Everything posted by Hayward
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Chicago: Developments and News
Demolition as part of a major overhaul of the Wilson Station in Uptown. The project will cost $200 million. Expanded space for business and wider platforms and new track configurations and additional exit / entrance to Sunnyside for Target and Aldi. Demolition of buildings beneath the tracks should begin early next spring. Existing Station House What the new Station house will look like: glenviewcreek.com
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Off Topic
The new loops in Chicago are shorter, and I think most communities have been adopting shorter loops, or spirals even for better detection of bikes. This problem started happening to me when I got new rims. I don't know if that has something to do with it. I was able to trip most signals previously except on older roadways were you could see much longer sawcuts.
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Detroit: Developments and News
It would seem like they could support more, but I couldn't run any numbers if you asked. My thought would be additional casinos (and competition) builds a better destination for gambling. Certainly it provides extra tax revenue for the communities the casino are in, but the benefits extended well beyond that in the case of Detroit. MGM and Greektown has brought far more foot traffic and ancillary businesses downtown which unfortunately for many other communities isn't the case.
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Off Topic
Woot! No longer have to get stuck at red lights when making a left on a bicycle! I used stiff metal wire attached to a bar magnet to the back of my fork. It's now sufficient to trip the demand actuated signals to give me a green arrow on approach. I still have to be close enough proximity to I-L patterns or look for hash markings, but otherwise I don't have to think much about it anymore. Currently Illinois law permits bicyclists and motorcyclists to treat left turn red lights as flashing reds after yielding to all traffic and pedestrians. Though you receive legal permission to run a red light, it's still very dangerous.
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Gary, Indiana
You'd guys might be surprised how many downtown Chicago office workers live in NW Indiana. Gary gives it a bad rap and the views from the tollways are indicative of a wasteland. But the reality is Northwest Indiana is a fine place to live, has some decent downtowns, and great neighborhoods.
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Gary, Indiana
At one time people probably considered this station to be of inferior materials. Though, concrete instead of stone it's held up quite well. I expect it will stay around with us for quite some time. Btw, that 60's / 70's hotel was to be quite the large revitalization project. I think it was proposed when there was some pre-recession renovations going on downtown. That all came to a grinding halt in the mid 2000's. I believe the city has the money in hand to tear the hotel down.
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Off Topic
It works! Thanks!
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Off Topic
Some of my friend's profiles have gotten pretty boring to view on facebook. Baby Photos, baby photos, baby photos, rant about work, baby photos, talk about tomorrow's shift, baby photos. -Unfollow Friend- Click!
- Hipsters
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Hipsters
Very true. No pants! I have a pair to wear out at "the club" (esp since I am not 270 lbs any more)since they are sort of form-fitting and look good with this vaguely leather/spandex/fetish look I play around with... ....but i notice they actually DO make sense if you are riding a bike without a chain gaurd....less chance of the trouser legs getting caught in the chain... Wearing any jeans on a bike is uncomfortable. Yes, I've had to deal with it. But if I make the option available, I'd chose athletic attire for biking. Here's where cycling may break into factions where you get the hipster fixed gear riders and the most athletic types competing for space. I appreciate all types of people trying to bicycle wherever they need to be, but it's sucks being stuck behind a slow rider on a busy street because they don't want to get their clothes dirty.
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Hipsters
Maybe it's a Chicago thing, but the fedora as a fashion item has penetrated all classes of people just the same as athletic shoes. You can be rich or poor, banker or artist, liberal or conservative and a hat is still a hat whether it's $15 or $150. Like a baseball cap, a fedora hat is functional fashion. Skinny jeans on the other hand are not and I can understand why people detest them.
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Origin of your Screen Name?
My old street address. "N Andre. St."
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Chicago: Developments and News
Such is the case in a city with high numbers of car ownership. They all got to be stored somewhere. Developers seem to love that they can get that extra height as opposed to under ground construction. The city requires way more parking in these buildings that is needed. For the high cost of parking downtown, there's a huge supply of empty spaces.. entire floors of parking decks...that are empty.
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Oklahoma City: Developments and News
Wow this is really great. When Detroit implemented something similar to this it was an extreme success. It also reminds me a bit of the circle in Indianapolis which is a great public space.
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Off Topic
That's interesting, though it would seem kind of expensive to do all that for an app. I think we're overdue for massive improvements in streetview where buildings will appear more hi def or possibly in 3D. Many shopping centers and mall complexes have approved of these vehicles to photograph their property since existing images tend to be farther away and blurry which don't do justice from a marketing standpoint. I was extremely excited when I got a close up view of a car outfitted with six high end nikon cameras all clicking away as it drove. Imagine seeing this kind of image quality.
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Off Topic
I'm surprised a unit that old still is running. Efficiencies have improved a lot just in the past 10-15 years, but sometimes just servicing an old unit will perk it up considerably. If it's low on freon and/or the condenser is clogged with dust and dirt, it's functioning way below its design rating. Accumulated moisture in the evaporator and drain pan and a clogged condensate drain can impede efficiency and contribute to mold growth, an air-quality and health hazard. Compact, quiet portable units on casters vent the condenser air through a nearby window via flex duct. They can easily be moved from room to room, or even a different part of a room, for efficient localized cooling. The capacity you're looking for can be bought for around $300. They operate on 110V AC and can be plugged into a normal wall outlet. My landlord gave me a story today about how everything new in the world is junk, and buying a new one will just be junk. Then something about installing a new window And then followed by brick tuckpoints and restoring a cornice on another building. My mind started wandering. I don't think they'll let me replace the unit.
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Urban Ohio "Picture Of The Day"
Rob is that how you keep your place!
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Lansing, MI
Bojji Complex!
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Off Topic
I just opened my bill, and my AC is costing a ton. I'm basically paying $1 to run it for 10 hours. It's easy to figure out since my landlord pays all utilities except air conditioning. The unit is from the 1970's. I'm led to believe it's very inefficient. I need a new AC unit to condition a 700 square foot apartment, but really only benefit a 300 square foot zone. And it must be quiet!!! Any recommendations?
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Topeka, ks
It certainly does.....it certainly does....
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Hipsters
Well according to the trib, this is back to school fashion. Wow...way out of my generation that was all about comfortable fitting jeans and a polo shirt in the mid 2000's. http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/life/sc-fash-0730-school-style-20120731,0,5830363.story This is the kind of fashion I'll see outside my building....it's not hipster but some may interpret it is that. I'll just call it Boule Mich with the latest from TopMan down the street. Tell me how dressing like a girl is going to get you a girl. I'm happy to say these tight clothes don't fit me, not because of how I eat, but how I exercise. Further, I'd hate to have to dryclean all that stuff. At least with last decade's fashion it was easier to throw in the laundry and nearly impossible to ruin. And though I dig the Brogues shoes, especially with a suede finish, I've found they aren't as functional in urban environments when they quickly get damaged. Fact is, once I move out of this downtown environment and into the neighborhoods, I'll feel alot more comfortable in my surroundings.
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Hipsters
I prefer the hipster neighborhoods of Chicago compared to the Boule Mich attitudes here downtown. Thank god the tourists offset the pretentiousness. At 3:00 am, I have to go from a chill and lively bar scene in Wicker Park to Jersey Shore douchebaggery near the rush street triangle with a bunch of punks that wanna fight anyone and everyone nearby my building.
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Driverless Cars
The future situation of sending a living child (or even a pet) off in a driverless car is impossible. I don't see why there is any concern about that.
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Driverless Cars
Exactly. Some people think this will solve all the problems with drinking and driving. But under common state laws, public drunkenness and occupying space upon a public way could be considered illegal, even if states completely disregarded laws operating under the influence.
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The Bike Subculture Thread
Personally, I don't like all the bike subcultures. And I've participated in some of them (like the tweed event). With every bike organization, I've felt this vibe of arrogance. Bicycling is about mobility and human achievement. It's about relying on the bicycle for getting where you need to go and also getting the exercise for a healthier lifestyle. If there's anything that annoys me it's the people that brag about their expensive or vintage bikes (and they hardly ride them) or the whole "bicycle fashion culture." I realize the themes behind the organizations can draw people together, yet at the same time I worry it makes bicycling appear somewhat exclusive. I look at bicycling strictly utilitarian. If we thought about it more as a means of transport and less of recreation we'd have a hell of a lot more dedicated bike-ways and lanes built.