Mirror Image

Here's another picture taken by chance with interesting results. I was just hoping to get a good reflection of the train but also happened to snap the Chicago Sun-Times building in the process.

Sears Tower from the Train

I only frequent the Red Line El Train. Except the other day when I took the Brown Line to my meeting then got back on at the same train stop and realized the Brown Line only went one way, so I got on the Pink Line instead. Once the train started moving, I realized I was on the wrong train, so I had to get off at the next stop and walk over to the other platform to catch the Green Line back to the Red Line. Man alive. Confusing, but I figured it out. Even so, I wouldn't have been able to take this picture if it weren't for my mistake.

My Video Awards

My awards will be a bit biased...and our first winner is:



Of course she wins in best performance by a two-year-old. But there are a couple other videos that I'd like to honor today. First, for best parody of a video game platform; and the winner is: The Wii Video. Second, getting the award for most rapid evocation of tears; and the winner is: Team Hoyt. And finally, for most inspirational speech by an individual under the age of three months; and the winner is:

Downtown Chicago

Over the next few days, I'll be posting a few images from another trip downtown - this time only for a morning meeting. (I was more a local than a tourist this time.) This one was shot from the hip, but I like the (here comes a 99 cent word) juxtaposition of the buildings.

Sailing in Chicago

The other day, we were bumming around the house when, just like that, some sailboats sailed right past our window. For some reason, the sailboats seemed huge. When I went out to photograph them, my camera shrunk them to toys. Even so, this picture still shows how many boats there were out there on Lake Michigan. It's amazing how many boats the horizon can hold. I've counted over 100 on a nice day (scanning from the north in Evanston, where Northwestern has a sailing school, to downtown, where hundreds of boats magically appear at their yacht clubs in the Spring).

Internet Sports

I was at school working on lots of stuff (as you can see from the screen shot). The US Open playoff was streaming live online, and I couldn't keep away. I wasn't the only one.



Here are some comments from people watching the US Open playoff on their computers at work:

“If IT shuts this down, I will suddenly develop the 12 hour flu.” Justin, CA --- “The magnificence of this website is only eclipsed by the wonder of this live feed.” Timmy, IN --- “This is awesome! Thanks IBM and USGA for the feed. Watching on dual monitors :) Go Tiger!!” Michael, TX --- “Boss just walked in on me......he asked for the website address.” Obee, MD --- “Thanks USGA. I thought I was going to have to go home "sick" today.” Homer, AZ --- “I know I’m not the only one with my mouse over a fake spreadsheet document.” matt, MA --- “Love the raw feed with the pacific blue, misty La Jolla cliffs instead of commercials...nice!” Tim --- “The internet - man's greatest achievement.” Mark, AZ --- “The first time I have never had a case of the Mondays. Thanks USGA.” Matthew, FL --- “Thank you USGA, this is simply the best day of work I have ever had! juan, MA --- “Get to work Mr. Pierce, this is your BOSS!!!!!” David, NC --- “Thanks. Sent link to the boss and got a "That a boy"” Jason, WA --- “I haven't wasted this much time at work since Friday.” Bill, VA.

Have you ever heard such effusive praise for the Internet machine? Productivity, what? (All joking aside, it really was pretty amazing to watch online. During televised commercials, the camera cut away to a live feed of the California coast. And what a tournament to watch; Mediate was awesome, but Tiger…well.)

What's in your bag?

I'm not sure how I first ran accross these photos (probably from someone researching networked space and images or something). At any rate, there is a flikr group devoted to showing the world the contents of their bags. This group has over 10,000 members. Yes, 10,000. People from around the world spill out the contents of their bags and snap a photo. Some people are very organized in the presentation of their bric-a-brac. Others, not so much. When I got my new timbuk2 bag in the mail the other day, I thought I'd better snap a few pictures to show the world. I then searched the "What's in your bag?" group for timbuk2 bags, and wouldn't you know it? No one had a D.W. doll stuffed into an oatmeal box or fake keys in their bag. And no one had a sweet Elayna Mae in a bag either.





And one more thing...since my bag is technically a messenger bag, I couldn't help commenting on Chicago's crazy bike messengers (and bikers in general). The other day I was crossing the street downtown, when a bike messenger darted through oncoming traffic to cut a corner. I guess it must be thrilling to be on the edge like that, and this probably the reason these bike people were excited to get this law passed last year. It requires drivers to yield three feet to bikers. Three feet. And that's a victory.

US Open

Today marks the beginning of another US Open in golf. (I'm more of a US Open tennis fan, but oh well.) Anyhow, both tournaments, the one with clubs and the one with racquets, have been going for over 100 years. I wanted to mention it today because of its location in SoCal this year. Torrey Pines Golf Course is near San Diego and actually sits in La Jolla. (I went to school at Biola University in La Mirada, about ninety minutes or so north of San Diego.) When I was a freshman, we went down to La Jolla a few times (making the trip in about sixty minutes; oh, the idiocy of youth). We have a number of crazy stories and pictures to go with them; the stories I won't repeat and the pictures I can't find. Later, I took my future bride to a super-expensive dinner at George's At the Cove (I think we're still paying for it). At any rate, I guess I'm just reminiscing.

For all you golf geeks, you can keep track of the current leaders here. The current leaderboard says Rocco Mediate is ahead at 4 under, while Tiger is 1 under and Mickelson is 3 over. You can evn watch Tiger and Phil live online. That's a little bit eerie.

Crazy Midwest Weather

So we didn't die. We really didn't even notice the weather as we slept. When I walked Spencer the next morning, I did notice evidence of serious water and wind, but all the cars were still sitting on their tires. The people in Wisconsin who own these pieces of house weren't so fortunate. (Click the picture for the story.) We're gearing up for another couple days of storms; I guess I'll pack an umbrella. (Not that it helps when the real Chicago winds kicks in...)

Crazy Chicago Weather

We looked outside at 12:30, and the sun was shining. A couple minutes later, the skies opened up and it was raining like a pig. The rain stopped two minutes later. We then went to Ravinia for a Ralph's World concert and didn't get hit with anything. Now, we have a severe weather alert and a tornado warning. As you can see, I've been watching the radar, and it looks like the storm will be heading straight over our heads throughout the night. More to come...

Chicago Pizza

Have I said anything about Chicago pizza yet? If not, then here's my opinion: there's nothing else like it. Really. Our friends from CA said they have had "Chicago Pizza" from BJ's, but they agreed that it was only a cheap imitation of the real thing. (BJ's BBQ Chicken Pizza is worth the trip to CA, btw.) Here's what you're missing out on if you don't come to Chicago for pizza:



(I stole that picture from someone's flickr page.) And here's evidence of our trip to Giordano's last weekend. Elayna could be their new spokesperson - so cute and such a lover of cheese.