Friday, November 28, 2008

Microfinance and Baby-Naming


I enjoy Joel Stein's work but I adamantly deny being a yuppie, or a hipster, or a yuppie, hipster. Chris "Call me a Hipster as long as You're a lis'ner" Wiens is the hipster in "the Basement."

Regardless, read these two articles from Joel Stein.

Global Cupcake Kings.


Please Help Joel Stein Name His Baby!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

CCIL on ABC 7

When the Governor starts speaking there is a young blond gentleman to the extreme left of the screen. You can only see the back of his head - but that's me! I made the background of the news!

Click here for the video and story!

Straight up out of movie scene...

I was quoted in the Medill Reports this week. Excuse the misspelling of my name.

The volunteer coordinator at the league, Chris Wienes, said the volunteers will not only serve the poor but will sit down and eat with them.

“I think it’s important for people to identify with others,” Wienes said. “It goes a long way for both sides to share a common meal together and both be celebrating the things they are thankful for -- whether it’s for the food being served to them, or being fortunate enough for the time to serve the food.”

Click here for the full story.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sir, Goodbye for Now


Chris and I would like to say goodbye and good luck to Mr. Patrick Reynolds. A great friend who will be heading to Nicaragua with the JVI program for the next two years. If you are interested in following Patrick's story, a link to his blog is on the right, Vista Del Camino. Good luck and make some poor decisions.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008

Welcome Back, Yeezy!


Kanye posted his new album on his blog. Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreak I'd say my top five songs on the album, after an initial listen, are:

1. Welcome to Heartbreak feat. Kid Cudi
2. Paranoid
3. Amazing feat. Young Jeezy
4. Heartless
5. Street Lights

Best lyrics:
1. Do you really have the stamina
for everybody who sees you to ask, "Where's my camera?"
- Pinocchio Story

2. I chased the good life my whole life long;
look back on my life and my life gone.
Where did I go wrong?
- Welcome to Heartbreak

3. My friend showed me pictures of his kids
and all I can show him was pictures of my cribs.
He said his daughter got a brand new report card
and all I got was a brand new sports car.
- Welcome to Heartbreak

4. If Spring can take the snow away,
can it melt away all our mistakes?
- Coldest Winter

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Is this going to be on the exam?

Remember that one kid in your class as an undergrad who would arrive on the day of the exam and start a conversation about the upcoming exam with another student to only proclaim to anyone listening that they “had not studied at all for the exam” and that they “didn’t care how they did.” This kid is trying to act tough but the first student who asks a question about the exam material immediately throws the non-studier into a whirlwind. Out come the notes and there is a hint of fear in their voice. (For the record, I am guilty of being that guy that says “oh the exam wasn’t that difficult” and “I wasn’t that worried” when really, as all of my friends know, I studied for hours on end but not late into the late because of course I was in bed by 11pm and up by 6am).

One of many favorite things about graduate school is that many of the same types of students are still there. You would think that now that these students have finished their undergraduate degrees and have the foundation of a fledging career that the worries that pushed these reactions as undergraduates would die and school could be more enjoyable with less of a focus on grades and a greater interest in learning for its own sake. Nope, nothing has changed. The array of student types and reactions are just the same as at undergraduate level. The types are easy to point out. As an undergraduate, the students who arrived early were always the most studious, not necessarily the brightest, but usually the biggest nerds who were often ideal to have in your group for a group project because they would complete their work early and always try to do more than their fair share (basically that’s me). The only difference between undergraduate students and graduate students is that the graduate students will arrive to class earlier due to the timing of class compared to the end of the work day. Or how about those students who arrive to class, unpack their computer, and then proceed to browse ESPN’s website or Perez Hilton’s website for an hour (Yes, I watched a student do this). In a MBA program, the only difference is after the checking these those sites, the students then go to check their stock portfolio and shake their head in disgust as they mutter to themselves “what is my broker doing?” or give a little smile when their portfolio rose and whisper to the person next to them “cash money bitches.” Then of course, there is the person that no one likes but loves to tell stories about after class, the person who asks excessive, unnecessary questions. These students find it necessary to ask questions with the most obvious answers but their best attribute is timing. These students impeccably find it worthwhile to ask the professor a question that requires the longest, most-drawn out answer just as the professor has finished covering the material for the class and it appears that the class might be let out early. These students are more often than not clueless about the class regardless which just makes their obscure question that much more perplexing. In graduate school, where leaving 10 to 15 minutes earlier means that much more after a three hour class, there is no difference, these students still have the most impeccable timing with random questions.

Students will be students so it is not a surprise that things don’t change. I can only hope that I don’t have to see any more UGG boots in class but of course, it is only November.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

the Bradley Effect vs. the Urkel Effect


Once again, a little late, but still pretty funny.

Can Obama Overcome the Urkel Effect?

Monday, November 10, 2008

Still Working...































I know it is a little late but I do want to remember the late Studs Terkel, one of Chicago's own.

In rememberance of Studs Terkel.

"V-E-T-E-R-I-N-A-R... It's veterinarians."



I know Veteran's Day is tomorrow, but I have today off work so I'll post this video a day early.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Haikus of the Week

God is ev'ry thing;
Empty lot across the street
Can I find You there?


Name something you find;
Number one answer on "Feud:"
'Myself in others.'


Worker ants bring dirt;
Before the sun sets at night
A mountain is made.


Gone out to find life
Inheritance thus wasted
Still welcomed back home.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Grab a drink, grab a glass...



Nas - If I Ruled the World