CHICAGO — Here's what we're reading today.
Bern baby, Bern: Senior editor Andrew Herrmann is reading Time magazine's look at presidential long-shot Bernie Sanders' days as a University of Chicago student. Sanders, class of 1964, "threw himself into activism — civil rights, economic justice, volunteering, organizing," says Time. Back then, the now-Vermont senator was "a sloppy student" who was asked by the dean to take a year off from school. He had his run-ins with Chicago police: he was arrested for demonstrating against segregated schools here. Time also relates how a Chicago squad car followed him as he put up posters protesting police brutality. The officers took down the fliers behind him, with one asking Sanders, "Are these yours?" Sanders, an independent running for the Democratic nomination, says of years at U of C: "I received more of an education off campus than I did in the classroom."
Bernie Sanders, right in sweater, during a University of Chicago protest against housing discrimination in 1962. [University of Chicago]
What Does Your Inbox Say About You? An Atlantic reporter who likes his inbox clear wonders what our email behaviors say about our personalities. "There are two types of emailers in the world: Those who can comfortably ignore unread notifications, and those who feel the need to take action immediately," writes Joe Pinsker. What does the impulse to tackle that email immediately say about you? One professor believes it could be about being in control. Pinsker says it's simple:
"My email theory is really just a corollary of another, more expansive pop philosophy: Muppet Theory, proposed by Dahlia Lithwick, a writer at Slate. Under Lithwick’s classification, everyone is either a Chaos Muppet (“out-of-control, emotional, volatile”) or an Order Muppet (“neurotic, highly-regimented, averse to surprises”). "
My name is Jen Sabella, and I'm a Chaos Muppet.
Your Instagram Photo Is Worth $90,000?: Controversial artist Richard Prince recently sold blown up versions of other people's Instagram photos as part of an art exhibit, the Washington Post reports. While reporter Mina Bloom isn't exactly surprised that Prince wasn't required to warn the photographers or get permission to put them on display, she is confused by the $90,000 pricetag on each piece. They're artistic photographs, but still. That's a huge chunk of change for any piece of art — let alone one that isn't really yours.
Dick Portillo Made Fast Food Destination Worthy, Now He's Ready to Enjoy Life: Wicker Park reporter Alisa Hauser says no trip back to her hometown of Buffalo Grove is complete without a stop at Portillo's. The 75-year-old entreprenuer behind the iconic hot dog (and chocolate cake shake) spot started his chain 52 years ago, the Tribune reports in a feature about the sale of Portillo's popular chain to new owners.
The piece mentions two items that have prominent placement on Dick Portillo's desk: A silver plaque that reads D.W.Y.S.Y.G.T.D. — a lengthy acronym that stands for "Do what you say you're going to do." And, below that, "When You Have Somebody By The Balls Don't Let Go To Get A Better Grip."
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