Category > Prophylaxing Politely
Last month marked the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and we ran an article highlighting three different women's abortion stories. In an open call for anyone's experience with reproductive health access, I came across two very unique personal stories, both from could-be abortion providers. With fewer and fewer abortion providers practicing in the United States (87% of all U.S. counties lack one), I was extremely interested in the delicate decisions that go into determining one's future in medical practice. …
Abortion has been legal for my entire lifetime, and abortion is available in my state and community. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute's most recent data, one in three women will have at least one abortion in their lifetime. Saturday marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a case that changed the way we look at reproductive rights in our country. Whether or not we agree or disagree with abortion access, there are unplanned and unwanted pregnancies in this …
Today, Wednesday, December 1, is World AIDS Day. Since the first official World AIDS Day in 1988, numerous non-profits, health organizations and awareness campaigns have worked annually to bring attention to HIV/AIDS around the world. Locally, the Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP) will host several events this week to bring awareness to HIV/AIDS and how it impacts our lives right here in Champaign-Urbana. GCAP was founded in 1985, originally as the Gay Community AIDS Project, by concerned C-U residents who …
Carnivàle Debauche, Champaign-Urbana's own burlesque and Vaudeville troupe, is gearing up for another performance on October 16, 8 p.m. at the Canopy Club. Billy Boudoir, the troupe's co-founder and Ring Master sat down with me to answer a few questions about why this upcoming performance promises to be their best yet. This is Debauche's third large-scale production, correct? BB: Yes, but it's our fifth or sixth show because we've also done Fishnets and Feathers shows at Pride Fest, Memphis on …
No glove, no problem? Why aren't our friends talking about protection, and what would happen if they did? Sex is often a topic of discussion in my daily encounters with girl friends, guy friends, gay friends and straight friends. Who is so-and-so doing, how often, when and where? Details aren't always omitted and conversations can get pretty steamy, but as soon as someone mentions protection, especially in the form of America's favorite barrier method, the discussion takes a turn for …
The Twin City Derby Girls (TCDG) are CU's premier women's roller derby league, which has exploded from a few women's mere interest in the sport to a full out four-team league with dozens of participants from around the area in about nine months. SP's Mark Laughlin has covered much of their journey here, here and here, but I had the pleasure of attending their bout on Friday. I'd watched TCDG's first bout in May, and had a wonderful time witnessing …
Last week I checked another item off my two-year long "to-do in and around C-U" checklist, with an amazingly fun trip to the Harvest Moon Drive-In up in Gibson City. I'd spent summers as a kid going to double-features with my parents at a different outdoor theater, where my siblings and I would promptly fall asleep in the back seats to the sound of crickets and the tinny output of the film's audio through metal speakers hanging off our windows. …
About a month ago I ventured south for a long weekend getaway. New Orleans was the main stop on my journey, and before I'd been in the city a whole 24 hours, I found myself in the back of a club, engaged in an impromptu interview with some local talent. Two dancers, a contortionist, a snake handler, and a scantily clad Emcee happily answered all of my questions about the craft of Burlesque between sets, and I left my vacation …
Don't you just love a lecture? I thoroughly enjoy being preached to, especially when my feet are in cold metal stirrups and someone is probing my lady goods with lubed-up latex-covered digits. I've got a dollar if you can name a time you've felt more vulnerable than having a medical professional ask how many people you've let touch your nether regions while s/he simultaneously gives a look of disapproval... all while scraping your cervix. Lying on my back in a paper gown isn't on my list of Top Five Times You Should Disapprove Of My Lifestyle. I have great …
Come one, come all! And when we say come... Spring fever has hit and we have a warm-weather treat that is sure to leave you all hot and bothered. We figured it's time to bring a little spice to Champaign-Urbana's nightlife, and who better to indulge you in your deepest desires than your favorite, sexy, SP writers. Join us at Mike ‘n Molly's this Saturday night for a show that is guaranteed to knock your socks off. Actually, on second …
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@Jason: You’re right about that. I get groceries at Schnucks (they carry what I buy, which I can’t say of any other single grocery store in town), and if they have a beer I’m in the market for it’s usually a quarter or two cheaper per 6-…
Best Neighborhood Bar (& Grill) : Urbana - My ‘hood- the ‘Boom! http://www.boomerangbarandgrill.com Go on a Wing Wednesday or Fish Friday, or see a band play some night. Local blue-collar Urbana terroir galore. My only beer snobbish gripe is lack of a pale hopped ale, but you…
The one thing that’s bothered me for a while about the Friar is that, for most commonly purchased adult beverages, you can actually walk down the strip mall to Schnucks and get them cheaper. It makes no sense, but there it is. I suspect it’s because Schnucks…
Maybe I complained enough in person. One time I even explained to the (wholly uninterested) clerk how to navigate the Illinois Statutes web page, and Savoy’s Municipal Code database I wouldn’t know because I only go there when I want to pay 30% more for anything, which is never.
@Rob: You seem to have the weirdest experiences. I’m in Friar Tuck every other week (don’t tell my mom that I’m a lush). They never fail to ask for my birth date but never my age, they never card afterwards, and they often allow me to use…
This column affords me a long-awaited opportunity. I’ve wanted to write my own column called Fuck You Friar Tuck Liquors. but I always thought it’d be too pithy. Here, I can say Fuck You Friar Tuck Liquors and not feel bothered to stretch it out to 750…
Ha! Exactly. You, sir, are welcome at the bar in My House.
Why wait ‘til 3 pm?
I’m excited to go tonight- should be very fun!
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“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
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The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!