Jun
5
Hillside Landfill
Filed Under Green Initiatives | Leave a Comment
Anyone live in Hillside? Smell the delightful odors of decomposing trash? Well not for much longer. Hillside landfill is in the process of closing once and for all. And, they say, they’re ahead of schedule.
But just how do you close a landfill? I’m on it. More to come.
Jun
5
Community starved for green awaits action on proposed park
Filed Under Green Initiatives | Leave a Comment
Right now the abandoned elevated rail line along Bloomingdale Ave. in northwest Chicago is frequented by restless teenagers and the occasional transient. But there’s a plan to transform the deteriorating tracks into a 3-mile paved bike trail with benches, lighting, and fencing. Check out the story and slideshow I did on it here.
I walked along […]
Jun
5
I went to an event May 7 at Union Station. It was called “Downstate Illinois Day.” Basically, it was a lot of booths set up by tourist agencies representing cities around Illinois, encouraging people to travel by rail.
Because gas prices keep rising. And the tourism industry knows that can’t be good.
But I made a […]
Jun
5
Love the lawn you got
Filed Under Green Events | Leave a Comment
There’s a new exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum called Lawn Nation. It explores the obsession we Americans have with lawns and offers some startling facts about lawn care’s potential impact on the environment.
Two artists from Chicago got together to build a wall out of empty plastic water bottles. It took them a month, […]
Jun
5
Who buys blue bags?
Filed Under Green Initiatives | Leave a Comment
I’ve been doing a little research on how Chicago recycles. Blue bags are on their way out, and no one seems to mind.
I didn’t live in Chicago back when the blue bags were the way it worked. Can someone tell me please, did you go out and pay money for these blue bags? And […]
Jun
4
R. Kelly and the environment
Filed Under Misc | Leave a Comment
When I told a friend I had a blog about environmental issues, I was given the “raised eyebrows.”
It must be hard to relate that to headline news, my friend said.
Actually– I told her– there’s nothing that doesn’t relate to the environment.
Really, my friend said.
That’s right, I said.
OK then. R. Kelly– possibly the most-read story […]
Jun
4
Close call with a CTA bus
Filed Under Cycling | Leave a Comment
Pedaling down Southport the other day, the sideview mirror of a CTA bus nearly took my head off. Not cool. I console myself with the thought that these drivers are professionals. They’ve been at it 25, 30 years. They know what they’re doing. When they mean to give you a foot, they give you 12 […]
Jun
4
In presidential campaign, spotlight on race, not global warming
Filed Under Global Warming | Leave a Comment
How many media hours have been devoted to Rev. Michael Pfleger and Rev. Jeremiah Wright? They are turning the spotlight to race. And when it finally manages to escape to a new topic, another fiery serman surfaces that puts it right back there again.
And it’s true, race will matter.
But it will no longer be a […]
Jun
4
Not to be an alarmist, but I came across something today. Some will find it thought-provoking, others will think it’s just silly.
Here’s a guy who scribbles down his dreams. The difference between him and everyone else is that his dreams usually come true, and with startling accuracy.
Check out what he dreamt in February 2006 […]
Jun
3
Critical Mass: Friday, May 30
Filed Under Cycling | Leave a Comment
Okay so I’m late, I’m late! But I rode in Critical Mass last Friday, and I still want to tell you about it.
After riding in the somber Ride of Silence a couple of weeks ago (please see my previous post) I was really looking forward to some jubilation. And it didn’t disappoint.
Somehow I got separated […]