SmilePolitely.com / Rachael Dietkus

Travel Back to 1993 Sunday at The Highdive

Fri, 23 May 2008 12:30:16 -0600

Better than any high school reunion could hope to be, the 1993 Revisited reunion show this Sunday is set to be an exciting time for those who can say they were there. Musicians and friends from all over the country will be coming back to Champaign-Urbana to not only witness, but to be a part of the magical times from fifteen years ago.

And it really was magical. Many have talked about the creative energy that existed in the Midwest back then and it’s no secret that Champaign was playing host to a great deal of it.

Albums released from bands outside the area had a significant impact on those locally — musicians, artists, and fans alike. Who could forget that show at The (old) Blind Pig when Afghan Whigs toured for Gentleman, or seeing Liz Phair, Dinosaur Jr, Smashing Pumpkins, Polvo, Seam, Buffalo Tom, Jesus Lizard, and Superchunk. If you were too young, all I can say is that I wish you were there.

Media Scholar Bob McChesney Presents a Book Talk Today

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:38:04 -0600

Bob McChesney, host of the WILL-AM show Media Matters, hosts this semester's Racial & Social Justice Book Club, organized by the YWCA of the University of Illinois. The discussion takes place today at 7 p.m. in Murphy Lounge at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street in Champaign.

Featured books for the discussion include The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein, The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office by David Lindorff and Barbara Olshanksy and Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda by Noam Chomsky.

McChesney, a leading media scholar and activist, is a Research Professor in the Institute of Communications Research and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois. He has penned several books on media including his most recent venture, Communication Revolution, released in 2007.

Area Environmental Household Product Developers Make Television Debut

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:08:22 -0600

For more than ten years, a small company located on Danville's east side has been making a significant impact on the way we clean.

EnvirOx originally started in 1995 as a research project with the primary objective of developing a cleaning technology that would reduce toxicity in a meaningful way. As the company grew in recent years, a line of environmentally friendly home-cleaning products was launched, and now employees at EnvirOx are pulling double duty to produce 44,000 household cleaning kits before its national debut on the QVC shopping channel on March 18.

New Holland Apartments: Historic, Affordable and Green

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:30:13 -0600

There has been a great deal of talk about the environment, sustainability, and "green" issues. When it comes to building design, many are saying it would be silly not to include sustainable environmental elements in this day and age. What about historic rehabilitation projects, though? In more progressive communities, redevelopment of historic buildings is considered hip and trendy. Original fixtures, vaulted ceilings, and the coolness and charm that often come with acquiring a unique, older space intrigue visionaries and creative types. But in smaller communities, more often than not, without the necessary resources at their fingertips, there is an impulse to do away with the old and build new — or worse, build nothing. This wasn't the case for the New Holland Apartments, located at the cusp of downtown Danville.

Doin' it in Danville

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:29:45 -0600

Once they leave their small hometown, many people never think twice about going back, especially to live. After graduating from high school in 1993, I certainly fell into this category of strong-willed, determined individuals who wanted to put my life in Danville, Ill. behind me and fully embrace the idea of unknown territories in the grand metropolis of Champaign-Urbana. Fast-forward thirteen years, and by proxy of embracing some major life changes — a skateboarding boyfriend returning from Iraq, an ill grandmother who needed extra care, and cheap real estate — I was back in my hometown, yet still commuting to reality at my do-good not-for-profit job on campus.