Culture

I have been inspired by a wonderful travel blog to write down things I would like to do before I die. I recommend doing the same because it was very fun to think about. (some are their ideas and some are my own)

1. Learn another language

2. Scuba in the Great Barrier Reef

3. Follow my dinner from field to table

4. Volunteer abroad

5.Visit birthplace or grave site of a cultural icon

6. Photograph an endangered species

7. Ride on an animal bigger than a horse… like an elephant

8. Set foot on each of the seven continents

9. Go to a nude beach

10. Attend a music festival in another country

11. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway

12. Become a beach bum on deserted (or semi deserted) island for a couple weeks

Unfortunately the film for Polaroid cameras are not being produced anymore. But there is a cool website where you can convert your digital photos into Polaroid look-a-likes. I am so excited about this; I’ve been converting some of my pictures for fun:

Polaroid Website

*Afghan Girl. *Starving Child.

*Earthrise. *A baby hand.

*The Kiss at Times Square.              *Execution of a Viet Cong.

* Explore more at this website. They add a new photo every week.

I love this! Christian Lander started this blog and then turned it into a book. As his about page says, he takes a scientific approach to highlight and explain stuff white people like. He is very smart and witty. My favorites are:

*The idea of Soccer

*80s Night

*Not having a TV

*Promising to learn a new language

*Hummus

*Girls with bangs

Visit the website and get the book.

Island caretaker in Sydney, Australia. The “job” requires you to stroll the island’s beaches, snorkel through the Great Barrier Reef, and post photos and videos of your experiences on a weekly blog. You would stay in an oceanfront villa. And for all this hard work… $100,000.00 for six months.

*They are still accepting applications until February 22.

“Best Job in the World”

1. You can smell chocolate in the street from the Blommer’s factory.

2. Winter… just kidding. But I do love that we are all in this mess together!

3. Train crushes. Several times a week there is a cute guy on the train that I have a crush on. It never goes anywhere but I just like that I can be entertained on my commute.

4. Street fashion. This is where i get inspired for my wardrobe.

5. Brunch. Great food, great coffee, outdoor seating on a beautiful day… what more do you need?

6. Gay Pride Parade. I can’t even tell you. Its like “what happens in Vegas…”

7. Its never a wrong time to drink. Our people love their alcohol! I went to a lunch meeting with my law firm last week at noon and didn’t get out until 5… see, never a wrong time!

8. Summer outdoor activities. I love being outside but I wouldn’t call myself “outdoorsy” or athletic. However, I was in luck moving to Chicago because our idea of an outdoor activity is sitting on the patio at Pontiac playing bingo with a mimosa. Or sitting in Wicker Park playing scrabble, going to A Movie in the Park, and eating a ton of fried food at Taste of Chicago. (I don’t know how we aren’t all fat!)

9. Music. Some of the coolest music venues and festivals. You can’t escape music here.

10. Naked bike riding. Hopefully one day I will get the courage but until then I am content just watching this display of the human body happen every year.

11. Our farmers markets. So much to enjoy!

12. St Patrick’s Day. We die our water green!

“i am

on the blue line

late to you,

on the blue line

coming late

to you, but

i am

coming. on mass

transit underground

underarm malodorous

hot bowel basement station…

read the rest of the poem after the jump.

(more…)

“of course she’s a waitress.

she drinks more than you.

jameson shots and budweiser

or old style if it’s a bar-b-q

in summer. she’ll eat cheeseburgers

rare or hockey puck,

no qualms or self-consciousness,

sit on your lap, mouth full of meat,

stick her tongue in your throat.

continue reading …

This is by a friend of mine, a  beautiful poet by the name of Kevin Coval. He has had great success here in Chicago. Check him out! His book is Every Day People.

(more…)

My New Obsession #3 is a show here in Chicago called To Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. Over the weekend I went with some friends to a theater called the Neo-Futurists. Its the longest running show in Chicago (20 years).

When you get there they have you roll a die to see how much you are going to pay for the show. They add $7 to that number (I payed $11+ a donation). There were six performers who were running the whole thing (collecting money, trash, etc.) in a very small theater. The concept is to do 30 skits in 60 minutes where the audience is very involved, which I loved. We shout out which skits we would like them to do and some people were pulled on stage (a man was pulled up then kissed by one of the male performers). But don’t be scared he didn’t have to do that if he didn’t want to. The show was very creative and so much fun!

Some of my favorite skits were: Why Does Coldplay Suck So Bad?; Snort These Lines Off My Artist Income Ass; and Ritualized Dating.

Come to Chicago and see it. Its very much worth it! If the show is sold out, they buy you pizza!

http://www.neofuturists.org/