tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2243332012-02-16T20:54:04.165-06:00Calculated randomness.Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.comBlogger3661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-56065805286830333862011-10-23T11:09:00.001-05:002011-10-23T11:09:33.343-05:00

"Like taking candy from a baby." - Well, what's the baby doing with candy, anyway? Someone should be taking it away...

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-90295815862754911172011-09-14T19:34:00.000-05:002011-09-14T19:34:05.745-05:00

Is it sad that I look forward to getting the Huggies Reward Codes, entering them in and playing the little instant win games to try to get free diapers?

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-74074458658807154512011-09-12T22:04:00.001-05:002011-09-12T22:04:03.908-05:00

This week, at least, nobody was bleeding.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-17953410567593466102011-04-27T12:58:00.000-05:002011-04-27T12:58:11.983-05:00

Dear "Birthers", You racist conservative un-American trash, please go away now. Thank you.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-53508860561112865432011-04-17T10:10:00.000-05:002011-04-17T10:10:29.769-05:00

We live in a world where movies glorify raucous teenage behavior by 30-somethings (Hangover, Hot Tub Time Machine, the list increases exponentially) yet we are trying kids as young as 11 or 12 as adults for their crimes. Actions have consequences, but it's okay as long as nobody dies, right? Or, as the saying should go, it's all fun and games until someone gets shot and dies.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-86740726402465953852011-04-17T10:03:00.000-05:002011-04-17T10:03:20.528-05:00

The Bulls ended the season with the league's best record and a shoo-in for MVP. I feel like I'm back in college and someone on the floor should be wearing the number 23. Perhaps not a long drought in professional sports (ahem...Cubs) but it feels like ages since the Bulls were a true title contender. Go Bulls!

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-83704229410850435022009-07-20T07:19:00.002-05:002009-07-20T07:26:59.690-05:00

There's a line in the Shawshank Redemption about how the Pacific Ocean "has no memory". So I am wondering if the suburbs are like the Pacific? There is a vastness, a blankness, that makes the landscape interchangeable, to the point where one restaurant can turn into another overnight and you cannot remember what was there the previous day. Where Ventures turn into Circuit City, and soon to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-72890247151571186492009-07-19T13:43:00.001-05:002009-07-19T13:46:39.645-05:00

Peoria.Synphoria.Pitchfork.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-81100911933160409392009-04-05T19:29:00.002-05:002009-04-05T19:48:22.222-05:00

Old news, probably, but relatively new for someone who rarely frequents fast food joints these days, and hasn't been to an Arby's in almost three years - the news is, no more black cow milkshake. A black cow is basically a root beer float (a proper float, as I envision it, involves ice cream actually floating in the root beer, whereas a black cow is the same ingredients blended together).Anyway,

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-21149627593112747862009-02-20T19:30:00.007-06:002009-02-20T19:41:50.121-06:00

On the Tribune website right now...I would have to agree with both captions for the pictures.trib_2-20-09.jpg

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-62652169546208715772009-02-15T18:34:00.002-06:002009-02-15T18:43:57.448-06:00

Hey, world.I've been gone for a while. Maybe I didn't have much to say? Or maybe I had too much. And this may only be a momentary resurfacing. We are going to see Kodo this week.I will be getting two teeth prepped for crowns. I am so excited about that I could just about drink myself into a stupor.Went to Meson Sabika last night. Very nice, it is a tapas restaurant in a restored large house

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-55780167967852182122007-11-07T19:51:00.000-06:002007-11-07T19:55:57.574-06:00

After all these years of Alpha-Bits, why are we not using breakfast to tackle our failures in numeracy? Number Krunchers! Cereal shaped like numbers. And you can even have marshmallows shaped like +, -, x, etc.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-52203040147706728022007-11-07T19:49:00.001-06:002007-11-07T19:51:05.725-06:00

University of Chicago Doctors Reverse Flow of Digestive Tract

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-57250636650950674212007-09-10T21:28:00.000-05:002007-09-10T21:33:00.402-05:00

You are Inspiration Soup!! You live to Inspire those around you with your green beany, white chunky, red soupy goodness. Many have come and lit candles in your honor. You've inspired them to become better people. Thank you, Inspiration Soup... thank you. Take this quiz!

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-37687719736540298782007-07-24T20:15:00.000-05:002007-07-24T20:36:16.424-05:00

And now, a nice little "what the hell have you been up to" post. Two weekends ago was Pitchfork Music Fest, 2007 version. Highlights: Day 1, Sonic Youth playing through the entirety of Daydream Nation. Good sets by Battles and Cat Power on Day 2 (despite Chan Marshall's incessant apologizing for the sound quality, now instead of stage fright she seems to suffer from chronic perfectionism).

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-56509882902545456462007-05-30T06:41:00.000-05:002007-05-30T06:48:57.797-05:00

No, I don't know what kind of plant this is. I'm not good with foliage specifics.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-23688650181062008762007-05-29T19:31:00.000-05:002007-05-29T19:38:15.656-05:00

A phrase I cannot stand is "It's always in the last place you look." Well, sure it is. If it weren't, you would keep looking. You may as well say, "It's never in the dozens of places you looked before the last place where you actually found whatever it was you were looking for."I am thinking about this because today I was searching for my social security card. But for a change, I did what

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-50756696738804643252007-05-26T08:13:00.000-05:002007-05-26T08:16:35.544-05:00

Check out the cicada emergence map.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-85219848052186509662007-05-24T19:01:00.000-05:002007-05-24T19:02:04.888-05:00

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-81193005487999967312007-05-20T19:07:00.000-05:002007-05-24T19:05:23.292-05:00

...not the same as the old boss, I hope. After 10 years, I will be leaving District 104. For those of you in the audience thinking: "Finally!", yes, I agree.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-18845999963032917062007-05-19T16:15:00.000-05:002007-05-19T16:18:46.178-05:00

Taking his sweet time (ah, already like my brother) my nephew Henry entered the world yesterday (8 lbs 11 oz!). Pics when I have them.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-11559044657470407262007-04-11T07:25:00.000-05:002007-04-11T07:44:29.121-05:00

"Born to multiply, born to gaze into night skies, All you want's one more Saturday."Looking like some sort of evil bread slice robot, my car stereo had a fatal case of indigestion while playing the latest Shins CD.Obviously I had to take it apart completely to retrieve the disc.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-24189478893405003082007-04-02T10:52:00.000-05:002007-04-02T11:03:42.158-05:00

Spotted on a minivan this weekend: "We are ashamed of our LTHS 'B' student"Some background: LTHS is a local high school, it is huge, and it has a diverse but generally upper middle class population.I have seen plenty of bumper stickers bragging about a student being on the honor roll. And then of course there is the variation: "My kid beat up your honor roll student". But this is the first time

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-14254822132996754262007-03-27T20:18:00.000-05:002007-03-27T20:23:59.979-05:00

Found on Craigslist. I would imagine there is a female version for the marshmallows?

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-19538361048906920252007-03-27T09:48:00.000-05:002007-03-27T09:50:29.912-05:00

Overheard in the bathroom at a bar this weekend; a guy on his cellphone:"You what? You got hit by car? Well what are you calling me for, call the police!"

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-470405798396048332007-03-16T08:30:00.000-05:002007-03-16T08:35:02.530-05:00

So I have this razor...it goes in its' base every week to be cleaned, and the next time I use it, every time, I think: I cannot believe how much the cleaning solution for this razor smells like Trix cereal. Because, you know, when I think "clean, fresh scent" I think "sugary cereal."

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-18644111188750434472007-02-25T08:47:00.000-06:002007-02-26T11:29:00.656-06:00

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1167057306656902822006-12-25T08:32:00.000-06:002006-12-25T08:35:06.673-06:00

99 cents off!? How generous Amazon; now I have to get one!

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1167053288265783362006-12-25T07:26:00.000-06:002006-12-25T07:28:08.283-06:00

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1165190044665748942006-12-03T17:53:00.000-06:002006-12-03T17:54:04.666-06:00

Yes, I know that updates have been sparse. I have been spending all my free time trying to create my own version of the McGriddle sandwich. Mine has Canadian bacon, though, so I don't think I am infringing on corporate copyright too much. Soon, I will have a McGriddle party.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1162515641061073922006-11-02T18:50:00.000-06:002006-11-02T19:00:41.103-06:00

Random recent:Took a day off to go to the nature museum with my niece. She liked the water exhibit. And climbing stuff. Didn't care too much for the butterflies.She wanted to see the gorillas at Lincoln Park zoo. But it's dark in there. Unacceptable! Luckily there were some outside. And a very nice carousel, which she had pretty much all to herself. The avocado green fridge finally died.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1160832264821090342006-10-14T08:23:00.000-05:002006-10-14T08:24:24.840-05:00

The mischievous wildflower dragon.The pink bears of Florida.The dodo bird's evolutionary cousin, the coco bird, hunted to extinction for its' chocolately goodness.The Escher salamander.The common gym rat, which had no natural resistance to steroids.The receding hairline eagle.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1159749847690421682006-10-01T19:42:00.000-05:002006-10-01T19:44:07.706-05:00

Two little baby squirrels emerged from their tails today.They immediately started plotting.What dogs to terrorize.Which children's legs to run up.How to overthrow the Mexican government.Baby squirrels love long walks thru the trees, pink elephants, and flan.They also like advanced calculus.The natural habitat of the baby squirrel is in the blind spot of your eye.You can only see them by looking

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1159442234244677122006-09-28T06:16:00.000-05:002006-09-28T06:17:14.280-05:00

One of my big toenails fell off yesterday.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1158837574988533552006-09-21T06:15:00.000-05:002006-09-21T06:20:19.023-05:00

"How are your trees, Grandpa?""I've been getting a lot of fruit this year."One of the coolest things about my Grandpa's place in Florida is all the variety of fruit trees in the immediate vicinity. Happy belated 78th birthday, Grandpa!My friend John describes a recent evening:"So we walked to the lake shore, to the breakers off of the beach, and the moon was huge and red and we were sitting

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1158283789458390712006-09-14T20:29:00.000-05:002006-09-14T20:41:24.386-05:00

Things I could live without in the wake of an alien abduction:- Back issues of Wired- M.C. Escher sticker book- Iron- Sense of despair and childlike hope after the first big snowfall of the season- The latest episode/re-run of Lost- Sugary cereals- Concert t-shirts- 403(b) pension- Scented candles- Collection of maps to the residences of all of my friends- Passive aggressiveness- Commuting-

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1158188065047830022006-09-13T17:53:00.000-05:002006-09-13T17:54:25.060-05:00

Do I associate tea with sickness? All summer long, I was in no mood for drinking tea. Now I have the sniffles and all I could think of today was how nice it would be to get home and make a nice cup of tea. Or two, so far. I think I'll run the spectrum tonite; I had the green and white blend first, followed by the chai spice black. Maybe I should throw in some lemon while I'm at it. Still, I

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1156199448119923332006-08-21T17:24:00.000-05:002006-08-21T17:30:48.133-05:00

Things I saw in or near the water during Sunday morning's canoe trip:-Dead fish-Branches-Condoms-Basketball-Cranes/herons-Ducks-TurtlesWe went north up the Chicago River, near Addison, as far as Bryn Mawr before heading back. Except for a break to have a snack, we spent about 3 hours on the water. I ended up in the middle with Jeff steering and Richard up front; leaning back against a wooden

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1156014609385939452006-08-19T14:05:00.000-05:002006-08-19T14:10:09.406-05:00

Last night I gave my bathroom a fresh coat of paint. This morning I was putting it back together, and happened to look through the long, square towel bar (one of those cheap metal ones that everybody has had in their bathroom at one time or another). I was able to capture a sample of the effect in this photo. Yes, I am easily amused.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1155937981690714182006-08-18T16:50:00.000-05:002006-08-18T16:53:01.703-05:00

Eliza and TreyAs of yesterday, another newborn amongst my friends. And is it just me, or does Big Bird seem to be defying gravity in some way?

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1154555227639984792006-08-02T16:42:00.000-05:002006-08-02T16:47:07.650-05:00

The project that took all summer to get done is finally complete. The shower leak is fixed and the whole thing has been re-tiled. The guy sent out from Handyman Connection did a nice job and was very efficient and easy to deal with. So I would recommend them; my only complaint is that it took a while to actually get the work scheduled and done. So...now I'm realizing that I probably ought to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1154265271133241862006-07-30T08:13:00.000-05:002006-07-30T08:14:31.153-05:00

Pitchfork this weekend and Lollaplaooza next weekend. I'll be posting reviews and notes about the concerts on the audio vortex blog.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1154126634806787282006-07-28T17:42:00.000-05:002006-07-28T17:43:54.816-05:00

I had been meaning to pick up Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life for some time now. And, like most things that fall victim to my procrastinatory tendencies, I was quite happy to have finally acquired and read it. Take your basic ordinary life. Chronicle various bits of it. Categorize those bits and arrange in encyclopedia form. That is the basic premise of the book, and

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1154120792409360322006-07-28T16:01:00.000-05:002006-07-28T16:06:32.430-05:00

After having a leaky tub faucet for a criminally long time (see earlier posts from April here and here) work finally began today on fixing that and re-tiling the whole shower (I have some water damaged wallboard on one side). So, there is no longer a steady cascade of water emanating from the shower. The silence is deafening.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1153534689337252672006-07-21T21:03:00.000-05:002006-07-21T21:18:10.016-05:00

A Tribune article today talks about a study in which it was concluded that in the long term people are more likely to regret virtue over vice. Kivetz [the researcher] argues that the over-emphasis on virtue and prudence in American culture contributes to the impulse toward over-indulgence."I'm not saying, 'OK, be decadent' … but balance is important," he said. "I think people should strive to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1153312355407166302006-07-19T07:32:00.000-05:002006-07-19T07:32:35.416-05:00

Coincidence, fate, luck, destiny.What are these things anyway?Just concepts to explain what we cannot explain.Not interchangeable, no, but cut from the same cloth.The same cloth that gets cut into strips, used to blind us from truth, used as a gag against speaking out in protest of our situation.What about free will? What about passion, and reason, and logic?How often have I explained my actions

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1153230538088740912006-07-18T08:48:00.000-05:002006-07-18T08:48:58.103-05:00

Last night's storms brought about the following recollection:When I was about 8 or so, that is when my fascination with lightning really took hold. I was sitting in the living room of the old house, watching TV, a food tray propped up in front of me. This was a treat, I was up later than I was supposed to be, though I don't remember why I had that privilege that particular evening. My parents

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1153147070571390362006-07-17T09:37:00.000-05:002006-07-17T12:52:23.206-05:00

Where or what is your calming place?A physical spot you either conjure or can get to when you need it.For a while, mine was the Little Red Schoolhouse nature center. I'm not sure that it still is, though. At other times, Tori cat was my calming place. That's one of the things I miss most about her. Montrose harbor and a little patch of grassy hill next to Adler Planetarium have also served as

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1152969098392362102006-07-15T08:06:00.000-05:002006-07-15T08:11:38.403-05:00

Stuff that spilled out of my mind this morning:I read an article about a giant squirrel passing out treats at Chicago City Hall. What would I do with a giant squirrel costume for a day? Maybe climb a tree and intimidate the little ones? Or just take some weird pictures. There's a store in the city (Wrigleyville?) I think it's called Nuts on Clark, (?); I would totally walk in there and buy

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1152926450438341812006-07-14T20:18:00.000-05:002006-07-14T20:20:50.450-05:00

To say that Augusten Burroughs had a perverse and psychologically twisted childhood is the definition of understatement. Here is what makes this book work and what also (perhaps) destroys it: Any idealistic notions about parenting, psychology, sexuality, maturity, and identity are so completely obliterated within the first 50 pages or so that you spend the rest of the text marveling at the sheer

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1152313223496879082006-07-07T18:00:00.000-05:002006-07-07T18:00:23.510-05:00

Flip enough coins, and eventually the pattern will settle into a 50/50 split between heads and tails, right? Does the law of averages apply to conversation? For instance, if I talk for a long enough time, will there be a point where what I say is interesting or funny no less than half the time? But then how do we categorize those people who seem to have an abundance one way or the other?

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1151879955297230242006-07-02T17:36:00.000-05:002006-07-02T17:39:15.306-05:00

Last year it was Batman Begins, and now we have Superman Returns. Rather than a retelling of the character's origins, this movie attempts to get past the mythos of Christopher Reeve's characterization and make audiences buy into Brandon Routh as an acceptable replacement. It also takes the liberty of ignoring the third and fourth sequels, which to me seems consistent with the tendency of comic

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1151773356745457002006-07-01T11:58:00.000-05:002006-07-01T12:02:36.756-05:00

My sister is in Taiwan. I couldn't resist posting this excerpt:"Betel Nut is the seed of a tree called the Betel Palm. It is actually very popular in Asian countries. The nut contains a stimulant so when it is chewed the effect is describes as being similar to drinking about 6 cups of coffee. In Taiwan, the marketing of the Betel nut (called Bin Lung) is what makes it popular here. Bin

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1151585528641227382006-06-29T07:51:00.000-05:002006-06-29T07:52:08.656-05:00

Within months of moving in to my condo, I found myself on the resident Board. After being on it for four years (and dealing with one crazy neighbor too many) I decided it was time for an exit.That was six months ago. Nobody wanted the position. Eventually, we talked someone into taking it, a guy whose parents also live in the building and who would be moving in to another unit at some point (

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1150893415116316282006-06-21T07:33:00.000-05:002006-06-21T12:27:47.776-05:00

(Note - lots of pop-ups on the site linked below.)R. insists that I am Toby. Perhaps. But not today. As the captain of the Bartlet Administration's boat, the chief of staff is a work-a-holic. As the captain of the Bartlet Administration's boat, the chief of staff is a work-a-holic. Although he is sometimes haunted by the demons of his past alcohol and drug abuse, because of his character and

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1150461140113231592006-06-16T07:27:00.000-05:002006-06-16T07:32:20.126-05:00

The latest offering from Douglas Coupland reminds me of a Harry Potter novel. Lots of pages, reads quickly, and chock full of magic spells and teen angst.Oh, wait, the characters in this book are not teens. Yet they all seem emotionally frozen at a certain point just shy of adulthood. Which is odd, since topically this is a kind of sequel to Microserfs, which dealt with a younger group of

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1150112507504998882006-06-12T06:40:00.000-05:002006-06-12T06:41:47.516-05:00

The man with the electric head has made some observations.If he happens to lean too close to the monitor, he has to degausse it. He can use his electric razor one, maybe two days before it needs to be recharged.He can tell the time on a digital clock in the next room.When he's bored he will ride the train, sitting there flipping the pages of a book while mentally scanning the phone or PDA of

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1150055071439058292006-06-11T14:36:00.000-05:002006-06-11T14:44:31.450-05:00

Having just now at this very moment (or at least within the past several millenia) completed digesting Mr. Hodgman's epic compendium, I now offer my thoughts on the experience and conditional recommendation, as is the custom in this historical moment and also as is required per the by-laws of the Opinion Entitlement Act of 1998 (1)."The Areas of My Expertise" (John Hodgman, author, ninja)

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1150033497510844072006-06-11T08:43:00.000-05:002006-06-11T08:44:57.546-05:00

The man with the electric head hates going to the dentist.Those new machines that they use pick up a distinct and unnerving aura that confuses the hygienists and the doctor. The machine is adjusted, another "x-ray" is taken, and then another, until finally they go back to the original and work off of that. There is also the fact that he is phobic about the dentist's office. The sounds get to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1150033276955276532006-06-11T08:38:00.000-05:002006-06-11T14:53:07.506-05:00

The latest installment in the X-men franchise is a series of action sequences interrupted by dramatic fluff that adds almost nothing to the plot. Some observations (and potential spoilers; you have been duly informed):- Not since "The Core" has the Golden Gate Bridge been so thoroughly mangled. Apparently there is some secret competition going on amongst the special effects houses to see who

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1149855986601624392006-06-09T07:25:00.000-05:002006-06-09T07:26:26.613-05:00

The Amazing Regret Index.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1149635858526222892006-06-06T18:14:00.000-05:002006-06-06T18:17:38.536-05:00

Yesterday morning, driving to work down Joliet Road.The sprinklers are on, adjacent to the street, next to the Target.And there are about 20 geese walking through the sprinkler shower, taking a bath.It turns out to be a wearisome day, but at least I got to smile a little at the outset.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1149632325684139602006-06-06T17:18:00.000-05:002006-06-06T17:18:45.700-05:00

The man with the electric head likes to have staring contests with parking meters.He is developing his skills, gradually tuning in to the frequency of the meter, changing the number of minutes remaining. Most of the meters are set for a two hour time limit, but he bumps them up to the 9:59 mark. Then he sits on a bench across the street, watching as people park, walking up to the meter with a

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1149628365262847532006-06-06T16:05:00.000-05:002006-06-06T16:12:45.273-05:00

Over the course of what turns out to be a very long day, neurosurgeon Henry Perowne deals with war, love, growing old, confrontation, poetry, talent, memory, and Dover Beach. And that's just the stuff that is easy to categorize. My take on this tale is that it is a meditation on how one exists in the moment. It is also about the mechanisms we use to separate ourselves from our immediate

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1149421204354163902006-06-04T06:25:00.000-05:002006-06-04T06:40:04.363-05:00

Took a walk around the Jackson Park area yesterday.How does anyone live near Chicago for so many years without ever walking these paths?Oh, yeah, because there's a slum directly to the south. Hey Daley, that's your next project; now that you've fixed up the Drive start working on the neighborhoods right off of it. Our walk started near the triangualar section at the bottom center (where the "

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1148555668863404492006-05-25T05:55:00.000-05:002006-05-25T06:14:28.876-05:00

This is a memoir of Didion's life in the year following her husband's death. What else is it? It's a Worst Case Scenario Handbook for grieving. I think that anyone who has lost someone close to them will recognize the self portrait that Didion paints, the psychologically established* stages of mourning that soften but never quite go away. The most striking thing for me were the tours of

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1147950755370347972006-05-18T06:12:00.000-05:002006-05-18T06:12:35.383-05:00

So apparently they made a movie based off of some book. The Da Vinci Code? Did anyone actually read that?Do I have to read it now? Or can I just avoid the whole thing? I guess I am just failing to see the point. That, and I hate getting swept up into massive pop culture fads. Have I mentioned that Tom Hanks' hair frightens me?Maybe I'll just watch Amelie again, get my Audrey Tautou fix, and

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1147658791382653662006-05-14T20:56:00.000-05:002006-05-14T21:06:31.396-05:00

I knew it was time to turn off the TV when I saw an ad for Karate Dog. I should have turned it off when West Wing ended. It was a good show, and even though it drifted for a while there, it was far more relevant than viewers deserved.In a time when we are stuck with an administration that was approved of by a majority of voters in the last election, there is a certain fantasy aspect to a show

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1147477492146801692006-05-12T18:37:00.000-05:002006-05-12T18:44:52.176-05:00

Okay. I will never claim to have a green thumb. But I thought I could keep a simple dill plant alive. And for two weeks it was doing okay. But then I forgot to water it for a day. And then I guess I drowned it in an overcompensating downpour. So can someone please invent a customized water gauge? An inexpensive little tool, maybe incorporated into that little plastic marker that tells you

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1147176409242017932006-05-09T07:03:00.000-05:002006-05-09T07:06:49.253-05:00

South Park Studio

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1146830895640135722006-05-05T07:06:00.000-05:002006-05-05T07:08:15.653-05:00

Arriving homeThe work is doneEven though it stillTakes up space in your mindBut you will chase it awayNot with cheap swillYou don’t even botherAnymore; life’s too shortAnd besides, it just makesYour head acheOpening the cabinetsYou bypass the petite glassesAnd go straight for the oversizedRuby-hued wine goblet.Then, with the skill of an artistYou uncork the bottleAnd set it on the counterTo let

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1146413304013643972006-04-30T11:03:00.000-05:002006-04-30T11:08:24.030-05:00

* Having trouble starting your novel? As a public service, I offer you these First Lines:Ten minutes into the execution, we knew something was amiss.I had little experience with venereal disease until I met her.The carp were biting on anything, which was convenient for me as I had a boat full of my friend's body to dispose of and no fishing license.Cry "Havoc!" and unleash the herd of cats!It

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1146316837152873842006-04-29T08:16:00.000-05:002006-04-29T11:22:17.656-05:00

The water will be off for the third time today. During round two, I stripped the valve using the special tool designed specifically for such projects.I even called a plumber that day. He came out and tried the exact same tool. And concluded that the only recourse was to open up the wall to get the valve out.In a little while round three of the battle will begin. I don't think I could stand

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1145623974834309732006-04-21T07:52:00.000-05:002006-04-21T07:52:54.846-05:00

In the Trib this morning, there is an article about the FDA declaring that marijuana has no medicinal value. Maybe that's true, maybe it's not. Since this is a controlled substance we're talking about, getting a good basis of scientific data one way or the other is difficult. It's probably just politics as usual, anyway. But I digress. Everyone knows about the placebo effect. You take a

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1145534488817003472006-04-20T06:53:00.000-05:002006-04-20T07:01:28.826-05:00

There have been some great Google logos, but this one has to be amongst my favorites.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1145454870769285082006-04-19T08:52:00.000-05:002006-04-19T08:54:30.776-05:00

More proof of global warming.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1145364132429382592006-04-18T07:37:00.000-05:002006-04-18T07:42:12.430-05:00

The Project: Fix leak in bathtub; most likely a worn out washer in the hot water valve.The Unexpected Setback: Getting the *!#$ing hot water handle off of the valve stem. The thing was frozen on there; after a half hour of spraying it with silicone lubricant and WD-40, tapping it, and swearing, it finally came off.The Critical Failure: I did not have the right tools to reach far enough into the

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1145363826309978372006-04-18T07:32:00.000-05:002006-04-18T07:37:06.320-05:00

The Project: Replace the power window motor in the driver's door.The Unexpected Setback: Couldn't find the fuses for a while. They were behind the little storage tray door built into the dash where I keep spare change.The Critical Failure: Didn't realize that the window mechanism had a high tension spring. I haven't done this before and am loathe to lose fingers over something so

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1145122030937903132006-04-15T12:26:00.000-05:002006-04-15T12:27:10.946-05:00

What if I had absolutely nothing to say and meant to click something else but I clicked here and now I have to write something or civilization will collapse but hey no pressure it's just words and I think what would be really perfect is international What's Up Mohammed Fest (WUMF) during which images of Mohammed are displayed everywhere; everyone gets a t-shirt, some posters, stencils for

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1143834730508310672006-03-31T13:43:00.000-06:002006-03-31T13:52:10.523-06:00

Tori, 1993 (?) - 2006. Yes I am sentimental, but when you have had a pet who has been around through a lot of the good and bad in your life, is it such a surprise? So this is a sample of what I will remember: Reh-rowrrr. 6 foot vertical leap. Push-push. Studying the birds. Hiding in a corner in new places. The ability to hear food before I took it out of the container. The playfulness of

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1143596941253356792006-03-28T19:42:00.000-06:002006-03-28T19:49:01.266-06:00

Tori has a condition known as chronic renal failure. Basically, this is a gradual shutting down of the kidneys. There is no cure; all that can be done is to take steps to prolong the life of the cat. Aside from that, she has an infection. We'll go back to the vet tomorrow and get some medicine for the kidney infection; hopefully that stabilizes her to the point where her kidney deterioration

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1143547526901662002006-03-28T05:54:00.000-06:002006-03-28T06:05:26.910-06:00

Tori cat has been sick for the past several days. Actually, she has probably been getting there for a little while, but just started presenting with symptoms this weekend. Something seems to be wrong with one of her kidneys; I'll get test results back today. She finally ate a couple ounces of solid food last night, for the first time in three days; otherwise all I could get into her was milk

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1143029261893592622006-03-22T06:03:00.000-06:002006-03-22T06:08:45.013-06:00

Mostly so I have them all in one spot, here are links to my favorite charitable organizations.WalkNow (Autism)Habitat for Humanity3-Day (Breast Cancer walk)Operation Freefall (RAINN/Sexual Assault)Unicef(Feel free to add other worthwhile organizations in the comments).

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1142691632979017562006-03-18T08:01:00.000-06:002006-03-18T08:20:32.990-06:00

Millions (2005) - Kid who exists in a fantasy world of saints in order to cope with the death of his mother is just hanging out in his cardboard fort in the British countryside when a bag of money gets chucked off a passing train and lands almost literally in his lap. Older brother wants to use the money to be king of the hill in their new town, but our young protagonist, in a quest to emulate

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1142690489070425652006-03-18T07:44:00.000-06:002006-03-18T08:01:29.080-06:00

The problem with being a petite, pregnant woman is that your body doesn't too much care for the notion of carrying around twins. So my friend Susi's babies conspired for an early release yesterday, weighing in at just under and over the 4 pound mark. A bit small, yes, but my understanding as of now is that they are all going to be okay, so that's good. But my question now is, will they forever

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1141707850439682702006-03-06T23:01:00.000-06:002006-03-06T23:04:10.450-06:00

A couple new poems are up. And the literary world yawns. But I finally cracked open one of my bottles of madeira, so at least something is right with the world.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1141570638557983612006-03-05T08:56:00.000-06:002006-03-05T08:57:18.556-06:00

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1141570555948271412006-03-05T08:55:00.000-06:002006-03-05T08:55:55.953-06:00

15 Biblical ways to find a wife: 1. Find an attractive prisoner of war, bring her home, shave her head, trim her nails, and give her new clothes. Then she's yours. -(Deuteronomy 21:11-13) 2. Find a prostitute and marry her. - (Hosea 1:1-3) 3. Find a man with seven daughters, and impress him by watering his flock

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1141570505219425972006-03-05T08:49:00.000-06:002006-03-05T08:58:46.593-06:00

This morning I was suddenly seized with the urge to go through old files on my computer and start cleaning them out. I have almost 10 years worth of files that have survived from one machine to the next on here. Ancient iterations of web pages, old photos, complete and utter randomness abounds. So, I may be posting odds and ends here just for the hell of it.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1140875774910165452006-02-25T07:37:00.000-06:002006-02-25T07:56:14.923-06:00

I was going to just copy an entire Salon article I read this morning about Steven Hayes and his recent work "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life", but I have to be the copyright police at work so I am loathe to be so bold here. Paraphrasing from the Salon article, Hayes deals in a type of psychology known as acceptance and commitment therapy. It is an evolution from what is presently in

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1140827646032506142006-02-24T18:31:00.000-06:002006-02-24T18:34:06.043-06:00

Here is the latest batch of posters I have acquired from Jay Ryan/The Bird Machine. I have three already, so this will double my collection (I plan on giving a couple of them away as presents). Jay Ryan rocks. (Hey Michele, the Sleater Kinney poster is going to you; what kind of frame do you want?)

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1140523860405366402006-02-21T06:04:00.000-06:002006-02-21T06:11:00.416-06:00

Went to Brant's on Sunday to help with his move. A distance of about 50 feet, total, including the flight of stairs. Yes, he is moving within his present building. But anyway, a bunch of us were sitting around watching curling. You know, the sport with the 100+ foot ice channel, big smooth rocks, and brooms. They want to open a bar with curling lanes. I think this might be a bad idea. A

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1140522823261229492006-02-21T05:48:00.000-06:002006-02-21T05:53:43.273-06:00

The original summation of our Biggest Loser tournament at work got washed away in a mini-blogger meltdown. So, just the stats: My team came in 2nd place out of 9. I lost 11 pounds over the six weeks. And the treadmill sat dormant over the weekend, but not to worry, I haven't fallen off the wagon entirely; Lean Cuisines and those yummy 100 calorie fish patties I like were on sale last night so.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1139964405404599172006-02-14T18:41:00.000-06:002006-02-14T18:46:45.416-06:00

Fucking CBS dumped "Love Monkey" after 3 episodes. Hey idiots, way to piss on the 25-35 year old male with disposable income demographic. Why is it that more than half of the new shows that I actually want to watch get canned after three episodes? Firefly? Wonderfalls? Oh, well, at least it's not the Fox network again.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1139696044635678212006-02-11T16:01:00.000-06:002006-02-11T16:14:04.646-06:00

Lying on the bed. Drifting. Snow swirling down, tree in the background. With the light sort of grey and hazy, the snowflakes against the trunk and branches look like blood cells moving through arteries. And then I fall into a nap.The new Belle and Sebastien is playing from the other room when I wake up. The snow is gone, temporarily. I drag myself out of bed, still tired, willing myself to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1139443178926016412006-02-08T17:59:00.000-06:002006-02-08T17:59:38.940-06:00

You Are The SunYou represent the best of life - vitality, success, and and truth.You tend to have a strong, centered, balanced personality.Inspiration and discovery are your fortes. You are very mentally strong.A talented mind, you tend to excel at math, philosophy, and music.Your fortune:As well as you have done in the past, the future is going to be filled with more success.A new creative

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1139313169131030562006-02-07T05:50:00.000-06:002006-02-07T05:52:49.143-06:00

[Click image to enlarge it to the point where you can actually read it.]A couple people I know are selling stuff at this; if you are into excellent crafty stuff go check it out.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1139195201722531092006-02-05T21:05:00.000-06:002006-02-05T21:06:41.736-06:00

Okay, I know that Pittsburgh was supposed to win anyway, but was it really necessary for the refs to give it to them? So many ticky-tack calls. What a steaming pile, waste of my night that was.

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1138498688451257582006-01-28T19:23:00.000-06:002006-01-28T19:38:08.463-06:00

Sometimes I am struck by the number of singularly brilliant people I know, or know of. People who have talent to spare, who are driven and go beyond being merely smart almost (sometimes) to the point of savant. It is...intimidating, in a way; I am pale in comparison. Sure, I do what I do pretty well, but then again, I have tried to escape my school district only to be ignored or to fail to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224333.post-1138366434638142732006-01-27T06:46:00.000-06:002006-01-27T06:53:54.650-06:00

Over the past week or so it has been virtually impossible to avoid the debate over this guy James Frey and his pseudo-memoir. I haven't read the book, don't watch Oprah, and don't really much care about the whole thing. But I will say this: The guy is a marketing genius. He has managed to ride this little "controversy" into another round of free publicity, which will of course translate to

Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01287710354457914310noreply@blogger.com0