CHICAGO | General Discussions

[Handro]

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."

Is this when we all start to learn we're living in a Matrix-style reality simulator?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Klippenstein]

Good response to Durbin's op ed putting his misguided reasoning in a historical context.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opini...74m-story.html

Elizabeth Blasius: Wrecking the Century & Consumers buildings is ‘Durbin Renewal,’ not urban safety

Federal money has been allocated for the demolition of the Century & Consumers Buildings, two early 1900s skyscrapers at the corner of State and Adams streets in Chicago’s Loop. This demolition could be a part of the larger story of urban renewal, the mid-20th century practice of using federal money to raze older buildings perceived as emblematic of decay in America’s cities to clear a path for new development.

[the urban politician]

Anyways, you guys spoke too soon:

May 19, 2022 04:18 PM UPDATED 5 MINUTES AGO
Census blunder: Illinois' population didn't shrink after all
New figures say the state suffered a 2% undercount and actually gained 250,000 residents in the 2010s.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg...rink-after-all

[Steely Dan]

^ "Spelunking for Misery" is a solid album title.

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Anyways, you guys spoke too soon:

I'll retract my disparaging hashtag when the tribune issues its apology.

Good on Crain's for acknowledging the correction, but I still have some degree of respect for them, unlike the stupid fucking trib.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Good on Crain's for acknowledging the correction, but I still have some degree of respect for them, unlike the stupid fucking trib.

Crain's runs positive op-eds all the time from people like Rob Paral and Ed Zotti who point out reasons for optimism in the numbers, and are careful to note the many caveats of using ACS and census data.

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

I wouldn't be surprised if almost all of the undercount was actually in Chicago proper.

I doubt it. Supposedly a lot of the undercounting was driven by fear in Latino communities, especially among the undocumented. Nowadays new immigrants are just as likely to live in West Chicago or Carpentersville as they are in Little Village or Back of the Yards.

Downstaters are likely to be undercounted too, but that's more of the "greet census workers with shotguns" type of undercounting.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Crain's runs positive op-eds all the time from people like Rob Paral and Ed Zotti who point out reasons for optimism in the numbers, and are careful to note the many caveats of using ACS and census data.

right, crain's hasn't degraded itself into rag status like the tribune has, which is why i wasn't really directing my ire at them.

and i'm not necessarily even asking for "positive" op-eds, but how about just some good old fashioned balanced, rational takes instead of the trib's full-bore "doom & gloom misery festival".


anyway, it's been over a day since the news first broke about the census undercount and i still haven't seen a peep about it on the tribune's website. anyone seen anything on that front?

after an entire fucking decade of "The Great Illinois Exodus!" are they really just going to ignore it and rely on the short attention span of their readership?

[marothisu]

Census did a post 2020 Decennial Census study and found out they undercounted Illinois by almost 2%. Meaning that the population in the last decade probably actually grew by a few hundred thousand instead of losing 18K. I wonder how many more people Chicago and the area actually gained in that undercount. HMMMM

The actual estimated undercount is 1.97% meaning that if Chicago was undercounted by that same rate, then it would result in a count of 54K less for the city and it should be at just over 2.8M people.

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/19/10998...ennessee-texas