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| AZ Trip (99 best) |
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Interesting: Vacation in Arizona
We had a great anniversary trip to Arizona last week. I'll be posting reviews and recommendations later, but first, some pics!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Helpful: Gin recipes from Plymouth
We went out tonight shopping on Clark Street and got some presents, and some North Shore Gin! Local booze always tastes better. But Gin and Juice is so 1998. We found this instead from the Plymouth Gin website:
Silver Bronx
50 ml (1 shot) Plymouth Gin
1 dash Sweet Vermouth
1 tbsp Egg White (whisked)
25 ml (1/2 shot) Orange Juice (Fresh)
1 dash Dry Vermouth
Fill mixing glass with ice
Add the Plymouth Gin, vermouths, orange juice and whisked egg white (optional)
Shake well
Strain into a martini glass
Delicious.
Helpful: An Iraq War Vet for Mark Pera for Congress IL-3
Why is an Iraq War Vet working for Mark Pera - watch this video to find out.
Mark Pera for Congress '08 : Video Clips
NOTE: This has been reposted with the correct video link. Sorry if this shows up twice on your feeds.
Mark Pera for Congress '08 : Video Clips
NOTE: This has been reposted with the correct video link. Sorry if this shows up twice on your feeds.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Helpful: Amazon Wish Lists
It's easy to set up, easy to share, and who knows, maybe **COUGH COUGH** your friends and beloved family **COUGH COUGH** will get you some good stuff this year. Not that you weren't thankful for last year's gifts, of course.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Interesting: Major League Soccer salaries
I'm working on a long post about relegation and promotion for MLS, but in the meantime, I found a list of salaries for players in MLS.
MLS Players Union :: Player Salary Information
The total of all salaries this year is only $42,000,000.
Highest, LA Galaxy - $9.3 million
Lowest, Chivas USA - $1.7 million
In baseball in 2006:
Highest, NY Yankees - $192 million
Lowest, Florida - $14 million
MLS Players Union :: Player Salary Information
The total of all salaries this year is only $42,000,000.
Highest, LA Galaxy - $9.3 million
Lowest, Chivas USA - $1.7 million
In baseball in 2006:
Highest, NY Yankees - $192 million
Lowest, Florida - $14 million
Friday, November 09, 2007
Interesting: Surprisingly Doable
I saw this in the Red Eye a few days ago and couldn't believe it. Condos are so easy!
Adrants » That Hot Chic...And Chicago Real Estate Are Surprisingly Doable
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Interesting: Homeless vets
Absolutely shameful.
Everyone says that the US is the richest nation in the world. Well, obviously not. If we can't use our trillions of tax dollars so that all people have at least their basic needs met, then shame on us. And if we can't agree that all people deserve to have their basic human needs met, no matter what their choice of occupation, then God help us.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- More than 25 percent of the homeless population in the United States are military veterans, although they represent 11 percent of the civilian adult population, according to a new report.
On any given night last year, nearly 196,000 veterans slept on the street, in a shelter or in transitional housing, the study by the Homelessness Research Institute found.
Everyone says that the US is the richest nation in the world. Well, obviously not. If we can't use our trillions of tax dollars so that all people have at least their basic needs met, then shame on us. And if we can't agree that all people deserve to have their basic human needs met, no matter what their choice of occupation, then God help us.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Helpful: How to Be Interesting
Tonight, I went to an event that had a lot of people I didn't know. I wasn't very interesting, I think. I got bored, felt awkward, and left. Turns out, rather than being interesting, I should have been interested.
Oh,and I should also start collecting something. Do soccer jerseys count?
Oh,and I should also start collecting something. Do soccer jerseys count?
Not Helpful: UMC Judicial Council Shenanigans
Some inside baseball on the church front. At the big "C" church level, I'm part of the team that is fighting to open up the United Methodist Church membership, clergy ranks, etc. to people of all races, genders, sexual orientation, and any other status. The church has some contradictions to work out, namely:
1. The UMC constitution states that people should not be denied membership based on status
2. Sexual orientation was recently ruled by a regional church judicial body to be a qualifying status
3. Other regional judicial bodies have ruled that pastors can deny membership based on sexual orientation
Like in the US government, there is a supreme judicial branch, the Judicial Council. This summer at our Annual Conference, we in Northern Illinois approved a formal petition to the Council to address this contradiction, and to rule that discriminating based on status should be unconstitutional.
Result:
They punted, saying that we didn't pass our petition correctly.
This is bogus. All of our petitions were available for debate and were voted on. The Judicial Council is literally making up law as it goes.
1. The UMC constitution states that people should not be denied membership based on status
2. Sexual orientation was recently ruled by a regional church judicial body to be a qualifying status
3. Other regional judicial bodies have ruled that pastors can deny membership based on sexual orientation
Like in the US government, there is a supreme judicial branch, the Judicial Council. This summer at our Annual Conference, we in Northern Illinois approved a formal petition to the Council to address this contradiction, and to rule that discriminating based on status should be unconstitutional.
Result:
They punted, saying that we didn't pass our petition correctly.
This is bogus. All of our petitions were available for debate and were voted on. The Judicial Council is literally making up law as it goes.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Interesting: Record Disapproval
USATODAY.com: Meanwhile, Bush reached an unwelcome record. By 64%-31%, Americans disapprove of the job he is doing. For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they 'strongly disapprove' of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Interesting: Mod styles
This would be better suited for another blog, but check out these styles from the year of my birth, 1977...
15 Minute Lunch: Strap in, shut up and hold on. We're going back.
15 Minute Lunch: Strap in, shut up and hold on. We're going back.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Interesting: Chicago Fire win Game 1
Fire 1 - DC United 0.
The second and final leg of the series is November 1, and the scoring is cumulative, so if the Fire win or tie, they go through to the semifinals.
Great game!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Helpful: Sales Taxes on services
In Illinois, sales taxes only apply to the sale of goods, not services. So you pay 9% on a Big Mac, but 0% on your personal trainer, stock broker, or lawyer.
The Governor tried to address this by rolling out a General Receipts Tax, which would get at some of those services, but he is so inept and politically bankrupt right now that service industries crushed him.
Meanwhile, check this out:
Taking a quick look at census business data:
Top 6 sectors for Cook County (by % of total payroll spending)
15% Finance
13% Professional, Scientific, Tech
11% Health Care
10% Manufacturing
7% Wholesale Trade
6% Management of companies
That means that #1, #2, #3 and #6 of our top sectors (making up 45% of our economy) pay little to no sales tax. Include them, but reduce the rate, and you can get it passed.
The Governor tried to address this by rolling out a General Receipts Tax, which would get at some of those services, but he is so inept and politically bankrupt right now that service industries crushed him.
Meanwhile, check this out:
Taking a quick look at census business data:
Top 6 sectors for Cook County (by % of total payroll spending)
15% Finance
13% Professional, Scientific, Tech
11% Health Care
10% Manufacturing
7% Wholesale Trade
6% Management of companies
That means that #1, #2, #3 and #6 of our top sectors (making up 45% of our economy) pay little to no sales tax. Include them, but reduce the rate, and you can get it passed.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Interesting: Why I hate protest marches
Ezra Klein hits it right on the head.
I think it's almost certainly wrong that we're not overwhelmed by the volume of tragedy in the world -- there'd have to be something genuinely wrong with you to be able to absorb the current moment in some coherent way. So what many of us do is pick and choose. But once an issue is selected, there's no real step two. Marching doesn't work. Exhortations to write a letter or shoot an e-mail seem increasingly hoary, particularly as the process is taken over by organized pressure groups able to flood legislators with millions of e-mails. Volunteers are generally misused, and even when a campaign tries to construct a movement out of them, it can backfire, discrediting the whole enterprise (see Dean, Howard, and those $%*^*# orange beanies). The utter inadequacy of contemporary methods of protest and social action has been well established -- it's even been recast as narcisstic.
What to do instead? Let me know if you come with anything.
I think it's almost certainly wrong that we're not overwhelmed by the volume of tragedy in the world -- there'd have to be something genuinely wrong with you to be able to absorb the current moment in some coherent way. So what many of us do is pick and choose. But once an issue is selected, there's no real step two. Marching doesn't work. Exhortations to write a letter or shoot an e-mail seem increasingly hoary, particularly as the process is taken over by organized pressure groups able to flood legislators with millions of e-mails. Volunteers are generally misused, and even when a campaign tries to construct a movement out of them, it can backfire, discrediting the whole enterprise (see Dean, Howard, and those $%*^*# orange beanies). The utter inadequacy of contemporary methods of protest and social action has been well established -- it's even been recast as narcisstic.
What to do instead? Let me know if you come with anything.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Helpful: GTD on HP
You know I love me some GTD - now the David has a regular column on Huffington Post with GTD tips. Hey Carrie - read that book!
David Allen: Think Smarter By Capturing Your Ideas - Living Now on The Huffington Post
David Allen: Think Smarter By Capturing Your Ideas - Living Now on The Huffington Post
Interesting: Red Card
A great blog about the Chicago Fire, my local MLS soccer team. The Fire beat Beckham and LA Galaxy on Sunday to make it into the playoffs. Game 1 against DC United is Thursday!
Helpful: Backup your data
We have about 50 GB of music, movies, etc. in our iTunes catalog. That's hundreds of CDs from high school and college, hundreds of downloaded albums, podcasts, speeches, and videos of our cat. We had them all stored on an external hard drive, which we bought about 4 years ago.
Last Monday, the external hard drive crashed. It's worthless, and the data is irretrievable from the drive.
But there's a happy ending to this story.
A month ago after reading a series on Lifehacker, Cindy and I talked about our backup situation, and I signed us up for Mozy, an online backup service that charges $55/yr. for unlimited storage. Once I signed up, I selected the music drive and copied all of the files to the Mozy server. It took two weeks for the full backup, but once it was done, it automatically updated the backup whenever we added new music or files.
After the crash, I bought a new drive, selected the music files on Mozy, and started to upload them back to the new drive. It will take two weeks for the full transfer, but that is a short time to wait considering the vast amount of music on the line.
Important data must be in at least two places to be safe, and preferably, one of those places should not be in your house. Whether you have Mac or PC, Mozy is a great solution.
Last Monday, the external hard drive crashed. It's worthless, and the data is irretrievable from the drive.
But there's a happy ending to this story.
A month ago after reading a series on Lifehacker, Cindy and I talked about our backup situation, and I signed us up for Mozy, an online backup service that charges $55/yr. for unlimited storage. Once I signed up, I selected the music drive and copied all of the files to the Mozy server. It took two weeks for the full backup, but once it was done, it automatically updated the backup whenever we added new music or files.
After the crash, I bought a new drive, selected the music files on Mozy, and started to upload them back to the new drive. It will take two weeks for the full transfer, but that is a short time to wait considering the vast amount of music on the line.
Important data must be in at least two places to be safe, and preferably, one of those places should not be in your house. Whether you have Mac or PC, Mozy is a great solution.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Not Helpful: Pennies per gallon
Crazy how getting one small detail wrong can lead to such problems. Last night in my transportation finance class, we discussed the federal and state gas taxes.
Problem 1) Taxes are calculated in cents per gallon, so as gas prices rise, the tax collected remains the same. If prices increase enough and drivers choose more fuel-efficient cars or drive less, fewer gallons are purchased and thus fewer taxes are collected. The wear and tear on roads may be reduced, but not enough to make a difference.
At the same time, oil companies make increasing profits because the taxes are a fixed cost, not a variable one. Assume the current $.18/gallon federal tax rate and gasoline that costs $1.00 to produce. The oil company can make a profit of 10% by charging $1.31 for each gallon. In that case, for a total sale of $1.31, the government collects $.18 (13.1%) in taxes, and the oil company makes $.13 (10%) profit.
If the production cost of gasoline is now $3.00 with the same $.18/gallon tax, and the oil company charges $3.53, the government gets $.18 (only 5.1%) and the oil company gets $.35 (10%) profit.
Add in inflation and other increasing costs for road construction and maintenance, and you end up with rapidly shrinking highway and transit funds, plus increased oil company profits.
Problem 2)
In Illinois, More than 50% of state gas taxes are shared with municipalities, counties, and regions, so every level of government is dependent on automobile driving. Not only that, since the revenues are collected based on gallons purchased, there is an incentive to encourage auto-centered development and low gas mileage. Hello strip malls!
Problem 1) Taxes are calculated in cents per gallon, so as gas prices rise, the tax collected remains the same. If prices increase enough and drivers choose more fuel-efficient cars or drive less, fewer gallons are purchased and thus fewer taxes are collected. The wear and tear on roads may be reduced, but not enough to make a difference.
At the same time, oil companies make increasing profits because the taxes are a fixed cost, not a variable one. Assume the current $.18/gallon federal tax rate and gasoline that costs $1.00 to produce. The oil company can make a profit of 10% by charging $1.31 for each gallon. In that case, for a total sale of $1.31, the government collects $.18 (13.1%) in taxes, and the oil company makes $.13 (10%) profit.
If the production cost of gasoline is now $3.00 with the same $.18/gallon tax, and the oil company charges $3.53, the government gets $.18 (only 5.1%) and the oil company gets $.35 (10%) profit.
Add in inflation and other increasing costs for road construction and maintenance, and you end up with rapidly shrinking highway and transit funds, plus increased oil company profits.
Problem 2)
In Illinois, More than 50% of state gas taxes are shared with municipalities, counties, and regions, so every level of government is dependent on automobile driving. Not only that, since the revenues are collected based on gallons purchased, there is an incentive to encourage auto-centered development and low gas mileage. Hello strip malls!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Interesting: Stuff You Never Hear In Church, Part One
Let Holy Covenant defy your expectations of church.
Join us this Sunday for Suce$s and Money: What Am I Working For?
This is part one of a six-part fall sermon series designed to open our eyes, challenge our preconceptions and speak to real issues in our lives.
That's this Sunday, Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. All are welcome!
Holy Covenant United Methodist Church
925 W. Diversey, just east of the corner of Diversey and Sheffield
www.holycovenantumc.org
Fall Sermon Series: "STUFF YOU DON'T HEAR IN CHURCH"
9/16 - Succe$s and Money: What Am I Working For?
9/23 - Politics and Social Change: How Would Jesus Vote?
9/30 - Addiction and Dependency: Alcohol, Drugs and Pornography
10/7 - Religion Beyond Belief: A U2 Eucharist!
10/14 - Real Sex: Making Love (For Gay and Straight Alike)
Holy Covenant United Methodist Church
925 W. Diversey Pkwy.
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Interesting: Lollapalooza 2007 Part 3
Yeah, yeah, so I never posted Day 3. I've been busy ok? Besides, Day 3 was my least favorite of the weekend, it was brutally hot, and by now, I kind of forgot everything. So, you can check out the setlists here:
Lollapalooza 2007 - A Day in the Life
I will say that Pearl Jam was surprisingly good. I had never seen them live before, and hearing 60,000 people sing "Alive" was pretty sweet. As expected, Ed Vedder brought out the political kung fu in force, with some anti-war songs, a piece with an Iraq War vet, and an original ditty knocking BP Amoco about their aborted plan to increase ammonia and other pollution into Lake Michigan. Brilliant.
This Saturday, we went to the Hideout Block Party, and stayed for about an hour. The show took place in a city parking lot next to a bunch of smelly garbage trucks. The line for food was 40 minutes long. And by the time we could get close to the stage to hear The Frames, everybody was talking so loud we could hardly hear anything. So we bailed. Sorry Andrew Bird - your new CD is very cool and we'll have to catch you later.
Lollapalooza 2007 - A Day in the Life
I will say that Pearl Jam was surprisingly good. I had never seen them live before, and hearing 60,000 people sing "Alive" was pretty sweet. As expected, Ed Vedder brought out the political kung fu in force, with some anti-war songs, a piece with an Iraq War vet, and an original ditty knocking BP Amoco about their aborted plan to increase ammonia and other pollution into Lake Michigan. Brilliant.
This Saturday, we went to the Hideout Block Party, and stayed for about an hour. The show took place in a city parking lot next to a bunch of smelly garbage trucks. The line for food was 40 minutes long. And by the time we could get close to the stage to hear The Frames, everybody was talking so loud we could hardly hear anything. So we bailed. Sorry Andrew Bird - your new CD is very cool and we'll have to catch you later.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Interesting: The Entire Kuzma Family on TV
Everyone but me, that is.
Here are all four parts of my brother, Mom and Dad on "Don't Forget the Lyrics."
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 1
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 2
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 3
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 4
How close is your relationship to Quincy Jones?
Here are all four parts of my brother, Mom and Dad on "Don't Forget the Lyrics."
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 1
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 2
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 3
Lucas Kuzma - Don't Forget the Lyrics - Part 4
How close is your relationship to Quincy Jones?
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Interesting: U2 Eucharist rocks Chicago church
Hey, check out this article about my church! Our next U2 service is next month. You are invited.
U2 Eucharist rocks Chicago church
U2 Eucharist rocks Chicago church
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Interesting: Becks!
I haven't written too much before of my love of soccer, but I just had to get on the blog this morning and put up clips of David Beckham from last night's Galaxy game vs. New England in the Superliga tournament.
Beckham is by no means the best player in the world, but he is by far the best player in the US, and it showed immediately in Becks' first start. His vision of the field is just so good, and even though his ankle is still gimpy, he moves and thinks more quickly than everyone else, if that makes sense.
There were a few times when he was in the middle of the field, surrounded by players, and the ball would come to him, and every time, he would immediately get rid of the ball perfectly to his teammate. He never gave the defense a chance to tackle him or push him around, so he ended up without any further injury -- very important when you're being paid $50 million a year.
Oh, and then there's this:
And this:
Excellent.
Beckham is by no means the best player in the world, but he is by far the best player in the US, and it showed immediately in Becks' first start. His vision of the field is just so good, and even though his ankle is still gimpy, he moves and thinks more quickly than everyone else, if that makes sense.
There were a few times when he was in the middle of the field, surrounded by players, and the ball would come to him, and every time, he would immediately get rid of the ball perfectly to his teammate. He never gave the defense a chance to tackle him or push him around, so he ended up without any further injury -- very important when you're being paid $50 million a year.
Oh, and then there's this:
And this:
Excellent.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Helpful: KEXP Song of the Day Podcast
I subscribe to a lot of podcaster tunes on my iPoddamajig, but one stood out today on the KEXP Song of the Day -- "People Get Ready" by The Frames. That's the band that's in that new movie Once.
One free .mp3 every day, and they're almost always good. Not a bad deal. Click the link above or you can find it on iTunes.
One free .mp3 every day, and they're almost always good. Not a bad deal. Click the link above or you can find it on iTunes.
Interesting: Lollapalooza 2007 Part 2
I agree with Jairy: Day 2 was nothing like Day 1, but thanks to some cooler temps and some delusional Swedes, it was still joyous.
I'm From Barcelona
As with the Spree, IFB goes for quantity more than quality: in the number of performers (close to 30), crazy outfits (bear suit, black suit/white tie, striped leggings), and smiley smile times (too numerous to count). Balloons, songs about chicken pox, and tunes with 27 people all singing melody. A perfect set for the beginning of the day. I don't imagine that their studio set is all that good, but they have figured out the equation: shaker shaped like banana = good times.
Tapes and Tapes
This band was the most serious-sounding (except Interpol, but I'll get to them) but serious in a loud and good way. I picked up their CD on eMusic last month and really like their hard edge.
Silverchair
I napped a little on the hill in Grant Park during this set, but I must say that of all the poppy hard rock bands out there, Silverchair have perfectly serviceable skills, a good front man, and some *gasp* melodies. Worth a listen. I hear they are the David Hasselhoff of Australia.
Cold War Kids
CWK got screwed on this one - they should have been at a larger stage, and the sound was fishbowl-y. The middle and bass registers were way too high, but from what I could tell, they played OK. However, do not let this discourage you from GETTING THE COLD WAR KIDS CD NOW. Thx.
The Hold Steady
ALl of the reviews about this set have been right on - they give a great show, the lead singer is very much into it, there's a guy with a handlebar moustache, etc, etc.
However, the lead singer does not sing -- he kind of talksings, and I just don't get it. So, I can't get into this band's recordings. Good show though. It was at this show that I saw the Myspace booth. At this booth, they handed out free bandanas, and you could get your picture taken with some skanky girls in Myspace tubetops and miniskirts. That about says it all.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
I listened to this set from across the field as I made my way to the front of Spoon's stage. You may sense a trend: whiny lead singer voices don't do it for me. So Clap...Yeah! is not on my faves list.
Spoon
Despite the fact that they left out the best three songs from the new album, Ga^5, Spoon's set was great. They played my favorite song, "Fitted Shirt," and a lot of other solid tracks. What a tight band of normal-looking guys. They are confident, understated, and almost surgical in delivering the rock. I hate to plug eMusic too much, but Spoon's whole catalog is on there. That's a hint.
Muse
Lucas will disown me, but I left co-headliner Muse after 10 minutes. They began with a transcription of JFK's famous speech about communism from 1962. It was up on the video screen, and all I think of was my favorite line from Beavis and Butthead: "If I wanted to read, I would have stayed at school, huh huh, huh huh, um, huh huh. This sucks."
The sound is too hard for my taste, and so I made the mile walk across Grant Park to...
Interpol
My least favorite band alive. Could I please go to the dentist instead? Or maybe get a kick in the groin? Interpol plays music from the future. A future where everything is boring. I know Jair is a fan, but that band had ZERO energy on stage, no connection to the crowd, and seriously, made me sleepy. Where is the guy in the bear suit shaking the banana?
I'm From Barcelona
As with the Spree, IFB goes for quantity more than quality: in the number of performers (close to 30), crazy outfits (bear suit, black suit/white tie, striped leggings), and smiley smile times (too numerous to count). Balloons, songs about chicken pox, and tunes with 27 people all singing melody. A perfect set for the beginning of the day. I don't imagine that their studio set is all that good, but they have figured out the equation: shaker shaped like banana = good times.
Tapes and Tapes
This band was the most serious-sounding (except Interpol, but I'll get to them) but serious in a loud and good way. I picked up their CD on eMusic last month and really like their hard edge.
Silverchair
I napped a little on the hill in Grant Park during this set, but I must say that of all the poppy hard rock bands out there, Silverchair have perfectly serviceable skills, a good front man, and some *gasp* melodies. Worth a listen. I hear they are the David Hasselhoff of Australia.
Cold War Kids
CWK got screwed on this one - they should have been at a larger stage, and the sound was fishbowl-y. The middle and bass registers were way too high, but from what I could tell, they played OK. However, do not let this discourage you from GETTING THE COLD WAR KIDS CD NOW. Thx.
The Hold Steady
ALl of the reviews about this set have been right on - they give a great show, the lead singer is very much into it, there's a guy with a handlebar moustache, etc, etc.
However, the lead singer does not sing -- he kind of talksings, and I just don't get it. So, I can't get into this band's recordings. Good show though. It was at this show that I saw the Myspace booth. At this booth, they handed out free bandanas, and you could get your picture taken with some skanky girls in Myspace tubetops and miniskirts. That about says it all.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
I listened to this set from across the field as I made my way to the front of Spoon's stage. You may sense a trend: whiny lead singer voices don't do it for me. So Clap...Yeah! is not on my faves list.
Spoon
Despite the fact that they left out the best three songs from the new album, Ga^5, Spoon's set was great. They played my favorite song, "Fitted Shirt," and a lot of other solid tracks. What a tight band of normal-looking guys. They are confident, understated, and almost surgical in delivering the rock. I hate to plug eMusic too much, but Spoon's whole catalog is on there. That's a hint.
Muse
Lucas will disown me, but I left co-headliner Muse after 10 minutes. They began with a transcription of JFK's famous speech about communism from 1962. It was up on the video screen, and all I think of was my favorite line from Beavis and Butthead: "If I wanted to read, I would have stayed at school, huh huh, huh huh, um, huh huh. This sucks."
The sound is too hard for my taste, and so I made the mile walk across Grant Park to...
Interpol
My least favorite band alive. Could I please go to the dentist instead? Or maybe get a kick in the groin? Interpol plays music from the future. A future where everything is boring. I know Jair is a fan, but that band had ZERO energy on stage, no connection to the crowd, and seriously, made me sleepy. Where is the guy in the bear suit shaking the banana?
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Interesting: Best of Lollapalooza Part 1
I've been coming to Lolla for 3 years now, and Day 1 was my all-time favorite. I'll post pics and all that later this weekend. For now, here are my reviews of the best acts I saw. If you want Jair's perspective, and who doesn't, go here: Indigo Blvd.
Disclaimer: I never remember track titles. Sorry.
The Fratellis
Only caught a few songs from these guys, including their ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba song on the iPod commercials. They are Scottish, which means they are actually good. If I remember right, they have a podcast on iTunes that I subscribed to ages ago but never watched. I definitely will now. Good poppy rock sound.
Ghostland Observatory
G.O. is a dance music duo with two members: a tall freaky DJ guy wearing a light blue cape, and an androgynous dancer/guitarist who might just be Prince's white cousin. The first two songs, I couldn't help but dance, and say, "Damn that girl can sing!" Then I realized he's not a girl. A solid dance set from this Austin band.
The Polyphonic Spree
Shenanigans. 30 people on stage, happy happy fun time.
Blonde Redhead
A tight three piece band. The female lead vocalist and male guitarist both had solid, ethereal voices. Do I contradict myself? Then I contradict myself.
LCD Soundsystem
I had been listening to LCD for a few months before Lolla and really dug their sound. The stage show, though, was even better - lots of energy, and the lead singer has that "play that funky music, white boy" quality that I tend to like. And, female bassists are awesome.
Daft Punk
The 90-minute set had the most crowd dancing I have ever seen at Lollapalooza--or any other concert, for that matter. Lasers, robots, a giant pyramid, and some of the world's most popular dance tunes made for some great times. Friday's crowd was the smallest of the three days, but everyone who came out for Daft Punk had a great time.
Disclaimer: I never remember track titles. Sorry.
The Fratellis
Only caught a few songs from these guys, including their ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba song on the iPod commercials. They are Scottish, which means they are actually good. If I remember right, they have a podcast on iTunes that I subscribed to ages ago but never watched. I definitely will now. Good poppy rock sound.
Ghostland Observatory
G.O. is a dance music duo with two members: a tall freaky DJ guy wearing a light blue cape, and an androgynous dancer/guitarist who might just be Prince's white cousin. The first two songs, I couldn't help but dance, and say, "Damn that girl can sing!" Then I realized he's not a girl. A solid dance set from this Austin band.
The Polyphonic Spree
Shenanigans. 30 people on stage, happy happy fun time.
Blonde Redhead
A tight three piece band. The female lead vocalist and male guitarist both had solid, ethereal voices. Do I contradict myself? Then I contradict myself.
LCD Soundsystem
I had been listening to LCD for a few months before Lolla and really dug their sound. The stage show, though, was even better - lots of energy, and the lead singer has that "play that funky music, white boy" quality that I tend to like. And, female bassists are awesome.
Daft Punk
The 90-minute set had the most crowd dancing I have ever seen at Lollapalooza--or any other concert, for that matter. Lasers, robots, a giant pyramid, and some of the world's most popular dance tunes made for some great times. Friday's crowd was the smallest of the three days, but everyone who came out for Daft Punk had a great time.
Helpful: Don't forget the Lyrics
The episode with my brother Lucas Kuzma finally aired this week. It started half an hour early at 7:00 Central on Thursday, so I was unprepared, but I caught the last three songs and got to see Mom and Dad, as well. Luke sounded great, everybody looked great, Lucas won $25,000 - it was a really good thing and I hope this helps Lucas' career. For those of you out there googling this:
1. Yes, Lucas is that charming in person.
2. Yes, we do now have a ranch in Kansas.
3. Yes, Dad has a tractor and does want a Billy goat.
Whether Lucas is a "plowboy" I'll leave up to him and his personal life. All I know is, I'll be calling him that for a long time. Priceless.
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
1. Yes, Lucas is that charming in person.
2. Yes, we do now have a ranch in Kansas.
3. Yes, Dad has a tractor and does want a Billy goat.
Whether Lucas is a "plowboy" I'll leave up to him and his personal life. All I know is, I'll be calling him that for a long time. Priceless.
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Interesting: Lolla afterparty!
Lollapalooza starts tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing Spoon, Muse, Lupe Fiasco, and many others. Here's a note from Cindy about a little get together we're doing after Saturday's good times--
Hi guys,
Hard to believe Lolla is already this weekend! Just in case we don't stumble across you in the crowd, after the last show on Saturday (Matt and I will be seeing Muse, but if Interpol is your thing, you're still invited) we'll be at Manhattan's, 415 S. Dearborn. Feel free to join us for one or two last rounds and to wait out the crowds on the Red Line.
Also, you can look for us at:
Electric Six
LCD Soundsystem
Cold War Kids
Spoon
Modest Mouse
and, um, Pearl Jam ...
Hi guys,
Hard to believe Lolla is already this weekend! Just in case we don't stumble across you in the crowd, after the last show on Saturday (Matt and I will be seeing Muse, but if Interpol is your thing, you're still invited) we'll be at Manhattan's, 415 S. Dearborn. Feel free to join us for one or two last rounds and to wait out the crowds on the Red Line.
Also, you can look for us at:
Electric Six
LCD Soundsystem
Cold War Kids
Spoon
Modest Mouse
and, um, Pearl Jam ...
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Not Helpful: Tribune editorial page
We cut back on our Chicago Tribune subscription a couple of months ago, and I'm glad to save the money. Even more, though, I'm glad I get to avoid the incredibly poor logic it puts on its editorial page, including this gem from today's "All gassed up in the Senate." As an exercise to get blogging again, though, it will suffice.
History suggests that CAFE standards haven't done much to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. CAFE standards were imposed 32 years ago, when the U.S. imported 35 percent of its oil. Since then, oil imports have nearly doubled. Higher fuel economy makes it cheaper to drive, which encourages Americans to drive more, not less. Higher gas prices, on the other hand, have an immediate pocketbook impact.
Now, perhaps it is politically dishonest to force car companies to increase fuel efficiency, rather than just taxing customers directly. But, the paragraph above has massive logic gaps that anyone taking the LSAT or GMAT could walk right through:
1) CAFE standards were introduced 32 years ago. Since then, oil imports have doubled. Can we think of any other causes for oil imports doubling? Say, the population increasing by 100 milion?
2) The editorial claims that forcing car companies to make more fuel-efficient cars would increase the sticker price on those cars. But, at the same time, "Higher fuel economy makes it cheaper to drive, which encourages Americans to drive more, not less." So which is it?
History suggests that CAFE standards haven't done much to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. CAFE standards were imposed 32 years ago, when the U.S. imported 35 percent of its oil. Since then, oil imports have nearly doubled. Higher fuel economy makes it cheaper to drive, which encourages Americans to drive more, not less. Higher gas prices, on the other hand, have an immediate pocketbook impact.
Now, perhaps it is politically dishonest to force car companies to increase fuel efficiency, rather than just taxing customers directly. But, the paragraph above has massive logic gaps that anyone taking the LSAT or GMAT could walk right through:
1) CAFE standards were introduced 32 years ago. Since then, oil imports have doubled. Can we think of any other causes for oil imports doubling? Say, the population increasing by 100 milion?
2) The editorial claims that forcing car companies to make more fuel-efficient cars would increase the sticker price on those cars. But, at the same time, "Higher fuel economy makes it cheaper to drive, which encourages Americans to drive more, not less." So which is it?
Friday, July 06, 2007
Interesting: Don't Forget the Lyrics
Please watch Fox on Wed. July 11 at 9:30 Eastern and Thurs. July 12 at 8:30 Eastern to see my family sing karaoke with Wayne Brady! Way to go Lucas!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Interesting: Checking in
Well, it's halftime in 2007.
Just two classes and one project left, and I'll be done with my Masters in Urban Planning this December.
I'm 6 weeks into my internship with Debra Shore at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. It's been very interesting so far - I've met some great people and had a chance to study cutting edge environmental problems like pharmaceuticals in wastewater, combined sewer overflows, and other water issues.
My plantar fasciitis is getting better, although I won't be able to run for a few more weeks still. Stretch your calves!
Church stuff continues to be a real source of fun and intellectual challenge. What should a church do to remain relevant and important in an urban neighborhood?
So, whats next?
For the first time since 1999, I'll be looking full-time for a full-time job this summer. I am focusing my search in the following ways:
Organizations:
- Government or *well-funded* non-profit agencies that serve the public and improve quality of life
- Political campaigns for progressive Democratic candidates who care about urban issues
- Companies that solve important problems or reduce people's suffering, while not being evil
Positions:
- Strategy and Planning
- Management
- Training
- New Initiatives
- Business Development
Location:
- Within Chicago city limits
Wish me luck!
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattkuzma
Just two classes and one project left, and I'll be done with my Masters in Urban Planning this December.
I'm 6 weeks into my internship with Debra Shore at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. It's been very interesting so far - I've met some great people and had a chance to study cutting edge environmental problems like pharmaceuticals in wastewater, combined sewer overflows, and other water issues.
My plantar fasciitis is getting better, although I won't be able to run for a few more weeks still. Stretch your calves!
Church stuff continues to be a real source of fun and intellectual challenge. What should a church do to remain relevant and important in an urban neighborhood?
So, whats next?
For the first time since 1999, I'll be looking full-time for a full-time job this summer. I am focusing my search in the following ways:
Organizations:
- Government or *well-funded* non-profit agencies that serve the public and improve quality of life
- Political campaigns for progressive Democratic candidates who care about urban issues
- Companies that solve important problems or reduce people's suffering, while not being evil
Positions:
- Strategy and Planning
- Management
- Training
- New Initiatives
- Business Development
Location:
- Within Chicago city limits
Wish me luck!
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattkuzma
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Helpful: Crash the Pews
Writing up my experiences from the UMC Northern Illinois Annual Conference last weekend has taken me some time. I have a lot of things to say about it, but my first take is a political one. Find it here:
Daily Kos: Crashing the Pews - One Way to Move on
Daily Kos: Crashing the Pews - One Way to Move on
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Helpful: Free I-GO!
I've been using I-GO car sharing for six months now, and I absolutely love it. The cars are easy to find and reserve, the price is great for a per-hour rental, and you don't have to pay for gas! Follow the directions below, and you'll get a one year membership for free.
I will donate all referral fees I earn to Nothing But Nets, the campaign that the NBA, Sports Illustrated, the United Nations, and the United Methodist Church have launched to end malaria in Africa. One $10 bed net can protect a family for 4 years from malaria-infected mosquitoes, but even $10 can be expensive for the great number of Africans who live on as less than $1 a day.
Dear Matthew:
Like me, you may have received an email about a special free membership offer for Friends and Family. The email came from Flexcar (which is one of I-GO's partners), and may have even had someone else's first name on it. I am pleased to tell you that I-GO is indeed offering this promotion in Chicago, just as Flexcar is offering it in the east and west coast cities in which they operate.
To take advantage of the offer, here's all you need to do:
1. Tell your friends to go to www.igocars.org, and click on "Join Today & Save!" in the box on the left.
2. Fill in D75FrFam in the "Promo Code" field.
3. Have them fill in the email address (matt.kuzma AT gmail DOT com)
That's it! Their first year annual fee will be waived - a nice little gift, courtesy of you! Plus, for each new member you refer before 7/7/07, we will give you $7 in driving credit, up to a maximum of $49.
We really hope you will take advantage of this offer by passing it along to all your friends and family. When people share cars, we all win.
Thank you for your support.
I will donate all referral fees I earn to Nothing But Nets, the campaign that the NBA, Sports Illustrated, the United Nations, and the United Methodist Church have launched to end malaria in Africa. One $10 bed net can protect a family for 4 years from malaria-infected mosquitoes, but even $10 can be expensive for the great number of Africans who live on as less than $1 a day.
Dear Matthew:
Like me, you may have received an email about a special free membership offer for Friends and Family. The email came from Flexcar (which is one of I-GO's partners), and may have even had someone else's first name on it. I am pleased to tell you that I-GO is indeed offering this promotion in Chicago, just as Flexcar is offering it in the east and west coast cities in which they operate.
To take advantage of the offer, here's all you need to do:
1. Tell your friends to go to www.igocars.org, and click on "Join Today & Save!" in the box on the left.
2. Fill in D75FrFam in the "Promo Code" field.
3. Have them fill in the email address (matt.kuzma AT gmail DOT com)
That's it! Their first year annual fee will be waived - a nice little gift, courtesy of you! Plus, for each new member you refer before 7/7/07, we will give you $7 in driving credit, up to a maximum of $49.
We really hope you will take advantage of this offer by passing it along to all your friends and family. When people share cars, we all win.
Thank you for your support.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Interesting: 30 is the new 20
As TMBG would say, I'm older than I've ever been, and now I'm even older.
And now, I'm older still.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Interesting: Labor Restructuring and Health Care
Another paper from my Masters program, this time about job restructuring in hospitals. This paper was a midterm assignment in my Urban Employment class with Nik Theodore.
Matt Kuzma - UPP 536 - Health Care Industry Analysis (.doc)
Matt Kuzma - UPP 536 - Health Care Industry Analysis (.doc)
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Interesting: Vote for Me!
Well, it's the first election I've been in since high school. Anyone can vote for me, as long as they are a Lay Member to the Northern Illinois Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. If that's you, please check out my killer campaign video:
Helpful: Economics of Permeable Pavement
Continuing my publishing project of my Urban Planning School papers, here is my final paper from my Environmental Economics class with Moira Zellner. The paper is on permeable pavement and some of the economic factors that municipalities or private citizens ought to face when they decide what material to build their parking lots out of. This summer, I am doing a research internship at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the wastewater and stormwater agency for Cook County, Illinois, so my research for this report definitely came in handy.
Matt Kuzma - UPP537Final - The Economics of Permeable Paving (doc)
Matt Kuzma - UPP537Final - The Economics of Permeable Paving (doc)
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Interesting and Inspiring: Run, Cindy!
She's going to Boston!
Cindy finished the marathon under 3:40:00, the qualifying time for the 2008 Boston Marathon, so we're headed to Heartbreak Hill next April. I'll put up pics in just a bit, but in the meantime, if you are a runner looking for a tip on how to qualify, here's what to do:
TRAIN YOUR ASS OFF.
Cindy didn't miss a run for 18 weeks. She found a book called Advanced Marathoning that gave her an aggressive training plan. And she followed it. When she entered the track in Traverse City to finish the last .2 miles of the 26.2, she was smiling while passing people left and right. It was a kick-ass, inspiring moment. From a kick-ass, inspiring woman! Love you baby!
Cindy finished the marathon under 3:40:00, the qualifying time for the 2008 Boston Marathon, so we're headed to Heartbreak Hill next April. I'll put up pics in just a bit, but in the meantime, if you are a runner looking for a tip on how to qualify, here's what to do:
TRAIN YOUR ASS OFF.
Cindy didn't miss a run for 18 weeks. She found a book called Advanced Marathoning that gave her an aggressive training plan. And she followed it. When she entered the track in Traverse City to finish the last .2 miles of the 26.2, she was smiling while passing people left and right. It was a kick-ass, inspiring moment. From a kick-ass, inspiring woman! Love you baby!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Helpful: June 2 Tickets, Braves vs. Cubs
Best. Seats. Ever. Please buy them.
Bullpen Box Tickets, June 2, 2007 Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs.
Bullpen Box Tickets, June 2, 2007 Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Helpful: Economic Development and Homeland Security Paper
So, I'm going to post my work on the interwebs, now that the final papers have been turned in, and my report card is final. Hopefully, the Google monkeys will help people find these papers, if anybody's interested.
#1 is my final paper from my Economic Development class (UPP 530 with Phil Ashton.) It's a report about the Homeland Security Market Development program that the State of Illinois created a few years ago. Enjoy.
Matt Kuzma UPP530 Final - Homeland Security: A Growing Cluster in Illinois? (pdf)
Matt Kuzma UPP530 Final - Homeland Security: A Growing Cluster in Illinois? (doc)
#1 is my final paper from my Economic Development class (UPP 530 with Phil Ashton.) It's a report about the Homeland Security Market Development program that the State of Illinois created a few years ago. Enjoy.
Matt Kuzma UPP530 Final - Homeland Security: A Growing Cluster in Illinois? (pdf)
Matt Kuzma UPP530 Final - Homeland Security: A Growing Cluster in Illinois? (doc)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Interesting: Shamrock Shuffle
It was a great race last week. 24,000 runners, perfect weather, and the first beer was free! Good times.
The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle
The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Interesting: Biking in Paris in the Springtime
Also helfpul: a citywide bike rental program where the first half-hour is free...
Paris Embraces Plan to Become City of Bikes - washingtonpost.com
Paris Embraces Plan to Become City of Bikes - washingtonpost.com
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I+H: Illinois HB1615
My State Representative, Greg Harris, is making good progress on House Bill 1615, which allows same-sex couples to form civil unions that have the same legal rights as marriage. At the same time, the bill guarantees that religious institutions would be free not to recognize the unions as marriages and would not be forced to perform wedding ceremonies of same-sex couples.
To find your State Rep. and Senator, click Legislator Lookup here.
To find your State Rep. and Senator, click Legislator Lookup here.
Helpful: Spring Break Check-in
It was a great first day of Spring Break yesterday. The weather was beautiful, and I got to take a nice long bike ride in my old neighborhood.
This week, I'm using the time off to catch up in my school work. I'm taking five classes this semester, and with only five weeks to go, here's what I have left:
517 Regional Planning: Group presentation on water quality. The assignment is to propose a programs or campaign that a regional planning organization might undertake, given that most RPOs are advisory (meaning they don't have any legislative authority.)
530 Economic Development: Final paper and presentation analyzing a particular economic development initiative. I haven't chosen a target yet - will probably choose an Illinois state program, so I can interview officials here in Chicago.
536 Urban Employment: Final paper and presentation on a welfare to work program. Haven't chosen one yet.
537 Environmental Economics: Final exam, plus term paper and presentation on permeable pavement, a market-based solution to the problem of stormwater runoff and groundwater depletion.
594 Disaster Mitigation and Hazard Planning: Report on a disaster that received presidential declaration of emergency. Group presentation on 1996 flood of Aurora, IL. What mitigation plan would we propose after the disaster?
This week, I'm using the time off to catch up in my school work. I'm taking five classes this semester, and with only five weeks to go, here's what I have left:
517 Regional Planning: Group presentation on water quality. The assignment is to propose a programs or campaign that a regional planning organization might undertake, given that most RPOs are advisory (meaning they don't have any legislative authority.)
530 Economic Development: Final paper and presentation analyzing a particular economic development initiative. I haven't chosen a target yet - will probably choose an Illinois state program, so I can interview officials here in Chicago.
536 Urban Employment: Final paper and presentation on a welfare to work program. Haven't chosen one yet.
537 Environmental Economics: Final exam, plus term paper and presentation on permeable pavement, a market-based solution to the problem of stormwater runoff and groundwater depletion.
594 Disaster Mitigation and Hazard Planning: Report on a disaster that received presidential declaration of emergency. Group presentation on 1996 flood of Aurora, IL. What mitigation plan would we propose after the disaster?
Monday, March 26, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
Interesting: This American Life TV
The TV version of This American Life launched this week, and you can watch clips from the first two episodes at Showtime.
Interesting: GERRYMANDER!
Go see this show!
I'll be working the door tonight, then getting a group together for next Friday's show.
GERRYMANDER!
National Pastime Theater
4139 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60613
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 7pm
Runs until April 1
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Helpful: Back up this blog
Via Lifehacker, here's a link to some simple instructions for backing up your blog if it's hosted on the new Blogger/Blogspot. Can't be too careful these days.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Interesting: Peace Dividend
An idea that was spurred from my urban employment class today: Imagine President Obama, in 2009, pulling all forces from Iraq, then submitting an "emergency appropriations bill" for American cities for the same amount that we spend on war.
$90 billion in one year to build schools and transportation networks in the entire US? If all school districts in the US spent $22 billion on school construction in 2005, then you could double nationwide school construction, with $68 billion left over for spending on roads, transit, port security, and ponies.
Call it a dividend for peace. This kind of investment by a new president would do for the America of the 21st century what Eisenhower did for the US of the 1950s.
$90 billion in one year to build schools and transportation networks in the entire US? If all school districts in the US spent $22 billion on school construction in 2005, then you could double nationwide school construction, with $68 billion left over for spending on roads, transit, port security, and ponies.
Call it a dividend for peace. This kind of investment by a new president would do for the America of the 21st century what Eisenhower did for the US of the 1950s.
Helpful: 739 Free MP3s
Once again, the South by Southwest festival is releasing free mp3 files from bands that are performing at the conference next week. The first release is 739 tracks, enough to give a nice boost to your iTunes library. Granted, some of these bands are crummy, but some are golden. Sadly, while I be in Texas this weekend, I will miss the shows and interactive publishing guru Cody Simms due to a wedding in San Antonio. Wish me luck as I drink Shiner beer, eat Taco Cabana, and look for Pee Wee's bike. Good times!
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Helpful: URL change
Hi there everyone. After three years, I've decided to rebrand the site so that it actually has interesting and helpful in the url. Here we go!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Helpful: The Long View
At this point in the presidential race last time, the leaders in New Hampshire were:
Kerry 23%
Dean 16%
Gephardt 15%
Lieberman 10%
Edwards 3%
Undecided 27%
A lot can change in a year.
Or not.
Kerry 23%
Dean 16%
Gephardt 15%
Lieberman 10%
Edwards 3%
Undecided 27%
A lot can change in a year.
Or not.
Happy Blog Birthday
Three years of this blog. May we all have another year being interesting and helpful. There are far worse things to be.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Helpful: Mayor Daley
After meeting Mayor Daley for the first time and hearing him speak last night at a young professionals event, I gotta say that despite the corruption of some of the questionable characters in City Hall, no mayor in America is working as hard for his city as Mayor Daley. The history of our city is one of rapid change and optimism, and Daley's views on building new schools, investing in economic development, and remaking public housing certainly fit with that spirit.
It was a nice event, probably 800 people, most of them shiny and beautiful. One question, though: Who doesn't wear an undershirt under their collared shirt, especially if they have lots of chest hair? I'm talking to you, Mr. Perillo.
It was a nice event, probably 800 people, most of them shiny and beautiful. One question, though: Who doesn't wear an undershirt under their collared shirt, especially if they have lots of chest hair? I'm talking to you, Mr. Perillo.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Interesting: The Real McCain
I am bad at predictions, but after living in Kansas and Texas, and watching this video, I think Sam Brownback is going to be the Republican presidential nominee. John McCain is finished.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Helpful: Get your drink on
Here's a shock: a site about booze named Extratasty found its way onto my blog. Enjoy.
Helpful for Valentines - 10 Things Happy Couples Do
I must say, honestly, that my Valentine and I are 10-for-10. Sweet!
Mark Goulston - 10 Things Happy Couples Do
Mark Goulston - 10 Things Happy Couples Do
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Obamarama
More than 50 of us made the 5:30AM bus trip from Chicago to Springfield to hear Sen. Obama's speech on Saturday. He had a great message and an electric crowd. There's a long way to go in this campaign, but I know who I'm pulling for...
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Interesting: Other Foot
The website I got this from is down, so I am blatantly stealing their info.
Other Foot is a card game similar to Apples to Apples, but far more fun. It requires at least three players, and at most the number of players that will fit around your card table. The only other requirement is a large stack of small blank cards. Index cards (cut in half) are perfect for this purpose, however any small pieces of paper which can clearly be written on will suffice (I have been known to use the paper fliers that accumulate at my local cafe).
The game begins with each player grabbing a handful of blank cards and writing words or phrases on them. There are absolutely no rules about what can be written on a card. There is a basic set of guidelines below for what will be more likely to make the game more fun, but feel free to write anything you want. Occasionally people will draw small pictures.
When each player is satisfied with the number of cards he or she has made (No required amount, but typically somewhere between ten and forty cards each) all the cards are shuffled together (this can be annoying since they aren't playing cards) and each player takes five cards.
Players take turns being the judge. At the beginning of the turn, the judge plays a card from his hand, face up, into the center of the table. Typically, the judge will read the card aloud, either for the benefit of players who are far away, or because many people have barely legible handwriting. Every other player then chooses a card from his or her hand which could be understood as some kind of response to the judge's card. The responding cards are played immediately (there is no time limit on deciding which card to play, although players who take too long can be ridiculed).
The judge decides which card "goes best" with his own card. The "best card" may somehow match his card, or perhaps finish a thought, or just sound strange in response to his card. Again, there are no rules for deciding. When the judge decides whose card is best, that player gets a "point", which he scores by taking the judge's card and placing it in his score-pile. All other cards from play are placed in a discard pile, which will be shuffled and returned to the draw pile when the draw pile eventually runs out of cards. If the judge decides that there is no real winner, the round is declared a wash, and all cards from play are placed in the discard pile. All players draw a card to return their hands to five cards (if they have not done so already) and the player seated to the left of the judge becomes the new judge.
The reason quotation marks are employed about the word "point" is that the points in this game are about as meaningless as they are on everything2. When people feel they have played long enough, everyone counts his scorepile, and decides upon the "winner", who gets about ten seconds of glory. The fun of this game is not in the competition, but in the human interaction during play. Points are merely an engine to drive the gameplay.
Additional Rules:
If an onlooker passes by and wants to join in (common in coffeehouses where you know a lot of people), tell them to make ten cards and place them in the discard pile. Then they can join in.
If you think of a good card you want to make in the middle of a game, make the card and put it in the discard pile.
If a card comes up multiple times and is consistently boring, and never works with anything, you can either ask for a vote to get rid of it, or you can just get rid of it. This is typically done by either crumpling the card into a ball, or tearing it into very small pieces.
If, between games, you want to go through and get rid of lame cards, you can.
There are no ultimate rules which make a "good" card or a "bad" card. Actually, even the distinction between "good" cards and "bad" cards is somewhat flawed. How "good" a card is can depend entirely on its interactions with other cards. A card may seem incredibly boring, but this fact can make it all the more enjoyable when it sounds really bizarre in the context of another card (For example, Diversify your investments with Fast Zombies vs. Slow Zombies).
That said, here are some basic guidelines for what works well, and what doesn't.
Good Cards:
* Anything open-ended; if your card sounds too specific, perhaps try removing a word, preferably a word essential to the meaning of the card (Instead of Maggot-Ridden Corpses, try Maggot-Ridden).
* People, places, or things, but not specific ones (Instead of Pope John Paul II try Every pope whoever lived, or instead of Willie Nelson try This one dude I met at Hempfest).
* Anything incredibly violent, graphic, or sexual (The baby eater, Vaginal discharge, Booty Call).
* Anything overly benign (Not as unusual as you would think, Actually quite futuristic).
* By far, the best phrases sound like snippets of conversation you overheard but don't know the context for (I bet I'd do really well on an I.Q. test, needs a man, etc.)
Bad Cards:
* Band Names.
* Self-Contained phrases. Don't try to make a joke on the card itself. The weirdness is supposed to come out in context.
* Specific People, places, or things. This rule can be completely wrong sometimes. I find The Queen of England to be an incredibly enjoyable card. However, specific people, places, and things in your everyday experience generally don't work.
The reason for the name "Other Foot" is just as unknown as perhaps the reason for the name Egyptian Ratscrew. Legend tells us that that was simply the phrase on the card that came up when they were deciding what to name the game.
Other Foot is extremely fun to play with a group of incredibly creative friends, preferably a really large group. However, be wary, as it can be extremely boring if played with a group of incredibly uncreative friends. If you have a bad experience playing Other Foot, perhaps you should reconsider what sort of people you surround yourself with.
Other Foot is a card game similar to Apples to Apples, but far more fun. It requires at least three players, and at most the number of players that will fit around your card table. The only other requirement is a large stack of small blank cards. Index cards (cut in half) are perfect for this purpose, however any small pieces of paper which can clearly be written on will suffice (I have been known to use the paper fliers that accumulate at my local cafe).
The game begins with each player grabbing a handful of blank cards and writing words or phrases on them. There are absolutely no rules about what can be written on a card. There is a basic set of guidelines below for what will be more likely to make the game more fun, but feel free to write anything you want. Occasionally people will draw small pictures.
When each player is satisfied with the number of cards he or she has made (No required amount, but typically somewhere between ten and forty cards each) all the cards are shuffled together (this can be annoying since they aren't playing cards) and each player takes five cards.
Players take turns being the judge. At the beginning of the turn, the judge plays a card from his hand, face up, into the center of the table. Typically, the judge will read the card aloud, either for the benefit of players who are far away, or because many people have barely legible handwriting. Every other player then chooses a card from his or her hand which could be understood as some kind of response to the judge's card. The responding cards are played immediately (there is no time limit on deciding which card to play, although players who take too long can be ridiculed).
The judge decides which card "goes best" with his own card. The "best card" may somehow match his card, or perhaps finish a thought, or just sound strange in response to his card. Again, there are no rules for deciding. When the judge decides whose card is best, that player gets a "point", which he scores by taking the judge's card and placing it in his score-pile. All other cards from play are placed in a discard pile, which will be shuffled and returned to the draw pile when the draw pile eventually runs out of cards. If the judge decides that there is no real winner, the round is declared a wash, and all cards from play are placed in the discard pile. All players draw a card to return their hands to five cards (if they have not done so already) and the player seated to the left of the judge becomes the new judge.
The reason quotation marks are employed about the word "point" is that the points in this game are about as meaningless as they are on everything2. When people feel they have played long enough, everyone counts his scorepile, and decides upon the "winner", who gets about ten seconds of glory. The fun of this game is not in the competition, but in the human interaction during play. Points are merely an engine to drive the gameplay.
Additional Rules:
If an onlooker passes by and wants to join in (common in coffeehouses where you know a lot of people), tell them to make ten cards and place them in the discard pile. Then they can join in.
If you think of a good card you want to make in the middle of a game, make the card and put it in the discard pile.
If a card comes up multiple times and is consistently boring, and never works with anything, you can either ask for a vote to get rid of it, or you can just get rid of it. This is typically done by either crumpling the card into a ball, or tearing it into very small pieces.
If, between games, you want to go through and get rid of lame cards, you can.
There are no ultimate rules which make a "good" card or a "bad" card. Actually, even the distinction between "good" cards and "bad" cards is somewhat flawed. How "good" a card is can depend entirely on its interactions with other cards. A card may seem incredibly boring, but this fact can make it all the more enjoyable when it sounds really bizarre in the context of another card (For example, Diversify your investments with Fast Zombies vs. Slow Zombies).
That said, here are some basic guidelines for what works well, and what doesn't.
Good Cards:
* Anything open-ended; if your card sounds too specific, perhaps try removing a word, preferably a word essential to the meaning of the card (Instead of Maggot-Ridden Corpses, try Maggot-Ridden).
* People, places, or things, but not specific ones (Instead of Pope John Paul II try Every pope whoever lived, or instead of Willie Nelson try This one dude I met at Hempfest).
* Anything incredibly violent, graphic, or sexual (The baby eater, Vaginal discharge, Booty Call).
* Anything overly benign (Not as unusual as you would think, Actually quite futuristic).
* By far, the best phrases sound like snippets of conversation you overheard but don't know the context for (I bet I'd do really well on an I.Q. test, needs a man, etc.)
Bad Cards:
* Band Names.
* Self-Contained phrases. Don't try to make a joke on the card itself. The weirdness is supposed to come out in context.
* Specific People, places, or things. This rule can be completely wrong sometimes. I find The Queen of England to be an incredibly enjoyable card. However, specific people, places, and things in your everyday experience generally don't work.
The reason for the name "Other Foot" is just as unknown as perhaps the reason for the name Egyptian Ratscrew. Legend tells us that that was simply the phrase on the card that came up when they were deciding what to name the game.
Other Foot is extremely fun to play with a group of incredibly creative friends, preferably a really large group. However, be wary, as it can be extremely boring if played with a group of incredibly uncreative friends. If you have a bad experience playing Other Foot, perhaps you should reconsider what sort of people you surround yourself with.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
Broke: NCBG
Finally, an urban planning post! One of the best resources for my class last semester in Development Finance was the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group. NCBG, which ran out of grant money and closed up shop today, was an independent watchdog of the city of Chicago's increasingly "creative" financing schemes for neighborhood development. If you want to understand how a TIF District works, better get on the NCBG website soon--it'll come down sometime this year.
from Chicago Reader Blogs: Clout City
from Chicago Reader Blogs: Clout City
Helpful: Review of Never Eat Alone
As promised, a quick review of Never Eat Alone. I first heard about Keith Ferrazzi in The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. Ferrazzi is the epitome of what Gladwell calls a connector--someone with a very wide social network who can introduce friends and acquaintances to a very different group of friends and ideas. Connectors are critical in helping to spread ideas, fads, rumors, and innovations, but in Ferrazzi's book, he describes the theory and practical steps one can take to use the power of connectivity to improve one's quality of life, career, and personal fulfillment.
The most meaningful thing I grasped from the book was that someone like me who is in grad school and still discerning my next career move can still be a success purely by helping to make my friends and acquaintances successful.
I really recommend this book to you, dear reader, even if you are shy and hate "networking." Your career and friendships will be better for it.
If I may be so bold, I would like to summarize the book in two points that help validate the title of this blog as a life strategy:
1) Be interesting. Read interesting things and have interesting questions and stories in hand in case you happen to meet someone you've always wanted to meet, or just so people will want to invite you to things and want to have you around. Even someone who isn't naturally funny can be interesting.
2) Be helpful. Make connections with people before you need to ask them for a favor. Volunteer. Put friends in touch with other friends who might benefit from sharing ideas. It's fun to do, and it is one of the best ways to show your friends that you care about them.
One more thing:
3) Remember people's birthdays. This is the other way to show you care about someone. Call, text, send a card, sing them a song. Birthdays matter.
The most meaningful thing I grasped from the book was that someone like me who is in grad school and still discerning my next career move can still be a success purely by helping to make my friends and acquaintances successful.
I really recommend this book to you, dear reader, even if you are shy and hate "networking." Your career and friendships will be better for it.
If I may be so bold, I would like to summarize the book in two points that help validate the title of this blog as a life strategy:
1) Be interesting. Read interesting things and have interesting questions and stories in hand in case you happen to meet someone you've always wanted to meet, or just so people will want to invite you to things and want to have you around. Even someone who isn't naturally funny can be interesting.
2) Be helpful. Make connections with people before you need to ask them for a favor. Volunteer. Put friends in touch with other friends who might benefit from sharing ideas. It's fun to do, and it is one of the best ways to show your friends that you care about them.
One more thing:
3) Remember people's birthdays. This is the other way to show you care about someone. Call, text, send a card, sing them a song. Birthdays matter.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Interesting: Book Report '08
The wife and I have decided to read the books written by all of the 2008 presidential candidates. Bring it on Vilsack!
Here's where I started:
Amazon.com: Barack Obama: Books
Reviews to come this spring!
Here's where I started:
Amazon.com: Barack Obama: Books
Reviews to come this spring!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Helpful: Never Eat Alone
Read this book! Review to come Friday.
Never Eat Alone (and Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time)
Never Eat Alone (and Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Helpful: iConcertCal
Did you resolve to see more live music this year? I did, and iConcertCal is going to help me. The iTunes plug-in scans your music library and automatically creates a calendar of upcoming concerts by those artists, in your city. Fantastic. Free program, for Mac OS X 10.3 or higher.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Interesting: Built Chicago
Built Chicago is a new website about Chicago architecture, planning and real estate. Not bad.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Interersting: Sundance for Free
In an encouraging trend for short films--and independent films in general--the Sundance Film Festival is streaming dozens of movies from the upcoming festival for free on their website. Sadly, you will not find my new favorite short film, Static.
From Very Short List.
From Very Short List.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Helpful: Amazon Wish List
Did you make a resolution to read more this year? Do yourself a favor and set up a Wish List on Amazon right now. That way, when you hear about cool books or movies that you might want to buy later or receive for your birthday, you'll remember what they are. Of course, if you have a blog, you can also post the wish list in the right sidebar and hope that people out there get the hint...ahem.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Helpful: A weight watcher's guide to booze
Apparently, pale ales and stouts have the most calories, and a four-ounce glass of red wine has only 70 calories. So let's do the math from the New Years Eve party - how many calories are in 14 bottles of wine and 2 bottles of bourbon?
Caloric Values of Alcoholic Beverages, Alcohol calories
Caloric Values of Alcoholic Beverages, Alcohol calories
Helpful: Relevancy and Cash
Cody's got a multi-part series on search engine optimization working over at Yahoo! Publisher Network. Using his advice, I hope to improve my blog income from the $3.14 I accrued in 2006. Wish me luck!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Interesting: John Edwards
Being a Democrat in Illinois, I get a lot of questions about Barack Obama. I'm a big fan, and I'm excited to hear if he announces a run for president this week. That said, I am very encouraged by John Edwards and his campaign strategy. Edwards has often been criticized for a lack of leadership experience, so he has turned his presidential campaign into a nationwide community service organization. Rallies and marches just don't cut it anymore. Improving this country takes work, and the more hands helping, the better.
Interesting: Mexico
Here are some pics from our trip to Mexico last month. Indigo Steve joined us, and is shown enjoying a popular Mexican treat, Bubu Lubu.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
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