But something’s come up on which I’m interested in your guys’ take.

A couple of months ago, Vanity Fair ran a lengthy piece on the development history of the World Wide Web. It was some interesting stuff, particularly for those of us who remember browser wars and Usenet and the days when you had to pay per e-mail kilobyte and a 9.6k modem connection was just tearing it up.

In the current issue of Vanity Fair, “Robocop” screenwriter Michael Miner sent in a letter criticizing the piece as incomplete. Miner wrote:

… Henry Ford never anticipated global warming when he and his enablers perfected the assembly line. And the builders of the Titanic thumbed their noses at ice floating in the path of their “unsinkable” passenger steamship. So it’s not surprising that these techno-gurus don’t see, or refuse to point out, the icebergs.

I understand the concerns about privacy and the potential for cyber-terrorism throwing our world out of whack. (When GMail crashed for about two hours last week, I was thrown into a temporary tizzy that mainly consisted of trying to remember e-mail addresses I didn’t have anywhere else. That’s since been corrected.)

But what do you any of you guys think Miner is talking about? What kind of icebergs are out there that the rest of us might not be seeing?

On May 12, the Driven to Succeed program started with two refurbished school buses hauling entry-level workers directly to job sites in Champaign County.

But last week, the bus service came to an end, because fuel, maintenance and labor costs were too high for the program to reach a self-sustaining level, according to Kevin Flynn, one of the organizers and the primary source of funding for Driven to Succeed.

Flynn operates At Home Housing, a nonprofit organization in Danville that finds affordable housing and jobs for low-income people. He and members of the Vermilion County Coalition for Reintegration saw a need to transport entry-level workers, many of whom were getting jobs in Champaign County through temporary employment agencies, to job sites. The coalition is a volunteer group of local officials from various agencies, including Danville Township and the Illinois Department of Employment Security office, that focuses on providing low-income residents with support services, housing and jobs.

Using his own money, Flynn bought the two buses and, with the non-financial support of the coalition, launched the service.

"We were so close to becoming self-sufficient," said Flynn, who explained that the service, at most, had about 50 riders in one day and needed that number to be 60 a day to be self sufficient.

Riders were charged $45 a week to ride.

Flynn believes the service could have survived in the long term if it could have made it another month, and he went to the Danville city council's public works committee and asked for $10,000 in funding to help out.

The committee explained that it would need a full disclosure of how the money would be used before such a request could even be considered.

The city mass transit system already has a bus service between Danville and Champaign.

It runs six days a week, but not through the night. The first run begins at 6:20 a.m. on weekdays and the last leaves Danville at 5:20 p.m. On Saturdays, routes begin at 8:20 a.m. And the last one leaves Danville at 4:20 p.m.

Flynn claims that's where his bus service picked up the slack, because some people who need transportation to Champaign County work night shifts.

Dick Brazda, director of Danville Mass Transit, said the Champaign-Urbana line was launched in March 2006 with a $200,000 federal grant, and the number of riders has steadily increased since then.

Recently, a larger, 22-passenger bus was added to the route to accommodate the increasing number of riders.

A round trip costs $12, and the Danville mass transit line is open to anyone, not just workers. The route follows University Avenue in Urbana and Champaign, making a few stops along the way, until reaching its final destination at the Illinois Terminal, 45 E. University Ave., C., where riders can access city buses, Greyhound bus services and Amtrak rail services.

Roger Boen, Danville Township supervisor and member of the coalition, said he believes the Driven to Succeed program could have been more successful economically if vans had been used rather than buses, which required generally more expensive diesel fuel.

The temporary employment agencies work out of the township office when interviewing pools of local workers for jobs in Champaign County and other places outside Vermilion.

Boen said the temporary agencies will continue coming to Vermilion County on a regular basis to hire workers, but he's disappointed the service no longer exists to help workers get to the jobs.

"I hate that part of it," he said.

According to video game developers, it – and the iPod Touch (an iPhone without the phone and camera) – is the newest major platform, with more than 400 games already released for the system. Of course, a large number of those are variations on casino games, crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

I recently got my hands on an iPod Touch loaded with six titles released by Publisher X, an iPhone-specific development house. I've come away from the experience with impressions about that company's titles – and the iPhone as a gaming platform.

The iPhone

Equipped with a touch-screen, wireless Internet capability and a motion-sensitive accelerometer (it knows when it's being tilted or twisted), the iPhone has many tools that lend themselves well to gaming.

The touch-screen is accurate, responsive and seems adaptable to a wide variety of sensations, easily distinguishing between quick taps and prolonged strokes. But it's a magnet for smudges and smears, making hygiene a concern. Also, the lack of alternate inputs limits its versatility, especially in comparison with the Nintendo DS.

'Reel Deal Texas Hold 'Em' for the Apple iPhone offers a slightly stunted and unsatisfying poker experience for one player. By Publisher X

• Upcoming video game releases will blow you away(7/25/08)

A major handicap is that the battery drains quickly, which isn't good if you depend on this as a phone. My experience tells me that it will do quite well as a gaming platform, but it doesn't have the juice to beat the competition.

"Critter Crunch" ($7.99)

In this colorful puzzle game, you are a long-tongued toad thing in search of a good meal. Other creatures drop down from above, and you've got to grab them with your appendage, then feed small creatures to medium-sized ones and medium ones to big ones, setting up a color-based chain reaction that results in nourishment dropping to you. When your hunger meter fills, the level ends and you move on.

The action accelerates as you progress, with new power-ups and hazards increasing the challenge. There's also a separate, small puzzle mode, where you have to clear all the critters off a board in a limited number of moves. Verdict: Worth playing.

"Zen Pinball: Roller Coaster" ($4.99)

The controls work really well on this pinball game, with simple finger taps on the screen triggering the left and right flippers. And the camera can be linked to the iPhone's accelerometer, so tilting the device alters your view.

But the pinball table itself is horribly designed. Too many ramps and other obstructions clutter the layout and sabotage the pace of play. And so many safeguards are built in to help the player that it's almost more of a challenge to let the ball drop. Verdict: Not worth it.

"Reel Deal Texas Hold 'Em" ($4.99)

Despite the iPhone's Internet capabilities, this poker game has no online multiplayer; it's for one person against AI opponents. Those opponents play fairly well, but the lackluster presentation means there are no tells to read, which means no obvious bluffing or baiting. And the blinds don't grow as you play – unless you change them yourself – so the pressure doesn't increase. Verdict: Not worth it.

"Reel Deal Blackjack" ($4.99)

I love the realistic mechanics here. Double tap the screen for a hit; slide your finger over your cards to stay. Separate buttons pop up for splits and double downs. It's just a basic game of no-frills blackjack, but it seems like a good choice for wasting some time and honing your game. Verdict: Worth it.

"Reel Deal Video Poker" ($4.99)

Modeled after real video poker machines, there are three games to pick from: Jacks or Better; Deuces Wild; and Double Premium Poker. There's little to say about this game. It's a gambling simulator, not a true card game. Unless you are preparing to hit Vegas, it's just not fun. Verdict: Not worth it.

"Reel Deal Slots" ($4.99)

With three slot machines to choose from, you can pick up to 15 lines to play at a time, bet the max, and hit the play button over and over – without the possibility of payoff that makes the real game tolerable. Verdict: Not worth it.

Joel Leizer is The News-Gazette's assistant news editor and video game columnist. Contact him at jleizer@news-gazette.com.

Champaign-based Gill Athletics supplies many of the vaulting poles, javelins and discuses used in competition. Company President David Hodge can't help but hope some of the exposure from the Olympics leads to increased sales.

"It's a wonderful event, and we'll be watching like everyone else," said Hodge, a former vaulter who himself aspired to be an Olympian.

"In the pole vault, about three-quarters of the finalists will be using our poles, and a lot of the gold medal favorites will be using our poles as well," Hodge said.

Javelins, discuses and the metal balls used in the shot put are furnished by the International Olympic Committee. But vaulting poles are so "personal" that the vaulters get to bring their own, Hodge said.

Vaulters Derek Miles and Jeff Hartwig of the United States are expected to use Pacer poles made by Gill, as are Steve Hooker from Australia and Igor Pavlov of Russia.

• Gill sees double-digit percentages in growth(8/17/08)

A few other vaulters are expected to use Gill's new Pacer Carbon FX pole (the Weave FX) that incorporates a woven carbon fiber. The woven carbon fiber is a strong, light and flexible material that until recently was used almost exclusively in aircraft.

That pole, which will become commercially available on Oct. 1, is likely to be used by Steve Lewis of the United Kingdom and Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany, said Jeff Watry, vice president of engineering for Gill Athletics.

Also using the new-material pole will be female vaulters Kate Dennison of the United Kingdom and Yuliya Golubchikova of Russia, Watry said.

Gill has also incorporated woven carbon fiber in some of its javelins. The gold medal favorite, Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway, is expected to use that kind of javelin, as are several other top contenders.

"Depending on the wind and conditions, some (athletes) may pick different brands. It depends whether there's a tail wind, cross wind or head wind," Hodge said.

"You hope you're the flavor of the day. But if it's not a day with adverse conditions, we should have a good contingent on our javelins. If there are adverse conditions, the number (using our product) could increase or decrease."

The Composite FX javelin is a combination of aluminum and woven carbon fiber. The combination produces a javelin that damps vibration faster but isn't as stiff as a 100 percent carbon javelin, Watry said.

Gill products may also show up on Olympic basketball courts, but Hodge isn't sure about that.

In 2006, Gill Athletics acquired Broadview-based Porter Athletic, and among Porter's products are basketball goals.

Hodge said Gill has a relationship with a Chinese company, Chun He, that has told Gill that Porter basketball goals are used in the main stadium. But Hodge said at this point, "there's no way to tell for sure."

"We'll be glued to the finals for sure ... to try to confirm that what (supposedly) has happened indeed has happened," he said of the goals.

Watry said he plans to watch many of the track and field events.

"Being a masters (division) guy who still dabbles in the decathlon, I'll watch both pole vaults (male and female), and being a former high jumper, I definitely want to watch the high jump," Watry said.

"I'm definitely a track junkie, so I'll watch as much as they'll televise."

What to watch for at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Here's how to recognize Gill equipment:

— Vaulting poles: Poles used by men carry the Carbon FX label; poles used by women carry the Carbon Mystic tag. If you can't spot the label, look at the middle of the poles. Pacer poles have lines that go around the middle, making them look as though there's a spring in the center.

— Javelins: Easy to recognize. They're divided in half the long way, with one half painted pearl white and the other half metallic silver. When the javelin is thrown and there's a bit of rotation, it looks like it's changing color in the sky. Plus, it has a bright orange tail. Javelins are sold under the Oregon Track Equipment brand.

— Discuses: Hard to spot, unless you can see the face of the discus. Even then, it may be tough because the label is often under the thrower's hands. Discuses are sold under the Gill, Pacer and Oregon Track Equipment brands.

Source: Jeff Watry, vice president of engineering, Gill Athletics

When to watch

Gill equipment may be used in finals at the Beijing Olympics on these days in China:

Monday – Women's discus throw; women's pole vault

Tuesday – Men's discus throw

Thursday – Women's javelin throw

Friday – Men's pole vault; men's decathlon

Saturday – Men's javelin throw

Gill, which is based at 2808 Gemini Court in the Apollo Industrial Park, makes many types of track and field equipment, including hurdles, vaulting poles, javelins, discuses and steeplechase pits. The company calls itself the largest manufacturer of track and field equipment in the world.

"We have a strong emphasis on new products," Hodge said, noting the company introduces about 100 a year. Among major recent introductions: a new Carbon FX vaulting pole (Weave FX) that incorporates woven carbon fiber, the "402" Elite high school hurdle, and PowerMax training products devoted to making athletes faster and stronger.

Hodge said when Gill acquired Broadview-based Porter Athletic in 2006, the two companies adopted reciprocal marketing arrangements. Porter had been strong in providing athletic equipment associated with new construction at high schools and stadiums. Gill was strong in sales to sporting goods dealers.

Now both brands tap into each other's marketing arrangements.

"It's been a neat marriage, very exciting," Hodge said.

• Champaign firm's poles, javelins, discuses prominent at Beijing Olympics(8/17/08)

While Gill's sales have grown, Porter's have been flat mainly because some of its product lines – such as scoreboards and lockers – have been discontinued, Hodge said.

Typically, 75 percent of the products sold by Gill and Porter are made either in Champaign or in the Chicago area, where Porter is located. The rest are made in places such as Taiwan, China or India, Hodge said.

Mike Hogan, who with Damon Fairbanks owns seven Subway shops in the Champaign-Urbana area, said he's chosen the new site at 2740 S. Philo Road, U, for the eighth shop.

"That whole area is just exploding," Hogan said. "With the clinics and Meijer there, we feel it's a high-growth area."

Hogan has targeted Sept. 17 as the opening date, and he said the 1,900-square-foot store will be an "embellished" Subway with a Tuscan theme, indoor seating and perhaps patio seating.

"We expect it to be a high-volume store," he said, adding it will likely employ 15 to 20 people.

Hogan, who lives in Bloomington, acquired his other seven stores in Champaign-Urbana two years ago. Those include three stores in the University of Illinois campus area, plus locations at Old Farm Shops, Market Place Mall, 1401 S. Neil St., C, and 1814 Glenn Park Drive, C. Hogan and his brother Marty also own Subways in the Bloomington-Normal area.

Hogan said he has plans for a ninth store in Champaign-Urbana – in connection with a gas station under construction at Springfield Avenue and Staley Road in Champaign. That store is projected to open in mid-2009, he said.

Counting that store, there will be a total of 19 Subway shops in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy area, said Kim Ireland, a Subway area manager. And you thought Starbucks had a lot of locations!

Chinese buffet coming

For those who miss the Four Seasons House, a new Chinese buffet plans to open in the old Four Seasons space east of the Schnucks store in Champaign.

Bo Zhu, who operates the Super Wok restaurant at Old Farm Shops, said he plans to open Asian Star Buffet in the space at 105 N. Mattis Ave. later this month.

Zhu said he doesn't expect to make many changes to the interior, but he plans to offer a sushi bar, a Mongolian bar and a variety of Chinese and American foods. The restaurant will still have its ice cream machine, he added.

The lunch buffet will likely be $6.95 Monday through Saturday. The dinner buffet is expected to cost $10.99 Monday through Thursday and $11.99 Fridays and Saturdays. The Sunday buffet will likely be $10.99 all day, he said.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily except for Friday and Saturday nights when the restaurant will be open until 10:30 p.m. The restaurant's phone number is 373-1201.

Montgomery's pushes catering

If you like fine dining at Montgomery's in Monticello, you can arrange for Montgomery's food at home – and we're not talking about doggie bags.

Montgomery's has begun spreading word that it's offering catering services for formal and informal events ranging from casual cookouts to wedding receptions.

The service is offered at locations within an hour's drive of Monticello, said Dawn Poling, food and beverage director for Montgomery's Fine Catering.

The catering service can use its own recipes or some of your favorites, she said. It also can arrange complimentary tastings if you want to sample some of the recipes in advance.

Rhonda and Tony Sinkosky own Montgomery's. The phone number is 762-3833.

Sign company on the move

After 42 years in business, Chuck White Signs & Designs is moving to a new location in Tilton.

The business plans to open Wednesday at 125 W. Fifth St., across from Whooligan's Restaurant, owner Chuck White said.

The firm, which specializes in vinyl, paint, electric and electronic signs, had been at 1819 Monroe in Tilton for 18 years. White said he closed that location two months ago to prepare the new site for business.

Hours for the new location will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The new phone number is 799-6734.

At your service

Shakesa Beard has started an errand-running service called The Errand Lady.

She will do grocery shopping, prescription pickups and other errands and provide transportation to appointments. She plans to serve the Champaign County area.

For more information, call 402-5187 or send e-mail to errandlady75<@>yahoo.com.

It's your business

Debra Pressey's "It's Your Business" column will return on Aug. 24.

Illinois employers eliminated a total of 9,700 jobs statewide during the month of July, state officials said today, pushing the Illinois unemployment rate leaped from 6.8 percent to 7.3 percent -- the state's highest jobless level in almost 15 years.

The national unemployment rate was 5.6 percent.

Let's see how the Democrats blame the Republicans for this ...

GLENVIEW

The first time Republican candidate says his own frustration with the incumbent's record led to his decision to run.

“Jeff Schoenberg is the chairman of Appropriations, and he’s helped us get into this financial mess by allowing the governor to raid the road funds and the tollway funds."  Appel, a lifelong resident of Glenview, said, “As a matter of fact, he’s chaired a committee that’s allowed 600 special funds to be raided, including one for veterans and battered women.”

Although Schoenberg’s been a member of the Senate just since 2003, he was a member of the House for twelve years prior. He's a key part of the Democratic Senate leadership under Senate President Emil  Jones. 

Brendan Appel’s challenge marks one of Schoenberg’s first serious opponents since he’s been a lawmaker.  The Senate 9th is considered a liberal, Democratic haven where Republicans are few.

“When I talk to people at events, parades and at their doors, they’re all telling me how unhappy they are with property taxes and sales taxes going higher and higher,” Appel said.  “Some tell me they haven’t talked to a Republican in years.”

Appel says that’s changing in the near north suburbs.  The GOP is rebounding under the leadership of passionate, active Republicans like Evanston Township’s Linda LaFianza and New Trier Township’s Tolbert Chisholm.    Volunteers are stepping forward, and they’re committed to rebuilding the GOP ranks in the area. 

“We’re finding conservative Republicans in places like Evanston who say they’re excited that we’re giving them a chance to support a Republican, “ Appel said. “The response has been tremendous.”

Three issues in particular are driving this new energy in  this Cook County-based district:  Property taxes, gas prices and the county’s recent sales tax increase, making it the highest taxing county in the nation.

Appel believes a cap should be placed on property taxes that would limit increases to the cost of living rate – normally up to 2 or 3 percent annually.  During last year’s re-assessment of properties within his area, homeowner’s property values increased by an average of 30 percent.  Being a real estate attorney, Appel saw firsthand how higher assessments and the resulting increase in property taxes affected families.

“The housing crisis is complicated by rising property taxes,” Appel said.  “One woman I spoke with had to sell her house because the taxes had increased to $24,000 a year.  She said she could afford the mortgage on the house, she just couldn’t afford the taxes.”

Home buyers face a tighter mortgage market as well as exorbitant taxes.  “Buyers are hard to find,” Appel said.  “The Democrats in control offer no solutions.  They need those taxes to pay for more programs.”

Add higher real estate taxes to $4.00 a gallon gas prices, and you have another complaint about  Democrats. Illinois is one of only six states that taxes on the total amount due, versus a per gallon rate.  So the higher gas prices go, the more motor fuel taxes Illinois rakes in to its road funds.

“Democrats shouldn’t get away with putting these taxes on people who need to buy gas the most,” Appel said. “It hits those who can’t afford to live close to their jobs. They’re the ones who pay the most in gas taxes.  Those who drive the most get hit worse.  Who do you think would pay the most if the governor gets his speeding cameras installed?  It will be the hard working people who are forced to drive the farthest.”

While the workers who drive from bedroom communities to work bear the burden of gas taxes, what many find even more frustrating is how the money they pay in is spent on programs other than roads and bridges. As a result, the General Assembly is forced to find a way to fund a capital program.  That usually involves long term debt and passing that on to future taxpayers.

“My opponent has chaired the Appropriations Committee and done nothing to stop this,” Appel said.  “We should have plenty to pay for state employee pensions and fund a capital program.”

Schoenberg owes his district an explanation, Appel said.  “This is nothing but a failure of leadership that’s put us on a suicidal path of deficit spending.”

All this is normal campaign rhetoric, of course.  But does Appel think he’s really got a chance at defeating Schoenberg in 2008? 

“We’re pretty excited that there are close to 500 ‘Appel for Senate’ yard signs on display in the district right now,” he said.  “People tell me ‘good for you’ for challenging Schoenberg.  We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we think there’s enough dissatisfaction In Springfield that anything could happen in November.”

What Appel is hearing in his Cook County district is what other Republican candidates are hearing statewide, and in an election year when the ticket is dominated by a prominent Chicago Democrat, there may be elections down the ballot that actually bring more voters out than analysts expect, United Republican Fund’s Executive Director Dennis LaComb said.

“Races like Brendan Appel’s are ones we’re excited about because we know surprises can happen in a year when voters are unhappy with the status quo,” LaComb said.  “This could be a year like the one LaSalle's Gary Dahl had in 2004 when he ousted another key Senate Democrat.”

As one who serve in the Illinois Senate for 15 years, URF President Steve Rauschenberger agrees that voters are restless and local elections could jar pundits' 2008 expectations.

“Brendan Appel is a knowledgeable candidate and a solid social and fiscal conservative,” Rauschenberger said. “There’s no question Jeff Schoenberg will be tough to knock off, but it will take quality candidates like Brendan to win in districts like the 9th and for Republicans to regain the majority in the Senate.  If we don’t back good candidates like Brendan, we’ll never balance the Democrats in Springfield.”

Appel is one of the eight Republican candidates the United Republican Fund has chosen to support in the 2008 election.  The URF backs candidates that uphold conservative political views such as limited government, individual liberties, free markets and traditional values.  Family values are especially important to Appel.  He and his wife Doris have two little girls.

“If I am elected, I’d like to work on this property tax problem,” Appel said.  “I’m also interested in helping [State Senator] Matt Murphy pursue the option for secession from corrupt Cook County.  It’s time the city wasn’t a leech on the hard working people in the suburbs.” 

“I’m jazzed and excited about what surprises this election could hold,” he said.”We shouldn’t fear the Obama effect.  It shouldn’t trouble our psyche.”

If only Appel could get that message to Republicans statewide...and they would believe it.

________

For more information on Brendan Appel, see his website at www.brendanappel.com.

For more about the upcoming 8 in 08 campaign, see www.unitedrepublican.com.

This November 2006 interview gives a hint of what you'll hear Friday night.  More information can be found by clicking on the icon in the right margin.

For too long, conservatives have been too generous in describing what many derisively call the "Main Stream Media (MSM)."  In every presidential election year, the MSM for the last forty-four years has transformed itself as a completely dependable and integral part of the "Left Wing Media (LWM)" and that is the name by which many news organizations more accurately deserve to be known as in conservative circles.  What is my proof?  Several academic studies have shown an overwhelming bias both in news coverage favorable to Democratic candidates and in the extremely high percentage of reporters, editors, and producers who consider themselves liberal.  Of course they always claim to be professionals above the fray and they deny that their personal biases influence their stories.  Hogwash.  Consider for example some new facts researched by ex-journalist William Tate who wrote about his findings in the July 23 issue of Investors Business Daily.

According to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), discounting contributions to Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani, who was a favorite son for many folks in the media, the totals for donations by reporters employed by news organizations in this cycle, including Fox News, look like this: $315,533 to Democrats, $3,150 to Republicans.  Four media donors wrote small checks to John McCain.  A ratio of $315,533 to Democrats to $3,150 to Republicans is a ratio of 100-to-1. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ the full column by William Tate in Investors Business Daily.  It is worth reading.