Apparently businesses aren't allowed to require a minimum balance for Visa card purchases — it's a violation of the license terms that merchants must agree to when they begin to accept Visa payments. Iiiinteresting. It's tough to begrudge small businesses the right to ensure that they make a profit on every transaction, but still: good to know.

well, well. i was strolling along this morning towards the journalism building, coffee in hand, when one of many of the taped-to-the-ground fliers advertising various student activities caught my eye.

"STEPHEN MALKMUS" it read, in huge block letters. in smaller type it went on, kind of weirdly i thought, "acclaimed singer, songwriter, formerly of pavement."

hmm. i would go see malkmus again, i thought. i've seen him twice, once in charlottesville and once in milan, and he put on a pretty decent show both times.

then, in even smaller letters at the bottom, it read: "with new pornographers and my morning jacket."

$10. the best part? they're playing in northwestern's crappy ancient gym that can't hold more than 1,000 people on a good day. i'm so going saturday night, after an excursion with classmates to a brewers game in milwaukee. first minneapolis, now milwaukee. that's right. when will my midwestern adventures end?

Saved By The Bell on Adult Swim? Unacceptable! AS is for stupid but beloved cartoons, not stupid but beloved sitcoms.