Chicago MMXII

huh, story fails to note that the attackers were anti-racist action and attackees were white supremacists

still a crazy story

xp to j3553

xp - I know! I got that info from the comments (which... I almost recommend for the one comment in which a white supremacist talks about how only the Aryan nation has true freedom of speech or something really confusing and wrong). Man, I'm not an avowed nonviolent person at all, but rolling up on people with bats and hammers is kind of not okay, even if those people are rotten, awful, disgusting people.

But back to my news coverage rant... What's pissing me off about all the Trib's coverage of the protests is that it's all about 1) arrests and 2) inconvenience. Nothing about what the folks might be protesting or why. Just shit like this:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2012-05/70036255.jpg

Which don't get me wrong, is a hilarious picture, but how about interviewing some of the leaders of the people out there chanting? Or if you're doing a human interest piece, throw in a paragraph about one of the actual protesters and what she's up to and what she thinks, etc.

won't someone please think of the commuters

I gotta say the WGN live coverage of ppl getting kettled & beaten yesterday was compelling and totally showed what a bunch of lameass talking heads modern tv "reporters" are

My commute was awesome this morning.

I don't know, I was watching some local coverage this weekend where they were talking to protestors and they chose literally the worst interviewees to show, people who just sort of stammered and hemmed and hawed without answering any of the questions. Which pisses me off, because I know there are tons of well-spoken, thoughtful protestors out there but they won't fit with the convenient narrative of "these people are young kids with no real end goals".

We were walking home from the library on Saturday and found ourselves amid the protest march from Horner Park to Rahm's house. A middle-aged dude walking the opposite direction sneered, "Join the army, you assholes."

That was rude. Yes, TV loves to edit together as many dopes as they can.

Well, I found a place in Wicker Park that was as cheap as all the other options, so that's where I'll be July 4th week.

Don't think I need to explain to Chicago people that yr city is not the most accepting of protest-style activities and has a disturbing police culture

yeah I had heard that!

We are well aware. :(

city of big shoulders... to use for swinging clubs

Passed a group of legal observers on my way into the immediate care clinic this AM (still sick, antibiotics not working, beloved doc's office closed until Wed) and got sad that I wasn't involved. Then I got dizzy and went to the clinic.

:( sorry you're still sick!! that sucks.

Thank you! And it's awful! But it's validating when a doc looks in my ears and makes a horrified hissing sound, though, and I got a more badass antibiotic so let's hope this works.

I highly recommend Michigan Ave. Immediate Care, btw. Clean, efficient, nice docs, nurses, and desk staff. And they have complimentary cough drops and granola bars. I was in and out in about as much time as it takes at the regular doc, although its a ghost town in the Loop today so that may not be representative.

I think DePaul sent me to that place to get vaccinated. Is it near the Art Institute?

I can't believe everyone's doctor is out for so long, presumably b/c of NATO.

Also, I'm worried about your ears.

It's at Michigan and Lake, so not quite.

They closed the office because of NATO and he opportunistically went on vacation. I could have gone to his practicemate's office in Hyde Park, but LSD is closed and it just seems like a massive hassle to get down there. It was my coworker's idea to go to the clinic, and it was probably the best idea she's ever had in her life.

I think my ears are behaving normally (for them), but the antibiotics I had just weren't the right ones. I am optimistic that I'll be better by Friday.

Doctor goes on opportunistic vacation instead of treating opportunistic infection. (not that yours is one, probably)

If it is, I've got bigger problems than a probably hole in my tympanic membrane.

taking notes in case I get a sinus infection from flying back to chicago in a couple weeks :)

I hope you don't! But if you do, MI Ave Immediate Care.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/251957_651388830179_77802115_32357679_1579581292_n.jpg

amazing pic. some hardcore punk or political rap group should use it for an album cover, putting their name where the judge mathis ad is

Seriously, that is a great pic.

Speaking of a strong police presence, my entire building is surrounded by cops standing about three feet apart from each other.

I saw a color, wider-angle version of it earlier where the bus to the left was included saying "CHICAGO IS", along with like 2-3 more cops.

Also not to make this thread Carl Agatha's Ear Infection Chronicles (worst memoir ever), but I can't hear low sounds, like I couldn't tell when the dryer was running yesterday and had to go put my hand on it to check, which means I can't hear stuff like HVAC noises or the trains going by or other rumbling building functions. And this place is emptier than I have ever seen it (and I've worked Christmas Eve) and it is uber creepy I basically feel like this:

http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/28-days-later.jpg

I want a print of that bigger color version of that photo.

Yeah, that photo's awesome -- even the Judge Mathis ad adds to it, IMO.

The "CHICAGO IS MY KIND OF TOWN" photo, not the 28 Days Later dude. xp

beautiful out today, esp. for you "i hate hot weather" people

I agree!

It messed up my hair.

I didn't go outside at lunch due to the ring-o-cops.

They're gone now, btw.

You need to make it a burning ring o' cops. xp

and yes, it's completely lovely out there

solar eclipse of cops

You need to make it a burning ring o' cops. xp

― Pita Malört (Je55e), Monday, May 21, 2012 7:16 PM (53 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Be careful. Per that Trib article I posted, that's probably enough to arrest you.

i went to tjs with a t-shirt on and was kind of cool but it felt great after being in my stuffy apartment. then i sat on the deck and ate a lime popsicle.

Posting this mostly for the picture, which I feel weird about linking to directly: http://www.shakesville.com/2012/05/chicago-nato-protests-open-thread.html

(because it's an alarming and awful image almost first-person victim POV of a cop about to punch someone, that is, and anybody who has ever been on the receiving end of something like that may not want to see it.)

saw that pic earlier today, also the "chicago police department -- 2012 red rover champions" meme pic of a row of cops in armor with weapons knocking the shit out of unarmed people

btw this is linked in the comments to that article

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/551626_10151748741975176_756845175_24528772_1018559969_n.jpg

(not the same pic I mentioned earlier though)

feelin kinda sad about the end of my long "weekend" (in quotes because i was theoretically working friday and today). going to go get out in the sun though.

I have a question I was hoping one of you might be able to answer. I have to go to traffic court tomorrow for a ticket I got last month and I was wondering what options you have to pay at the clerk's office. Do I need to bring enough cash to cover my ticket and whatever fees?

I don't really know anything about traffic court, but IME all clerks of Circuit Courts take checks, so bring your checkbook and your driver's license if you have it back (?? idk how that works). If you can't pay by check, there are Chase ATMs on the same level as traffic court.

Also, the clerk of court of Cook Co. takes credit cards, but there is a fee.

When I went to traffic court last year, you could pay by credit card but it involved some sort of ludicrous operation where you actually had to call your credit card company on a special phone or something.

Have you guys ever had someone come to your door from "an energy company" and offer to lower your rates? This happened yesterday, and it totally freaked me out at first.

basically this is what happened:

Somehow this dude got into the building and then came to our apt door and asked to see our electric bill. I didn't give it to him, and I asked him a thousand questions and he gave me a thousand shitty sheepish answers, like

me: What have the other people in the building said to this proposal?
him; I don't know, yours is the first door I knocked on

me: why do you seem like you don't know what you're talking about?
him: uh sorry it's my first day on the job

i didn't mean to give this guy an unnecessarily hard time, but wtf is he doing knocking on my door?!