CHICAGO — Happy Friday! Here are some things we're reading around the web before unplugging a bit for the weekend.
An "Unsettling" App: Did you see "Her," and wish you, too, could fall in love with a computer program? Now you can! Or, er, the other way around. "Karen," an app that will be free starting April 16, is "a software-driven experiential art piece," writes the New York Times. Karen is part choose-your-own-adventure and part life-coach-gone-wrong. She wants to help you set goals and achieve them, but what plays out in the app is more of a drama, and she's learning about you, your behavior and your personality the whole way. Chicago-based consultant Kelly Page helped give Karen her psychological know-how, pulling from standard psych tests, "mood repair questionnaires" and tests for the "big five" personality traits.
Wear What the Stars Wear: We all know that nothing is as important as clothes and television — well, at least for reporter Ariel Cheung. That's why she was so excited to read about LookLive.com, which features fashion from recent TV episodes and celebrity appearances. The site shows where to get the actual outfits, plus similar looks and bargain buys for the ever-thrifty fashionista. RedEye Chicago listed some of its favorite looks, from that sensational leather dress Olivia Pope wore in "Scandal" and some of the hottest looks in "House of Cards."
Meet The Rib Helmet: The South Siders are stepping up their gluttony game with a new addition at the ball park this year, the rib helmet. The White Sox helmet is packed with you guessed it, barbecue ribs, and comes served in a souvenir batting helmet with fries, coleslaw and corn bread. Sports Illustrated rounded up some other wacky foods being served in ballparks: including the Arizona Diamondbacks' 18-inch corn dog filled with cheese and jalepenos and the Houston Astros chicken waffle cone. We just want to make sure the nacho helmet isn't going anywhere...
RIB HELMET! These ribs are served in a souvenir batting helmet with fries, coleslaw and corn bread. pic.twitter.com/jvX65yY7yU
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 2, 2015Standing On His Own Two Feet: David Matthews is reading about R.J. Anderson, a paraplegic Army veteran who is walking again thanks to a robotic exoskeleton provided by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in Streeterville. Crain's Chicago Business reports Anderson, who was paralyzed from the chest down after a 2012 motorcycle accident, is one of the first people in the Chicago area to take the technology home. The exoskeleton is controlled with a wireless device on the wrist, but is pricey, costing between $70,000 to $200,000. In lieu of insurance coverage, an anonymous donor helped Anderson procure the exoskeleton.
Chicago's Odd Couple? The New York Times takes a look at the relationship between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ken Griffin, CEO of the $26 billion investment firm Citadel. Griffin has given organizations that support the mayor more than $1 million. Supporters of Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia are pointing to the story as evidence that Emanuel is beholden to the wealthy — and emphasizing Griffin's advice to the mayor several years ago to close 125 public schools. Emanuel closed 50 schools — a major topic in the election.
DNAinfo Chicago
The Grandest Lady in the Easter Parade: If you're preparing to pull out all the fashion stops on Easter Sunday, reporter Patty Wetli suggests you take a few style cues from a real hat-wearing queen. Pardon us, hat-wearing Queen. As in Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal Hats blog has a review of QEII's Easter bonnets from 2000 to the present. This is one woman who knows how to rock a feather.
Are The City College Scholarships Unattainable? Remember when Mayor Emanuel touted his plan to offer "B" students free scholarships to attend City Colleges of Chicago? Well, the Sun-Times took a closer look at the plan, and discovered that there's an additional requirement that may make it difficult for students to be eligible. Those "B" students must also score a 21 on the math and english portions of the ACT. That cuts the pool who are eligible roughly in half, according to the report.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
