Siftings
Feb
11
There Once Was A Town
I thought we were going to step outside and fight. That’s how tough of an interview it was. Larry Laschen was sitting in on my interview to be a Management Analyst for the Vernon Hills Police Department and was peppering me with questions. I was young and dumb. Too dumb to be scared of the guy...
Feb
09
Friday Countdown - Woman On The Street
Standing in the street, taking pictures of Centennial Crossing in the snow, I get the bright dumb idea to stop random drivers and ask how they like the neighborhood.
Woman #1 - "I love it".
Woman #2 - "I love it".
Woman #3 - "I love it. Best place ever and #2 isn't even...
Jan
26
Friday Countdown - Closer Songs
MLB is asking for favorite entrance songs for closers. Hoffman had Hells Bells. Rivera had Enter Sandman. Here's 50 that aren't taken yet to choose from.
50. Closing Time – Semisonic
49. 19th Nervous Breakdown – Jason & The Scorchers
48. Talk to Ya Later – The Tubes
47. Do You Think...
Dec
29
Friday Countdown - 2017 iPod Additions
The 50 favorite non-jazz additions to the iPod for 2017. The standard rules apply: mostly but not necessarily released in 2017, not saying they’re the best songs (just favorites), probably not on the list if the band is super big, because they don’t need my help. Notes, if necessary. Next week,...
Dec
08
Friday Countdown - Muffins
12. Bran
11. Pumpkin
10. Getting Hit By A Train
9. Poppyseed
8. Getting Hit By A Bus
7. Apple / Something (apples are for pies & tarts)
5. Getting Hit By A Car
5. Cranberry / Something
4. Banana Walnut
3. Corn (dinner, #1)
2. Pecan / Anything
1. Blueberry
Dec
03
Bonus Countdown - Bruce
E Street Radio is compiling votes for the 100 best Springsteen songs by asking listeners for their top ten. Here’s mine.
10. Thunder Road - Greatest / most atmospheric opening to an album ever? Debate amongst yourselves, but it’s such a great opening, it might as well open this list.
9. ...
Nov
16
Friday(ish) Countdown - Best Travel
Somebody buys a daVinci painting for $450 million. So affronted by such an ostentatious display of wealth that does not, in fact, purchase every remaining Lancia Stratos instead, here's a quck ten much better paintings that you can visit for free if you're a kid or for a small admission fee if not...
Nov
12
Better Days
Bit of a pickle. Four hours into the climb, I stumble on a downed log hidden in snow and tumble into what seems a bottomless drift. Roll a few times. Come to a stop. No avalanche and I can breathe, so that’s good. Snow all around me. Snow up my jacket. Cold. Laying on my back, snowshoes...
Nov
03
Friday Countdown - Campustown Parts
Before I get to the good and excellent things in the Campustown plan, the one thing it still needs is a rec space big enough for baseball / soccer. And architecture looking forward, rather than backward, but that's for later...
Now, on to the good and excellent stuff:
18. Residential...
Oct
27
Friday Countdown(s) - In Reverse
Somewhere near question 1,000, it dawned on me I should probably give the QC Times question list a break. Set it down. Give it some rest. Let it breath. Somewhere near question 1,000. Cause, I’m a little slow on the uptake at times. And a little determined, at times. And just generally...
