the most dangerous city

St. Louis was named the most dangerous city this year. Interestingly, last year's safest city was Brick, NJ. Congratulations, Tim and Kathi, for living in a safe place. In my class, we were talking about white flight and the revitalization of cities. White flight was actually government sponsored after WWII because the GI Bill was more likely to give loans for someone to build/buy a house in the suburbs than the city. Why? Well, if you're really interested, I can explain it to you. But for the casual reader, accept it and move on. In any case, we discussed Chicago, which had its fair share of white flight. 20 years ago, it probably would not have been particularly safe for me to take the El through the neighborhoods I go through now. Not that they're Brick, NJ, but they're improving. I personally attribute some of the revitalization to the mass transit system. Designed to bring people into the city without worrying where to park their car, the system alleviates some of the parking issues that most people complain about when they talk about why they don't like to shop in cities. Oh no, I might have to parallel park 1/2 a block from the store! Suburban dwellers, have you ever thought about all the gas you use and the time you waste sitting at traffic lights waiting to turn left into some ginormous strip mall? Or driving from one end to the other because you'd probably get killed (by a car that is, not by a gang member) if you tried to walk? Of course, I enjoy some suburban shopping as well, but I definitely don't miss the traffic in North Raleigh (or Cary Crossroads, for that matter). And of course, we spend a lot of time sitting in traffic, but H&M is just a train ride away.

$2,000? yes please!

I'm applying for a Community Stewards Fellowship at LUC right now, which I apparently qualify for because of my internship. It will pay for the cost of the class, although I think our classes cost more than $2,000, but I'm not sure. I always forget because I take more than one at the same time, and because of all those fees you have to pay. In any case, wish me luck. They give out 25, which makes me hopeful. As long as the incomplete from last semester doesn't hold me back, I have a shot. Mostly because the people who already have funding aren't eligible, and I know that Eleanor must have a higher GPA than I do. Here's hoping!

Have you noticed

that Joe Buck has elf ears?

Running a marathon

My boss (and Lisa) is (are) running in the Chicago marathon on Sunday. This reminds me of the time we had to run 10 miles for cross country practice. Once you get past 7, it's all just miserable. You just want to die. And pee. Or at least I did. From that time on, I vowed never to run 10 (or more) miles again. At least in a single session. And I can safely say that I never have. (But I have run 5 miles in the morning and 5 miles in the evening. The joys of double practice.) Now I'm proud of myself if I run up the stairs from the subway to the El (which, by the way is more than 3 flights and includes crossing a street and spending a little time on the sidewalk) and don't pass out at the top.

I made her a bed

and what does she decide to sit/lie on? A pizza box. I promise that she has hundreds of other soft, warm, blankety places to sit. Silly kitty.

Snow?

Ok, so I'm a little late with this, but the snow we had last Tuesday was the earliest measurable snowfall in Chicago history. So it wasn't the 5 feet that Buffalo got, but still. October 10 and snow? Crazy.

Would you like to go to Kazakhstan?

According to the commercial I saw yesterday during Headline News, we all should go to Kazakhstan. In case you didn't know where it is, they posted a map at the end of the commercial. It's the "Heart of Eurasia." Because I know every American immediately pictures the exact area of the world when someone says "heart of Eurasia." I think these countries have more faith in Americans than we do. I assume that these ads aren't really meant to encourage Americans to visit their countries as tourists - what American wealthy enough to afford plane tickets to a foreign country is going somewhere other than Paris? No one in Hinsdale, that's for sure. (Our interesting wrestling trip to Eastern Europe aside - it didn't count because it was subsidized and because we stayed in what I think is quite possibly the scariest, nastiest "hostel" I've ever seen.) I'd imagine these countries want you to know that they are stable, happy places waiting for American companies to invest in them and hire their workers for low wages.

Speaking of things made in countries with low wages, I just watched an ABC.com video about the difference between Nikes, Addidas, and running shoes from Target and Walmart. Apparently your $ is well spent on the name brands if you are a serious runner (ie, let's prevent injury), but if you're just wandering around the city in them, go with the cheaper brand. And who is buying $95 t-shirts from Nieman Marcus?!