Yesterday was the first studio session of a TV project two friends and I've been working on.

We put a lot of work into it, and I'd looked forward to it for a long time. To have that work and hope spat upon so nastily and even physically fills me with so much disgust and bitterness that I don't even know how to describe it. I and the friends I invited to help us were yelled at and verbally abused, and I was even physically accosted. Needless to say, the event itself and the memory of it is forever spoiled for me.

I understand the guy had a speech impediment and was frustrated with himself, but I'm sorry. That just doesn't justify jeopardizing something that we had invested so much of ourselves in. I've had my share of hardships too, and sometimes I admit I haven't handled them very well in the past, but I like to think I've learned something from them. When I lived in Haiti, did I yell at the Haitians because they couldn't understand me? No! Nothing justifies yelling at someone else, and absolutely nothing justifies physical assault! He really shouldn't be working in an environment where communication is essential and time is critical if he can't communicate, anyway.

What kind of place is CAN-TV that they think this is appropriate? This project was first and foremost supposed to be enjoyable stress relief. Instead, I came away from it more stressed, humiliated, angry and bitter. I never want to set foot in a CAN-TV studio nor do I have any desire to ever watch one of their programs again. Is this the purpose of public access, to drive the public away and make them feel unwelcome?

I'm seriously trying to put this behind me. I can't get past the feeling that this has soured not only my dream behind this project, but also my feelings toward Chicago's entertainment industry and even Chicago itself. You may say it's only one guy that did this, but really he's just the last in a long stream of people, the proverbial last straw. No hope, no goal, no dream is worth that.

Due to lack of funding, my internet's been permanently disconnected. I'm currently writing this from a library; that and coffeeshops are my plan for accessing teh intarwebs^* for at least the next two weeks, or until I move and can afford it.

I haven't posted anything here lately anyway, and that just reflects my general inactivity in life. Without money, I can't really go anywhere or see many shows. Thus, nothing's happening, so there's nothing to blog about. Que ergo duh.

That may change very soon. I start a new job Monday - a permanent job, not a temp assignment this time. That'll allow me to get a new apartment and move, and after that I can better concentrate my free time on the new TV project (to be further revealed later), the radio show, the music scene, and ranting about stupid people in traffic.

I have to go now; it's 3pm and this library's become infested with loud annoying children. I may have to stick to coffeeshops - that rarely happens there. Plus, they have coffee.

* No, that wasn't a typo, Joey, despite how the usage may have been derived.

For years, telling people how to find this website was a huge challenge. Apparently my name is difficult to spell or something. I had to resort to telling everyone to search for "tom south north chicago idiot canada." For some reason it's the first result.^*

Well no longer. This afternoon I found out southofnorth.com and southofnorth.net recently expired, so I bought them both. Go ahead, click on those links. It brings you right back here. There's no escape.

Now I have to reprint all my business cards.

^*No it's not.

Here I sit, tired and hungover in the neighborhood cafe, trying to write but mostly staring out the window. Just like any other Sunday. Then I notice my table has a drawer in it. Of course I open it. What else would I do?

Inside is a napkin on which is scrawled:

Bad luck and extreme misfortune
will infest your pathetic soul
for all eternity.
- God

So I got that going for me.

After Sunday's Radio Reboot, I'm calling the show "Is This Thing On?" from now on. So on to bigger and better things, right?



I'm expecting everyone on Earth to show up to the Mutiny (2428 N. Western Ave.) for what's been named "Sheklefest" by The Grackles. One of the bands had scheduling conflicts, but we still have a perfect three band night^* featuring The Titmice, The Grackles, and My Canadian Girlfriend, who, unlike my American girlfriend, exists. Apocalyptic fun that everyone will be talking about all spring begins promptly around 10pm. My roommate's girlfriend's best friend's cousin's dog told me you should go.


^*not to be confused with Three Dog Night, which was another band from the 60s and 70s who won't be on the bill.