My cat Buckley should really have been named Marvin after the hyper-intelligent robot from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. No matter how much I love him, he acts totally depressed most of the time.

Recently, our amazing mayor, Chicago's Mayor Daley announced that he was going to cut down on salting and plowing Chicago streets after a snowfall. One of the recent stories in the Sun Times and Tribune can be found here:

www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1312727,chicago-snow-lawsu...

www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/snow-street-plowing.html

Even though they must know this will result in more accidents and therefore loss of life, the mayor is choosing to make this cut. Now, if you're from Chicago you already know that we have some of the highest taxes in the entire country, including a high property tax and a 10.25 % sales tax. In addition, we have high ticket prices, motor vehicle fees, and photo enforced lights. Where is the money all going??? It definitely doesn't seem to be going to either education or infrastructure. I realize part of the issue is a federal problem with so much money going to Iraq but come on...with such high taxes in my city, I expect a certain level of safety in infrastructure to be provided.

It makes me feel more anxious than if I were stranded in the middle of the galaxy without a towel, forced to listen to hours of Vogon poetry...and we all know how bad Vogon poetry is, afterall.

Tags:   political snow plows hazard unsafe Marvin Buckley Mayor Daley cuts back on plowing Mayor Daley cuts back on salting diptych cat feline chat gato neighborhood Ukrainian Village Chicago storm snowstorm blizzard winter cold freezing ice Life? Don't talk to me about life. I'm not getting you down at all, am I? taxes Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy depression anxiety SAD Yes, I'm sort of a geek when it comes to this book series. What can I say? I love Douglas Adams.

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...but I hope you do.

Tags:   boy child fireworks Independence Day July 4, 2008 people strangers stroller street Grant Park excitement celebration sleepy tired sleeping Chicago diptych dreaming dreams Lake Michigan

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Hello out there! I know I've been posting alot of band shots and if you really don't care for it...sorry! Here's a new idea I have. While out with my friends Nick and Erin today, I realized that I had yet to explore the vast loneliness that accompanies the hordes of people and traffic in the city that is both teaming with new ideas and people and at the same time (as Robert Smith might say) everything's coming to a grinding halt!

I think there's an element of solitude within the masses and I think it's the same scream that echoes back at you in the middle of the night. It's the feeling of claustrophobia at the same time that you just want to be touched. It's the feeling of being anonymous and at the same time always recognized.

How much more can I say about this? I feel the larger of a city you live in, the more difficult it is to connect with others. At the same time, the vastness of the people brings diversity and therefore opportunity that you'll meet someone you really love.

I live in Chicago and I am part of the Lonesome Crowded West.

(...er midwest)


Nick's photos here: www.flickr.com/photos/_nickd/
Erin's photos here: www.flickr.com/photos/interrobang/

Tags:   Lonesome Crowded West Modest Mouse song highway expressway building decay loneliness solitude needy claustrophobia traffic alone crowded Chicago slow down colors are surreal in this on purpose diptych thanks Nick for being patient with me better large

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Another beautiful musician who cut his hair...I hope he hung out with Mew and laughed about how they were ruining photographic possibilities of great hair shots. :*(

All photos are copyrighted. Do not use without permission.

www.myspace.com/feedelity

Tags:   Lindstrom Lindstrøm Hans-Peter Lindstrøm electronic music live concert Norwegian Pitchfork festival Pitchfork Music Festival diptych crowd audience girls beautiful strangers lastfm:event=961198 For Nick

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Tags:   Boston shadow shadow dancer girl dancer night monochrome black and whiteBlonde Redhead reference diptych Yes, I've saved this one until August. This is for Me and I know Everyone Knows. from 2007 body language

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