Category > The Loyal Opposition
I've done a "Super Bowl Life Lessons" column for the last few years and, to be honest, I'm beginning to wonder if the Super Bowl as a cultural spectacle has all that much more to teach us. Guys are still oafs. Violence is still funny (especially so when it involves sumo wrestlers). Talking flowers and babies are still funny. Classic rockers are still old. The main innovation this year seems to be that guys not wearing pants is funny. Perhaps …
| Well, it seems the public option is suffering the same fate as an uninsured American with a major disease. It is dying. Let's review. Most civilized countries have universal health care. Countries with universal health care generally pay less money and get better care than Americans do. Health care could be available to all Americans if, instead of paying health insurance premiums, employers and employees paid about the same amount of money in the form of a health care tax. …
Science can be a trouble-maker. Occasionally it will spit out some new, revolutionary theory that questions everything we think we know. I suppose that's why so many historical conservatives have been wary of science. Over the centuries, they've had to adjust to the idea that the earth is round and revolves around the sun, that the universe is expanding rather than static, and that evolution governs biology. It's not that liberals have any stake in these things being true, it's just …
As if calling Obama a socialist, a racist, and a Hitler isn't enough, some conservatives have finally taken the gloves off. They are now openly and brazenly praying for him. The Liberty Council, affiliated with Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, has created an "Adopt a Liberal" program, and identified those in power who need to become "a good influence on our Nation's culture." So far so good, until you find out their defintion of "good influence." They seem to have reduced Christianity …
Like zombies rising from the grave, pro and anti Chief Illiniwek forces are re-gathering for this Friday's next Next Dance. The faithful are set to lurch en masse towards Assembly Hall, like angry Frankensteins in search of a purpose, to watch Chief Illiniwek dance again. The anti-Chief forces will be there to counter-protest, like the dead in The Sixth Sense, speaking to people who cannot hear them. I don't know about you, but I am tired of this debate. And …
I first ran across Stuff White People Like last year, when it was on Item #76 - Bottles of Water. Water seems like a fairly simple concept. You turn on the tap, put glass underneath, and drink. Sadly, it is not this simple for white people. Given my strong feelings about bottled water (bought from store = bad, filled at home = good), this entry called me out. Why do I make the task of drinking so water overly complicated …
Last year, a friend and I were arguing about health care. I was arguing that everyone was entitled to health care, and he was arguing that no one was entitled to health care. In an attempt to expose what he believed to be liberal hypocrisy, he told me that I should pay for his health insurance, since at the time he could not afford health insurance himself. This type of argument often happens when liberals and conservatives debate. "If you …
It's hard to know what Americans believe anymore. I suppose that's because I'm an optimist. Polls continue to come out on health care reform. They make very little sense to me, because I would like to believe that Americans are not as susceptible to propaganda and outright lying as we obviously are. Why I continue to believe this, after the last administration managed to scam Americans into an ill-advised, wasteful and immoral war, I do not know. I guess because, …
I'm a liberal. I believe in giving a little to try to make more people happy. I believe people's concerns should be taken into account if it will make for a stronger community. But I believe that compromise is warranted based on its effectiveness, not that it is a goal unto itself. So, when I look at the current health care debate, I wonder why Democrats keep banging their heads against the wall of accommodation and compromise, when it clearly …
I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed Bill Maher's recent screed about how dumb we are: On the eve of the Iraq War, 69% of Americans thought Saddam Hussein was personally involved in 9/11. Four years later, 34% still did. Or take the health care debate we're presently having: members of Congress have recessed now so they can go home and "listen to their constituents." An urge they should resist because their constituents don't know anything. At a recent town-hall …
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The University does not subsidize the Airbus. For decades bus transportation to the airport was provided expressly for Institute of Aviation students. This service was paid for by the Institute of Aviation, not campus as a whole. Some of you may even remember the old orange or…
A book just published gives a very useful different perspective on the “growth for growth’s sake” model and its ecological unsustainability. It is “Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet” by Tim Jackson. The first chapter of the book can be downloaded via http://earthscan.co.uk/pwg . This…
I agree with most of the comments on the Orange “Krush.“ They are mostly immature, ignorant, college students who can’t wait for the next frat party so they can get wasted on Keystone light
“Since there is no congestion on 74, one wonders what he is talking about.“ - Duh. Perhaps the congestion is wishful thinking? And IL DOT is planning to spend $71 million taxpayer dollars widening I-74 between Champaign and Mahomet. I contacted IL DOT on the I-74 stuff. …
Great articles, btw.
Since 1994, the American Farmland Trust has had case studies which have shown that there is no net gain to developing farmland. On average the ratio of dollars generated by development to the cost of services provided by communities was $1 : $1.04. For farm land, the…
Stuart, Really a fantastic series of articles on this proposed road. The Chinatown analogy is very cool. I wouldn’t say that the local press has been lapdogs on this issue. One of the local TV news channels actually did a piece where they interviewed Mr. Ziegler, the…
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4961547 I stand by it all, except in that I should’ve used better language to describe the types of fools these folks are. Calling someone a douchebag, is kinda like, being a douchebag. Strike that one from the record. Everything else, well, yeah…
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, part two will actually run Wednesday at 10 a.m. Thanks for your patience; it’ll be worth the wait!
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Pheidippides wasn’t planning on running a marathon; that’s why he died. If he had known ahead of time that he’d be running 26 miles and followed a good training program for a year, stretched properly before the event, had bands and cheering people along the race route,…
Doug, I absolutely agree. I think this might have come across focused on rock because, as you say, rock was the 90s, and we had some innovative rock bands here then. But what I’m really trying to get at is that there’s no way Dirty Projectors, Liars…
John, I’m not sure that the current climate for indie rock stardom is all that favorable for bands who simply rock out. Most of the bands doing it well that are also popular have been around for a while and have a tested identity (I’m thinking Spoon…
Keep us posted on the latter!
Nice article, Emily! When I get to the CU area, I’ll be sure to give this place a try.
The marathon is certainly a tough distance, but I imagine that it compares to childbirth. In any event, having completed the former, I will agree that it is an excruciating tastk. Should the opportunity arise, I will let you know how the latter compares.
I’ve always suspected that there’s a direct correlation between projected land use for the Rt 150 corridor [Industrial / Commercial] and the drive to expand 74. See the CCRPC Future Land Use Map for details, and then take a look at who owns land there, and you…
Zelini, I really like this - I’ll try to follow the theory more closely. As they reveal more about Kate (possibly next week), it might give us more perspective. I agree with your observation about Ben and I think Michael Emerson has done an excellent job conveying his lesser stature.
Surprised you think it will take two wins. I think we have a shot to get in with another loss. The bubble is just a disaster this year, and we’ll float to the top even with one win.
What if the sideways alternatives are where Jacob actually grants them their wishes, but in ways they didn’t quite expect? The elimination of one regret. Sayid gets to be with Nadia - although through his brother. Maybe he ends up with her at the expense of his…
The link has been updated. Thanks for alerting us.
This also explains why I was starting to think Roses & Sake was a group of strange pagans from Vancouver. This is when it pays to be a local. My apologies to the true Roses & Sake, we’ll fix this ASAP!
Ahh, shame on me. I grabbed it directly off of Mike ‘N Molly’s website. I’ll see if I can’t get it corrected on here (and maybe pass along the word to them as well). Thank you, observant reader!
I’m with Brigham regarding the Acrylics set. Very XX-ish. Very good.
i think the roses & sake link is actually: http://www.myspace.com/rosesnsake
Dangit! Now I have to go home and try that cake. MMMmmMMMMmmmm looks goood. Cakey cakey cakey…
Very nice preview…I’m stoked to be seeing The Young Republic
I understood this totally differently than the other people that posted…this is what I got from it: - the more background you have going in, the more of the allusions you will understand when watching - afterwards, you can do a little research to fill in the…
Sorry about the lack of address and hours. All I can say is duuuh
Amen. When I told people I’ve lost 18 pounds since early October the number one response I get from women is concern. 18 pounds in four months is not unhealthy, quite the opposite for me. But don’t give up on sugar, or become a vegan, or do…
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I’ve always suspected that there’s a direct correlation between projected land use for the Rt 150 corridor [Industrial / Commercial] and the drive to expand 74. See the CCRPC Future Land Use Map for details, and then take a look at who owns land there, and you…