Applied for a loan lately?

Had the courage to look at your 401K?

Do you think you'll soon need to choose between gas in your car or food in your belly?

The financial meltdown and its effects on the economy are making some people jittery and some people hysterical. But has it affected you personally yet? Do you expect it to? Smile Politely wants to know.

After all the hoopla, who do you think won the debate?

Did you take a drink everytime Sen. Biden said the word "fact"?

Did you take a drink everytime Gov. Palin said the word "maverick" or winked?

Do you think it will matter in the end?

However, there are lots of things we don't know and we want to rely on the wisdom of the masses to help straighten us out.

So, masses, we have put on our hardhats and our flameproof suits, and are ready for honest, searing feedback on how to make the Smile Politely website a more pleasant place to navigate and use. Lay it on us.

So, who do you wish were here? It's been documented ad nauseum this week that a founding editor of Smile Politely produces Pygmalion, but that doesn't mean that you can't express your feelings about the festival in this space. Heck, we might even listen. Setting aside such trivial concerns as budget, tour logistics and even whether or not they're defunct, let us know what band(s) you'd like to see at Pygmalion.

The jury is out right now on just how well the Zooker and his Illinois football squad will respond to the pressures of a pre-season ranking or repeating a Rose Bowl bid. In the first two games of the season, we've watched the once-fallible Juice Williams turn into a legitimate Heisman hopeful — maybe even this year — depending on the outcome of some of the upcoming contests.

There are holes though. Certainly, J Leman and Rashard Mendenhall are missed in more ways than one. Williams is breaking rushing records as a result of having no true go-to back setting up behind him, and the defense gave up a 52-spot to the Missouri Tigers. That isn't such a huge deal considering the fact that Mizzou is considered one of the most high powered offenses in the nation, but they also allowed three touchdowns to a pretty weak opponent in the Eastern Illinois Panthers.

So, how about you? Will Illinois bowl this New Year's Day? What about at all? With a schedule as tough as the Illini's, there is no question that the answer remains to be seen.

Dear Students: Many of you may be aware of an event known as Rush. It is my objective to warn you of the potential downsides of Greek organizations. I advise you to not succumb to the aggressive recruitment tactics used by these organizations. It has been my concern over the years, that the Greek culture of alcoholism and lack of respect for the community degrades campus life. These organizations present themselves as prestigious, yet are discriminatory, serve to perpetuate social inequality, especially with respect to the opposite gender, and promote a lack of diversity. Many students have expressed concerns with regards to safety on campus, particularly due to Greek culture and behavior. It is my hope that a student's experience on campus strengthens one's individuality, but the Greek system emphasizes the group above all, without cause or reason. This is detrimental to the purpose of universities. I hope that you will consider wisely.

But just as the USA persevered when the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor (an Animal House here folks), the Greeks will survive this hoax. So what do you think? What sort of impact do fraternities have on the community, both student and townie? Are they a crusading force for good, a deplorable group of evildoers, or do they perhaps reside somewhere in a nebulous gray area?

What is your favorite state park? It might be closing.

Kickapoo State Park located in nearby Oakwood will close Nov. 1 due to state-wide budget cuts that will also shut down several other state parks and historic sites throughout Illinois. The closures were recently announced by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office as a way to counter Illinois’ $2 billion budget shortfall.

Other parks and sites in the area affected by the closures inlude Moraine View State Park in Leroy, Bryant Cottage in Bement, Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton and Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston.

Once closed, the public will no longer have access to the parks which will then be staffed with minimum personnel.

So, what do you think of these park closings and how will it affect you? Is it an appropriate way to make up our state’s budget deficit? Do you have any fond memories of these parks? And where will you go instead to appreciate and enjoy nature in our state?

In Champaign-Urbana, we have myriad options when it comes to gatherings. From annual parties like Taste of Champaign and the County Fair, to bi-annual throwdowns like Wall2Wall Guitar Festival, to art festivals like Boneyard and the Downtown Festival of the Arts, we are blessed with more than a few options.

Now, as the Sweetcorn Festival takes its 33rd lap around downtown Urbana this weekend, we couldn't help but ask ourselves: just how good of a festival is it?

Certainly, and especially for those who grew up here, there is a nostalgia that surrounds it: a new school year has arrived and the sounds of marching bands on the gridiron are not far off. The local economy is about to turn for the better and, despite the fact that it is widely known that central Illinois grows feed corn almost exclusively, there is nothing quite like the taste of an ear of patented Illini Super Sweet corn, drenched in butter and lightly salted.

But up until this year, prices for an ear at the festival ballooned to the point of a head shaking walk to Schnucks. At $1 a pop, many folks simply decided to forgo the annual corn-gorge and elect to maybe sample an ear or two with a friend. In years past, the cost went from absolutely free to $.25 to $.50 and up.

To combat the trend, newly hired Urbana Business Alliance director Susan Toalson teamed up with Wal-Mart, the company who provides the corn (we know, we know — it kinda sucks that they are involved) to offer festival-goers a 2-for-1 deal this year. One ticket (that costs $1) will get you two ears of the sweet and salty central Illinois tradition. Not bad, right? We thought so.

And, while the last few years saw more local rock bands performing alongside classic artists like The Family Stone and Parliament, this year's lineup leaves more than a little to be desired: Saturday headliner Foghat, a band which actually performs with just one of its original members — the drummer, Roger Earl — has inspired more than a few commenters on local websites to express a little disdain while scratching their heads.

But the Sweetcorn Festival attracts bigger crowds than any other festival in C-U every year — and that makes a strong statement. They must be doing something right.

So, let's have it, students and denizens alike: how does the Sweetcorn Festival stack up against the others?

This week, Ask Politely is a special commentary by our resident film critic, Chuck Koplinski. The rest of the piece can be found by clicking "Continue Reading" below. Please join in the discussion.

This is going to be messy.

There is a current controversy raging around Ben Stiller’s new film, “Tropic Thunder.” At its core, it is a vicious satire about vacuous Hollywood movies, the avarice of the bean counters that finance them and the narcissistic film actors who star in them. Method acting, the process through which performers go to great lengths to research and inhabit their roles before the cameras begin to roll, takes a particularly strong beating. In the film, five time Oscar winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) goes to the nth degree with this method by undergoing a skin pigmentation process that makes him look like an African American in order to play his role.

However, this modern take on blackface isn’t causing the firestorm. Actually, I haven’t read a single derogatory thing about it. Nope, the controversy is about the film’s frequent use of the “R word.”

No, it's not “rim job,” either.

It's “retard.”

As the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana certainly qualifies as a college town in a fairly pure sense. There's certainly not many other geographical reasons for our fair cities to be anything more than the seat of an agricultural county.

There's a certain eclecticism that comes nearly standard with being a college town (unless you're Terre Haute). It's a special atmosphere that lends itself to greater diversity and tolerance than would normally be found in similarly-sized towns.

But how does C-U compare to other college towns? From Olympia to Gainesville, Berkeley to New Haven, there are hundreds of municipalities in this land which contain an institute of higher learning. We are merely one. In your opinion, how do we rate?

Census statistics show that Champaign-Urbana has more bicyclists than the average American town. Urbana ranks third in Illinois (and first in towns of over 1,000 people) with 4.61 percent of the population commuting by bicycle. Champaign isn't far behind with 2.31 percent, slightly behind Carbondale. The U.S. average is right around one percent.

There is also a thriving bicycle culture in C-U. Prairie Cycle Club, ChampaignCountyBikes.org and The Bike Project co-op serve as resources and advocates for cyclists. Critical Mass, bike polo and chariot and alley cat races are frequent and well-attended. There are also several good established and unofficial bike shops around town which serve the community.

Biking around campus and in the old parts of Champaign and Urbana is possible and often enjoyable. Much of the motor traffic seems to be used to being around bicycles and often give them the benefit of the doubt at four-way stops. As you may have noticed, it's pretty flat around here, which makes it less challenging for novice cyclists to get around.

On the other hand, the outlying areas of both cities were not planned with bikes in mind, especially north of I-74. The trail system — despite the contribution of the new bike lanes along First Street — is disorganized and frustrating to navigate, especially in Campustown. Many of the secondary streets are poorly-maintained and filled with potholes.

So, does the good outweigh the bad? Do the smiles and waves from motorists outnumber the honks and fingers in your experience? How bike-friendly is Champaign-Urbana?

Champaign City Council is at work trying to create more affordable housing around the downtown area, specifically north of Washington Street for those who work at and patronize the businesses in the area. Currently the rental properties in the immediate downtown are few and far between and will cost you plenty, but the council is looking to create cheaper digs for cooks, servers, bank tellers, baristas, retail associates, other downtown workers and those who spend time downtown/ What could be better than ditching the gas guzzler to conveniently coast to work on two wheels, or better yet, walk.

Those residing near the bustling entertainment district would certainly have beer, delectable cuisine, espresso, and cupcakes at their fingertips, but there are a few issues with making your home base directly next door to Neil Street: the influx of weekend revelers to the area could, frankly, just be annoying, and the nearest grocery stores are Meijer on North Prospect and Schnucks on Mattis Avenue. (That is until County Market opens its doors on Springfield Avenue — whenever that might be.)

But, there are perks aplenty. The downtown area includes a few banks, a boot repair store, a gas station, the post office, a movie theater and probably the biggest bonus — direct access to the Mass Transit District bus hub and Amtrak station. Living near the area would solve that pesky parking meter problem too.

So, do you want to live near downtown Champaign?

With The Canopy Club hosting Central Illinois Metal Fest this weekend, don't be surprised if you see a couple of folks walking in town that don't seem too familiar with their surroundings. That is probably because they have flown half-way around the world to be here.

The CIMF has quietly grown into one of the most prominent music festivals in the world within a certain sub-section of the population. Headliners include bands like Monstrosity from Florida, Misery Index from Maryland and Incantation from Pennsylvania. They will be supported by bands from across the globe including Amagortis from Switzerland, Nominon from Sweden and Holocausto Canibal from Portugal.

Founder of the festival Matt Bishop says there are, "40 bands from seven different countries this year." The festival, now in year number seven, first began modestly at the Knights of Columbus in 1998 and ran it there until 2000. After a two year hiatus, Bishop brought it back in 2002 to The Canopy Club and has never looked back. Attendance is projected to double this year — which has seen a two day festival become three days.

A limited amount of tickets will still be available at the door all weekend.

So, with all this Metal being kicked out this weekend in our own backyard, we ask you:

Who ripped the most wicked Metal album of all time?

You can't always get what you want from mainstream media and in this day and age, anyone can take five minutes and start a blog. But — how structured should it be? How casual the language? Should the writer adhere to the AP Stylebook? What are the benefits or consequences of blogging?

The blogosphere's options are endless and there is enough opinion and information to keep you surfing the internet all day long. Depending on the type of blog, it's the freshest form of journalism, or even the most public form of self-expression. Blog topics are bountiful and encourage interaction — they can reach audiences further and wider than traditional news outlets — and have spawned what has become known as the "digital smokebreak."

In Champaign-Urbana we have a great variety of blogs: Little Blog on the Prairie, Champaign Taste and Illini Pundit to name a few. Each has developed it's own voice, style of writing, genre and niche market of followers. After all, you're here now — and while we're an online magazine — we like to think of ourselves as neighbors, at the least.

So, you tell us — what blog around these parts has what you like to read — and why?

We all know about Texas and Memphis. Carolina and Kansas City are staples. But, Illinois BBQ?

Sounds flippy to us too. But wouldn't you know it, Bon Appetit recently named the 17th St. Bar and Grill in Murphysboro, Ill the best ribs in the US of A. And while that's not Champaign, it's getting awfully close.

Last weekend saw the premier of what is bound to be one Urbana's best annual traditions with the first annual Blues, Brews and BBQ in the parking lot of the Lincoln Square Village. The turnout, especially given its infancy was more than affirming of the fact that we, too, have a burgeoning BBQ scene that is just about ready to bust from the belt.

So, let's have it. You know the suspects with the smoke and sauce — as well as, if not better, than we do. So, who's got it in ol' C-U in the world of BBQ?

Happy 4th to all.