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

it'd be more interesting than the article I'm currently posting, which takes the time to define "Library employee" as "Any library staff member or volunteer."

heavy stuff there

Haha, library literature is the worst. but congrats on the new gig!

not really a new gig, just more responsibility with no more pay! :D america!

Dan M - I don't know ya at all - but congratulations on your new gig. On the library topic - my Sis is a special collections librarian at a California state university - she has found a mold outbreak in special collections and her uncaring manager/facilities coordinator/department head folks told her she needs to take her job less seriously. She's seriously devastated at the insensitivity on such a serious matter for a library - perhaps Libr@ry Qu@rt3rly can do a write-up on stupid university facilities policies and dumb Libr@ry management ... grrr ...

unfortunately I have zero influence over what appears in the publication... well, I could very heavily influence something not making it into print, but then I would be fired

have you guys ever seen the dudes who put on performances for the el commuters from the top of the steppenwolf parking garage during the afternoon rush hour?

i found a dumb news story about it: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/special_report/chicago-cta-train-riders-performers-el-brown-line-steppenwolf-theater-improv-garage-roof-20101103

anyways i think it's delightful. i actually talked to a stranger on the el the last time i saw it, we listed the various performances we had seen

This place in NYC looks neat:

http://www.libraryhotel.com/

Books arranged by Dewey Decimal.

I've seen them stand there and wave but I don't know if I've see a performance. Unless standing and waving is the performance?

I am pro-whateveritis. Anything to make my commute more interesting.

I've never seen that. It sounds cool. Probably can't see it from the Halsted bus.

Jesse, the brown line operated said "alight" on Saturday (Do not attempt to board or alight this train, doors are closing).

M Burger is open in my building. Lines are crazy long.

Jenny, please post about "alight" on the Americanisms thread. Uphold my reputation (for being right).

I've seen it and been mildly annoyed each time. But I'm a grumpus.

Can you link the thread, Jessdawg? I can't search on Zing.

Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples

I have recently learned how to do some unbelievably useful and time-saving things with Find/Replace on MS Word. The "More>>" button (or the ^ key) unlocks a whole world of possibilities! I just never bothered before.

I had never heard the word alight outside of the context of this thread until I rode the train in HK. They said it a lot there.

I used ALIT in a crossword the other day.

wait it's not alighted?

Webster's has both, but lists "alighted" first. ALIT is more crossword-friendly, though.

this rules

http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/2011-09-13/new-bleacher-bums-meet-new-ira-glass-wrigleyville-91933

Hey, here's what that beautiful fall scent in the air is:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-smoke-from-minnesota-wildfire-reaches-illinois-20110913,0,1457256.story

Hey, does anyone want to go with me to a free preview of the movie Hugo tomorrow at AMC River East? http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/15/hugo-trailer-martin-scorsese/

Also, is anyone interested in going to see The Swans next Thursday, 9/22 at the Bottom Lounge??

No thanks.

However, if anybody wants to try out to be a supernumerary at the Lyric, holler and I'll forward you an email.

I'm already going to the Swans show! See you there, square.

Hey, hooker! Awesome!!

WHY DIDN'T YOU INVITE ME HOOKER??

Ooh. A photo of mine made the front page of Gaper's Block this morning. :) :)

Whoa! Sweet!

I already asked someone else who I knew was a superfan! Sorry. Tickets were expensive too, and I didn't know you were a fan. I am sorry.

Awesome, Kenan!

It's OK, A. I was just messing around. Who is the superfan? Can I stand near you and that other person at the show?

Gaper's Block

I'm afraid to ask

Hah http://www.gapersblock.com/

"Gaper's block" is Chicago-ese for the traffic obstruction caused by rubberneckers.

That's a gorgeous photo, Kenan. What was your vantage point?

"Gaper's block" is Chicago-ese for the traffic obstruction caused by rubberneckers.

OK, whew. Great photo btw, Kenan.

Kenan, is that from an airplane or the Willis Towet or what?

"Gaper's block" is a really poetic term now that I'm sitting here thinking "gaper's block gaper's block gaper's block" over and over.

Note - if you say "Gaper's block" three times in front of a mirror in a dark room, @ndr3w Huff will appear and strangle you with his side burns.

That reminds me of those debaucherous mefi meet ups.

Those were the days… when we hung out with a bunch or dorks from Metafilter.

for so long i thought it was gateburst block but then i saw the website and i learned
i learnt

jesse i don't know if you know him or not, will take off board

hey what's the supernumerary thing, Jenny? email me!

also nice pic kenan, I figured all that smoke was going to lead to some nice sunset images

Emailed!

i would like to see swans someday

How about THURS-day?

Go to the children's zoo.

I don't care who he is, LL, I just want to know if I can stand close to you guys.

Anyone interested in this movie?

http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/wheresoldierscomefrom

Made by someone from my hometown, amazingly I don't know the director or any of the cast. It's getting great reviews, I might try to go next week.