Stuff

Assorted odds 'n' ends:

-- Good to see the Solon Home may finally get the care and renovation it desperately needs. It was donated to the Preservation and Conservation Association, according to the News-Gazette:

CHAMPAIGN - One of the city's oldest and certainly grandest houses has been donated to the Preservation and Conservation Association.
The Civil War-era Solon House, one of the few remaining Italianate structures in Champaign-Urbana, was designated a landmark by the Champaign City Council in 1998, three years after the last of Francis Solon's children, John Solon, died.
Richard Thies of Urbana, the attorney for the Morris family descendants of the Solons, said it was impossible to put a value on the house and land.
PACA's executive director, Karen Kummer, called the donation "priceless."

It's a magnificent old structure that deserves to be preserved and restored to its original beauty.

I just hope PACA can either figure out how to restore it or find a buyer who will bring it back to life.

-- It was interesting what happened at the opening of filing for various political races. It's been adequately covered elsewhere, but since when has that stopped me from commenting? A few Republicans were NOT among those lining up in Springfield. State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, hasn't filed. State Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, hasn't filed. Most notably, Judy Myers hasn't filed. Incumbency is enough to explain away the first two. But is Judy so nonchalant about the state Senate race that she doesn't think filing's a big thing? Or is she really not all that interested? Fine message to send to voters. "Oh, I'll get around to it one of these days. Maybe.'

-- Interesting that the UI is becoming concerned with human rights - when it comes to soft drinks Seems the UI is all concerned about Coca Cola's overseas bottling plants.

Chancellor Richard Herman wrote a letter, dated Nov. 30, to Coke's director of global labor relations, expressing "serious concern" about allegations concerning bottling plants in Colombia and India. The allegations include intimidation of workers involved in union activity in Colombia and water supply issues and pollution in India.

Legitimate concerns, concerns I, too, have. The UI's justified in looking into such abuses.

But what about disenfranchising and marginalizing an entire race of people right on your own campus? Concerned about that, Richard? Or have you (and the BOT) forgotten about the hostile and abusive Cheef?

I wonder if the BOT is waiting until the Christmas (nee holiday) break to finally deal with the problem with much less scrutiny and publicity.

And so it goes.