Are You There God? It's Me, Eric.

WashU...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:13:00 -0600

popped up on one of the blogs I follow today. Unfortunately, it was for shutting down what sounds to have been a colorful memorial to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. Link is here:

http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/11/wash-u-shuts-down-freedom-memorial-on-20-year-anniversary-of-end-of-communism-it-was-too-offensive-video/

Not sure where the Young Americans for Liberty were a decade ago, but they look like more fun than the 6 people who made up the College Republicans. (Excluding you Tom.) I’m sorry I missed ‘em.

2016

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:32:00 -0500

I had mixed feelings about Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics, so Friday’s announcement that the games were going to Rio were kind of a non-event for me. Loved the CNN coverage though:

Beatles Remastered

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:37:34 -0500

I never envied the engineers tasked with remastering the Beatles catalogue, because I couldn’t imagine the amount of pressure there must have been to somehow make the greatest music of all time sound better, while simultaneously ensuring it sounded exactly the same.

But after, ahem, acquiring both the stereo and mono remasters last week, I’m happy to report they’ve generally succeeded on both counts. While I’m far from an audiophile, the bass is consistently louder and warmer, and there’s greater separation between the various components of the sound, making everything sound much more detailed. The first four albums, which previously were only available in really tinny sounding mono, are much more muscular in stereo, and its neat to hear some of the differences between the mono and stereo mixes on Revolver and, especially, Sgt. Pepper (including different crowd noises and a faster, higher-pitched “She’s Leaving Home.)

And while I didn’t shell out the big bucks myself, if you frequently listen to the Beatles, on CD, I’d have to say its worth the money.

In an additional note, I just have to say that Chuck Klosterman continues to be my hero. In honor of the remasters, he’s summarized the Beatles’ catalogue here.

Gangsta Pop

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:16:00 -0500

I’m not sure how I feel about Dr. Dre doing a Dr. Pepper commercial.

Sky From Back Yard

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:56:36 -0500

Photo

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:55:56 -0500

I apologize to both of my readers that my blogging has been downright Van Benthuysian lately, but...

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:50:33 -0500

I apologize to both of my readers that my blogging has been downright Van Benthuysian lately, but I’ve seemed to have caught a string of days where I’ve either been traveling, in bed with back problems, working way too much, or enjoying days that were just too nice to be inside blogging. I’ll try to get back into a better rhythm as fall approaches.

Segway

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:18:03 -0500

Paul Graham:

The Segway hasn’t delivered on its initial promise, to put it mildly. There are several reasons why, but one is that people don’t want to be seen riding them. Someone riding a Segway looks like a dork.

While its difficult to argue that point, and its hard to imagine a scenario where a segway would get everyday use, I have to say that riding one around downtown Chicago doing touristy type things with my parents was pretty fun. Dorkiness aside.

Photo

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:14:26 -0500

Photo

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0500

Batman Politics

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:51:00 -0500

Frank J Fleming: “There is a major difference between Obama and the Joker… the scope of Obama’s destruction is much bigger.”

Yet ANOTHER Good Thing About Swearing...

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:45:28 -0500

It mitigates pain:

A study by Keele University researchers found volunteers who cursed at will could endure pain nearly 50% longer than civil-tongued peers.

Luckily, ABC News is on the scene to clear up any misperceptions….

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:52:00 -0500

Luckily, ABC News is on the scene to clear up any misperceptions….

Photo

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:04:05 -0500

Smooth Criminal

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:35:17 -0500

Replacing yesterday’s audio of “Smooth Criminal” with the video.

The gangster lean at 7:15 in bad ass-ist dance move ever.

The King is Dead

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:31:00 -0500

I was born 20 years to the day after Michael Jackson. His Thriller album was the first “grown up” record I ever owned (I had dance contests to it with the neighbor girls, and the song “Thriller” scared the shit out me). On January 5, 1996, I dueted with Charlie on “Billie Jean” during Virtual Einstein’s initial recording session, and when I first laid eyes on Jessie, she was lipsyncing with Nikki to “The Girl is Mine.” Michael Jackson taught us all to moonwalk, to not stand too close to open flames while filming Pepsi commercials, and to not dangle babies from open windows. He singlehandedly proved that black people are cooler than white people. “I Want You Back” was one of the great records of the late early 70s. Thriller was the album of the 80s. And “Smooth Criminal” still kicks my ass (and is included below, for Jessie, who couldn’t recall it).

Michael Jackson was strange as hell, and he probably molested little boys. But for 5 years, he really was the king. May he rest in peace.

Busted

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:26:00 -0500

You know, a $100 fine from the Department of Public Safety, or even the Department of Transportation, for failing to come to a complete stop before making a right-hand turn on red is one thing… But a $100 ticket from the City of Chicago Department of Revenue? That’s irritating.

Frigging cameras.

(Dig my man’s hat though.)

(Note: added photos instead of links. I guess the links die off after you pay the fine.)

Photo

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Photo

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Should probably mention....

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:45:39 -0500

that my cell phone is dead. Kaput. Numbsville. Audi 5. So if I’m not returning calls, its because I haven’t been getting em. Sorry.

Gotta love AT&T. 2 year contract comes with free phone that has 17 month life span.