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

Everybody's tendency to make out with everybody else is definitely one Torchwood's appeals.

ha that is the thing I find most annoying about Torchwood

otm. My wife and daughter were/are big fans of the show, and if I wandered into the living room whenever an episode was on, I could count on his character giving somebody a big overacting "see you in valhalla" french kiss before the big climactic showdown. Dude, stop admiring yourself and just get on with it.

I'm sorry you guys hate kissing so much.

A "see you in vanilla" french kiss

It's not that I hate kissing, it's that Jack's flirtations are funny when the other character rolls their eyes and says "um can we get back to business now?" a la Rose/Martha in Doctor Who, but when the other person is all "ROWR SEXY SEXY *snog* oops we almost got eaten by bat people" it strains my willing suspension of disbelief

I was not bothered by the Jack/Spyke kissyface action since they were exes and the Tosh/Owen arc was just beautiful storytelling, but Ianto is a completely useless character 90% of the time whose main plot function is to remind people that Jack is bisexual.

I think I don't hate kissing so much as I hate UK television. The acting is so hammy -- I gather that it derives from a stronger stage tradition than in the US? I don't think a more naturalistic style is necessarily better, it's just a matter of personal preference.

But Dan is otm again.

No no no Ianto's main function is to be cute on my TV.

I think you're both right, btw, about pretty much everything. Like Julia said elsewhere, Torchwood is addictive and fun and it's providing me with pretty much everything I'm looking for in a TV show at this point but I wouldn't put too much effort into defending it.

I sincerely am down with all of the over the top making out, however. It's kind of like a soap opera with aliens. I readily admit that is ridiculous.

Its moot, though, since Jeff is coming back from HK tomorrow and he hates Torchwood (feels about BBC programs the way you do, WmC) so it's tabled until he goes out of town again.

Would I like Torchwood?

Which, in combination with Corey's earlier post reminds me: I asked here if I would like Stalker. I saw it and I would like to report back that I am not sure what I feel.

I don't think you would like Torchwood unless seeing John Barrowman make out with everybody offset your dislike of scifi.

jesse watch trailer park boys, they're all available on google video

I still need to try BSG. Courtney and I are going to give it a whirl.

It's not so much sci-fi per se as it is costume and period shows that often bug me.

Dan - OK.

Country Boys was a really good miniseries. Is Trailer Park boys like that?

I just added it to my queue.

Chris P!!!UUUUMMMM@@@@ recommended the Canadian show "Corner Gas," and what I saw of it was pretty good and I think most of you would like it. Unfortunately, it's not yet available on Netflix, but you can save it for later.

my vacay photos are up if anyone cares
not posting a link here or anywhere
email me if you forget where they are

It's not so much sci-fi per se as it is costume and period shows that often bug me.

This. I like sci-fi quite a bit conceptually, but I'm put off by a lot of its trappings.

Torchwood has a good amount of "rubber monster suit" in it but it's largely contemporary stories featuring an awesome female lead

Trailer Park Boys is not like Country Boys. It's a show about small time criminals in a Nova Scotia trailer park, and their various adventures getting drunk, high, growing weed, going to jail, and fighting with each other and park management, shot mockumentary style. It's hilarious. R was a big fan and has gotten me into it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etkarB72RbE

Hey Chicago, wanna hear a funny story? Last year I made plans to go to New Mexico on a short eating tour, then discovered that Jane and Michael Stern were organizing a Roadfood trip for the people who hang out at their site. So I joined that and had a great time.

So this year, I've been pondering a trip to Chicago. And I just got an email announcing this year's Roadfood Eating Tour -- guess where? Chicago and Milwaukee.

That's weird. I have no idea who you're talking about but make sure they take you to argyle st. for pho!!

I went from here to Austin once with a bunch of folks with a copy of Roadfood in the car, and we had some good BBQ off a dirt road somewhere in Arkansas.

Hong kong airport good: you don't have to take your shoes off at security. Hong kong airport bad: no power outlets anywhere.

Yay!!!! You're at the airport!! Fly away home, little starling!

WmC does that mean you are coming here at the end of the eating tour?

JEFFFFFF: Don't leave until you find out first hand if Chinamen bathe in soup!!!

I found one. It was hidden. I hope I'm not breaking any laws.

There is no soup here.

Another good, free wifi in airport.

Did you know the hopleaf is going to be expanding? Will still be too crowded.

You are lying. There is soup in China. Thus Lady Macbeth's lines "Will all the soups of China wash this blood clean from my hand?" and "All the soups of China will not sweeten this little hand."

Shakespeare knew what was up.

xp - no

There is a lot of tea. I drank too much. And I don't even like hot tea that much. And I really don't like it when the temp feels over 100 degrees.

I should've asked you to get me a chinglish slogan t-shirt

Sorry Jeff, we're not ready for you to get on that plane yet.

Ys we are!

I did ask for a t-shirt bearing a Zen-like koan but I it might be challenging to find one in my size.

The only clothing shops I walked by were in the mall attached to my hotel. And I couldn't afford anything in them.

The Roadfood tour is at the end of October this year. I had originally planned on coming up at the end of August or early September. Choices, choices...

end of october is nice cool weather, but not cold yet. aug/sept is HOT.

also, corn mazes!

last night's weather was THE BEST

indeed

I would love to go to a Cubs game, but the cooler weather makes October sound very appealing.

Make sure it's late October. Early oct can have very hot days. Example 10/10/10. 86 degrees.

86 degrees is not a problem. 96 degrees (today's high here) is a problem, and 106 degrees (last September in Vegas and NM) was a problem.

86 was a problem that day because I tried to run a marathon.

Ugh, yeah, that would be a problem.

Roadfood itinerary if I decide to do it -- http://www.roadfood.com/merchandise/ChicagoMilwaukeeEatingTour/

I may not, though. One way to look at it is that $229 is a little steep when all you're getting is a seat on the bus and a couple of the specially arranged meals. On the other hand, the transportation from spot to spot is nice when your body is working hard to process two days of nonstop eating.

On the third hand, two days of nonstop eating is hard work, and a little unseemly.

yeah tbh I would just use that money to go more places in Chicago, although the world's largest fish fry sounds like it has potential

This is shaping up to be a significant storm. It blew my balconette door open. I'm wary of thunderstorms after the one last weekend.

Yeah, first time rain has actually blown in my window in a long while. Didn't know it was coming. Hope it de-humidifies things.

I'm glad I'm not the only one awake! This is scary.

Run for your lives!!

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254630_2190069718598_1452762505_2453927_6618488_n.jpg