Ok, wait a minute
I understand that, in order to better market whatever product you are selling, you have to go out on a limb and kind of blur the truth a little. I get that.

But this guy's book is ridiculous, and it's obviously on the New York Times best-seller list.

With a name like that, whose book wouldn't be?

Come on, a three hour diet?

Bret Easton Ellis
What he has to say about his writing routine (from Amazon.com):

The writing routine when I'm working on a novel is that I like to stay on a schedule. I like to get up and start work along the same time my friends are going to work, then quit and go out to dinner. If you're going to write that day you really need to be inspired and engaged by the material. You can't just sit down and force yourself. The book is going to be bad, the writing is going to bad. What saves me, I think, is I do a vast outline and am really positive that I want to write this book. I have very few days when I'm puttering about waiting for the mail to come. I want to write because I know I want to write this. I can't imagine people just sitting there going, OK, how's it going to start? Let's see where this goes. I think too many novelists do this and then they get to page 150 and go, What the f-ck am I doing? I'm pretty psyched by the time my outline is done.

Air show practice
It's a little unnerving to be on the eighth floor of a building in downtown Chicago while military planes are zooming by all around me. Sometimes they boom and I look out the window, expecting to see something else.

Wicked
Finally won tickets to go see Wicked last night, front row center, right behind the conductor (who by the way was hilarious). Total damage: $25 a ticket.

Not bad.

The show was pretty good. Gasteyer was good, although she overacted a lot, always making a face or bulging her eyes even when it wasn't entirely necessary. She can sing though, which caught me off guard.

The costumes were awesome, lots of detail and very original. I did notice that they were kind of bulky (especially at the outset), but that's because they had their next change on underneath. They still looked amazing.

The set was just as incredible, no complaints at all there.

The star of the show was Galinda, played by Kate Reinders. She was amazing. She clearly lost herself in the role and was "on" the whole time. An incredible performance, plus she shows off her voice and the different things she can do with it. What a talent!

Guatemala Wins
They beat Panama last night 2-1 in the 92nd minute to move into a tie with Costa Rica for third place in the group. If they finish 3rd they go to the World Cup. If 4th, they play a team from the Asia bracket for the pass.

More Map fun
Check out Amazon's new mapping service, it gives you street-level pictures of city streets, business fronts, etc.

it's kind of creepy too. Turns out they got into trucks with GPS units and cameras and just drove around the cities included taking pictures and mapping everything out.

Bulbous Sunglasses
I've seen these more and more around town, they seem to be the new IPod around here - everyone has one.

I first saw them - noticed them, anyway - in Italy a few years ago. Not being a fashion person, I was surprised I noticed them. Why did I?

They look so goofy. People wearing them look goofy. If they're going for the "you can't see me and I can see you" look, while it may work, they fail to see that they look really silly with these huge sunglasses on. They look like old people or blind people.

Wow
Check out this scathing review of the new Deuce Bigalow movie by Roger Ebert (the review, not the movie).

Dress Code
So I got hassled again for what I'm wearing at work today. Worst of all, it's "casual friday." I don't know about you but I don't wear a collared shirt to anything "casual."

The problem here is a lack of communication. No one ever told me anything about a dress code. I was told it's a "bank atmosphere." THat's it. To "dress nice." Someone should've just said, "wear a tie everyday, on fridays you can take the tie off."

Simple as that.

Plus, why do we have to wear nice clothes? There is no customer interaction here, it's just us, everyday, the same people.

We could be wearing our PJs for all I care, as long as the work gets done.

Oh well.

Finger in the dike?
A Baker quote:

"I didn't want to go to my bullpen," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We've had four, five games with five innings or less, and that puts a lot of strain on your bullpen. You're out there trying to stick your finger in the dike with guys and go with whoever is the most rested versus the best matchup. It doesn't get it done like that."

You gotta choose your words a little more carefully there buddy