Chicago MMXII

Only things I've read there are Colson Whitehead's World Series of Poker diary and Klosterman.

i check it, i like their more analytical/stats-based stuff though i don't always understand it. simmons is a doofus and the little i've read of klosterman's stuff i find v. v. irritating. but i liked whitehead on poker a lot. they have good articles about professional wrestling too (not that i know anything about professional wrestling - that's why i like these articles).

is siam rice mellower at dinner? this is supposed to be a social/discussion thing so i don't want us to feel hurried after like half an hour.

sorry i'm being so needy. i can figure this out on my own.

I was going to suggest the Dead Wrestler of the Week feature on Grantland, but that is actually on Deadspin. Still: highly recommended, even if you don't care about wrestling as a thing to watch/follow.

You're not being needy! I would not recommend Siam Rice as a place for socializing/discussion. They're not going to kick you out, but they will just stop coming to the table. It's also kind of loud in there.

Are you opposed to Italian Village? Because that might be the ticket.

well i already picked siam rice. apparently i CAN'T figure this out on my own.

j/k it'll be ok.

Yeah that Dead Wrestler of the Week feature is fantastic.

http://www.suntimes.com/10392900-417/downtown-chicago-target-store-to-open-july-29.html

Quicker than I thought. They got a lot of building to do in there.

This is my favorite song from the last 10 years. I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d6b1yn-YhQ&sns=em

Weird.

I heard Gucci Gucci for the first time the other day. That's probably my fave of all eternity.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-asks-police-if-hes-wanted-and-ends-up-facing-weapons-charges-20120202,0,2069895.story

this story is ridiculous and scary, gonna make me think that every jerk in a big SUV is probably armed to the teeth now

also loooool dude you're dumb as shit

o_0

Everything about that story reads some sort of mental breakdown or break with reality.

A coworker sent me an Outlook calendar event to mark the July Target opening. Ha.

Pretty much going to avoid that block until September.

Ran into T0n1 Pr3ckw1nkl3 and she let me on the escalator in front of her. Class act. Glad I voted for her.

Apparently PQ is skulking around here today, too.

alan salami

lol

wait I don't think we saw this one

http://discoverycenter.cc/classes/il3451.htm

Alan Salami is a psychotherapist and collector of religions. He has been studying the esoteric for over 30 years and knows many of the movers and shakers in the field both locally and nationally.

bahahahahaha

ok now i clearly know that i have to take one of his classes

the one that tells me how many kinds of druids there are!

dying!

"I saw it on the web!"

3451 INSIDE THE OCCULT: A SHORT SAFE JOURNEY
When you mention the occult, most people are either scared or curious. Either way this class will enlighten you as to the different facets of the occult in a safe and open environment. We will talk about wicca, alchemy, voodoo, spells, astrology, tarot cards and other topics most people avoid in regular company. Do unicorns exist? How many kinds of Druids are there? What's the REAL story behind Halloween? Come prepared with questions and learn where to find a Voodoo Priestess in Chicago, how many Wiccan Covens there are locally, and many other venues where you can delve deeper into occult studies that are right at your doorstep. Mat Fee: $10.00
Alan Salami is a psychotherapist and collector of religions. He has been studying the esoteric for over 30 years and knows many of the movers and shakers in the field both locally and nationally.

collector of religions

"Dude I'll totally trade you Taoism and Wicca for that Judaism!"

holy shit

it's only $10!! i think i'm going. that's it.

oh no, it's $50 :(

even the esoteric comes with a price in this economy

their website is truly appalling

i like the list of classes for FRIENDS AND LOVERS

0023 Chicago Sex Tour
3556 Talk To Anyone Anytime, How To
3606 Coffeemating
3608 Pain Management
3627 How To Meet And Attract Women
3630 X-Tasy Spot, How To Find The
3651 Bondage And Domination, An Introduction
3666 Networking For Kinky People
3676 How To Get A Second Date
3687 The Art Of Pompoir
3688 Black Women's Dating Boot Camp
3689 Internet Dating Success For Men

http://discoverycenter.cc/index/frndlove.htm

INSIDE THE OCCULT: A SHORT SAFE JOURNEY

really loving this combination of title and subtitle, it's like "SCARY!: but not too scary"

0023 Chicago Sex Tour - sounds like my prom night
3556 Talk To Anyone Anytime, How To - sounds like my prom night
3606 Coffeemating - sounds like my prom night
3608 Pain Management - sounds like my prom night
3627 How To Meet And Attract Women - sounds like my prom night
3630 X-Tasy Spot, How To Find The - sounds like my prom night
3651 Bondage And Domination, An Introduction - sounds like my prom night
3666 Networking For Kinky People - sounds like my prom night
3676 How To Get A Second Date - sounds like my prom night
3687 The Art Of Pompoir - sounds like my prom night
3688 Black Women's Dating Boot Camp - sounds like my prom night
3689 Internet Dating Success For Men - sounds like my prom night

Host Serpent Libertine will take you to some of the sexiest spots in Chicago

Networking for Kinky People

3651 Bondage And Domination, An Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddAi8FF3F4

alan
salami

Would like to see the first day of that Pain Management class: half S&M-ers who saw it on the Friends & Lovers page, half people who've had terrible surgery and are trying to keep it together.

and one very confused window installer

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll52/kros049/Picture34.png

If I weren't so consarned busy, I would pay for BOTH of us to take Alan Salami's occult class, Amanda.

Galway Bay (Diversey bar) Facebook profile pic:

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/274723_1835013234_1577155060_n.jpg

So, uh, its going to be interesting around here in May, huh?

Hacker group Anonymous is calling for NATO/G8 protesters to barricade Chicago for the whole month of May. Add that to the 50,000 protesters that AdBusters is rallying, and May is going to be... interesting.

Anonymous also hacked into law enforcement websites last week in Salt Lake City, Syracuse, New York, and Boston, plus a justice ministry website in Greece. ABC7 writes:

Police websites in the Chicago area were not affected, but there is reason to suspect the group Anonymous is winding up to sucker-punch Chicago during the G8/NATO summits in May.

On the group's YouTube channel and website is a message for Chicago: An escalation of the protests.

The management company at my building actually forwarded an email from a Chicago business group that is "strongly encouraging" all businesses located in the Loop to have employees work from home throughout the duration of the G8 summit.

from HuffPo:

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has instructed businesses in the Loop area, particularly those on State Street and North Michigan Avenue, should institute "24-hour security on the street" to help ensure their customers' safety. Where possible, Loop businesses are being told to allow their employees to work from home.

Yep, yep. Verrrry much so.

Curious to know who thought scheduling both the G8 and the NATO summits at the same time, in the same city, was ever going to be a good idea.

Dag, I hate working from home.

This means my work will be a clusterfuck because we in no way have our stuff set up to allow people to work from home. Although maybe I'll be far enough south to not really worry about it.

I can't wait to read about how how you guys are handling your commute on those days.

lol

Hey, Valentine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQAFR0Ufb1M

wtf is with people in this town driving the wrong way down the highway

Yeah that seems to happen way too frequently around here.

http://www.wbez.org/blog/claire-zulkey/2012-02-06/have-you-dined-us-96130