Falling and Laughing

K., Erik, 1977– Falling and laughing Chicago: 2007. p. : ill. (some col.); imaginary dimensions. Coarse language sometimes used. Non-fiction, except for bits fabricated by author. SUMMARY: Music-, dog-, word-besotted Chicago man discovers he enjoys talking back to the internet. Fun times ensue. SEE ALSO: SUBJECTS OCCUPATION: Lapsed librarian, current designer, aspiring flâconteur (rare minotaur-like creature that is half flâneur, half raconteur).

SUBJECTS Falling and laughing 1. Thoughts--their shape. 2. Thoughts--ones had while walking dog. 3. Thoughts--ones that made me laugh. 4. Thoughts--the kind I’ve got. 5. Spleen--its venting. 6. Japery--assorted. 7. Words. 8. Music. 9. Books. 10. Obsessions--varied. 11. Animals--facts. 12. Animals--made-up things.  13. Dogs--beloved halfling Rottweiler. 14. Birds-- the bowerbird. 15. Birds--the great bustard. 16. Illinois--Chicago--residents--lives and customs. 17. Happiness--its pursuit.

Close Drawer

The Chicago Way

Tales of thuggery, intimidation, and general chicanery at Chicago polling places are legion, but I had never experienced it myself until today when, leaving my local place of voting, the middle-aged gentleman sitting by the door said: “You be real careful out there today.” His message was clear: “[I saw your ballot and you voted for the wrong guy so] you [better] be real careful out there today [lest you have your leg broken by the machine’s hired muscle.]” I was positively chilled and plan to stay indoors with the blinds drawn for the duration of this election day. 

22 Feb 2011 //
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Some ideas for cool tumblr Radar posts

  • A person wearing totally normal clothes and eating pancakes, except the person has a Darth Vader helmet on!
  • A “mashed-up” illustration: Back to the Future Delorian plus a Tauntaun
  • “Nature” (wild card)
  • Another cool mash-up idea: C3PO, except he has dinosaur legs
  • A person wearing totally normal clothes and eating waffles, except the person has a Storm Trooper helmet on!

I have a bunch more of these, in case anyone knows how to get a hold of the tumblr Radar curator.

1:33 PM //
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The slightly sinister codename “Blue eyes” was rendered all the more chilling when, further along in my perusal of Gleanings in Bee Culture, I came across this illustration: Who is Novice? Who is “Blue Eyes”? Are they stock characters in some long-forgotten apicultural passion play? I shall continue looking into this matter, even if I have to plumb the depths of the Depository of Blasted Hopes. Meanwhile, “Too much swarming? Yes!” is how I’m going to conclude all of my correspondence going forward.

The slightly sinister codename “Blue eyes” was rendered all the more chilling when, further along in my perusal of Gleanings in Bee Culture, I came across this illustration:

Who is Novice? Who is “Blue Eyes”? Are they stock characters in some long-forgotten apicultural passion play? I shall continue looking into this matter, even if I have to plumb the depths of the Depository of Blasted Hopes.

Meanwhile, “Too much swarming? Yes!” is how I’m going to conclude all of my correspondence going forward.

21 Feb 2011 //
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Note: this is now a blog about 19th century apiculture. I’ve discovered something even better than American Bee Journal: Gleanings in Bee Culture, another 19th century beekeepers’ periodical available through Google Books. It’s a little jauntier in tone than ABJ, and has useful columns, such as “Humbugs and Swindles Relating to Bee Culture” in which readers write in to complain about the depredations of flim-flam artists selling used-up queen bees through the U.S. Postal Service. Some issues even feature a Ladies’ Department with items of interest to the she-beekeeper. Best of all, though, is the “Depository of Blasted Hopes” column, subtitled “Letters from Those Who Have Made Bee Culture a Failure.” GiBC did not pull its punches, and if you wrote into this column, you could expect a thorough browbeating. “I must confess I am disappointed in bees.”

Note: this is now a blog about 19th century apiculture.

I’ve discovered something even better than American Bee Journal: Gleanings in Bee Culture, another 19th century beekeepers’ periodical available through Google Books. It’s a little jauntier in tone than ABJ, and has useful columns, such as “Humbugs and Swindles Relating to Bee Culture” in which readers write in to complain about the depredations of flim-flam artists selling used-up queen bees through the U.S. Postal Service. Some issues even feature a Ladies’ Department with items of interest to the she-beekeeper. Best of all, though, is the “Depository of Blasted Hopes” column, subtitled “Letters from Those Who Have Made Bee Culture a Failure.” GiBC did not pull its punches, and if you wrote into this column, you could expect a thorough browbeating.

“I must confess I am disappointed in bees.”

10:48 AM //
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20 Feb 2011 //
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12:31 PM //
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Seriously. Send us their names.

Seriously. Send us their names.

12:30 PM //
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In its early days, the ABJ was keen to grow its subscriber base.

In its early days, the ABJ was keen to grow its subscriber base.

12:30 PM //
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A diverting way to spend a gloomy Sunday morning: search Google Books for “American Bee Journal” and read up on the lively bee culture of the 19th century. I can just picture LUBINIECKE laughing at his curious Liliputian bees, only to unleash their “pent-up wrath” in the form of  “very painful” stings. Lesson: don’t laugh at dwarf bees!

A diverting way to spend a gloomy Sunday morning: search Google Books for “American Bee Journal” and read up on the lively bee culture of the 19th century. I can just picture LUBINIECKE laughing at his curious Liliputian bees, only to unleash their “pent-up wrath” in the form of  “very painful” stings. Lesson: don’t laugh at dwarf bees!

12:29 PM //
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Well that’s a jaunty name for it!

Well that’s a jaunty name for it!

19 Feb 2011 //
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