My Idea of Normal

Normal Font?

2012-02-18T07:52:00.001-06:00

Chattanooga has its own font: Chatype. What a creative way to "brand" a city! Never mind spending money on new street signs, street lettering, city stationery, etc. It's worth it to have a font unique to your city!

So, how about a font for Normal? Normalingua? Normaletica? Normalinotype? Should it have serifs (Normal has that extra something) or be sans serif (Normal is clean)? Only come in bold (hear Normal roar), lowercase (Normal is humble), or UPPERCASE (Normal demands attention)? Scripty (Normal can be fancy) or angular (Normal is modern and sleek)? Upright (Normal has morals) or slanted (Normal can be hip)?

Let's get write on that!

Normal: Most ?? Town

2012-02-16T09:47:00.000-06:00

This article suggests titles cities could compete for, such as "Least Car-Friendly City" and "Most Edible City." Perhaps Normal could make up a few titles and claim ownership:

"Most Traffic Cone-Friendly Town"
"Fewest Uncontrolled Intersections Town"
"Lamest Town Name Jokes Town"
"Smartest Street-Crossing Squirrels Town"
"Most Face-Painting-Included Events Town"
"Best Half of a 'Twin Cities' Town"
"Sexiest Town" (fill-in-the-blank with your own choice/choices)

Normal: Second Best City for Singles, Sort of

2012-02-13T19:15:00.000-06:00

Kiplinger has named the "10 Best Cities for Singles" and Bloomington (IL) ranks second. Since the photo shows Normal, we'll assume they either meant Normal or included it with Bloomington. If you read the introduction to the rankings, you will see that they refer to the presence of "swinging singles" (where are they??) and their idea of a date is two movie tickets and a bottle of wine. (Does the couple drink it in the car after the movie, or do they take it in with them?) So, if swinging singles are going to movies and drinking wine in Normal (and possibly also in Bloomington), then I guess that makes it a good place for singles. (Watch out, top ranking Ann Arbor! Your movie tickets and wine are a little cheaper but our singles are swingier! They just didn't account for that in the rankings.)

Normal: Not Fit for Fit EVs?

2012-01-31T11:42:00.000-06:00

Honda is introducing the Fit EV this year but only in Oregon and California, which Honda considers "ground zero for electric vehicles". Hello!! Normal is an EV Town! Even when Honda officially launches the Fit EV in 2013, it will be on the east coast. Hey, what about Normal? We have charging stations and "early adopters" -- you'll "fit" right in (sorry, couldn't resist that)!!

Normal Charging Stations: More at the Store?

2012-01-27T10:51:00.000-06:00

Walgreens is putting in charging stations for electric cars, and other stores may be adding them soon. If more stores in Normal add the stations, we might actually get used to seeing (and using) them all around town! I wonder how long it took for people to get used to seeing gas stations around town.

Normal: Walking Neighborhoods Are the Future

2012-01-14T15:15:00.001-06:00

This article about the value of having residential neighborhoods with schools, restaurants, convenience stores, and other desired businesses within walking distance is very timely. It's not just rising gas prices that will motivate people to want to be able to walk places, it's also the increase in people working from home, the preference many people now seem to have for making quick trips to purchase nessecities instead of one, extended trip to the store for a week's supply, and the (grudgingly acknowledged) need for exercise.

It would be interesting to take a map of Normal and circle businesses within walking distance (however that's measured) of residential neighborhoods. I think many residents would like to be able to walk to "neighborhood stores" but they also do not want those stores in their "backyards" (too much traffic, too much light at night, too much loitering). What is the solution to establishing these businesses without upsetting residents? There are vacant buildings that could be transformed into businesses based on what nearby residents want/need. That would be one solution. There is also "undeveloped" land (interpretation: farmland) on the outskirts of some neighborhoods that could be acquired for this purpose.

Maybe in the not too distant future, new subdivision plans will have to include "gray space" (for small businesses) as well as green space.

Normal 2011: What a year!

2011-12-27T17:12:00.001-06:00

Shepard Park is on the map!
Masonic Temple leaves a gap.

St. Pat’s Parade big hit Uptown!
“Fool’s Fest” does not get off the ground.

Uptown Station’s looking great!
High speed rail tracks await.

New garbage carts for every home!
Alas, no urban chickens roam.

The Circle occupies first place:
Smart Growth Award, Best Public Space!

Humble town of Normal stars
In ad for little electric cars.

Crutcher and Hill retired -- a pity!
And Fruin left for Iowa City. (Really, Geoff? Iowa??)

2012: Redeveloped Holiday Inn?
And that Uptown One hole may get filled in?

Happy New Year, Normal!

Normal Christmas Wish

2011-12-24T07:36:00.000-06:00

Wouldn't life be worth the living

Wouldn't dreams be coming true

If we kept the Christmas spirit

All the whole year through?

~Author Unknown

Have a Merry Normal Christmas!

Normal Parking Garage Could Be Greener!

2011-12-22T11:13:00.001-06:00

Vancouver is building a greenhouse on top of a "parkade" (which is the Canadian version of a parking garage). The greenhouse will produce "tonnes" of vegetables (Canadians spell funny!). Ok, Normal, we can top that (pun intended)! We could have a greenhouse on top of the College Ave. parking garage or on top of the new parking structure connected to the Uptown Station. Get growing!!

Normal Circle Wins EPA Award!

2011-12-01T19:50:00.000-06:00

The Uptown Normal Circle has won the EPA National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in the category "Civic Places." The Circle is recognized for not just its innovative environmentally-friendly design and traffic-friendly transformation of an intersection, but also for its function as a gathering place for people. As the article points out, there wasn't a city center until the Circle was created. Lately, it's even been used for protesting! You know it's a real gathering spot when that happens!

Driving around it, enjoying the green space, or gathering for civic/social events -- embrace the Circle!

Normal Uptown Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T15:33:00.000-06:00

Hhhmmm, maybe a song says it best...

Said the Pantagraph to the local folk,
Do you see what I see?
In the town of Normal, local folk,
Do you see what I see?
Uptown, Uptown, not to be outdone,
With a Circle that’s ranked Number 1.
With a Circle that’s ranked Number 1.

Said the local folk to the nearby towns,
Do you hear what I hear?
Every day, listen nearby towns,
Do you hear what I hear?
A boom, some clangs, coming down like rain
With a noise as loud as a train.
With a noise as loud as a train.

Said the nearby towns to the Governor,
Do you know what I know?
In your Springfield home, Governor,
Do you know what I know?
Uptown, Uptown, rising like the sun
Come and visit, join in the fun!
Come and visit, join in the fun!

Said the Governor in a press release,
“Listen to what I say!
Come to Normal, people, if you please.
Listen to what I say!
Uptown, Uptown, it’s becoming great
It will bring new life to this state!
It will bring new life to this state!”

Let us give thanks for our community.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Normal: Repurposing Old Buildings

2011-11-15T11:49:00.000-06:00

Here's a nice idea for repurposing old buildings: turning old elementary schools into apartments. What a nice alternative to tearing them down or closing and abandoning them! How many local unused buildings are there? Maybe developers need to be more creative in coming up with ideas for using for old buildings in new ways.

Normal Masonic Lodge

2011-11-05T19:43:00.000-05:00

As the Normal Masonic Lodge is torn down, it would be interesting to know more about its history. One site describes a box (time capsule) located under the cornerstone. It was placed there when the building was built in 1925 but was opened in 1971, added to, and then replaced. Lodge members hope to find a new home for the box. Seeing old buildings demolished and replaced by new buildings makes me feel like an old-timer, even though I didn't grow up in Normal. Some day, I'll tell people about how I used to park in front of that Lodge when I needed to stop at the Post Office, which used to have a very nice old church next to it. Speaking of old churches, there used to be another one in that area . . .

Normal Circle Wins Top Public Space!

2011-10-27T16:43:00.000-05:00

Planetizen has announced the "winners" of their "Top 100 Public Spaces in the U.S. and Canada" campaign. Normal's Uptown Circle won the top place! It's interesting that the authors of the article make a point of stating that the findings are not "objective." If Central Park had won the top spot, would they have made that same point? Isn't it true that all online surveys/campaigns are not objective? They certainly don't use random sampling.

It's good to have some recognition and appreciation, even if winning the top spot was the result of local "passion" for the Circle. It's our Circle and we like it.

Normal Uptown Station Building Progress

2011-10-24T10:42:00.008-05:00

Normal Civic Involvement

2011-10-16T07:31:00.000-05:00

It looks like voting for the "Top 100 Public Spaces in the U.S." has closed. The Circle in Uptown had a commanding lead the last time I checked, so it should come out on top. That's great! Of course, it's just one of those internet popularity contests but it does show that there is a lot of enthusiastic support from area residents. Showing support for your community is great, but what about actual civic involvement?

What does it take for you to do something for your community? Does it take a disaster like hurricane Katrina or the Joplin tornado? Do local elections motivate you to participate in discussions of issues? Or are you more proactive in your civic involvement: initiating neighborhood projects, volunteering to serve on local commissions, joining clean-up efforts, etc.?

From a quick internet search, it looks like there was a National Civic Engagement Week in 2003. Maybe that needs to be revived. It would be nice to encourage everyone to get involved in their community any time, instead of just encouraging people to vote when it's election time (which is also important). Everyone, get involved for Normal! Or should it be Normall?

Normal: Vote for the Circle!

2011-09-28T07:53:00.001-05:00

There is a campaign for the "Top 100 Public Spaces in the U.S." and someone has written a very nice nomination for the Uptown Normal (Traffic) Circle. It's actually in the "Hot 90" nominations at this point!

All you need to do to vote is register (email address and password), respond to the verification email that you will receive right after registering, and vote by giving "The Circle: Uptown Normal, Illinois" your chips.

It's a great way to share this wonderful space with the world! Please vote by October 20 15!

Update (10/11): The Circle moved up to first and now, second in the list. The voting goes until Oct. 15, so please encourage everyone to vote!

Normal Subdivision Farming

2011-09-15T12:07:00.000-05:00

Now, you can have your vinyl-sided house, three-car garage, deck, and your own home-grown produce without messing up your manicured lawn!

Some subdivisions are being built around farms or are including a community green space for farming/gardening. This is an idea worth considering! Forget the space for kids to play or for people to walk their dogs. Now, we want space to grow our own produce! (I guess kids could play there in the winter. Or it could be used for a community snow sculpture display, perhaps.)

If there are vacant lots in newer subdivisions, maybe developers would be open to this idea (if only for short-term use). A community garden/farm area might fit the green space requirement for subdivision development. Start digging!

Normal: New Urbanism Needed

2011-09-11T13:41:00.000-05:00

This is an article about how to keep developing urban areas without losing valuable farmland or conservation areas. The "new urbanism," as I understand it, proposes densely populated areas that combine residences with schools, stores, and other amenities in areas that are not favorable for farming or conservation. Keeping everything close together is supposed to encourage residents to walk or bike to their destinations. And the areas are near small, family farms, which could provide locally grown foods to the residents. It's a win-win-win situation for residents, farmers, and the environment!

It sounds ideal but is probably a zoning nightmare. And you would have to have all of the developers, businesses, and local school districts on-board before ground could be broken. That's no small accomplishment! But it does give us something to consider if we want to preserve the nearby farms while still allowing Normal to grow.

Normal's Walkscore

2011-09-05T14:29:00.000-05:00

According to the Walkscore website, Normal has a score of 48. That's only slightly better than the largest cities in Illinois, which have an average score of 46. A score of 48 is considered "car-dependent" (although it is close to the next category, "somewhat walkable"). The score is calculated using an algorithm that gives points for amenities within one mile (I guess that's how far they think someone is willing to walk to an amenity). So I guess the only way to improve the score is to build more amenities. Aren't we supposed to be encouraging people to walk more by making streets more pedestrian-friendly?

Normal Coops? (No, not for chickens!)

2011-09-05T14:26:00.000-05:00

This is an article about local cooperatives (coops) designed to provide goods and services to local businesses, thus reducing the impact on the environment that comes from transportation across long distances. One example in the article is a Cleveland coop formed to provide laundry services to area hospitals.

Normal cooperatives would be successful if they provided goods and services that local businesses need. One way to determine these needs is to find out what goods and services local businesses are currently purchasing from non-local providers. Then, the people who are interested in starting a particular coop would find out how to get started by researching other coops (Cleveland's Evergreen Cooperatives, for example).

Depending on the resources needed, forming cooperatives might also help unemployed people start a new career.

Normal: Local Farmers Market Glut?

2011-08-20T18:58:00.000-05:00

Farmers markets have been increasing across the country, resulting in fewer profits for the sellers in some locations. I don't know if anyone keeps track of how well sellers are doing at the local farmers markets. It seems that with at least three markets -- downtown Bloomington on Saturdays, Uptown Normal on Tuesdays, and College Ave. on Saturdays -- we don't yet have too many markets. The local demand for fresh produce has probably kept up with if not outpaced the local farmers markets, which should keep the growers happy. In my opinion, if people are willing to go to those markets in some of the extreme weather conditions that we have around here, there must be a strong commitment to buying locally!

Normal Corn

2011-08-11T12:47:00.000-05:00

It's not as high as an elephant's eye, but I think the corn in Normal is looking pretty good!

Normal Electric Cars for Microtransit

2011-07-30T19:01:00.000-05:00

The idea of using electric cars for microtransit -- short trips -- would work well around Normal. Of course, off-campus ISU students might like to use it to get to classes from their apartment and back again, and Heartland students might be willing to use it to get from distant parking lots to their classroom building (mainly on days with lousy weather). But what about other uses? Perhaps older residents would appreciate a quick trip to the mall or to a restaurant. Yes, there are taxi services in town, but e-rides could probably be offered at a lower cost because the cost of gas would not have to be included in the fare. (Slow-moving electric vehicles would not be able to travel on most town streets so would not work for around-town trips.)

Restrictions on the distance traveled per ride could eliminate the e-rides as competition for the local bus system. And many people who do not want to ride a bus for whatever reason but who only want to travel relatively short distances are a potential source of customers.

Something to consider.

Normal Needs Some Transfer Accelerators

2011-07-25T19:37:00.001-05:00

I like this idea: a slide (called a "transfer accelerator") next to a stairway at a train station. Something that's fun as well as useful. We could use fun ideas like this for transitioning the Constitution Trail over roads (or maybe railroad tracks?): a cool, tube-like structure that slopes gently up from one side of the road and down the other side. Walkways and stairs don't have to be boring and standardized. We are so restricted from creating fun alternatives because of the possibility of people taking unnecessary risks and suing others when those risks result in injuries. That's a shame.

Normal: Ads Underfoot?

2011-07-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

New York City has decided to ban ads on sidewalks. Not only is it illegal to stick decal ads on sidewalks, businesses are not allowed to project their logo onto the sidewalk at night!

Maybe Normal could make some money by allowing ads on sidewalks in the business district. And, if it could bring in even more money, there could be ads on the Constitution Trail [insert moaning or rage here]. The ads could be stickers designed to last no more than one season (automatically worn off by weather), so residents would not have to see the same ads for very long (and the town would get more money for new ads).

Is the commercialism worth it? Would businesses benefit? Does anyone really look down much while walking?

Normal: We Need a Video!

2011-07-09T20:02:00.000-05:00

There are wonderfully creative videos of daily life in various cities. This video of Berlin is amazing! Maybe someone could videotape life in Normal in a similar way. What kind of background music would be appropriate for such a video?

Normal PRTS: If only . . .

2011-07-05T13:07:00.000-05:00

Imagine an elevated track with smallish cars (each holding 20 people) that zip from point to point without stopping. Now, imagine that track up and around Normal (and Bloomington, if they say "please"), moving people easily from place to place. There is actually such a system at West Virginia University: the only U.S. personal rapid transit system. It was developed and built by Boeing with federal money and is still being used.

Ok, so this area isn't quite so sprawling and rural (not as rural as it used to be, anyway). But it would still be a great way to transport people (not just ISU students) without using streets. The West Virginia system has a way to keep the cars moving in ice and snow, so that's no problem. But it's probably too late to integrate an elevated track around here because of all the buildings in the way (not that we have many tall ones).

It's odd that we've come back to thinking about rails again after concentrating on streets for so long. I guess everyone has given up on those flying cars of the "future."

Normal: A Happy Community?

2011-06-30T15:44:00.000-05:00

The Declaration of Independence states that we have the right to pursue happiness. An article about how communities make us happy discusses different ways of measuring how our communities make us happy: through architectural beauty, environmental sustainability, education, good government, healthy food, transportation, etc.

On this 4th of July it is interesting to reflect on whether or not our local community has facilitated our pursuit (and capture?) of happiness. Is Normal a happy community?

Happy 4th of July! :)

Normal Very, Very High Speed Rail? Probably not.

2011-06-24T09:20:00.000-05:00

Japan is building the ultimate high speed rail system. The train uses magnetic force and actually floats above the track when running, practically eliminating the kind of wear-and-tear of traditional trains that scrape along metal tracks. So the trains last longer. The speed? Over 300 mph. Think about that.

The cost? Billions of dollars. (A 320-mile route would cost Japan around $112 billion.) The time to build the infrastructure? Years. (The 225-mile route that Japan is building is going to take 16 years.)

Do we have the money or the patience for this? No.

Like lots of innovations, though, perhaps the cost and building time will go down eventually. For now, it's fun to think about how quickly we could travel going that fast!

ISSCS: Can Someone Save this Building?

2011-06-16T12:48:00.000-05:00

One of the main buildings on the old Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home property is in bad shape. Other parts of the property have been repurposed but the once impressive main building (that is very visible because it's on a fairly busy street) sits vacant. There is a similar site in Milwaukee that has its own foundation which is raising funds to restore the chapel on the property. There is the ISSCS Historical Preservation Society, which raised money for a statue on the property, but since this particular building is privately owned, that society would not be able to take action.

The local building is privately owned but most likely a victim to the recession. Every time I see that building, I try to think of possible uses: an art gallery, a museum, condos, a central location for a rapidly growing local organization that currently has no site, a unique-use building for one of the local institutions of higher learning. . .

The list of expenses involved in preparing this building for use is probably long and intimidating. But the longer it sits unused, the longer that list will become until everyone will agree that 'it's just not cost-effective to do work on it' and 'it's such a shame that nothing was done sooner'.

It's "sooner" right now.

Normal Wireless Access Impact on Social Interaction

2011-06-13T18:50:00.000-05:00

This is an article discussing the impact that wireless internet access has on people in public spaces, especially in parks. Uptown Normal has wireless access. Has it reduced social interactions? Are more people focused on their electronic gadgets instead of talking to others? People who work in the Uptown businesses would probably be the ones to notice any change from how it used to be. Maybe students and others always brought projects to work on while eating lunch or having coffee, which would mean that wireless access really hasn't had much of an impact on social interaction. On the other hand, perhaps people are less likely to start a conversation with someone who is working on a digital device instead of reading or doing paperwork.

Normal Ski Slopes?

2011-06-07T15:36:00.000-05:00

Here's a great idea: Copenhagen is building a new waste-to-energy plant that will have ski slopes on it. People will take an elevator to the top of the building and ski down one of three slopes. As the article says, they have the snow but not the hills.

I wonder if that would work in Normal. If there were a tall building that also had a large enough circumference, it might. We don't have snow all winter but we have a few good snowstorms that would do the job. The Copenhagen project is actually going to "mist rainwater" on the slopes to coat them, so that's their solution to keeping an even amount of snow on the slopes, I guess.

Ski Normal!

Normal Steak 'n Shake

2011-05-29T22:37:00.000-05:00

Not surprisingly, Steak 'n Shake has a website. They do mention that the restaurant was founded in Normal in 1934. The posters that they sell show old Steak 'n Shake locations (at least, they look old) but there are no dates or locations given for the pictures. It'd be great if one was the original, Normal location!

Normal Photographer

2011-05-22T18:58:00.000-05:00

Did you know that a famous photographer with an unusual name was born in Normal? His name was Ralph Eugene Meatyard. He was born here in 1925. He moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and worked for a company that sold photographic equipment. He bought a camera to take pictures of his son and seemed to really get into photography, eventually exhibiting his photographs. There are quite a few internet links to information about his work, if you are interested in learning more about him and viewing some of his photographs.

Normal Urban Chickens (NUCS): Phase I and Beyond

2011-05-18T08:50:00.000-05:00

The Normal Town Council has passed the proposal for an urban chicken ordinance to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and discussion. If the proposal is recommended and approved, I wonder what effects this will have on Normal in the future. . .
1 year
The town of Normal welcomed hens. EIEIO
Across the town they live in pens. EIEIO
With a cluck, cluck here and a squawk, squawk there.
Here a cluck, there a squawk, everywhere a cluck squawk!
Urban chickens are our friends. EIEIO

7 years
"Redbirds" now replaced by "NUCS." EIEIO
But "NUCS" rhymes really well with "sucks." EIEIO
With a "NUCS sucks!" here and a "NUCS sucks!" there.
Here a "NUCS," there a "sucks" everywhere a "NUCS sucks!"
Mascot name is now in flux. EIEIO

12 years
Feral chickens roam the town. EIEIO
In Normal parks across the ground. EIEIO
With a rotten egg here and a rotten egg there.
Here an egg, there an egg, everywhere a rotten egg.
Watch your step, there's quite a mound! EIEIO

15 years
NUCS and Normal pigeons met. EIEIO
Soon little pigkens they beget. EIEIO
With a cloo cuck here and a cloo cuck there.
Here a cloo, there a cuck, everywhere a cloo cuck.
Designer pests -- the latest yet! EIEIO

20 years
"Foxy Normal" now it's known. EIEIO
Fox population overgrown. EIEIO
With a red fox here and a grey fox there.
Here a fox, there a fox, everywhere a foxy fox.
Normal fowl the coop have flown. EIEIO

Normal Chickens: Ruling the Roost or Dumb Clucks?

2011-05-01T16:22:00.000-05:00

Normal is considering a proposal to allow residents to raise chickens. This seems to be a popular topic in other parts of the U.S. -- Washington, California, and Missouri, for example. Headlines take advantage of the humorous poultry-related expressions, such as "one cluck closer," and "opponents squawk."

I have to say I am in favor of allowing residents to have one or two chickens (let's not go crazy and have dozens of them running around). They do create somewhat of a mess and can be temperamental, so I doubt that everyone will want to have them. They're a lot quieter than dogs, though, and they don't require walking! We raised a couple of chickens (one pictured above) when I was a kid. I remember Tweety (not pictured) proudly "crowing" after laying an egg in the barn every morning and how she would come running to me when I swatted flies for her. She held her own against the barn cats, too. I was surprised at how much fun a chicken could be as a pet.

If anyone is interested in furthering the cause, here is a pro-chicken petition from the fine folks of Brunswick, Maryland:

To: The Mayor & City Council of Brunswick, MD

Whereas, cities across America are realizing the many benefits of urban chicken ownership and changing their ordinances accordingly;

Whereas, during a time of severe economic crisis and world-wide oil shortages, backyard urban chicken rearing provides an economical source of healthy protein for citizens;

Whereas, the keeping of backyard chickens makes a highly positive impact on the solid waste stream, county-wide recycling efforts, and the unnecessary use of chemical fertilizers in urban gardens;

Whereas, a well-kept coop regulated by ordinances poses no threat to city sanitation or the health of our citizens;

Whereas, a well-crafted town ordinance can adequately address all concerns such as noise, number, setbacks and registration; banning roosters and ensuring that specific guidelines are in place to protect all;

We, the undersigned citizens of Brunswick, MD hereby request that the city council amend the current ordinance, Section 3-1202, to allow for the ownership of 4-6 laying hens within Brunswick limits.

Normal: What Can We Say?

2011-04-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

There's a website that lists city mottos and nicknames. Some of them are clever, some mention local landmarks, and some lend themselves to jokes. Here are a few that I think are worth mentioning (you'll have to look up the corresponding cities):

An Oasis of Recreation
A Place to Watch
A Slice of Heaven on Earth
Beauty and Progress
Capital of the Cow Country
City of Colleges
The City Different
City of Homes
City of Medicine
Cow Chip Capital
Crabtown
Dear Hearts and Gentle People
Everywhere Should Be Like This
Easy Living, Where Good People Count
The Friendly City
Ghost Town
Giant Hog
Giant Cow
Giant Pirate
The Heartbeat of Agriculture
Home of the Corn Fest
It’ll Take You By Surprise!
It’s not the end of the earth, but you can see it from here
It’s the Climate
It’s the People
Little But Proud
Living With a Mystery
Old Town, New Spirit
On the Road to a Better Future
Something for Everyone
Timeless Beauty . . . Ageless Fun
The Town Too Tough to Die
The Town Without a Frown
To the Stars Through Difficulties
We are Here to Grow
We’re On Our Way
What a Hometown Should Be
You Couldn’t Pick a Better Place

I think these are the two mottos that would work for Normal:

It's All the Name Implies

Where the Name Just Says it All

Normal: Earth Day 2011

2011-04-22T08:02:00.001-05:00

Happy Earth Day, Normal!

It's been 41 years since the first Earth Day. What could you do to observe this occasion?
*Visit a park.
*Plant a tree, flower, bush, or some grass seed.
*Unplug (as much as possible) today.
*Walk or bike.

*Plan to celebrate the earth every day!

Normal: Your Ad Here!

2011-04-16T12:13:00.000-05:00

Cash-strapped states have started selling ad space on school buses, in school cafeterias, on campus parking lots, on school web sites, in prison holding areas, and in the waiting area at the DMV. It's one way to generate revenue.

Ah, I can see it now: at Normal Town Council meetings, the Council member who gives the introduction to the meeting (for the cable broadcast) will announce who is sponsoring that meeting ("This meeting brought to you by Hank's Barbershop -- we're hair for you!"), there will be advertising signs posted on the front of the table where the meeting members sit, and ads will scroll across the bottom of the screen. There could even be product placement at the meetings (cans of soft drinks sitting with their logos facing the camera with occasional close-ups of the cans).

Local parks could have ads on or inside the bathrooms, town vehicles could have ads on them, and the town's website (soon to be updated) could have ads on it. It's not so far-fetched when you realize that we already have bird heads stenciled on the streets and an ISU redbird painted on a water tower. Those are government properties that are being used to promote ISU. Advertising is everywhere and we've come to accept it.

This blog is brought to you by blogger.com. The blogger's hair styling and wardrobe are brought to you by a local hair salon and various local department stores.

Normal: Cool College Town!

2011-04-11T09:59:00.001-05:00

There are many, many ways to rank colleges and college towns. One article lists the "coolest" college towns, citing their restaurants with "authentic cuisines," the scenery, the sports, the museums, etc. I guess their definition of a cool college town is a place that offers something for everyone.

Normal wasn't on this particular list but we could argue that it has its own cool quotient. There are the obvious features, such as the festivals, museums and historical sites, parks/trail, sports, and the wide variety of eating establishments. But there are also features that make Normal uniquely cool. For example, there is always construction taking place, which should appeal to engineering and architectural design types (and to those who built stuff with Legos when they were kids). City Hall is centrally located so anyone who enjoys democracy-in-action, animated NIMBY debates can get their fill. Bicycle vs. vehicle showdowns occur daily on local streets. And for avian entertainment, there are geese not only on local ponds, but also in parking lots, on sidewalks, and out in the streets. If Normal has an official bird, it should be the goose (which would leave us vulnerable to jokes but with a name like Normal, we can take it).

And there are the features of Normal's ambiance which also add to its coolness, such as the mixture of a rather conservative residential population and local government with what one would assume to be a somewhat liberal college population -- guaranteed to provide entertaining clashes on occasion! And Normal's weather provides challenges unmatched by climbing a mountain trail (take that, University of Virginia!) or looking at bats in a cave (big deal, University of Texas!): the wind in Normal whips your hair and clothes in seven directions at once; the bitter cold of January requires seriously heavy outerwear while the humid 90-degree days in August require the lightest clothing possible as well as a variety of sandals, and the frequent severe storms require the need for a basement, a reliable sump pump, and the ability to quickly change plans.

Still not cool enough? How about the Camelback bridge and the Corn Crib ballpark? Or how about the amazing feats of negotiating the streets around ISU during move-in day?

Normal? Way cool.

Normal: Cold Pavement (Warm Hearts)

2011-04-07T07:10:00.001-05:00

I went to Hope College in Holland, Michigan, so this article about Holland's heated sidewalks and streets caught my attention. The heating feature was not in place when I was there, so I remember well what "lake effect snow" did to the sidewalks and streets. Can you imagine having clear pavement to walk and drive on even when it's snowing? The store owners don't have to spend time and money clearing the sidewalks and the city saves money by not having to plow and salt the main street through the business district. It's too bad that this feature wasn't added during the recent Uptown renovations. Retrofitting this kind of feature into existing pavement is probably so expensive that it would take many, many years to make up for the cost in what would be saved (the cost of salt, labor, and fixing potholes). Too bad. It would have been great.

Normal Park Ping Pong?

2011-04-06T06:58:00.000-05:00

New York City is experimenting with an outdoor ping pong table. It's a fancy one so it cost quite a bit -- $3,490 to be exact. But what a great idea! Make the table and "net" from durable materials and rent out paddles and balls (or people can bring their own). It would bring people together in a public space, provide some exercise for young and old, and be a new form of entertainment that doesn't require much cost other than the initial purchase. I'd love to see one on in a local park or on a local college campus (hint, hint).

Normal College Town: A Good Place for Retirement?

2011-04-01T12:52:00.000-05:00

This is an article about a trend of more retired people moving to retirement communities in college towns. It's a great idea because there is such a wide variety of events taking place on college campuses: plays, music, sports, celebrations, talks, etc. College towns also tend to have good public transportation, which helps the students and the retirees.

The article specifically mentions partnerships between colleges/universities and retirement communities. I think there are some efforts along these lines locally and I would like to see more of them. Both the colleges and the retirees can contribute and benefit from such partnerships.

Normal in McLean County: Who was John McLean?

2011-03-26T09:05:00.007-05:00

I seem to always find a couple of books of local interest at the Normal Public Library Book Sale, and this time was no exception. I bought the book Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society 1930, published by the Illinois State Historical Library in 1930. There is an entry by Mrs. Florence Fifer Bohrer, Member Illinois State Senate, about how McLean County got its name: "John McLean and the County that Bears His Name" (pages 150-156).

John McLean was born in North Carolina (a slave state) in 1791 and moved to Kentucky when he was four. His father was a minister and was related to the Ewing family. John moved to Shawneetown in southern Illinois and was admitted to the bar. In 1818 he was elected to Congress as a Democrat and he was pro-slavery. He served until 1824 and then was elected to complete the term of a United States Senator. In 1829 he was serving in the Senate but his health was failing so he returned to Shawneetown where he died at the age of 39.

It sounds like he was very healthy in his younger days, because a neighbor of his said that he would "go to log-rollings, corn-huskings, house-raisings and country frolics" and "he could beat all comers at running, jumping and lifting" (page 153)! It's surprising that he died so young. I guess serving as an elected official takes it toll.

He never came to the area that is now McLean County but it was named in honor of him as suggested by Mr. William Ewing, who happened to be the Speaker of the House when a committee presented him with a petition to create a new county. The county was officially created in December, 1830, just two months after McLean's death.

At the end, Mrs. Bohrer writes that if John McLean could visit McLean County "today" (1930), he would "be moved by the outward changes which the new industrial and economic order has wrought, the automobile, air-ship, the fine roads and splendid institutions" (page 156). Of course, we take these things for granted, especially the air-ships.

Normal (and other local) Street Name Origins

2011-03-19T19:25:00.003-05:00

There is a document, courtesy of the McLean County Genealogical Society, posted on the internet that lists names of streets in Normal, Bloomington, and McLean County, and also lists the origins of those names. Some of the streets were named for types of trees (Elm, Oak, Pine, etc.). Many of the streets were named for local people, although the list does not include information about those people. Some streets were named with Abe Lincoln in mind (Lincoln, Lincolnwood, Todd), one street was named for General Douglas MacArthur (MacArthur), and two streets were named for General Winfield Scott (Scott, Scott Street). A couple of streets were named for stores (Ward Drive for Montgomery Ward, and Carson Drive for Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co.).

A few streets have local historical significance: Butcher's Alley and Butcher's Lane were near slaughter houses; Circle Ave. was a former racetrack; Division St. divides Normal from Bloomington, of course; Fairview St. was near the fairgrounds (I never made that connection!); and Lumber St. was where lumber was unloaded from the train. Two streets were named for cars: Continental Court was named for the Lincoln Continental, and Fleetwood was name for the Cadillac Fleetwood. London Way (as in England), Orlando (as in Florida), and Orleans Drive (as in New Orleans, Louisiana) were named for places.

Center, East, and North streets were so named because they represented the outer boundaries of the city/town at that time. The way this area keeps growing, that was definitely a mistake!

Normal HSR Promotion?

2011-03-12T20:59:00.000-06:00

Clever video using "Mad Men" style to promote high speed rail.

Normal March Snow

2011-03-06T10:37:00.000-06:00

It's winter in Normal -- again!

Normal Nut Park

2011-03-01T15:35:00.000-06:00

Planters -- the purveyor of peanuts -- is going to build small, peanut-shaped parks (called Planters Parks) on pockets of unused land in select cities. Each park will have its own Mr. Peanut statue! Ok, so it's like a living advertisement for their product. But if it provides a bit of green space and doesn't involve much upkeep (maybe volunteer groups could handle that), why not?

Of course, if Beer Nuts would like to offer their own version of green spaces (Beer Nuts Niches?), that would be nice.

Normal's Circle as a Square?

2011-02-25T13:17:00.000-06:00

There is an article that discusses the importance of "public squares" in current (and past) citizen uprisings. The idea is that we need these (real, not virtual) public spaces to gather, share, and voice our concerns, especially regarding the need for political change. I think that, aside from the section criticizing the role of the U.S. in world politics, the article makes a good point about the significance of public squares.

Would Normal's traffic circle (or do you call it the roundabout?) serve as such a public square? (I can see someone with a megaphone, getting people riled up as they march around the circle, carrying signs!) Or would citizens be more likely to gather on the ISU campus? I'm not suggesting that there is any current need for a gathering to seek political change in Normal! Just wondering if the lack of an obvious central public gathering place in the business district (as opposed to public parks, for example) would inhibit efforts of residents to publicly join together to express their concerns about some issue.

Normal Population

2011-02-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

Census data show that Normal's population is now at 52,497. The U.S. (resident) population is 308,745,538. The world's population is at 6,900,417,038 (as of this posting).

And I'm just 1.

Kind of puts it into perspective, doesn't it?

Normal Mayor's Whereabouts

2011-02-07T19:04:00.000-06:00

New York City's Mayor Bloomberg is facing questions about his whereabouts when not in town. In fact, the Council is considering passing a bill requiring the Mayor to provide notification of his whereabouts. (Isn't 'whereabouts' an odd word?) This issue might be unique to New York City because (a) the Mayor is very wealthy and can afford to jet off to places, including his many vacation homes, and (b) it's a BIG city so when there is a crisis (such as a major snowstorm), city leaders need to know who is in charge, for how long, and where to contact the Mayor in case there are questions.

Do Normal citizens need to know where Normal's Mayor is when he's not in town? And since this is a part-time position, do we need to know only part of the time? Aren't public officials entitled to some privacy?

Normal Normal Snow?

2011-02-06T13:33:00.001-06:00

Everyone agrees that we've had a lot of snow recently. According to one site, the average early February snowfall in Normal is around 6 inches. Regardless of the actual amount of snow that we receive, what is considered normal snow in Normal? Is it determined by how often people have to clear their drives? Is it determined by the number of snow days that the local public schools take? Or is it determined by the number of newspaper articles focused on how people in the area are dealing with the snow? Maybe there is never a "normal" amount of snow, just a "normal" amount of grumbling about winter weather!

Normal Sounds (and Smells?) of Happiness

2011-02-01T07:52:00.000-06:00

There is a mayor who has suggested broadcasting around town the sound of birds singing because it's supposed to make people happier. Who wouldn't enjoy the sound of repetitive chirping, warbling, and squawking? We could try broadcasting that throughout the streets of Normal. But why stop with sounds? Why not scents? The smell of hot tar used to fill potholes should make people happy. The smell of freshly cut grass without fertilizer or weed killer would be a nice change. And the smell of creosote (or whatever train smell you prefer) would reassure folks that we do need to invest in train travel. (I've lived next to railroad tracks and, trust me, there is a distinct aroma.)

The one problem with broadcasting sounds is that it is somewhat reminiscent of the Soviet Union's attempt to "cheer up" the area around Chernobyl (after the nuclear disaster) by playing music over loudspeakers. I'm always reminded of that when I visit the local outdoor shopping mall. Gives me the creeps (but doesn't stop me from spending money).

Normal Promotional Video?

2011-01-30T11:34:00.000-06:00

Should one ever be completely honest with someone who wants to move to Normal? What would you tell that person? Here is an example.

Normal Mayor Deep in Thought?

2011-01-21T09:41:00.000-06:00

Mayor Koos was photographed at this year's United States Council of Mayors meeting in D.C. The speaker he's listening to must be very interesting.

Normal Links

2011-01-17T16:02:00.000-06:00

I was looking for interesting links from "normal" (using bing.com) and found a few. One is a company called Normal (located in Chicago) that sells environmentally-friendly items. Their mission is "to deliver quality products that promote a healthy future."

On Matchmaker.com you can find information about "thousands of Normal men in your area." Thousands? Really?

My favorite is the Free Dictionary's listing for "Normal" because, in addition to describing where Normal is located and the fact that ISU is in Normal, it includes a pronunciation of the word "normal" that you can actually listen to. So, if you're unsure how to pronounce the name of this town, you can listen to it repeatedly and practice saying it. (Hint: it's not nor-mall, nor-male, nur-mal, nor nor-mel. It's nor-mle.)

Normal Small Steps?

2011-01-08T15:15:00.001-06:00

This is an article about the increasing number of small improvement projects in cities, given today's tight budgets. Parks are being developed in vacant lots, for example. Urban planners/designers refer to this kind of development as "infill," which I guess refers to filling in various undeveloped sites with new developments. Maybe this is the kind of development that Normal will experience for a while, now that almost all of the big improvements are in place (the Marriott, traffic circle, JSM building, Multimodal Transportation Center). There's still the "hole in the Uptown ground" that needs to be infilled with something, but that's more of a big development (maybe a vertical theme park!).

Here and there around Normal are "blank spots" that could use small developments. There's a small building on Beech St. (across from Casey's) that's been vacant for some time. It's in a nice location for an ice cream shop or some other residential-friendly business (that doesn't directly compete with Casey's, of course). A nice example of a small development is Java Jo'z, the little coffee place on Ft. Jesse. It's very small but is conveniently located and fills a bit of space in an otherwise unattractive vacant lot between businesses. Since Normal already has quite a few full-sized parks, maybe small green spaces (mini-parks) would be appropriate uses of other available spaces. Let's get small!! (old Steve Martin joke)

Normal New Year: Out with the Old, In with the New!

2010-12-30T20:23:00.000-06:00

Normal, 2011: what's OUT and what's IN

Out: complaining about the Traffic Circle
In: complaining about the Multimodal Transportation Center (MTC)

Out: parking bump-outs
In: bumper-to-bumper parallel parking

Out: Bank of Illinois
In: Heartland Bank

Out: corn crib as a storage unit
In: Corn Crib as a ball park

Out: mistakenly saying "Downtown Normal"
In: mistakenly saying "Twin Cities" (neither identical nor fraternal any more)

Out: complaining about the rough ride on Main St., just north of College Ave.
In: complaining about the rough ride on College Ave., just west of Towanda Ave.

Out: concern about pedestrian safety at crosswalks
In: concern about pedestrian safety at the MTC tracks crossing

Out: lengthy Town Council discussions about the appearance of signage
In: lengthy Town Council discussions about the appearance of buildings

Happy New Year!

Normal HSSSM

2010-12-29T16:36:00.000-06:00

An anonymous source close to those who know people who went to school with people who work for the town of Normal has revealed that, inspired by plans for high speed rail, there are plans in the works for high speed street sweeping machines. You know, those small vehicles that currently go about 5 mph, with the brush that sweeps junk from next to the curb out into the street? Evidently, someone is applying for a government grant to pay a local teen to "soup up" the town's street sweeping machines -- adding larger engines, huge tires, and maybe painting some flames on the sides. It is hoped that they could reach speeds as fast as 65 mph, enabling street cleaning to be accomplished in a couple of hours. The machines would have the right-of-way at all intersections between 3:00-4:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. The secret plan is affectionately referred to as "Operation Tasmanian Devils" (like in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons).

When contacted, people who post negative comments about Normal on the local newspaper's website say they are already calculating how much money will be wasted on these machines, how noisy they will be, and are brainstorming derogatory nicknames for the machines (e.g., "Normal Squirrel Mixers," "Normal's-High-Speed-Waste-Of-Our-Tax-Money-They-Can't-Do-Anything-Right Machines").

Normal Christmas Greetings

2010-12-25T09:55:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Normal New Year!

Normal Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T10:34:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve: a time of hope.

Normal in Books

2010-12-20T06:59:00.000-06:00

Google has created a "Books Ngram Viewer" which is a program that allows you to find out how many times a word or phrase has been mentioned in over 5 million books, between certain years. Of course, I had to try "Normal Illinois" and, as you can see from the graph, it wasn't mentioned at all in the late 1800s but peaked in frequency of mentions just before 1960. Local historians could probably explain the changes in frequency.

Normal HSR Efforts Catch On in Russia

2010-12-18T20:26:00.001-06:00

First, Normal started planning for high speed rail. Now, Russia is doing the same. Russia is going to host the 2018 World Cup and Putin is promising high speed rail services linking host cities. Has he been reading the Pantagraph?

Normal Parking Spaces

2010-12-14T19:35:00.001-06:00

A study by civil engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, estimates that there are 2 billion parking spaces in the U.S. If all of those spaces were combined, they would occupy an area the size of Massachusetts. The estimate includes paved spaces (public as well as private, such as your driveway parking) and uses the assumptions that there are 8 parking spaces for each car and that there are 250 million cars in the country. (There are probably other factors involved, in case you're doing the math.) What I find interesting is the statement that there are "500 million empty [parking] spaces in the United States at any given time." Remember that the next time you are looking for a parking space!

I don't know how many parking spaces there are in Normal, but I'm sure somebody who works for the Engineering Department in Normal could come up with an estimate. Are there really 8 spaces per car? Let's see, one for work, one for the Post Office, three for shopping (groceries, clothing, books), one for the bank, one for medical/dental appointments, and one for home. Yes, 8 spaces for my car!

Normal Tracks Crossing Dilemma

2010-12-10T08:31:00.000-06:00

With the building of the new multimodel transportation center comes the dilemma of how to get pedestrians from one side of the railroad tracks to the other: tunnel or overhead walkway? The Normal Town Council has authorized a study of the issue. There are other places that have also faced this dilemma. Laramie, Wyoming, for example, has an impressive walkway over a major set of tracks. I don't think Normal needs a walkway quite that large! Mayor Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas, has proposed building a tunnel containing shops and restaurants to connect one part of the city to another, under some tracks. Well, Normal's walkway, if underground, won't be long enough for any businesses to locate there. Safety would be more important than retail opportunities, I'm sure. It will be interesting to see what the designers come up with.

Normal Shopping Carol

2010-11-29T19:53:00.001-06:00

Here's a little holiday song to get you in the mood for shopping!

Uptown in Normal

Uptown in Normal shoppers pause
Thinking they just saw Santa Clause!
Down through the alley with lots of toys
For Normal tykes
Bringing Christmas joys.

[Chorus]
Ho, ho, ho!
To Normal we go!
Ho, ho, ho!
To Normal we go!
Uptown in Normal
Fun, fun, fun!
Buying some presents
For everyone.

First on my list
Are my friends so dear:
Bikes, books, perfumes
Will bring them cheer.
Maybe some comics
Or fresh baked bread
Will be the gifts
That I buy instead.

[Repeat Chorus]

Next are my co-workers --
What a team!
Restaurant gift cards
Will make them beam.
Just for myself
I think flowers will do.
And Merry Christmas
To all of you!

[Repeat Chorus]

Normal Thanks Giving

2010-11-21T13:12:00.000-06:00

There are so many things to complain about that distract me from all of the things directly around me that I should be thankful for, so I wanted to take this opportunity to express my thanks for...
*clean air and water
*autumn (my favorite time of year)
*friendly, helpful people at local stores
*the abundance of products and services to choose from
*first responders and everyone who devote their lives to our safety and well-being
*great co-workers
*a wonderful town to live in
*town staff and elected officials who work to make this a wonderful town
*opportunities to help others
*technology that is used to improve life
*favorite authors who keep writing novels that I enjoy
*all of the people who do the behind-the-scenes work that makes life better
*chocolate :)

Thanks!

[Not a complete list, by any means, and the items are not in any particular order.]

Normal to Jesse: Happy 202nd Birthday!

2010-11-10T06:16:00.000-06:00

Today, November 10, is Jesse Fell's birthday. Jesse Fell played a significant role in Normal's history. Everyone in Normal should do something today in recognition of Fell's contributions to this town: plant a tree, take a stroll around the ISU campus, visit the new statue of Fell, Davis, and Lincoln that is in front of the Center for the Performing Arts (in Bloomington), or drive down Fell Ave. and honk your horn in celebration. (Just kidding! I wouldn't want to upset the residents along that street.)

Jesse Fell has no Facebook page, Twitter account, or silly nickname like J-Fell. We can just think about him as a founding member of this community and imagine what his life was like as he played out his role in the history of Normal.

Happy Birthday, Jesse Fell!

Normal TV Shows

2010-11-09T16:19:00.000-06:00

Some re-purposed TV shows with a Normal twist:

"Normal Days" -- sitcom about a middle-class family in Normal and "cool" family friend who rides his motorcycle up and down Veteran's Parkway

"Mr. Normal" -- oddball show about a talking horse illegally kept in a local subdivision

"Real Housewives of Normal" -- reality show about bickering fashionistas who spend a lot of time at local bars

"Welcome Back, Normal" -- heartwarming show about an ISU graduate who returns to teach misfits at a local school

"Big Normal" -- reality show in which a group of annoying people are locked in a (putty-colored, vinyl-sided) house with a tiny back yard for 3 months, waiting to see who hangs on to their sanity the longest

"Amazing Normal" -- 10 teams race around Normal, taking on challenges such as finding a parking place near the Post Office and going out to eat at a restaurant without reservations

"N.O.R.M.A.L." -- set during the Korean War, this show follows the antics of anti-government doctors (with funny nicknames) who amuse viewers with their sarcasm, sexual harassment, and mean-spirited pranks; occasionally makes fun of the local culture

"Futurenormalama" -- cartoon featuring various creatures (evil robot, absent-minded professor, intelligent but odd looking female, and one Normal guy) living in Normal of the distant future (still lots of restaurants but they're floating in space)

"South Normal" -- cartoon featuring the adventures of snotty, foul-mouthed, completely selfish youth (will probably get canceled because it isn't cartoonish enough)

"Ally McNormal" -- special effects-laden drama/comedy about a skinny lawyer and her ongoing dating difficulties as she goes through all of the available (and a few of the married) men in Normal; only enough episodes for one season

"Normal Pickers" -- two Normal guys who try to find valuable items to buy and resell for a profit, but who can never seem to find anything over 15 years old in Normal

"Normal Anatomy" -- hospital drama focusing on the personal lives of doctors as they handle kids injured on the soccer field, teens with repetitive motion injuries to their texting fingers, people who were trampled when the store doors opened the day after Thanksgiving, and local elected officials suffering from hearing loss due to angry residents yelling at them for spending money on anything other than fixing the streets

Normal Street Safety

2010-11-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

I could never be a police officer because, among other things, I have a very low tolerance for traffic violations. Just today, I saw a bicyclist run two stop signs (at least he was riding in the street instead of on the sidewalk!) and I saw someone in a "big truck" (my description for any vehicle not a car) run a red light. And I was only driving for a grand total of maybe 15-20 minutes. So, I was impressed when I read about the traffic safety efforts being made by the New York City's Department of Transportation and the NYPD. They are working to make streets safer by getting the word to drivers about the importance of the 30 mph limit: "Hit someone at 40, there’s a 70 percent chance they’ll die. Hit someone at 30, there’s an 80 percent chance they’ll live. That’s why it’s 30." They are also going to ticket bicyclists who ride on sidewalks, go through red lights, and ride the wrong way on streets.

Raising awareness and increasing enforcement should make a difference, even in a huge city like NYC. Of course, they got a $150,000 grant to fund these efforts. If Normal is serious about encouraging and increasing safe bicycling around town, perhaps there is some grant money out there that could help.

Normal Apathy

2010-10-25T10:31:00.000-05:00

The fine folks in the local government of Boulder, Colorado, have come up with the idea of handing out raffle tickets to residents who attend a series of public meetings about local issues and to those who attend certain Council meetings. Raffle prizes may include items donated by local businesses as well as items purchased by the city. These meetings cost time and money and the city wants to involve as many residents as possible to make the meetings worthwhile. If the meetings are going to be held anyway and the prizes are donated, why not bribe more people to attend and (hopefully) become involved in local issues? What's interesting (and, unfortunately, not surprising) is that many comments in response to this idea are negative.

I think more Normal residents would attend public meetings and Town Council meetings if they had a chance to win a prize. Maybe they would discover that they have a vested interest in the issues and would become involved in local efforts.

Normal NIMBY

2010-10-24T16:59:00.000-05:00

Ever want to protest a development project in your neighborhood? Here's an idea for a NIMBY robot that knows just what to say at Planning Commission and Town Council meetings!

Normal's Chance for Academic Fame?

2010-10-21T07:05:00.000-05:00

The Chronicle of Higher Education has offered college towns across the U.S. the chance to get some (positive) publicity. If you want the reporter, Lawrence Biemiller, to come to Normal, you need to send him an email with a list of people to interview -- people around here who make the colleges "unique, engaging, smart, fun." Also, you can suggest places to visit and places to eat (that should be easy).

How about it? Should he come to Normal? Who would you put on the list of people to be interviewed? He starts his travels November 1, so send in those emails! That address is: postcards@chronicle.com.

Normal Leaf Peeping

2010-10-14T15:55:00.000-05:00

The Farmers' Almanac Blog says that the best time for leaf peeping in northern Illinois is Oct. 12-22 and the best time for leaf peeping in southern Illinois is Oct. 19-29. I guess that means that the best time to see Normal's trees decked out in the amazing colors of fall is between Oct. 16-23. I think they look beautiful already! Let's go peeping!

Normal Hydrant Flushing

2010-10-11T19:39:00.002-05:00

Here's to the Town of Normal employees who patiently wait while fire hydrants are "flushing." The hydrants have to be flushed regularly to keep them in good working order and the town staff always alert residents as to when they can expect this in their neighborhood. It is done overnight and, from what I've seen, takes quite some time because each hydrant is left flushing for a surprisingly long amount of time (not sure exactly how long, but it seems like at least 30-45 minutes). I wish the water could be diverted onto grassy areas instead of letting it run along the curb. Maybe someone can develop a diverter device to do this.

Normal Form-Based Code Reinterpretation

2010-10-09T13:03:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to share this article that suggests a new type of "form-based code" based on blending religion and zoning. What a unique way of looking at it!

Normal Night Lights

2010-10-08T16:31:00.000-05:00

An interview with a light artist and designer raises the issue of lighting in town at night and how it contributes to our experience of that space. I'm more of a morning person so I'm not familiar with how Uptown Normal looks at night -- how much street light illuminates sidewalks, how light from inside store fronts spills out onto the sidewalks, how harsh the lighting is from a pedestrian's view, how colorful the lights are, and other properties of lighting that should be considered. I know that the Normal Theater sign is quite colorful and eye-catching at night. Other than that, I'm in the dark about the lights.

Most of us don't notice lighting until the holiday lights go up. Then, we notice how much those lights perk up a place (when tastefully displayed). The right outdoor lighting in a town can make it more enjoyable to visit, so I think it's worth considering. Hopefully, some lighting expert will take a critical look at Normal's lights and make suggestions about possible improvements.

Normal: Head-Strong or Heart-Strong?

2010-10-02T17:31:00.000-05:00

A study by Park and Peterson (2010), "Does it Matter Where We Live?: The Urban Psychology of Character Strengths," suggests that some cities have residents with higher levels of what they call "head strengths" while other cities have residents with higher levels of what they call "heart strengths." Head strengths are intellectual and self-oriented while heart strengths are emotional and interpersonal.

Using a questionnaire posted on their website, the authors of the study rank the 50 largest cities in the U.S. based on these two strengths. San Francisco, CA, had the highest head strength and El Paso, TX, had the highest heart strength.

Variables correlated with head strength included voting for Obama in 2008, a larger number of colleges and universities, a higher cost of living, and greater population density. Variables correlated with heart strength included voting for McCain in 2008, smaller population, less population density, a higher average yearly temperature, lower cost of living, and more families with children.

Normal probably meets more of the qualifications of a heart-strong town than a head-strong town, with the exception of having colleges and a university. Looking at the study's list of heart strengths, the people in Normal should be fair, forgiving, grateful, honest, hopeful, playful, kind, leaders, loving, modest, persistent, religious, team-players, and enthusiastic. But if lacking in head strength, Normal residents probably don't appreciate beauty, aren't creative, curious or open-minded, and don't love learning. I can think of all sorts of exceptions to those conclusions! Of course, it's always good to use your head and your heart, so it would be best if Normal residents have a mix of both strengths.

Normal Shweebs?

2010-09-30T07:25:00.000-05:00

An inventor in New Zealand has come up with a way for commuters to get to work by traveling in a pedal-powered tube, called a Shweeb, that hangs from a monorail. The shape of the Shweeb makes pedaling more efficient than pedaling a bicycle, so people don't have to worry about not having enough energy to make it move. And if someone pedaling slowly is approached from behind by someone in another Shweeb who is pedaling faster, the rear Shweeb can join up with the front Shweeb and help increase the speed of the slow-poke.

It's environmentally friendly, provides a workout, and is more personalized than taking mass transit! But would it work in snowy, windy, stormy Normal?

Normal Indoor Positioning Feature Future?

2010-09-26T14:31:00.003-05:00

This is an article about indoor positioning. Basically, as I understand (or misunderstand) it, it's like a navigational system for people to use at indoor venues such as grocery stores, malls, and college campus buildings. Looking for the salad dressing at a grocery store? Use the positioning system. Looking for a particular classroom or a particular class (depending on which way the system is set up)? Use the positioning system. Heaven forbid anyone use signs or, even worse, actually ask someone for directions! Wouldn't want to have to put any thought into looking for the product/destination. And you sure don't want to have to interact with another human being.

[Sigh!] Is this really necessary? Stores and campuses in Normal aren't really that large that someone needs electronic navigation. And in real life, products and classes get moved around. Just deal with it without electronic assistance.

Normal Nuggets of History

2010-09-25T15:05:00.000-05:00

Time for a trip to the Normal Library's book sale! This time, I got three books about the history of McLean County and one old map/brochure of Illinois. I've already discovered a few interesting items in the books.

One chapter in The Way It Was In McLean County 1972-1822 by H. Clay Tate (1972) describes the infamous incident of a mob of locals breaking into the jail, dragging horse thief/murderer Charles Pierce out of the building, and hanging him from a tree "at the northwest corner of Market and Center streets." Oddly, there were no witnesses to identify anyone in the mob so no one was charged for this murder.

Another chapter describes recreational activities over the years in McLean County. Regarding baseball: "Indoor baseball held at the Coliseum often drew crowds of 1,000. Bloomington joined the Three Eye League in 1898. The league disbanded around 1940." Maybe they couldn't find enough three-eyed players to participate??

And it's hard to believe the variety of businesses in this area: 20 cigar manufacturing plants, a caramel factory and 150 other candy factories, an overall factory, four woodworking businesses, six brick yards, a brewery, a pork packing company, two flour mills, two feed mills, a canning factory, coal mines, etc.

It will take me quite a while to go through these books and learn more about this area. The pictures are also interesting -- Eastland Mall being built, Veteran's Parkway (nee the Belt Line) being constructed. I really appreciate people who take the time and effort to record this information so it's available for those of us who want to know what this area was like in the past.

Normal Needs "Smart" Traffic Lights

2010-09-22T11:07:00.000-05:00

Here's an article about traffic lights with minds of their own. The idea is to have traffic lights that "talk" to nearby traffic lights and to monitor current conditions so they can do what is best to keep traffic moving. Currently, there are traffic lights that take into account the traffic needs at that one intersection, but that isn't as good as having traffic lights that can also take into account the traffic that will be coming from nearby intersections.

This is supposed to cut down on lights that go through preprogrammed cycles, which leave you sitting at a red light when there is no cross-traffic. And it is supposed to be better than lights that are timed down a particular street (e.g., Veteran's Parkway), because that timing doesn't take into account fluctuations in traffic or accidents that may cause back-ups.

I like the traffic lights that change when they "sense" the presence of my vehicle at (or approaching) the intersection. The "dumb" lights, on the other hand, need some education. Or they need to talk to the smart lights and learn how to respond to changes in traffic.

Normal Green Buildings = Healthy, Happy Workers

2010-09-16T19:34:00.000-05:00

An article (quoting a study) suggests that people who work in LEED certified buildings miss fewer hours of work and are less stressed and less depressed than people who work in "conventional" (i.e., non-green) buildings. With an increase in LEED certified buildings in Normal, employee health and productivity should increase. And employers with businesses in those buildings have a good reason to require employees to work even longer hours and to work additional days: it will make them healthier and happier!

[The best line in the article is the reference to the "lame-stream media." Very appropriate.]

Is Normal Fashion Normal?

2010-09-12T14:15:00.000-05:00

The article "On Fashion's Night Out, Normal Hits the Streets" on the New York Times website discusses Fashion Week in New York City and how the fashionistas this year look more like "normal" New Yorkers. So, what is "normal" fashion in Normal? Are there fashion trends around here and if so, are they concentrated among the college students?

Fashionable footwear in Normal seems to reflect extremes: flip-flops and boots. I've seen flip-flops worn in winter and boots worn in summer. Good old medium-blue denim jeans are more common than the overly baggy jeans or the skin-tight-with-trendy-holes jeans. And the popular tops for young females remain the low v-necks over tanks or camisoles. Anyone out of college seems to subscribe to the "whatever is most comfortable" rule of fashion (e.g., no teetering around on uber high heels, no tights that look like jeans or whatever those things are, and no fancy multi-layering-with-loads-of-jangly-accessories). (If you are beyond college and you try to wear the trendy clothes that college students wear, you might want to re-think that.)

Being surrounded by college students and academics, I don't get a chance to see the popular fashions among the corporate set. Someone from State Farm or Country Financial will have to cover that.

There isn't a "Fashion Week" or even a "Fashion Day" in Normal, and there doesn't seem to be any social pressure to be 'fashionable' around here. Maybe we could call our style "Comfortably Normal."

Normal's Big Green Boxes?

2010-09-03T19:24:00.000-05:00

Here's an idea: transform a large, empty retail space into a place that grows organic herbs and vegetables. Called "big green boxes," these could potentially provide year-round produce for local residents, restaurants, and institutional cafeterias. They are described as containing fish tanks from which the water circulates out to the growing areas and then back to the tanks (after being filtered). The fish thus fertilize the crops.

Kind of an interesting idea. But if it didn't work out, it might be difficult to transform the green box back into retail space. On the other hand, if it's probably not going to be purchased for retail use any time soon and might even be torn down, an old store as a place to grow increasingly popular organic produce might be a good idea.

Normal's Dream HSR!

2010-09-01T16:25:00.003-05:00

We think high speed rail that moves us 100-150 mph is exciting but that's nothing compared to a train that would run 5,000 mph through a proposed tunnel from New York to London! This project ranks #9 on the top ten list in the article "Most Ambitious Transportation Projects of the 21st Century." Can you imagine a train going that fast and derailing? Or hitting something on the track? I prefer the current speed of trains, thank you very much.

Normal General Stores?

2010-08-28T19:56:00.000-05:00

This article suggests developing Suburban General Stores in residential areas so residents would be able to walk to a store within their subdivision and buy basic items. Supposedly, this would save money that would have been spent on driving to stores, and it also might increase social interaction among residents (one idea is to put a front porch on the store to serve as a gathering place).

This sounds nice in theory but raises issues such as the additional traffic and noise from delivery trucks, the impact of the store on the people who live close to it, and how zoning laws would accommodate it. There are convenience stores sprinkled around town that are within walking distance of some residential areas, so it isn't a completely new idea for this town. And unless lots of people are making frequent trips to stores for one or two items, it doesn't seem like a necessity locally.

Normal's (Relatively) Minor Traffic Jams

2010-08-25T07:20:00.000-05:00

After reading this article about a 62-mile traffic jam in China, I will be less upset about waiting in "long" lines of traffic at local intersections. Well, slightly less upset. And that will only last for a few days. After I've forgotten about the traffic jam in China, I'll go back to being really upset.

Normal: Future Bicycle City?

2010-08-20T08:01:00.003-05:00

Columbia, South Carolina, has been chosen for the location of a "Bicycle City" -- a development that is car-free (cars must be parked on the perimeter). There is also the requirement that all buildings are LEED-certified. Of course, they've got a good climate for biking. Even so, I wonder if there would be much interest for such a place in or near Normal. Would people be willing to have less convenient access to their cars in exchange for the benefits of not having vehicles in the neighborhood (no traffic noise, no car stereos booming, children could safely ride in the streets, etc.)? The article about Bicycle City does not address issues such as garbage pickup and delivery trucks. Obviously, emergency vehicles would be allowed in.

In an era when we want everything personalized to meet our own wants and needs, it's not surprising that someone would come up with the idea of a specialized subdivision. There will probably be more of these in the future (and maybe they can retrofit some older neighborhoods to meet consumer demand).

Normal Farmers Market Joins the Crowd

2010-08-15T14:59:00.003-05:00

There's an article quoting a USDA announcement that farmers markets have increased 214% since 2000, and have increased 16% since just last year! There are now 6,132 farmers markets across the country and Illinois has 286 of them, ranking third after California (580) and New York (461), and just ahead of Michigan (271). Missouri, Minnesota, Idaho, and Michigan have had the greatest percentage increase in farmers markets in the past year, so there's obviously a growing (hah!) interest in buying (hopefully locally grown) produce outside of stores.

I haven't been to the Uptown Trailside Farmers Market yet this year (due to the brutal heat in the late afternoon) but I have been buying produce at the new farmers market on College Ave. on Saturday mornings. I think more and more people have discovered that event and I'm hoping that it continues next summer because it's very convenient, both in location and time of day (starts at 7:30 a.m.).

Normal Pedicabs?

2010-08-09T12:34:00.002-05:00

Someone has suggested the use of pedicabs as an alternative form of transportation (similar to rickshaws). They could share bicycle lanes, reduce the number of automobiles on the streets, and give the "drivers" lots of exercise! I kind of like the idea, although they would only be a warm weather vehicle. Wonder how many people would be motivated to drive these things?

Normal Traffic Future: Different Views

2010-08-08T16:09:00.004-05:00

There is a nice panel discussion of the issues surrounding efforts to increase pedestrian and bicyclist accessibility in cities. Do city planners have to choose which side to take: pedestrian/bicyclist or automobile? Or is there a different way to look at it? It appears that many cities in the U.S. are pondering this issue. Normal is also taking steps (hah!) to increase pedestrian/bicyclist accessibility and is facing criticism and opposition as a result. Give up driving lanes or parking space on the streets so "a few" people can ride their bikes? Many seem to be saying "No!" to this. (What I find humorous but puzzling is the local animosity toward bicyclists that wear spandex -- what I call "spandicles." Are they hated for their clothing or their aggressive biking?)

Normal Future Transportation Needs

2010-08-07T20:22:00.003-05:00

I came across an article about city planning and how difficult it is to know what the future needs of a city will be, especially in terms of transportation. The author starts the article with the example of city planners in Europe in the late 1800s thinking that horse manure was going to be the biggest problem for cities in the future. Obviously, they were wrong.

I thought it was particularly appropriate to think about the issue of future transportation on the day of the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Normal Transportation Center. The Transportation Center plan is based on the assumption that people in the future will still give priority to efficiently traveling from one place to another, thus having a hub for trains, buses, and taxis makes sense. The article, on the other hand, suggests that perhaps that kind of view is ignoring the important role of information in our transportation needs/uses. Perhaps our future transportation won't merely be physical movement from point a to point b, but will require the transportation itself to provide our means of work and/or leisure. The article mentions holding meetings on trains and having a mobile day care as examples.

Maybe we've already started moving (sorry for the pun) in that direction: people are texting and talking on cell phones as they drive -- conducting business, handling social issues, etc. We are already combining information with transportation.

I am absolutely no good at predicting the future (even what's going to happen in the next 30 minutes!), so I have no ideas beyond what that article suggests. Good thing I'm not a city planner.

There is a saying that might apply to this issue: it's the journey [that's important], not the destination.

Normal's Utility Boxes: Wrap 'Em Up!

2010-07-31T20:06:00.002-05:00

An artist has transformed utility boxes in Culver City, California, into works of art. The boxes are wrapped with vinyl that has images (plants, benches, store fronts) that blend with the surroundings. What a great idea! This would not only spruce up unattractive structures but would probably also reduce graffiti. Someone needs to bring artists and public utility representatives together to make this happen locally.

Normal Transportation Center Web Cam

2010-07-30T16:36:00.002-05:00

The web cam on the Normal website now shows site preparation beginning for the Multimodal Transportation Center. How exciting!

Normal's Relative Youth

2010-07-24T12:56:00.004-05:00

Another CNNmoney.com ranking of cities: Normal is the 7th youngest city with a median age of 24.3 (Champaign is a couple of years older). Twenty-somethings -- they make me feel older, slower, a technological left-behind, and unfashionable. On the other hand, they make me feel wiser, more sober, and less distracted by social minutiae. I'll embrace the latter, dismiss the former, and accept that which cannot be changed.

Normal's Non-Top Ten Winning Ways

2010-07-23T16:38:00.008-05:00

CNNmoney.com has an article rating cities in terms of quality of life. Normal isn't in the top 10 but compared to the top-rated city, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Normal does have lower house prices, lower property taxes (yes, lower!), and a higher low temperature in January. There is also a lower percentage of divorced people in Normal (obviously, because many college students are not divorced, yet). And even better, the sales tax, state income tax rate, and auto insurance premiums are all lower than those in Eden "We're #1" Prairie.

So go ahead and celebrate your victory, you Eden Prairians. It's a hollow victory, though, because Normal's got you beat in ways that really matter.

Normal FJR Fix

2010-07-23T16:20:00.005-05:00

Hooray, they're fixing Ft. Jesse Road [note: elected officials standing in the road and they're not in a crosswalk -- isn't that asking for trouble?]!! It's a minor inconvenience at the moment but it will be so nice to drive east on FJR and not swerve back-and-forth, avoiding big-asphalt potholes. Now, if the railroad crossing gates work correctly and the ISU bus no longer sits for a long time blocking traffic at the Rec Center bus stop, I think driving that road might just be a pleasant experience.

Normal VOLs?

2010-07-20T16:03:00.004-05:00

This is a quasi-humorous description of vigilant old ladies in Europe who spend a lot of time looking out their windows, watching for any illegal/anti-social/questionable activity. It sounds funny but it's actually quite helpful to have people at home (especially during the day), keeping watch over their neighborhood. That's why it's nice to live near retired folks: they're usually keeping an eye on things (if they aren't traveling or off playing golf). Maybe, instead of posting signs indicating that there's a neighborhood watch, we should have signs that there are Vigilant Retirees watching.