Random thoughts and such...

Back in the saddle

2006-10-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe not that kinda back in the saddle. However, I did fix all the photo glitches in the blog that came about when I switched to a different Web host back in August.

I am still having a hard time deciding what to write about on the blog that would be interesting and perhaps informative. As it stands right now, this blog is kinda suckie and doesn't really do much for anyone other than give me practice with publishing online.

I miss vacation

2006-05-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

We recently got back from vacation. It was one of those where you plan to take the time off but don't spend a lot of time plotting your every move. You're probably thinking that less organization leads to more chaos on a vacation, but not this time. We've both agreed this is one of the most restful vacations we've ever had.

This photo was taken atop the cupola of Bernadine's Stillman Inn in Galena, our first major stop on this year's vacation. It's a very old but very nice bed and breakfast. The owners, Dave and Bernadine were such good hosts it felt like we were family. In a town that thrives on its tourism and B&B trade, Stillman leads the pack.

Anyway, I'm trying to post photos from our trip if anyone's interested. Check back soon for that update.

A true sucker punch

2006-05-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this video. Watch it.

Woopeee! It's FREEE!

2006-04-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine turned me on to free directory assistance. (800) FREE411. Sometimes you must listen to a 12-second ad for something or other and for the time being they are not offering call completion, but hey, it's free.

I think we should all program this number into our cell phone and house phones. No more $1.50 411 calls.

"Cazzata Melenga!"

2006-03-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

BANG!...

wow.

'Sopranos' Star Feels Heat For Pulling Trigger On Tony

NEW YORK -- The actor who plays Uncle Junior on "The Sopranos" isn't feeling the love from fans since his character shot Tony.

Dominic Chianese told "Live With Regis and Kelly" that one man came up to him in an airport and said, "I hate you!"

Chianese filmed the scene last May and kept it a secret even from his wife.
James Galdolfini was the only other actor who knew.

Chianese said only the cinematographer and director were on the set for the scene.

Associated Press
March 22, 2006

A real ghost caught on film

2006-03-20T13:40:00.001-08:00

Finally, the pictures have been developed and so we now have photographic proof that Bachelor's Grove Cemetery in Suburban Cook County is indeed haunted. For years, ghost hunters -- amateur and professional alike -- have been reporting abnormal levels of paranormal activity at this ramshackle wooded burial ground 30 miles outside Chicago.

A practicing skeptic at the time, I grabbed my trusty Instamatic as some friends of ours set off with us on a daring exploration to this purported purgatory just a few short months ago. Be advised, the content of these photos is very dramatic but evidence of authentic haunting is overwhelming. Roll over the picture below with your mouse to see what scared us so that fateful day we dared to venture into Bachelor's Grove Cemetery.

Make your own playlist:

2006-03-20T00:59:00.000-08:00

I cribbed most of the ideas for the following personal music playlist from another Blog. In my defense, the songs chosen are my own picks. If you'd like to play the home game, post your playlist here in the comments section when you're done. I should warn you, it took me two hours to get this list just right.

1. A favorite political track.
"Ohio" Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
2. One of those tracks that will make you tap your feet no matter what.
"All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" The Mavericks.
3. The song you'd use to tell someone you love them.
"By Your Side" Sade.
4. A likeable song from a Broadway musical or a film soundtrack.
"Shake a Tail Feather" the Blues Brothers.
5. A song with lyrics that forced you to sit down and think.
"The Lucky One" Alison Krauss.
6. A song you like that a 5-year-old would like too.
"Bannanaphone" Raffi.
7. A song that makes you drive too fast.
"Respect Yourself" Staple Singers.
8. A great song covered by someone else.
"Landslide" Dixie Chicks.
9. A song that both you and your grandparents would like.
"For Sentimental Reasons" Nat Cole.
10. A song you really liked when you were 14-16 that you don't hate now.
"Under the Bridge" Red Hot Chili Peppers.
11. A break-up song.
"Best I Ever Had" Vertical Horizon.
12. The song playing under the credits of your life's movie soundtrack.
"Say Hello Wave Goodbye" David Gray.
13. An awesome live track.
"Do You Feel Like We Do" Peter Frampton.
14. An a cappella song.
"Ave Maria" traditional.
15. A good song that no one could guess that you liked.
"Prayer of Saint Francis" Sarah McLachlan.
16. A song you wish you could play, on the instrument of your choice.
"Irish Rover" traditional Irish folk song.
17. A favorite artist duo collaboration.
"If You Love Me" Van Morrison and BB King.
18. A song you'll listen to but is too cheesy to be a classic.
"Signs" Five Man Electrical Band.
19. A song you love that a friend introduced you to.
"Winona" Matthew Sweet.
20. A song you wouldn't play in front of your Mom
"Let's Talk About Sex" Salt-N-Pepa.
21. Song that you like but would play loud to annoy the neighbors.
"Fat Bottom Girls" Queen.
22. A favorite song that's in a foreign language.
"Zoot Suit Riot (Spanish)" Cherry Poppin' Daddies.
23. A favorite track from an outfit considered a "super-group."
"Handle With Care" Traveling Wilburys.
24. A song that makes you want to drink more beer.
"Wild Rover" traditional Irish folk song.
25. Your favorite song at this moment in time.
"Ripple" Grateful Dead.

Exactly how many in twelve legions?

2006-03-19T20:26:00.000-08:00

"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defense?" - Matthew 26:53.

This quote of Jesus was mentioned in chapel this morning at work. Twelve legions? That's a lot I bet. I wonder, more exactly, how many angels would make up twelve legions?

It seems to be anywhere between sixty-thousand and ninety-six thousand angels.

According to the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia, traditional Roman legions -- the most widely-accepted and popular "legions" in Christ's time -- contained five, six or eight thousand infantry soldiers.

That would mean God the Father, at the behest of his only begotten Son, would send just fewer than half of the number of angel/soldiers needed to fight an angel-to-man battle with the Roman Army's twenty-eight legions of fighting regulars.

Obviously there would be some handicapping involved here because angels undoubtedly possess some kind of super powers even though the Romans were a tough-as-nails fighting machine. I wonder of Christian historians have ever sat down with Roman Army experts to figure out how such a battle might have played out.

Define: Rejoinder

2006-03-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

n. a quick reply to a question or remark, especially a witty or critical one.

A Glimpse

2006-03-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

READING: "How to get your point across in 30 seconds or less" by Milo Frank.
IN WAITING: "The lord of the rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien.
LISTENING TO: "Ripple" by Grateful Dead, "Irish Hymn" by Kevin Max.
ANTICIPATING: Going back to days.
DREADING: Learning to work with the attitudes of dayshifters.
MISSING: My Pop and weekends where they're supposed to be.
ALSO MISSING: Warm weather fun. Having only a few responsibilities.
WISHING FOR: A vacation and a bit of peace.
ACCOMPLISHED: Finally got the finishing touches done to the living room paint job.

Is his manhood hanging out? You decide.

2006-03-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

A large, front-page photo in a recent edition of the Bryan-College Station Eagle has caused an uproar among some of the locals down in Texas. It appears one of the college baller's junk is hanging out. The staff vehemently denies that's what it is but I'm not so sure. What do you think of this photo?

How NOT to get suspended from high school

2006-03-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

I'm seeing more and more news stories about kids getting suspended from high school because of Web content posted on their personal sights. I'm sure you've heard of Myspace.com. It's Blogging in a sense for teenagers. They post a bunch of pictures, change their background and use it to write inside jokes to each other. I poke fun at Myspace.com users but it is a nifty idea.

Anyhow, some local students here where I live were apparently suspended for part of their sports seasons because administrators got ahold of some url's with images of these students consuming alcoholic beverages at a recent party. First of all, I can't stand school administrators because for some reason they acquire these huge egos that make them think they can lord over everything and everyone within their domain. It just seems this pompous belief is more of a complex than it is a true concern for students, but hey, that's just my opinion. We just had common sense.

But what were these kids thinking? Posting pictures of themselves drinking on a public Website? Dumb, dumb, dumb. When I was in school we hadn't yet been introduced to the wonders of cyberspace. Even if we had and if I had friends who liked to drink back then, I am fairly confident we wouldn't have taken pictures and put them on display.

In the link above you can see a still image that was obscured to protect the identity of two such teens. It appears they were drinking bottles of Corona, but I don't see any limes or salt in the bottles. Yecch! I think that is punishment enough.

My mouse has ADHD

2006-03-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

Does any know why my mouse keeps sticking? I have a Microsoft wireless mouse. The batteries are usually fresh and it worked fine for three years. Recently, the cursor will stick on whatever link was last clicked -- it's so annoying because I then have to right click to get the cursor unstuck but when I do, I have to contend with the right-click menu that has every right to appear at such a time. It takes so much longer to navigate this way.

Another season on the balcony

2006-03-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

So here's a recent addition to my gallery of balcony images. I'm trying to get one in all seasons. It was too dark out to get a regular good old-fashioned photo so I photoshoped the crap out of it.

What have you been arrested for?

2006-02-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun little game. First, call up Google on your favorite Web browser and type in "your name was arrested for" and see what it comes up with. Make sure to use the quotation marks ("") otherwise your results will not yield significant results.

Of course, I have never been arrested for anything ever, but the following search results using the above guidelines can be pretty funny.

Write back to tell us some of what you've been arrested for.

* Danny was arrested for killing an unarmed kid.
* Danny was arrested for interference and resisting arrest.
* Danny was arrested for exposing himself during "right from Wrong"

Whity City tours (Free!)

2005-06-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

For anyone who has pined away in wishful reverie over photos of the White City pavilions lining canals of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exhibition, on Tuesday UCLA architectural historian Lisa Snyder is offering the next best thing to a walk through the fairgrounds in all its glory -- virtual-reality models.

See the whole Chicago Tribune story.

Thank You!

2005-06-28T06:21:00.000-07:00

Janet is the main contributor to provide comments to the site. We at the Random Thoughts team would like to acknowledge her positive participation in the Blogging process which gives this site some extra meaning. She has her own Blog here.

Also thanks to some of the regular readers like Upper Peninsula Jim. We're glad you're here.

Speed cameras

2005-06-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

I really hate the idea of those cameras that take pictures of your car and measure your speed at the same time. If you're going too fast, they send you a ticket. Illinois State Police are using the system in work zones -- I admire enforcing speed limits in work zones, but this just doesn't feel right. It becomes too easy to issue tickets and too difficult to defend against them.

There's a company that sells a spray on coating for your license plates to avoid detection when it comes time to take pictures. I don't' know if it works but I don't think it is illegal.

It's called Photo Blocker.

Happy Birthday to me

2005-06-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Went to Texas Roadhouse for birthday dinner with fiance, mom, friend and an aunt and uncle. Everybody else was out of town. Food was great. They made me sit on a saddle while they shouted to everyone in the restaurant that it was my birthday. Ugh.

I'm tired of just about everything right now. There's no way I should wake up feeling this way on a Monday. I'm just tired of having this heavy cloud of anxiety over me at all times. I can't get away from it. Wedding planning, a change in jobs and many other things. I hate it.

Two week notice

2005-06-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

I did it. Man, I have to be crazy. Today's the day I gave my two-week notice. I'm leaving my current job to be a county corrections officer. Yeah, it's a huge step, but it's just a small one on my way to becoming a police officer. I'm worried that I won't make it because it's pretty demanding physically and I am not in the best shape I've ever been in. There are some pretty prominent possibilities for failure, which is scary. With my fiance being unemployed, things could get real interesting by the time the big day rolls around in August.

A little game

2005-06-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Alright, let's see who remembers what is two days from now -- excluding my mom and anyone who reads these onlines posts of mine.

Blah Blah Blah

2005-06-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well, today is another one of those days that never seems to end and I have nothing to speed it along. I hate this. I think the worst part is that by the time I get home, I am zapped of any energy and simple tasks become laborious.

I'm feeling better overall though. I was running along this Forest Preserve trail by my house thinking it was between half and a quarter of a mile. Turns out my path is just about two miles long. I felt instantly better off. And it's only running in the academic sense. My feet come off the ground at repeated intervals and I move along. No races here.

I'm experimenting with 1,600 calories a day or less and I seem to be surviving. I swear I am literally drinking about a gallon of water a day and I haven't lost any weight after one week. WTF?

Two more weeks in my current job unless I become terrified of failure in the new endeavor -- there is a chance I won't succeed and will be without a job. Eek. Just as I am getting ready to embrace the summer and enjoy it as much as possible, I now have to contend with the stress this new thing brings about. In response, we're going camping this weekend. I hope it's a chance to leave the stress behind but I doubt it.

Pretty boring stuff, I know. But that's the latest.

On people from Wisconsin...

2005-06-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

Those of us in Chicago sometimes poke affectionate fun at our rustic neighbors to the north. We tease them for wearing red long underwear to weddings and other formal events – as an outer garment. We call them cheeseheads and chuckle at the way they chomp their bratwurst, drink their brandy-beer boilermakers, and happily thump their distended tummies. The men too.

--Mike Royko

Need help?

2005-06-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know of a business looking for office and clerical help or any other entry-level workers? Let me know.

Stupid kids. What the...?

2005-06-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

I was reading Blogs from people in Orland Park. Most Blog owners are 14-year-old girls who can't spell and certainly couldn't hold a conversation because of their Internet-age communications skills. Every one of them is Goth, a pretend lush, or a faux whore crazed with one thing on the mind -- boiz. Every one of them talking about life in the most serious of tones and how bad their lives have become. These brats grow up in 5-bedroom houses and with every possible amenity and the best schools in Illinois, but they still manage to rebel against the status quo because their lives are all about pain and suffering. Give me a break. Lose the act.

Sorry about the delay

2005-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

For lunch yesterday, I went to Herm's Hot Dog and Deli, 409 W. Washington St., Chicago.

These are the best hot dogs I have had in quite a while. Five bucks will get you two dogs with everything. This is a little steep for dogs but this is still downtown Chicago.

Dogs are old-fashioned Vienna Beef hot dogs still in the casing. Most places serve dogs without casings these days. Anyway, they're served in a poppy seed roll covered with just the right amount of mustard, bright green relish, onion bits and tomato bits. Oh, and hot peppers and pickle spears too. This is pretty typical for a Chicago dog but these are somehow better.

I have to take points away for the lack of celery salt -- a must for true Chicago dogs. However, Herm's manages to serve dogs on fresh but not soggy buns. This is difficult for all but the best.

The place is a dump but I don't care about decor unless it's decorated to look old or worn in when the place really isn't like some chain-based dog joints. That's just not cool. Like that one popular place for hot dogs, do you really expect me to believe you're store was built in an old factory? Puh-lease!

We're talking four out of five stars for Herm's Hot Dog and Deli.

Chicago Hot Dogs

2005-06-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know any good Web sites that talk about Chicago-style hot dogs? I can't seem to find any that I can take seriously. I found a place not far from work that is OUT-standing. I am going there again today and will give a review when I get back.

Baby Man -- this is just weird

2005-06-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

Read all about it: here

About those books I've been reading

2005-06-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

So the guy who wrote that book "To Sleep With the Angels" admitted to starting a fire in a church building where he worked as a janitor. Read about it in the Chicago Tribune.

Tough break kid

2005-06-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

I found this old newspaper clipping while wading through the net this morning.
Sad, isn't it?

In the crystal ball...

2005-06-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'm seeing a change in scenery soon between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Looks like it could be scary but rewarding.

Post away

2005-06-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but only Blogger.com members were allowed to post to here before today. I thought I set it up another way a long time ago but I guess I didn't. Therefore, if you want to say something, g'head. It's all taken care of...I think.

Books I read in 2005 (revised)

2005-06-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of the books I remember reading this year. I will add more once I remember what they were. This is a lot of reading for me outside of the usual newspapers and trade-related publications. I know there are more.

· “Get Shorty” by Elmore Leonard
· “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien
· “The Glass Key” by Dashiell Hammett
· “An Honest Writer: The Life and Times of James T. Farrell: by Robert K. Landers
· “Studs Lonigan” by James T. Farrell
· “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling
· “Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling
· “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by J.K. Rowling
· “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J.K. Rowling
· “Sister Carrie” by Theodore Dreiser
· “For the Love of Mike: More of the Best of Mike Royko” By Mike Royko
· “The Hoofs and Guns of the Storm: Chicago's Civil War Connections” by Arnie Bernstein
· “He’s Just Not That Into You” by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
· “To Sleep With the Angels” by David Cowan
· “The Chicago River” by David M. Solzman
· “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson
· “City of the Century” by Donald L. Miller
· “Before and After Page Design” by John McWade
· “Blues Brothers -- Private” by Judith Jacklin and Tino Insana

Friends in odd places

2005-06-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

The following is a clip from a June 1 Chicago Tribune article about close associates of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. I had no idea that my alma matter's Athletic Director was such a pal to Denny. Who knew?

Keep Our Majority Political Action Committee, or KOMPAC is directed by McGovern for an annual salary of $144,000. Longtime Hastert friend, Tom Jarman, the athletic director at Manchester College in Indiana, is on the payroll, as well, though Jarman serves mainly as a traveling companion to Hastert on campaign swings for other congressmen.

I wish I had THIS job

2005-06-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

From the New York Post:

TV MAN'S HAZZARD-OUS DUTY

Meet the New Yorker with the world's easiest and best-paying job.

Christopher Nelson is getting $100,000 a year to sit in his East Village apartment and watch reruns of "The Dukes of Hazzard."

The Country Music Channel, which airs the backwoods brawls-and-babes show, hired Nelson, 28, to watch it daily and drum up interest with a "Dukes" blog featuring trivia, contests and interviews with the original stars.

His title is vice president of the "Dukes of Hazzard Institute" — the president being The General Lee, the orange 1969 Dodge Charger that Bo, Luke and Daisy Duke tooled around in.

"This is a great job and I can do it right from my home. Any job that's a pants-optional position is all right with me," said Nelson, a transplanted Texan who'd been doing temp work as he tried to kick-start a music and writing career.

...Jerk!

I couldn't find the Blog as I don't think it is up and running yet. But check out CMT's "Dukes of Hazzard" stuff. John Schneider actually has his own Web site where he greets newcommers with a friendly "Hello fans." Oh boy.

What's happening at work

2005-05-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with work lately and one of the big things is that we just got some new Electric EMUs in for service on the Metra Electric. I like the picture of the new and the old so I thought I would post it here.

Attempting a return

2005-05-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

I decided today to get back on the band wagon -- if only a little bit -- due to the prompting of certain friends. Thanks to Janet and Jim for writing me and telling me to get off my ass. I needed that.

It's funny because these friends of mine have never met but since I happen to attract good people with quirky senses of humor, they're not unlike. Laughter then, is the common ingredient.

So, start off slow and finish here. Stay tuned.

Bloggersblock

2005-04-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have bloggersblock. Oh well. I shall return when the mood strikes me.

So, I've got this friend see, and he...

2005-04-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

I have this friend who works for a funny bunch. Not funny in the sense that they tell humorous jokes that make my friend laugh, but funny in a way that something just isn’t quite right that leaves Pal-o-mine scratching his head.

He’s a writer with a number of years experience behind him, including a lengthy stint at a decent-sized newspaper. At his office, Pal-o-mine is often asked to write pieces for a variety of audiences – some times it is copy for the company Web site, some times he’s asked to throw together articles for outside publications. Most recently, they asked him to write the nomination of a fellow employee for a major award.

For years, the company has been nominating employees deserving of specific recognition. Each year, they return from the awards ceremony stymied that their own employee didn’t win. Pal-o-mine was asked to write something that would really sway the judges and give the deserving employee a better shot.

When it was completed. The acting big wig in-charge made numerous changes to the article. Not a single one was to correct factual errors, punctuation, spelling, and grammar or tense usage—those were just fine. Rather, the big wig decided he would change the style. Within minutes, the stripped-down nomination had become bland and whitewashed. Since he doesn’t know anything about the editing process, the bigwig asked to see the boring document again. Then, he decided to have another employee without a writing background re-edit the piece because, “the sentences were too long.”

Disgusted, pal-o-mine washed his hands of the whole affair by telling another big wig he wished not to see the final draft before it was sent out.

“It’s going to have the warmth of a hospital floor so I have no interest in seeing it,” Pal-o-mine said. “When it comes time to selecting nominees, this employee will be seen by judges as a faceless, one-dimensional bureaucrat spewing industrial jargon and the same old company line.

“It’s no wonder we never win.”

Hootie oldschool

2005-04-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

The once-famous song "Let her Cry" by Hootie and the Blowfish just finished playing on the radio and I couldn't help but feel ten years older. See, the song was getting some heavy air time ten years ago after the July 2004 release if it's album Cracked Rear View. It's not that it's even a great song because really it isn't, but it sure was popular at the time. I guess it will be showing up on the oldies radio stations any day now. Hootie and his Blowfish pals have sort of gone by the wayside. Although front man Darius Rucker, it seems, is trying to pay his bills by appearing in a Burger King commercial for a large cheeseburger.

Just an observation on my part, nothing special.

The marriage monster

2005-04-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

Alright, it's really not that bad. We sort of waited a little too long to do a lot of stuff and we're having to do that now -- a bit of rushing around but it could be a lot worse. We've actually hired wedding planners, hand to God, because we can't get moving fast enough. Already, they've lit a fire under us and things have started to turn the corner. Hotel accomodations have been secured. Email me if you need particulars.

The Stella Awards hoax

2005-03-29T12:01:00.000-08:00

Somebody else sent me that silly email about frivolous lawsuits today. It's probably the tenth time I have received it over the last two years. Usually, it's upsetting to read about the outrageous awards in the courts for seemingly-stupid behavior, but today it just seemed all too familiar -- like I had seen the same five examples in 2003.

So I looked into it and found the whole email was another hoax. Check out Snopes.com to read the phony email and the research that debunks it.

There really are True Stella Awards, named after the elderly woman who burned her thighs on a flaming-hot cup of McDonald's java. The site does go into some detail regarding Stella Liebeck, and how contrary to popular belief, she actually was found to be partially at fault for the incident.

2x4 Cross Man is at it again...

2005-03-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

According to the Star Tribune, Aurora resident Greg Zanis made it all the way up to a Minnesota Indian Reservation where seven people were killed in a shooting rampage at Red Lake High School. He goes out putting little white crosses to remember people who died under high-profile circumstances. However in a display of true Christian concern, Weise decided against throwing some spray-painted lumber together for the shooter, Jeff Weise, who sadly turned the gun on himself to conclude the shooting spree.

"I didn't want to come down here and hurt anybody's feelings,'' he said.

When the suburbs come to the city

2005-03-24T07:14:00.001-08:00

This is from the blotter in the Chicago Journal:

Calling all cars: Kicking, hitting, fighting, biting

Bozena J. Fedorowicz, 42, of 511 Stratmore in suburban Barlett, and Jennifer M. Hawthorne, 28, of 2708 Killarne Dr. in suburban Cary, were arrested for battery on March 14 at 11:40 a.m. at 60 E. Lake. According to police reports, Hawthorne was walking in front of a parking garage when a car containing Fedorowicz pulled into the driveway of the parking garage. Hawthorne told police the car struck her leg, at which point she got in an argument with the people in the car. According to Fedorowicz, the contact between Hawthorne's leg and the car occurred when Hawthorne happened to give the passing car a kick. Fedorowicz sad she and her friends then confronted Hawthorne, who attacked them. A witness riding in the car with Fedorowicz told police Fedorowicz grabbed Hawthorne and they began to fight. Hawthorne refused treatment to her leg, and Fedorowicz declined treatment for a loose tooth.

"The bunk stops here"

2005-03-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Or so says the Web site of Purportal.com, an Internet search-based urban legend/spam email debunker. I'm sharing this with anyone who will listen, particularly those friends of mine who get roped into sending sad or mysterious stories on to five of their friends. Using this site won't get you a free ipod or bring you years of good luck, but it should save you some embarrassment.

Semper ubi sub ubi (reprise)

2005-03-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all (read: Janet) for playing. It's a joke among Latin students that translates to "Always where under where." Which of course, sounds funny when you hear it, but not so much when you read it.

Making good on that balcony resolution

2005-03-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

I took this picture from my balcony looking northwest at sunset on Thursday. In the summer, you can't really see through all the trees but there is my creek and the lake and some of the other buildings in my condo complex.

Marge, I need to use the camera...

2005-03-21T16:41:00.000-08:00

These are my cats. Jasper's on the left and Stan is on the right.

Not a bad weekend

2005-03-21T07:01:00.000-08:00

Friday night I went to the Jovial Club for Friday night fish dinner with my mom and aunts and uncles. While I was there I realized that as of yesterday, I've been engaged for an entire year. Sheesh, less then five months remaining. I remembered because we went to Jovial Club last year the Friday after St. Patrick's Day and that was the night I proposed.

Saturday, KT and I piled in the car headed north to Milwaukee for a Rusted Root show. They are a hippy-type jam band that I wasn't all that familiar with but I enjoyed the show anyway. The best part of the night was the venue itself. It was at the Eagles' Ballroom at The Rave. Of course, at least seven people told us the same story regarding the history of the place.

Apparently, it was built and owned by the Eagles fraternal organization. At some point in the 1970s -- so the local lore says -- Milwaukee city rules were going to force the club to admit women into its membership. Rather than have the government tell them what to do, the club shut down and left the building. Some years later it was converted to a concert venue that can host as many as five shows at one time. Yikes! The place is a time warp right back to the 20s. I'd imagine the actual structure has changed little if at all but the new owners have covered every square inch in dark purples and black so the place is actually kind of spooky.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2005-03-17T23:35:00.000-08:00

Just got back from the Coliseum in Mokena where Mike and Joe were playing. They’re one of my favorite bands because they’re good and it’s usually cheap to see them. $1 Pabst Blue Ribbons! Anyway, this place was far too crowded. I am fairly certain this place exceeded their maximum occupancy limit, but hey, it’s Mike and Joe! Anyway, we left early.

The crazy rabbit

2005-03-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

I saw this online. since I refuse to send out mass emails of kitchy crap, I can post it on here. Check out the crazy rabbit.

Stay outside for da night!

2005-03-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

What do I want? Who can answer such a speculative question?
What do I want? I want to raise the model tone of the nation.
What do I want? I need a pitcher, not an underwear stitcher.
I want Fred Flintstone in the house, Fred's cat out the house.
Stay outside for the night!
I want shoes on Fred and Barney! Every time, take that big stone car down the street, through the courtesy of Fred's two feet! Say it with me! Yabba Dabba Doo!

--Darrell Hammond doing his best Jesse Jackson (as best I can remember it).

"I got soul but I'm not a soldier..."

2005-03-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

I can't stop listening to Hot Fuss, an album by The Killers. I guess I have been so disappointed with today's music that it was a pleasant surprise to hear this one. It's a Las Vegas band that tastefully draws their influences from 80s new wave pop. The song quoted is "All these things that I've done."

I resolve to use my balcony more

2005-03-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

The song "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James and Shondells is playing on the radio right now and my coworker has labeled it "music for just chillin' in the backyard in the summer." I don't have a back yard anymore, but I do have a balcony. It's a nice one -- a real humdinger. I didn't spend enough time out there enjoying the outdoors this last year so I resolve to spend more time out there this year. There. I said, it. Now hold me to it.

This is a picture of Katie and me out on said balcony before her 25th birthday party in August.

Semper ubi sub ubi

2005-03-15T07:41:00.000-08:00

How well do you know your Latin? Any takers? No cheating!

I am Chicken-Fried Smurf

2005-03-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

Some friends and I at the office have always looked to the Smurf Name Generator to provide a few laughs here and there. One coworker's Smurf name is Erectile Dysfunction Smurf. I know the Smurfs aren't even relevant anymore when making pop culture references, but it's still somewhat amusing, especially if you ever watched the show as a youngster on Saturday morning.

No white crosses for me, please!

2005-03-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed when someone dies tragically, someone else always comes along and displays a little white cross near the spot where the other person died? I think it's nice but I don't care for it.

I have instructed my family not to erect any little white crosses fashioned out of two-by-fours and Krylon if I should (God forbid) die in some tragic accident. Not only that, but have also left specific instructions for them to remove any such impromptu memorials.

Listen, in my eyes, I think it's a nice gesture but it's just plain tacky. Before you get your undies in a bunch, I'm not knocking Christianity but I am not one to wear my faith on my sleeve. I think there are other things one could do that might be more useful.

Following last week's hotel/church shooting in Milwaukee, the Journal-Sentinel published a story about a man who makes and displays the two-by-four crosses at death scenes.

I didn't go to the parade

2005-03-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Again, I have skipped both of Chicago's significant St. Patrick's Day Parades, namely the one put on by the South Side Irish. I had a long day and night Saturday and didn't feel like dodging traffic and people to see a parade I've probably seen 15 times before. My cousin invited me to meet some friends of his at a local bar but I fell asleep. By the time I woke up and got my bearings, it was too late to make a go of it.

Why you shouldn’t wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day

2005-03-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day, a religious holiday popularly secularized in America, that celebrates the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint. Traditionally here, those mostly derived from Irish ancestors, sport green-colored everything and use the day as an excuse to drink like sailors on shore leave and stand on street curbs watching enormous parades.

From time to time someone will decide to be cute, funny or defiant and wear a bright orange shirt because they know it will royally piss off Irish Catholics. Though most descended from Irish Catholic lines have forgotten why the color orange is such a sore spot, they have remembered enough to know that it’s a slap in the face.

You see, the Orange Order is a fraternal Protestant organization that has taken its name and color in honor of the Protestant King William of Orange, who in 1690 militarily deposed James II, the Catholic monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The order played a part in the formation of Northern Ireland in 1920 as a Protestant-majority state. Since then, the Orangemen have been at odds with the IRA and its political arm Sinn Fein that is for ending British rule and uniting Northern Ireland with Ireland. Clearly, it is an anti-Catholic organization.

For those who don’t know, the Protestant British have caused years of untold suffering and division in Ireland. I won’t go into details because this isn’t a rant against England. I do however, think it is important for the Americans of Irish lineage to remember what their predecessors and kinsmen have endured.

True, the color orange is present in the Irish flag, but worn by itself, Orange represents something much more devious and hateful. Wearing an orange shirt on St. Patrick’s Day is almost the equivalent of wearing a pointy white hood on Martin Luther King Day. It’s not cute, it’s not being different, it’s something much, much more.

Busy night, but fun

2005-03-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

A lot going on today. Spent the morning and afternoon 'throwing rock' -- or hanging drywall -- at my local Habitat for Humanity house. I can't begin to explain what volunteering here has done for me. Sounds cheesy but I really enjoy spending my Saturday helping out. I also did a tiny bit of framing to make a box-out around some heating ducts. It wasn't pretty but it will get the job done. I used the new hammer, rasp and linesman pliers I bought. The Daily Southtown recently wrote a story about this house and the family that will occupy it called No more house of blues.

Katie had summoned all of her available bridesmaids to go shopping for fabric to buy her dresses for the wedding. I was called after the fabric was picked out in order to pay for the materials. A friend's mom will sew them together and they will be nice.

Then I had a family party to celebrate a couple of birthdays and St. Patrick's Day. I wasn't very comfortable there but I lucked out because I had plans to hang out with one of my friends.

Brian came over and we stuffed ourselves at Outback and played two games of Cosmic Bowling at Centennial Lanes in Tinley Park. I rolled a 164 and a 178, finishing the second game with four consecutive strikes. Feeling pretty good right now. Brian's a good guy and fun to talk to, but time doesn't allow regular outings. I was sort of ordered out of the house because Katie and her friends were borrowing my pad for a girls' night in. They're still here watching a movie but they're fading fast.

I on the other hand have sheetrock boogers. That's when you breath in drywall dust and it takes a day to get it all dislodged from inside your beak.

Cross one thing off the To-Do list.

2005-03-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

I was home last night preparing to spend the evening alone in deep thought in front of the television when the phone rang. It was my old friend from college days, Jim B. Just the other day, I wrote here how I missed all my old friends from college and that I promised myself I would start calling some of them to catch up.

Anyway, he's loving the life he leads in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with his wife and 10-month-old son. Surprisingly he's lost the bit of Indiana twang formerly employed by his voice but he hasn't picked up on the throaty Canadian-like U.P. accent. Lots of snow in them there parts -- far more than I'd ever care to deal with outside of the occasional snowstorm.

Wednesday night, I'd go over to Jim's to overcook hamburgers and split a small case of beer. We'd hang out on the porch of his rented college slumicile and blast music out of very expensive speakers that he'd purchased with cash saved up for a very special day. We got some good mileage out of them. When I implied slum, I didn't mean that Jim and his roommate Nick didn't keep a good house, because they did a pretty good job. Most of the homes in this college town rented out to students were built in the 1800s and hadn't seen much by way of updates except for an occasional new coat of paint. My senior year apartment fell into this category.

Anyway, it was good to catch up. We're making plans now to visit Jim et al in the Upper Peninsula this spring.

Story of Man lives on

2005-03-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

The Story of Man was an informal project started by the staff of the Illinois Edition of the Times of Northwest Indiana. Spearheaded by editor Harry, the Story of Man took off and the entire staff was soon scouring other newspapers for headlines that contained the word "man." When assembled together, the headlines detailing Man's exploits can be quite humorous.

In addition to inciting thoughtful and enjoyable conversation, the Story of Man was also a testament to how not to do journalism. Harry despised "man" headlines. We suspect he found them the tool of lazy writers and editors who could not come up with something more original and meaningful. He often hunted down editors who had forgotten this and mildy ridiculed them before their peers.

Some former staffers that were part of the original Story of Man -- all of whom have since moved on to other assignments -- have decided to continue the legacy online. The Story of Man Blog.

A good time had by all

2005-03-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

I had a great time last night dinning out with old friends from when I worked at The Times as a news reporter. I laughed so much that my stomach and my face cheeks ache from laughing. There was good food, good Mariachi music and everyone liked this place that I recommended. You wanna see pictures? Check out Janet's Blog. More on this later

Hey, did you guys hear about this?

2005-03-08T22:04:00.000-08:00

Check out this link: Viagra spill revives Lake Michigan.

Other Mumbo Jumbo...

2005-03-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

I found this interesting Web location called IdiomSite.com. It takes common phrases used in modern conversation and tells of their supposed origins. I think a lot of it is the kind of bunk you find in chain emails. Some of it, however, is interesting. For instance:

Mumbo Jumbo -- From Mama Dyanbo, a Mandingo god...meaning 'nonsense.'

Peeping Tom -- A peeping tom or 'a voyeur' comes from the story of Lady Godiva's ride in the nude through Coventry, when a tailor named Tom spied on her.

College was six years ago?!

2005-03-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

The old college radio station finally has a decent-looking Web site. Makes me proud but I understand the old radio station is struggling. Working there was so much fun. I enjoyed that more than anything else I ever did in college. I so looked forward to jamming all my cd's into a duffle bag (as well as a couple bottles of beer wrapped up so they didn't clink together) and climbing that eternally-long staircase to the radio station.

I miss the old partners Rob and Chris and helpers Tony and Kevin. Actually, I miss all my friends from college, especially from the last couple of years. It's amazing that I haven't talked to some of them in three years or more. I swore that wouldn't happen, but it did anyway.

I've resolved to contact them -- and not just because the wedding is coming up but just to talk. It would be nice to learn what everyone's been up to.

There is definitely a bra showing.

2005-03-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

So I went and found the pictures on the blog of the woman featured in my last post. They were kind of suggestive so I can see why Delta had to let her go. I can't imagine what would happen if somebody from my company did that. Actually, I can but it makes me ill -- most people on that end of the business are pot-bellied, middle-aged men. Ew.

This is interesting (excerpted)

2005-03-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

Fired For Blogging
NEW YORK, March 7, 2005

(AP) Flight attendant Ellen Simonetti and former Google employee Mark Jen have more in common than their love of blogging: They both got fired over it.

Simonetti had posted suggestive photographs of herself in uniform, while Jen speculated online about his employer's finances. In neither case were their bosses happy when they found out.

Though many companies have Internet guidelines that prohibit visiting porn sites or forwarding racist jokes, few of the policies directly cover blogs, or Web journals, particularly those written outside of work hours.

"There needs to be a dialogue going on between employers and employees," said Heather Armstrong, a Web designer fired for commenting on her blog about goings on at work. "There's this power of personal publishing, and there needs to be rules about what you can or cannot say about the workplace."

On blogs, which are by their very nature public forums, people often muse about their likes and dislikes — of family, of friends, of co-workers.

Currently, some 27 percent of online U.S. adults read blogs, and 7 percent pen them, according to The Pew Internet and American Life Project.

With search engines making it easy to find virtually anything anyone says in a blog these days, companies are taking notice — and taking action.

Last fall, Simonetti posted photographs of herself posing in a Delta Air Lines uniform inside a company airplane, her bra partly revealed in one. She was fired weeks later.

And in January, Jen was fired by Google over a blog that discussed life at the company, even though he said "it's all publicly available information and my personal thoughts and experiences."

Upon reflection, Jen said, he understood Google's concerns, given readers' tendencies to read between the lines and draw conclusions based on "random comments I made."

He said he hoped his case would prompt workers to "talk to their managers at length about blogging before they begin."

Simonetti said she still doesn't know what she did wrong, saying that plenty of employee Web sites and dating profiles identify Delta and include photos in uniform.

"If there is a policy against this, why weren't all these people punished before?" she said.

Delta and Google officials would only say that Simonetti and Jen no longer worked for them.

The First Amendment only restricts government control of speech. So private employers are free to fire at will in most states, as long as it's not discriminatory or in retaliation for whistle-blowing or union organizing, labor experts say.

A few companies actually do encourage personal, unofficial blogs and have policies defining do's and don'ts for employees who post online. They recognize that there can be value in engaging customers through thoughtful blogs.

The wedding marches on

2005-03-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

August 6, 2005. That's when Katie and I will be married, and time is quickly running out. That's exactly five months from yesterday. Yikes! We booked the reception hall and church, and lined up most of the wedding party fairly early on. Thinking we had more time to prepare, we sort of put everything else off until now. But there was progress this weekend. On Saturday we booked a video guy and I'm really looking forward to the finshed product. He does this on the side, but he's really quite good at it.

For those who don't know, my brother is getting married on the same day. Plans are progressing swimmingly. Anyway, he and his lovely bride-to-be are coming in at the end of the month to do some wedding-type planning and to order cakes and flowers and yadda yadda yadda. Should be fun. My mom is throwing them a shower at the Jovial Club in the old neighborhood, were my mom and most of her generation had their their respective wedding receptions. It's kind of a throwback to the old days. Nice.

More blogging fun

2005-03-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

My trusted friend and former colleague, Janet, has her own blog. It was "Janie" who inspired me to hasten plans for my own blog after seeing how well hers was done. I'll probably borrow ideas from her from time to time. Check out Janet's Blog.

I will not be shellfish!

2005-03-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

That's it. After some laborious soul-searching and a thorough examination of my conscience, I have decided to take the plunge and become a member of PETA. Before you scoff when you remember that I love steak and hamburger, you may wonder what PETA actually stands for. People Eating Tasty Animals. Hand to God, it's a real group -- or at least they have their own PETA Web site, so they must be legitimate. Right?

I think it absolutely hysterical that a smart-thinking lover of meat would come up with an idea so crafty as to play off that popular anti-cruelty bunch using a similar acronym. Let it be known, I am against cruelty to any thing in general, but these folks seem more interested in wacky publicity and radicalism than they do in preventing cruelty to animals. It's the method I disagree with, not the message.

In a recent news story from a Seattle television station about that freakishly-large Lobster that was found in New England, both PeTA and PETA were quoted. That other group urged the lobster's handlers to release Bubba back into the briny deep. People Eating Tasty Animals had another idea, offering the lobster's owner top dollar for the gargantuan crustacean. At Tuesday's price of $14.98 a pound, Bubba would retail for about $350, the story said.

If you want to read about Bubba, click here.

sigh

2005-03-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

Metra to open doors on top executive's salary talks

By Virginia Groark
Tribune staff reporter

March 2, 2005

Metra board members will take action on the 2005 salary of its executive director for a second time at an upcoming board meeting, but this time it will be done in public.

Agency officials made that decision at the request of an Illinois assistant attorney general who said a previous decision made in December violated the Open Meetings Act. Though Metra officials do not agree with the opinion, the board will abide by the request at an undetermined future board meeting, agency spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said Tuesday.

"Because the attorney general's office is making the recommendation that we do this in a public forum, certainly we will comply with the recommendation, and we will take an official vote on the matter at a future meeting," she said.

The first decision on the salary of Executive Director Philip Pagano and Deputy Executive Director Richard Tidwell was reached in a consensus during executive session Dec. 17. After a reporter complained, the attorney general's office looked into it and decided the action should have been taken in public, according to a Feb. 28 letter from Assistant Atty. Gen. Terry Mutchler.

In the letter, Mutchler said even though Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd has the authority to grant the raises he does not do so without informing the board and receiving its approval.

"It is our position that board action was necessary to move forward with the salary changes, and as such, the board was required to take action in an open meeting," Mutchler wrote.

Mutchler asked the board to correct its behavior by taking up the issue in public at a regularly scheduled board meeting and offered to conduct a training session on the Open Meetings Act.

From 1996 to 2004, Pagano and Tidwell received bonuses in addition to base pay increases. In the December executive session, the board agreed the level of pay was appropriate but decided to eliminate the practice of giving bonuses, or so-called non-based payments.

Ultimately, Ladd decided to pay Pagano $243,678 for 2005, up from the $238,900 he received last year, which included a $40,000 bonus. Tidwell's salary was increased to $217,770, up from the $213,000 he received last year that included a $35,000 bonus.

Copyright © 2005, Chicago Tribune

Railfans on the warpath

2005-03-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

I was quoted in the latest edition of "Train's," the most well-known railroad fan magazine. I used to be a railfan once. Remember that? Well, not any more. Having worked for a major railroad that runs real trains, I have seen firsthand what a bunch of buffoons these railfans are.

"It is my understanding that the policy is not to obstruct anyone from photographing our trains from public areas," I was quoted in the article as saying. "It has been communicated to the Metra police that there is a working understanding that individuals taking photographs on the platform is acceptable, within reason. Safety [of customers and employees] is the No. 1 concern. Any individuals posing a safety threat to themsleves or others will be reprimanded."

Listen, we live in different times. If you wanna take pictures of trains, be prepared to have a chat or two with police who want to know what you're doing. It isn't normal for someone to stand at a roadside at all hours with a camera around his neck waiting for trains to come by so he can photograph them. There's nothing wrong with the fact that you do enjoy these types of activities, but please try to understand, most people don't share your enthusiasm for those noisy nuisances that tend to block streets for long periods of time.

The one where people take what doesn't belong to them

2005-02-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

So, some random thief in the night broke into Katie's car and tried to steal her radio. They/he/she were/was not successful, and some might cheer such a twist in the story where the trouble-making loser isn't rewarded. But the story doesn't end so well for Katie either. Whatever jamoke was trying to pry the stereo out of the car couldn't dislodge the damn thing thanks to the toughness of Toyota products and the expert installation from the fine folks at Tweeter. In the process, the head unit was damaged beyond usefulness and some serious scars were left in the padded dash surrounding the radio. In short, they didn't get the radio, but they caused so much damage in the process that the car needs some serious attention.

The neighbors are crying for better illumination in the parking lots and more patrols. It is a waste of time. The condo board was refused to take this seriously and people are getting ripped off left and right. Tsk Tsk. It's all kinda sad.

Et tu, Danny?

2005-02-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

When I planned to create my own Web presence, I wanted to have a side column where people could read my random thoughts and gain some insight on my comings and goings. When my friend Janet showed me her recently-resurrected Bog I decided this would be an ideal way to accomplish this. Eventually, I would like to have this feature more deeply integrated into my personal Web page. But for the time being, this site is a great way for me to get this idea up and running. If you'd like to comment, please feel free.

What is a Blog?

2005-02-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

Definitions of Blog -- (weB LOG) on the Web
according to Matisse Enzer’s Glossary of Internet Terms:

A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.