Saturday Soapbox
Bed of nails:
We normally don't recommend lying between two beds of nails, putting a cinder block over your chest and having someone whack you with a sledgehammer. But we applaud College of DuPage Professor David Fazzini for safely doing just that to help students learn the difference between energy and momentum. Good teachers look for ways to reach students and Fazzini and fellow physics professor Tom Carter clearly know how to make that point.
Read without crying:
The world is full of sad news, so why is it that grown men admit to sobbing over the story of Winfred Cooper, the autistic Elgin High School football player who scored a touchdown with a little help from his friends - on both sides of the field? Because Winfred's story shows what depths of kindness people can show - young, competitive people at that - to make a guy's day. Perhaps his life. For the record, we all cried, too.
Keep a watchful eye:
This week's broadened terror alert reminds us to keep an open eye. Don't be reluctant or embarrassed to report an unattended bag or backpack in any public place. And do a favor for the nervous public by keeping your own bags close at hand. If you forget your backpack at the train station, it's unlikely you'll find it where you left it.
Here we go again:
In the latest twist to the story that wouldn't die, the Naperville park board refused to OK new garden plots on the far south side of town. Residents near DuPage River Park are worried about cost, demand and appearance. Fretting about how gardens will look? C'mon. The park board agreed to this plan with the city and school district. It's time to honor that commitment.
For the love of dogs:
A story about four dogs left homeless when Michael and Sue Kelm of Schaumburg were killed drew sympathy from many readers who nonetheless felt unable to take on four new pets. We hope the dogs find a home together, and we remind animal lovers they can be heroic on a smaller scale by adopting a pet from one of our local shelters, which are overcrowded with animals made homeless as a result of the recession.
Speaking of animals:
This week we had a story on a dog that had a heart attack that two women revived with CPR, we ran a picture in some editions of a liger - a lion-tiger combo - that was on display at Didier Farms in Buffalo Grove, and we had a story of a heartbroken Lake in the Hills family that had to give up a lemur - Lake in the Hills doesn't allow wild animals as pets. We in the suburbs love our animals, and animal stories.
Animals not loved everywhere:
Meanwhile, several were charged this week in a dogfighting ring based in Maywood. The Cook County sheriff's department sent the media several pictures of the abused dogs. We elected not to run any because they were so horrific. The description was disturbing enough.
Leaf it to Geneva:
If this is September it must be time for football and for Geneva to debate picking up leaves. Residents can get more pickups for about $6 a year per household if they switch to an outside company. Sounds more than reasonable. Speaking of reasonable, Alderman Richard Marks said: "In my mind city government is here to take care of police, fire streets, sewer and water, not picking up leaves." Bravo, Mr. Marks.
Hooray for a smooth Higgins Road!:
Higgins Road in Schaumburg west of Meacham Road and heading northwest into Hoffman Estates is already better with the resurfacing work. Even the scraped-up road was an improvement over the potholes that were ready to take out differentials. What a difference the fresh asphalt is making - smooth like butter!
Like 'Office Space,' but not funny:
The computer virus that made $350,000 disappear from Crystal Lake schools' accounts sounds like the virus in the great '90s film "Office Space" - except this virus is not so funny. In the movie the virus swiped $305,000 from an evil corporation by sending fractions of pennies to a different account. The virus invading school computers doesn't work that way, but it is taking money from taxpayers and still worse, children. Catch the hacks.
Common sense mergers:
Bravo to Cook County for cutting its voter precincts by 353, mostly through combining some of them with others. Most voters won't notice the change, says Clerk David Orr, and the county will save $750,000 a year. Creative cuts like these are not just a nice idea, they're essential.
Leaving no stone unturned:
Imagine coming home to see Schaumburg Township had moved your decorative rocks away from the street and into your front yard. Homeowners took it personally, and now Highway Commissioner Bob Fecarotta says he'll look into how each case was handled. It's a considerate gesture, but still, for legal reasons, he's not rescinding the policy.
Don't always stop for buses:
We all know - or should know - drivers are required to stop for buses dropping off and picking up kids. But some people clearly don't know you're not supposed to stop on a four-lane road when you're going the opposite direction of the bus. Please, stop when you're supposed to and stop clogging traffic when you're not supposed to.