William Reardon’s Blog

You know you’re screwed when even the crazies figure out the blazingly obvious before you do.

Walking down Lake, I passed one of the increasingly common LaRouche informational tables. They had several signs plastered, including one stating “Bush is not a Republican. He’s an idiot.”

There’s an idea… attack just the individual instead of the entire party. With that, you might, I don’t know, get Republicans to vote your way. Crazy idea, eh?

Had I not already known that LaRouche was absolutely fucking nuts, I might have stopped and talk to them.

Thank God he’s a Democrat.

Yesterday, I checked out Body Worlds with Lt. Dan. Having missed it in LA, I thought it a good second chance to see it while it was at the Museum of Science & Industry.

The entire exhibit is based on the concept of plastination, allowing viewers to see the various layer of the human body intact. Quite interesting, as photographs aren’t quite the same as coming face-to-face with your internal organs. I’m not sure how anyone could smoke after seeing the whole thing, as several of the bodies had literal black lungs. Several photos also showed various diseases and the like, such as tumors eating away at the lung or the brain, before & after images of a brain with alzheimer’s.

After the first room, I found myself ready to leave. The whole thing does get a bit overwhelming as there’s only so many corpses you really need to see a day. Most of the exhibits were non-creepy, though there were a few that had a Red Dragon feel to them. You could sorta imagine that guy standing behind you, asking “Do you see?” Likewise, anything with the remains of children was more sad than educational.

The day ended with dinner around the old stomping grounds of Roscoe Village on the north side of Chicago. We grabbed dinner at the Beat Kitchen, followed by some bowling at Diversy Rock ‘n’ Bowl.

No better way to recover from dead people than bowling.

The body count in my mom’s house has dropped from the 15 of the last few nights to 3 for tonight. Various family members have headed out to their respective locations, leaving just my mom, my sister (also visiting) and me.

It’s sad as it was great seeing all the others. But, on the plus side, 1) I get a room again, and 2) tomorrow I won’t be awoken by two four year old jumping, screaming, and attacking me, with a one year old hitting me on the head with his favorite ball…

Actually, I stay with #1 but take back #2. #2 was cool.

God bless the state of Indiana.

Fireworks are illegal in Illinois. In Indiana, they’re only mostly illegal, which means slightly legal. While you can’t buy them if you intend to use them in Indiana or as a “private” party, you can buy them if 1) you promise to take them out of state within 5 days, and 2) if you buy them on behalf of a group such as Lions Club, Rotary Club, or say, I don’t know, the Indiana Fireworks User Association, which, it just so happens, you join at checkout for a small $2 fee.

We were about half-way through our ~$200 stash of fireworks (all purchased at “buy one, get one free!”, making it close to $400 worth) when the cops showed up. Not surprising, but meaning we have a crap load of bottle rocks, roman candles, and black-cats left. A few cakes, which I have to say I’m liking more & more. They also seem to be the biggest crowd pleasers.

As for the leftovers, my mom is adamant they’re not staying here for another year. Apparently in the past, she’s had trouble throwing them away as the garbage men won’t take them. I don’t think it will be a problem — my brother will certainly want to take a lot back with him to Chicago, and some extended family visiting for the holiday, can drive back with a bunch as well.

I obviously can’t take any on the plane back to California, though I wonder what would happen if I put a bunch in a bag I don’t care about and just left it somewhere in the airport. Might make the time waiting in those security lines pass quicker.

Anyway, a great 4th of July.

Happy 229th, America!

http://infohappy.blog3.fc2.com/blog-entry-257.html