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Author Archives: Mr. Dan Kelly

Chicago writer interested in many things.

What’s He Building in There?

Sunday, September 26, 2010

My latest project. What could it be? I’m sure some of you know already. I’m just happy that after two years of fatherhood, I’m returning to the workshop. God, it’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since I took that woodworking class. That crazy, crazy-ass woodworking class… If we ever meet, buy me […]

Filed in woodworking, wtf? | | Comments (0)

Generations

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Standing in front of an elevator in the Tribune Tower that my grandpa might have run as an operator during the 1930s and 40s.

Filed in architecture, chicago, family, history | | Comments (0)

Typewriter Porn

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Jack Torrance’s Adler Universal, The Shining Barton Fink’s Underwood, Barton Fink All the President’s Men His Girl Friday Clark Nova, Naked Lunch

Filed in antiques, doodads, film | | Comments (0)

Shine On, You Crazy Harvest Moon

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

And hello to you too, Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity (the star directly “below” La Luna).

Filed in astronomy, photography | | Comments (0)

How Do You Like It?

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I never knew about this until today. Stanley Kubrick and Shelley Duvall shot The Shining’s infamous typewriter scene in several different languages for the international versions. From Wikipedia: For each language, a suitable idiom was used: German (Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen—”Never put off till tomorrow what may be done […]

Filed in film | | Comments (0)

Of Blind Pigs

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

David Brooks and I, in a rare alignment of planets, agree on something. Performing his usual trick of writing a book review and piggy-backing on another writer (usually issuing his own spin on the writer’s intentions), he addresses literary darling Jonathan Franzen’s latest book Freedom. In-between the sycophantic flattery to ensure he’s on future guest […]

Filed in books, literature, news, rant, writing | | Comments (0)

Pooped

Monday, September 20, 2010

So, I stepped in some dog shit at lunchtime today. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last, sadly, I’m sure. After a trip to the bathroom I was able to pick out (with a plastic knife) all but the most embedded crumbs of dog grumpy from my shoe’s waffle. What kills […]

Filed in cats, chicago, pets, ramble, wtf? | | Comments (0)

Jesus House Walks

Friday, September 17, 2010

Last week’s house walk was a success. I worked at St. John’s Church as a docent and gofer Saturday morning and afternoon, switching between explaining the Christian symbology topping the lancets on the Advent Window, and setting up canopies, tables, and chairs for the beans and brats feast the church laid out for all visitors. […]

Filed in architecture, chicago, religion | | Comments (0)

Joaquin Phoenhoax

Friday, September 17, 2010

If the 1990s were the age of irony, where everything sat between double quotes, the 2000s and 2010s are promising to be the age of the participatory lie. Bush’s claim of WMDs was the most egregious example. Even in the face of contradictory evidence, even now, long after it’s been proven that Hussein had no […]

Filed in film, Internet, ramble, rant | | Comments (0)

“Most plants thrive on animal waste, but I’m afraid this mutation possesses an appetite for the animal itself. ” Day of the Triffids

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

I don’t think I’ve adequately described the viney nightmare in our backyard. Back in 2006, I raised a 120 pound pumpkin. This  year I have five of what look like 100-pounders or more. Didn’t do much more than plant the seeds, spread a little compost, and walk away. But that’s all that pumpkins really need. […]

Filed in alien, Halloween, plants, wtf? | | Comments (0)