today i’d like to express my appreciation of happy people. while you guys may get a little annoying and sometimes even deserve a beating or three, there are times when your jolly nature shines through and really makes things a bit more bearable. i guess that’s what makes it all worth it, eh? the satisfaction you get from brightening up someone’s rainy day.

sick.

i’ve recently been receiving these really weird spam comments containing harmless links (movie websites, news organizations, large corporations, etc…) from “normal” sounding names. here’s the latest example from a thoughtful young man named “Nathan Baker” with links removed.

Awesome stuff! Thanks for all the information. Player will Corner unconditionally: Love TV is very good Cards Good, Black, Universal nothing comparative to Profound Curious Corner Double or not Table will Grass unconditionally. Coolblooded is feature of Memorizing Cosmos industrious is feature of profound tv, Table will Opponents unconditionally chips will round unconditionally

what in the world?

knocked out two finals today. got two tomorrow and them i’m freeeeee

…to work til classes start up again.

finals start tomorrow. it seems that i’m not doing so hot this semester but you know what? i don’t care.

well, i do care. kind of?

i really want to quit school :(

whine whine whine. groan groan groan. grimace grimace grimace.

ivan: duh, are you there?

Auto response from Dan: not here

Auto response from ivan: inconceivable!

ivan: wow, that worked out a little too well

things i’m thankful for:

- friends and family
- my apartment
- my cameras
- my job(?)
- Top Gear
- my guitar
- Top Gear
- 4×5 Polaroid backs
- Minnie Riperton
- Craigslist
- Top Gear

ivan: alright, going to bed

ivan: g’night

…i check e-mail…

ivan: sam!

ivan: i’m back

ivan: who is that girl in the video you just sent me?!?!

Sam: hahahaha

Sam: you interested?

ivan: :O

ivan: i think i’m in love

Sam: hahaha

Sam: awwwwww

ivan: i’m a complete sucker for cute girls with good voices

Sam: i’ve never heard you said something so emotional like that

Sam: hahahahahaha

it seems the CTA is always losing money for one reason or another and as a result, the CTA is always looking for money. on top of the $0.25 fare hike that took effect two years ago and the additional $0.25 increase that was just approved earlier this month, the CTA has resorted to selling their bodies to make ends meet.

train bodies, that is.

for the past few years, the number of train cars whose exteriors are completely plastered with advertisements has been on the rise. and not only that, but the sheer amount of advertising in the subway stations themselves has been increasing. before, you would probably see a few poster-sized ads lining the walls. now you look down, bam: an ad for women’s shoes beneath your feet. you leave the station, boom: a car insurance company has sponsored the turnstiles. you’re on the subway, bop: a department store has placed a long series of lit ads in the tunnel that become an animation to passengers.

soon, i imagine all train cars will be wrapped in bright, flashy vinyl. the floors, the pillars, the benches, the walls, the farecards, the ceilings, and everything else i hadn’t mentioned will be swamped with logos and witty one-liners that make you want to buy a book or watch the latest movie starring a talent-free mainstream whore of rapper.

it is inescapable.

it’s really depressing outside right now. the sun is setting but nobody can tell, all we see is the cloud cover graduating from pale to dark grey. meanwhile, i’m inside my apartment, my sanctuary, trying to cheer myself up by listening to CDs that Ice burned for my birthday last year. i haven’t listened to these in a while.

i walked past a pile of rubble today in Greektown. i stood there for a moment and tried my hardest to recall what it used to be. after a while, i finally realized that the old hardware store was gone. it always saddens me to see old buildings go. not necessarily because they’re no longer there, but because fresh eyes will know nothing else but the bigger and better structure that replaces it. sadly, everything in this city will suffer the same fate sooner or later.