(outside bowie)

2006-05-27T03:41:00.000-07:00

well, we're back. it's a cold, cold entity sending out this message, somehow close to the feelings Voyager II must feel right about now. Thankfully, we're safely on earth, for now. In the midst of catastrophe, on the edge of disaster, and in an enigma wrapped inside a puzzle buried under a riddle, the best we can hope for is good weather and good sense. Take care, and enjoy the weekend.

2006-03-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

Is there life on, uh, Enceladus?

Maybe, says NASA. One of Saturn's numerous moons is apparently spewing liquid water, in geyser form, out from under its surface. Along with beer, water, as we all know, is essential to life.

That's all for today.

2006-03-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

Before the madness known as Birthdaypalooza takes hold of us all, and we find it unable to update the entire weekend due to a prolonged period of intoxication punctuated only by spurts of academic productivity, we wish to end the week with a few news items we find pressing.

Dr. Phil is selling his Ferrari. And his Porsche.

A groupie who was fucked by Kid Rock and Scott Stapp, which is fucking gross, is suing Mr. White Trash himself. For "invasion of privacy". We seem to remember she was one of the girls who participated in directing a money shot. We could be wrong.

A double Nip nipple slip, courtesy of Shizuka Arakawa, Japan's golden girl.

"The anklet is not working; the chemical castration is not working: he must be imprisoned." Read on.

That's a wrap. We invite everyone who can attend to the final Birthdaypalooza, maybe ever, certainly the last on this campus. 1125 Davis. E-3. Ask for booze.

2006-02-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

If you guys haven't seen it yet, here's hoping this doesn't cause the destruction of our apartment in Chicago, or our apartment in Brooklyn. Not that it was hard to come across, but seeing as we've done well with current events and managed to avoid this whole completely ludicrous issue, why don't we add some gasoline to the burning embassy?

2006-02-17T15:55:00.000-08:00

Now that we've brought it up, however, it might be worth posting the latest condition of Harry Whittington, in glorious yellow, purple and black. Yuck. At least he still gets to keep both eyes, and will probably be handed an ambassadorship down the line. Peppered by federal buckshot, no more parking tickets, ever. Sounds like a fair trade to us, yeah?

Speaking of parking tickets, a good Wisconsin friend of mine today received not a parking ticket while her car was left in a no-parking zone, but instead a kindly note from some pedestrian passer-by: "No parking here, asshole. Stupid Cheesehead."

That about sums up Evanston, no?

2006-02-17T15:48:00.000-08:00

Well sure, the world's going to hell in a taxi, but wow, 33-foot waves is definitely a big enough story to trump violent, rampaging cartoonist protestors or seeing pictures of that dude Dick Cheney blasted in the face. Behold, in the tradition of The Poseidon Adventure, The Abyss: Director's Cut, and Krakatoa, East of Java, we bring you enough waverunning action to scare a tsunami of readers into empathy and ecstasy.

2006-02-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Today, we lament the passing of author Peter Benchley, who wrote the excellent novel Jaws, giving Spielberg the basis to make one of the greatest films of all time. He was 65. Although his later works are, in our opinion, of a lesser value, Jaws makes a fascinating read; a much darker, sinister story than the movie. Case in point: Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss, survives in the movie, but in the novel meets a far more horrible fate. Pick up the book and find out.

2006-02-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

Last one of the day, we promise-- this one's a good one. We know how much you all love Basic Instinct-- hell, it's probably in everyone's top 50, if only for those gnarly Lotuses Sharon Stone drives-- oh yeah, and all the sex and violence. Well, if you want more violence, a lot more sex, and feel like trading up to a C8 Laviolette (that's a car), well, my friends, we present to you, pirated footage from the next chapter in the Tramel saga-- and no swishy Michael Douglass ass this time! Rock it, hard!

2006-02-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

STOP THE PRESS!

In more, shall we say, constructive news events concerning tall buildings today, we present to you Louisville, Kentucky's newest, largest, and weirdest fucking building ever. Sort of a smaller, more disjointed-looking replica of the Sears Tower. Admittedly, it's not exactly gracefull. Neither is eating barbequed ribs with both hands and a mouth slathered in sauce, but that's popular in most of the Blue Grass state as well.

However, we're sure the Louisville skyline could use some sort of a boost, and it's sure to enrage many architects, although probably not Rem Koolhaas.

But it's cool, it's cool. We're gonna deal with it. Oh yes, we're gonna deal with it.

2006-02-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

Ann Coulter's got something to say about rioting Muslims.

"The rioting Muslims claim they are upset because Islam prohibits any depictions of Muhammad — though the text is ambiguous on beheadings, suicide bombings and flying planes into skyscrapers."

and more...

Riots, bombings, thwarted terrorist attacks... wait wait, what was that last one? Some skyscraper news, finally. LA's tallest building, the one destroyed by evil aliens in Independence Day, was apparantly targeted for real aeriel destruction using the time-tested method of, as Coulter puts it, "flying planes into skyscrapers". Now, the building is only 1,018 feet tall-- tallest building west of the Mississippi River, but really, not terribly impressive. Chicago is once again overlooked. Sears Tower, anyone? Not that we condone any terrorist activity here, but you can almost imagine passive-aggressive Chicagoans muttering, "Why don't any terrorists want to blow our shit up?"

On top of which, the Sears Tower would be a much easier target to hit, located on the West Loop in a less dense part of the city. Maybe they didn't have the Windy City programmed into their Flight Simulator: Jihad Edition computer game.

But enough of that. The real story today is--------- no more bucket boys!

Chicago has voted on a new ordinance prohibiting where and when street performers can, uh, perform, because high-rise residents of Michigan Ave. have been complaining about "excruciating noise levels" and complaining that dude with the saxophone only plays the same two songs. I didn't know sound could carry up 50 stories, but apparantly it can, and quite strongly, too.

The bucket boys, as they are populalry known, are a group of kids who smash plastic buckets with drumsticks in rythem. Strong rythems. Good rythems. Money-stuffing good rythems. But no more. Where shall they go? No one knows, although it's unlikely the Pritzker Pavillion will be opening it's plexiglass doors anytime soon.

2006-02-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

2006-02-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

2006-02-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

2006-01-31T13:57:00.000-08:00

Busy Tuesday. Oscar Noms, Razzie Noms, missed classes, late assignments, six-foot hoagies... but i digress. The real news today, of course, is Sam Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court, something (outside bowie) confidently predicted weeks ago (not that such obvious insights inspire our security as political oracle plus). So, what does this mean? Well, we really don't know yet. Supreme Court justices can be somewhat volatile, or sometimes infuriatingly steadfast-- try Scalia on for size. However, new SPJ's are big news, so there you go.

Now, onto the important news, like the wonderful recognition by the Academy Awards of William Hurt's broheim-tastic performance in perpetually underrated director David Cronenberg's History of Violence. Bravo. Meanwhile, the Academy continues to reward tripe like Crash. What can you do?

Also, this year's Oscars are undoubtedly set up to be gayer than any previous year, with Brokeback Mountain leading the charge, and Felicity Huffman and Phil Hoffman nominated (and front-runners) for playing transgender and gay roles, respectively. Expect lame and tame gags and quips from hosts and presenters alike.

Let's move on to the important world news of the day.

The 100th British soldier was killed in Iraq today.

A fireworks store in central China exploded, colorfully killing 36 Chinese.

Not a good day for China. 18 Hong Kong tourists were killed when their tour bus crashed in Egypt.

Let's end today's globetrot back in the US. New York City, to be precise, where a new real estate tool is sure to make your apartment hunt that much harder. Oh well, at least now you'll know how many apartments on Barrow Street you'll never be able to afford-- and what they cost! Haha, isn't technology great!

Get to know Trulia-- it's truly depressing.

2006-01-26T15:05:00.000-08:00

Nature's Metropolis, right? Right?

2006-01-26T15:02:00.000-08:00

2006-01-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

Did you know the average professional athlete in baseball, basketball or football makes around 2 million dollars annually? Did you know that Oprah pulled down $150 million in 2005? Did you know that Kenya is really, really poor?

If the answer to 3 of the above is "no", you should consider taking an economics class, of which I took the first of today and found it to be far from the mind-numbing and confusing chore of statistics. In fact, I quite enjoyed the class, and even asked a question, which is why I know that the income tax bracket for people making about $100,000 and up (all the way to Oprah) is set at 33%.

On to stories concerning things we don't know, known to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld as the "known unknowns" (as opposed to the things we don't know we don't know, which he refers to, helpfully, as the "unknown unknowns") we turn to the Alito hearings which seem to be serving as the battleground royale for lackeys of the left and right alike.

Where does Alito sit on civil rights? Women's rights? Minority rights? Extreme rights? We're all going to find out (not really) over the course of the week, or month, or months, depending on the haranguing, stalling, filibustering, and/or nuclear options employed.

This, however, is above our heads to such a degree that it ceases to register with us here at (outside bowie), and we presume our thousands of readers could also care less. Final point is, Alito is going to be on the bench, unless A) he's shot, or B) he's gay. That's pretty much all there is left to stop him from donning the robe.

So, let's move on.

Ever wanted to see a bear kicked in the nuts? Do you like salmon? This is for you.

Speaking of Kenya, here's a story that should bring you out of your cloud of happiness and right back down to the horribleness of planet earth:

5 sisters in Kisumu, ages between 3 and 13, were brutally murdered and mutilated yesterday. How badly? How strong is your stomach?

On the flip, to some positive African news, Rwanadans have convicted more than 3,600 people with crimes relating to the genocide that took place there in 1994. What is to happen to them now? Put down that machete and find out!

And finally for today, we turn to some very sad news for the Tuesday morning architecture club: hot on the heels of the conflagration that destroyed Louis Sullivan's landmarked Pilgrim Baptist Church in Bronzeville comes a fire that destroyed a unique and moderately important Frank Lloyd Wright home in Gary, Indiana. Although the destruction of the Pilgrim Baptist Church is an irreplaceable and genuinely upsetting loss ("Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," was my architecture professor's reaction, printed in the New York Times), this second fire nonetheless is a sad event indeed.

"Organic buildings are the strength and lightness of the spiders' spinning, buildings qualified by light, bred by native character to environment, married to the ground"

--FLW

2006-01-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

New Year's resolutions are all about fucking up. Screwing yourself through the conviction that a "fresh start" or a "new you" is possible-- not my idea of a good way to blast off each year, especially considering you've probably bombed out heavily on drugs and alcohol a mere matter of hours prior to said newly cemented promise to self.

Most resolutions concern getting into better physical shape, which is why gym memberships rise so high in the first three months of the year. Two-thirds of those new memberships won't last through March. That's a fuck-up on the part of every overweight, indugent American who can't keep their own promises for more than 90 days, and the resolutions akin to "I'm going to stop being a doormat" are even more pathetically abandoned.

That being said, in the interest of bettering my own physique, which is, no doubt, in need of immediate bettering (particularly in the area of lung capacity), I resolve to give myself a killer bod, or if that fails, at least resume a rigorous regular racketball routine.

In the spirit of fucking up and not being able to breathe, we present the first, and largest, news story of the day.

What I'd like to know is how publications like USA Today and that battered bellwether of journalistic excellence (the New York Times) managed to both print front-page stories confirming the survival of 12 of 13 West Virginia coal miners, when in fact the ratio of dead miners to living ones was entirely reversed.

This is troubling to hear, but it is entirely more troubling to watch human beings pulled between the emotional extremes of exalting their admittedly false god for saving their beloveds, and then witnessing the bone-crushing slap False Hope delivered.

All of this trauma is due, apparently, to a "miscommunication" traced to an overheard cell phone call.

Papers later added qualifiers like "reportedly" or "families say", but no one's debating the essential issue here: the press fucked up. Didn't they resolve, in the wake of Blair, Glass and Co., to try just a little bit harder? Happy New Year, right?

Moving on, as we all must, (and trust us, few people really give a shit about the horrible day-to-day conditions in mining communities in West Virginia-- however, if you do, please visit the International Center for Photography's website for a gnarly Ken Light project called (and about) "Coal Hollow".)

Moving on, however, we get some good news-- sort of. Real estate prices have somewhat stabilized in Manhattan. Accompanying bad news: the median price of a two-bedroom apartment is $1.2 million, and the reason for the real estate "pause" is that while sale prices continue to rise, rich people who can afford to wait out the bubble while we live in the street (or worse, with our parents) are just holding out for a better deal.

For our final story today, we'd like to bring you some very, very, very sad news. In a stunning backslap to Chicagoans, The Berghoff, a downtown institution serving, if we may say so ourselves, an excellent array of German food in a brilliantly designed restaurant, will be closing after 100 years in it's downtown location. No doubt May Federated is eyeing the location.

This strikes to the very heart here at (outside bowie) and we therefore heartily suggest the experience (and the duck) before the doors close for good on February 28th. You've got time, use it wisely. Field's, Berghoff's, what's next for lost in our fair city? Time will tell, but we resolve to sample the Sauerbraten at least once more before ze Germans are ze gone-- unless we fuck that up, too.

Happy New Year.

2005-08-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Spiral Staircases

2005-08-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

Crazy Fireworks Reflections off of crazy downtown Singapore buildings

2005-08-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

Animals at the Zoo

2005-08-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

It seems amazing, as Min reminded me, that this time last year I was lounging at Raffles Hotel in Singapore downing Slings, and scarfing burgers on the river, downing large glasses of beer, or chowing in Chinatown, chugging beer. None of it Tiger, thank god. Anyway, a special 5-picture "Singapore Swing" to cast off the weekend.

2005-08-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well well, it seems August 9th is a big day in world history. Not only did we show the Nagasaki crowd a thing or two (1945), but our good friend Timothy Leary had his first drug trip-- mushrooms (1960). Also, Nixon resigns (1974), Sharon Tate gets it with the knife all over (1969), and Jerry Garcia joins the great big love-in in the sky (1995). As for the news today, I don't really know, because I've been in bed nursing a swollen lip.

2005-07-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Light beer. Get it? Get it???

2005-07-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Singapore Trees

2005-07-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Giant E

2005-07-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I want to shoot myself in the head, considering the journalistic enterprise I currently work for. However, when any non-journalist shoots themselves in the head in a place where I might be working, well, that just makes it less likely that I'll be out of there at five.

In other news, the Patriot bar, a lamented (by many) sleazy bar fixture on 110 Chambers St. (please take the A/C/1/2/3) received some patronage from the Cracker and Felipe and I today. $5 pitchers of PBR, an unattractive bartender in torn jean shorts, and the occasional rancid bra hanging from the bar-- who could resist? And don't forget the country music.

Code Red Smog in Atlanta. No, we're not talking about CNN. Har, har.

Female androids in Japan, Berlin claims the toe-sucking, armpit-sniffing, feather duster-fantasizing title of world's most fetish friendly city, and the Chicago Tribune editorial pages ponders "how tall is too tall", regarding Calatrava's feminine drill bit on the lakefront.

Pussies.

2005-07-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Heat

2005-07-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

Nice Day For

2005-07-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

TV Eye

2005-07-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

Destined to be on the "greatest hits" round-up of Overheard in the Office, if they ever get around to compiling one:

Japanese engineer: So how is Detroit?
American engineer: Well, Detroit is what Chicago would look like if a nuclear bomb blew up there.
Japanese engineer: Nuclear bomb?
American engineer: Yeah, you know, like what a city would look like after you dropped a nuclear bomb on it. Kinda like that.

300 Takatsuka
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Japan

2005-07-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

More Industrial Wasteland New Jersey

2005-07-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

oscar

2005-07-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

From a rooftop on a clinton hill

2005-07-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

So Felipe's here in New York City, where he's already sustained a nasty fall in Bryant Park, a nasty cut on the hand in the east village, and enough sweat damage to rival oscar's finest drenchings.

all in all, things are moving along just fine.

I've also sustained massive financial train wreckage this weekend, thanks in part to felipe, and cheap beer at corner bistro, along with late night fish and chip gorging thanks to fish.

40s in alphabet city were another iffy call this weekend, however we emerged unscathed.

like i said, ball is still rolling, that's a positive.

but let's leave this oven window and look towards the cool, the not-so-cool, and the toweringly tall.

the cool:

Bin Laden Coke Plot-- ok, well not so cool, but scary, at least. who knew blow was so dangerous?

the not-so-cool:

Abandon all hope ye who crowd-surf here: Another sobering statistical reality as to why we can't all be rock stars--

STAGE LEAP TRAGEDY OF ROCK SINGER

and not to forget the toweringly, drill-bit-billowing-skirt-twisted-trunk-popsicle-twist tall:

Santiago Calatrava, referred to lamely by architecture aficionados desperate to turn their design heroes into supermen as one of the elite "starchitects", has designed a proposed condo tower in Chicago to top out at 2000 feet. 500 feet of this will be spire (also lame) but having two of the tallest buildings in America isn't too shabby-- not that Second City will get over its Manhattan penis envy any time soon...

...dazzle us, o starchitect!

oh yeah, and trump doesn't like it. don't forget to open your eyes W I D E with surprise.

here on the hill of clinton, money's tight, eyelids are droopy, and the weather, well, the weather sucks. we'll get through all that, natch, but for now, we say goodnight beside the inefficient, ineffective and unaffecting "breezes" of the window fan.

2005-07-20T20:52:00.001-07:00

Nate #2 and Nate #1

2005-07-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

Nate #2

2005-07-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Nate #1

2005-07-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, even Ann Coulter can surprise you.

Of course, all the wrong reasons are behind the surprise, but nonetheless, she's as critical of Bush's new supreme court nominee/mystery man as the Democrats are no doubt getting ready to be. Her updated column on her website had this to say on John G. Roberts and his uncontroversial, personally lackluster history:

"If a smart and accomplished person goes this long without expressing an opinion, they'd better be pursuing the Miss America title."

She also assumes these attributes about the non-female, non-minority, non-plussing judge:

"So all we know about him for sure is that he can't dance and he probably doesn't know who Jay-Z is."

She also manages to get a juicy pot-shot in at Planned Parenthood, who voiced opposition to Bush's what's-behind-door-number-3 nominee:

"The only way a supreme court nominee could win the approval of Planned Parenthood would be to actually perform an abortion during his confirmation hearing, live, on camera, and preferably a partial birth one."

She's never been one for tact, you can give her that.

Of course, this is all in the context of her fear of another Souter episode, or even worse, O'Connor, of whom she had this to say:

"a schoolyard bully, maliciously making up rules willy-nilly as she went along."

That's about all the cooter-- excuse me-- coulter, i can take today, so that's it for now.

Oh yeah, before I get back to work here at S&MM&SM&M&M magazine, we would like to thank the universe for blessing oscar, felipe, adrien and i with a new apartment and a landlord who, with any luck, will be a very good friend for a very long time.

thank you, universe, and thank you, oona.

2005-07-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

Midtown Manhattan from the Jersey train.

2005-07-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

Table Cup Glass Gomez

2005-07-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

Some East Coast Love

2005-07-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here's the rub: We defend Taiwan if China attacks. China is going to attack Taiwan, someday. It's pretty much a safe bet. New development: Today, one of China's political hawks (think Communist Cheney with major penis envy) said they'll nuke us if we attack China's property in defense of Taiwan. So, if anyone has suggestions of where to move to in the galaxy before all the shit gets launched, please, feel free to share.

Oh yeah, and the shuttle is grounded, again. Those pesky fuel tanks, you know? So if that's what you were gonna suggest, put your thinking cap back on.

As for the weekend, I've scheduled perhaps the worst travel plans in the history of my history of scheduling very bad travel plans.

Get ready Chicago, the bad weather is sweeping through.

2005-07-14T19:40:00.001-07:00

Mailboxes

2005-07-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Lake Shore

2005-07-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Post-Lights Out ESB

2005-07-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

And the laughs just keep coming.

Oh man, you've got to hand it to our Spokeswellian master, Scott. The junkyard journalists finally tried to give him a run for his money today, and they got...well, they got nowhere, but that was to be expected, right?

Q Do you stand by your statement from the fall of 2003 when you were asked specifically about Karl and Elliott Abrams and Scooter Libby, and you said, "I've gone to each of those gentlemen, and they have told me they are not involved in this" -- do you stand by that statement?

MR. McCLELLAN: And if you will recall, I said that as part of helping the investigators move forward on the investigation we're not going to get into commenting on it. That was something I stated back near that time, as well.

Q Scott, I mean, just -- I mean, this is ridiculous. The notion that you're going to stand before us after having commented with that level of detail and tell people watching this that somehow you decided not to talk. You've got a public record out there. Do you stand by your remarks from that podium, or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, I'm well aware, like you, of what was previously said, and I will be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time. The appropriate time is when the investigation --

Q Why are you choosing when it's appropriate and when it's inappropriate?

MR. McCLELLAN: If you'll let me finish --

Q No, you're not finishing -- you're not saying anything. You stood at that podium and said that Karl Rove was not involved. And now we find out that he spoke out about Joseph Wilson's wife. So don't you owe the American public a fuller explanation? Was he involved, or was he not? Because, contrary to what you told the American people, he did, indeed, talk about his wife, didn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: David, there will be a time to talk about this, but now is not the time to talk about it.

Q Do you think people will accept that, what you're saying today?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I've responded to the question.

Go ahead, Terry.

Is your head spinning yet? Just wait, it only gets better.

Q Scott, what was the President's interaction today with Karl Rove? Did they discuss this current situation? And understanding that Karl Rove was the architect of the President's win for the second term in the Oval Office, how important is Karl Rove to this administration currently?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, this is coming at it from --

Q It has nothing to do with what you just said.

MR. McCLELLAN: This is still coming at the same question relating to reports about an ongoing investigation, and I think I've responded to it.

Q Who is Karl Rove as it relates to this administration?

MR. McCLELLAN: Do you have questions on another topic?

Q No, no, no, no. Who is Karl Rove as it relates to this current administration?

MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate the question, April. I think I've responded.

Go ahead, Connie.

Well, there you have it, or some of it anyway. The "gist", as they say, which, in this case, is Latin for bullshit. If you've got the stomach for it, you can catch th e rest of it here

2005-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Starbucks has one of the most powerful brands in America. It's one we admire. With that in mind, we challenge you to hire the right people and drill into them the right selling framework...and turn them into powerful walking, talking brands for your prospects and clients (think walking, talking Starbucks)."

That was an excerpt from "Selling is Dead: Moving Beyond Traditional Sales Roles & Practices to Revitalize Growth", by Marc Miller and Jason Sinkovitz.

walking, talking Starbucks? save us, somebody.

2005-07-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

more hilarious/terrifying antics from our favorite white house spokeswellian:

MR. McCLELLAN: At that point, Harriet spoke with Andy Card and then informed the President and Vice President, who were having their weekly lunch in the President's dining room off of the Oval Office.

Q Card, you say, did that?

Q Card or Harriet?

MR. McCLELLAN: Harriet did.

Q Who --

MR. McCLELLAN: The President and Vice President, they were having --

Q Was it just that a letter was coming -

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.

Q -- from O'Connor.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. No, no, no, no, no, no.

Q From the --

MR. McCLELLAN: No. We didn't know; yes, that's correct.

glad we got that all straight and narrow.

to the people in london-- sure you still want those Olympics?

to the people in paris-- bombing your competitors after you lose is poor sportsmanship

to the people in madrid-- don't worry, everyone remembers your train bombings as being much worse

to the people in new york-- get ready for a new wave of 9/11 security/patriotism psychobabble from the likes of Giuliani and Co.

to the people in moscow-- a country run by terrorists has little hope of ever getting the games, you know.

this concludes (outside bowie)'s unextensive coverage of the Olympic bids for the 2012 games.

stay tuned for the next three years until we head to Beijing, where the Chinese launch a sneak attack on the island of Taiwan while the world focuses on Paul Hamm launching a second sneak attack on another "Gold" medal.

2005-07-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

Park Ave.

2005-07-06T17:46:00.001-07:00

Hitchcock Revisited

2005-07-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

Inside a Metra Car

2005-07-06T17:40:00.000-07:00

The heat, combined with the humidity here, is stifling. New York City heat bowls you over like a blast from a cranked up radiator, hitting you full in the face from some unexpected direction. The wind, in fact, carries the heat, making the furnace blasts even worse. My laptop, also burning hot, is sitting on my legs, slowly melting my skin.

It's fucking hot here. Work still sucks, and the weather has been less than cooperative, but we're doing alright. I've been trying to make a habit of going home every weekend, as it sure as hell beats the city heat and the renties are picking up the tickets for me, which is amazing and life-saving.

I've got to take a shower because I smell like a wild animal, but lest our gigantic faithful audience thinks we've bit the proverbial dust, we wanted to say hello, we're here, and enjoy the pictures while we think of more clever-er-er things to, uh, say.

2005-06-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Meander

2005-06-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

Broken Pier

2005-06-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Cloudy

2005-06-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

As this disastrous, aching week powers down, and I prepare for the return to Rhode Island for the second weekend in a row, I hope to get some sun, and some perspective on things.

But we just can't let this, from the master of all deception ceremonies, slide by-- courtesy of White House press secretary and the looming shadow of Orwell.

Q Does the President agree with the Vice President that the Iraqi insurgents are in their last throes?

MR. McCLELLAN: He agrees with -- I think you should put his comments in context, because the President agrees that there is significant progress being made by the Iraqi people on the political front. And that's what the Vice President was talking about in his remarks. He was talking about the significant progress that's being made, and he was talking about how the terrorists, the ruthless enemy that we're working to defeat, along with the Iraqi security forces, has not been able to stop that progress.

So I think you have to look at the context of his remarks, as I've talked about over recent days.

Q Do you think that the insurgency is growing weaker? Or is it getting stronger?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the commanders on the ground were just briefing on that, Terry. You should look to General Abizaid's comment, and he talked about that. Look at exactly what he said.

Q So stronger, not weaker?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, the commanders are briefing right now, and they are the ones who are on the ground. They are in the best position to give you that. General Abizaid just spoke about it a short time ago and talked about the determined and ruthless enemy that we're facing.

Q But he seems to have contradicted -- Abizaid seems to have contradicted what the Vice President said, on the face of it.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think you have to look at the context of the Vice President's comments.

Q I did, I looked.

MR. McCLELLAN: And you don't point them out. What did he talk about?

Q He said there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we can selectively quote people or we can look at the context of the comments, and I think that's what is important to do. That's why I was stepping back and pointing out to you what the Vice President was talking about.

Q So he was talking about the political process moving forward, not -- let me ask you this. What is the Vice President basing his -- where is he getting his evidence?

MR. McCLELLAN: It doesn't appear that you've looked at the context of his comments, and I would encourage you to do that. And I just addressed this question when you asked it.

Q I was there in this -- when he said, "in the throes of," --

MR. McCLELLAN: You were in the interview?

Q He did not mean political, he meant the whole situation in Iraq.

MR. McCLELLAN: You were in the interview? I think you should look --

Q You can't change his meaning. You guys are trying to step back now, and I don't blame you.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I disagree with you.

Go ahead though, Jessica.

2005-06-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up this afternoon to find that my inflatable air mattress had deflated in the middle of the night. I'm sleeping on an air mattress for the moment, (if you were curious) because Oscar and I just drove from Chicago to Brooklyn and moved into our unfurnished apartment on Putnam Avenue. I woke up in the afternoon because we got lost in our new neighborhood after we left our friend Graham's terracific midtown digs at 4 AM. After about two hours of walking in circles, we got some help from the early morning crowd, and, having not slept since Thursday, promptly passed out for 12 hours.

Oh, except for waking up to find myself in the middle of a deflated air bed. So now we wind down our weekend, which feels like a vacation weekend except for our personal knowledge that we both start work, for the rest of the summer, on Monday. Tomorrow.

So, we blow a belated kiss-my-ass-goodbye to the Township of Evanston, IL, and a much kindler "adios" to all of our friends, roommates and the wonderful city of Chicago. We're down and out financially, but we're on the prowl for more jobs, prepared to be as thrifty as possible, and ready to mooch as many free pots, pans, and futon mattresses from our parents as possible. Free concerts instead of shows, grass instead of food, all that jazz, you know? We'll make it. We just need to get better at finding our apartment.

Catch you on the C train.

2005-06-08T10:41:00.002-07:00

Sunlight through the Thompson Center

2005-06-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

On the Tarmac

2005-06-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

O'Hare, connecting to Terminal Charlie (C)

2005-06-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Alright, so I guess it's been an inexcusably long time since the last post-- although, I must confess, the trifecta of finals--flight home for sister's graduation--preparing the move to New York has been a mighty one to overcome-- and we're still not through yet.

But, despite the monstrous monuments of mortification that stand it the way, I emerge battered but unbowed past the second of my three tests. My recent indoctrination and intoxication in the ways of the great architect/visionary Le Corbusier gave me a solid advantage in my final today for Architecture and Urbanism of the World City, so I'm riding high on the expectations of a solid A, which I'm sure are soon to be crushed by the appearance of a minus sign or the beta symbol.

Nonetheless, moving on, we conclude this lamentable excuse of a post with the big story in-- you guessed it, Chicago architecture. The Mandarin Oriental hotel chain, winner of lots 'o awards, including the Bangkok's hotel's distinction of "Best Hotel in the World" by, oh, lots of people with more money than me, will build a 90-floor, 887-foot tall hotel/condo overlooking millennium Park, scheduled to be completed by 2008. In that time, the building will be the 7th-tallest in the city, while nearby neighbors Waterview Tower and Trump Tower Chicago, built on the site of the now destroyed Sun-Times Building (if any of you forgot) will bring Chicago's "supertall" skyscraper count-- buildings over 1,000 feet, to six, if anyone is counting.

Trust me, those fuckers in Dubai are.

2005-05-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

SAVED!

The CTA has been saved! Round of applause for G-Rod and company. I think this calls for a celebration...

Now let's get this party STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

2005-05-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

Running for the Light

2005-05-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

Through the Crook

2005-05-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

Globes and Fan

2005-05-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

Sculpture for Living sucks

2005-05-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

Ask me about the story behind the race to the sky one time

2005-05-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

the view from Dorothy's grandparent's penthouse in Park Slope

2005-05-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

the view from Graham's terrace #2

2005-05-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

the view from Graham's terrace #1

2005-05-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

And so we return, triumphant, from our cannonball run to New York this weekend. Pulling in at about 8:30 this morning after 4 days of Park Avenue terracing, Brooklyn building hunts, and general, genial debauchery, the next 2 days will be filled with the opposite of fun. Although everyone went slightly over budget, a common accident when living it up in Manhattan, no one got hurt, everyone had fun, and be well, well assured that there was plenty of top-notch photographic material to display proudly here on (outside bowie). And with that, I'm gonna go get some more soda, some more fun nuggets, and then crash into my bed like I've never crashed before.

Oh, and Miki-- thanks for the car.

2005-05-10T23:50:00.000-07:00

Takka Takka #2 is up!

Hear the voices of your friends and mine, all tweaked beyond reasonable recognition!

2005-05-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

gross?

2005-05-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

and i don't feel like doing any of it. i have to go to bed. i have to get up so early tomorrow.

2005-05-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

i have, like, a tsunami of homework to do.

2005-05-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

"and beyond that, you know i hang on your every word, so please let me hang"

...might be the best thing i've written this year (sucks to my music writing...ouch. ouch. ouch. - and look at the response to that last ouch..."Uh, I can't understand what the hell you're talking about ")

2005-05-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

2005 Music Recap

I haven't written too much 'round these parts, but after looking over the music I've acquired in 2005, I decided it was time to bite Min Xiu's one-word review styleee and give a little primer of stuff that might make you happy and what might not. Hopefully, with about 130 albums, this doesn't come off as brag-spirited, but instead a way to get me to start writing again about things I love.

DFA 1979 You're a Woman, I'm a Machine (A, loud melodic guitars, mebbe why I decided to dust off my At The Drive In CD recently...this is a good thing)

Justus Kohncke Doppelleben (B, good, but stick to his earlier Timecode for bliss)

Richard X - Back to Mine (B, with John Carpenter and the works...it's what you'd expect from Mr. X, and that, is a good thing)

Husker Du - New Day Rising (A, Touching back on that old rock canon and happier for it - time to move onto Zen Arcade)

MIA - Arular (A, enuff has been said about this and enough people have gushed/hated)

Mum - Summer Make Good (D, fuck this -tronica shite)

Arcade Fire - Funeral (A-, surprisingly good, and Will Butler is a fine gent, despite what he sounds like in the Reader)

V/A - Run the Road (A, grime gets HUGE)

Caribou - Milk of Human Kindness (B+, Still haven't warmed up to this, but still sounds like it could be a grower)

Mu - Out of Breach (B, eh...alright... PARIS HILTON!)

V/A - Digital Disco (C, I have all this already...meh)

Apparat - Silizium EP (B, Granular sounds like this, tiny bits of stuff fuzzing into the distance and into you)

Bloc Party - EP/Silent Alarm (A, These boys are taking over america as much as any british band has, on MTV constant rotation, if only as music for the station's adverts)

Japan - Adolescent Sex (B, I can't stand David Sylvian's voice from these times...his newer stuff is more forgiveable...too smug?!?)

Metabolist - Hansten Klork (n/a, i got this from mr. leone and have yet to really digest...seems like a simmer might be necessary)

Daft Punk - Human After All (C, I wrote this tongue in cheek stypod entry and all I got for it was this)

V/A - Kompakt Total 4 (A-, ...iz good but will never take my heart away from Total 3)

Saint Etienne - Travel Edition (A, Great primer for people that have gotten into the music game too late to know all the 90's brit-pop bands)

J.Rocc & Steinski - Aint No Thing & Say Ho EP (B, Steinski still cuts up with a sharp knife - a knife that I'm trying to learn everyday...respect is due)

DJ Koze - Late Check Out (D, A hip-hop producer gone Kompakt? Even with his "Brutalga Square," as well as a sexy/dirrrty cover, I'm still not buying it)

Schaeben & Voss - So Siehst Du Aus EP (B+, some slick, sophisti-house, but "dunnyukno the WORLD IS CRAZY?")

Tom Ze - Grande Liquidacao (B, Do you ever feel removed from a song/album and wish you could get closer? me too... this is a great article about Ze)

Diplo - Florida (C, Will instrumental just die and get it over with?)

Get Physical 2nd Anniversary Label Compilation - (A, nouveau disco label that wants to make sure you get in shape! RECOMMENDED!)

Jersey Devil Social Club - Magnifique EP (A, Horror-Disco...as incredible as it sounds)

Deepchord - 10 - 13 - 12"s (C, minimal dub-techno - YAWN!)

V/A - Block Party Breaks - Classic Original Breaks and Rare Funk 45s (B+, great but a little bland...it's amazing how all these comps are rare funk but can sound so unrare)

V/A - Tracks that Build the House (A, Classic House - if you have any interest, please FIND THIS)

Break 3000 - Flash (MBF 12004) - (B+, rollicking and minimal as any 12" i've heard this year...good, but also too much, as in, if you don't already know this, you probably won't like it)

Prefuse 73 - Surrounded by Silence (C, Quality control!!! When guest spots fill up into the double digits, remember something MIGHT not be workin')

Books - Lost and Safe (B+, This is just kinda underwhelming, if any problem - it's sad that the collabo w/ Prefuse 73 could be my favorite track they've done this year)

KMD - Mr. Hood (A, ROCK! I need to listen to this everyday. You do too)

Metope - Libertango (A, If techno is not a scary word, then I would suggest checking this out along with the rest of the Areal label - juicy slabs of what could essentially be called cock-glitch...chunky, huge synths...made to be loud)

Matthew Jonson - Followed By Angels (A, I always think Matthew Jonson sounds like what Aphex would be doing nowadays if he TRULY SOLD OUT, and that would be something good)

alright. that installment was helpful for me... but i've only made it to the beginning of February...eek. Please leave comments whether I should keep moving on, or just write about albums that I really love, cause this all-encompassing thing seems like it might be WAY too much to digest. i don't think i have, at very least.

2005-05-03T01:06:00.000-07:00

Two Movies for my Absence, Tardiness and being Generally Unkempt

Advertising (6.4 megs)

Clouds, Fiery Dust and Boredoms (2.4 megs)

love,
nate

2005-04-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this was one of two people in the whole plaza? This dude's name is Nate, his friend's name was Nate, and of course (outside bowie) is run by the dual Nate's, so please tell me the odds, please.

2005-04-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

We're waiting, impatiently, for the weather to change, for the better. Lots of stuff coming up, in the, uh, coming week, so this is the last chance before the rush kicks in to sit in front of this screen and attempt to provide the newsworthy service that our thousands of fans frequent the site for.

That being said, it's going to be a light news day.

Let's start in Taiwan, current record holder of the world's tallest building title-- that is, until China stops pulling punches and knocks it down in an unambiguous show of force against the tiny tiny island.

If you're interested in knowing what keeps said record-holding edifice from collapsing due to natural, non-Chinese Army-related forces, I happen to know an expert on the subject who happily will direct you to your nearest local newsstand, and more specifically, to the May issue of Popular Mechanics, inside of which you can delight your cerebral cortex with mullions of informative information sure to enrapture the senses and enliven the brain.

Plus, the picture is pretty damn sweet.

In other world news, we turn our collective disattention to Africa, because we think a little more education concerning this continent (Africa is not a country, as many many Americans are led to believe) should be welcomed with open arms and wide eyes. Yes, there is more going on in Africa aside from slaughter, cannibalism and general violence directed towards women and children. Thankfully, here at (outside bowie) we relish our predilection for visceral, stomach-turning reportage of the inflammatory and nauseating sort.

This, unfortunately, will not be one of those posts.

Ever hear of Togo? Well, according to the BBC, delegates from West Africa are doing their best to avoid yet more bloodshed, this time due to disputed election results. Not the most visceral, yes, but sometimes the actions that repress bloodshed can be more interesting than reporting actual bloodshed.

That was a joke.

Sorry to "sharply brake" on the news service, but an interstellar hitchhiker, and a fresh case of Icehouse call. Good luck on those midterms, kids, let me know what happens.

2005-04-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

LaSalle Street

2005-04-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

Riding west along the Loop, with the anatomically, ahem, unique Smurfit and Stone building in white.

2005-04-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

It may be hard to tell, but yeah, that's a person under there.

2005-04-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the front seat of the first car of our beloved (and soon to be discontinued) Express.

2005-04-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

Puddle reflection-- looks pretty wild, huh?

2005-04-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

Lunch and other distractions

2005-04-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

Scale

2005-04-25T01:25:00.000-07:00

Urban (mechanical) captives

2005-04-25T01:24:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

2005-04-25T01:22:00.000-07:00

Fresh Coats

2005-04-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

Alright so here we go. It's 10 of 3 on a Sunday night, coming off of the 3rd or 4th movie of the day, and I still can't go to sleep, although I must, because tomorrow I'm up at 9 to catch the last (possibly one of the last ever) express purple chutes into the new improved downtown.

New and improved, you ask?

Well, The Bean isn't done being buffed yet, it's still under wraps until it looks totally smooth, which would look, like, totally smooth, so we'll wait until it's finished, I guess.

So yes, my photojournalism class requires, for the midterm, that I go and shoot the Loop. Which, of course, is wicked awesome, because that's where I want to be. So, starting tomorrow, with the help of newly-minted corporate-executive-type Aaron H. and his 25-th floor office, I'll kick off the exhibition with some kick-ass altitude snaps.

Then its back to class here in Evanston, another humiliating softball match, soreness afterwards, then case studies, architecture midterm, lots of stuff going on this week.

Oscar had reason to celebrate this weekend, what with, after a multitude of sleepless nights and frantic days, saw his work pay off, in the form of an excellent play this weekend.

But, as we here at (outside bowie) pride ourselves on being an information source as well as a witty and engaging splinter of digital conversation, we present to you some of the more disturbing and malicious trends and stories emerging from the dead pope's ethereal spirit here on earth.

Oh yeah, the pope died. Did you hear about that?

Still dead, by the way. Further bulletins as events warrant...

So! We blast off from the lovely (and fastest-growing city in America) Las Vegas, in a story that is particularly close to my heart.

Now, if I was from Las Vegas and said I found a finger in my bowl of chili, would you believe me?

Now that we've eaten, let's...well, actually lets go to Germany and stick with food, although here the people eat the whole people, not just the finger. Accidentally.

You are too lenient about this eating-people thing.

This one is pretty narly, but we only have to move to Russia to tell it, which is closer to Germany than my next scoop, which is back home here in Chicago. So if you've ever wondered what one of the most narly knife accidents to the fache could be, this would be a really great place to start.

Oh yeah, congrats to Jim for his promotion and raise. Please buy beer.

So it's 3:11 right now, so we're about to wrap this one up, because getting up anytime before noon is looking like a long-shot at the moment.

Here we go, last peephole of the evening...

I am not a fan of the CTA. This following link is your indispensable guide to keeping track of the utter urban catastrophe of the current public transit crisis. Here is a place to keep track of every bumbling explanation, every outrageous disclosure of wasted funds, wasted resources, and perhaps even a rationale pertaining to why the fucking train can't wait 30 fucking seconds before you arrive at Howard station on a blisteringly cold night.

Somebody step on the third rail!

We apologize for the lack of activity here at (outside bowie). We hope to be back with you, loyal readers, on a much more frequent basis in the coming weeks.

Pictures on the way.

2005-04-09T03:21:00.000-07:00

Inexcusable is probably the best word to describe the complete lack of substantial content that we here at (outside bowie) pride ourselves on, at least semi-regularly. With my recent digital acquisition of 6 megapixels, I've felt alright about posting nothing but pictures lately, but I think it's probably time for a little conversation, lest the masses think we're coasting on our recently acquired fame and fortune.

so, to recap-- my day:

up for architecture class with josh, but josh wasn't gonna make it, so i went, and learned a little about manchester, england, between spells of passing out. Then back to the house, a little jackie chan, some breakfast, then off to the races, so to speak.

the "so to" to which i am speaking actually, physically, refers to Wrigley Field's opening day game. Assigned to cover this event for class, I was hoping to get into the stadium, and, of course, take some great pictures. long story short, some saw me taking pictures and told me he had an extra ticket, did i want to go into the game?

the answer obviously being yes, i stalled, asking, "really?"

with assurance i was handed the ticket. go in and photograph the game, he told me, and he pulled himself through the turnstyle. i had a bag check to go through, so i never wound up seeing him again.

but,

i got to see the season opener, which was fun. so tomorrow is matinee at music box, apartment shopping, and whatever else blips onto the radar screen.

go see fever pitch, red sox nation.

2005-04-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Bad News

2005-04-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

Old News.

2005-04-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

Walking down Broadway with Jim after a couple of beers, a new memory card, and real nice weather. These are the first shots from my new toy, the Nikon D100 digital SLR. Yo!

2005-03-23T20:25:00.000-08:00

Now that I've secured my economic and professional requisites for living in New York City for this summer, the only remaining piece of the puzzle (and an admittedly important piece) is yet to be placed. Among other good news, Oscar and I will be living together here in the city in the summer. In that same vein, we will be looking for a swinging pad here as well as in down-home Chicago. So, two downtown digs in the top three cities in America is not a bad way to blast out of the doors into 2005.

As for Gotham, the semester-end wrap up ends thus:

1. Internship with major metropolitan magazine: Check

2. Future-augmenting meeting with media God and upstanding magazine editor Terry McDonnel: Check

3. Development meeting with Head of Development at Hearst Publishing: (Note the caps): Check

4: Expensive lunch at Nobu, fine SOHO Japanese restaurant: Check

5. Supremely crappy weather: Check

So that's the scorecard, as of 11:35 Wednesday night, and there's still a lot more time and many more benchmarks to set, so here's to good days, and hopefully, the continued existence of excellent nights.

2005-03-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

Volcano High

2005-03-19T18:20:00.000-08:00

It's really amazing how many helicopers were buzzin' around lower Manhattan today.

2005-03-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

I figured I'd only have one more chance to walk the bridge, so I took it today.