for example, don't like hearing john tell laurel, or anyone else for that matter, to "fuck off" nor do I like hearing harsh judgments on someone else's personality.
I have no issue with people expressing their dislike of an opinion or even another person but there are times when it's just a bit much for me as a bystander & perhaps others as well.

But surely it's an opinion?

I'm so CONFUSED.

i think there is more throwaway content online, mostly because the conversations are constant and generally tailored around a topic. IRL, if people have a discussion about music and one person says 'i don't like that stuff', the conversation ends. here, there is analysis of why that person doesn't like it, what the implications are for that, and it goes on and on.

xp, haha nick OTM

Let's all go get a beer with lunch.

I don't know, Nick, do you read my inbox? No? Then okay.

I mean, Laurel, are you seriously implying that people don't like me but are afraid to say so? We've already been through this once, and I don't want to have to leave Simon's in tears again.

I think I'm going to eat Bi Bim Bop.

i also think that usually in real life people don't just say 'i don't like you' to someone else while within a group of people...

Nick, Why are you still at work? Go outside and frolic!

that was an xpost, and maybe i'm wrong about that?

Yeah, I'm leaving work now. HAVE FUN, KISSES!

Seriously the coy "I'm confused" shit is tedious as hell.

(Nick and Kelsey OTM)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Z_vi34WTc)

Okay, maybe I'm glad I haven't met some of you guys.

Cupid Shuffle OTM

Well, I haven't met any of you really.

Don't be scurred, Jon.

I can't believe it: the Fire game sold out.

i think i need to slow down on the water today. yesterday i left work with the worst migraine i've had in months, and guessed dehydration was the trigger. so i've been necking water today and have probably been to the bathroom about 5 times already. in 3 hours. i can't win.

I drink alot of water too and I hate it when I reach that feeling of being waterlogged.

I am constantly amazed at the kinds of issues a lack of water can produce.

I love drinking water!

I'm so hungry! I was given money to pay a pizza guy when he comes, even though I'm not getting any pizza, so I have to wait up here. C'est dumb.

I love drinking water as well!

I'm great about drinking water during the week b/c I have one of those glass quart canning jars at my desk that I constantly refill. During the weekends I'm less good about drinking as much water b/c I don't have it always within reach of my left side.

Totally.

can't you take a slice of pizza as your fee for waiting?

last time i worked in a chicago office building, i started getting screaming headaches every day about the same time. my coworker said she'd had the same problem, and it was not enough water combined with sealed windows/AC, etc. i started drinking water and sure enough, no more headaches! it's just harder to remember as a temp since every office is different and sometimes i'm on reception and can't really get up when i want to.

xp- toby got me a bottle that's like a nalgene bottle with chococat on the side, which i bring to work most days. i try to drink at least 3 'chococats' (650ml) a day.

Yay CHOCOCAT!
I have a nalgene bottle, but I haven't been that great at remembering to bring it to work this week.

At home, I'm always asking Nick for his water because I'm a lazy wife.

I might take a piece if it's veggie.

the expectations here are even lower than i'd expected. i sent over the thing assigned after about 2 hours or so. she walked past another half hour later and i asked if it was ok, and if the thing i'd sent last night was ok as well. 'oh, i haven't had time to look at that yet'. so i'm holding onto the third one until well after lunch.

she also asked me to find out who was doing advertising for a brand, and who was parent company. she said 'you can use google, but i'll say i've already tried and come up with nothing'. of course, it was the first hit on my search. sigh.

LIVIN'
LOVIN'

EAT-IN SHA-WER-MA

liluhliliiilibidliluhhhhhhhhhhvin

I've been drinking massive amounts of water lately, too, to deal with a touch of dry mouth. Which also means I have to pee 15 times a day. Is that good for you in any way? Like, maybe I'm flushing out my kidneys?

is it bad to be applying to jobs on monster.com while on a temp job?

NO

Still going to that DJ set thing by my and matt's friend tonight, and they fixed the flyer so it lines up. Apparently the gif from the other day was a "beta".

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r47/dodizzy/CremDeLaCrunkEdit.jpg

It's going to be goofy, but it's free!

what is the Xippo Lounge like?

has anyone seen aesop rock live?

I get a feeling in the fall...a feeling of great possibility. Like when I'm walking down the sidewalk if I turn around or turn the corner there will be something really great there. It's the opposite of a feeling of impending doom--I can feel a great calm looming.

Also, I always feel ready to start a love affair with some wonderful boy.

I don't really know what the place is like, and I have seen Aesop Rock before.

Jesse and I feel the same way about fall. Except for the wonderful boy part.

It's like, "Soon, I will be wearing sweaters." This makes the world seem like a benevolent place.

worth seeing, dan?

I can't wait till the smell comes! And the sound of leaves rustling around!

MUST FIND PARTNER BEFORE THE GREAT SLEEP COMES UPON US sort of feeling. It's like how a cut flower that is stops getting water suddenly opens up and releases pollen all over the place--the coming greater death makes me want the little death.

la petit mort