Comments on: The Seven Wonders of Illinois http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:32:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Darrell Brown http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25843 Darrell Brown Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:01:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25843 When I was born, I received a healthy dose of itchy feet in my blood supply. My wife, I had to settle down sooner of later, says that I have lived everywhere. So, I live in beautiful Kansas City, MO. In my travels I have been blessed with free, no money of my own, to travel europe, explore the fluted rocks on the Oregon coast, and much more. More beautiful than any other place - I think is the Missippi River at Nauvoo, Illinois. The lazy river with boats, greenery done to the river banks, and the old city of Nauvoo earns my vote for the lead attraction. It was on the last trip to Illinois that I saw Nauvoo from the west side of the river, the Iowa side, for the first time. Wow! And the city has a warm friendly ambience. I will go back to Nauvoo as frequently as I can. I can dig razorback clams in Washington, wade in the Englsh Channel (Des Pan, Belgium), boat in the fjords of Norway again - another day. Today, maybe I will sample fresh cheese in Nauvoo - walk around the Mormon Temple and feel the atmosphere as I can find no where else! I LOVE it. Thank you, Darrell When I was born, I received a healthy dose of itchy feet in my blood supply. My wife, I had to settle down sooner of later, says that I have lived everywhere. So, I live in beautiful Kansas City, MO.

In my travels I have been blessed with free, no money of my own, to travel europe, explore the fluted rocks on the Oregon coast, and much more. More beautiful than any other place - I think is the Missippi River at Nauvoo, Illinois. The lazy river with boats, greenery done to the river banks, and the old city of Nauvoo earns my vote for the lead attraction. It was on the last trip to Illinois that I saw Nauvoo from the west side of the river, the Iowa side, for the first time. Wow! And the city has a warm friendly ambience. I will go back to Nauvoo as frequently as I can.

I can dig razorback clams in Washington, wade in the Englsh Channel (Des Pan, Belgium), boat in the fjords of Norway again - another day. Today, maybe I will sample fresh cheese in Nauvoo - walk around the Mormon Temple and feel the atmosphere as I can find no where else! I LOVE it.

Thank you,
Darrell

]]> By: Dave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25837 Dave Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:31:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25837 Vote submitted! As a former Fermilab intern (office of public affairs), I know it's got to be in the top 7. Vote submitted! As a former Fermilab intern (office of public affairs), I know it’s got to be in the top 7.

]]> By: bob http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25830 bob Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:14:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25830 Clifton #14: I guess I'm really old. When I was a kid, the standard school tours in Chicago included: the Stockyards -- get to see cows and pigs killed in front of you - amazing smells too! Marshall Fields - when there was a Marshall Fields. Included one of the last stations of the now-departed freight tunnel http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Cracker Jacks factory - now that was a tour! Clifton #14: I guess I’m really old. When I was a kid, the standard school tours in Chicago included:
the Stockyards — get to see cows and pigs killed in front of you - amazing smells too!
Marshall Fields - when there was a Marshall Fields. Included one of the last stations of the now-departed freight tunnel http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html
Cracker Jacks factory - now that was a tour!

]]> By: bittergradstudent http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25823 bittergradstudent Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:36:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25823 Well, the Sears tower was the tallest building in the world for a long time, and, aside from Teotihuácan, Cahokia was the largest settlement in the western hemisphere. Both are pretty impressive. Hard to argue against Fermilab, though. Well, the Sears tower was the tallest building in the world for a long time, and, aside from Teotihuácan, Cahokia was the largest settlement in the western hemisphere. Both are pretty impressive. Hard to argue against Fermilab, though.

]]> By: JoAnne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25824 JoAnne Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:57:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25824 Adam: It's really anybody's guess at this point, but my guess is that the new situation in Congress will actually be better for science as a whole. Hastert had Fermilab in his district, but he was just one guy, and could only put in earmarks for FNAL. Hyde (representing Argonne's district) voted against scientific projects many times (even the SSC when Argonne was heavily involved). Meanwhile the Bay Area Congressional Caucus (which I know meets frequently and is very aware of scientific issues and is sure to always have a member on the science cmtte) has <em>three</em> major national laboratories within their purvue: SLAC, Lawrence Berkeley, and Lawrence Livermore. Berkeley is head of SNAP. SLAC is head of LSST. The whole linear collider concept orginated at SLAC, and SLAC remains a driving force (and we're happy to build it at Fermilab - if they want it). All the labs have major involvement in the LHC. So, a reasonable fraction of the Congressional delegration which currently holds the power (recall the Bay Area is essentially 100% democratic) is very much aware of the importance of a broad swath of fundamental scientific research. And, the proof isn't in the pudding yet, but science got a boost with an increase in budgets in FY07, while everone else remained constant. That never happened under Hastert's rule. Adam: It’s really anybody’s guess at this point, but my guess is that the new situation in Congress will actually be better for science as a whole. Hastert had Fermilab in his district, but he was just one guy, and could only put in earmarks for FNAL. Hyde (representing Argonne’s district) voted against scientific projects many times (even the SSC when Argonne was heavily involved).

Meanwhile the Bay Area Congressional Caucus (which I know meets frequently and is very aware of scientific issues and is sure to always have a member on the science cmtte) has three major national laboratories within their purvue: SLAC, Lawrence Berkeley, and Lawrence Livermore. Berkeley is head of SNAP. SLAC is head of LSST. The whole linear collider concept orginated at SLAC, and SLAC remains a driving force (and we’re happy to build it at Fermilab - if they want it). All the labs have major involvement in the LHC. So, a reasonable fraction of the Congressional delegration which currently holds the power (recall the Bay Area is essentially 100% democratic) is very much aware of the importance of a broad swath of fundamental scientific research.

And, the proof isn’t in the pudding yet, but science got a boost with an increase in budgets in FY07, while everone else remained constant. That never happened under Hastert’s rule.

]]> By: adam http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25832 adam Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:36:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25832 Another question for Joanne: Fermilab is in Speaker Denny Hastert's district, which presumably never hurt when it came to funding. The new Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is from San Francisco, not a million miles from SLAC. What practical implications does this have? Another question for Joanne: Fermilab is in Speaker Denny Hastert’s district, which presumably never hurt when it came to funding. The new Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is from San Francisco, not a million miles from SLAC. What practical implications does this have?

]]> By: Adam S http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25833 Adam S Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:29:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25833 Judith #20: Apparently, EM Purcell, of EM fame, was educated in Matoon. His book is a wonder of the world, no? Mustafa #21: I nominated both :) Macles #22: The first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction took place in the U of C raquets courts, underneath the football stadium bleachers, I believe. Judith #20: Apparently, EM Purcell, of EM fame, was educated in Matoon. His book is a wonder of the world, no?

Mustafa #21: I nominated both :)
Macles #22: The first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction took place in the U of C raquets courts, underneath the football stadium bleachers, I believe.

]]> By: macles http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25834 macles Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:07:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25834 Wasn't the basketball court at U of C famous for something or other? Wasn’t the basketball court at U of C famous for something or other?

]]> By: Mustafa Mond, FCD http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25835 Mustafa Mond, FCD Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:33:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25835 Thanks for the link. I like Fermilab, but put in a nomination for the Bahai temple in Wilmette instead. Thanks for the link. I like Fermilab, but put in a nomination for the Bahai temple in Wilmette instead.

]]> By: judith weingarten http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25828 judith weingarten Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:48:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/02/28/the-seven-wonders-of-illinois/#comment-25828 Funny they forgot the most interesting event in Illinois' recent history, the mass hysteria at Matoon, Ill. in 1944. An eighth wonder? Still not properly understood. Funny they forgot the most interesting event in Illinois’ recent history, the mass hysteria at Matoon, Ill. in 1944. An eighth wonder? Still not properly understood.

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