fif1435

I am a HUGE fan of The Ghost Map. I'm an epidemiology nerd, and I think it's such a great story, combining social issues, politics, science. Plus, you can impress your friends* by telling them you know where this blog gets its title: http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/

Well, I'm not an epidemiology nerd (I don't even know how to spell it...) as you are, but I really like the historical aspect of issues like this. In this case, overcoming the miasma mindset of the time (at least, starting to shift the winds, anyway), how close minded most were to real data...just the whole data-based problem solving steps that we take for granted today weren't used at the time for this constant threat (cholera). Not to mention how one (or two, I guess) men had the courage and determination to continue to work on this despite the overriding notion of the cause cholera. I don't have the book in front of me now, but wasn't it the surgeon general of the London police force who publicly stated that the way to cure cholera was to take laudanum (which, I've figured out, is basically alcohol and opium, right?). Anyway, there is really a lot to think about from this book. I've really enjoyed it.

And no nerds in my circle who would appreciate the blog title. But I do now!

and I don't know why that text posted so small.....

(text size edited by gogo, epidemiology nerd and moderator )

Speaking of Dickens, I'm reading A Tale of Two Cities. I'm taking it too slow. I love his descriptive writing.

Hey! A Tale of Two Cities is next on my list. I was inspired to pick up a Dickens novel when someone earlier in this thread (maybe last year) was praising A Christmas Carol. I haven't read any Chuck Dickens, but listened to Great Expectations on cd.

Anyway, I'll get to it as soon as I finish this (which also came from somewhere earlier in this topic):

I keep all of my books, too. I love having shelves of them to pick through if only to read a paragraph here or there when I don't have the time (or energy) for more. I also have the hope that one of my kids (teenagers +) wil grab a book of mine and read it just for the hell of it, then actually sit down and have a discussion with me about it. But, alas, hasn't happened yet. The closest was last school year when my daughter was assigned "The Hound of the Baskervilles", which I re-read parallel with her when I found out. But most of our conversation revolved around her trying to get the required assignments completed. Oh well. And I still scratch my head as to why they haven't delved into my Calvin and Hobbes collection...!

My wife tolerates my books but thinks it all looks like a bunch of clutter. But she knows I love 'em and leaves 'em alone.

I tend to push through and finish the book even if I'm not really into it. I like to have it wrapped up so that when I put the book away, I know I'm finished with it and don't have to worry about what I might have missed. I don't think I've deliberately decided "I'm not reading any more of that book", but...there are a few times when I've politely wondered on to another book(s) with the thought that I'll get back to the first book next time. I've had Dr. Zhivago on my nightstand for a year or more now...I'll get back to it eventually...maybe....

I think what I'm really doing is hoping the book gets lost on a shelf somewhere and I don't have to feel guilty about its unfinishedness!

The Tyson website list Indiana locations in Corydon, Logansport, and Portland. I guess those last two might be close enough to Fort Wayne to be considered so for the point of the book.

Okay, sorry to derail. Back to the subject at hand....

Ft. Wayne is mentioned several times in the book, Wendy. It has to do with the chicken packing plants, which hire a lot of hard-to-track Mexican illegals (not to start up that whole immigration debate!) who make it easier for the Mexican drug trafficking organizations to place sellers within that setting.

Are there many...any...chicken packing plants around Ft. Wayne? I'm not that familiar with the area, so maybe there are, but it doesn't really ring a bell...

^{I wonder if the reporting is all equal among the states. I mean, why would Indiana be more than 2 times higher than Illinois? Do all states define "clandestine laboratory incidents" the same, for example?}

"I'm so lucky to be with you"

My wife to me recently...even after twenty-something years of marriage. Amazing.

Going through this:

Before I get into this:

What the hell....I've been wondering where my deluxe CD from Amazon is. I just checked my order and it says "Delivery Estimate: October 3 - October 7"!!!!!

Jeez, thanks a lot Amazon....

"Being a dad twice over now, that phrase makes no sense," Kotche said. "My life is so much more chaotic than it was beforehand. My life is chaos all the time. I understand the term means complacent, middle-aged and you have a house and a luxury car, but man, being a dad? I drink 10 times more than I did before."

That made me laugh!

You must go so I went

Where everything was clean

So precise and towering.

These lyrics always make me think of Steven King's novel "The Stand".

Nick Lowe went on at 8pm. I wasn't there exactly at 8, but he was playing when we got to our seats around 8:15

Just to get my two cents in; I thought it was a great show last night! The band was awesome; they really rocked the entire two hours. They all seemed in good form and lots of smiles on stage. Just a fantastic show, maybe the best I’ve seen from them. Okay, they’re all great shows as far as I'm concerned, but this was a notch better. The energy from the band was really up there.

No complaints from me on the set list. I would be in the crowd of disappointed fans if they didn’t play a good selection of their “regular” songs. I mean, Handshake Drugs from Kicking Television is what got me hooked on Wilco anyway. I don’t see them live often enough to get tired of any repeats. And the new songs were really exciting live. A good mix, I think.

The crowd around me was well behaved, too. Pretty minimal talking / texting / tweeting / pictures, etc.

I don’t know any of Nick Lowe’s songs (except Cruel to be Kind, of course). So I didn't know what to expect, but I really enjoyed his set. I would definitely encourage anyone to not to miss him at upcoming shows. Again the crowd was really respectful and showed a lot of appreciation for him.

Did anyone stick around after the show? Wondering if any of the band came out for autographs, etc. We had a long drive so left right afterward.

Finally, I looked but didn’t see any tapers.

You're generalizing based on the Stones. There are plenty of artists making great records twenty years into their career. Dwight Yoakum, The Black Crowes, Tom Waits, Rodney Crowel, and Wilco to name a few. You may not be as into this new record as the older ones but I've been listening to The Whole Love all week and it hasn't gotten annoying. The last Wilco album I can say that about is AGIB. So in my opinion it ranks right up there with the other four great Wilco albums. I see it as a stagnant period over the last two albums with a return to form for the latest.

So how have you been doing this? The stream is over. Did you capture it somehow? I don't want a copy or anything, it's close enough now to the Indy show and the release that I can wait; the stream was a good taste for me for now, so I'm just curious....

I'm interested in meeting up, but I don't think my logistics are going to allow it. By the time I get off work and pick up the group going with me then get to Indy, we'll probably get to the Murat close to 8-ish...hopefully not later. Anyway, I'll keep an eye on this thread; if there's a group getting together and we make it on time, we'll track you down.

4 tickets, row E at Indy. My lucky day!

Now reading:

Anyone have any comments on the effort needed to read this? It's been sitting on my bookshelf for 15 years or more. I picked it up this past weekend, thinking I'd have some good reading time. Haven't gotten very far yet. I think it's all the Russian names; they start looking the same to me and I can't keep the characters straight. Should I put more effort into it or put it back on the shelf?

The Blues Brothers

Just finished:

Just started:

for all of us poor saps who can't make Solid Sound, I hope we can get hourly updates from those who are going!

kind of a random question (by a non-attendee), but can anyone tell me what the had in terms of merch at the show? i'm going to solid sound festival next week and want to know how i should budget accordingly .

I remember seeing the posters and tee shirts. The Frank tee, girls Ravana tee, green guitar tee, some other girls tee with like, hearts on it or similar. Anyway, I didn't notice anything else. Maybe other stuff was already on its way to Solid Sound...!

I didn't notice any tapers. Did anyone else see any? I'd like to look forward to a copy of this show.

Wow, we had a great time. My wife, three kids (19, 17, and 14) and one girlfriend (not mine; one of the kids). It was so nice to sit in the infield. The sound was great. Of course, the show was, too. Everyone agreed later that they had a fabulous time. I just want Wilco to know how much fun and enjoyment they've given me and my family over the last 5 years or so that I've been a fan. Thank You Wilco! Great show!

Sometimes I think Mr. Tweedy is singing directly to me. Anyone else feel that way? My wife said the same thing. I guess that's what makes Wilco so special.