My Curvy Spine

Lately I've been thinking about my curvy spine. At 15 I was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to wear a brace for about a year to help stop the progression. I haven't thought about it in a while, mainly because my other medical issue takes over that part of my brain. But the other day a co-worker came into my office talking about how she had taken up swimming to help with her scoliosis...and I thought, wow I haven't heard that word in a while. My co-worker is in her 40's and said she's been experiencing back pain since she hit thirty. Maybe I should be doing something now to help my back in the future and to prevent any major back pain issues.

So I got to Googling and I found a massage therapist in Chicago (Logan Square) who specializes in scoliosis therapy. Her prices were pretty reasonable at $40 for 30 mins. I emailed her and in the next couple of days I'll have an appointment. I'm happy I'm doing this for myself. My body is decent shape right now. A little preventative maintenance will be a good thing.

Financial crisis: What you should know

I found this article and thought I'd share. These are scary times, but it doesn't look like our personal finances (savings and checking) will be affected, at least not right now. Unless you have a lot more money that I do.

Wired: NextFest

September 27 - October 12, 2008
Millennium Park, Chicago

WIRED NextFest is the premier showcase of the global innovations transforming our world. Now in its fifth year, WIRED's gallery of the future includes unique and bold exhibits of sustainable design, next generation healthcare, interactive art and games, humanoid robotics and more.

New Music

I've been listening to some very good streaming radio stations online. They've allowed me to casually listen to new music choosen by a DJ rather than me searching it out, bringing a CD to work, etc etc (I'm lazy)...And these DJ's have great taste. A couple singles off the following albums have caught my ear. Check out these stations: WOXY, KEXP

David Bryne & Brian Eno:
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful....and funny

Ellen DeGeneres is the new face of Cover Girl! I'm really digging this idea. What a fresh approach, a real looking woman as the face of a beauty campaign. Love it!

Love this!!

Just funny...

Can you be more generic?

Once again Tina Fey and Amy Poehler nail it.
Dead on. Nicely done ladies.

This is great!

You gotta hear this. Don't know if it's real or fake, but it's great.

Florida Humor

Thanks mom.

Law Mojo

I love this website for the law firm Morrison & Foerster, LLP. Nicely designed and clever. If you told me this was a design firm, I'd believe you.

Boat Cruise

On Friday night we took a boat cruise with Tim's law school. We boarded at Navy Pier on the Mystic Blue and cruised up and down the Chicago coast for 3 hours. We had all you could drink beer and wine, dinner, and dessert. Everything was great and I'm glad we got the chance to do the cruise this year. For only $50, I'd recommend this cruise to anyone looking for a special and different way to celebrate. The view of Chicago was the best I've seen.

New PC ad with Jerry

I had to watch this ad twice to understand what connection it may have to Windows, or computers at all. The more I watch it, the more I can sort of see the hidden (?) jokes. At first I thought, how completely off the wall! I knew it had to have something to do with computers, so I watched again. First off, Jerry is surprised to see Bill Gates at a discount shoe store and visa versa. So I'm guessing this is referring to how much cheaper PC's are than Macs. It also might have something to do with a PC being a more affordable option during our crappy economy. I keep laughing at the awkward look they exchange after Gates tells Seinfeld the shoes are leather. Maybe the leather has something to do with PC's being a high quality product at a lower price?? Ok, onto the theme of the shoe not fitting Gates and Jerry talking about wearing them in the shower...I don't get it, but it is funny in a Seinfeld kind of way. Then Seinfeld keeps repeating that Gates is a size 10, not an 11. Does this have something to do with computer upgrades? I don't get the Spanish people, also eating churros. Then Jerry asks something about if PC's will ever be delicious... like cake. I think they may be making fun of Apples here. That they are just eye candy and sweet. Then the tag talks about the future being delicious...which I'm guessing is hinting at great things coming for the PC world.

Either way, this commercial has obviously caught my attention with it's weirdness. But I think the Apple company still has them beat. Their "I'm a PC, I'm a Mac" commercials are so simple and brilliant. I think the average viewer will not give these new PC ads as much attention as I have.

Pure Design Genius

click image to enlarge

Andrew Bird

Last night I had a difficult decision to make. I had plans to see Andrew Bird's free show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, but at about 3 pm I was invited by co-workers to come up to the company box seat at the Cub's game. I live a difficult life, I know. Now I know for some people this may have been a no brainer, but I do love Andrew Bird. Plus as always when I have plans to see a show at the Pavilion, there was a very solid chance of rain. I choose to go with what I knew would bring me more delight...Andrew Bird. Well, lucky for us it did not rain and the weather was absolutely perfect. And because Tim and I were able to get down there early...we got seats! The coveted red seats the people in the lawn envy. We got them! The show was amazing. The best part was when the crowd joyfully rushed the stage during Fake Palindromes and Bird was visibly moved by the excitement-repeatedly thanking the crowd for coming and explaining that for weeks he had been nervous about this show in his hometown. What a fantastic show...and is was FREE. It was way better than many shows I've paid for. This one is going on my list of all time best. I'm so lucky to live in a city that offers great events like this one.

Thanks to the Oprah show (which was taped at the Pritzker Pavillion eariler in the day), we were treated to visuals on three projector screens during the show. This is not common at this venue. Here is the cool animation that was shown during Lull.