CHICAGO — Here's what we're reading today.
Mad Max Architecture: The days of full legitimacy for aging hippy architects driving through the desert in an aging Mercedes may be upon us. Michael Reynolds, the creator of a "Max Max compound” built from tires and beer cans in the desert of Taos, New Mexico, is the subject of a new documentary getting some solid attention online. Reynolds created his Earthships development with the goal of eliminating utility bills built out of garbage. He’s been working on the homes since 1972, but the escalating attention on climate change has moved his once-far out ideas to a topic of serious investigation. So when’s Reynolds going to explain how to go off the grid on the South Side?
Students Spread Cheer With Dial-A-Carol: In need of some holiday cheer this year? Reporter Stephanie Lulay has a free, quick fix. Students at a University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana dorm are once again taking carol requests through the Dial-A-Carol program up until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, reports the Washington Post. All you have to do is dial the number (217-332-1882), make a request (Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is a popular one) and you'll get a live rendition of your chosen Christmas classic. And you'll be supporting a long tradition - Snyder Hall students have hosted the Dial-a-Carol program during finals week for more than 55 years.
The Straight Dope on Why There Are So Many Mattress Shops: Having seen a rise in new mattress stores, reporter Alisa Hauser was eager to dive into Cecil Adams' latest "Straight Dope" Q&A column in the Reader that explains why. Apparently, there are not many companies making mattresses, the profit margins can be as high as 50 percent and a mattress is very "old economy" as in shoppers prefer to look and feel rather than buy their next mattress online.
In Search of a Wireless Meat Suitcase: Eight shopping days until Christmas, and reporter Patty Wetli is drowning in flop sweat over her lack of gifts for her husband. Mallory Ortberg's essay/prose poem in The Toast, "He's Just So Hard to Shop For," hits the nail on the head. "What do men love? Nothing. What do they want? Nothing." Whiskey? Done it, a million times. Tie of the Month Club? So 2014. If only Ortberg's imaginary "cufflinks made out of World War II history books ripped out of his favorite old baseball stadium" actually existed. Seriously, somebody create that stat.
