October 31, 2005
Cemetery Photos
In honor of Halloween, I uploaded a Cemetery gallery to Flickr. The set currently has photos from Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. (click the link above or one of the photos below)
www.flickr.com
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October 30, 2005
New Flickr Page - Toronto
I was working on moving from the old Harvard Avenue site to the new one using my new hosting providers photo gallery tool. During the transition, I fell in love with Flickr and decided to use them for all those phots and galleries. On my end, it is much easier to set up a gallery and organize photos. For the viewers, it has a great slideshow feature.
Flickr has become one of my guilty pleasures, as on the front page they put some random pictures from others that were posted recently. Being popular world wide, it is a mini travelog, internation guide book, and peep hole into others lives rolled into one. I can't stop photo surfing.
All of the old galleries are now posted and am working on some new ones that have been sitting on my hard drives. One of the first new ones is a small Toronto set (below). I'll post more as they are created.
www.flickr.com
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October 27, 2005
World Series Champs!!!!
'Nuff Said...
October 26, 2005
One More Win...
My whole day has been messed up by staying up late last night/this morning for all 14 innings of last night's Chicago White Sox win over the Astros. Not only was it the latest ending World Series game ever, it also tied for being the longest game, inning wise, since Babe Ruth pitched a 14 inning victory in the 1916 World Series. (Isn't that another sign of destiny?)
Knock on wood everything is looking great for a World Series. Houston is starting a Backe verses Freddy Garcia who is an absolute beast on the road. Houston manager Phil 'Scrap Iron' Garner had a meltdown after the loss and bad-mouthed his team in the post game press conference. The Astros look like a thoroughly beaten bunch. If they don't win tonight, the Astros may go back to a dinged up Roger Clemens to start game 5 against a healthy Jose Contreras for the good guys.
On a national level, the Jim Rome show this afternoon on ESPN declared the series over and congratulated the White Sox on their World Series victory. A little premature, but even from my jaded, hyper-cautious perspective, it looks like this is almost over.
One more win...One more win...One more win...
Posted by JB at 4:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)Threadless T-Shirt
Being a big fan of Threadless t-shirts, I subscribe to their new designs email. This new design came in under the radar and hit my funny bone.
The picture is just the first half of the story. Tie it together with the name of the design and it completes the joke.
Is this a pun? If so, I have shamefully fallen victim again to the lowly power of the pun. Click the image to see the design's name if you haven't guessed already. Can us guys every get away from finding this kind of thing funny? No, I don't think so.
October 24, 2005
Gumrai Thai
Gumrai Thai opened last weekend and after trying them, we have a big problem; two good Thai restaurants about two blocks from each other. How to choose between Gumrai Thai and AltThai? The good news is that while both are good, they are both very different.
Gumrai Thai is at 170 N. Arlington Heights Road at the corner of Northwest Highway (next to the Egg Harbor Cafe in the space formerly occupied by Edwardo's) in downtown Arlington Heights. Gumrai's dining area is open and inviting with simple Thai decoration. In fact the dining room is downright spacious with plenty of room between tables and no worries about hearing the conversations around you. The menu is large with all the traditional Thai fair, but also make forays into Chinese and Japanese dishes, making Gumrai a good option for mixed parties with non-Thai fans. Some of the Japanese dishes (soba noodles and tempura especially) may be choices on some of my next visits.
We started with a cucumber salad and 'Golden Bags' (crab and shrimp lightly fried in a pastry bag - excellent). Inga had the curry noodles (red curry and wide rice noodles) and I had one of their house specialties, the Salmon Chu-Chee (grilled salmon with chu-chee curry sauce). Both we very good though the vegetables were lacking. The vegetables in the curry noodles seemed like a throw in and the broccoli and carrots that came with the salmon were uninspired. The salmon in contrast was excellent: fresh, cooked perfectly and a very generous portion. Overall it was very good and we'll make it a regular part of our dining circuit.
Compared to AltThai, Gumrai is not as fancy and is a better option for families. AltThai is a classy, modern, little place with Thai dishes that explore new takes on classic dishes. It's cozy and great for couples. Gumrai is more traditional, better for larger (louder) parties and has the advantage of plenty of parking. There are times when we are in the mood for Thai, but don't feel dressed-up enough for AltThai (not that AltThai is dressy, but we feel that you don't go to a place like that in a t-shirt and track pants). Gumrai has the edge in carry-out if you don't live in the surrounding high-rises as it is much easier to park and run in. This is a make or break option for some, but I do not know if Gumrai has a liquor license. I didn't notice anything on the menu, so I'll have to confirm that. AltThai has an extensive wine list, so for some that would be a big edge for AltThai.
So overall, Gumrai Thai is good and worth visiting. AltThai is better, but Gumrai has it's pluses too, that will make us come back.
Posted by JB at 12:49 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)October 20, 2005
Photographing The Photographer
Outside the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.
I am starting to have a small collection of photos of photographers, which of course means a theme gallery in the future.
Posted by JB at 11:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)Arlington Park - Lexus Event
If you were around Arlington Park last week and weekend, you could tell from all the signs Lexus was having one of those mini-auto shows there. Chicagoist attended and recapped the Lexus happening.
Posted by JB at 9:33 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)Augmented Plant Life
Here is a trippy video of robotically augmented plantlife put together by animation studio 1st Ave Machine. No point, just cool.
Source: FutureFeeder
Posted by JB at 9:11 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)Arlington Market Development
Plans were introduced to the Arlington Heights planning commission to redevelop Arlington Market on Dryden and Kensington. The plan calls for 112 condos, 55 single family homes and 40,000 sq ft of retail space.
Posted by JB at 12:14 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)October 17, 2005
Lester Helping With Work and Keeping Track Of The Game
4GB Nano With Warning Message
My 4GB Apple Nano came in last week to replace my old MP3 player that only works when it feels like. When you work out with your own personal soundtrack, it is hard to get going without one. The outer wrapper of the Nano had this warning:
Are you trying to tell me people steal music? My parrot and the rest of my ship's crew are shocked as well...
Posted by JB at 4:29 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)A Good Nights Sleep Later...
A good nights sleep later and the White Sox are still in the World Series. It wasn't a hallucination. Ahhh. The weird thing is that I keep hearing 'Andy The Clown' doing his infamous cheer, over and over and over, in my head. Is this the siren's call drawing my World Series dreams to the rocks or the song of angels leading to the promised land?
The White Sox official page and the Daily Herald both have photo galleries of the game and celebration.
Posted by JB at 8:55 AM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)October 16, 2005
Chicago White Sox --- 2005 American League Champions!!!
THE WHITE SOX ARE THE 2005 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!
The first World Series appearance by the White Sox (or any other Chicago Baseball Team - wink wink) since 1959!
Inga reminded me half way through tonight's game that I said that I was already happy that they had gotten this far. I replied that it was true, but I would happier if they won the American League pennant and even happier if they won the World Series.
I am a believer!!! GO GO WHITE SOX!!!
Posted by JB at 10:32 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)Minutemen and Protestors Face-Off in Arlington Heights
The first summit of the Chicago Minutemen project met in Arlington Heights at the Christian Liberty Academy and were met by about 500 demonstrators, mainly from the Coalition of African, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois. We live just a few blocks from where the meeting face-off occurred, but unfortunately didn't notice anything until the crowds had moved away down Euclid towards the courthouse. There were police and tactical vehicles from all over the area in our neighborhood. Five protesters were arrested for assaulting police officers.
October 12, 2005
World's Oldest Noodles Found
The world's oldest noodles were recently discovered in China at the Lajia archaeological site near the Yellow river. Radio carbon dating puts the noodles at about 4000 years old and they were made with millet rather than wheat. This will either fuel or help end the debate on who discovered the noodle, between that Italians, Chinese and Arabs.
October 11, 2005
Jarrett Payton Week Two - First Touchdown
In a follow-up to Jarrett Payton starting in his first NFL regular season game; this week he had his first NFL touchdown last Sunday versus the Houston Texans. Way to go! I don't know if he'll play much more after Travis Henry gets back from his drug suspension, but we'll see,
Posted by JB at 9:19 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)October 10, 2005
Earth/Mars Orbit Simulator
At the end of the month, the orbits of Mars and Earth will bring the two close together again. The last close encounter with Mars was in August of 2003 which is closer that what is coming up, but the last close encounter for a while.
Earth and Sky linked to a nifty Earth/Mars orbit simulator from the University Corporation of Atmospheric Research that visualizes the dance of the two planets around the sun. Even though we understand the different orbits and speeds around the sun make the close encounters infrequent, it is still interesting to see it in action and see why it is so infrequent.
By the Way, some of the emails from the last Mars close encounter are floating around again; especially the one that says that Mars will look as big as the Moon in the evening. While that would be very cool, it isn't true so please don't pass that one around.
Mars photo from kokogiak
Posted by JB at 7:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)October 8, 2005
Time To Break My Silence On The White Sox
I have been silent on the Chicago White Sox playoff appearance this year on purpose. The three other playoff appearances in my lifetime (1983, 1993 and 2000), besides being too infrequent, have been total embarrassments. Those playoff years, the White Sox dominated all year and easily walk into the playoffs without any challenge, (Remember - 'Winning Ugly' in '83?) When the second season started though, the Sox always looked lost in the bright lights of post season play. No hitting, no pitching, win one game after towards the end to avoid a sweep, and then bow out with a whimper.
2005 carried the same M.O. as past playoffs. The White Sox spent the entire season in first place, had 15 game division lead at one point and despite a slow down towards the end of the season and a hard run by the Cleveland Indians, there was really no chance that they would miss the playoffs. When the playoff started, I quietly donned my Sox cap and kept my head down.
What a division series against the Red Sox it turned out to be. Starting at home, the first game blowout was the first to exorcise some playoff demons. It was the first time since 1959 (The Go-Go-White Sox era) that the White Sox had won a home playoff game. The comeback win of the second game built confidence and suddenly the five game series seemed winnable; really winnable! To be honest, at this point I started chirping to my Cub fan friends. In the third game in Boston, Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez held off a Red Sox rally; defending a one run lead with the bases loaded and no outs, killing another playoff demon. The first playoff series victory since 1917.
No matter what happens in the next series, I am satisfied. Not embarrassing White Sox fans and winning a playoff series has gotten some very old monkeys off of all of our backs. However, there is no reason at this point that this White Sox team cannot make it to the World Series. They have the depth at pitching to win a seven game series whether they play the Yankees of the Angels. The World Series...why not. I can see it and it's not a wild fantasy anymore. We are now in a world of win-win fandom. We can be happy at what has already been achieved and savor the possibilities of what is to come.
October 6, 2005
Our Lady Of The Mini-Van
October 3, 2005
Asian Bistro
Why, why, why do I miss the obvious sometimes. I felt a bit guilty this weekend, after finishing another great meal at the Asian Bistro, that I had not had a mention of it on HarvardAvenue. Shame on me as it is one of the gems of Arlington Heights dining. It is time to right a wrong.
Asian Bistro, located at 65 W. Golf Rd (at Arlington Heights Rd) in Arlington Heights, is not your typical Chinese restaurant. Forget what your typical Americanized neighborhood Chinese restaurant is like. The Asian Bistro has a colorful loft style look with art and graceful Chinese touches. The menu is huge with every Chinese dish you can imagine (and others you have not seen before) as well as Thai and Vietnamese dishes, though they tout their specialty as Mandarin and Szechwan. Dishes range from the traditional (real) Chinese to Americanized fare, but you cannot go wrong either way. Everything is fresh and homemade; none of those pre-made cabbage filled egg rolls that other places serve. Personal favorites are the Scallion Pancakes and the Kung Pao Tofu.
There is a full bar as well as a long list of fruit drinks and teas. A pot of Jasmine tea is highly recommended.
The best thing about Asian Bistro are the people. The wait staff is helpful and friendly and the owner is always present with a warm smile, checking up on things.
Carry out is available. Check them out!
October 2, 2005
Jarrett Payton Makes NFL Game Debut
Jarrett Payton, son of Walter Payton and St. Viator graduate, made his NFL pro game debut today with the Tennessee Titans. Payton entered the game after an injury to starting running back Chris Brown versus the Titans. His day ended with four carries for 37 yards in a losing effort against the Indianapolis Colts.
Many years ago, when Jarrett Payton was a child, he came with his mother to my parents house, as my Mom did some sewing work for Mrs. Payton. We had a dog at the time. Max, who was half Rhodesian Ridgeback which is a breed that has a strip of hair down the back that goes the backwards forming the 'ridge'. Jarret asked 'what is wrong with that dog's back?'. Okay, not a very exciting story, but now my parents can say that they had an NFL pro player in their home.
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