Mixtape Chicago

Rachel here.

So I feel sort of guilty for not keeping up on this blog. I have kind of been focusing on my twitter    (https://twitter.com/chioffthegrid ) game lately. It is legit hard to keep up with both, on top of a podcast, and then on top of an actual job that I moderately take seriously.

Anyhow, I stumbled across something pretty cool and I wanted to share. It's called Elephant Mixtapes.
So basically, a guy makes 10 mixtapes every month and hides them around Chicago. He puts up clues on his website http://elephantmixtapes.com and your mission is to find the tapes. Once you find a tape, you take it home, light some candles, put the tape in the cassette player, get into a bubble bath, soak in all the musical goodness (and bubbles), get out of said bubble bath, make a copy for yourself, and then make a new mix and hide it somewhere else, for someone else to find and enjoy.

I don't know about you, but I think this is a pretty cool idea and a cool way to listen to new music and spread the music you enjoy to others.  I really like making mix CD's for people. Ricky and I both like sharing with others the music that we like. It is a big part of my life.  That is why I was so excited when I actually found one of the tapes earlier today.  Yes, I found one of the Elephant Mix Tapes!

check out this picture of my mixtape via my Instagram page MY ELEPHANT MIXTAPE, YO

If you're totally uncool, you may say mixtapes are outdated. Okay, you're probably right. In fact, yes, yes you are right. But up until recently I was still making them because my car only had a tape deck (and a car phone. That's right, my 1994 Toyota Camry had a mother f*cking car phone, get over it).  I had no CD player, therefore I had no choice.  But there is just something nostalgic and cool about making mixtapes.

So, check out the elephant man's website and start looking for those mixtapes.  You will be glad you got to hear some new music and make a mix of your own.

P.S. Ricky and I recorded a new podcast last night and it will be up in a few days. It's going to be great, I promise!

We are no longer Podcast Virgins

Here it is, all wrapped up with a shiny bow and everything. Our first podcast. Check it out!!

http://bit.ly/WksKRX

if that doesn't work:

https://soundcloud.com/tcpfkqhyxhnb

Podcast Coming Soon!

For those of you already reading our blog, thanks for stopping by! We will have our first podcast ready to go in the next day or two. Until then, check out the blogs we posted for a preview.

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Micro Living. Could You Handle It?

courtesy: NY Times

When on thinks of small living quarters one usually things of a studio, a trailer home, a tent used by Native Americans or the roaming Mongolians, even the charming life style conditions of far eastern cultures of China or Japan. But these fail in comparison to the recent trend of a micro living style.

Cramming your life to a small living situation is a test on to itself that requires discipline and a true appreciation of the basic needs to “survive.” The world of “McMansions” and Cambridge homes bursting out of nowhere to capture our attention and filling us with a sudden insatiable desire to live well beyond our means is being replaced with the realization that all that space is just not necessary. The first thing that 3 bathrooms, 7 bedrooms, 4 floors of endless space, brings to mind is “What am I going to fill this with?” It’s just more spare space to fill, more things to buy and more money to spend when it most likely will end up in a storage facility. When is it enough room? Does anyone even that much room anymore?

Three places that have started to embrace and understand this cultural living shift are New York, Chicago and from the other side of the pond, Poland. The idea of smaller living conditions isn’t new, or on par with the invention of the wheel, but it is re-inventing it to today’s urban lifestyle of the ever growing population, economic struggle, and self awareness that the more room you have, the more junk you have to fill it with.

courtesy: NY Times

New York City planners are currently developing living spaces “the size of a modest hotel room” to target their issues with space and the growing population. The apartments will be 325 sq ft, breaking city regulation with consent of a minimum of 400 sq ft. Their influences come from Tokyo, Hong Kong and even Italy, places where a smaller lifestyle is common ,the target audience being singles.

Chicago takes this a step further with apartments are as small as 150 sq ft. The cost being dramatically lowered but not with the intentions of just targeting lower income communities but to continue applying the idea of gentrification, taking away the misconception that smaller apartments and small living is meant for poorer individuals. The challenge here being the smaller space and how to truly make it livable and not making you feel crowded.

courtesy: NY Post

In Poland, this has become more a focus of creativity and reinvention, than necessity for space. Jakub Szeczesny, member of the experimental architecture group Central has developed an intriguing was to develop a structure in between buildings, what is known to us as a “gangway” in Chicago. The structure is full with amenities, bed stove, bathroom, even a reading nook. 

 courtesy: design-milk.com

Topics to cover/discuss:

Is it something that could catch on, or in some cases spread?

How has the economy as a catalyst, open people to these ideas?

Could you see yourself changing your lifestyle to pursue a simple living quarter?

Can this be a way to get people more active and involved in the community?

How do you see this affecting the post recession individual who now rethinks his or her steps toward making it to the American Dream of middle class?

Does it prolong it?

Mindy Kaling's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Other Concerns"

I just read Mindy Kaling's book (the one with the really long title that I don't feel like typing out again) and I thought it was excellent.

The book is a memoir where she talks about her childhood, how she got into the television business, her time writing and acting on “The Office” which was very interesting and funny, and other things ranging from her love for romantic comedies, to her confusion about one night stands, to revenge fantasies she plays out in her head while she works out.

So obviously, since she is a female comedy writer, everyone wants to compare her to Tina Fey. Which is difficult to do, because they have very different styles of storytelling.  The reason why I really liked Mindy’s book so much is because she is just so easy to relate to.  There were so times I caught myself nodding my head in agreement to some of the things she was saying. She has this whole section about men vs. boys. She says men, for example, own alarm clocks. Sleep on a mattress that isn’t on the floor. They buy new shampoo instead of adding water to a nearly empty bottle of shampoo. They don’t wear Velcro shoes.  Boys, on the other hand, can pack up their life in a duffel bag and move to Brooklyn for a gig if they need to. They make amazing, memorable, homemade gifts.  They are impulsive. They can talk for hours with you in a diner at 3 in the morning because they don’t have regular work hours. But they suck to date. 

I have had the man vs. boy conversation with many of my friends which is why when I was reading it, I was like, I am not the only person who thinks this way!!  I could give you so many examples from this book that I can relate to and I think a lot of other people can relate to also.  This is why I liked her book so much.  I loved Tina Fey’s Bossypants for lots of reasons.  But if you want something relate-able, read Mindy’s book. Tina is like the girl in class that you think is really cool and smart and popular and you want to be just like her. Mindy is the girl in class you play dolls with at recess while talking shit about your fellow classmates.

Something I really enjoyed about “is everyone hanging out with me and other concerns” were all of the parts where she talks about her best friends.  You don’t usually hear about celebrities and the type of relationships they have with their best friends and it was kind of cool to learn about Mindy’s personal life in that way.  She has one chapter called “Best friend rights and responsibilities” and I liked it so much that after reading it, I typed the whole thing out, word for word and emailed it to my best friends.  Its kind of long so I will just read to you some of them. 1)We sleep in the same bed.  If we’re on a trip or if our boyfriends are away, and there’s a bed bigger than a twin, we’re partnering up.  It is super weird for us not to share a bed. How else will we talk until we fall asleep? 2) I can ditch you, within reason. I can ditch you to hang out with a guy, but only if that possibility has been discussed and getting-ride-home practicalities have been worked out prior to the event. In return, I need to talk about you alot with that guy so he knows how much I love you. 3) I will hate and re-like people for you. But don't get mad if I can't keep track. Robby? Don't we hate him? No, we love him. Okay, okay. Sorry. 4)If you are depressed, I will be there for you. As everyone knows, depressed people are some of the most boring people in the world. I know this because when I was depressed, people fled. Except my best friends. I will be there for you during your horrible breakup, and you can tell me a hundred times the same sad stories about how you thought he was going to be the one. I will be there for you to tell your long revenge fantasies to, and also to Facebook stalk whoever you want. I know I will hate it and find you really tedious, but I promise I won't abandon you. And the last on the list, No two people are better than us. We fucking rock. No one can beat us.

Official website for the book:

http://theconcernsofmindykaling.com/the-book

Applebees Has Social Media Disaster

Applesbees has a social media meltdown.

It all started last month after a waitress at a St. Louis Appleebees lost her job for posting online a receipt showing that a pastor crossed off the default 18 percent tip and wrote a snarky note saying, "i give God 10 percent, why do you get 18."

After her firing caught wind on the internet, a mob of social media users then took the Applebees' facebook page leaving tons of comments against the restaurant's decision to fire her.

Applebees posted a status update on their Facebook page, saying they wish the situation didn't happen, but its against their policy to post personal information online about their guests, including meal checks. That did not help the situation. Thousands of people started making comments on the status update, saying how terrible Applebees is and how their food sucks and how terrible they are for firing the waitress.

But the story does not end there. Applebees started making comments on its own status update, repeatedly trying to explain themselves, and allegedly deleting negative comments and blocking people from its Facebook page. So people start getting even more furious about being censored.

At this point it is 3 in the morning.

This social media nightmare continues for a few more hours as thousands of people continue to comment on Applebees' status. They end up "hiding" their original post so no more people could comment.

Some of our Talking points:

This is a great case study for PR and social media college classes. As a social media director, what would you have done in the situation?

Was it a bad idea for the waitress to post the receipt to Reddit and should she have been fired?

How important is facebook/twitter/social media in  general for the image of not only companies, but for regular people also?

Do you think Applebees lost business because of this?

Valentine's Day Events in Chicago

Whether you are single, dating or married, there are some fun events going on in Chicago on February 14th.  Here are our top choices:

Valentine’s Day Events

“Make up Make out” party

Ladytron DJ Set

Beauty Bar, 1444 W. Chicago

9pm, no cover

“Nerds at Heart 6^th Annual Love Fest”

Rebel Bar & Grill, 3462 N. Clark St.

7pm, $30 

Play board games and participate in other activities with "nerdy" singles from Chicago at this event, which also features drink specials, prizes and giveaways.

"Screw Cupid Pub Crawl"

7pm, $5 for unlimited trolley rides

Take unlimited trolley rides between McGee's Tavern and Grille, Duffy's Tavern and Grille, Durkin's Tavern, Redmond's Ale House, Wrightwood Tap, and Maeve for themed specials including $4 Ketel One Cocktails, $3 Cupid Punch and $3 Bud and Bud Light

“Puppy Love 2013”

The Copa, 1637 N. Clybourn Ave

8pm, no cover

Celebrate the romantic holiday with your favorite companion - your dog. Guests can enjoy $4 Dogfish Head drafts and $3 greyhound cocktails while their dogs can enjoy free plush toys and dog treats.

"A Very Special Valentine's 'Nude Hope: A Star Wars Burlesque"

Gorilla Tango Theater, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.

9pm, $28-$35

See a Valentine-themed performance of the long-running burlesque show based on the "Star Wars" films, in which Luke Skywalker is a sexually frustrated farmer who attempts to rescue Princess Leia with the help of the she-hunk Han Solo and her Wookie companion who never wears pants.

“Sunset Serenade”

Arts N Spirits, 1921 N. Damen Ave.

7pm, $40

Create your own painting on two panels or a single canvas. Sweets are included.

“Champagne is Made for Two”

RM Champagne Salon, 116 N. Green St.

$95, 5 p.m.

Enjoy an 8 course, prix fixe meal with your loved one, featuring oysters, foie gras, scallops, venison loin, tropical fruit, apple struden, chocolate crunch, coffee and cruellers.

The Red Chapel

In our first podcast, we mentioned the movie "The Red Chapel" as we were discussing cannibalism in North Korea.

Wikipedia says it best:
"The Red Chapel" is a 2009 Danish documentary film directed by Mads Brugger. It chronicles the visit of Brugger and Danish comedians who are adopted from South Korea, Jacob Nossell (in the wheelchair) and Simon Jul to North Korea under the pretense of a small theater troupe on a cultural exchange.  This is also the first time the two comedians have ever visited North Korea."

This movie highlights the extreme cultural difference between North Korea and the rest of the world, and also how much the government there regulates "entertainment." A highlight of the movie for me, was when the group was made to take part in an anti-American march in North Korea.  Very creepy to think that these types of things happen in this modern day and age.

 The movie actually has some funny moments, but also some sad and even frustrating moments.  We highly recommend this movie! And YES it's available streaming on Netflix. 

Here is a link to the movie's IMDB page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1546653/

Cannibalism in North Korea

I'm always hearing bizarre news regarding North Korea -- the most isolated nation the world.  This latest story is something I found exceptionally interesting, er, disturbing.

Reports of cannibalism are surfacing in North Korea -- a nation suffering from widespread famine. "Asia Press" reports a North Korean man was put to death by firing squad after he ate two of his children. The man reportedly killed his daughter while his wife was away on business. He then killed his son -- a witness to the murder. When the wife came home, he offered her food, saying "we have meat." Another man reportedly dug up the corpse of his dead grandson to eat his flesh. Last spring, a drought wreaked havoc on crops in North Korea, causing a famine..and human rights groups estimate 10,000 people have died from starvation last year alone. The reports of cannibalism come at a time of renewed tension between North Korea and the United States. The country's leader Kim Jong Un recently started the U.S. was its sworn enemy and vowed to restart nuclear and long-range missile testing.

For the full story, here is the story in the New York Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/report-starving-north-korean-father-resorts-cannibalism-article-1.1250773