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By funsherpa, June 3, 2009 10:11 am

Disguising the real Roberto Solis

While it would have been more interesting to uncover the real Roberto Solis, a fugitive and veteran of the FBI’s most wanted list, we ended up chatting with a computer engineer working for a local trading firm. The Roberto Solis we met is a FiberOne diner, tech fanatic, and north suburb resident – unlikely characteristics of a mastermind criminal.

Roberto shares his favorite places in Chicago…

Things you like in your neighborhood: Old Orchard Mall, North Branch bike trail to the Botanical Gardens, Skokie Public Library, free parking and no potholes.

Favorite place to hangout in Chicago: Iguana Café, Café LaGuardia, Julius Meinl

Sports/hobbies:Volleyball, Golf, Tennis

Living in Skokie is like a mashup of urban and suburban living. That is why I get to alternate between supporting the city’s independent business owners and the suburban franchise behemoths. And I live close enough to the city that I can pretty much hang out late in the city while still getting back to bed at home in a few minutes.

F: Favorite place to play golf in or around Chicago?

R: City courses like the ones at Waveland and South Shore have the awesome lakefront views but they are poorly managed. The grass is usually in terrible shape and you waste a lot of time waiting for the groups in front of you to tee off before it’s your turn. I like the suburban courses. Northbrook has a nice one called Willlowhill. Glenview has a nice one called Glenview National 9. From my balcony, I can see Skokie’s Weber Park golf course which is nice for a very quick and easy round of golf.

F: Best place to eat Filipino food?

R: None that I know of. If someone knows of an upscale Filipino restaurant, let me know! There used to be a restaurant in Wicker Park called Rambutan which served Filipino cuisine tapas-style. Alas, it’s been closed for years.

F: Favorite bike trail?

R: In the burbs, I like the Green Bay Bike Trail which starts in Wilmette and runs alongside the Metra train tracks through the North Shore suburbs. I’ve never ridden the whole way but I think it goes all the way to Kenosha. In Chicago, I prefer streets like Clark and Lincoln. Much more interesting than any bike trail, lakefront bike trail included.

So, you’re not the Roberto Solis we thought you were…

F: You are a techie guy working for a trading firm out in Chicago. How’d you get started in technology?

It all started in high school. My dad got me a computer. I got myself a modem and had fantasies of hacking into my school’s computer system and changing my grades. That never happened. Instead, I unwittingly logged into a Department of Defense computer and nearly started a nuclear war between us and the Soviets. Luckily, I was able to convince the computer to play tic-tac-toe and, thus, the machine learned that sometimes winning means not playing. Apocalypse averted!

F: Why are you on the FBI’s most wanted list? Can you fly on planes and not get sent to the back room?

Flashback to 1992…one last job. $3 million cool ones and I get to retire to my little hacienda on the Costa del Sol (aka Skokie). My partner? Heather Tallchief. We rob an armored car and now I’m on the “list”. I never have trouble at the airport. Who’d ever think that someone on the lam would travel without changing their name? Homeland Security certainly doesn’t.

F: What are your thoughts on Twitter? Do you think the world will move to conversing in under 140 characters?

I’m nowhere near as hardcore on Twitter as some of my friends. I mostly use it to update my Facebook status by cellphone. But… I did hear a story about how this American tourist in Egypt was thrown in jail. Before he gave up his cell, he twitted for help and within hours, the American embassy was on his side helping him out of the clink. Maybe someday, and I hope that day never comes, I might need to tweet for assistance.

When you think about it, most verbal communication takes place in under 140 characters. And when someone starts rambling beyond 140 characters, doesn’t someone usually interrupt? For the longest time, our non-verbals consisted of letter-writing on paper. Now that cellphones and instant messengers allow rapid feedback and interruptions, it’s not surprising that our nonverbal communication style is mimicking our verbal.

F: If you could create your own version of the internet, what would it look like?

Some key features: Wireless connectivity everywhere – say no to hotspots and cable clutter; fast – we’re only going cram more data (HD video, yo!) into those internet pipes; only legit websites allowed – no phishing attacks; no spam – Only real email gets in my inbox; free – Well, you did say “my version of the internet”.

F: Worst thing technology has done to you?

I think technology has degraded my social etiquette. Like for example, when I pick up my friends, I never knock on doors or ring doorbells anymore. I call from my cell and tell them I’m outside. Or, instead of calling people on their birthdays or sending them a birthday card, I’ll just post a happy birthday on their facebook wall. Yeah yeah…. I know…

F: Mac or PC?

I have both but if I was to choose between the two, I’d have to say PC. Though their user interfaces and aesthetic designs are great, Apple doesn’t have a strong hardware reliability record. I always purchase the extended warranties for any Apple product I get and I’m always glad I did. My ipod had to be replaced 4 times in one year. My macbook had it’s motherboard replaced after 2 years. I’m pretty finicky about what gets installed on my PC so I rarely have problems.

F: Favorite websites?

R: Gapersblock, Rockonthecta, lifehacker, popurls, and wallstreetfighter

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By funsherpa, May 27, 2009 3:27 pm

Frank is smiling because the world is getting greener

Every summer, we see the lake and foliage come alive and remember why Chicago is the best place in the world, and promise to stay, despite the frost bite inducing winter. This city has not only done a great job creating landmarks and monuments, but has also protected Lake Michigan, created green spaces and developed environmentally sound policies. We talk to Frank Teng, a Stanford graduate, sustainability activist and current expert on all things green to learn more about the real meaning of being a steward of the earth, voting against green washing, and cost effective sustainability practices. Although Frank currently lives in San Francisco, he travels to Chicago frequently to enjoy the city and learn more about the cool things Chicago does to become the greenest city in the world.

Learning more about sustainability with Frank

F: When did you start thinking about living a sustainable lifestyle? What was the aha moment?

FT: I started when I first read the book 100 Ways to Save the Earth in elementary school – I remember cutting the rings in the soda six-pack plastic so that it wouldn’t trap sea animals. In college, when I dropped in on a speaker seminar about how environment and business can work together, that was the aha moment when I realized this could be a career for me.

F: Everyone can help save the world by: changing a light bulb to an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb. Then use the $40 you save to buy two (used) books on how to make your life more green, and read them with your efficient new light. Then use the $$ you save to donate to or volunteer for a worthy environmental cause. With the new connections you make, get involved in a political campaign to improve your community, and maybe even run for a local commission or office. And then, make a law requiring efficient light bulbs and help others go through the same process.

F: What is behind this trend to source locally grown food? There are some who confuse local with organic…what is the best way to differentiate them and what are the benefits?

FT: Local food is a good choice for a number of reasons, some of which overlap with organic food. It’s a good way to support local, usually family, farms, which in turn helps enrich the character of the community. It also invigorates the local economy, which potentially benefits your job and property values. From an environmental standpoint, local food saves on the energy and global warming impact of transporting food thousands of miles to reach your plate. And from a health standpoint, farmers don’t have to put as many waxes and preservatives to keep food fresh since it will be sold and eaten much sooner. And finally, the food is fresher and therefore often tastes better. Organic food doesn’t necessarily have to be local, so there may not be local economic or energy saving benefits. The food is grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which makes it easier on the ecosystem and land and also reduces risk to your health. It also may taste better since it is picked closer to ripeness and flavors are more concentrated.

Trash is a symptom of wasteful practices and we should all watch lightning storms over Lake Michigan

Remember recycling is: the last option after reducing and reusing.

F: Why does going sustainable have to be expensive?

FT: It doesn’t. In many ways, it can help you save money, in fact. If you have a more fuel-efficient car, you save on gasoline over the lifetime of the vehicle.

F: Chicago is in the process of transforming itself into a model sustainable city. What are the positive things that you see from this? Anything else you think the city should do to further this image?

FT: The positives from this, if done thoughtfully, can be many. It can create green jobs positioned for new industries. It can make city residents and the local environment healthier, and therefore happier. It can attract green investment and green businesses and new residents, which bolster the economy. It can reduce global warming impact and inspire others to do the same.

F: Green washing seems to be winning over the sustainable movement. Do you believe this is happening and how do we fight it?

FT: Green washing is both the fault of the producer and consumer. One of the most subtly powerful aspects of the environmental movement is that it makes people rethink everything they use and buy. It’s tempting to settle for the easiest, slickest solution but we as consumers can’t afford to be lazy anymore. We need to remember that our dollars are our votes, and we should only support products we believe in.

Seeing Frank in Chicago…

F: What do you do when you are out here?

FT: I’m really fascinated by the history of architecture from a technological standpoint, like how elevators made skyscrapers possible. So I try to take advantage of the great museums and tours. The restaurants are different and delicious.

F: Favorite places to check out in Chicago?

FT: Downtown, and the lake shore.

F: Favorite running trail?

FT: The Lakeshore trail, because you can go fast and the scenery (both people and places) is pretty sweet.

F: Favorite beach?

FT: Osterman Beach, near Thorndale. Away from the crowds, incredible sand great for running at full speed after a Frisbee or an opponent.

F: Mode of transportation around Chicago?

Walking, and of course, the El.

F: Wrigley Field vs. AT&T Park in San Francisco?

FT: Wrigley has peanuts, and AT&T has sushi. ‘Nuff said.

F: Hot dogs vs. Deep dish pizza?

FT: A false dichotomy. Go to Ian’s pizza in Wrigleyville, and find hot dogs on your pizza.

F: Biggest pet peeve about Chicago?

FT: The potholes can swallow bikers whole.

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By funsherpa, May 22, 2009 8:35 am

The man behind the Bird Machine

Rock-band bassist and silkscreen artist Jay Ryan speaks to us about his work, interests and love for labor intensive processes. While most poster makers enter the craft by way of graphic design or digital artistry, Jay’s education consisted of a degree in painting from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, ditching fine art painting for the more exciting world of poster making. He prefers creating his posters by hand, avoiding Photoshop at all costs…including many cuts from his treasured Exacto knife. Also, unlike most rock bands (with the exception of the Rolling Stones and U2) Jay’s band, Dianogah, has played together in the Chicago area and internationally for about 15 years.

F: You have a degree in Painting, why work on posters and not stick to painting or try out photography?

J: One of problems I had in school was finding justification for doing what I was doing. I wanted to do something where I could have fun with it visually and at the same time serve a purpose. To me, images alone seemed pointless, so I was always attaching text and creating a message with my work. Then, the other half of my life was spent going to rock concerts or band practice – so making posters for bands seemed like a great way to combine these interests!

F: So are your posters as easy as hitting the print button?

J: I make them all by hand with no computers. They are hand drawn, and all layers of film are cut by hand using Exacto knives. If we are making 300 posters, we go through 300 pieces of paper, put one color down, change screens and put another color down on all 300 pieces. We’ll usually end up making posters that include 5-7 colors so it is quite labor intensive.

F: Do you feel threatened by the digital world, where almost everything can be created through Adobe software and a printer?

J: I am encouraged by it because a lot of my peers in the poster community design all their work digitally but still go through the physical process of making these screen prints. In general, I believe there will always be those who appreciate handmade work. For example, there are still people who buy LPs and books despite itunes and the Kindle. Maybe my posters won’t be in the hands of a hundred million people, but I’ll still have people who appreciate and care about the art and amount of work put into the piece.

F: Why is it called the bird machine?

J: I was going to call it IBM, but that was taken, so we settled on The Bird Machine. There’s no real good reason, but I should really make one up. A lot of people ask me this question. A few probable reasons are that my wife is an ornithologist, and when I started the company I read Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

One of Jay's handmade creations

F: You are in a band, Dianogah that recently performed in the UK, at the ATP Festival, what was it like?

J: Traveling anywhere with this band is a lot of fun. I’ve been in this band longer than I’ve been making posters. Anytime we get together and travel and play is a blast. We got to see some good bands, stay up late, and act like we were 23, even though we are all in our late 30s. It was a fun weekend, with not a lot sleep.

F: Where do you play out here?

J: We have played in almost every venue in Chicago over the years, but The Hideout is our favorite place to play. Our next gig in Chicago is at the Pitchfork Music Festival; we are playing there on July 19^th. There is a poster convention at the festival too, and I’ll be there showing and hopefully selling my posters.

F: What neighborhood do you live in? What do you do around there?

J: I live in Evanston, mow the lawn and walk the dog daily – I am fully suburban, as I work and live outside the city. Actually, there’s not a whole lot to do really close to my house, though there’s plenty within biking distance. I go to Chicago a lot. I used to live near Granville and Western. First best reason to go into Chicago is to go to Hot Doug’s, then Kuma’s Corner to get an amazing cheeseburger. I just had a swine flu burger there and it was great. I love browsing books at Quimby’s Books in Wicker Park and spend more money then I should at Reckless Records. Oh yeah, I also enjoy going to Rotofugi, Renegade Handmade, and eating at Milk & Honey.

F: What is your favorite gallery or place to check out visual art?

J: Rotofugi is like a vinyl toy store, but they also have some books, and have gallery space. Definitely have a bunch of good stuff there. Heaven Gallery is cool too.

F: Where can we see your work?

J: This is where I go hi-tech. Best place to see my prints is to check out my website.

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By funsherpa, May 20, 2009 9:31 am

Rebecca transforms herself into a giant hotdog

Former resident of Topanga, California, a hippie canyon community in LA, now current Northwestern graduate student Rebecca talks to us about studying languages and escaping Evanston – in fact, she is counting the days until her lease is up so she can move into the city. Outside of the Northwestern bubble, she frequently enjoys going to the farmer’s market, avoiding Barleycorn’s, and finding the best taqueria in Chicago. You’ll probably find her taking the Red line down into the city every weekend, annoyed by the turtle-like pace of the train, but at the same time appreciative of the city as it passes.

Exposing Rebecca…

F: What are you taking up at Northwestern?

R: The treatment of speech, language, and swallowing disorders! Most people think of my type as the speech therapists in schools working on kids with a lisp. Although this is a big part of the field, we work on a whole variety of disorders in a bunch of different settings. I’m still figuring out where I want to end up, but I don’t think I will be working on lisps in schools.

F: Why the interest in speech pathology?

R: I’ve always liked languages but never knew what I could do with it. Although I loved studying linguistics as an undergrad, the PhD/academia route just didn’t seem for me. I worked in tech companies for a couple years, just long enough to know that I didn’t want to sit in front of a computer for 8 hours a day for the rest of my life. All of a sudden it clicked: I wanted to study language and work with people. Speech language pathology just made sense.

F: Does Ali G have a speech disorder?

R: No, I classify him as having his own speech and language unlike any other person in this world.

R: When I was a kid, I wanted to be a lawyer, but now I will thank God that I didn’t follow through with that idea.

R: My favorite language is Hungarian, and the word that excites me the most is szeretlek because you can say something as heavy as “I love you” in just one word

R: The language I dislike the most is Dutch because it sounds like all its speakers are coughing up hairballs

R: I think robo-phone-operators are surprisingly intelligent and they will one day run our country

R: After I finish my studies in 2010, I will move back to California while secretly wanting to move to Europe and say goodbye to Chicago.

Uncovering secrets about Chicago and Evanston

R: In Evanston, I like eating at Ruby of Siam. When I am studying for a mid-term the next day, I drink 3 cans of Coke Zero and go to Cosi, which has the nicest employees I’ve met of any chain restaurant

R: Evanston is like a bubble because it’s a suburb despite the fact that everyone says it’s not like the real suburbs, when I need some reprieve, I crash at my friend’s apartment in Lincoln Park

R: My favorite secret about Northwestern is it is the lost city of Atlantis. Actually, my department doesn’t interact with the rest of the University and I know absolutely nothing about it

R: Favorite stops on the Red-line are: Berwyn and Belmont because they both start with a B, and also because those neighborhoods seem like the perfect combination of active city life and quiet residential blocks

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By funsherpa, May 18, 2009 7:01 am

Vince fixating on the waves

With the ideal weather conditions, Lake Michigan’s breaking waves are said to be similar to those of popular surf beaches in California, Hawaii, and Australia. While surfing is actually quite popular around the lake, Chicago’s code has unfortunately prevented surfers from taking advantage of the great waves. All this is changing, and Vince Deur, along with his friends and fellow surfers, Mike Urban, Todd Haugh, Jack Flynn, James Pribram, and David Vanderveen amongst others, have been the driving force behind the positive change. In a few months, surf boards and Hawaiian Tropic models will start crossing Lake Shore Drive and laying the foundation of Chicago’s reputation as the next great surfing destination. We sit down with Vince Deur, Michigan native, surfer, environmentalist, and filmmaker, and see the world through his eyes and understand his love for water and Chicago.

F: Sounds like you have the best job in the world, surfer and filmmaker. How did you get started in surfing?

V: Well, I grew up by the Grand River, in Michigan, and from that early stage, would just always be around water. I used to stare at the lapping of the waves in a nearby beach and just be fixated on the waves. The plain sight of the waves started it all, because I was in Michigan, not Hawaii. I didn’t have Surfer magazine delivered to my home, never saw surfers out, or never really saw anyone in the water. Then I turned 13, traveled to Florida, saw a surfer, and took home a board one day. It was quite hard to learn on the lake, but I was determined to figure it out.

F: Is being a filmmaker and surfer as awesome as it sounds?

V: It’s been great. Because of it, I’ve been able to travel the world, Japan, New Zealand, Chile, and Europe. I am actually in Laguna Beach right now, wrapping up the post-production of my latest film, Eco-Warriors. Some times I wake up and say, wow, this is a dream come true. However, it has always been a struggle, finding money, finding time, and finding resources to bring something together but it is still a challenge I enjoy.

F: You started out with Unsalted, what did you set out to do with that film?

V: Unsalted is about being passionate about something, sharing that passion with others, and living life to your fullest. The film has really created a niche following and a favorite among surfers around the world. If you watch the whole story, you will start to feel the passion of the surfers and what drives them. You start to see surfers outside of their stereotype and from a different perspective. However, while the focus of the movie is on surfing, it is used as a metaphor for appreciating everything in life. Whether you are in California, Hawaii, or Idaho, there is beauty all around you if you open your eyes.

Here is a clip of Unsalted (requires plugin to view)

F: What about Eco-Warriors, still surfing but different message?

V: Yes definitely. This film is all about taking ownership in your own backyard and making a difference. Through the main character, James Pribram, we follow his journey to these places and his efforts to learn from and support others from around the world. He has really inspired me to believe we can actually make a difference as he does for others along the way and that is what I set out to capture on film. He is a great example of people making an impact in their own way. He’s not an MIT grad, he’s not a CEO, but he is a surfer, passionate, and focused who is able to mold the world around him. He is a role model like many of the people you meet in the story.

F: Lake Michigan ice water surfer vs. Californian fair weather surfer, what is different?

V: The typical Huntington Beach surfer, sorry, I hate stereotyping people, there are actually lot of great HB surfers, but there are those who are completely self obsessed, wave hogs, and slang talkers. Maybe it’s the age, and testosterone too bringing that out. Then you have the Lake Michigan surfer who, in general, truly appreciate and respect that they have the chance to do this. I believe it is the circumstances that develop the personality. A place like the Great Lakes doesn’t have year round waves, so you learn to appreciate what you have. If it is just raining money you can’t really be grateful for the next $20 bill.

F: Surfing isn’t allowed in Chicago’s beaches. Now that’s changed. Can you talk to us more about the changes?

V: Things are starting to unfold as we speak! The City of Chicago is working on it and is as committed as we are, but the official changes will occur during the Board of Commissioners meeting on June 10^th. The current state of it is that multiple beaches will be open for surfing from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and one beach year round. So the good news is that we will be surfing by the fall, although I would love it to have been sooner.

F: This has changed because of you. How did it happen?

V: Our effort to open up access in Chicago really felt like a David vs Goliath story that at the onset was seemingly overwhelming. We had a surfer thrown in jail for surfing, people tried for years to get this done and we are now 90 percent there. We still have naysayers telling us no, but we’re starting to see changes. Seeing it play out was very inspiring.

We actually tried a lot of different doors to get this done, online petitions, open letters, then finally got help from a kiteboarder, Mike Urban, who had success in Montrose beach. We were introduced to a very progressive Chicago Park District member who was in favor of more skate parks, and more action sports related activities. I believe that the city understands that the more people that get to interact with the lake, the more value and ownership they will take with our lake.

F: If I were a beginner going out with a board, what would your advice be?

V: First off, get a lesson. You can go to New Buffalo Michigan and get surfing lessons there or find someone with experience. Part of what would happen now though is that by allowing surfing in Chicago, we’re expecting a few surf shops to open and provide lessons. Also for beginners, go out on a warm day and be prepared. If you are cold, or tired, you can get hurt.

F: Surfing etiquette for beginners?

V: Oh yeah, there’s a whole book on that. I guess most importantly, don’t drop in to anybody. If someone catches a wave, don’t go interrupt them. Its like jumping into someone else’s golf game. Also, don’t paddle where other guys are surfing. Wait your turn, be respectful, and keep your eyes open, otherwise, people will call you out on it.

F: Message for everyone else out here?

V: We have one lake, we all surf the same wave. We are surfing the same molecules of water so respect it because it is valuable and beautiful. I just want to remind people how great it is, and that we need to give back and be involved in the community to protect the lake.

Chicago/Great Lakes

Surfs up in Lake Michigan

F: You seem to travel frequently to Chicago, what do you do when you are out here?

V: I just love Chicago. Every since I was a little boy, I would go to the Shedd Aquarium and all the museums. I visit friends, try to go to events like Lollapalooza, or play volleyball in North Ave beach. It is my adopted big city home, not Detroit. This is why I am so determined to bring surfing there. It represents what I love about the Midwest in a big international city.

I enjoy going to Blue Water Grill. What? It’s gone? Who canceled their lease? I guess the next time I’m back it will be Gino’s Pizza, the Oak St. Bistro or Indian food at Devon Ave!

F: How can locals get involved in protecting the lakes?

V: You can become a member of the Surfrider Foundation! We will be establishing a Chicago chapter soon so watch out. Also, attend a beach cleanup, if there are water quality issues, talk to your city council. Look, I live in Grand Haven, MI and we used to be the most polluted river and we changed that, but the point is it could happen anywhere if the vigilance goes away. I actually used to get tampons floating down the river into my backyard. I would pick them up as I thought they were shotgun shells and had this special box of shotgun shells. Then I discovered what they were and got a shiver down my spine! Are you going to tell this to everyone?