New Built

Black Beauty, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

It's that time again It's new computer build time. I picked up this case at Best Buy on Sunday. It's an aluminum full tower case and has room for 6 optical drives and 6 hard drives. This thing is massive. Over the next couple of months I'll purchase my parts for this system. I plan to assemble it around Memorial Day.

I may build my first dual xeon system with this case. I've budgeted 1400 dollars for this feat and it will be tight the server motherboard alone is 400 and two Intel Xeon 5405's go for 480. It's just cool to think about what 8 cores could do for me. :)

Now in Stock

Unusual Sign, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

On Saturday I got the opportunity to walk the I & M canal in Lemont as well as walk around Lemont.

This sign was in a store window. Is Lemont destitute? Wow we finally have milk, bread and eggs available. What were people eating? Very strange sign indeed.

Empty Harbor

Belmont Harbor, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

It's Easter Sunday, which has fallen almost as early as possible. March 23rd this year. The earliest it can fall is the 22nd.

Since Easter was so early, the weather tends to be cooler. Easter was in the lower forties and as you can tell nothing is in Belmont Harbor. Actually, that statement isn't true. Just south of this location a few small sail boats were in the water. I don't know what the reason was and I wonder if it was tied to the holiday.

A few more weeks and these piers will be filled. I'm looking forward to that.

Re Route

Halsted Broadway, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

Today was the CTA's big shuffle of bus routes. The #8 Halsted had been running out of the 74th street garage running the vintage '95 Flxible buses.

Starting today the 8 has been moved to the Kedzie garage and are running the brand new 1000 series New Flyers. The Kedzie garage also have some 7500 series NABI's. I'm stoked. I rode from 33rd and Halsted up to the end at Broadway. I just got off the bus on the left side of the photo. The bus to the right was already there. Too bad the 44 is still at 74th since this is the route I take the most :(

Crown Jewel

Crown Jewel, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

After a rainy and snowy period I finally got a chance to go to Halsted street after work on Wednesday.

The Sears Tower must be my favorite object to photograph. I try to capture the building from as many vantage points as possible. This photo, taken on Halsted near Hubbard looks southeast. In the forground is some of the new construction that is happening west of the loop. These days Halsted street might as well be the western edge of downtown.

Not Really a Jewel

Jewelers Building Historic, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

When I arrived to work Monday morning I was greeted by the Landmark plaque at the doorway. The plaque seemed to gone missing several years ago when the city forced the landlord to restore the front facade.

If my memory serves me, this plaque used to be near the alley to the left of the building. In it's new location it won't harm the recreated front facade. While the exterior of the structure can be restored, there's not much hope for the interior. I don't think an original detail is left and this makes me sad. It's sort of cool though to work in a Landmark.

From Small Beginnings

Armour Institute from Red Line, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I took this picture of the original Armour Institute from the red line. The Armour Institute was located at 33rd and Federal. Named after it's benefactor, Armour, from meat packing fame, today the much larger Institute is known as IIT.

Armour gave one million dollars to pastor Frank W Gunsualus, after rising to the challenge that Mr Gunsualus offered in a speech that is now known as the million dollar speech. Frank Gunsualus who was the pastor at the well to do Plymouth Church, whom Armour was a member. Gunsaulus wanted to start a higher education program for the common man, not only the well to do.

The Institute's original buildings date from 1893. The only stipulation that Armour set forth was that Gunsualus had to be the Institute's first President. The school first programs were Chemistry and Engineering.