More about trains, the plains, Spain, and rain
It looks like that dreamy 45-minute train ride from CU to Chicago is still in the dream stage. President Obama recently announced $1.23 billion in stimulus money going to Illinois to build a “higher” speed rail system between Chicago and St. Louis via Bloomington.
Champaign city councilman Tom Bruno said we’ll get the high-speed line through Champaign, eventually. He’s sure of it. I’m not, although I think it would be one of the most effective feasible local economic development actions we could take. Or it would be feasible if we, the nation, weren’t so pathetically stuck.
| If you build it…
In recent months there has been a lot of discussion about the new bike lanes that have been installed in both Urbana and Champaign. Both cities have plans in place to install more infrastructure for bicycling and walking. Questions have been raised about why the cities would invest in bike lanes instead of focusing on streets for cars. A new report, “Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010: Benchmarking Report“ shows that investing in walking and biking reduces traffic fatalities and chronic disease.
The report reveals that states with the lowest levels of walking and biking have, on average, the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Alternatively, states with the highest rates of walking and biking have, on average, the lowest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Clearly, having access to infrastructure that provides for walking and/or biking impacts how much physical activity people get. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate activity per week and that by doing so you can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers.
Week one of The Yoga Experiment was lovely, but by Saturday, my whole body hurt. I felt like an old lady, and it carried over through the next few days. That, combined with a weekend of overconsumption and staying out too late (hey, I was celebrating the triumph of my first completed week!) made for a very yucky feeling on Monday morning when I awoke. I really really did not want to get out of bed. "Whyyy did I put …
Jill Guth knows a thing or two about what it means to be resilient. As the parent of a pediatric cancer survivor, and the pimary leasing agent for a commercial property company, it's the name of the game. America is still in a recession, and part of her job at JSM Properties is figuring out ways to encourage commerce while keeping the community in mind. Clothing fiends and hipsters give thanks: she is person responsible for bringing the likes of …
Last Wednesday evening at Skateland in Savoy, roller derby athlete Liz Lerner explained to me what her sport means to her: "We all have our day jobs. I'm a grad student and I work two part-time jobs. And I'm married, and I'm an aunt, and I have a dog. But to have this kind of outlet that you get to go to... it's great. It's an aggressive sport, and you can get a lot of things out. You can step …
You live near a major university and a community college. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible enlightenment. If that's the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are several events going on in town this week. Check out one or more of them if you have …
I attended the first Pecha Kucha event last September and was very impressed. The Canopy club was full and there was still a line of people around the block waiting to get in. The crowd was receptive and the presenters were a diverse group of creative talent that included a set designer, an artist, a mathematician, a pair of guerrilla knitters, and a Taco Bell wedding. And there wasn't a dull moment in the two-plus hour event. So right after …
I had been planning The Yoga Experiment for weeks, but on Sunday evening I started to get a little scared. A momentous task was ahead of me. Yoga almost every day for a year, and a weekly column about it? Knowing myself, and my flaky tendencies, I wondered if I had set myself up to fail. Nevertheless, I was still excited to get on the mat for the first time the next day. I shaved my legs, washed my black …
Champaign-Urbana seems to be a hub of Internet dating and friend-finding, where people who live, work and play mere steps from each other connect online before they ever interact in person. This is not just a local phenomenon-research shows that over 40 million American singles use online dating and social networking sites to meet new people. I had originally set out to explore the experiences of fellow Chambana residents who dabble in online dating, only to find that almost everyone …
A few months ago, my life was in complete chaos, and I felt it spinning out of control. My marriage was in shambles, the house was a disaster area, my weight had ballooned to its highest point ever, and the steady flow of my massage business had slowed to a trickle. I was in trouble. I felt adrift; I knew I could be close to losing everything, but I wasn't sure how to proceed. Then, the universe, in its divine …
Most Recent Culture Comments
I’m proud to see you young girls getting out there! Wow - that takes motivation and courage. Glad to see you’re getting some press too.
Hi, Paul! Cool article about preparing for P-K. I enjoyed your presentation very much—it set the tone for a wonderful, vibrant evening!
It was great to see some of y’all at speed skating practice this weekend. Thanks for mentioning us!
Best name for a fundraiser ever!! I will have to stop on by and let my friends know. I am always getting into bike accidents. Maybe I should just channel that into roller derby…!
Thanks for the props to the CU Rollers, see you on the rink!
This is the awesomest group of women in town—can’t wait for Talking Derby tonight! Way to go ladies!!!!
“Corporate partners in attendance will include Abbott, Ameren, BP, Caterpillar, ExxonMobil, GE, John Deere, Motorola, and Monsanto.“ Ah yes, sustainability at the U of I. It’s nice to have corporate partners like big oil companies, electric utlities and chemical/gmo seed juggernauts that prevent their product from being…
I was the head hooker back in the day. I hooked the canes with coffe pots jars whatever Tyke. Pete, Willie and Georgia Peach one of my nearest and dearest to this day.] would tell me to use. I moved to Monterey CA 35 yrs. ago, but…
What a wonderful and eloquent article. I’ve been doing flow yoga about once a week for over a year now, and a least one sun salutation every morning, yet I have never actually stopped to think about it and understand it in the way you wrote here. From…
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Its cool Annie, I know deep down you don’t give a shit, but yer being gracious. Check out the new Clipd Beaks, or Brian Jonestown Massacre, or Black Ryder from Australia. Yer right though, Chemicals is one song that acually says nothing. Usually, music that doesn’t really…
Who played?
I triuly enjoy being employed at the new Fat City!!!
I made these this weekend, albeit without the Pickling Spice. They are fucking tremendous. Wish I had local cukes, but alas they looked good and crispy at the store the other day. Here is more: they were ready within 12 hours. Now, I suspect they will…
No Iowa coverage?
For anyone interested in this stuff, there is aniInteresting show on tonight, Mon, Feb 8, on WILL TV, Blueprint America. about infrastructure, comparing Spanish gains in rail to American decline, with Detroit as, as usual, the basket case.
To the poster above - Your a Dead Soul. (giggle, giggle) No, really, think about it.
Jared played this on WEFT Sessions in September 2008, and in a year mistechtrophic songs I think this was my favorite of the year—this simple version of “I_Refute_Technology.mp3“ with acoustic guitar, electric bass, and two voices, it’s a good song. Musician, cover thyself!
Great job Suzanne. I really like how you sum up how George is a man stuck in his past and unwilling to explore his future. Thanks for your concise, thoughtful writing.
I’m proud to see you young girls getting out there! Wow - that takes motivation and courage. Glad to see you’re getting some press too.
Like Jason, I’ve been told by people who would know that HoG and Tang Dynasty are the most authentic Chinese food restaurants in town. One woman described HoG as “home cooking.“ Its tofu Pad Thai is perfection. Jason is also spot on that Mandarin Wok is…
Almost every issue this amendment attempts to address is merely a symptom of a much bigger, and unsurprisingly, much more difficult to solve problem: Voter apathy. You want to force term limits because voters generally don’t care enough to throw out bums who come off as…
After seeing the documentary “Food Inc.“ I may never eat meat that’s not local again, and am seriously considering the vegan option. Check it out.
I wouldn’t be too quick to discount this place simply based on its location or plastic eating utensils. I’ve been told that this place is one of the more authentic Chinese restaurants in town by a couple of different people who would know. That’s not to say…
It’s mediocre—not bad, but pretty much standard campus fare. “Plastic fork cuisine” is pretty apt. I have no experience searching for food from a vegan perspective, but for omnivores (or even vegetarians), I’d say there are at least five better Chinese and Thai places around town, maybe more.
First the Detroit Freep links. Keep term limits: http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/OPINION05/2040400/1068/OPINION/Keep-limits-Longer-time-in-office-wont-fix-state Repeal term limits: http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/OPINION05/2040403/1068/OPINION/Repeal-limits-Experience-is-not-an-evil-thing Second. I don’t have a real strong opinion on term limits, but generally think they do more harm than good. However, I have no proof of that. But, my experience, from working in government…
When I was an undergrad, I too occasionally had enough money for a cheap greasy spoon (chopstick) meal. On those occasions, I felt mildly celebratory about not boiling or microwaving my own dinner. It looks like this meal came in Styrofoam, with a plastic fork. There are…
As a relatively recent convert, I very much look forward to dining at this restaurant, and to the rest of your series! An excellent, marvelous idea…thank you!
Just saw it tonight. Stunning. And I really enjoyed the new approach (pre-movie) at the Art—both on-screen and the in-person greeting.
Thanks for the input everyone. Stuart, I could use some help. Your entire comment seems supportive except for the last, declarative sentence. You ask very cogent, thought-provoking questions which are appreciated and further the discussion. I myself don’t know how things will shake out once it is…
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For anyone interested in this stuff, there is aniInteresting show on tonight, Mon, Feb 8, on WILL TV, Blueprint America. about infrastructure, comparing Spanish gains in rail to American decline, with Detroit as, as usual, the basket case.