CHICAGO | General Discussions

[SIGSEGV]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Fascinating news out of Fermilab, once again proving how vital that place still is for particle physics research even though it's been overshadowed by CERN for the past 10 years:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-env...=pocket-newtab

Scientists just outside Chicago have found that the mass of a sub-atomic particle is not what it should be.

"The measurement is the first conclusive experimental result that is at odds with one of the most important and successful theories of modern physics.

The team has found that the particle, known as a W boson, is more massive than the theories predicted.

The result has been described as "shocking" by Prof David Toback, who is the project co-spokesperson...

...The scientists at the Fermilab Collider Detector (CDF) in Illinois have found only a tiny difference in the mass of the W Boson compared with what the theory says it should be - just 0.1%. But if confirmed by other experiments, the implications are enormous. The so-called Standard Model of particle physics has predicted the behaviour and properties of sub-atomic particles with no discrepancies whatsoever for fifty years. Until now."

Finally got to reading the paper this morning. I have questions for the CDF folks (if you apply the same methodology to the earlier dataset, do you get the same result? Did something go wrong with the correlations between oservables that's not captured in the presumably Gaussian statistical treatment?), but all the CDF folks I know aren't really active in the collaboration anymore (unsurprisingly).

[SIGSEGV]

Amusing article in Crain's
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/rest...-raising-canes

I was personally hoping a Small Cheval would open in that spot (NW corner of Madison/Michigan, formerly Panera), but I'll take a Raising Canes...

[ChiMIchael]

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

Amusing article in Crain's
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/rest...-raising-canes

I was personally hoping a Small Cheval would open in that spot (NW corner of Madison/Michigan, formerly Panera), but I'll take a Raising Canes...

I'm kinda glad there's pushback against the anti-fast food brigade that has been going on this past decade. I know many here dislike fast food but many people can't afford the food out of these new food halls.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by ChiMIchael

I'm kinda glad there's pushback against the anti-fast food brigade that has been going on this past decade. I know many here dislike fast food but many people can't afford the food out of these new food halls.

I personally don't have any objections to fast food. I just don't like any environment that gives one preferential treatment over another. It's on customers to watch their food intake and not get too dependent on fast food. We also live in a capitalist society.... If folks don't like fast food places coming into their hood, then don't eat there.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by ChiMIchael

I'm kinda glad there's pushback against the anti-fast food brigade that has been going on this past decade. I know many here dislike fast food but many people can't afford the food out of these new food halls.

I agree completely regarding the lack of affordability of most offerings in the food halls. Damn, tall about sticker shock in those places! I'm actually pleased to see more tastefully-done fast food locations on Michigan Ave. Complain all you want about Chick-fil-A and their politics, but their Michigan Ave location is really freaking nice.

Hope the Raising Canes can be even remotely as successful!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Handro]

Originally Posted by ChiMIchael

I'm kinda glad there's pushback against the anti-fast food brigade that has been going on this past decade. I know many here dislike fast food but many people can't afford the food out of these new food halls.

The solution shouldn't be more cheap, unhealthy food--which as we all know causes a slew of physical and mental defects that drag all of our health, education, and social systems-- it should be helping those who can't afford real food get access to it. Punishing those who can't afford basics like vegetables and whole grains by making them eat lab-created fats and sugars is pretty twisted.

[Rizzo]

I miss the Panera that was there. They did really well during the pandemic and the place always had lines. Though you could see they were totally overwhelmed. They need a larger more centralized location for a new outfit. Plenty of spaces in the loop to choose from.

[the urban politician]

I eat affordable food for lunch every day.

I bring food from home. Often it will be a veggie pattie with a piece of bread and mustard. Or leftovers from last night. Or a light, homemade sandwich.

It's easy to eat cheap and healthy for lunch, but too many people don't have the desire to bring their lunch from home

[ChiMIchael]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

I eat affordable food for lunch every day.

I bring food from home. Often it will be a veggie pattie with a piece of bread and mustard. Or leftovers from last night. Or a light, homemade sandwich.

It's easy to eat cheap and healthy for lunch, but too many people don't have the desire to bring their lunch from home

Oh I definitely bring lunch most of the time. I mostly try to cook something to have for the next day, but I also designate two days to go out for lunch. Frankly eating out gets old quick if you eat out everyday. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be cheaper dining options.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by Handro

The solution shouldn't be more cheap, unhealthy food--which as we all know causes a slew of physical and mental defects that drag all of our health, education, and social systems-- it should be helping those who can't afford real food get access to it. Punishing those who can't afford basics like vegetables and whole grains by making them eat lab-created fats and sugars is pretty twisted.

Alas, none of what you've written has anything to do with the high prices of the food halls vs fast food places. I don't disagree about Ave to fresh produce and other products with respect to purchasing food for home cooking, but this, again, had nothing to do with the presence of fast food locations on Michigan Ave.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[ithakas]

Speaking of food halls, has anyone heard anything about the 16 on Center food hall that was supposed to open in the Old Post Office? Looking for an excuse to visit the building (and hopefully figure out how to get on the rooftop basketball court eventually)...

Also, I recommend checking out the Urbanspace inside Sears Tower for anyone who hasn't been yet. The skylight looking straight up at the tower is worth the visit alone.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by sentinel

For those that are interested in blasting both Duckworth and Durbin about this potential travesty, here is contact information for both (scroll to the bottom):

https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/

https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email

Fuck them both for pushing this instead of selling the building to a developer with a lot of money that could potentially convert them into something of better use.

Century and Consumers Buildings

Don't know if this has any chance, but Preservation Chicago site describes archive use idea. Also includes some good general backround information. Still not clear how demolition suddenly ends up on the radar for IL politicos.

Preservation Chicago is currently engaged with several potential users for a collaborative Chicago Archives Center. To date, we have a group of religious archive collections which have come together to explore the Century and Consumers Buildings as a national collaborative archives center, which could prove beneficial to many religious orders around the nation. Such an idea could also provide a center for religious studies and research, centrally located and under one roof, in an area of Chicago noted for its concentration of universities and university students.

https://preservationchicago.org/2022...ers-buildings/

[Klippenstein]

Dick Durbin doubling down on demolition. (My headline lol)

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/4/...k-durbin-op-ed

The Dirksen Courthouse and those who work in it have been targeted before, and security vulnerabilities around the courthouse must be addressed. Bey’s column says that the demolition of these buildings would create a “dead zone” on State Street. Respectfully, in the eyes of security experts, it is the status quo that creates a greater risk of death around the Dirksen Courthouse.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

Century and Consumers Buildings

Don't know if this has any chance, but Preservation Chicago site describes archive use idea. Also includes some good general backround information. Still not clear how demolition suddenly ends up on the radar for IL politicos.

It’s very likely that the security concerns are a bullshit excuse to cover for something else. Plenty of federal court buildings in other cities with nearby rental high-rises.

Public chatter from the judges is basically, “Oh, we’re just absolutely terrified. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a new entrance and lobby on State St.? Wink wink”

The current $52 million price tag only covers demolition. Congress would have to allocate additional money to develop the site. Judges and security personnel have advocated for building a new security pavilion on the east side of the Dirksen Federal Building and having that become the building’s main entrance.

https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investiga...-demolish/amp/

[Handro]

If the buildings offer clear views of the judges quarters from their upper floors, it stands to reason they also block natural light and views. Of course they're advocating demotion, they want nicer offices (and apparently a fancier entrance^). The "security concerns" are such thinly veiled bullshit it's infuriating.

Pathetic.

[left of center]

I guess the Berghoff needs to go as well since someone armed with a wiener schnitzel might give a judge high cholesterol.

Seriously, if these buildings get demolished it will be a damned disgrace. Other cities would kill for this sort of architectural heritage, and Durbin wants to piss it away.

[jpIllInoIs]

^ Why cant they just put higher safety glass, bullet proof or whatever and use a copper tinted mirror window so no one can see in?

And the state street building could use Federal level security screening at their entrances with no firearms policy for residents.

[Chi-Sky21]

Originally Posted by jpIllInoIs

^ Why cant they just put higher safety glass, bullet proof or whatever and use a copper tinted mirror window so no one can see in?

And the state street building could use Federal level security screening at their entrances with no firearms policy for residents.

NRA lawsuit in 3...2...

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by Chi-Sky21

NRA lawsuit in 3...2...

Then make it student housing or a lease it to a private entity that can set their rules on premises. The point is that safety accommodations can be made to save the building not to rehash our insane gun policies.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

Dick Durbin doubling down on demolition. (My headline lol)

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/4/...k-durbin-op-ed

Durbin really doesn't address the content of Bey's editorial

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columni...crapers-safety

Where does the security assessment say? What options has the federal government explored? and so on. Attacking the buildings for being empty and in disrepair when that is entirely the responsibility of the federal government just makes it worse. And separately, what is Lightfoot doing?

See how the city and the federal government were partners, then? In a weird way, they still are. When the GSA decided to demolish the buildings following an FBI security assessment in the wake of Castillo’s stance, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the city’s Department of Planning and Development affirmed the move in 2019 by snatching back their support for the CA Ventures deal.