I don't think it was a down state thing. We learned how to square dance at my grammar school in the suburbs. I don't think kids learn that now a days. It was just something they thought should be taught in the 80s and 90s I guess.

Yeah, we had to square dance in Chicago Public Schools too. I don't know if it went into the 90s, but we did it in the 60s and 70s for sure. I think it was part of a standard statewide curriculum. Like introducing you to musical instruments with the recorder.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

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There was a couple that had a pretty good monopoly of teaching grade school dance to 8th graders on the NW side of the city. They went to 2-3 schools per day 5 days per week to teach the box step. Then they would chaperone the dances every couple of months. That's a good gig if you can get it. There are generations of kids in the neighborhood who knew of the Stromers.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

We had to learn to polka in grade school. I still remember 1-2-3 and 4-5-6 and it impresses people when I can polka at weddings. The rest of the dancing not so much. We only knew our teacher as Mr. K because it was some long ass Polish name with a bunch of weird letter combinations.

Deerfield offered this alternative gym classed called "outdoor ed" I took it one year and it was really cool. Yes we had to do square dancing, but we also got to rappel off the back of the football bleachers and in the winter we would cross country ski the back 40. The square dancing wasn't bad, we all pretty much just made fun of that segment.

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More like Stroomers.

Built a fortune on watching children dance with each other out of the view of parents. That game is over.

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yea i was at Clissold in the 80's
we did the recorder
and square dancing
and the parachute

i remember 'hot dog day' being like a huge thing too

I didn't live downstate, by the way. I lived about 4 miles south of Route 34. You city folk call it Ogden Avenue.

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My Maserati does 186.

One of the Catholic Churches on the UIC campus had a stand set up called “cheap lunch”. For $2 you got a hot dog and bag of chips. I thought it would be funny to set a stand next to it and call it “cheaper lunch”.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Walter Payton Memorial Highway

Anything outside the Chicago metro area is "downstate." It doesn't even matter if it's north of the City. South Beloit is "downstate." I'm not even sure you don't live "downstate" right now.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

Old Route 66.

It goes by many names. But you can call it.....Tim.

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My Maserati does 186.

I understand. It's a running joke in my office. Rockford is downstate.

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My Maserati does 186.

Buffalo Grove High School was having Freshman do a Square Dance Unit (as of late 80's/early 90's)...didn't hate it but didn't actually like it either. Looking at the History of Illinois, the Square Dance is the official State of Illinois Dance...

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An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

Yep, square dancing was part of the PE curriculum for Antioch. I can't remember what grade it started, but I know for sure it as 4th through 8th grade and possibly even earlier.

EVERYONE would walk into the gym....see the cart with the record player and no sporting equipment and give the collective groan. I think it lasted 2 weeks.....2 weeks of pure hell.

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There is quite a difference once you head south of I-80, much slower pace, but there is a certain malaise and social ambivalence amongst the populace in Northern Illinois, especially in Rockford where you rarely get people to look you in the eye and greet you.

Will never forget one of my first days at work after I moved here, said good morning to a patient and he looked surprised and said, "you're not from Rockford are you", was kind of surprised, but quickly found out why he said that, one my favorite things to do at work is to say, "good morning", quickly followed by the old Uncle Terry line, "or not", when they do not reply. Don't know why, but that always is entertaining to me, of course the Clawmaster is a fairly large human, so they look at bit shocked, but my staff always gets a laugh out of it.

my experience is South of 80, you get the folksy interest of friendliness, but know when to end the small talk. For instance, I live in dupage county but when i go hunting, I have to travel to southern counties. I stopped at a 7/11 up by me to grab a red bull for the early AM drive and I was wearing my camo, which would definitely be odd and when the guy asked if i was going hunting and i said yes, he gave me an odd look of "why?"

when i got near the turnoff down south for where id be hunting, I stopped at a mcdonalds, went in and stood in line. First guy immediately asked if i was "Heading to, or heading out?" and we chatted a little about spots and what not and we left it with a "Good Luck & Thanks"

just different, everywhere i guess.

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'Your AT&T Universal Card has arrived'? Oh God, Kick-fucking-ass, I got a Master Card! I don't believe it, man. Life is kinda cool sometimes.

Also did these when a yout in Champaign, IL. Hadn't thought of that stuff in decades.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

yep, I remember the big decision was whether or not your parents were gonna let you check the "2 hot dogs" box on the order form.

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While I was living in Chicago, the older I got the further north I used to put the border to the South side. By the time I moved I considered anything south of Fullerton to be the South side.

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Julie a little early for Black History Month pandering

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

"abbott elementary" is the quintessential safe show to say you're a fan of. you won't get questioned on why you like it or why you watch it; but you wouldn't be able to mention a single thing that makes it worth watching. it's as bland as they come, and an extremely superficial ripoff of "the office".

but at least they contribute to teachers with their awards earnings.

of course her loser self watches the Golden Globes. Guaranteed its to monitor it for anything "offensive" she could complain about on twitter

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'Your AT&T Universal Card has arrived'? Oh God, Kick-fucking-ass, I got a Master Card! I don't believe it, man. Life is kinda cool sometimes.

That principal does it for me within the context of the show.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

i ordered some food for pickup last night...get there and order isn't ready. OK fine illl sit at the bar and have a drink
Sound was off, but all the TV's had the Golden Globes on . I'm guessing they don't have the NBA package but there had to be SOME sports on . Like i'd watch July play cricket before i watch the Golden Globes

Wtf??? also , didnt happen

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

"She was told"???

Is there the menopause police. The thin red line?

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My Maserati does 186.

aren't only old ladies on menopause? in other words, she's not gorgeous.

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