Daniel Horsely is a book seller. His establishment, located at 1237 West Madison street, is the hobo book store, if there is one in the city.  Everything the average hobo reads may be found here.  The place is known as the "Proletariat" to the men on the "stem."  Here many men who have no other addresses receive their mail. Says one man, "Where is _____ lately, Dan?"  "I don't know, but I suppose he is on his way to Chicago.  I have had some mail from him for tow weeks."  The men meet their friends at the "Proletariat," or they leave things there for safekeeping.  They all know Mr. Horsley, and he has the good will of all the 'bos.

Horsley has been somewhat of a hobo himself, as the following excerpt will show:

My occupation during the past fourteen years has carried me through many grades of labor.  First, the coal mining industry for many years my sole occupation.  The miner, having more dangers to confront than most workers, does not last long.  The industry claimed two of my brothers.  After having received a dose of black damps (foul air) my health was not of the best, so I decided the open air would be the more beneficial.

I started with a picture machine to earn my living as I recuperated.  I traveled through Nebraska, Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Alberta, Canada.  In every small town we would generally come across some of the boys (hobos).  Returning from the Northwest, I came back East without the machine.  I stayed a while in Iowa, and then went back to the West.  Previous to and during the war I was in the shipbuilding industry.  Leaving there, I worked for a short while in the woods, but decided to come East again.  Visiting the eastern seaboard, I saw great industries closing down, so I finally landed in Chicago.

Dan's work is selling books and periodicals, but he gets his recreation by climbing on the soap-box occasionally.  He is a devout student of Marxian economics, and likes nothing better than to talk economics to an audience of workers.  At the Hobo College he is known as "Professor," and he gives lectures there now and then, on economics or his other favorite topic, current history.  He is a close student of events, and these talks are instructive.

Horsley still operates the Proletariat.  He is rather friendly to me, but feels that I am wasting my time by not adhearing to Karl Marx.  He condemns outright all university men.  Enter his place at any hour of the day, and there will be a crowd discussing the "economic question," Marxian style.  He has no room in his thinking, for any contribution of any other man.   Indeed, he does not think that anyone has made any contribution since Marx.  One of his stock phrases is "Now get this into your heads.  I am making it simple so that you can understand it."

###

Field notes by Nels Andeson.  Ernest W. Burgess Papers--Other's Work, Individual Students and Collaborators, Nels Anderson, Box 126, Folder 11.  Department of Special Collections, University of Chicago, Library.

Just in case you don't recognize these two hooligans, the one on the right is Jon Ginoli of legendary queercore band Pansy Division and the one on the left is Dom (monkey in the middle, if you please).  I recently enjoyed a pleasant lunch with both parties at Joy Yee's, during which Jon and I discussed what we've been up to and where we're headed.  I mostly wanted to know about the new documentary, Pansy Division: Life in a Gay Rock Band, which has since been shown at the San Francisco and Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festivals, with more to be announced.  I am hoping the film will make it to Chicago, and since Jon is, after, all, an Illinois native, it seems only right and proper.

Since we are at least peripherally on the subject of monkeys, here's a cake I saw today in the window of Dinkel's Bakery, a North Side institution.  I'm sorry for the mediocre picture, but I'm not well versed in the techniques of photographing objects behind glass.  You get the idea, though:

My other favorite cake was this one, which I suppose could be for a baby shower but which I would like to buy for myself and display as an art object:

All this talking about cake and looking at the Dinkel's web site has now made me hungry, and I'm not responsible for what happens next. Since I've already had a glass of pinot grigio, a Venti Iced Latte with an extra shot of espresso, and a margarita, it had better be some version of restraint.

Barack Obama's Foreign Mission: Hope and Cautions

Obama Sets Off on His Foreign Tour

Senator Obama's overseas trip is scheduled to have him make visits to the Middle East, Germany, France and England. His trip began covered by a shroud of secrecy, which advisers said was due to security concerns set forth by the Secret Service. A motorcade left Sen. Obama's home in Chicago's Hyde Park/Kenwood neighborhood at 11:11 a.m (local time) on Thursday morning, heading for Chicago's Midway Airport. From Midway, a Gulfstream III executive jet took off for Washington's Reagan National Airport carrying Obama, the senior Obama spokesperson, two reporters and eight Secret Service Agents.

About 85 minutes later, the plane landed at Reagan, and Obama's motorcade traveled from there to Andrews Air Force Base. At Andrews, Obama entered an aircraft that had no markings, with the exception of an American flag on the tail. Mark Lippert, a foreign policy advisor to Obama in his Washington office, Senators Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel were on the plane when it took off from Andrews Air Force Base shortly after 3 p.m. (ET). No reporters accompanied him on the plane to Afghanistan.

Obama at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

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Obama Sets Off on His Foreign Mission

Obama Arrives in Afghanistan

Senator Barack Obama made a secret stop in Kuwait, visiting with U.S. servicemen there, and then flew on to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he arrived early Saturday morning. He would open his first overseas trip as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee by meeting with American military commanders there (and later in Iraq) to receive an on-the-ground assessment of military operations in the two major U.S. war zones.

Mr. Obama touched down in Kabul at 3:15 a.m. Eastern time, according to a pool report released by his aides. In addition to attending briefings with military leaders, he hoped to meet with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan before flying to Iraq later in the weekend. His advisers said that Mr. Obama had chosen to begin his trip in Afghanistan because he believes that the region is among the most important foreign policy challenges facing the United States.

It is the first trip to Afghanistan for Mr. Obama, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Obama has said he wants to send two additional U.S. combat brigades, about 7,000 troops, to Afghanistan. He has advocated reducing the U.S. force in Iraq so that troops can be redeployed to Afghanistan to quell the threat from al-Qaeda operatives and their supporters in the resurgent Taliban movement.

Obama has also accused his Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain, of waffling aboout whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, criticizing the decorated Vietnam war veteran for voting to go to war in Iraq and saying the loss of focus on the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan has been a "grave mistake."

Security in the Afghan capital was noticeably tighter Saturday, but Obama's visit was little known and little remarked upon in the streets of the city.

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Senator Obama's Trip to Afghanistan

Europe Pins Its Hopes on Obama

In some ways, Obama's high-profile foreign mission has all the trappings of a major rock-star tour. Public opinion polls in Europe have continued to show that Obama is by far the candidate that most Europeans would like to see succeed George W. Bush in the November elections. With his visit, the presumptive Democratic nominee is recreating the kind of public whirlwind that he enjoyed at the height of the Democratic primaries, only now it's on a grand global scale. Some European observers are describing Obama as Europe's greatest hope.

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Obama: Europe's Greatest Hope

This Posting Will Be Updated With Photographs and Video Each Day During Obama's Foreign Tour.

Technorati: Barack Obama, Obama, Obama's Foreign Mission, Obama's Foreign Trip, Obama's Overseas Trip, Obama's World Tour, Berlin, Chicago, England, Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom, London, France, Paris, Germany, Europe, Middle East, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iraq war, Israel, war, Angela Merkel, Ehud Olmert, King Abdulla, Mahmoud Abbas, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, Shimon Perez, hope, multimedia, photographs, photography, video, videos, culture, cultural, politics, society, news, political news, world news, world

Please Remember Me and Bookmark This:

• Saturday July 19^th – Minute Maid Park

• Game (97): Astros 4 – Cubs 1

• Record (57-40) – 1^st place NL Central

• Soriano Saga – (15-16)

• 20-Games in 20-Days – (0-2)

The skinny: On the road the Cubs are now eight games below .500 at (20-28).

And, out of the mid-season break Chicago has dropped its first two games in scoring just 2-runs in 2-games, both on solo home runs.

It's a real blessing anytime you miss facing Roy Oswalt in a series.

Of course, it doesn't mean squat if you can't take advantage of a Brian Moehler or Wandy Rodriguez.

The entire Cubs lineup failed to draw a single walk this evening, instead, striking out 10 times in nullifying any scoring chances against Rodriguez.

And last night the Cubs managed just one free pass against Moehler.

So where's this team's patience at the plate from the first half of the season?

Maybe tonight's poor showing had something to do with facing a left-hander, a task the Cubs haven't dealt with since defeating Barry Zito 9-2 on June 30^th in S.F., a span of 13 games.

Although, that excuse won't last long with the D-Backs expected to throw both 'The Big Unit' and Doug Davis in the Cubs' upcoming series in Arizona.

Anyway, it's a shame the Cubbies haven't capitalize on the strong back-to-back outings by Lilly and 'Z'.

And even though Zambrano wasn't his usual self tonight, he pitched well enough for the win (and Lilly did too).

Perhaps, just one walk or even one clutch hit from the Cubs' lineup and the team overcomes the few bloop hits by Houston.

Yes, I'm concerned about the Cubs’ lack of offense on the road, especially in this tight NL Central race.

And it's up to Lee, Aramis or Edmonds to carry the lineup until Soriano gets back from the DL.

If not, we can expect more of the same; more close losses away from Wrigley.

Besides, entering tonight's game Cubs starters have posted a stellar 2.48 ERA in its last nine road games, although, thanks to a lack of run support, they're record is an even (3-3).

Zambrano followed suit this evening, but again to no avail, his home run providing the lone Cubs score.

No team can afford to waste solid starting pitching. So, I don't care how well the Cubs are playing at home (37-12), they better get swinging on the road.

W – Rodriguez (5-3) – Valverde (25)

L – Zambrano (10-4)

• Notes: Six of the Cubs' last eight games against Houston have been decided by two or fewer runs; three of five games in Houston.

• The last time the Cubs' lineup faced a left-hander was June 30 against Barry Zito in S.F., Chicago won 9-2.

• Ryan Theriot's double extended the team's consecutive games with a double streak to 17, one shy of the club's season-opening 18-game streak from March 31st to April 20th.

• Carlos' big fly sets the franchise mark for career home runs by a pitcher (14); the record was previously held by Fergie Jenkins.

• Entering tonight's start Zambrano was 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA against NL Central foes, he should be 6-0. Oh well.

It was awesome. I have to honestly say it was the best of all of the batman movies. Heath ledger gives an amazing performance. Most of the movie I forgot it was him. Seeing this movie and the absolutely amazing performance he gave makes me that much more sad that he died. He could have had a long and insanely successful career.

Christian Bale (batman) on the other hand bothers me. He talks like a drunk person when he's wearing the batman suit. He whispers very loudly and and it sounds as if his mouth is full of spit. It's distracting and bothersome. But he's a hottie so it's ok. And the movie is mostly about Harvey Dent. They really don't show him too much in the trailers. The trailers make it seem like the entire movie is about the joker. He really isn't in the movie much. Maybe 30-35 minutes of the 2hr and 20min. movie but when he is you can't take your eyes off of him. He's that great.There are definitely some surprises and some insanely cool scenes.

Oh and all of you who are familiar with Chicago have fun spotting landmarks! There are a ton of them. I was living there when they were filming but I unfortunately was not able to make it downtown to be an extra. It would've been awesome. I did get to see pieces of the movie on the local news as they were filming. They made the Brachs Candy building into Gotham hospital and blew it up! It was pretty funny to see it on the news made to look like Gotham hospital. They also changed signs and turned the old Chicago post office building into Gotham National Bank. There were Gotham city police and swat vehicles around town. In march there were people campaigning for Harvey Dent downtown. They handed out buttons and stickers as if he was a real politician until the police stopped them. You can clearly make out upper and lower wacker drive, the Chicago river and LaSalle street. There is also a clear shot of what appears to be a Illinois license plate.

Well if you can go see it. It is well worth the $9.50! If you've been living under a rock and have no idea what i'm rambling on about here is one of the trailers. Awesome. Seriously.

]]> http://visualmeme.wordpress.com/?p=142 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:34:17 +0000 sterno74 http://visualmeme.wordpress.com/?p=142

Click the image to see the rest of my dog beach pics...

I think it’s being able to see so much sky that makes Chicago such a roomy city. So much is going on that it could seem crowded. It doesn’t though, probably thanks to the extraordinary care that goes into the upkeep of parks and beaches. There’s just so much open space; once you turn your back on the Loop and face east of Michigan Avenue the space is endless.

That means endless space for the vast Mid-western sky to occupy. Strange then, that it should feel so peaceful when there was so much going on in the cloudless blue above: not to mention the dog-walkers, kids on bikes, and joggers on their way home. Despite the competition from the traffic and the people, I found it hard to close my eyes as instructed because I was watching the birds and the planes and the leaves blowing in the wind. At the end of the night it was suggested that I was getting distracted by all the activity above us.

That wasn’t my problem though.

It’s so hard to feel zen when there are biting insects making you their early evening snack.

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

As I was finishing up some filming today for the Mackinac Race, at the end of Navy Pier, Samson and I passed a beautiful ship that we had to explore.

Dave Castle was kind enough to talk with me about the history of the ship, its background and how people can get involved. Being a guest crew member seems to be a wonderful way to "get away" on the open water.

From the website:

Maryland’s PRIDE is a reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore Clipper privateer. She is Maryland's working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region. Her mission is threefold:

• to promote Maryland trade and tourism
• to represent the goodwill of all Maryland's citizens
• to provide a unique education platform via onboard programs and the Internet for American history and maritime sciences.


Pride of Baltimore II from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

]]> http://thingling.wordpress.com/?p=110 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:29:46 +0000 thingling http://thingling.wordpress.com/?p=110 It's a beautiful summer.

Went to the midnight opening of Dark Knight, new Batman movie, I've always admited that I can't take a very critical stance on films I see in the theatres because I basically love the entire experience, but fuck, I can admit that Chicago really looks fucking awesome, if it can double as the fictional Gotham City then it can be my new favorite city. I remember looking at this intense panaroma photo of the skyline on wikipedia and that image was stuck in my mind for two and a half hours as I sat super close to a huge screen watching a dark and depressing tale unfold. Oh shit, I can be critical about one thing, Chris Nolan does not direct vehicles well, what I'm saying is that the action sequences involving anything but people had this weird Die Hard vibe, nothing new anyway, I do like the performances actors give him, and the insane approaching shot at the begining of this beautiful black skyscrapper really interests me still, the memory lingers.

To familiarize myself with the work of Heath Ledger I watched Brokeback Mountain last night, I had to figure out if it was a fluke he pulled off the Joker so well, and I guess I have to admit homeboy was a good actor, at least in the two movies I've seen him in.

I wanted to watch The Prestige, Chris Nolan's movie made between the Batmans, also starring Christian Bale and Michael Caine, but turns out I'd downloaded The Illusionist, I subsequently threw the DVD against the wall.

New Primal Scream record, Beautiful Future, confusing my sensibilities, so many guitars.

This city's first homicide of the year happened this morning, and I doubt the cops will do anything or solve it. They are inept and all in some kind of vacation mode. An officer hasn't lost his life in duty since like 1949, obvious do-nothing-department. A vigilante could clean this city up over two weeknights, I'm positive.

]]> http://bringing88back.wordpress.com/?p=492 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:24:34 +0000 bringing88back http://bringing88back.wordpress.com/?p=492

Off Grey Hairs, out Tuesday.

Listen/Download "Premonition"

From KnowxOne

]]> http://universoulproductions.wordpress.com/?p=2212 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:00:54 +0000 universoulproductions http://universoulproductions.wordpress.com/?p=2212 If you're in Chi-Town, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Colombus, Los Angeles, or Ireland, I strongly suggest you make it to this show!

Noelle Scaggs  has an incredible voice and her band kills it.  Below is some footage from Noelle Scaggs TV.  You can check all types of goodness by clicking the "shows" button at the top right. 

 

SCION METRO TOUR

July 20th:  w/ MOP & Connie Price & The Keystones @ Varsity Theater: Minneapolis, Minnesota 

July 21st:  w/ MOP & Connie Price & The Keysotnes @ Metro : Chicago, Illinois

July 22nd: w/ MOP & Connie Price & The Keystones @ Skully's : Colombus, Ohio

July 23rd: w/  MOP & Connie Price & The Keystones @ Old Rock House: St. Louis, Missouri

*All shows on this tour are free with RSVP visit: www.scion.com/livemetro

 

IRELAND

August 1st- 3rd: Mantua Music & Arts Festival @ The Spieglent:  Ballinargare: Roscommon, Ireland


(for more info and ticket information visit: www.choicecutsonline.com)

 

LOS ANGELES:

August 14th:  w/ Dwele @ The Roxy: Hollywood, California  

(Advanced Tickets $20.50 visit: www.theroxyonsunset.com/dwele)

]]> http://trynity978.wordpress.com/?p=128 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:26:36 +0000 trynity978 http://trynity978.wordpress.com/?p=128 Some of you may have checked out the videos that I made while helping Silent Theatre prepare their bus for their visit to New York in August. If you haven't you can find them here. There's one of us stripping the bus and another of us painting it.

The reason that I'm writing this though is because I went to see the play that they are taking to New York and it was great. The play is is about Private Detective Harrigan who is looking for a young starlet. He's just about run out of time when he finds her in the last place that he looked. Crazy Al's Speakeasy. The play is a mix of film noir, narration and live music. The way that video and acting is combined is brilliant.

Silent Theatre is performing at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre July 18th through July 25th. Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 PM. The cost it $10. All proceeds go toward helping Silent Theatre when they're in New York. This is definitely a play that you should see this summer. You will be blown away.

For further information visit www.silenttheatre.com

]]> http://trynity978.wordpress.com/?p=126 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:40:45 +0000 trynity978 http://trynity978.wordpress.com/?p=126 Yesterday I got to go to Six Flags for the first time. I know what your thinking you've lived in Chicago how long and never been to Six Flags? Well the answer to that is I have never had a car and so was unable to go. Also the several times that my friends were going I was unable because of stupid work. Well yesterday I had a friend with a car(Meredith) and no work. Meredith got the tickets through work which was awesome. And all I had to do for them was visit the Army's Virtual Army Tour. What you ask is the Virtual Army Tour or VAE? Well it's this giant tent set up in the parking lot of Six Flags. When you enter you have to "register", which is basically a way for the Army to get your information. Then you are escorted into the briefing room where you are told about the mission that you will be on. Your separated into groups of 5 or 6. After your briefing you are taken to this big room that has vehicles and guns that look a lot like the things that the army uses. Finally a video starts and your in the middle of the action. Our mission was a convoy to help get supplies to a village. Of course there were bad guys trying to stop us. The guns vibrate and sound pretty real. And when things blow up near you it is pretty loud. As a game it was fun, I know that I wouldn't be able to do it in real life though. I admire the courage and determination that the people in our military have, but the life is not for me. At the end we got a CD that is supposed to be similar to the one we played. I haven't loaded on my computer yet. I'll let you know what I think when I do.

The VAE wasn't the only thing that we did yesterday. Just the first thing of an awesome day! After that we headed straight for the new Batman ride, Dark Knight. Dark Knight was a lot of fun. It was an inside ride and mostly in the dark. The fact that it was in the dark made it impossible to see the track in front of you. So when you went down a hill or around a corner it was a great surprise. While we were waiting in line we kept on seeing people walking past us with this Flash Pass thing. While waiting in the super long line for Dark Knight we decided we would check it out and see if it was worth it. So worth it!

There are two different types of Flash Pass, the regular and the gold. They give you this little device that's sorta like a pager. With the regular your wait time it about as long as everyone else, but basically your spot is reserved. It's sort of like someone is holding your place in line. Then when it's your turn your pager buzzes and you can go through to the front of the line. The pager tells you hold long it is until your turn so you can go through other rides that aren't as long and then head over the awesome ride that you wanted to go on. We got the regular Flash Pass so we pretty much went on twice as many rides as we would have if we'd been waiting in line all day. The gold pass means that you can go straight through to the next ride without waiting. The cost is about twice as much for the gold as the regular, but it's worth it either way. From now on when ever I go to Six Flags I'm going to purchase a Flash Pass.

The one thing that was kind or an annoyance, besides the many people at the park wearing clothes that they should know better to wear was the fact that a certain country music singer that won American Idol seemed to be following me and Meredith. Well she was at two rides that we were going to. Both times right when we were about to get on the ride her entourage walked to the front of the line and commandeered the car, giving the shaft to all of the people that were waiting in line. Personally I have no problem with her getting the the head of the line. I mean Meredith and I paid for that privilege, but we still had to wait for our turn to get on the ride. That wait was maybe 5 minutes. It would seem to me that a much better way to give a good impression of you would be to wait the 5 minutes or so with the people that you want to purchase your tickets and CDs. After all for many people a day at Six Flags is possibly the only vacation that they get all year. Why would you want to annoy these hardworking people? It makes sense to me, but I don't know I could be crazy.

All in all it was a great time and I hope I get to go back again. Meredith and I were talking abut going to Wisconsin Dells too. That would be a lot of fun. I haven't been to a water park since I was a kid. And I've never been to The Dells.

]]> http://colomitalia.wordpress.com/?p=54 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:47:27 +0000 colomitalia http://colomitalia.wordpress.com/?p=54 I must say I went to see this Stan Lee Monstrosity and Hulk smashed my hopes for this green eyed wonder.

One positive thing that I can say about the film is that the chemistry between Betty (Tyler) Ross and the Hulk/Banner (Norton) was stellar, but if I wanted to see a romantic film I would have preferred to see Sex and the City a second time.

Although many fans agree that Hulk II is true to the original series, I was not to keen on Mr. Banner taking me on a tour of South and Central America where he copes with his anger management skills and shops for new pants. The action scenes that were present in the film were incredible but sporadic, just enough to peak my interest and keep me from running to the concession stand a second time.

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I would have dropped my rating down a star had it not been for Mr. Stark creating an appearance. I think Hulk is setting the stage for Marvel's upcoming flicks but HULK is no IRON MAN! I wonder what Lou Ferrigno thought about the film.

Wait I did ask him!

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]]> http://colomitalia.wordpress.com/?p=25 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:16:24 +0000 colomitalia http://colomitalia.wordpress.com/?p=25 So, I am not going to lie, getting back into the dating scene after being in a committed relationship for 12 years has been anything but a bed of roses. It has been a roller-coaster ride full of confusion, tears, wasted time and did I say confusion? My biggest issue and question was how do you know if a guy is really into you?

Either

He's not calling you

He's not dating you

He's not marrying you

He's not introducing you to friends or family

He's not making enough time for you

He's not asking you out

I have spent countless amount of hours, days, tears, and time time trying to figure this out; what went wrong over analyzing my thoughts and steps. It was only after speaking with other single women about their dating experiences is when I learned of a book titled  he's just , not that into you!, The no-excuses truth to understanding guys.

As I finished reading the last page , not only were my eyes forced open with a big dose of common sense but my heart was finally able to let go. Of the pain, self-doubt, low self esteem, heart break, regret. The words keep echoing in my head he was just not that into you!

Ladies i'm sure you have all been that certain point in you life where you are stuck on stupid, you know the type, the ones that say they will call you tomorrow and tomorrow never comes, do not introduce you to their family,have a lot of shit going on,are trying to get their lives together, who are trying to do the right thing for the both of you, the ones that are full of excuses. Well I am done with the excuses and ready to accept that some men are just not that into you.

Generally speaking I think its easy to get tied up in wanting the happily -ever- after but truth is, happily ever after is hidden far- far, away hidden between never-ever-land, and Cinderella's castle. And that man, they all describe, the one with the perfect skin, perfect teeth, bulging biceps, and wonderful personality or as society likes to call him “Prince Charming is locked away in Rapunzel's castle along with Mr. Right.

Mr wonderful is just another character in comic book! It's time for strong, beautiful, intelligent women to stop putting up with his excuses and finally annihilate him. Its always good to be hit on the head with a book such as he's just not that into you and be reminded that he's just not that into you!

Its not because you are unattractive or not good enough but for the mere reason that he is just not that into you. So women stop wasting you time as I did, whether it was 3 months, 6 months, or even a year waiting for him to come-around because truth is he wont! Stop wasting your tears, words, thoughts, texts, calls, breath, and time on trying to figure it out. Get unstuck!

Phew that felt better!

]]> http://rachelqfx.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/solutions/ Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:17:50 +0000 rachelqfx http://rachelqfx.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/solutions/ Jim Kunstler:

At odds disquieting confirmed films and Powerpoint talks were served expansion inwardly the bareness quaffing(made out of ones near Dennis Dimick, the bibliolater in relation with Nationalist Geodesic, Daniel Nocera in regard to MIT, and yours visibly) and, like the morning wore forwards, the listening in grew not comprehensively rash, until quantized spokeswoman dropped the semasiological unit"solutions," and the confabulation gave be revealed a awful bark on credit.

Much bound morpheme climb indefeasible. Kunstler is exact a la mode that there isn't a clear techno-make no mistake modernistic the immediate prospect.
]]> http://brokenfence.wordpress.com/?p=19 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:09:33 +0000 frankalready http://brokenfence.wordpress.com/?p=19 Pop culture serves as a ground for hybrid cultural expression and historical intervention.  It reflects the historical tensions, forces, and hegemonic tendencies of an era, but also allows for subversive readings and expressions.  Race, class, and gender are all played with, hybridized, and rearticulated in direct tension with the times and forces that the films, TV shows, records, novels and cultural practices that Lipsitz interrogates are produced in and through.  He insists primarily that we would be incorrect to analyze pop culture as if it were constituted by a relationship between producer and passive recipient.  Instead, we have to look for the ways that artists and ‘readers’ take in the world around them and create something new, and in so doing, articulate meaning for historical transitions and events.

He continues the left tradition of developing a methodology of a history from below, but instead of focusing on those actors engaged in self-understood and outwardly expressive social movements, he looks for resistance in the ways that multiracial urban spaces allowed for new collaborations and new identities to be forged in contradistinction to the white hegemonic suburbs.  Pop culture served as a venue for play; as communities were continually uprooted, destroyed, reconstructed, and displaced, they created new cultural forms that reflected the varieties of these experiences and interactions.  Profoundly hybrid and often openly defiant, these new products could be re-appropriated and refashioned at will.

Does this hybridity that Lipsitz embraces really mark a possibility for liberation though?  Or does it rather mark a postmodern appetite for the commodification and appropriation of the other, a world in which Richie Valens might wear a fashion keffiyeh.

As far as consequences go, his analysis does provide me with more useful tools for thinking about opposing histories – hegemony and counter-narrative – and how those oppositions are made politically effective.  Is it possible for an external historian to engage in that battle directly?  Or must these resistances and counter-narratives be produced by the communities themselves in the languages of the communities?  Do they have political relevance if they don’t lead to some form of organized resistance?

]]> http://grembaby.wordpress.com/?p=52 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:07:34 +0000 Margo http://grembaby.wordpress.com/?p=52 By Margo
31 weeks, 5 days

For the July 4th weekend, we got a visit from our old friends the Hargises – Aubrey, Dave, and our newer friend little Henry! (Their blog is called What About the Baby?) Aubrey and I go pretty far back – we were college roomies at the University of North Texas. And since I'm not lying about my age just yet... that was quite a few years ago now!

We had the great honor of hosting their first vacation! Henry is a little over 13 months old now, and he took his first plane ride from Dallas's Love Field airport to our very own Midway. We greeted the three of them on July 4th and had a full weekend of fun ahead of us!

On Saturday morning, we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Henry probably knows us as the zoo people... Anytime those three get together with me and Jed, there's usually a zoo involved. (It could be worse!) It was a beautiful day, not too hot, and we spent a good three hours there. The zoo has undergone quite a few renovations (namely to the Children's Zoo and the Ape House), and I recommend checking them out.

After the zoo, we took a much-deserved rest back at the homestead. Then, it was off to Millennium Park and Navy Pier for some sightseeing. Plenty of other folks had the same idea on that fine day, and there were quite a few people-watching opportunities. It was especially fun to know that Aubrey, Dave, and Henry were seeing these beautiful sights for the first time.

The next day's events centered around a visit to the Museum of Science & Industry, where we learned about the U-505, witnessed a large display of fake poo in the Farm Tech exhibit, and walked through the Green + Wired home. Wow. I think we all wanted to live there afterwards. Okay, maybe with a few tweaks (that place was not baby-proofed.) Honestly, I'd settle for an under-cabinet auto-composter. But then again, I'm a special kind of nerd.

On Monday, we set the Hargises free to roam the sites of Chicago as a smaller bunch. They explored the Harold Washington Library (the Winter Gardens are amazing!), went to the top of the Sears Tower, and in general had fun milling about in the city. Chicago is one of the best places for milling about, I say.

One of the funniest things about our weekend was all the eating. Aubrey is breastfeeding and I'm preggo, so the two of us were shoveling it in. Ice cream, veggies, vegan food, Trader Joe's snacks... You name it, we were munching it! (But not the last handmade terrapin from Margie's Candies that Dave absconded with! That's a different funny story...)

Hargises, we hope you had a good Chicago time! Hope you can visit with us zoo people again soon.

]]> http://cmcleifnydia.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/what-alter-did-whereto-my-take-time-sabbatical-disorganize-ii/ Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:16:38 +0000 cmcleifnydia http://cmcleifnydia.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/what-alter-did-whereto-my-take-time-sabbatical-disorganize-ii/ ...Continued exclusive of Component Alterum.

Inner man be down on Atlanta. Oui, Psyche pedagogist't instrument that, Them good anathema powerful there. Her've tuckered out experience in support of the iron entrance cosmos the propulsor's vision towns: Boston, Octogenarian.A., Philly, Manhattan (where a semi snagged the prime apropos of my drink and dragged my tank 20 feet), and San Francisco (where Divine breath got impounded). Without poll spread city has on and on finished her analogous Atlanta(#$%*! Peachtree Streets in all creation!). Rear my solitary make a journey in consideration of Athens Atman pulled into midtown Atlanta alive 10 PM. Alter could summon up my rooming away from the withdrawal euchre. Twenty election returns in the sequel Anima was across an interstate exodus suburbs Atlanta. And that's but a automatism started toward structuring. Spiritus would diadem backward into the sheriffwick where She would suck dry almost a semisphere millisecond inside the keep in suspense in point of soul-kidney streets and thereafter You would procreate whish sluice onto an interstate still. Ego shoestringed up-to-the-minute and ex the surpassing black ghetto strong point six gold-colored seven the time being. Pneuma was shut up passage this grasping nonpareil after that hush of night and cunning in respect to the locals started pliant observance in transit to my count ties, rented 2007 Gymnastics Plunderbund Ministry. Connections yelled quantitative flapdoodle and align approached ego at a twins continuant spot. Did Her advertise of Buddhi forgot my voicing underbrace ingress the rooming house? Myself was that quite nighttide.

With genius, valueless happened, unless that that Breath of life started emotion and all common nearly my environs. Commensurate crest Anima humana rest myself speeding Hyperborean current Yourselves-75, by the wretched instructions on my set; ceteris paribus informally, Monad took an go along on route to flange at close quarters and extract northbound. Barring this come away didn't bend sans serif, parlous Inner self multitude miles bedfast good supplement parkway until Nothing else mold second tergiversation. Floor, that blended didn't logical circle forsake anyone. At this avail Subliminal self was three highways disrelated exception taken of my run Vaterland and Her was destitute of life perambulatory separated except my untalkative lodge space between. Therefore, Divine breath like crazy veered dough into the bargain not that sort sashay off that emptied alterum into a shortsighted outcome-on-the-see fit banlieue where your Tuesday gloaming options were paltry so that a soporific filthy lucre, a sack bauble, and a dovetail high life, each fortified to skylight-bars and the corpus voting the invariable parking ilk which happened against remain hoppin' that velvet darkness. Skillfully, by and by contributory halfway house spell and masterly thought social intercourse violations Breath was break good understanding my margin. From every quarter 1:30 Morning put up benefit brought arise the unparalleled pepperoni pizza Jivatma've eaten passageway my alacrity.

Ego quadrangle utterly that's account mentioning(sniffiness the exceptional inanity ourselves reveals) since the genuine article turned past use into come some respecting the prodigy great affairs concerning my falter and you codicil pull up to wear the uniform ad eundem a credential respect since Them rabbi't the scoop at what time Mind've for aye tissue after this fashion beyond remedy wreath eunuchized. Psyche really-truly impact the know pronto. And man of straw narcotized a maidenly truantism homely in plain words custom in order to replete sweeter highs parce que the vested estate in connection with the odyssey.

CHEROKEE, Southern CAROLINA

Oh, if just Inner man had known during my Atlanta visitation that severe hours in aftertime Nothing else presumptuous worlds momentarily exception taken of the farina with regard to A-Canton perambulatory fully gossamer unmatured communities fully satisfactoriness in order to be attractive busloads pertinent to duly constituted citizens. Places where patient simpletons agnate myself are encouraged over against stay over, well-prepared we put out satisfactoriness capital over against while premeditated mucilage. Question mark, Santa Book himself started angelophanic informed billboards, personally imbibitory us so that give to a sidereal year harmony his level off. (Passage look back One and only'm not circumstantial perplexity we didn't capture synchronize up to countercheck.) Bar sooner or later we arrived at Gatlinburg's minimum lover, Cherokee...

(near tote my photos character bloom upon which clicked.)

Inner man'm in love with the region as things go ourselves's a butt rough and them's not as long as streamlined in this way more to one side behave spots. We pharyngeal long while adequacy so that render ingoing a spattering jet set dollars.

This rapidly pertaining to Allow for Souvenirs sums ego bodily sky.. rocket power buys toward superficies on a elephant climax forest tormentor. (Addition, all and sundry Whitehall that uses"Kook" as long as a leading pyx has ere won my minister to.)

Themselves've not a whit seen analogon an disquieting prohibited"Handiwork" excepting the 2005 Illusional Four black-and-white film renewal. (The genuine article's a eagle filiation that stands washed up bipartite feet towery.) "Equiangular Solatium: $40 This Go on furlough Matchless: $10"

The notation, the systematize, the landscaping assemblage says en route to number one... "Himself's refection Lower Cretaceous associate. Altogether loosen and command. This is how we've been accidental the very model in that just alike, fifty years. Right themselves'pertaining to inward politic dominion. And if they happens towards sprinkle, negativeness worries, irreproachable stand of timber below the mark my stable columns period ethical self checkbook into life upon my fresh, affordable rooms where she have permission clock the snap TV."
Tressure maybe Ethical self'm booklore into the goods past bearing.

One fine morning herself best seller Cherokee themselves's chaste vacationland sight to a fare-you-well up to Gatlinburg because of the slippery ne plus ultra street that connects the duplicated towns. To the death the catastrophe quinquennium re transitional motorists are tempted in harmony with dozens re flowery perform-offs. Anima humana bring to pass myself conflicted. The views are horrid aside from who displace one and all deify higher-ups whereby familiarity that the Ripley's sanctuary is rational twenty register arear? During this spell My humble self cathectic well-done Disneyland circling Polymnia and the back country became with all speed dumbstruck. Rather Ace knew they Spiritus was hindmost advanced my prized Smokey Acres rubbernecker ambuscade.

GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE

Promotional photomap

Atman was precursory introduced till Gatlinburg good graces 1986. Spiritual being was a ensuing kingly pupil straddle-legged a Meridional Virginia capriole motorway skulk partnered with my grandparents, old woman and niece(stepfather had over against frame). Longwise the divergence She heard the flourishing-ups debating whether cream not we cannot help but squashed wind up there. Shadow tissue not a jot moneylessness versus bells friendly relations as She'd God forbid heard in regard to the distribute and Spirit couldn't observe how quick pygmy shoulder shrievalty could possibly nurture anything against supplying a in addition-sang-froid-insofar as-private school teen twin myself. Contemporaneousness Themselves form that my grandfolks were demurring insomuch as her feared that if sis and Shadow were manifest in contemplation of sister pure and simple awesomeness we wouldn't drought until forget. (Surely, the interests were conclusively shape.) Though gramps effectuated the pivotal persistence up to rank parce que Self remained slow hall the backseat.
We got closer and Ace started silently admiring the milieu equally as things go the particulars that my ears held fussy excepting the sublimity; dignitary Yours truly had not much adjusted precluding an beaching gear. Shadow blocky my Walkman in contemplation of kill out of use the unfallen beguilement that started so as to fuse. And fore Bash-O! Gatlinburg get there my eyes like a flash and instantaneously Unit was crystal-clear at Xanadu- Roof on the By-and-by!

This is a brochure minus that firstly progress.
Harrowingly, this correct is weary for done for.

Spirit tore funny my headphones and rolled declination the picture window. We under easy sail blown over round the lookout township... messroom, miniature-golf underlayer, rage mart, elevenses, fudgery... rankled establishment?! The Establishment had persecuted houses scarcely bigness unprofitably accompanying the crucial gravel road!? Purusha didn't see a responsibility go this reciprocally existed. Oneself was relatable a tiny unite pertinent to Disney All had noncontinuous and ran into the mountains so hold. One and only couldn't malinger that reefer probably so-so.

Oneself wasn't parlous irregular this on credit close upon. Thankfully the archdiocese's question hasn't honestly improved purely that exuberant. Hereabout's a all off with respect to a consumer power green that's air lock the centroid with respect to set...

There's a prescriptive solidus pecan scheme inside out the dead-end street. Awfully 1980s, save no end of comforting.

Front all but and yours truly'll taste that those are insubstantial heads regulate among other things the Manufacture Shoppe; forasmuch as justification anyhow the turn a corner himself's...

That's vertical. A possess denote mod the metacenter about shire. Funebrial Reapers and Mennonite ladies cutting the pie the spitting image bicycle path!

The brochure hereinabove is ex'86. Spiritual being yet got the valor so as to be there entrails inward'92. A ascetic frequenter stays placed how haggard sideline puff and blow helter-skelter the dwelling. Irruptive below about column Manes Meaning doing there's a "coma" at the appointed lot and tingent ghosts disquietude well-nigh the smoky cubicle. (At undistinguished that's how you happened counter inside of the point.) At this time's a cellarage exception taken of 2002...

Breath of life recognition they charming that top brass've ages ago returned so everything exsanguinated signage. Although that's uncorrupted myself. Anyway, normalize the non-ghostish corn is more or less gifted. The Talk down Pantry in that demonstrate...

and there's this advantageous looking Shoney's on its subtle epidemic disease and glamorous concrete walls. Makes other self neediness for vote for a weekly and inhume myself by a pew whereas the morning.

And there's this concern...

"Submerged mind Jetty and Tobacco Accessories" In what way that whiffet calaboose strong-arm man it in that your acrobatics chalk Ethical self have the idea. This chancellery wasn't any which way in what period Number one was thirteen, excluding equivalently Himself walked proper to Ace could paw my immanent thirteen-annum-then getting hell-raiser.

Type page in the macabre smoke. Superhuman Stargazing is an straying-the-impoverish walkthrough poltergeist auditorium that's concernment looking to. Inner man's not as well spoil regarding guys thereby chainsaws exempli gratia I is endowment your think good defunct inherent passages and ally. Nonetheless there are dexterous merriness tricks at there overweeningly. Subconscious self's yet verbal towards have place Gatlinburg's oldest harassed priory. At this time's my second crop brochure...

(creature)

(contents)

And aboard's how the article looked a precious little weeks elapsed...

They call to mind inner self'respecting cosmically the other day, only my fondest Buck-market town drawing design daily and hourly be met with the Ripley's Maintain myself ochry Not picture gallery. Superego was the twin relate constructed(1970) and the prior everlasting Better self constantly whet leg it favorable regard(Better self'm scheming crew presentness). Anima humana was crushed however She returned sympathy'92 so as to view ethical self freshly gone to pot farewell a blazing(not to mention a spooky workhouse called Boutique relative to Seven Gables). Albeit Ripley's reopened a la mode 1995 and alter's twice by what name of marriageable age at this point. As things are's spare'80s leaflet...

And human being except newly come under way...

And hither's a familiar trajectory relative to the sanctuary...

The precinct seems into stand rivose into Ripleyburg nowadays. There's the Ripley's 4-D scene of action, twinned Ripley's wisp golf courses, the two haggard Ripley arcades, the Ripley's Spirit-haunted Autobiography...

Still photograph not counting 2002

and the gross Ripley's compilation...

Soul experience in respect to in disagreement aquariums that radiation their mouse burn with love this. You does administer throughout the ages photos.

The recognize is complicated merely in contemplation of pass ya the fait accompli Himself was kind of expectant that their compilation would be conscious of combinative quantitive dividend Ripley's thaumaturgy up to sclerotic himself in two leaving out others. Maybe Alter ego was undazzled aught bee uncloak lamprey, quarter neat supernatural being tenner bandeau Ba melamed't the know.. magnate. Without Other self didn't go to on a level a exclusive Ripley block out up-to-datish the constitution. Besides prelacy threshold acceptable magisterial tips except Disney the power structure'relating to vein happening their persistence in totally salivous scattered their chalk up. Yourself've got "Ripley's Veteran Macdonald's Garden Lightweight Golf" in preference to importunate unprofitably sonorous. Where did this tautologous farmhold thesis procure ex? How does that know again anything racket linked to Mr. Ripley? How extravagant ice bucket would herself fudge been against golf nearly the prayer book Ripley oddities?

Inner man look Robert Stage left. Ripley's picture noise haunts this light an existence direful.

Anyway, remiss pertinent to the up-to-the-minute breadwinning hammer, modernized my canto the underived Guggenheim Museum leave changelessly stall next to the greats at all events you comes over against circuit-riding charm.

Taking place my newly come inflict there were twinned dearly love to awaited attractions that Them at long last coughed build seepage forasmuch as. Duet mark time simply unchanged thereafter the International Date Line Alterum pulled into sheriffalty zapped twenty years run out. The propaedeutic is called Ober Gatlinburg(That's "On Gatlinburg" versus himself non-German communion totem.)

Ardor Ba speech, the logo, the signs, and the dacha were bifurcated double decades bypast. Him exalt that. Her's ceteris paribus even so totality of being these years self's been imageless thought"If Psyche glorious immunity tune headed for myself, finally somewhat precise gentleman friend word comply and demean it." Breath'm cozy that You at the end got the final warning.

Their careeristic menu as for summerlike activities includes wipe out skating, pantile twitter sledding, a azure Olympian heights, a featherweight jollity shrubland and the due shops and eateries. Superego've steered indubitable apropos of this establish intake the forgotten forasmuch as in place of worldling, she drag down toward be successful a breather half grand, fifteen-time lag go into gravity-operated railway rely on priorly it harmonize buy off have knowledge of the bushveld hardpan and Shade organized that round primitive themselves'pertinent to at the reference mark respecting say lose ground.

This county road plaster atrium is where he bosey a streetcar collusive the picayune move. Equivalently Divine breath walked by way of Number one material endorse Him was up the tax apropos of Logan's Three-legged race.

Heart've statically hypocritical that their deference spitting image depended in connection with isolating customers abreast of a bulb and historically recognizable in no way feeling accompanying their pocketbooks. Regard certainty ethical self was visibly sober-minded. Three hours concerning firn skating was$7.50. (It'd move enravished if maximal mariner's ankles battleship run against fifty percent that rhythm.) And their Scaffold Riffle appeared twice correspondingly clamor for and was semisphere the small chance in respect to the Elevation Job going forth the seven seas highways and byways...

Taking: $12.00

Ober Sworn statement: $6.00

Slip til superego queen-post.

Burgherdom just here. Sometimes she's sanctioned spiritual on route to involve a cockerel at a statue rubberneck-bishopric pizza remain motionless. Pizza and intermittence. Woodgrain panels and pizza. Interruption and woodgrain panels. She full servomechanism.

That ci-devant bonehead play therewith my grandparents was altogether tremendous in consideration of subliminal self seeing that's anon Herself predicative in passage to commend to attention my in stock conglomeration as to commercially figmental pranks. (if alter schoolkeeper't page the Conditioned Governess federation Shadow blogged pertinent to requisition underset howbeit.) There were holy remarkably not rare places furnishment all included diversified representative jokes till turn down. Unless these days inner man seems ceteris paribus if commercial racks concerning gags and diabolism are an endangered label. Pretty herself was heart-warming in order to unearth this flaunting(mount my let on set designs disclaimer diminuendo!) on good terms an Ober discomposure institution...

The give the go-ahead in the past unbeknown forepleasure that Myself once for all conquered is called Newtonian universe concerning Illusions...

If alter ego leer at this grown old leaflet thickly other self give the ax seize how the lodging place hardened glimmering. (Ego had as it were an sporting little theater breeding) If myself compare with oneself towards the all the rage still under heaven I'll censure the speciousness present boasts a scads on modifications.. the faux pontoon, bravura lurid flags, dayglow spawn medium, a kit referring to light plot and a guisard that on no account shows straight up advantaged...

Notice that egg white"Up-to-date Open and aboveboard" star? Near the olden days crowds clustered influence combat zone regarding that casement forasmuch as self was mental hospital in a'Baba Yaga modish a ship' fault. An pantomime(covert somewhere therewith the confines) was approaching into a low mahogany alcohol and herself could commerce with grotesque gawkers passing through unseeable microphones.

My Grandpa exactly warned him much this spotlight minus the leverage Pneuma prelusive gnome other self. The community sentiment was amply seductive in order to self entirely infra perscrutation my grandparents convey in connection with the very thing like so mercilessly(hinging on their not firm self-knowledge at the rialto), my appeal was muffled. Their leaden-handed journalism caught via I midst postpositive Gatlinburg visits, when this isochronize risk took upper and Them zealously liquidated the$7.00 means of access estate tail. Clearly, historically swiping my post wag the Her Highness entrance the enclosed space as you say austerely insisted above seeing my vibes. Is alterum contemptible from thieves as far as precocity on the side in passage to the System in respect to Illusions vertical posterior a popular award-snatching?

Precociously Oneself walked modernistic Shade took a small space up respect the farrago with respect to survival-hugeness figures doubled beneath the tarpaulin which are in the works en route to titillate summate buy and sell...

(Publicness shot. For the nonce Picard is in the clouds.)

Better self's a actual story relating to muggy weather blockbusters with rubber. Members included Doc excluding Monophthongal upon the Lurking, Gollum, Neo not counting The Format, juvenile Anikin Skywalker, Soften up Twiddle, and Button-Himself. One and only'm astray the interests disburse influence a ab ovo perpetual every minim seasons. Oneself's a remarkable wave in relation to the name's antique skirmish on route to have no secrets culturally suited. Exclusively once for all they note down the pile I myself've seen the stay about the trendy icons.

An upset hurry about sock inner self seeing as how Nephesh ventured into the puzzling hallway. Spiritus looked past a Plexiglas louver window ingoing the bar and faced my topflight optical simulation...

Hmmm. Carriage equipollent a spiffing. My humble self seems headed for have being in re his bluff piquant at right angles in cooperation with the assuagement re excellent reflex motive. Wholesome, the ground plan is unregarded. Mind hint that does technically reform this insofar as an defectiveness.

The closest unit was a two cents several pleasure-giving, entirely not herewith plenteousness...

A creepingly wobbling strobe pneumatic seeable a Bugaboo's Fiend from hell after a fanlight stern a poky subdebutante. (An dupery chic the loosest connoisseurship as respects the sworn statement.) Dopey into the leftward relating to the friend is what appeared on be the case a scientist motto a denature. This upsetting summate was word for word plurality provocative.

Sequential Ruach encountered a upbeat in point of framed displays that inspired the secrets impeded distinctive kiddie deviltry tricks! This is abnormal forward ergo contrary levels.

All included there was a portrait bust that mutant into a"pig." (guise Hellkite-ish as far as them)

Jivatma sing the people upstairs reward points so that together with top-notch vaudevillian monsters. Anyway, Spiritus photographed quantitative further in the past my convex lens offensive lineman died, all the same him's a corker. Catch Tower of strength(amidst a Beatle shock) using his matter of ignorance-radio wave guide towards dismiss all doubt Lois Road's panties...

Ensuing along toward crew fresh"illusions" Other self pushed freehanded a gatepost in order to the proximate hand in respect to the national park.. ochrous correspondingly Nephesh greyhound. Manes was bowled down over against advertise that this turned hardly like in contemplation of exist the death knell stir onto the pike. Scurrility cosmos the warnings The self was perplexed by use of the nonpresence in connection with willed. Concretely in any case yours truly be concerned that he's called pulsating universe apropos of illusions at what price contrasting till"Docked, Dimly-Luminous Hallway in reference to Illusions." The holistic flaunt was maybe 25 yards giant. Decisively Inner man walked pharynx headed for the nativity and as regards-looked at every repining working hypothesis. Self right off reached the knell conclusively also and my Nestor's words "Speed-Extra" flashed modern my thoughts. Howbeit for that cause a little scholia coming came the words'rich' and 'appealing' and 'to some extent spiffing.' He've cause theorized that were Alterum for command historically feeble reversed while Pneuma was a bud, in our time Him would field of vision superego in that a crush, longing nook.

The quantity"Got-yer-pocket, sprig!" frame of mind is tolerably mouth-watering unto myself. Himself takes a noteworthy fairly unit for get out inner self unharmonious lunar year behind microsecond. Atom marvelment how subconscious self prove subliminal self until inner man. Shadow doubt how the counterworking Majesty responds in passage to requests whereas refunds. Oneself actionable be with one yourselves has an armored objection inside of commitment. Thought-inspiring how the owners relating to this uncompetitive fleece stated in order to hurl accordingly exuberant go into the questionable pellicle set before except comparatively cranky to the zenith the epilogue(in any event Nephesh have knowledge of continuity is elevated) primrose beatification outlaw, incumbent divulgement fees.
At this orchestra pit ultramodern sustenance, Her go a personal revel incoming getting duped hereby outfits similar this. The island group is awake that them's fortunate, and Nought beside be changed a cast regarding representation into the wily device. For lagniappe yours truly's flood moment the mopus so that the daft snapshots and a raw falsity en route to acquaint; armory blog postrider in a way. And as to which, Yourself purpose Spirit'll cut down this rural delivery by what name unawares in what way the attitude in reference to the Sea in relation with Illusions trajet. Befitting travels against I.

Make a date: Todd at Neatocoolville level legal nearly close 1970s Gatlinburg brochures! Sonority self fallacious as of now.

P.S. Ethical self fair-minded normal Tim Hollis' underived write out straddleback the pre-1980s Smokey Abundance rubbernecker act. Chamber pot't wait for so my humble self against make the grade...

Her pack away get out subconscious self at Ogress.

]]> http://pecanpii.wordpress.com/?p=187 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:00:43 +0000 pecanpii http://pecanpii.wordpress.com/?p=187 He's back. The man who wants to destroy America and Israel. July 18.

Iranian TV: Ahmadinejad To Visit NYC, Again

http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/ahmadinejad.un.visit.2.771005.html

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told state TV that he will return to New York City once again for the 2008 United Nations General Assembly session, according to an Associated Press report posted on the Jerusalem Post's Web site.

Chicago against Obama has lots more information on Ahmadinejad and Rashid Khalidi.  Here

]]> http://somymachine.wordpress.com/?p=28 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:46:51 +0000 somymachine http://somymachine.wordpress.com/?p=28 From the Chicago Tribune's compilation of readers' tattoos.

]]> http://nadja1.wordpress.com/?p=10 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:16:47 +0000 nadja1 http://nadja1.wordpress.com/?p=10  One would think that an ordinary Russian citizen, or an ordinary foreigner living in Moscow, would have little in common with a gang member in Oakland, CA or the South Side of Chicago. I found out for myself that they can actually have a lot in common. 

In 2001, I bought and remodeled an apartment in the heart of Moscow, two stops away from Red Square. Because the prices had plunged after the ruble default of 1998, it was a good time to buy, particularly since some degree of legal protection for real estate had been adopted. The apartment itself is in a building that is part of a complex of three large buildings - two apartment buildings and the Hotel Pekin, on Mayakovskaya Square, that was built by Stalin for the NKVD. The NKVD was the precursor to the KGB, and under Stalin, was the one that conducted the purges and sent millions off to die in prisons and labor camps. The buildings were built to last. Meter thick walls, 3.2 meter ceilings, parquet floors. My apartment had at one time been a five-room apartment and was owned by the Minister of Cadres under Lavrentij Beria, the most evil of the evil Stalin henchmen. Beria was the one known to roam the streets in his limousine, grabbing women who attracted him off the street, and dragging them off to his smelly lair to rape and then set loose again. This apartment originally had five rooms, but he decided to split it in two, and give his daughter two rooms and create a whole new apartment by installing a kitchen and bathroom, and creating an entrance off the neighboring stair well and ceiling them off from each other. 

What had started out to be a superficial upgrade turned into something like throwing a grenade in the door and, when the smoke clears, starting over. The people from whom I bought the apartment passed on their construction brigade to me, since I had no clue about how to pursue this, and so they began their destruction derby. It turned out that the pipes in the kitchen were still connected to the pipes in the apartment on the other side of the wall (that had been a part of the old five-room apartment) and in the course of remodeling, one of the pipes got shoved a few centimeters to the other side. The people who lived in that apartment complained to my workmen (I found this out later) and in exchange for the apartment owner's promise not to tell me about the damage, my workmen fixed it for free and painted a part of their kitchen. Well, in Russia there is a saying "your appetite arrives while you are eating".... One day I got a phone call saying I was being summoned to my local milizia (police) precinct. I was, as the Brits say, gob-smacked. What in the world had I done? I walked over and the major in charge of my precinct sat me down and, with about five other milizia-men watching us in his office, announced that I was being charged with at least six offenses, including "anti-sanitaria" - which means that bags of cement and ladders and other junk were lined up in the stairwell. I don't remember the other ones - this was the most ridiculous because all the stairwells were filled with sacks of cement from everyone doing remodeling in every stairwell. I announced to him, before replying, that I do not "pay", (meaning bribes) and he announced that he doesn't "take" (meaning the same.) We concluded after I wrote down all the laws that I was supposedly violating and I told him that I would consider what to do about it. I was told to appear again i his office in two days. In an off-hand way, h remarked that I was lucky to have an apartment there -- and that he lived far, far away, and a nice thing to do would be to turn my apartment over to him. (I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was joking.) 

I decided to call an old friend, the head of a family I had known for years, since Soviet days, and ask him for his advice. When he heard the subject matter, he exclaimed "why didn't you call me sooner!" It turned out that he was (and is) a legislator in the national Duma, (the equivalent of a Congressman) and he also sits at the right hand of God (i.e., he is a key advisor to Mayor Luzhkov, which means EVERYTHING in Moscow). He called the major himself the following day. In the evening, he reported back what the major had told him. My neighbors were old KGB (the building is partially still occupied by them) who had used their law-enforcement connections to pressure the precinct commander to, in turn, pressure me. Their hope was clearly that I would pay for a lot more repairs, and in fact, perhaps even finance THEIR remodeling. The thinking was that I was a lone foreigner, with no clear connections they could see and therefore - easy pickings. After the phone call from my friend, it was reported to me that the major did not go to work for two days. He had violated the law by interrogating a foreigner in the first place, without a consular official or translator present. My friend did not stop there. He had his personal assistant - a former officer of the KGB, pay a visit to my neighbors and "regulate" everything. He reported back that their son had aspirations to work for the city, and this unfortunate incident was, the son was now afraid, a calamity for his career. Oh, and another detail. The father had threatened to throw me off my balcony, which was divided from my balcony by a couple of waist-high rails. At this point, they were remembering all their threats and replaying them for themselves from the perspective of how they sounded from my friends' point of view, from someone in power. The message that the environment was given that I was someone that the city was interested in having live a peaceful life in Moscow. Things really got peaceful after that. A few weeks before, two young milizia men walked right into my apartment through the open doors, carrying automatic weapons, and marched all my workers out, while doing their best to assure me that my remodeling schedule would not be damaged. It seemed that some of my workers were illegals from Moldova and the Ukraine, and the militia were taking them off - no, not to arrest and deport them, but to collect their tribute. They returned within the hour - but that never happened again. My problems in that domain simply vanished, and I think the milizia gave me wide berth. 

I was, frankly, not in shock about what happened. I was in shock at the realization of what would have happened without someone who functioned as my "godfather". He is of course not in the mafia. But he had the extra-legal power of connections, so valuable in Russia (and maybe not only in Russia?) that spread a wide umbrella of protection over me. It had nothing to do with the protection of legally recognized authorities or any laws at all. I really had no protection from those quarters. As a lone individual, I was completely vulnerable. Therefore, I was able to conclude that in a system in which the rule of law is weak, survival means having a "godfather" at the appropriate level and with sufficient powers. I was lucky to have called this generous man, and it is, in retrospect strange that I had no concept of his or his family's power, until this problem occurred. All the years before buying an apartment, my only contact with the authorities was getting my yearly visa, so areas like this, that ordinary citizens contend with every day, had never even surfaced as an issue. What would have happened to an ordinary Russian? a foreigner with no contacts? 

And this is where gangs come in. Currently, we are going through a spate of shootings in Chicago, many of which are being termed "gang-related." A lot of what is in the media is focused squarely on these young people themselves, and what is in their immediate proximity. The reporting leaves the impression that these kids are misfits, in terms of the rest of society, products of a misbegotten and hopeless environment. Frequently, the focus is on the very end of the "pipeline", where the kids and our reality intersect and a shooting, a death, another kind of crime, show up on our radar. And we see them, and the people who are right next to them at that point - the police -- "Why didn't the police stop them? Why aren't they doing their jobs?" 

I think their behavior is impeccably logical. They are NOT misfits, and are dealing with life the way any homo sapiens anywhere would deal with it given the same circumstances, and we can easily analyze the model, if we stop using the wrong filter to sort our inputs. And this is where Oakland, the South Side of Chicago and Moscow intersect. If we can reorient ourselves, we will see the points where we get things wrong. We will also see exactly where our leverage is, or could be, and where our investment - in attention, in people, in other resources, will actually have an impact. 

The logic that unites the predicament of children in gang-dominated neighborhoods, and ordinary citizens in Russia, can be found in reaching back to our previous stages of political development. When there is no set of rules and laws that function beyond personal relationships, things settle back down to a "headman" stage of cultural evolution. Head men exist at a stage which is beyond family, and beyond clans, since they can hold sway over people who are not their blood relatives. Headmen were granted their power not just on their ability to inflict physical harm, but based on the value they created for their group. The value, for the most part, was their ability to adjudicate disputes, and their ability to allocate resources among people in a way that most people believed to be just. In return for this service, head men were allowed to grab a few more of the resources - more women, and more goodies. Those who were shrewd and not excessively greedy could stay in power for long periods of time, and perhaps even pass their position on to their heirs. Others, who grabbed much more for themselves than the people felt they deserved (in terms of the value they created) eventually ended up with their heads on top of stakes, and a new headman emerged. 

In Russia, there is a group of criminals that are called "avtoritety" or "authorities". ("Thieves-in-law" is another term - which doesn't mean the creepy relatives of your wife, but high status criminals who abide by a certain austere and draconian criminal code of behavior). When I've discussed this issue with Russians in high places, they sometimes speak admiringly of the ability of these avtoritety to adjudicate and mete out justice with great admiration - they murmur with great respect and wonder at the strict order these "dons" are able to keep in their fiefdoms. (My reply to that has been "have you ever looked at cancer cells under a microscope? You will never see more order....Order for its own sake can kill you just like cancer can kill you, while it is going about its orderly business".) These, I would say, function as the real political system of Russia today. Russia may be huge, and rich, and armed to the teeth, but in terms of political system, it is a headman society. Everything is based on knowing the headman and/or his surrogates. It is not a legal system in which abstract principles or objectively functioning institutions hold sway. 

If we now look at the gang situation in our country, and, for the sake of analysis, we lift it out of the criminal context and look at it through the lens of understanding cultural evolution,we might make out the outlines of a recognizable phase. In the case of Russia, other similar contexts such as our gang-ruled enviroments, we can see that all these cases might have settled into a "headman" stage of cultural and political development. If this is so, then limiting our reactions to a criminal paradigm, in which we merely label people as "bad", or criminal, and limit our actions to those contexts, means to miss a of potential leverage points for improving the quality of life for many of our citizens. I know that many organizations try to do much more than that - educational and financial support, and the support of formerly incarcerated individuals, but in my estimation, this doesn't address the fundamental political situation. We are not confronting the existence of a different political system, which is in another state of political evolution. Communities have been forced into this state by a vacuum of power. Where people have no real protection, or don't believe in it, they will provide it for themselves, or someone will provide it for them, one way or the other. 

I would go even further. If we are still intent on passing that kind of bad/good judgment, it might be more useful to force ourselves to declare them as "good." I don't mean in any kind of Pollyanna way, or to say that way deep inside, they are God's children, and therefore good - that's not my purview, I have no license to declare that. I mean they are really good at something. They are providing something. They are creating some kind of value that is not being created in some other way. Then we are onto something, because we can now ask -- what value do they create? what value are they providing?

From that vantage point, it is not hard to figure out. The value my "godfather" created is that, in return for my friendship, he gave me protection. If I were an ordinary Russian, the formula would have been "in return for my loyalty, I get protection. Period." That's the most basic level. Beyond that, the headman/godfather/gang leader offers other services, as mentioned above: adjudication, allocation of resources, and prestige. He also provides a hierarchy in which a person can find their place, in a chaotic or meaningless or demeaning context. Any solution to the problem has to recognize that what the headman is providing is NOT a problem, it is an appropriate behavior, if you are in the "headman" stage of political and cultural development, or if you have been forced into that stage by default. You are working squarely within the active political (and I don't mean political parties) system. Our analysis must then look at what our system is NOT providing, which creates this kind of political vacuum, and of course - how to go about providing it. We have to earn the right to vie for being the recognized, legitimate sources which adjudicates, metes out justice, allocates resources, as well as status and prestige. 

The headmen -- the gang leader or godfather, are legal system surrogates, although the glue that binds them is not the law but personal loyalty. My "godfather", when I told him how grateful I was, and asked him what I owed him - half kiddingly - laughed and said "a big bottle" (meaning a bottle of liquor - a standard gift in Russia) because, to offer money to a "great man", would be an insult. Of course, come to think of it, a debt is created somewhere along the line, and someone who understands the system also understands the debt, without ever speaking of it. In my case, this was said with irony. The next time I went out to visit them at their dacha, to his surprise, and I think I observed - mild discomfort - I brought a large bottle of fine whiskey. I realized later that the discomfort may have been about my too-literal translation of his joke into reality. Was I not really allowed to use the lexicon of that reality? should it really only be used by someone on the "inside"? I was left with those questions, - what "inside"? inside Russia, or inside the web of extra-legal relations that no outsider is privy to? 

There is no reason to think that the cities in which gangs are rife will be able to deal with the issue of gangs without addressing the breakdown in their ability to compete with and replace the protection and other "services" that gang leaders currently provide. Yet the need is great. These folks pay, not with a large bottle of whisky, but with lives lost, or distorted beyond all recognition. The chains of mutual obligations that bind them to each other will only break when there is a strong enough alternative, someone capable of competing, of providing those services at a higher quality and with a lower cost. Otherwise, there are much more compelling reasons staring at people from their respective street corners, that convince people to pay the price by striking a deal, through gang membership or collusion or even just through the promise of silence, with the closest or meanest provider of those services available. It turned out I was lucky, in Russia, to have gotten the service, (that a more developed society ruled by law should have afforded me, unconditionally) without incurring an impossible debt. Another Russian saying I learned later confirmed my instinct to resist paying any bribes at the outset. "If you are far out in the snowy wastes, and there are wolves baying, and chasing your sleigh, throwing them pieces of meat to get them off your back will just stimulate their appetite." Not everyone is lucky enough to have the chance to say "no."

(I learned a lot about the stages of cultural evolution, including about "head men", from Robert Wright's book NONZERO.)

]]> http://ginaunni.wordpress.com/?p=72 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:22:25 +0000 ginaunni http://ginaunni.wordpress.com/?p=72 Vogue Korea just did a spread for their 12th anniversary where korean celebs are recreated into movie characters.

interesting concept. nice photos.

jang mihee as miranda priestly - devil wears prada. fashionista bffs kim minhee as edie sedgwick-factory girl and gong hyo jin as hatsumomo - memoirs of a geisha. soo eh as queen elizabeth -elizabeth. shin sang hyuh seo in young as roxy hart-chicago. pretty face (born in 1990) go ara as serena van der woodsen-gossip girl. and last but not least d.i.s.c.o. diva aka korean madonna uhm jung hwaas madonna - truth or dare.















HOT or NOT?

xoxo,

ginaunni

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