Drive-Bys

Quote of the Day:

"I've had at least 8 beers, 5 nights in a row. I've got to get out of here....
...So I can get up and do it again tomorrow!"

(And no -- this is not attributable to CharlieDelta... unless he's been in New York City lately...
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Okay, now I'm disappointed:

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who is seeking re-election next week, said today he will not run for Chicago mayor next February.

That stinks, because I think he could have easily won... and I like him.
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Weather Update:

So just how windy was it yesterday? Here are some of the effects of Tuesday's wind and rain storm:

• The wind severely damaged three small planes parked and tied down at DuPage Airport. One plane became unsecured from the straps that held it down and flipped into a parking lot; another came loose from its ties and smashed into a third plane. No one was hurt.
• Willis Tower decided to close its Skydeck observatory and pull in "The Ledge" attraction. The Ledge's four glass boxes, which jut out from the building's 103rd floor, were retracted as a precaution.
• The Chicago Park District closed the Lincoln Park Conservatory on the North Side and the Garfield Park Conservatory on the West Side, which have glass roofs, because of safety concerns.
• Semi-trailer trucks pulling double trailers or other oversized loads were temporarily banned from driving on the Indiana Toll Road.
• Airlines canceled 500 flights at O'Hare Airport, causing ripple effects on travel nationwide.
• The City of Chicago received 408 calls to 311 about tree damage, meaning either a branch or an entire tree came down.

Yep. That's windy alright! And today, while not as bad as yesterday, the wind is still an issue:

The worst appears over, although some more strong winds are expected.

A wind warning is in effect today until 7 p.m. with southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Lets just say it makes for some interesting hair styles...
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My buddy and fellow voracious reader Mike has a Nook and I'm a Kindle kind of gal, which has made for some interesting and spirited discussions about which is superior (e-reader, that is). Mike sent me an email celebrating the news that the new Nook is slightly larger, comes in different colors and has a full color screen. I asked about whether it was back-lit or e-ink, and sure as shootin' it's back-lit.

Here's my take on it -- if you think the iPad is beautiful but all you really want it for is a reader and some basic apps, the new Nook fits the bill and for a hell of a lot cheaper.

That back-lighting thing, though?

"Using a computer is one of the most alerting things you can do. A light on a computer is very strong and right in front of your eyes. A computer will shift your biological clock and run signals to the brain to be on the alert," explains Gill, who cautions to avoid using a computer before bedtime and when you get up because you are unable to sleep.

Bugger! I guess we'll keep holding out for color e-ink...
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Not only is the idea of a treehouse in Manhattan just cool beans, the execution is lovely, too!
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