On Autumn in Chicago
Twitter can only be the work of the Father of Lies himself, because all my great ideas for posts get condensed down to 140 characters. (Hey, that would fit!)
Little of note has been going on lately; I have mostly been working and doing little else, although I did go this weekend to see The Princess Bride at the Music Box Theatre’s midnight show. I went with David and his fianceé Mel and a good time was definitely had by all.
Summer has definitely cashed its check here in Chicago and so we’re about to begin the long slide that ends with single-digit temperatures in January, February and March. On the upside, it’s October, which means it’s time to prepare for Hallowe’en. That is certainly a Good Thing.
Officially, I’ve been transferred to the Woodson Regional Library of the Chicago Public Library system, but right now, it’s a paper transfer, since I’ve been detailed (i.e., loaned) back to my original branch. However, I should be moved over in person sometime between now and January 1. We’ll see what happens.
I have been following the election, but only with moderate (enjoy that political humor, fellers) interest. I’ve actually reached a point where I don’t dislike the McCain/Palin campaign any more and I just feel embarrassed to see the depths to which they’ve sunk in order to try to scare up votes. Part of me can’t believe this is the same guy I really liked and wanted to win in 2000. I’m also amazed at how well Barack Obama’s campaign has been run. I think we’re looking at the Jack Kennedy of our generation (only with less Marilyn Monroe sex).
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 | Comments Off
On Amazing Shows and Great Weeks
It’s been a good few weeks.
I saw The Dark Knight in IMAX and wow, was it ever amazing. I also went to Lollapalooza and saw some incredible bands, including Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Flogging Molly, Explosions in the Sky and Nine Inch Nails, all of whom put on incredible shows. I took a bunch of very bad photos and videos that I’m sharing so you can laugh at my terrible skills.
I also had a big win when I got back to work, because I hosted a very successful event at my library, called “Stand Up Against Violence”, which drew almost fifty people. The event was a double-header, involving local author Marcus Jones who is a reformed gang member and an anti-violence organization.
All in all, the last few weeks have been good. I’m trying not to wait for the other shoe to drop.
Fri, 15 Aug 2008 | Comments Off
On Taking Advice from Orange Men
A conversation we had last night:
Brenda: Ugh.
Rob: What?
Brenda: I’m watching this television show about parents who worship the ground their kids walk on. This kid is totally spoiled.
Rob: Wow; didn’t they learn anything from the Oompa-Loompas’ song?
Brenda: I don’t think I’d want to take advice from a bunch of slaves who work in a chocolate factory.
Rob (after a serious bout of laughing): Okay, good point.
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 | Comments Off
On Geniuses
Alan Mathison Turing was born June 23, 1912. He developed theories in the 1920s about a “digital computer” which would be a machine that could answer just about any mathematical problem. He helped crack the Enigma code. He is the father of computer science. He was persecuted (and prosecuted) for his homosexuality. He committed suicide just before his fifty-second birthday by eating a poisoned apple. He is the biggest single reason—more than Steve Jobs, Linus Torvalds or Bill Gates—that you are reading this very sentence.
He would have been 96 today.
Happy birthday, Dr. Turing, and thank you.
Mon, 23 Jun 2008 | Comments Off
