"Hey, I'm just happy to be here…"
Speakeasy to me – Time Out Chicago
“Instead of pre-Prohibition cocktails, a mix of local beer, PBR and decent whiskey were the main offerings, and instead of timeless jazz on the speakers, guttural doom metal oozed out of a room set up with professional-looking recording gear, ready for abuse should 4am inspiration strike.”
(tags: chicago drink)
Shocking [...]
“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-6). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives.
This week we commemorate the passing of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard who died the night before at the age of 70. In [...]
What Lurks Behind Cheney’s Passion for Secrets?—By Scott Horton (Harper’s Magazine)
“Yesterday, Cheney told the Caspar Star-Tribune that he frankly couldn’t understand why Americans didn’t like him. He has actually registered favorability ratings in single digits in some public opinion polls. But doesn’t this episode provide a perfect explanation? Cheney resorted to a criminal act to [...]
BBC NEWS | Europe | Festive goat up in flames again
“A giant straw goat erected each Christmas in a northern Swedish town has been burned down – yet again. The 13m-high animal in Gavle has been torched 23 times since it was first erected in 1966. It has also been hit by a car and [...]
Journeys – In San Francisco Bars, a Cocktail Is Not Just a Drink – NYTimes.com
“In the San Francisco Bay Area, a growing scene of local distillers and bartenders capable of wielding their elixirs to maximum effect has emerged. With wry flair, they combine technical perfection with subtle, deniable showmanship and an eagerness to experiment with [...]
Snowman Gone Wild | Photo Gallery | Smithsonian.com
A series of vintage images of snowmen in unusual circumstances.
(tags: history christmas art winter via:chrisbreitenbach)
Why learning Haskell/Python makes you a worse programmer
“Now I know there are other ways of doing these things, I find it difficult to be satisfied with any of the code I write. I [...]
Obama’s Zen State, Well, It’s Hawaiian – NYTimes.com
“The mood of Mr. Obama, to many observers here in Hawaii, embodies the Aloha Spirit, a peaceful state of mind and a friendly attitude of acceptance of a variety of ideas and cultures. More than simply a laid-back vibe, many Hawaiians believe in a divine and spiritual power [...]
Editorial – Earthstruck – NYTimes.com
“The world may never again be able to gaze at its photo with awestruck wonder. But two startlingly fresh images of our planet come to mind. The first is the virtual globe that appears when you open Google Earth. The planet as information tool, waiting to fly you anywhere you choose. [...]
Hullabaloo: One Way Street
“If President Obama is going to reach out to evangelicals in a spirit of cooperation and comity, shouldn’t America’s new Pastor be willing to do the same thing?”
(tags: inauguration_2009 rick_warren)
Is Barack Obama’s hair turning gray? — chicagotribune.com
Many American presidents have transformed in office from fresh-faced, energetic men with heads full of [...]
Grabbing a Bite Between Flights at (or Near) Seven Airports – NYTimes.com
“No one likes to eat in airports, but eat in airports we must, since we’re spending more time there than ever. Around one in four air passengers experienced trip delays averaging an hour and 54 minutes in 2007…
So, over the course of four days, [...]