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That's a much easier way to get character than manual labor, getting beaten up, or eating disgusting veggies.

Little known fact: sucking ass is also a good way to build character.

"The local teams" being some of the most storied in each of their respective franchises. Plus you have the Chicago Fire, which is probably one of the best names for a professional sports team ever. Only because of the city, of course.

Knock 'em dead, kiddo!

Sounds as if things are heading in the right direction

I'm a tried and true Dodger Fan. When it comes to football I have no team, as I am a resident of a city without one. I generally pick on of the shittier teams and root for them. Most often the Browns or the Bills. You?

I love Chicago. I lived there for 1.5 years in high school. And then for the first 3 years of college, my parents still lived there, so I came back for summers and holidays. I've often tried to return to Chicago to live, but my career just hasn't worked out that way. It'd be great to visit again, it's been a while.

That's a great surprise. Have fun.

As far as fantasy sports goes, I didn't either. It made me into a sport watcher. I could not have cared less about sports when I first got into fantasy teams. Now I'm a fanatic. *shrug*

HOORAY!!!

Well that is definitely a step in the right direction

Okay... It's hard to pick one, or even two. Ummm.

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. With his then wife, Linda.

Hokey Pokey. Ditto. An attempt to re-imagine British folk music via music hall.

Mock Tudor. From which, this.

The Old Kit Bag. From which, this.

I do the "big three." Basketball, baseball, and football. Assorted pick 'ems as well. You?

I agree about Apple; my experience was always that they couldn't do "cheap".

My Apple experience is from a long time ago. I always loved the interface, and even the System 7 (yeah, I know...) interface was better than XP - what, twelve years later? But their support was patchy, and their "budget" models were a false economy for the buyer.

I haven't finished it yet, so maybe I'll hate it. But for now it's doing well.

The fact that it feels like there's a precedent for that sort of behavior is almost as tragic as the act itself.

I agree.

And (in the unlikely event he wins) I wouldn't give long odds on McCain surviving his first year in office, either.

Le Guin: The Left Hand Of Darkness is excellent, though its allegorical nature is a bit close to the surface at times. The Dispossessed is also very fine; probably better. I would say, though, that if you can stomach fantasy with wizards and dragons, then A Wizard Of Earthsea and its sequels are - IMO - flat fucking awesome, head and shoulders above most good fantasy writers. (Not that there are that many of them, either.)
(You may see it listed as a "juvenile", something aimed at adolescents. It's a lot more grown-up than most fantasy.)

So, my recommendation: Wizard, Left Hand, Dispossessed, in that order.

I'm a little unclear. I think you might usefully describe it as a thought experiment, though.

Also, Ursula LeGuin is one of the better living writers LHoD is a classic.

The rain is better with some Rigel in it:

Any news on the job search?

Whatever gets you through the day.