Chicagoist: That's So Sick, but Not in a Good Way

guest

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:11:22 -0600

i swim in the lake regularly. i think all you fools are forgetting it's your drinking water. you can't tell me a bunch of sediment and charcoal is really going magically transform a sewage pool into evian, so people who give me the evil eye when i tell them i swim make no sense to me. i grew up swimming in that lake - assuming you stay away from the dog and diaper laden beaches, and stick to the piers, it's a wonderful chicago experience. i have had magical nights off the oak street beach pier, floating on my back and looking up at the world's most gorgeous skyline. on the other side of matters, i was talked into kayaking the chicago river a couple of years ago. never again. too many codoms and used tampons for my taste. yes i'm aware that it's shared water, but it really does flow the other direction.... we should really, really do something about that.

guest

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:55:10 -0600

i had the honor of paddling the course on my stand up paddle surfboard. my feet were drenched through the course and i occasionally was splashed with water. it was a pleasurable experience meeting new friends and joining them for a leisurely cruise through chicago's tributary. it is a lot cleaner now than when i used to thumb down boats to ride their wakes back twenty years ago. as a participant in the health study, i am happy to report that i didn't experience any adverse repercussions from contact with the water. this experience inspired me to do my part in cleaning up the river when the friends of the river have their cleanup event in the future so that one day you too can enjoy the experience of seeing our beautiful city from the water. only the best, alan sidlo (aka: shapeshifter)

whereinchicago

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:57:20 -0600

Agreed with Spav1 – quit being a big blouse. Sheesh. More whining about the lake and river? That never gets old for you folks, now does it? The lake might not be in the best shape but it's perfectly safe for a healthy person to swim in.

Spav1

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:07:34 -0600

Do you know why I swim in the lake? because I am STRONGER than the bacteria. Seriously. Ever heard of the leptospirosis outbreak about 10 years ago in Springfield IL that got all those triathletes sick? Well, i swam in that lake ALL SUMMER and was fine. Stop being pussies.

guest

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:18:31 -0600

Since when is the river that color? I smell photoshop!

guest

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:17:48 -0600

I swim in the lake quite a bit, though not as much as I used to. While it's probably polluted to a degree, so is the air and rain and everything else. Might as well enjoy yourself.

guest

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:02:45 -0600

1 & 4: Are you people high? This site often writes positively about local bands and eateries (to name 2 easy examples), and the writers often go so far as to show a naive giddiness toward this city. I am not the biggest fan of some of the writers here--the political writing is as much a joke on readers what the Chicago Reader did with Liz Armstrong--but let's be fair and realistic. The "cheerleader" description is accurate--and this isn't always good thing to be. Now, if you mistake deserved criticism for this city's politics [or its mayor] as evidence of disliking the city, I would say you are indulging in unreasonable patterns of logic and there is no pleasing you. Skinny jeans? Huh?

guest

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:40:57 -0600

I'm with #1, if it isn't doesn't involve skinny jeans, "ironic" haircuts, and pbr, Chicagoist has nothing good to say about this city.

vit

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:38:57 -0600

I kayaked in the river several times last summer, it probably wasn't the most intelligent thing I've ever done, but I had a lot of fun, and no scars just yet.... but the river does seem to be coming along. I've often wondered what happened to that kid I knew in grade school who fell into the river (and was promptly fished out) around 1984 .... the river was MUCH worse at that time. However, I grew up swimming in lake Michigan (both in the city and on the beaches in northwest Indiana), so perhaps I've just built up my immunity.

pantagrapher

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:19:54 -0600

I find the healing waters of the river useful for melting down unsightly carbuncles.

guest

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:17:06 -0600

"Chicagoist is a big cheerleader for the city" Huh? Since when? If it's not about Lollapalooza or Whole Foods, Chicagoist goes all cynical and snarky about everything Chicago-related.