Quote from: reezy on December 20, 2007, 01:11:17 PM

Quote from: ilsox7 on December 20, 2007, 12:58:44 PM

Was GL Xmas Ale involved?

To say the least.

Do you have any experiences with Bell's fine line? They're out of Kalamazoo, MI and make some awesome beers (Oberon, Two Hearted Ale).

If you can't find the Xmas Ale in town and want a beer that will knock you down, I suggest this:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/bells-expedition-stout/3214/
10.5%. It could cure your hangover with one bottle.

Bell's makes some nice stuff.  Though Oberon is highly overrated and probably one of their worst beers.  Up there with Great Lakes is Victory, Stone, Jolly Pumpkin, Russian River, Dogfish Head, Founders, and many other American Craft Breweries. 

There are also a TON of Xmas Ales out there these days, as they have become the thing to do.  Delirium makes a phenomenal Noel that will kick your ass big time.  Lots of the other Belgians are doing to the same.  Good times!

Let me tell you about reezy's day.  He woke up at 11:15 with the worst hangover in America.  He opened his wallet to find a $77 credit card receipt from the nearest bar... apparently, he bought a round of Cuervo shots for his 9 closest friends.  By 1:30 this afternoon, his hangover has reached epic proportions; he doesn't even call the dealership to tell them that he won't be able to bring his car in for service this afternoon.  At 2:30, in the heat of an LSD debate about racism and LS admissions, the hangover hits fever pitch and reezy actually runs to the bathroom and yorks.  This is a full 12 hours after I've stopped drinking, mind you.

Now, at 3:40 in the afternoon and still in bed with his laptop on his chest, reezy hears his cell phone ring.  Could it be Emory?  Wake Forest?  Some other law school?  He slowly looks at the caller ID, hoping for it to a 404 area code from Atlanta...  And it's not.  Total letdown.  It's just my old high school buddy Jason, who has secured 4 tickets to the Cavs/Lakers game tonight.  Suddenly, the day is looking up; reezy understands that there are more important phone calls than those from Dean so-and-so from wherever.  (Game's on TNT, reezy will be 12 rows back behind the Lakers' bench.  Black northface, bloodshot hangover eyes... You can't miss me.)

Was GL Xmas Ale involved?

plausibility of living in Chicago was incorrect. 

I doubt the exact numbers were the point of the response. 

That's great and all, but I was simply pointing out that what was posted was incorrect.  I don't see what the big deal is here.  I am not ripping anybody or anything.  I am just saying that while debt certainly is a consideration, you can actually live in this city on much less than most people would think.  That's it.  So if someone really wants to live in Chicago, they shouldn't be scared away by the fact that their take-home pay (after taxes and loans) is relatively low.

So after taxes and such you would have $1,800 a month of $25K/year. $100K in student loan debt is around another $800. So that leaves you with about a grand for everything else (rent, food, transportation, etc.). Yes, that's doable but that's not much of a life, is it?

I meant the 25K per year for people not having any/much debt.  It may be difficult starting out, but I know plenty of folks who moved up here after college and did just that.

Also, someone making $25K a year will not take home $1,800 a month after taxes and benefits and whatnot.  It will be less than that by a considerable amount (especially if there is a state income tax).  I'd count on monthly take-home being closer to $1,600.

That's strange that even the top of Loyola's class has trouble finding jobs in Chicago. Is chicago a very competitive legal market?

The top of the class doesn't struggle to find jobs, they struggle to find big law jobs.  As for the couple of people I know in the top of the class who don't have anything, it's for reasons other than grades.

And Chicago is extremely competitive.