Roy's got a post on all the digital paraphernalia he was lugging around on a recent trip to Boston. This reminded me of my own experience going to Springfield -- and how attached I still was to the 'Cloud' no matter what the circumstances were.
Case in point, was my trip down to Springfield on Amtrak. We had to stop no less than four times so freight trains which have the right-of-way on this one-track system, could pass us by. Thanks to my smartphone, I was able to log in every delay as a 'Status Update' on Facebook. Also, thanks to my smartphone, I was able to figure out where we were, using the built-in GPS program. I even managed to upload a picture of the train's (less-than-fascinating) interior thanks to the phone's camera. And finally, of course, I was able to keep up with my email and look at the occasional webpage throughout the entire trip.
This level of connectivity -- the almost obscene ubiquity of the network -- would have boggled the mind even ten years ago. And sure, there are people who would point to the triviality of its use and who would wonder why I simply didn't put the damn phone down. To which I would reply, what's so fascinating about being on a train from Chicago to Springfield that's stuck for an extra hour?
It's one of the few benefits of living in the 21st Century, so why not take advantage of it -- for at least as long as the batteries hold out.
I had a great two days down at the State Fair in Springfield. The town itself is a great place just for walking around. Weather this year was borderline perfect. Now all that's left is going on a diet for the next 18 months.
The annual UIC Urban Forum took place today. Mayor Daley spoke at the opener and then took part in one of the panel discussions later on. Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel also was there -- participating in a lively discussion along with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Motorola CEO Greg Brown and moderator Judy Woodruff.
Discussion at these things tends to lead to platitudes ("collaboration", "shared resources" -- and considering the venue -- "more support for education"). My favorite moment came when Woodruff went on and on about people's "anger" and Rahm pointed out that it might have something to do with the economic situation. "But why does the press focus on it then," Woodruff asked. Rahm looked at her and smiled: "that's the subject for another panel".*
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* Quoted from memory.
So what am I doing on a Sunday morning? Why shooting video at the annual convention of the International Reading Association at McCormick Place, of course! Partnership READ, a joint UIC-CPS program to improve literacy in the Chicago Public Schools is doing a whole series of presentations throughout the day and I got volunteered to videotape at least three sessions.
Daddy had good tastes. The apartment at 155 W. Burton Pl. was his 'bachelor pad', designed by friend Sol Kogen, where he lived in the Fifties. At the time, he was owner of United Film & Recording Studio on Erie & St. Clair and producer/announcer of the German-language radio show, The Germania Broadcast.
I remember seeing a short film of the place. It was a duplex with my mother and grandmother waving from the 2nd floor. That's about all I remember -- by the time I was two we had already moved further north to Barry Ave. near Pine Grove. Note on the Kogens: One of the Kogen brothers was our first pediatrician. Another was our dentist.
[h/t mommy]
Posted in Submitted by Leo Klein on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 5:28pm.
Following up from last week, here's what I heard on the El going to Skokie last night:
"Attention Passengers: Please do not attempt to board the train -- the doors are closing".
Actually the delivery for this one was pretty good, though again, a touch on the long side.
Has anyone else noticed drivers on the El announcing at every stop:
"Do not attempt to board the train. Doors closing."
That's a huge mouthful to say. No wonder they flub up every third stop or so. But what really gets me is that cognitively I don't think this works. In such a quick moment before the doors are about to close, you really need something snappier, simpler -- something like:
"Stand away. Doors closing."
I think that would work better.
With an early voting location at the CPL branch at Lincoln Park -- just across the street from DePaul -- you can't get any more convenient. Not surprisingly, for a (February) Primary, traffic was light. I walked right in, no waiting, no line.
