First Time in Wrigley

Look at all those rapists!

One of the funnier things I've ever posted.

Lolz.

Onion Personals Post #3.

Expect a series of these:

Redemption

Kara is scary
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Chicagoist finally stepped up its latte art coverage yesterday, when they posted my pic of Kara, and her skillz to pay teh billz.

I think it's official: There is much love between Intelligentsia and Chicagoist.

More fun with The Onion Personals!

My popularity on The Onion Personals has been steadily dwindling since I signed up. It's sad, really. The latest email about 'New Matches!' could only scrounge up one new member that met my rather demanding criteria (age 22-30, living in Chicago).

Here she is:



Some of you may recognize that big-mouthed redhead. First, The Onion tried setting my up with my boss's ex-girlfriend, now it's trying to re-acquaint me with my own. Oh, Onion. Stick to satire.

...

Omg wait... Are they sticking to satire?!?

US Secretary of Transportation: Bikes 'Really not Transportation'

US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters is a true American:

"Well, there's about probably some 10 percent to 20 percent of the current spending that is going to projects that really are not transportation, directly transportation-related. Some of that money is being spent on things, as I said earlier, like bike paths or trails."

By the way, she's trying to explain the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Apparently it was due to all the money wasted on cyclists.

Read the full interview here.

Somehow I missed this

I wonder how many bodies they find on the bottom at the end of the day.

He could be my bff.

Ups and Downs of Filter's Relocation.

Gentrification.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

On the Bright Side

1. There will be a significant drop in Missed Connections for me to waste time on.

2. People will no longer ask me to meet them at Filter. Then, after seeing my grimace, ask me why I don't like Filter.

3. Leaves the 'hood in need of a central coffee shop. Hello, Intelligentsia Wicker Park?

On the Down Side

1. I was in love with a girl that worked there (of course).

2. It's going to be a bank. Yes, another one. In the Flat Iron Building.

3. There will be a significant drop in Missed Connections for me to waste time on.

Play-doh.

Venue for Tennis
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Despite a long-term love for tennis, I've never learned to play the game properly. I always thought that I was okay, but upon taking actual lessons, it turns out I was wrong. Luckily my friend Sean is remedying the situation. He coaches at Robert Morris College, in addition to working as a pro at the club pictured here. Sean's got my forehand straightened out pretty well, but my backhand is still a nightmare. As is my fitness level. But my suckiness at tennis isn't really the point of this entry. I just wanted to show off the sweet-ass clay courts we've been playing on.

Frustrating Things

1. The obsese, screaming child in the theater with the obese, retarded parents that refused to take him outside. I miss the private screening room. Roger Ebert would've just eaten that fat little fuck and given him two thumbs down.

2. There was amazing Batman stuff scattered through the streets on Friday; enough that I could even reveal a spoiler or two about the movie. Unfortunately, for once the crew was on-hand to baller-block my camera work. So no fun for ya'll.

3. Stephane, who you may recognize from my adventures in Tokyo, played here in Chicago last night, and I didn't find out about it until about 2 in the morning. I really like him as a person, and as a DJ. There are maybe two people in the world I can say that about. Hopefully he will be hanging with Ashley today, and I can crash that party.

My God-Given Talent as a Barista

Yesterday The Chicagoist featured this photo of a latte from Intelligentsia on Broadway:


Here's a latte I poured today:


Chicagoist, you'd betta recognize. And to the kids at Broadway, I love ya, but Do like Snoop said, "Step ya game up."

The Hazards of Gotham

Helicopter
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Although I didn't manage to score any extra work in the new Batman film (as I did on Batman Begins), I have been riding my bike through Gotham City every morning, as I work about a block from Wayne Tower, a.k.a. The Chicago Board of Trade.

Yesterday, I was hungover and riding with my head down, staring at my feet. Great idea for riding in traffic. But at 5 a.m., the threat isn't from crazy taxis, it's from burnt-out helicopters on the sets of major motion pictures. Some asshole left this thing in the bike lane, and I almost crashed into it. I would've hated to dent such a valuable prop.