By Steve Rhodes

Adapted from a recent Facebook post.
I realize that tons and tons and tons of people are suffering far, far greater maladies than the dumb little thing that occurred to me recently, but folks seem to like these stories when I write them up, so here goes.
I went to the hospital blood lab a few weeks ago to get tests my doctor ordered as a follow-up to some tests I took a month ago for numb hands and feet (still a problem), and also to just get the complete work-up because I’m a relatively new patient of his. I hadn’t had blood drawn since 2011.
I have a history of not doing well with blood drawn, sometimes fainting, sometimes not. I’m not afraid of it, it’s just a reaction that some people get. I always advise my blood-drawers of this. But a month ago, I did perfectly fine and thought I was done with that. It hasn’t been all my life, it started one year many years ago when I was in the waiting room once after the blood draw, chatting with my mom, and the next thing I knew, I woke up on a bed in the doctor’s office. One time I was in the waiting room – again, after, not during – the blood draw just shooting the shit with a friend and – I don’t remember any of this – I threw up and passed out, like, at the same time I guess. But sometimes I’m fine, or just a little woozy.
So anyway, I’m in the blood-draw room in the hospital blood lab and I’m disappointed it’s not the woman I had last time, who was so good at it I didn’t even realize the needle was in. Instead, I had a guy who seemed both a bit too eager to get to it and a bit nervous at the same time. Plus, he wasn’t very chatty. Then he stuck the fuck out of me. Just poked the fuck out of my left arm with the needle. “OWWWWW!” I yelled. “That hurts!”
I’ve never done that before. It’s never hurt. I don’t know how many times he jabbed me trying to get that needle in, but I want to say it was maybe four times.

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Posted on December 28, 2018

By Indiana Dunes Tourism

The 15,000-acre Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will remain open during the government shutdown, and visitors will have full access to the park, its paths and the shoreline. The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, staffed by employees of Indiana Dunes Tourism, a department of Porter County government, will also remain open, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, to provide information to guests. Additionally, the Indiana Dunes State Park will remain fully staffed and operational.
“We’re disappointment to see any type of government shutdown, especially the National Park Service, which is an integral part of the Indiana Dunes area,” said Dustin Ritchea, the promotions director for Indiana Dunes Tourism, “but we want to remind visitors that many of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s trails, beaches and parks will remain open to the public. Also, the state park and many other exciting opportunities, including our area’s communities, events and attractions will still be available during this time.”

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Posted on December 22, 2018

By The Art Institute Of Chicago

“They were the beautiful people of Edo-period Japan, the courtesans, geisha, and actors depicted in the ukiyo-e paintings of the 17th through 19th century.
“The world they moved in, the ‘floating world’ (ukiyo), was all about glamour, sophistication, and style. The fashions they wore reflected not only class and occupation but also trends and individual taste, all of which were focused on the attempt to create an ideal picture of beauty. It’s no accident that the artists represented in Painting the Floating World: Ukiyo-e Masterpieces from the Weston Collection applied their skills to capturing every beautiful aspect.”

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Posted on December 19, 2018

By J.J. Tindall

Springsteen on Broadway (My Cousin Nora)
Mom went to Red Bank Catholic High,
Long Branch, New Jersey.
In the 1940s.

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Posted on December 18, 2018

By The Chicago Community Bond Fund

Devoureaux Wolf, better known as “King Detro,” is Chicago’s footwork king.
Reigning from Chicago’s West Side, Devoureaux has won countless dance competitions, hosted WalaCam, and started Dance N Out, a program aimed at bringing kids off of the street and onto the dance floor.
In April 2016, the King was assaulted by Chicago police officers who then arrested him and charged him with assaulting them. The King was sent to Cook County Jail, not because he had been convicted of a crime but simply because he couldn’t afford to pay the $3,000 bond that was the price tag on his freedom. Due to his incarceration awaiting trial, Devoureaux lost his housing, his connection with the community he served, and nearly his career.

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Posted on December 14, 2018

By Jason Roberts/ Euclideon Entertainment

Hi There,
I am from Euclideon Entertainment, you might have seen us or read about us from IAAPA this year.
Usually we manufacture Holographic tables for Government and Military applications, but this year we created the world’s first Hologram Arcade Machine.
We are looking to come over to promote these and would very much like to have a meeting with you.

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Posted on December 11, 2018

By Brian Zikmund-Fisher/The Conversation

The following three statements are all true: Eating cookie dough can be dangerous, even after we’ve dealt with any raw eggs. I am a public health faculty member and an expert in health risk communication. My family and I eat raw cookie dough regularly.
If it seems implausible that all three of those statements can be simultaneously true, let me explain.

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Posted on December 10, 2018

By The Skokie Valley Kennel Club

Join the Skokie Valley Kennel Club in celebrating its 80th year. Bring your dog lovers to the Rosemont Christmas Shows!
You will get the chance to take a dog show tour, Meet the Breeds, see Rally and Obedience competitions and more this Saturday and Sunday at The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The two-day all-breed dog shows will have lots of fun-filled activities for adults and their children.

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Posted on December 7, 2018

By Christian Jarrett/Aeon

It’s a question that’s reverberated through the ages: Are humans, though imperfect, essentially kind, sensible, good-natured creatures? Or are we, deep down, wired to be bad, blinkered, idle, vain, vengeful and selfish?
There are no easy answers, and there’s clearly a lot of variation between individuals, but here we shine some evidence-based light on the matter through 10 dispiriting findings that reveal the darker and less impressive aspects of human nature:

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Posted on December 6, 2018

By Frank S. Long/International Content Liquidations

Due to upcoming renovations, the CONTENTS of the Holiday Inn in Rolling Meadows are schedule to be liquidated by “Public Sale” starting Thursday at 10:00 am.

*****Everything Must Go*****
ICL will offer to the public, and professional trade, by Public Sale, all surplus FF&E and OS&E formerly used in the operation of this property. The Public Sale will continue until sold out with sale hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m for up to 30 days.
This is a pre-renovation sale, so items of interest include: The entire contents of the 350 Guest Rooms, Commercial Kitchen, Banquet, Common Areas, Chandeliers, China, Glassware, Offices, Drapes, Acres of Carpeting, Bar, Restaurant, Plus Lots of Misc. Items!

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Posted on December 4, 2018