Skip to Yahoo! WebPlayer Download this week's episode here. This week on Smile Politely Radio, we talk to authors Josh Wild, Laura Adamczyk and Caleb Curtiss about the last Stories & Beer of 2011. Listen to hear an excellent original holiday tale centered around Goodfellas, the joys (or pains) of televangelists being the only thing on late-night television, and a poem about Christ taking a holiday from Christmas. Plus, poet Josh Wild shares a very non-Christmas poem, just in time …
Download or listen to this week's episode here. This was Chris Willis' first year covering Illini Football for Smile Politely, so we talk to him about the experience. He discusses what it's like to listen to the press box announcer coldly call the game's action and how impressed he was with the players' media skills. Plus, we go in depth on the season that was, from the mighty highs of the 6–0 start to the dark days toward the end …
Download this week's podcast here. On this episode of Smile Politely Radio, we welcome Midstress, the local punk rock group formerly known as the Fresh Kills. We talk about the group’s brand new album, Growing Up is Getting Old, which will officially be released on December 6. Also, we touch on the brand new C-U Collective, which some of the band's members are heavily involved with. Plus there is the band’s sterling live reputation, their upcoming Japan benefit show with …
Download this week's podcast here. On this podcast, we welcome Mark Taylor, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois. He is the faculty project manager of the University’s Solar Decathlon project, and has done extensive work around the world on innovative, sustainable, and affordable architecture and construction. His most recent projects have involved designing and building projects in Haiti. He joins us to talk about his work with students in the Solar Decathlon, how working in Haiti has …
Download this week's episode here. On this edition of SP Radio, we take a look at Smile Politely and its role in the local media landscape. The impetus for this conversation was the recent article the site published on Calvin Miller, which drew a lot of local attention and commentary.* Many of Miller's accounts in that article have been discredited by the recent release of the police video, but does that mean we should not have published it and that …
Download and listen to this week's podcast here.In this episode of Smile Politely Radio, we talk to Andrew Kling and Ted Faust of the local band The Dirty Feathers about their semi-surprise new album, Midnight Snakes. The album was officially released last Saturday night at their Pygmalion show at Mike 'n Molly's. For the album, the band did their own recording, producing, artwork and packaging. We talk to them about the transition from being local music fans to band members …
With all the talk about Medicaid lately, it seemed like the time was ripe to get some first-hand accounts from people who have made use of public health services. Two couples and one individual who had benefited from Medicaid coverage during pregnancy were willing to relate their experiences: Bill and Sarah had a child in late 2010, and they received Medicaid benefits during Sarah's pregnancy and the delivery; Bill was working part-time, but has since moved to a full-time job …
The crack of wooden bats, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the taste of a cold beer on a hot summer evening are three things that have been absent from the lives of Champaign-Urbana baseball fans for generations. However, with the caveat that it's extremely early in the process, Champaign mayor Don Gerard has begun laying the groundwork for bringing minor league baseball to Champaign. IF YOU BUILD IT...? Gerard stated that, unlike the most recent effort — which …
Download this week's podcast here. Urbana's Market at the Square opens this Saturday, May 7. Market Director Lisa Bralts visited the studio to discuss the upcoming market season. Our conversation touched on a wide range of subjects: Changes to this year's market, including the decision to ban all pets The huge growth of Urbana's market and how it compares to other markets in Illinois and around the country Why the community feels such ownership over the market and how Lisa …
The campaigns of both Champaign mayoral candidates are releasing new ads as they head into the final stretch before next Tuesday's election. Smile Politely has obtained the rights to exclusively debut both ads. In this ad from the Don Gerard campaign, another former local rocker stumps for the political newbie: You can check out previous entries into this series of ads here. Not to be outdone, incumbent mayor Jerry Schweighart just released a new ad, which is similar in tone …
Most of us do it without a thought — grab our keys, strap on our seatbelts, shift into drive, go from home to work, home to school, home to the grocery so many times that we don't remember the particulars. We don't remember closing the garage door behind us, stopping at the stop sign down the block, or putting the parking brake on. We didn't see the pedestrian waiting for us to yield at the crosswalk, the cyclist we cut …
Listen or download the podcast of SP Radio.(to download right click and select save as) In this podcast:We talk to resident Mr. Pelmore as well as Claudia Lenhoff and Grant Antoline from the Champaign County Health Care Consumers about the toxic site in the 5th and Hill neighborhood. The CCHCC is working with residents to get Ameren to clean toxins off of properties neighboring the former manufactured gas plant. Some of the topics covered: Identifying the extent of contamination Mr. Penmore's …
Don Gerard is running for mayor of Champaign. On April 5th, he hopes to defeat incumbent Jerry Schweighart. One of Gerard's favorite novels is A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. If you haven't read A Confederacy of Dunces yourself, it's a work that's a little hard to describe ― a comic and satirical novel set in the early 1960s with a sadness at its core (its author committed suicide before it was even published). Its protagonist is 30-year-old …
This Thursday night (Dec. 9) at 6 p.m. will be the last opportunity for anyone to purchase the late Daniel Schrieber's Flatlander Chocolate. The Flatlander Fund, an organization working to open a community kitchen in Champaign-Urbana, is hosting an auction from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Highdive. Schreiber was the local bean-to-bar chocolate maker who was in the beginning stages of developing a community kitchen when he passed away this summer. We've written extensively about Schreiber and the Flatlander …
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Hi my name is Harry Huffman, professional speaker…. keynote humorist and above all story teller. I have also been a ballroom dancer, competitor and instructor over 45 years.I’m looking to get on the story telling circuit or radio. Can you give me some advice. Thank you. My web site http://www.speakdance.com
Man, I cannot wait for these four records to be released by Parasol/Hidden Agenda - seriously great music for them to be working with. Thanks for letting me hang out in the studio and see you at the party…
Rob, I’m slightly confused about the media player you are referring to.
I’ve looked at this page with two different browsers, and four different operating systems. I’ve decided that the embedded media player is just plain busted.
$100K for a toy house? No wonder my taxes are killing me. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/solar-decathlons-rainy-start_594112.html
You’ll be delighted to know that the entire remainder of Urbana is low income housing. Also no income housing.
Will there be low income housing? Thought not. Class warfare is on!
Don’t feel so good about this business. It’s the worst I’ve ever dealt with.<span> </span>The office staff is terribly rude, childish, and belligerent toward customers.<span> </span>Requests to speak with a supervisor are refused.<span> </span>Before thinking about using this company, check their rating with the Better Business Bureau…
Just a point of correction. The vote was 7-1. Councilman Faraci was not present. What I find interesting on this “non-partisan” council is that those most often interpreted to be the “liberals” on the council, felt it necessary to excuse themselves and hum and haw to…
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Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
Thanks for that, Louis CK.
Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail. Emotion has no place in hard science. The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming
Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0. What is their rationale?
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I love the Guitars