Shelley Batts is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. She studies hair cell regeneration in the cochlea, and is trying to finish that quixotic quest called 'thesis.' She lies awake at night pondering how science intersects with politics, culture, policy, money, medicine, and religion in an attempt to be more than just a niche scientist sitting in the oh-so-lovely ivory tower. Follow me and my parrot, Pepper, on our quest to finish my PhD, land a post-doc, and stay sane.
Steve Higgins is a psychology graduate student at an online university. He hopes that the three weeks and $29.95 that he is spending on his Ph.D. will get him a job at a Tier 1 research university. Do online universities have postdocs? Ok...just kidding, Steve is really a Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying high level vision. You know... stuff like scene & object perception.
While not an official contributer to 'Of Two Minds,' Shelley's sidekick is an African Grey parrot named Pepper. His heros are Irene Pepperberg, Alex, and Rachel Carson. He spends his time learning Mandarin and writing the Great American novel.
"Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth, are never alone or weary of life." ~Rachel Carson
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Category: Weird
Posted on: June 16, 2008 5:32 PM, by Steve Higgins
This is seriously the biggest most obnoxious cross I've ever seen. It is on (If I remember correctly) route 70 in Illinois about halfway between St. Louis and Champaign. Praiiiiiiiizzzzze Jeeeezus!!!!
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Comments
These damn things are going up all over the place . . . I have seen 'em in Texas, Tennessee, and I know I am forgetting some others.
Posted by: Todd Fife | June 16, 2008 6:37 PM
There's several like this in Texas too- I have distinct memories of seeing several of the "world's largest crosses" on my drive across country, generally on the emptiest stretches of road.
This begs the obvious question: is there some sort of world record registry for giant wooden religious icons? It's very tempting to buy a plot of farmland and a Spaghetti Monster stencil...
Posted by: AndyB | June 16, 2008 7:04 PM
Biggest you've ever seen? That one's supposedly the largest in the US, around 200 feet or so...
May I point you to this. Its the largest in the world, around 500 feet!
Posted by: D | June 16, 2008 7:51 PM
this is the same one, right?
"The Cross at the Crossroads was built with a record in mind - according to the couple running the welcome center that day, the Foundation looked at the other World's Largest, and built theirs 2 feet taller."
http://www.worldslargestthings.com/easterntour/cross.htm
Posted by: skyotter | June 16, 2008 8:07 PM
There are two just like it in Tennessee along I-75... one's right next to a porn store.
Posted by: Brian | June 16, 2008 8:35 PM
Looks like a dildo to me.
Mmmm....yes.....for Jesus....
Er, whoops.
Posted by: Evolved Rationalist | June 16, 2008 9:16 PM
You kids are so easily shocked.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | June 16, 2008 9:56 PM
I think that is where they crucified Paul Bunyan.
Posted by: B | June 16, 2008 11:15 PM
::sigh:: I live in Illinois and went past that thing on a family trip. My parents thought it was impressive...I found it utterly obnoxious.
Posted by: DragonGirl | June 21, 2008 4:23 PM
If there are congregations out there that have a biggest cross contest.. that's not what it's about.
Posted by: Pianoforte | October 7, 2008 5:54 PM