Wave goodbye to traditional energy sources, Part Two

Last month I mentioned an article in Discover magazine about new technology that converts ocean waves into usable energy. At the time, the article wasn't up on the Discover website yet. But it is now, so here ya go:
Wave Energy: Can a mechanical snake that surfs the ocean squeeze enough watts from water?

America the Great?

Many thanks to my friend who reads the New York Times and sent me this article about the miserable excuse for science education in this country. She sure knows how to get me steamed up :) I'll refrain from a soap box lecture and say just this: Students in other countries like China and Japan are learning to speak English as well as they speak their native language, and their families are strongly emphasizing success in education over sports and other extracurricular activities. Call it perpetuating the stereotype or call it striving for greatness. But someday soon, the U.S. will no longer be a competitive nation in fields of scientific research and discovery. Then, all we'll be left with is lamo celebrities and lots of tall buildings.

Nosmo King

If you recognize Nosmo King, you must have read the Ramona Quimby books when you were a kid (or last week...you know, whatever). Nosmo King was a sign that Ramona, a young girl, put up in her house to encourage her father to quit smoking. She couldn't fit "No Smoking" onto one line, so she wrote it in two lines:
Nosmo
King

Anyhoo, finally, Chicagoans are getting a note from Ramona, courtesy of a smoking ban just passed by Chicago City Council. Unfortunately it gives freestanding bars and taverns until July 2008 to go smoke-free, which means we Chicagoans who actually care about our health and enjoy clean air must continue to forego patronizing establishments that allow smoking, which often means missing out on social events held by well-meaning friends who aren't as bothered by smoky bars. It's still beyond me why anyone feels they need to support smokers' rights. Unlike other behavior that some people may not approve of, smoking actually affects other people. I guess I assumed clean air was the status quo, which we need to protect. New York, Boston, and Los Angeles have all proved that the ban doesn't affect the city's economy and that plenty of people still go to bars and restaurants. Chicago should have more faith in its citizens.

Crunchy, and proud of it

Many of you know that I have recently decided to eat vegetarian, and organic when possible (Whole Foods=Whole Paycheck, but Trader Joes is a rather viable alternative, and oh how I love Trader Joes). Anyway, the organic trend is catching on, but for some reason there are still obstacles to healthier eating. No, I don't get it either. This Tribune article in Sunday's paper discusses the attempt to water down the regulations for labeling food as organic. You probably don't think about all the chemicals and additives in food these days, but just because it seems safe now doesn't mean it won't cause problems years from now. I suspect that in the next 10 to 20 years, we will start to experience health problems that directly result from unnatural chemicals in our food and in our environment. Lung cancer and asthma are already becoming more widespread problems in large cities where there is greater pollution, and even the Blommer Chocolate Factory in Chicago was cited by the EPA for releasing exhaust into the air that contained too much particulate matter (who knew that inhaling chocolate was a bad thing?!). So there's my official plug for healthy eating. Support organic farming and eat locally. Start at www.FamilyFarmed.org for more info.

Tradition?!

I read this article last week (For Family Honor, She Had to Die), and although I really wanted to post it here right away and comment on it, I hesitated. The article discusses a number of murders of young women in London recent years--women who were doing what other young women their age were doing, like going to school and dating boys. But these women belong to families that immigrated to London from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and in an effort to instill a sense of cultural tradition in their families while living in Western society, they have imposed strict rules on their children. And so, because these young women wanted to date young men and go to school and live like their peers, they were killed by their brothers, cousins, and family friends for breaking tradition and dishonoring their families. In their home countries, this sort of honor killing is condoned. But these families lived in London, where murder of any kind is against the law.

Oh, what a conflicting issue, which is at the root of our trouble with keeping peace in the Middle East. How can we be respectful of all cultures in order to help them live together in the same country and yet condemn this kind of violence? In Iraq, the U.S. is imposing Western values on people who have known a very different culture for thousands of years. I'm not comfortable with that, and I believe we should respect the traditions of other cultures everywhere in the world. We have seen the clash continue in Paris, and the Chicago Tribune yesterday printed an article about the culture clashes throughout the rest of Europe.

Understand that the vast majority of people in the world, regardless of their national, cultural, and religious identities, just want peace and freedom. But during a time when Western culture is invading every corner of the world and we are busy condemning violence, the pockets of groups fighting Western culture are growing stronger. So how do we protect people by imposing certain values that other cultures may not agree with? It's a slippery slope, and a question not easily answered.

Wave goodbye to traditional energy sources, Part One

Discover magazine is sneaky--they send me the next month's issue halfway through the current month, and they don't post the new issue on the website til the new month. So I was all pumped up to talk about the article in December's issue about new technology that harnesses ocean waves as an energy source. But alas, December's issue isn't up on the website yet, so rather than retype the whole article here (which might infringe on the copyright and would take too much time), I'll just request that you sit tight til December til it appears here or on the Discover magazine website. In the meantime, this will have to do: Newsweek Next Frontiers

Don't despair when you hear about the energy crisis in this country and around the world. The government may not be doing enough right now to support alternative energy exploration (after all, they have their buddies in the oil business to look after) but there are enough people in the world who are so passionate about alternative energy that they are pushing boundaries on their own. I know I'm excited about what's happening just under the surface.

Updates and downdates

1. Remember my post about the mentally disabled woman who was raped and impregnated at the facility where she and her sister lived? First the good news: they caught the guy who raped her--an 18-year-old who worked there. He better be imprisoned for life or something. What a tragedy that girl and her family have gone through. The bad news is that the facility had ignored previous reports of other inappropriate behavior from the people who work at the facility. Why are 18-year-old guys being allowed to bathe female residents, even if there is a staff shortage? Appalling.

2. Remember the requisite ode to Sammy the guinea pig? First the sad news: Rest In Peace Sammy, October 21, 2005. He had more teeth problems and just didn't make it this time. But the uplifting news is that I got a condolence card the other day from the vet (Animal House of Chicago on West Lawrence Ave) with little notes from the vets and some of the vet techs. It was so sweet--one of the vet techs even referred to him as "my little man," which he totally was. I guess most veterinarian offices do this for pet owners, but it was still really touching.
This is the first time I have ever lived truly alone, without any room mates and without any pets, and I tell ya, pet ownership is way underrated. Animals bring such love and joy into people's lives and they ask for nothing in return, as evidenced in this article. So my plea to everyone is to support animal rights and anti-cruelty organizations and smile back at every animal who crosses your path. Yes, even the rats in the alley.

Not to brag or anything...

...but I totally called it. Okay, so I live on the North Side (it's just safer and closer to everything I need without having to drive) and okay, so I didn't go to any Sox games this year (apparently people would rather hang out at Wrigley Field?!), but I have always been a White Sox fan, and so I cheered last night when they won the World Series. Ozzie Guillen, probably the most stressed out guy this side of Washington DC, made it through, despite the end-of-season slump and some really tense games. Cubs fans are mighty ired right now. They're just jealous because the Sox swept the series in four games and the Cubs had their chance two years ago and blew it.
So now that I've gone and bragged about the win, you should read the column by Chicago Tribune's John Kass, a true South Sider and White Sox fan. John Kass usually throws some attitude into his column, a "told-ya-so" kind of approach, but today he is a gracious winner and says it well. Still, we can brag a little bit, right?

World Champion Chicago White Sox

Get used to that phrase. You'll be hearing it a lot in a few weeks. Can I hear it for the South Side champs? You know it. Boo-ya.

We've won the wars on drugs and terror, so what's next?

Apparently we have truly succeeded in knocking out the drug problem in this country, terror is a thing of the past, and now the government officials are twiddling their thumbs, wondering what they can do to break out of their extreme boredom. Because there's nothing else to do around Capitol Hill, they decided to take a crack at the last great plague of this nation, the porn industry. Ah yes. The greatest evil of all. Porn. I can't believe this is for real. Check it out in today's Washington Post.

Recruits Sought for Porn Squad

Man, I can't wait to see what the Daily Show does with this one. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of pornography, but I am a huge fan of free speech and of education, which includes educating kids about reproductive rights, sexual health, and making responsible choices. Congratulations to the religious Conservatives out there who are totally missing the point. Repeat after me: sexual education is the BEST way to reduce the rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Maybe all the 15-year-olds having babies are being irresponsible because they're ALL sitting home watching dirty movies, but chances are they are just uninformed and don't make good life choices. But that would be too...liberal.

The Seven Wonders of Chicago (It's official!)

As promised, I now present to you the Seven Wonders of Chicago, as decided by fellow Chicagoans who have voted early and voted often. (John Kass is just jealous, really.)Click on the names to see what the Tribune has to say about each Wonder.

1. The Lakefront
What needs to be said about the Lakefront, really? Sometimes it smells like dead fish. Sometimes it smells like wet dog. Sometimes it smells like hot dogs and sunscreen. During the summer it's ALWAYS beautiful, and during the winter, it's chilling and overwhelming. After living three blocks from the lakefront, how could I ever live in a landlocked city? All kinds of people flock to the Lakefront because there's something for everyone--nature, exercise path, boating, dog beaches, people beaches, open areas for picnics and recreation, wildlife conservatories, vending areas, and even comfy benches for the homeless, the elderly, the very young, and the injured to sit and wile away the hours.

2. Wrigley Field
Well, I'm a White Sox fan, so I can't extol the many virtues of the home of the Cubs, but I'll say this: Cubs fans know how to have fun. The Sox may be the better team, but the atmosphere in and around U.S. Cellular Field (ahem, Comiskey Park, thank you very much) can't compare to the craziness that is Wrigleyville. I can understand why so many people love it.

3. The "L"
People are complaining about traffic and gas prices and having to get a dumb headset for their cell phones so they can talk in the car. Every morning, I get to sit peacefully with my magazine or newspaper, listen to my iPod, and people-watch all the way to Garfield/55th Street. The subway interrupts cell phone service, so I don't have to worry about all the ringing and jabbering of annoying people on annoying cell phones, I can sleep if I want to, confident that I'll get to my destination stress-free, and I don't have to pay for gas or pollute the air. Driving is sometimes faster, but not always, and parking is a huge pain in the butt. Plus I get a workout by walking between the L and my destinations. Sadly, no city south of the Mason-Dixon Line or west of the Mississippi River has a working public transit system, except maybe San Fran. Maybe the L will change people's minds yet.

4. Sears Tower (aka next target for terrorism)
Kidding. It's a cool place. My uncle used to work on the 75th floor, and it took two elevators to get there. Lots of business gets done each day, and once in a while, a window pane will fall out and crash to the street. And you can't even feel it swaying in the wind.

5. Water Tower
I'm ashamed. The only thing I know about Water Tower is the tall shopping mall next to it with the same name. But it's a Chicago landmark that now houses the Lookingglass Theater, and you can see the pump station inside. At night, it shines like a beacon along Michigan Avenue.

6. University of Chicago
I'm proud to say I work at the U of C. The students may be too intense, too smart for their own good, a bit socially awkward, and any other traits one can associate as a generalization of intellectuals. But U of C is a great place, responsible for producing great scholars, businesspeople, lawyers, scientists, government officials, and other great minds in the world. I'd never go to school here, probably because I'm not even close to being smart enough, wealthy enough, or intellectually focused enough, (I'd never want to date Goerthe OR Nietsche, much less choose between the two, as was being discussed by some students here) but in my almost-three years of working here, I have learned to truly appreciate the intellectual aspect of life, and I've learned how to challenge myself in many ways. I'm sure the students at this university feel the same way, and that's what makes it such a great school.

7. The Museum of Science and Industry
(Personally I prefer the Field Museum, which is moving its huge collection of artifacts to a new storage location underground at the museum. But whatever.) The MoS&I is a really cool, hands-on museum that makes science and discovery accessible for kids of all ages. The domed Omnimax theater takes people on a wild ride down the Amazon River, on a flight through the Grand Canyon, and on a tour of the human body. Visitors can tour a submarine, a coal mine, a locomotive, and much more. The recent Body Worlds exhibit opened people's minds to the inner workings of the body in a way no other exhibit has before. And it's six blocks from the University of Chicago and right on the Lakefront.

Molly Ivins Tells it Like it is

No comments from me, just thought this was interesting. Thank you, Molly Ivins.
Follow the Money for the Real Story

Nature knows no political boundaries

Last night while I was killing time until the season premiere of Family Guy, I caught the last 20 minutes of the program Nature on PBS. The title of last night's show was Lost World of the Holy Land, and it was all about nature in the Middle East and the work that conservationists are doing to protect and restore threatened wildlife populations there. The little bit that I watched was about migratory birds, which live in all areas from Egypt to Israel to Syria and Jordan to Turkey and Iran. Israeli scientists were raising young vultures in order to help the population recover and spread. A Palestinian scientist was banding and releasing songbirds and teaching students how to track their migrations through interactive computer programs. Another scientist led a group of students on a nature hike and taught them about bird populations in the area. The students had arrived on three buses--one filled with Jewish Israelis, another filled with Arab Israelis, and the third filled with Palestinians. The students were grouped into threes, one from each bus, and the groups worked together on worksheets and study guides to learn about the local wildlife. Some groups even helped release birds that had been caught and banded.
This was before the escalation in violence, and they haven't been able to get together since then. But the symbolism is obvious. There is much that humans can learn from nature and through nature. The three buses of kids realized that although their backgrounds were very different, they shared the same interest in wildlife and could learn together about the populations of birds that live in all of their lands. While learning about wildlife together, they were also learning about each other, interacting as different cultures coming together for a common cause. Maybe the next generation of Middle Easterners will be more progressive, more willing to work together, more cognizant that despite their political, religious, and cultural differences, they share the same concerns about land conservation, wildlife, natural resources, and the environment around them.

Hurricane Katrina

The residents of Louisiana and Mississippi are having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad day, for obvious reasons. New Orleans, although spared the worst of the storm, was flooded beyond belief, destroying whole neighborhoods and promising continued chaos as sewers flood, coffins float through alleys, and debris piles up. When New Orleans was settled hundreds of years ago, people knew they were building a city on top of a swamp, destroying the wetlands that act as a barrier between the ocean and the land during periods of high water. Now they're realizing just how much of a mistake that was. Read this article in the New York Times (which is similar to articles being written on this topic all over the country.)

I'm not saying that anyone deserved this, I'm just saying that you get what you pay for. In the battle between humans and nature, nature will always win. I hope this was a wake-up call for people to realize that you can't fight a storm, you can only be as prepared as possible for the aftermath. Huh, that seems to apply to many world events, not just to this hurricane.

It can happen to you, too

This weekend, I had the opportunity to learn what to do when one's wallet is stolen. I would have preferred read about it instead of learning through personal experience, but now I can pass the information on to you so that you can learn by reading.
1. Lower the limits for how much can be charged to your credit cards or withdrawn from your bank account on any given day. That way, when anyone (including you) tries to charge or withdraw more than the limit, you will be called to confirm the purchase or withdrawal. Yeah, it's a pain if you're trying to buy something or are going on a trip and need a bunch of cash, but it prevents other people from running up thousands of dollars on your credit card.
2. Don't keep lots of money in your checking account, so any huge charges on your debit card will be declined due to insufficient funds (sometimes it really pays to be broke). Also, don't keep more than one or two credit cards, and be sure to close all accounts that you don't use anymore.
3. Don't keep your Social Security number in your wallet or purse (thankfully I didn't either).
4. Keep the account service phone numbers for all credit and debit cards in a safe place at home. Thankfully, my credit card company contacted me as soon as someone attempted to charge a large amount to my card, and they were able to give me the numbers for my other credit card and my bank. Thank you MBNA for saving me some time and grief.
5. File a police report immediately (duh). Many places require a police report number to verify that it was theft and not just you being a dumbass.
6. Even if your SS card wasn't in your wallet, you could be vulnerable to credit fraud. Call any one of the three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax) to put a fraud alert on your credit report. No need to call all three--when you place a report with one agency, they will automatically share the information with the other agencies. This will require any credit company to contact you directly to authorize new credit applications so that no one can open new credit under your identity.
7. Create only good Karma so that it doesn't come back to bite you in the ass later on. Even if you don't believe in Karma, avoiding gossip and keeping a positive attitude never hurt anyone.

I got lucky: I only had about $10 in cash, my credit card companies followed up right away so that no one was able to charge to my cards or gain access to my bank account, and there wasn't enough personal information in my wallet for anyone to do anything (I hope!). Be careful and protect yourself so that if God-forbid anything like this happens to you, the damages will be minimal and you'll be prepared to take care of it quickly.

Them Downstate people just ain't right

Hippiemama called me this morning from San Diego to tell me about her visit with Hippieuncle and his Hippiefriends, and despite all her complaints about Chicago and all her yens to be on a beach in SoCal year-round, she actually said, "I actually like Chicago better." Apparently San Diego is one big suburb without the diversity of restaurants or cultural attractions that Chicago has. Take that, Tan Diego! Anyway, the Chicago Tribune ran some articles this morning that grabbed my attention. Have a look-see, and share with your friends.

1. HOAX!
That's right, I said it. Downstate people are just wrong. Kidding. But Southern Illinois University should know better. As a journalist (well, I was for a while...in college...) I am appalled. And yet, it's rather funny.

2. Bold School
Kanye West is a native of Chicago, and he more than makes up for the embarrassment of a Chicago musician known as R. Kelly. I may be a relative newcomer to the world of quality hip hop, but I look forward to the new wave of music emerging from Kanye, Common, Mos Def, and other musicians who have been around forever and are finally really getting noticed. Bye bye, bling bling.

3. Chicago not for elephants, scientist tells alderman
Keeping elephants out of the Chicago zoos is not a bad thing, though some people may be dismayed. Zoos are great places for teaching people about animals who need less living space or who are more adaptive to their surroundings, but elephants need to roam. Put them on reserves in Tennessee or the Great Plains, where they can live in protected areas that are more like their natural habitats in Asia and Africa. Props to Chicago scientists for standing up for better treatment of elephants.

The Seven Wonders of Chicago

This summer, I fell in love with Chicago. The weather, although balls-hot, allowed for outdoor concertgoing, volleyballing, beaching, biking, running, exploring, barbecuing, and anything else you think you can do outside. But it's not just the weather, because I love Chicago even when I'm swearing at the CTA in the 10-degree February weather and sweating in the 95-degree sauna of July. And now, the Chicago Tribune is working to establish the Seven Wonders of Chicago. They're announcing one of the 14 nominees every day until September 9th, when readers get to whittle the list down to the seven winners. So far, the Lakefront, Watertower, and the L train have been nominated. This is going to be hard.

Follow the process at www.chicagotribune.com. On Sept. 16th, when they announce the winners, I'll post the list with an ode to each winner. Til then, feel free to post a comment on your favorite things about Chicago. Then consider moving here, 'cause it's really an awesome city. And the winters really aren't THAT bad. Riiiiiiiiight....

Another loss in the media world

From the Chicago Tribune on August 16th, 2005:
"In a funeral befitting a fallen head of state, visiting dignitaries and average Chicagoans on Monday remembered businessman John H. Johnson, crediting the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines with changing how blacks are seen in the United States."

Read the rest of the article here

I wasn't familiar with Johnson's work before he died (well, I had looked through Ebony and Jet in the past, but didn't know anything about Johnson.) but I think it's important to celebrate black culture. Although Johnson wasn't as visible as Peter Jennings, his work was just as important and should be honored and respected by everyone. If you have any doubts, pick up one of Johnson's magazines, and then go read "The Known World" and think about how far we've come in even just 30 years.

Affirmations of Life and Death

In death...
A fond farewell to Peter Jennings, who passed away Sunday, four months after announcing to the public that he was battling lung cancer. Any death is sad, a premature death from a horrible disease is worse, and the fact that he was such a public figure doesn't make it any better. Mr. Jennings, I hope you're not suffering any more. You taught us so much in life, but the biggest lesson to the public was taught in death. I hope that a new generation of newscasters and reporters will succeed as you have.

In life...
The space shuttle Discovery touched down safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California this morning. As the wheels skidded along the runway and the chutes popped open to slow the shuttle, I got a little teary-eyed. NASA is facing a lot of challenges as it struggles to keep up with modern technology, but we should never give up hope that new minds and talented scientists will create new technology that will bring new explorations of the universe beyond our atmosphere, as well as the seas beneath our feet.

In ink...
TLC's show "Miami Ink" is not just about a bunch of hooligans getting tattoos of skulls and roses, it's an interesting look at a fascinating art form that used to be only for sailors and motorcycle gangs but now transcends all cultural boundaries. One of the tattoo artists mused that perhaps 50 percent of all tattoos are designed and given in memorial of a friend or fanily member who died. Other people get tattoos to honor a change-of-life experience, such as breaking an addiction or having a child. The guys on the show are talented artists, specializing in Japanese art, creating one design from four different pieces, copying photographs into skin art, and more. It's fascinating to think that in 50 years, retirement homes will be croweded with displays of tattoos from drunken nights and long-lost memories, stretched earlobes and piercing scars on noses, navels, lips, and other body parts, as well as implants, surgery scars, gastric bypass rings, and other signs of body alterations. What a sight.

The Obligatory Pet Hommage

Yes, this is my baby. Isn't he cute? He loves that hat. I got Sammy shortly after September 11th. I had been planning on getting a guinea pig all summer long (the apartment company didn't allow pets at all, but I figured a caged rodent couldn't do much damage), but since I didn't get my act together til mid-September, that's when he arrived at Smurf Village. I like to think he helped me cope with the changing world, the terrorism disaster, the new threats to our health and security, but honestly I don't think I was really upset by the current events. Except for my dreams of seeing glowing bombs through my bedroom window. In any case, last winter I learned just how much I would do for him as I racked up vet bills on my credit cards and nursed my baby back to health. He'll be four years old on August 12th, and he better live another four years, that's all I got to say. In the meantime, I'll put up with his 5 am pleas for breakfast if it means another day of snuggles, unbelievable cuteness, and fits of pouting in his castle. People don't give guinea pigs enough credit. They're smart and cuddly and they know when it's dinner time--traits that dogs and cats exhibit as well. Yes, they're rodents, but Sammy had been known to kick some mousey ass. So there. Cats barf and shed on your stuff and dogs need to be walked no matter if it's raining or snowing or 50-below-zero or hot as an oven. Don't get me wrong, I love cats and dogs too. For now, I'll keep my piggie, thank you. Yes, I know people in South America eat guinea pigs like we eat chicken. But this is Chicago, and when in Chicago, do as Chicagoans do. Hmmm, could I walk him on the Lake Shore Path like a dog? ......