Wednesday, April 30, 2008
PROM NITE
This mouth i when to see prom nite. I thought the movie was going to be really boring and i was going to feel like it was a waste of money but instead it changed my mind. The movie was good, It made me jump and i rarely jump in a movie. The movie was about a man who was a teacher that fell in love with a student. He wasnt tooken to jail after they found out he was just fired from his job and was order to stay away from the girl .He got so mad at that and just felt that he need to have that girl, so he went to her house and he found she wasnt there so he try to make her family tell where she was. He killed her brother and father. When she walked in she seen them dead so she heard her mother and him yelling at each other so she ran to her room and hide under the bed. He killed her mother right in the front of her eyes. He was put in jail for a life time but for some reason he couldnt get the fact that he was never going to have her, so he broke out of jail and head her way. By this time it had been three years and she was ready to graduated from high school but first she had to go to prom. She went to prom with her boyfriend and friends. It was six of them all together. But only 2 of them made it alive after that night. After prom they were planing to go to the hotel and have sex. Put instead it was a night of pain rather then joy. The man had came to the hotel and killed workers and friends. At the end of the night the girl was tooken home safely, so she thought. The man had got out the hotel and came to her house. He end up killing her boyfriend and the police. He end up getting killed at the end.
From Libby
First Semester I went to the Planetarium with this guy I met in my photo class. He's from Kansas and has always wanted to go to the Planetarium because they don't have a Planetarium where he's from. We kept planning on going but it never worked out until the last day he was in town before he was transferring back to Kansas for school. So it was a windy and cold day on the day we decided to go. He met me in front of my building and we began to walk towards the Planetarium. It was a long long walk in the blustering wind and slight rain. At first I thought it was going to be a friendly little outing but apparently he thought we were going on a date. It was also a Tuesday afternoon so once we got there the planetarium was completely empty except for us and the people who worked there. So it was emcredibly awkward from the start. We got out tickets to see "Star of Wonder" because both of us heard it was good. And we walked around the exhibits for awhile and skimmed the noninteresting facts about the solar system. Then we finally got into the giant theatre where they projected the show above our heads on a dome and everyone got to sit in big black cushy chairs that tilted back. Once the show started I knew it was going to long and boring. The voice that projected out all the facts was dull and sounded like a person reading out of a text book. The whole show was about the birth of Christ and it seemed somewhat interesting in the beginning but after awhile I couldn't strain to understand the content any longer. Once we left we both agreed the show could have been better. We road the bus home and my friend tried to take a Polaroid picture of the both of us but failed and only got his face in the picture. And that's all I have to say about that.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Sox Game
I went to the Sox game on monday, it was my first Sox game I'd ever gone to and it was free. My roommates mom bought me, my roommate and our friend laura tickets because my roommate lied and told her mom she had to go for class. I don't really know much about baseball but i'm always down to go to games. Unfortunitly it was cold that day but it didn't matter because the alcohol was keeping us warm. We got to the game about 30 mins before it started and decided to sit in someone else's sits that were super close until the people came to clam them. Happy no one ever came, so we got to sit in amazing sits. Threw out the night we became very friendly with everyone around us, especially the couple sitting infront of us. They said we were the best drunk people they ever met at a game. We took a million pictures that night. My roommate Olivia actually got yelled at by some guy because she was cussing to much, he was like " HEY! I HAVE KIDS HERE, WATCH YOUR MOUTH". She just completey blew him off, she could careless. Before we knew it the game was over, we didn't even know it was over till we saw people leaving. So if you couldn't tell already we didn't watch any of the game, we were to busy running around and talking to randoms. I don't care that I didn't watch the game, I had so much fun and i've been to a million Tigers games in Detroit. After the game we had to wait like 10 mins just to get threw to the train. i've never seen so many people on the platform before. My friend olivia made friends with some random guys from Depaul while we were on the train. They said we were going no where in life because we went to columbia. We went to the UC so Laura could get her stuff because she was staying at our place. Thats when we learned that Laura didn't have guest prilvlages and me and Olivia were banded from the UC beucase of a party that got busted there in Febuary. After Laura got her stuff we went back to our place and had people over and hungout.
From Malcom
Today I went to Navy Pier and the John Hancock observatory. I have been to Navy Pier before when I was younger but it was a little bit different form when I was younger. This time I felt more free because I was by myself and my parents weren't with me to stop me from going where I wanted to. So I just walked around and just kinda looked because there wasn't' much going on, so I just went for the scenery. I really like the Navy Pier scene it's just fun and relaxing, well it's relaxing when no one else is there. If you go all the way to the back of the pier you get a good view of the water. When you turn around you can see the city and all the building. When there all light up it just looks so amazing. They had the rides going but I didn't get on any of them. After I left there I went to the John Hancock Observatory. I don't know why I wanted to go that high but I felt like I had to see what the city looked like. When I got into the building I was a lil nervous about the elevator but who wouldn't be it's ninety-four floors. When I got to the top it was the most amazing thing in the world. I stepped off the elevator and all i saw was water then i went to the left to walk around and see the city. You can see all the stores, an all the little food places around in the area. It's really amazing to look at the city that i've been living in for a year form that high up. And the craziest thing of all is that it's such a beautiful sight of all different kinds of buildings and shapes and sizes, but they all come together as one and make one big piece of art. While I visiting these places I did a lot of thinking about life. I thought about how to be able to see all these great sights in the world whenever I want. I wanted to be able to shop at the stores that I saw form the Hancock building, I just want my own shit and be selfish about it and not let anyone use my stuff. See when I was growing up I had to share everything with my little brother. I would get my own stuff but in the end I had to share with him. I made a big deal out of it then because I was younger but there are still times I just don't want to share. I know it's crazy but I used to hate selfish people but now I see why people would be selfish or some. I'm selfish with my stuff because other people don't respect my stuff either because it's not theres or they just don't care. So after visiting these two places I realized I got to make it in the music business because there just so much that I want and i gotta have no matter what. And there always going to be somebody trying to bring you down or talk about you behind your back. But In the music industry you want people to talk about if they talk about you negative or positive then your doing the right thing and thats what I want. I know that I still have a lot to learn and real life is just beginning and as it goes on i'll learn way more but for me to get where I wanna be I gotta be a selfish person it drives me to go harder than I was.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
From Mackenzie
March 14th came and went quickly but the things that occurred throughout the day have stained my memory ever since. Plague Bringer is one of my favorite grindcore bands and on that Friday, I took the chance to see them play live. I let my friend Mikie in on their music and he liked what he heard, so he came up to Chicago to share the experience.
Mikie arrived and we hopped on the blue line, riding in anticipation all the way to the California stop. Back on the sidewalk, a bum steps in front of us, putting his hands up like a boxer and says, "Put em up, put em up." We laugh inside at his drunkenness. It's Saint Patrick's Day weekend and we are more drunk people around us than desired. Now we're walking around, without much of a clue to where we're going, just trying to find The Green Lantern, where Plague Bringer is playing.
We spot The Green Lantern from across the street and cross anxiously, like little kids chasing a balloon, forgetting there is an outside world with cars and such. A bit confused, we arrive at the door leading up to a Mario Kart 64 style staircase which in turn led to a small room filled with drunk people, and people well on their way to getting drunk. This is not what we had expected. It's like a big party with badass bands playing.
We stood back and observed as Parsley Flakes performed their set. Their electro punk sound didn't fit my typical musical taste but I was able to take it in and appreciate it for what it was. Once they were finished, Lone Wolf and Cub played, another band I hadn't gone for. Their performance was heavier than Parsley Flakes but in my mind, all I wanted was to see Plague Bringer, and then it happened.
Lone Wolf and Cub wrapped up and it seemed to take Plague Bringer forever to set up. In the process, I let myself get pushed up to the front to where I actually had to try not to step on the guitar player's pedals. I looked to my right and remembered the guy standing beside me from The Black Dahlia Murder concert I went to last month. He was the guy who made fun of me for my Thursday sweatshirt and now he's drunk and acting like an idiot.
Plague Bringer has their laptop set up in the middle for their drum machine; they refuse to use a live drummer. In my opinion, it gives them more of an industrial sound. I try thinking of what else they can do by using the machine. Finally, they start the show, playing songs from their new album, Life Songs in a Land of Death. The floor feels like it's ready to collapse and there is a tiny pit started in this tiny room.
The show goes on and they proceed to play their first album, As the Ghosts Collect, the Corpses Rest. When the last song is played, the vocalist comes out to the crowd and sings in the middle of the chaotic fans. I've never seen anything quite like that. And then it was over. I looked at Mikie, we walked to the back room to buy some merch, and found our way back to the train station.
Mikie arrived and we hopped on the blue line, riding in anticipation all the way to the California stop. Back on the sidewalk, a bum steps in front of us, putting his hands up like a boxer and says, "Put em up, put em up." We laugh inside at his drunkenness. It's Saint Patrick's Day weekend and we are more drunk people around us than desired. Now we're walking around, without much of a clue to where we're going, just trying to find The Green Lantern, where Plague Bringer is playing.
We spot The Green Lantern from across the street and cross anxiously, like little kids chasing a balloon, forgetting there is an outside world with cars and such. A bit confused, we arrive at the door leading up to a Mario Kart 64 style staircase which in turn led to a small room filled with drunk people, and people well on their way to getting drunk. This is not what we had expected. It's like a big party with badass bands playing.
We stood back and observed as Parsley Flakes performed their set. Their electro punk sound didn't fit my typical musical taste but I was able to take it in and appreciate it for what it was. Once they were finished, Lone Wolf and Cub played, another band I hadn't gone for. Their performance was heavier than Parsley Flakes but in my mind, all I wanted was to see Plague Bringer, and then it happened.
Lone Wolf and Cub wrapped up and it seemed to take Plague Bringer forever to set up. In the process, I let myself get pushed up to the front to where I actually had to try not to step on the guitar player's pedals. I looked to my right and remembered the guy standing beside me from The Black Dahlia Murder concert I went to last month. He was the guy who made fun of me for my Thursday sweatshirt and now he's drunk and acting like an idiot.
Plague Bringer has their laptop set up in the middle for their drum machine; they refuse to use a live drummer. In my opinion, it gives them more of an industrial sound. I try thinking of what else they can do by using the machine. Finally, they start the show, playing songs from their new album, Life Songs in a Land of Death. The floor feels like it's ready to collapse and there is a tiny pit started in this tiny room.
The show goes on and they proceed to play their first album, As the Ghosts Collect, the Corpses Rest. When the last song is played, the vocalist comes out to the crowd and sings in the middle of the chaotic fans. I've never seen anything quite like that. And then it was over. I looked at Mikie, we walked to the back room to buy some merch, and found our way back to the train station.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Dance
I went to this dance party called Blow The Speakers, which they usually have once a month. My friend Kyle Woods aka Kid Color Dj's at the event. He's one of the best Dj's I know, some of the songs he's known for are "Digital Pussy" and his 30 minute mix called "My First Mix".The party was held on a saturday at Subbterran which is right off the Blue Line. It usually cost like 10 dollars which sucks, because I'm broke as hell. My roommate and I arrived early so we could hangout with Kyle and basically have the club to ourself before everyone got there. Most people wear outrageous outfits that are fun and different, it fits perfectly into the event. It didn't take a long time before it was completely packed. It's so much fun to dance your ass off for 4 hours. It only takes about 10 minutes before your completely drenched in sweat. My hair was completely curly by the end of night. I think going to these things are nice because your not just being at someone's house playing beer pong, it's a nice change. The only bad things about these things is so many people get kicked out for drinking, because the people that work there don't look like they do which makes it a lot easier to catch people. I'd recommend that everyone goes to one of these party's at least once, because its awesome.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
From Randell
This past weekend I was involved with promoting a well known rapper of Chicago named Twista. Twista is the fastest rapper in the world and still holds the record for the most words spoken in a fast pace. You can find him in the Guiness Book of World Records. His performance took place in Palatine Illinois at Dirty Nellies. This was the clubs first time having a major artist perform live. The tickets got sold out pretty quickly but I didn't have to worry about that since I was going to be on stage with him and his entourage. I was not attending this performance by myself, my good friends attended with me along with the group he was promoting, the AG Squad. The AG Squad went on stage first and got the crowd really hyped up. The doors opened at 9:00pm so by 12:00 it was packed. Everyone came there to see Twista perform and he didn't end up making it on stage till about 2:15am. The performance was a major success even though people were not that happy that he came in so late, but once he got started the crowd tended to forget about that.
I put about 2000 dollars into promoting Twista at this event and after the tickets sales sold out by the end of the performance night I raked in about 5500 in profit. I would say that pretty good considering I wasn't the only one doing promotions. The next performance that my friend and I are going to have will be in March in Elgin Illinois. We are supposed to have Kanye West Perform for a couple hours and sing some new songs off his new album. I'm hoping to make more money off of this performance and see what happens after that. I like being able to meet major artist in the game. I work for Atlantic Records every summer so I have already gotten to meet a great deal of important people in the music industry but my focus is more on money, not trying to know everybody and get on there good side. I'm doing this because this is part of my career and I plan to continue to strive and make as much money as I can and try to have as much fun as possible while doing so.
I put about 2000 dollars into promoting Twista at this event and after the tickets sales sold out by the end of the performance night I raked in about 5500 in profit. I would say that pretty good considering I wasn't the only one doing promotions. The next performance that my friend and I are going to have will be in March in Elgin Illinois. We are supposed to have Kanye West Perform for a couple hours and sing some new songs off his new album. I'm hoping to make more money off of this performance and see what happens after that. I like being able to meet major artist in the game. I work for Atlantic Records every summer so I have already gotten to meet a great deal of important people in the music industry but my focus is more on money, not trying to know everybody and get on there good side. I'm doing this because this is part of my career and I plan to continue to strive and make as much money as I can and try to have as much fun as possible while doing so.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Meet the Browns
This mouth i went to movie to see meet the browns. It about this women who lives in Chicago with her three kids and has no one to help her but her crazy spanish friend. She has a baby sitter who is an old women that is getting tired of not being paid so she says she is not watching the youngest child any more. The women gets a letter in the mail that says her father had died. The brown family didn't know they had another sister besides LB. He was the oldest son. At first she wasn't going to go until her friend talked her in to going. When she got there she was ready to go because a her son was a good basketball player and the man that wanted him live by the Browns. When her father died he left her a torn down house that she didn't want. She and her kids would of rather stayed in the projects. Before she went back to chicago she and the man that liked her agreed that he could work with her son on basketball. The man would come back to Chicago twice a weak. But before the man could help the boy had get in some trouble. The boy over heard his mother and father talking and he over heard the father say he never wanted the boy and she should of had him aborted. The boy got mad and ran out of the house to go with his friend to see drugs so he could pay some of his mother bills but not knowing he was going to get shot and almost ended his basket ball life. He got well quick. While he was getting better his mother decided she need to get away so they all move where the browns where. When she got there her house was fixed from top to bottom thanks to the browns and her new boyfriend. She thought life would be happy after that until she over heard her sister talking about the man was just using her son for his basketball so he can pay off his debt. She confronted him and the broke up. Her son was then darfted to the NBA and she relize that she was so wrong about her boyfriend and she got him back. The next movie to come is Meda goed to jail.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Trip to the United Center
The last time I went to a Bulls game was when Michael Jordan was on the team. I remember going to dozens of games in those years but barely recall the games in detail. Before I was ten years old, the Bulls had won six championships. Watching the games from the luxury of a skybox was amazing; I just wish I was old enough to appreciate the dominance that Jordan and the Bulls had over the NBA. Going to games with my dad and brother was a ritual until my dads company sold the skybox seats. When Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin, Dennis Rodman and all those other great players left the team, I felt like Chicago was never the same; when people thought of Chicago in those years, they thought of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. I miss that team a whole lot.
This past month, my dad, brother and I went to a Bulls game just like the old days. When we pulled up to the United Center, I felt the warmth of some great childhood memories there. I was really excited to see the new heroes on the Bulls in person. We had great seats, about eight rows behind the visiting bench, who were the Portland Trail Blazers.
Before the game, I looked around at all the festivity around me, when all of the sudden a little mini basketball landed right in front of me. Surprised, I looked up to the court to see a dude with a basketball hoop at the end of a pole going up his back. I remember I had always wanted to take a shot on one of those since I was a kid. So I grabbed the ball and threw up a shot. It was a perfect shot. Swoosh! My dad, brother and some people sitting around us give me a cheer even though I was the most impressed with my shot. I didn’t expect to make a perfect 20-foot shot.
When the lights went out, the crowd roared and the Bulls intro song began playing. That familiar feeling of excitement before Bulls games came upon me. When the starting lineup was announced I imagined Jordan running out to the court. I don’t think a team will compare to the ’98 Bulls any time soon, but nonetheless basketball makes for great entertainment. Going to Bulls games, or any sports event, really gives me a sense of unity among the hometown. In the final seconds the Bulls were down by three. The crowd was almost silent when Ben Gordon tried to tie the game with a three. Instead it bounced off the rim and other team made the rebound. Where’s Jordan when you need him?
This past month, my dad, brother and I went to a Bulls game just like the old days. When we pulled up to the United Center, I felt the warmth of some great childhood memories there. I was really excited to see the new heroes on the Bulls in person. We had great seats, about eight rows behind the visiting bench, who were the Portland Trail Blazers.
Before the game, I looked around at all the festivity around me, when all of the sudden a little mini basketball landed right in front of me. Surprised, I looked up to the court to see a dude with a basketball hoop at the end of a pole going up his back. I remember I had always wanted to take a shot on one of those since I was a kid. So I grabbed the ball and threw up a shot. It was a perfect shot. Swoosh! My dad, brother and some people sitting around us give me a cheer even though I was the most impressed with my shot. I didn’t expect to make a perfect 20-foot shot.
When the lights went out, the crowd roared and the Bulls intro song began playing. That familiar feeling of excitement before Bulls games came upon me. When the starting lineup was announced I imagined Jordan running out to the court. I don’t think a team will compare to the ’98 Bulls any time soon, but nonetheless basketball makes for great entertainment. Going to Bulls games, or any sports event, really gives me a sense of unity among the hometown. In the final seconds the Bulls were down by three. The crowd was almost silent when Ben Gordon tried to tie the game with a three. Instead it bounced off the rim and other team made the rebound. Where’s Jordan when you need him?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
From Libby
I try to visit the photo exhibits at the Art Institute every time they change. Especially since I can get in there for free its fun to just stop by and see what new things they have up. The photography gallery is probably my favorite thing exhibit that the Institute has because the atmosphere they create is really intimate. First of all, it’s located down stairs through a set of glass doors. Already it’s a quiet and peaceful place apart from the rest of the museum. The lighting is really soft and dim and all you can hear once you get past the entrance is the quiet moaning of the old wooden floor boards beneath everyone’s feet. The works of art are fastened to the white walls evenly spaced all around the room at eye level. Usually there is a bunch of annoyed students taking fake notes on not any specific piece. I feel some exhibits are annoying if I’m not interested but the photo exhibit is not one of those places. I am always up for experiencing new photography.
A couple weeks ago I went the photo exhibit. I can’t remember what the show was called, but it was focused on portraits of teenage girls and how they change when throughout the years when they grow up. Some prints were almost life size and some were post card size. Most of the prints were in color, which bummed me out a little bit because I enjoy black and white prints the most. My first thought about the exhibit as I walking into the room was that I wasn’t going to like it very much. I felt that way because I don’t usually like working on or looking at many portrait prints. Its not really my style of photography and all of the pieces hanging up in this particular show was a portrait photo. Two of the portraits stood out to me because it reminded me of my childhood.
One picture was of a little girl sitting on a white princess like bed. Fresh pink walls and lace dripping off of every surface. The little girl was dressed in a white puffy dress complete with a bow on top of her head. Sitting on the bed she was looking at her father who was talking to her. The look in her eye is infinite as she gazes back at her father. The picture was crisp and clean, standing about six feet tall. Next to this picture was another one the same size and style. It was obviously the same girl except grown up. She was about ten years older and the camera captured the image from the same angle as the last photo peering over the bed into the room. On the bed, instead of lace and ribbons was an empty Parliament cigarette box. The teen was standing beside the bed, staring inside the camera with one hand clutching her waist and in the other hand she was holding a lit cigarette. Next to her the teen’s father was leaning over the bed looking into the camera with a stern look on his face dressed in businessman attire. These pictures were taken of the same people in the same room with the same objects except 10 years apart.
I could relate to that feeling the little girl had in her eyes when she was looking at her father. I have felt that before. When I looked at the other picture when the girl grown up with her somewhat angry father, I knew what that felt like as well. The mood of both photos together changed drastically. Once I looked at the little girl compared to the older girl there was obviously a lot of negative feelings that happened between the two people in the photos once the girl grew up. I was incredibly close to my father when I was little and then once I grew up in high school he and I quit speaking because I turned into somewhat of a wild child. I didn’t turn out the way he wanted. And that hurts him when he looks back at when we used to be close when I was six. I am the way I am and when I look in the eyes of the more recent photo in the show I feel that from the teenage girl smoking that cigarette. I can relate so much to the girl growing up, that right away when I saw the two photos together I knew I wanted to write about it.
A couple weeks ago I went the photo exhibit. I can’t remember what the show was called, but it was focused on portraits of teenage girls and how they change when throughout the years when they grow up. Some prints were almost life size and some were post card size. Most of the prints were in color, which bummed me out a little bit because I enjoy black and white prints the most. My first thought about the exhibit as I walking into the room was that I wasn’t going to like it very much. I felt that way because I don’t usually like working on or looking at many portrait prints. Its not really my style of photography and all of the pieces hanging up in this particular show was a portrait photo. Two of the portraits stood out to me because it reminded me of my childhood.
One picture was of a little girl sitting on a white princess like bed. Fresh pink walls and lace dripping off of every surface. The little girl was dressed in a white puffy dress complete with a bow on top of her head. Sitting on the bed she was looking at her father who was talking to her. The look in her eye is infinite as she gazes back at her father. The picture was crisp and clean, standing about six feet tall. Next to this picture was another one the same size and style. It was obviously the same girl except grown up. She was about ten years older and the camera captured the image from the same angle as the last photo peering over the bed into the room. On the bed, instead of lace and ribbons was an empty Parliament cigarette box. The teen was standing beside the bed, staring inside the camera with one hand clutching her waist and in the other hand she was holding a lit cigarette. Next to her the teen’s father was leaning over the bed looking into the camera with a stern look on his face dressed in businessman attire. These pictures were taken of the same people in the same room with the same objects except 10 years apart.
I could relate to that feeling the little girl had in her eyes when she was looking at her father. I have felt that before. When I looked at the other picture when the girl grown up with her somewhat angry father, I knew what that felt like as well. The mood of both photos together changed drastically. Once I looked at the little girl compared to the older girl there was obviously a lot of negative feelings that happened between the two people in the photos once the girl grew up. I was incredibly close to my father when I was little and then once I grew up in high school he and I quit speaking because I turned into somewhat of a wild child. I didn’t turn out the way he wanted. And that hurts him when he looks back at when we used to be close when I was six. I am the way I am and when I look in the eyes of the more recent photo in the show I feel that from the teenage girl smoking that cigarette. I can relate so much to the girl growing up, that right away when I saw the two photos together I knew I wanted to write about it.
Monday, March 10, 2008
from Matt
Of the “hotspots” to go to in Chicago. The one thing I can talk about though is the train system. The train is the only means of transportation that is easy and hassle free. You don’t have to worry about anybody cutting off or running into the train. It is underground and has its very own trail.
The craziest stuff happens on the L. Of course people have seen bums asleep on some of the seats, and even late at night on Fridays and Saturdays, there is a chance you’ll be involved in an “L ride party.” People were jumping on the seats singing, “boots with the fur!” It was insane, beer and alcohol was getting passed around like water at a triathlon. You got to be careful though Fights have gone down in the L. People here in Chicago will fight because of a glance. There really is no reason for this but some people find it necessary. A man who had possibly been on the train for over an hour or so, thought he would sit in the back half of the cart and smoke a cigarette. Another man of shorter stature was sitting in the middle of the cart; he smelt the smoke then turned around and stared at the man with the cigarette. The shorter man stood up and ran towards the guy with the cigarette. All in one motion he jumped up grabbed the bars near the door and kicked the man with the cigarette in the face. The man fell and dropped his cigarette; the shorter man then stepped on the cigarette to put it out. There was no reason for him to even get up, he could have turned around and asked the man to put it out. It was a ridiculous way to put out an obviously unwanted cigarette.
Although the train seems like a crazy ride, it doesn’t always make it on time and sometimes the carts smell like a dirty gas station restroom. It is stupid to think that the people who have to use the L everyday are usually the ones that mess up the carts and they make the ride horrible and gross. There is no reason for any one to have to urinate on the train. If it is beyond the point of where you cant hold it then you need to get off at the next stop and find a restroom. We live in a society where we have places to go and dispose of our waste properly. It has to suck being the worker who has to clean up the carts early in the morning before the rush of people get on to go to work. Although the L does have its random crazy take on transportation, but for students like myself living in downtown Chicago, the L is an entertaining way to travel through out the city.
The craziest stuff happens on the L. Of course people have seen bums asleep on some of the seats, and even late at night on Fridays and Saturdays, there is a chance you’ll be involved in an “L ride party.” People were jumping on the seats singing, “boots with the fur!” It was insane, beer and alcohol was getting passed around like water at a triathlon. You got to be careful though Fights have gone down in the L. People here in Chicago will fight because of a glance. There really is no reason for this but some people find it necessary. A man who had possibly been on the train for over an hour or so, thought he would sit in the back half of the cart and smoke a cigarette. Another man of shorter stature was sitting in the middle of the cart; he smelt the smoke then turned around and stared at the man with the cigarette. The shorter man stood up and ran towards the guy with the cigarette. All in one motion he jumped up grabbed the bars near the door and kicked the man with the cigarette in the face. The man fell and dropped his cigarette; the shorter man then stepped on the cigarette to put it out. There was no reason for him to even get up, he could have turned around and asked the man to put it out. It was a ridiculous way to put out an obviously unwanted cigarette.
Although the train seems like a crazy ride, it doesn’t always make it on time and sometimes the carts smell like a dirty gas station restroom. It is stupid to think that the people who have to use the L everyday are usually the ones that mess up the carts and they make the ride horrible and gross. There is no reason for any one to have to urinate on the train. If it is beyond the point of where you cant hold it then you need to get off at the next stop and find a restroom. We live in a society where we have places to go and dispose of our waste properly. It has to suck being the worker who has to clean up the carts early in the morning before the rush of people get on to go to work. Although the L does have its random crazy take on transportation, but for students like myself living in downtown Chicago, the L is an entertaining way to travel through out the city.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
from Randell
My journey through Chicago means a lot to me. I decided to go to a local rap expo for fun and it turned into a life changing experience. When I went there all these people were looking at me really funny because they thought I wasn't good or something (stereotyping). But when I opened my mouth and the guy said give me your best sixteen, so I did . Once I got finish rapping everyone in the music store was like damn where you from . I laughed but it made my day. I gave it my all and I did my best.
The reason I'm writing about this is because rap is my love. Anything that has to do with rap I'm with it. I just thought is was funny because in class we were just talking about all the different styles and then I go and meet so many rappers with so many different styles even if they were not good I respect what they stand for. Chicago is a hard place to get known so being in this expo in Hyde Park has made me think about where I could be next year with my career. I received a chance to meet local artist some good and some bad but the idea of me seeing all different types of styles helps me seal my own style off and know that I'm different. This expo is major for artists on the come up like me even though a lot of people may hate and a lot may show love its my dream so I'm going to live it and not do it half ass neither. Honestly if I wasn't forced to go tour Chicago I would have never known about this expo so I'm thanking Amanda for forcing me to get out and search and tour the city .
Being from Chicago I thought I knew everything but once this came along I was like I don't know what to write about so I went on a last minute search and found something that's pretty interesting not only to me but to people who loves music.
This expo helps get your confidence up. Even if you mess up you could tell the crowd isn't feeling you but they wont boo or anything but when you good they let you know you are good. Like I said in my last paper I have a split personality so went I hit the stage I went into a whole different person and killed the stage . I damn near didn't want to get off I was having so much fun doing what I love. I'm encouraging all the people who are lyrically stable rather its writing poems ,rapping .singing or a comedian go to open mics and see what the people feel if they don't feel you fix the problem so they can. I'm looking forward to touring Chicago a lot more to help me find myself.
The reason I'm writing about this is because rap is my love. Anything that has to do with rap I'm with it. I just thought is was funny because in class we were just talking about all the different styles and then I go and meet so many rappers with so many different styles even if they were not good I respect what they stand for. Chicago is a hard place to get known so being in this expo in Hyde Park has made me think about where I could be next year with my career. I received a chance to meet local artist some good and some bad but the idea of me seeing all different types of styles helps me seal my own style off and know that I'm different. This expo is major for artists on the come up like me even though a lot of people may hate and a lot may show love its my dream so I'm going to live it and not do it half ass neither. Honestly if I wasn't forced to go tour Chicago I would have never known about this expo so I'm thanking Amanda for forcing me to get out and search and tour the city .
Being from Chicago I thought I knew everything but once this came along I was like I don't know what to write about so I went on a last minute search and found something that's pretty interesting not only to me but to people who loves music.
This expo helps get your confidence up. Even if you mess up you could tell the crowd isn't feeling you but they wont boo or anything but when you good they let you know you are good. Like I said in my last paper I have a split personality so went I hit the stage I went into a whole different person and killed the stage . I damn near didn't want to get off I was having so much fun doing what I love. I'm encouraging all the people who are lyrically stable rather its writing poems ,rapping .singing or a comedian go to open mics and see what the people feel if they don't feel you fix the problem so they can. I'm looking forward to touring Chicago a lot more to help me find myself.
from Mackenzie
Journaling Chicago
February 13th was a day I had long anticipated. The Black Dahlia Murder was scheduled to play at the House of Blues with 3 Inches of Blood, Hate Eternal, and Decrepit Birth. It was a month ago I had purchased my ticket and the day is finally here. There has been talk of Decrepit birth not showing and my friends all ditched the show but I've decided I've already payed for my ticket so I'm going by myself.
The doors to the House of Blues open at 5:00 but my class doesn't end until 6:20. I try to play cool during class but anticipation is surging through my veins. Finally it's 6:20 and we're free to go, seems like the only thing I've seen during class was the clock. I walk faster than my normal cool self to my apartment to drop my backpack off, take my coat off so I don't have to pay for a hanger, and run to the redline once I'm outside. Of course I still just miss my train.
I'm off at State and Lake and all I know is that I am to go northwest to find the House of Blues. I'm by myself, cold, and late, so I run like a freak in the wind. I see it right across the bridge and I'm running faster than I figure out I'm going the right way. People are standing outside, watching me as I go for every wrong door, until I finally swallow my pride to ask which one is the one to get in. It's not the same as last time I was here. Last time I drove and lived hours away. I remember my friend who paid for my ticket who I had a big fall-out with. I realize I'm by myself and for the first time in a year he's calling me on my phone. There's no signal inside.
I show my ticket and run up the stairs as I hear the first distorted chord being played by Hate Eternal. I make my way through the crowd, through the tables of people, and down onto the floor. I stood and found myself critiquing Hate Eternal as they performed. I waited for them to start giving me the feeling I go to concerts for. Instead, I watched their flat performance without life or movement. I feel like I'm in a cult or something.
They wrap up their performance, finally, and I walk around trying to find someone, anyone I know. I spot a funny looking guy whose face looks and voice sounds familiar. Soon I realize it's the guy from the Vader show I recently went to and I see what he has to say. This guy makes more body gestures than he talks, and he talks a lot. He's the person in the entire place that I recognize, so I converse with him and his friends until the next band plays. Decrepit Birth didn't show, this I knew, but he tells me that 3 Inches of Blood isn't coming either. I don't like 3 Inches of Blood but that means there are only two bands playing. Why am I here? I want my money back.
I'm still determined to make it a good night. The Red Chord takes the stage. Wait... The Red Chord? They're not scheduled to be here. Instead of standing like, what the fuck, The Red Chord stirs the crowd and I'm pushed around like a ball in one of those pinball games. Their performance was great and full of life, probably even better than when I saw them last summer. Except that I'm by myself with a fat guy stepping on me. Throughout their entire show the fatass's long hair whipped my face. When I tried to move I realized that there were fat guys everywhere who just don't budge. My apologies to go The Red Chord, but during their performance, although it was great, I was mostly deciding that metal heads should either have to choose between being fat or having long hair, never both.
They went out with a bang and the lights came on. I'm getting away from these guys but first I'm asking someone who's next, since The Red Chord was definately not supposed to be here. The guy I ask laughs at me and says I didn't even know who just played. Then he asks me if I know who The Black Dahlia Murder is like I'm a dumbass. That's who's next, glad I asked asshole. Just because I'm not fat and ugly doesn't mean I don't like metal. I walk around again to double-check that there's no one here I know and there isn't. I find that I am the only girl there without a boyfriend and pretty much all of the guys are ugly grunge buckets. I'm not stereotyping, it's definately not every metal show you go to that you see this. I go back to get a spot in the front so I can be close when The Black Dahlia Murder takes the Stage.
The Black Dahlia Murder, now that's a band of metal heads who are easy on the eyes and ears. As soon as they take the stage I lose my breath and footing. People are pushing from the back to get closer and from the front because they're being pushed up against the rail. It's chaos and I love it. People are squeezing people to death, there's a huge pit behind me, and I'm getting hit on the head with body parts from people crowd surfing to the front of the stage. The Black Dahlia's music is under the death metal genre but their beat is thrashy. They played every song I would have asked them to play in the amount of time they had and kept me entertained throughout the entire performance.
Time to walk back to the train. It's cold now but I'm not running; it feels good. As I walk I think about all that had happened at the show. Although Decrepit Birth was the reason I bought the ticket in the first place, even though I was by myself, I still enjoyed the concert.
February 13th was a day I had long anticipated. The Black Dahlia Murder was scheduled to play at the House of Blues with 3 Inches of Blood, Hate Eternal, and Decrepit Birth. It was a month ago I had purchased my ticket and the day is finally here. There has been talk of Decrepit birth not showing and my friends all ditched the show but I've decided I've already payed for my ticket so I'm going by myself.
The doors to the House of Blues open at 5:00 but my class doesn't end until 6:20. I try to play cool during class but anticipation is surging through my veins. Finally it's 6:20 and we're free to go, seems like the only thing I've seen during class was the clock. I walk faster than my normal cool self to my apartment to drop my backpack off, take my coat off so I don't have to pay for a hanger, and run to the redline once I'm outside. Of course I still just miss my train.
I'm off at State and Lake and all I know is that I am to go northwest to find the House of Blues. I'm by myself, cold, and late, so I run like a freak in the wind. I see it right across the bridge and I'm running faster than I figure out I'm going the right way. People are standing outside, watching me as I go for every wrong door, until I finally swallow my pride to ask which one is the one to get in. It's not the same as last time I was here. Last time I drove and lived hours away. I remember my friend who paid for my ticket who I had a big fall-out with. I realize I'm by myself and for the first time in a year he's calling me on my phone. There's no signal inside.
I show my ticket and run up the stairs as I hear the first distorted chord being played by Hate Eternal. I make my way through the crowd, through the tables of people, and down onto the floor. I stood and found myself critiquing Hate Eternal as they performed. I waited for them to start giving me the feeling I go to concerts for. Instead, I watched their flat performance without life or movement. I feel like I'm in a cult or something.
They wrap up their performance, finally, and I walk around trying to find someone, anyone I know. I spot a funny looking guy whose face looks and voice sounds familiar. Soon I realize it's the guy from the Vader show I recently went to and I see what he has to say. This guy makes more body gestures than he talks, and he talks a lot. He's the person in the entire place that I recognize, so I converse with him and his friends until the next band plays. Decrepit Birth didn't show, this I knew, but he tells me that 3 Inches of Blood isn't coming either. I don't like 3 Inches of Blood but that means there are only two bands playing. Why am I here? I want my money back.
I'm still determined to make it a good night. The Red Chord takes the stage. Wait... The Red Chord? They're not scheduled to be here. Instead of standing like, what the fuck, The Red Chord stirs the crowd and I'm pushed around like a ball in one of those pinball games. Their performance was great and full of life, probably even better than when I saw them last summer. Except that I'm by myself with a fat guy stepping on me. Throughout their entire show the fatass's long hair whipped my face. When I tried to move I realized that there were fat guys everywhere who just don't budge. My apologies to go The Red Chord, but during their performance, although it was great, I was mostly deciding that metal heads should either have to choose between being fat or having long hair, never both.
They went out with a bang and the lights came on. I'm getting away from these guys but first I'm asking someone who's next, since The Red Chord was definately not supposed to be here. The guy I ask laughs at me and says I didn't even know who just played. Then he asks me if I know who The Black Dahlia Murder is like I'm a dumbass. That's who's next, glad I asked asshole. Just because I'm not fat and ugly doesn't mean I don't like metal. I walk around again to double-check that there's no one here I know and there isn't. I find that I am the only girl there without a boyfriend and pretty much all of the guys are ugly grunge buckets. I'm not stereotyping, it's definately not every metal show you go to that you see this. I go back to get a spot in the front so I can be close when The Black Dahlia Murder takes the Stage.
The Black Dahlia Murder, now that's a band of metal heads who are easy on the eyes and ears. As soon as they take the stage I lose my breath and footing. People are pushing from the back to get closer and from the front because they're being pushed up against the rail. It's chaos and I love it. People are squeezing people to death, there's a huge pit behind me, and I'm getting hit on the head with body parts from people crowd surfing to the front of the stage. The Black Dahlia's music is under the death metal genre but their beat is thrashy. They played every song I would have asked them to play in the amount of time they had and kept me entertained throughout the entire performance.
Time to walk back to the train. It's cold now but I'm not running; it feels good. As I walk I think about all that had happened at the show. Although Decrepit Birth was the reason I bought the ticket in the first place, even though I was by myself, I still enjoyed the concert.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
from Caitlin
Journaling Chicago
I went to the klaxons show. The klaxons are a band that aren't super well known. There music is insane, it's wild and all over the place. I love them so much, my brother got me in to them about a year or so ago. When my brother told me they were coming I had to take the opportunity and go.
The show was on a saturday night at belmont at the Vic. My brother, me and one of my roommates hilary came. When we got there the opening act was on stage, I don't remember what band it was. But they sucked pretty bad. My brother was pretty intoxicated so he started yelling things at the band like "you suck, get the fuck off the stage". But the band didn't hear him, it was more funny then anything because the band really did suck. After waiting for the band to wrap up and set up for the klaxons, the three guys that I love walked on stage. About 2 minutes into the show a mosh pit started. I was already really close to the stage, but when the mosh pit started I managed to make my way to the fence in the front. Being that close was actually one of the worse ideas I had, because I just keep being pushed really hard into the fence that whole show. My friend hilary actually lost her shoes from being thrown around so much. My brother almost got thrown out, for being to wild. I actually got split from both of them the whole show, but I didn't care the show was so good. The only thing I noticed that was weird was the klaxons weren't as happy as usual. They were either really drunk, or really pissed. After the show we waited till everyone left so we could look for Hilary's shoes. We ended up finding them right away. We walked up to the redline and as we were waiting for the train we saw some people from the show. They were actually bleeding, they both had bloody mouths from the mosh pit but they said they didn't really care because the show was so fun.
Once we got on the train we realized that we were really hungry. So my brother asked hilary and I if we wanted to go to chinatown and get something to eat. We both said yeah, he told us that he was going to take us to the first restaurant he ever went to in chicago drunk. We get to the restaurant, there was no one in there so we thought it was closed but it actually wasn't. We were so happy. Our waitress ended up being a bitch which got really annoying. We ended up ordering a bunch of really good food. Then went home and passed out. The next morning I woke up with so many bruises all over my ribs and arms, but it was worth it. That has definitely been the best show i've gone so far in chicago.
I went to the klaxons show. The klaxons are a band that aren't super well known. There music is insane, it's wild and all over the place. I love them so much, my brother got me in to them about a year or so ago. When my brother told me they were coming I had to take the opportunity and go.
The show was on a saturday night at belmont at the Vic. My brother, me and one of my roommates hilary came. When we got there the opening act was on stage, I don't remember what band it was. But they sucked pretty bad. My brother was pretty intoxicated so he started yelling things at the band like "you suck, get the fuck off the stage". But the band didn't hear him, it was more funny then anything because the band really did suck. After waiting for the band to wrap up and set up for the klaxons, the three guys that I love walked on stage. About 2 minutes into the show a mosh pit started. I was already really close to the stage, but when the mosh pit started I managed to make my way to the fence in the front. Being that close was actually one of the worse ideas I had, because I just keep being pushed really hard into the fence that whole show. My friend hilary actually lost her shoes from being thrown around so much. My brother almost got thrown out, for being to wild. I actually got split from both of them the whole show, but I didn't care the show was so good. The only thing I noticed that was weird was the klaxons weren't as happy as usual. They were either really drunk, or really pissed. After the show we waited till everyone left so we could look for Hilary's shoes. We ended up finding them right away. We walked up to the redline and as we were waiting for the train we saw some people from the show. They were actually bleeding, they both had bloody mouths from the mosh pit but they said they didn't really care because the show was so fun.
Once we got on the train we realized that we were really hungry. So my brother asked hilary and I if we wanted to go to chinatown and get something to eat. We both said yeah, he told us that he was going to take us to the first restaurant he ever went to in chicago drunk. We get to the restaurant, there was no one in there so we thought it was closed but it actually wasn't. We were so happy. Our waitress ended up being a bitch which got really annoying. We ended up ordering a bunch of really good food. Then went home and passed out. The next morning I woke up with so many bruises all over my ribs and arms, but it was worth it. That has definitely been the best show i've gone so far in chicago.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Fish and Friends
A couple weekends ago my aunt and uncle were visiting my parents from Kansas City. Of course they all had to come visit me and my roommate the day after her 20th birthday party. So we scrubbed out the vomit stained carpet and shoveled away all the empties as my family was riding up the elevator. As I greeted them at the door with one eye open my mother asked me if I was interested in joining them for lunch at the Eleven City Diner. After they snooped around my tired apartment I changed out o my wrinkled party dress and herded everyone out the door. It seemed like years before we got to our sticky booth where we ordered lunch. Choking down a over cooked burger I was really trying hard to hide my hangover as my uncle was engaging in a story about his brother’s homosexual experience during his colonoscopy. Then my mother did what she always does best and interrupts the story with an announcement that she invested in a Shedd Aquarium family pass. My mother has bought a family pass for the Art Institute as well so she can have somewhat control over what my family does over the holidays. In the mean time, she lets me borrow the passes to use with my friends. Right away when she told me about the aquarium pass I thought of my roommate and my boyfriend. My roommate and I have been talking about going to the aquarium for a long time but it’s always been too expensive. And my boyfriend and I are always looking for something to do in the city together. Once I got home from lunch I consulted the troops are we all got geared up for an adventure to see the fish.
It was a warm day and all the left over snow started to melt into tiny little streams down the sidewalk. My Diesel shoes were not being so appreciative so I demanded a piggyback ride to get through the soiled tundra. Climbing millions of steep stairs all the way up to the revolving doors all of us were pretty excited. It’s been years since I've been to the aquarium so I was especially pumped.
Because I had the pass we were able to skip the long hot and sweaty line and go right in like celebrities. We started in like flies on flypaper being mesmerized by the giant tank in the entrance. A deep-sea diver was feeding all the animals inside the tank and all of us were imagining a life like that. Just getting paid to swim around in a giant fish tank with no worries but feeding fish.
After that we traveled though the maze of smaller tanks that held a variety of strange and unusual fish. We all felt about ten years younger with our over flowing excitement.
All of us found our way to the dolphin show and sat down on the uncomfortable steps to watch. We were greeted right away by helium inspired host who had an ibis of useless knowledge to share with the crowd of 300. My roommate and I made a point to mock every other word that came out of her mouth just like we would have done something similar in middle school. As Enya blared though the speakers the dolphins did their song and dance and the uninspiring show was over.
All of us declared that everyone was starving we decided to get the hell out of the aquarium and find some sandwiches to quench our hunger.
Looking back on it, I enjoyed my experience at the aquarium very much since I barely remember it from when I was a kid. I’m glad I got to indulge in the fun activities as well as spend time with people I care about. Even though it cramped my style for a little while when I was there, I'm thankful I went in the end.
It was a warm day and all the left over snow started to melt into tiny little streams down the sidewalk. My Diesel shoes were not being so appreciative so I demanded a piggyback ride to get through the soiled tundra. Climbing millions of steep stairs all the way up to the revolving doors all of us were pretty excited. It’s been years since I've been to the aquarium so I was especially pumped.
Because I had the pass we were able to skip the long hot and sweaty line and go right in like celebrities. We started in like flies on flypaper being mesmerized by the giant tank in the entrance. A deep-sea diver was feeding all the animals inside the tank and all of us were imagining a life like that. Just getting paid to swim around in a giant fish tank with no worries but feeding fish.
After that we traveled though the maze of smaller tanks that held a variety of strange and unusual fish. We all felt about ten years younger with our over flowing excitement.
All of us found our way to the dolphin show and sat down on the uncomfortable steps to watch. We were greeted right away by helium inspired host who had an ibis of useless knowledge to share with the crowd of 300. My roommate and I made a point to mock every other word that came out of her mouth just like we would have done something similar in middle school. As Enya blared though the speakers the dolphins did their song and dance and the uninspiring show was over.
All of us declared that everyone was starving we decided to get the hell out of the aquarium and find some sandwiches to quench our hunger.
Looking back on it, I enjoyed my experience at the aquarium very much since I barely remember it from when I was a kid. I’m glad I got to indulge in the fun activities as well as spend time with people I care about. Even though it cramped my style for a little while when I was there, I'm thankful I went in the end.
Home Sweet Home (from Mike)
It was a Saturday and I had nothing to do. I was going crazy sitting in my dorm. I didn’t feel like venturing out into the city and spend lots of money or look for a party. A lot of my friends went to the suburbs so I decided to catch the next train back to Hinsdale. I didn’t even think about it; I packed my backpack with a few things and trekked over to Union Station.
It’s about one mile from my dorm to Union Station, but walking in the cold made it feel like two. No one wanted to go out in this weather unless they had to. The streets were dead. I could have taken a cab, but that cost money. Instead, I just walked at the cost of being cold.
I kind of enjoy walking. It’s a good way for me to learn my surroundings, and also get some exercise rather than zooming through the streets in a car. I can take my time and see where good stores and restaurants are in the area. I can use all my senses as I walk too. I can feel the wind upon my face. I can hear the streets crawling with engines, sirens and horns. I can smell the draft from the Chicago River. And when I look around, I see an endless cement jungle with buildings climbing out of my peripheral vision and streets that go on forever. Near Union Station is the Sears Tower. Any time I am under it, I can’t help but gaze up to the sky as if I had never seen it before. It just blows me away knowing that we can make such massive structures.
I made my train with seconds to spare. I dozed off watching the buildings get smaller and smaller out my window. Thirty-five minutes later, I was in Hinsdale. When I stepped off the train the first thing I noticed was the trees making up the skyline. I always get a weird feeling when I step off the train like I just stepped through a teleporter.
As I walked home I noticed the same, cold wind blowing through me. I listened to the wind howling through open sky. I smell the clean air and look up to the starry sky. It made me appreciate how much more peaceful the suburbs are than the city. Usually, I hate being in boring town but on this night, it was something I craved—home sweet home.
It’s about one mile from my dorm to Union Station, but walking in the cold made it feel like two. No one wanted to go out in this weather unless they had to. The streets were dead. I could have taken a cab, but that cost money. Instead, I just walked at the cost of being cold.
I kind of enjoy walking. It’s a good way for me to learn my surroundings, and also get some exercise rather than zooming through the streets in a car. I can take my time and see where good stores and restaurants are in the area. I can use all my senses as I walk too. I can feel the wind upon my face. I can hear the streets crawling with engines, sirens and horns. I can smell the draft from the Chicago River. And when I look around, I see an endless cement jungle with buildings climbing out of my peripheral vision and streets that go on forever. Near Union Station is the Sears Tower. Any time I am under it, I can’t help but gaze up to the sky as if I had never seen it before. It just blows me away knowing that we can make such massive structures.
I made my train with seconds to spare. I dozed off watching the buildings get smaller and smaller out my window. Thirty-five minutes later, I was in Hinsdale. When I stepped off the train the first thing I noticed was the trees making up the skyline. I always get a weird feeling when I step off the train like I just stepped through a teleporter.
As I walked home I noticed the same, cold wind blowing through me. I listened to the wind howling through open sky. I smell the clean air and look up to the starry sky. It made me appreciate how much more peaceful the suburbs are than the city. Usually, I hate being in boring town but on this night, it was something I craved—home sweet home.
Big Mouth
I went to big mouth at Columbia on valentine day. Big mouth is a open talent show. That means anyone can perfrom. On the day i attended it was alot of good acts so you can say. It wasn't up until the last act that I seen that me sick. It was a man dressed as a women. He had the weave in his hair and he had on make-up. He was a little to damn gay on that stage. Don't get me wrong I don't have nothing against gay people but he even made them look bad. He came on stage in some women panties with his balls hanging out the side and that was to natsy for my eyes. He had two girls and two boys on stage with him. It was tooken to the next level when him and one of the boys came on stage and started danceing with each other. He ripped of the boy shirt and they started to dance like they where really about to have sex on the stage. Thats what really turned my stomach. But other then that it was ok. You had people singing, dancing, and doind poems. The music that night was all the lovely shit because it was valentine day. Everybody was dress up and ready to turn the stage out. Thats what they did. Everybody that came on stage was good. It one group that stood out the most and that just because he is already signed in the game. It was Gemini. He is a cold rapper born and rasied it the chi. He real wasn't all that good it was just the fact that he know Lupee. He had ened the show and it could of been better but hey.
Pitchfork Music Festival 2007
Pitchfork Media announced on January 19th, 2007 that they would hold their third music festival in Chicago, IL at Union Park on July 13th through the 15th, having three days of music as opposed to only two at previous festivals. Technically, this was only Pitchfork's second festival using their name. Intonation Music Festival was held in July of 2005 at Union Park, curated and launched by Pitchfork Media. Intonation headliners included Tortoise and The Decemberists, supported by such acts as Death From Above 1979, The Go! Team, Broken Social Scene, Four Tet, Les Savy Fav, Deerhoof, Andrew Bird, Out Hud, and Xiu Xiu, among others.
It's hard to say which year was the best because each time was an entirely different experience. I have found with music festivals that the line up, whether there are several bands you want to see one day or not so many the next, is really all about the experience. Personally, I never thought I would enjoy outdoor music festivals until I went to Intonation, which was the first festival I had been to. Now it has become an event that I look forward to every summer.
The first day of bands at Pitchfork is what sold me on buying a ticket. "Don't Look Back" Concerts and "All Tomorrow's Parties" collaborated with Pitchfork, adding an additional day to the originally two day festivities. "Don't Look Back" is a series of concerts where artists are asked to play their most influential album of their career in it's entirety. July 13th included Slint performing Spiderland, GZA with Liquid Swords, and Sonic Youth playing Daydream Nation. The gates opened at 5 PM and Slint went on at 6:30 PM. I only stood up front for their performance for a few songs, as I wanted to get a good spot over at the other stage where GZA and Sonic Youth would be performing. While it was incredibly amazing to see Slint as well as have them perform Spiderland, my impression was that they were not that into it. They also had set lists in front of them on stage, even though they were playing the album front to back. Their lack of enthusiasm didn't make me get that into their set but of course, they still played well for the few songs I watched.I made my way across Union Park and got a nice spot up front at the Connector Stage.
I wasn't all that familiar with GZA or Liquid Swords, but who wouldn't want to watch a member of Wu-Tang Clan perform? The Genius was joined by Cappadonna, Killah Priest, and Dreddy Krueger in what turned out to be the best hip-hop performance I've seen. The whole crowd got into it, throwing their hands up to make a "W" sign for Wu-Tang. The artists closed their set with a dedication to the late ODB. I expected most of the obvious GZA fans to clear out before Sonic Youth went on, but the crowd only seemed to get bigger and drunker.
Sonic Youth took the stage around 9:30 PM and the crowd got a bit crazy here and there, but I can't really blame them because I was very excited to see their set as well. GZA fans turned out to be Sonic Youth fans, too, and sang along to every song off Daydream Nation. The set ended after an hour and a half, leaving festival-goers with a positive outlook for the rest of the weekend.
I arrived Saturday afternoon as Voxtrot was about to play at the Aluminum Stage, and I
watched them for a few songs. They did very well for being newcomers at a big festival. I had seem them before at a bar, and I got the impression that they were awkward and nervous being in the spotlight but they seemed quite the opposite this time. Grizzly Bear went on after Voxtrot at the Connector Stage. This band was one of my favorite bands that played on Saturday. I never got into their album Yellow House but seeing them live definitely convinced me to give it another listen. Other notable bands that I stuck around for Saturday were 
Battles and Professor Murder. I heard from other festival attendees that Girl Talk's performance was outrageous and the place was packed, which wasn't a big area where the Balance Stage was (this being the smaller stage that replaced the DJ tent at previous festivals). Most people were skeptical about Yoko Ono headlining that night, and according to reviews and people I spoke to the next day, not many people stuck around or they left after a few minutes into her performance. Oh well, that's what happens when you're Yoko Ono, I guess.Sunday I arrived while The Ponys were in the middle of their set and just a few seconds of hearing them was enough for my ears. I watched a bit of Menomena, but I felt that they should have played later in the day when the sun was not blazing. I was not all that interested in many bands on the last day and really went for Stephen Malkmus.
I staked out a spot up front (only to be overpowered by tall people) and got plenty of great pictures. Malkmus played okay, minus the frequent pre-pubescent sounding voice cracks. Pavement drummer Bob Nastanovich made a guest-appearance, which was real fun to see.
The pair had great chemistry and made the performance very enjoyable for the crowd, as they seemed to be having fun on stage together. The crowd tried to cheer Malkmus back on to the stage after his set ended, but to no avail. Of Montreal went on following Malkmus at the Aluminum Stage, and the first five minutes (which was really just their "intro," because apparently they are the kind of band who needs that) ran me right out of Union Park. There is only so much I can take when a band comes out on stage wearing gigantic pink angel wings.
The first day of the Pitchfork Music Festival was probably what saved it this year, as I cannot imagine it selling out based on Saturday and Sunday alone. My experience was still enjoyable each day, but seeing three amazing bands perform their most influential albums in one night wins over pink angel wings and Yoko Ono any day.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Maps!
Not long ago, my friends and I went to see the Maps exhibit at the Field Museum. Last spring Sean saw an ad for the upcoming exhibit and we have been anticipating it ever since. We went with Kelly and Christina, each of whom have their own passions for maps and globes.
So we got all bundled up, took the train downtown and the museum campus bus to get there. Christina and I had never been to the museum before so we wanted to see some other parts. We got there a little before our reservation for the maps so we took a look at Sue, the famous dinosaur and then wandered into the section with all the stuffed animals. One thing that really sticks out to me was realizing how big wolves are and how small foxes are. I had never seen either up close at all, so I was really surprised to note the differences in their sizes.
Finally, it was our turn to get to see the maps. We are all pretty big nerds so we began to wander our way around pointing out little details, "oohing" and "ahhing" our way around the first room. In this first room, the curators create several contexts for maps, showing the various uses for maps and how differing styles of maps can be used. The rest of the exhibit furthered the idea of contextualizing maps. Each room showed various maps and globes that were created for varying reasons by giving the audience a specific lens to consider the mini-collection. For instance, there were maps that were used to tell stories, those used for war strategies, those used to illustrate power, those used to show the relationships between societies and their beliefs.
There were quite a few that really stood out to me. First of all were the huge globes. I don't remember their stories, but they were enormous a few feet across. Also, there were the European maps that were embroidered by school girls to teach history and needlepoint. And then there were the maps of fantasy-lands. These were some of the most interesting to me because as a child I was obsessed with mapping my own known world and linking it to my imagined world. The fairy tale world was especially interesting, you could also see that it hasn't been too long ago that some fairy tales were used to show certain groups power over others. On this map you could find the old woman who lived in a shoe, Jack's beanstalk, and all of your favorite princesses. But we were all surprised and taken aback when we found "The Wandering Jew." Also, it was pretty exciting to see a couple of Tolkien's sketches, one of which was drawn on the back of one of his student's tests.
The exhibit fully explored (but not exhausted) all the ways of looking at maps and how they have evolved. The final room showed a few interactive maps and GPS and showed how technology has always played a part in map science and art. This brings me to one thing I really appreciated about this exhibit. I have always felt maps are one of the great examples of where art and science meet. There were some incredibly beautiful pieces, but so many of them were created not for their aesthetic appeal but for their utility.
So we got all bundled up, took the train downtown and the museum campus bus to get there. Christina and I had never been to the museum before so we wanted to see some other parts. We got there a little before our reservation for the maps so we took a look at Sue, the famous dinosaur and then wandered into the section with all the stuffed animals. One thing that really sticks out to me was realizing how big wolves are and how small foxes are. I had never seen either up close at all, so I was really surprised to note the differences in their sizes.
Finally, it was our turn to get to see the maps. We are all pretty big nerds so we began to wander our way around pointing out little details, "oohing" and "ahhing" our way around the first room. In this first room, the curators create several contexts for maps, showing the various uses for maps and how differing styles of maps can be used. The rest of the exhibit furthered the idea of contextualizing maps. Each room showed various maps and globes that were created for varying reasons by giving the audience a specific lens to consider the mini-collection. For instance, there were maps that were used to tell stories, those used for war strategies, those used to illustrate power, those used to show the relationships between societies and their beliefs.
There were quite a few that really stood out to me. First of all were the huge globes. I don't remember their stories, but they were enormous a few feet across. Also, there were the European maps that were embroidered by school girls to teach history and needlepoint. And then there were the maps of fantasy-lands. These were some of the most interesting to me because as a child I was obsessed with mapping my own known world and linking it to my imagined world. The fairy tale world was especially interesting, you could also see that it hasn't been too long ago that some fairy tales were used to show certain groups power over others. On this map you could find the old woman who lived in a shoe, Jack's beanstalk, and all of your favorite princesses. But we were all surprised and taken aback when we found "The Wandering Jew." Also, it was pretty exciting to see a couple of Tolkien's sketches, one of which was drawn on the back of one of his student's tests.
The exhibit fully explored (but not exhausted) all the ways of looking at maps and how they have evolved. The final room showed a few interactive maps and GPS and showed how technology has always played a part in map science and art. This brings me to one thing I really appreciated about this exhibit. I have always felt maps are one of the great examples of where art and science meet. There were some incredibly beautiful pieces, but so many of them were created not for their aesthetic appeal but for their utility.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Silk Parachute
I really liked this reading because I could really relate to it. The writer brings up a story about how he had to hide his sandwhich in a snowbank becuase his mother made it and wanted him to eat it so badly. Later she witnessed him stuffing the sandwich in a snow bank and she chased him downa dn forced him to eat it. Everyone knows that feeling when your mother finds out you did something you wernt supposed to. When I read that part of the essay I got really into it because I felt a connection.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Assignment
I want you to get out and make the most of your resources in this urban campus. There are endless opportunities to experience culture in this city, so start looking for what interests you and get ready to explore. Remember that you have to write 4 entries. You should plan to do one for each calendar month that we are in class. In other words by the end of February you should have one experience posted here, then one for March, one for April and one for May. This way by the end of the semester you have a total of four posts. You are welcome to work ahead if you prefer, but don't be late. It is up to you to schedule time in your week for these experiences.
Step 1: Getting out
I have listed examples below, divided into 3 categories (events, museums/galleries, performances). Because I want you to get a variety of experiences I want you to visit places that fall into each of these categories at least once over the course of the semester.
Events: conventions, festivals, worship or spiritual gatherings, political events, meetings, lectures, Critical Encounters events, knitting circles, critical mass, marathons( any sort of sporting event as a participant, a volunteer, or a spectator)
Museums/Galleries: Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, C-Space Galleries, Center for Book and Paper Arts
Performances: fiction or poetry readings, plays, concerts or shows (anything from rock to classical), dance performances
These are simply examples to get you thinking. Anything you can think of that provides you with an engaging experience about which you can write will be great.
Step 2: Compose 500+ words (the equivalent of 2 typed double spaced pages)discussing your experience.
You might begin by explaining the basics of your experience, the where, what, when, how, and why of the event, place, or performance. Talk about why you decided on this place/event, what interested or prompted you to go. Perhaps you might begin by describing the atmosphere then discuss how you engaged with your surroundings. For instance, if you are writing about a gallery or museum you may choose to focus on one particular exhibit or piece. While it is a good place to start, you must go deeper than simply describing your experience though.
Ask yourself open-ended questions (you can include these questions in your entry). For instance, what do you feel the artist or author is trying to get across? Has your experience prompted you to make changes in your life? What do you know or feel now that you didn't know or feel before? What new questions do you have after digesting your experience? Have you found a new passion or rekindled an old one?
Step 3: Post your entry on the Journaling Chicago blog.
Step 4: Be sure to read your classmates journals. I encourage you to respond to one another's entries regularly. And I require that you respond to at least one other person's entry each month (and when I say respond, I mean writing more than a single word or even just one sentence.) I suggest following my lead once I begin responding.
Remember:
This blog is an extension of our classroom so I suggest you follow the same guidelines for respect that we maintain inside the classroom. This factors into the "attitude" portion of your grade.
Step 1: Getting out
I have listed examples below, divided into 3 categories (events, museums/galleries, performances). Because I want you to get a variety of experiences I want you to visit places that fall into each of these categories at least once over the course of the semester.
Events: conventions, festivals, worship or spiritual gatherings, political events, meetings, lectures, Critical Encounters events, knitting circles, critical mass, marathons( any sort of sporting event as a participant, a volunteer, or a spectator)
Museums/Galleries: Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, C-Space Galleries, Center for Book and Paper Arts
Performances: fiction or poetry readings, plays, concerts or shows (anything from rock to classical), dance performances
These are simply examples to get you thinking. Anything you can think of that provides you with an engaging experience about which you can write will be great.
Step 2: Compose 500+ words (the equivalent of 2 typed double spaced pages)discussing your experience.
You might begin by explaining the basics of your experience, the where, what, when, how, and why of the event, place, or performance. Talk about why you decided on this place/event, what interested or prompted you to go. Perhaps you might begin by describing the atmosphere then discuss how you engaged with your surroundings. For instance, if you are writing about a gallery or museum you may choose to focus on one particular exhibit or piece. While it is a good place to start, you must go deeper than simply describing your experience though.
Ask yourself open-ended questions (you can include these questions in your entry). For instance, what do you feel the artist or author is trying to get across? Has your experience prompted you to make changes in your life? What do you know or feel now that you didn't know or feel before? What new questions do you have after digesting your experience? Have you found a new passion or rekindled an old one?
Step 3: Post your entry on the Journaling Chicago blog.
Step 4: Be sure to read your classmates journals. I encourage you to respond to one another's entries regularly. And I require that you respond to at least one other person's entry each month (and when I say respond, I mean writing more than a single word or even just one sentence.) I suggest following my lead once I begin responding.
Remember:
This blog is an extension of our classroom so I suggest you follow the same guidelines for respect that we maintain inside the classroom. This factors into the "attitude" portion of your grade.
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