So, am I really the only one who wasn't impressed by Sarah Palin last night? I know the VP candidate's traditional role is to attack the opposition, but she -- and the other speakers -- stirred up a fine steaming bowl of anger and hate.
I know I'm biased, but the message from the democratic convention was that we can work together to make this a better country, that all of us matter, that party isn't as important as country.
The message from the republicans was: RAAAAARRRHHHH!!!!!
And what was all that shit about how community organizers don't do anything? That's the problem with Republicans. They tell you government can't do anything, but when you try to help yourself, they call you a loser.
If being the governor of a state with 670,000 people for almost two years makes her qualified to be president (because, seriously, John McCain is not long for this world), then might I suggest a better running mate for McCain?
Pat McCrory has been mayor of Charlotte for the past 13 years. Charlotte has about as many people as the entire state of Alaska, so if Sarah Palin is qualified to be president, Pat McCrory could be emperor. He's a Republican with quite a bit of support from Democrats, and North Carolina is going to be close this year ...think about it, John. Please, for the love of god. There's still time.
But seriously, I'm signing up to get out the vote in a nearby swing state. According to the Obama Web site, I need to go to Michigan. Gee, I can cross another state off my list of places to visit, and save the world at the same time!
It won't be long before it starts snowing and we're stuck inside until May. All I wanted to do this fall is walk my dog, play bean bag toss, watch the Red Sox barely scrape into the Playoffs and drink some dark, dark beer.
I hate living in interesting times.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
More bike-riding assholes in Chicago
I was crossing Lincoln at Paulina and Roscoe this afternoon when the woman walking in front of me was almost run over by a bike rider who decided to run the red light. If she had started walking one second sooner, he would have hit her.
I guess that whole sting operation when the cops were "clamping down" on bikers who don't follw the rules didn't pan out.
I guess that whole sting operation when the cops were "clamping down" on bikers who don't follw the rules didn't pan out.
What the hell is a bank for, then?
Remember when you were a kid and you'd count up all those coins and place them carefully into those little paper rolls? Then you'd take them to the bank, and the smiling teller would take them and hand you real dollar bills?
Remember that?
I do, which is why I cleaned out our two coin mugs, the bowl by the front door and the car, counted out all those stinky coins, rolled them up and lugged the heavy sticks of money in my already heavy bag down to the Loop this morning. I figured it would be easier to just go during lunch than try to run down to the one in our neighborhood after work. Sure the line would be long at lunchtime, but it would be a piece of cake.
But it turns out that Bank of America, or at least the branches in the Loop, don't take coin rolls anymore. The teller looked at the rolls as if I had handed her an astrolabe or a scroll of parchment. After consulting with a guy who looked only slightly older than her, she explained, "We don't have the machine."
What machine? There wasn't a machine when I was 10 years old! This used to be a LaSalle branch, and apparently, Bank of America "took" their machine away. Will there be another machine? Who knows. But there isn't a branch in the entire Loop that can take a roll of coins and turn it into cash. Her solution: "You could take them to a TCF bank."
Yeah, but, uh ... I don't have an account with TCF! I have an account with BofA, the biggest bank in the world, as far as the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is concerned, and you're telling me I can't get money in exchange for ... money!?
Honestly, most of our money is with a certain Internet bank. the only reason we even have this piddling account with a bricks-and-mortar bank is for exactly this kind of service. I can't just hand my laptop a handfull of coins and expect a 20 dollar bill in return. Apparently, I can't get that from a Bank of America teller either.
Remember that?
I do, which is why I cleaned out our two coin mugs, the bowl by the front door and the car, counted out all those stinky coins, rolled them up and lugged the heavy sticks of money in my already heavy bag down to the Loop this morning. I figured it would be easier to just go during lunch than try to run down to the one in our neighborhood after work. Sure the line would be long at lunchtime, but it would be a piece of cake.
But it turns out that Bank of America, or at least the branches in the Loop, don't take coin rolls anymore. The teller looked at the rolls as if I had handed her an astrolabe or a scroll of parchment. After consulting with a guy who looked only slightly older than her, she explained, "We don't have the machine."
What machine? There wasn't a machine when I was 10 years old! This used to be a LaSalle branch, and apparently, Bank of America "took" their machine away. Will there be another machine? Who knows. But there isn't a branch in the entire Loop that can take a roll of coins and turn it into cash. Her solution: "You could take them to a TCF bank."
Yeah, but, uh ... I don't have an account with TCF! I have an account with BofA, the biggest bank in the world, as far as the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is concerned, and you're telling me I can't get money in exchange for ... money!?
Honestly, most of our money is with a certain Internet bank. the only reason we even have this piddling account with a bricks-and-mortar bank is for exactly this kind of service. I can't just hand my laptop a handfull of coins and expect a 20 dollar bill in return. Apparently, I can't get that from a Bank of America teller either.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Happy Labor Day
In the South, Labor Day, like most holidays, is a day for professionals, bankers and government workers to cook out and go to the beach. Other people have to work, as is their lot in life.
But apparently not here in the unionized North. All the dry cleaners are closed (Ok, so we should have taken that stuff in last week, but K has places to be!), and most of the restaurants -- at least in our neighborhood.
I tried to take Kayla to the beach to revel in the sand and sunshine, but the traffic was so terrible that we had to turn back. I caught a glimpse of the lake off in the distance, just over the snaking lines of cars stuck in the road looking for a parking space.
People who drive Jeep Wranglers tend to be assholes, or so I've noticed. Maybe you too? Chicago's Finest had blocked off the main entrance to Montrose Beach and we're directing traffic onto Lakeshore toward another entrance. The Wrangler driver in front of me tried to argue with the cops, wasting a lot of time for the rest of us to get stuck in another line. The thing is, this the the Chicago PD. Wearing full uniforms and, for some reason, bulletproof vests (is the beach that dangerous?) in 90 degree weather. If they tell you to turn left, you turn left.
Kayla and I got stuck trying to find a space. Cars crawled along in all directions except out. People and bikers weaved their way between the cars. And there was no parking in sight. A few hearty folks apparently had parked somewhere far outside the park, becuase plenty of people walked in with all of their beach stuff from the other side of Lakeshore. It was kind of like going to Myrtle Beach on Memorial Day weekend, except not as well organized.
We turned around.
Where did all these people come from? Apparently, all the restaurants we tried to eat at this evening. I guess everyone takes the day off and goes straight to the beaches. We ended up eating what were supposed to veggie burgers, but what were really veggie sloppy joes at Orange. I think their brunch is ok, but there's a reason why they're never busy for dinner. If only they had called it a day too. Next year, pizza on the porch.
But apparently not here in the unionized North. All the dry cleaners are closed (Ok, so we should have taken that stuff in last week, but K has places to be!), and most of the restaurants -- at least in our neighborhood.
I tried to take Kayla to the beach to revel in the sand and sunshine, but the traffic was so terrible that we had to turn back. I caught a glimpse of the lake off in the distance, just over the snaking lines of cars stuck in the road looking for a parking space.
People who drive Jeep Wranglers tend to be assholes, or so I've noticed. Maybe you too? Chicago's Finest had blocked off the main entrance to Montrose Beach and we're directing traffic onto Lakeshore toward another entrance. The Wrangler driver in front of me tried to argue with the cops, wasting a lot of time for the rest of us to get stuck in another line. The thing is, this the the Chicago PD. Wearing full uniforms and, for some reason, bulletproof vests (is the beach that dangerous?) in 90 degree weather. If they tell you to turn left, you turn left.
Kayla and I got stuck trying to find a space. Cars crawled along in all directions except out. People and bikers weaved their way between the cars. And there was no parking in sight. A few hearty folks apparently had parked somewhere far outside the park, becuase plenty of people walked in with all of their beach stuff from the other side of Lakeshore. It was kind of like going to Myrtle Beach on Memorial Day weekend, except not as well organized.
We turned around.
Where did all these people come from? Apparently, all the restaurants we tried to eat at this evening. I guess everyone takes the day off and goes straight to the beaches. We ended up eating what were supposed to veggie burgers, but what were really veggie sloppy joes at Orange. I think their brunch is ok, but there's a reason why they're never busy for dinner. If only they had called it a day too. Next year, pizza on the porch.
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