Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Year of the Snake Brings Less Smoke
Chinese New Year was celebrated this weekend...and that means fireworks! Except when the government warns against them.
Beijing, China's largest city, has suffered extreme pollution seeing twice the number of really "bad" days so far this January. So it is really no surprise that the government allowed for about 1,000 fewer firework stands to sell fireworks. In fact sales were down by 37%.
As you can imagine, this was not pleasing to many of Beijing's city dwellers. "We do this to scare away the evil spirits, it's our tradition, and I've loved doing it ever since I was 5," said Bao, 38.
I applaud the Chinese government's attempt at curbing air pollution. But I would suggest that more strident measures are needed, and needed NOW. Selling a few hundred thousand less fireworks is not going to cut it in a city that has levels of small particle air pollution that are off the charts.
I lived in China in 1984 and 85. There were relatively little problems, then. Few cars were on the road. Beijing didn't have many major highways...and none that were more than two lanes.
When I returned to Beijing in 2005, I was stunned. Interstates snaked around the city and traffic was bumper to bumper! The air was stifling. My friend who teaches in Beijing showed me the mask she wore over her face the day before...YUCK!
So a few fireworks...well, I guess it's a start. But the Chinese government needs to do more...soon.
Or the year of the snake will become the year of the horse and we won't even be able to see it!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/10/china-fireworks-year-of-the-snake/1906779/
Beijing, China's largest city, has suffered extreme pollution seeing twice the number of really "bad" days so far this January. So it is really no surprise that the government allowed for about 1,000 fewer firework stands to sell fireworks. In fact sales were down by 37%.
As you can imagine, this was not pleasing to many of Beijing's city dwellers. "We do this to scare away the evil spirits, it's our tradition, and I've loved doing it ever since I was 5," said Bao, 38.
I applaud the Chinese government's attempt at curbing air pollution. But I would suggest that more strident measures are needed, and needed NOW. Selling a few hundred thousand less fireworks is not going to cut it in a city that has levels of small particle air pollution that are off the charts.
I lived in China in 1984 and 85. There were relatively little problems, then. Few cars were on the road. Beijing didn't have many major highways...and none that were more than two lanes.
When I returned to Beijing in 2005, I was stunned. Interstates snaked around the city and traffic was bumper to bumper! The air was stifling. My friend who teaches in Beijing showed me the mask she wore over her face the day before...YUCK!
So a few fireworks...well, I guess it's a start. But the Chinese government needs to do more...soon.
Or the year of the snake will become the year of the horse and we won't even be able to see it!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/10/china-fireworks-year-of-the-snake/1906779/
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Please put in a Macy's
http://www.omaha.com/article/20130129/MONEY/701299957/1685#hotel-public-park-new-stores-part-of-crossroads-redevelopment-plan
Ok...I am going to be very materialistic in this post...warning!
I can't help it, but I love, love, love the idea of the Crossroads Mall being razed. It is creepy! 70 percent unoccupied...dark, and disgusting.
The new plan for mixed use space in this area bodes well for midtowners like myself. Take a look at the drawing for yourself. The parking garage would stay...so would my favorite Target. Everything else is going to go!
A city park will be built, around which will sit other retailers. And...most exciting of all: perhaps a Macy's.
Coming from California, Macy's department store was always my first stop in clothes shopping. Coming to Nebraska was quite a shock...no Macys! Even worse, we are tormented with colorful commercials advertising beautiful Macys stores...Where the heck are they?
I say the sooner we say goodbye to the creepy Crossroads, the better. Let's get the C-4 and get going!!
Ok...I am going to be very materialistic in this post...warning!
I can't help it, but I love, love, love the idea of the Crossroads Mall being razed. It is creepy! 70 percent unoccupied...dark, and disgusting.
The new plan for mixed use space in this area bodes well for midtowners like myself. Take a look at the drawing for yourself. The parking garage would stay...so would my favorite Target. Everything else is going to go!
A city park will be built, around which will sit other retailers. And...most exciting of all: perhaps a Macy's.
Coming from California, Macy's department store was always my first stop in clothes shopping. Coming to Nebraska was quite a shock...no Macys! Even worse, we are tormented with colorful commercials advertising beautiful Macys stores...Where the heck are they?
I say the sooner we say goodbye to the creepy Crossroads, the better. Let's get the C-4 and get going!!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sports programs for all!
Sports for all!
http://www.omaha.com/article/20130125/NEWS/701259928/1694#schools-required-to-include-students-with-disabilities-in-sports-programs
In a groundbreaking ruling, Education secretary Arne Duncan announced a directive on Thursday requiring all public schools to make "reasonable modifications" to their sports programs that would allow students with disabilities to participate. If they choose not to modify programs, then they must create other athletic programs that would be comparable.
Spokespeople at the Education department said that this does not mean that disabled students will be guaranteed a spot on existing teams. It does mean, though, that adaptations must be made.
For example one student in Chicago who is blind, wrestles with his high school team. His accommodation is that the opponent has to stay in physical contact with him in matches.
I have to date myself here and tell you that I remember when my high school had no sports for girls! Can you imagine that? True, though. I was lucky enough to be on the very first girls basketball team that my high school offered.
So it was with great pleasure that I read this article.
Questions will begin: How much will this cost? How will we ever be able to accommodate students with all different disabilities? How will we go about training teachers to understand the needs of disabled students?
No one knows the answers to these questions...but that certainly does not mean we should wait to implement this directive.
Sports are important for everyone...fitness, team work, a sense of belonging...all vital elements to living a productive life...
I am so happy that all students will now be given a chance to experience high school sports.
check out the results of this survey:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20130125/NEWS/701259928/1694#schools-required-to-include-students-with-disabilities-in-sports-programs
In a groundbreaking ruling, Education secretary Arne Duncan announced a directive on Thursday requiring all public schools to make "reasonable modifications" to their sports programs that would allow students with disabilities to participate. If they choose not to modify programs, then they must create other athletic programs that would be comparable.
Spokespeople at the Education department said that this does not mean that disabled students will be guaranteed a spot on existing teams. It does mean, though, that adaptations must be made.
For example one student in Chicago who is blind, wrestles with his high school team. His accommodation is that the opponent has to stay in physical contact with him in matches.
I have to date myself here and tell you that I remember when my high school had no sports for girls! Can you imagine that? True, though. I was lucky enough to be on the very first girls basketball team that my high school offered.
So it was with great pleasure that I read this article.
Questions will begin: How much will this cost? How will we ever be able to accommodate students with all different disabilities? How will we go about training teachers to understand the needs of disabled students?
No one knows the answers to these questions...but that certainly does not mean we should wait to implement this directive.
Sports are important for everyone...fitness, team work, a sense of belonging...all vital elements to living a productive life...
I am so happy that all students will now be given a chance to experience high school sports.
check out the results of this survey:
Should disabled kids get their own school sports programs, or be integrated into existing programs? (Poll Closed)
Total Votes: 645
How would you weigh in?
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Don't "stir up trouble in my county"
Don't "stir up trouble in my county". "They ran him over because he was black"
It was last July but seems appropriate to discuss as we celebrate Martin Luther King ,Jr.'s birthday on Monday. Here is what happened: Johnny Lee Butts, a 68 year old man from Como, Mississippi left his house for his regular 4 mile early morning walk. A half hour later he was laying dead in the road. His leg was almost severed and he suffered fatal head injuries from being hit by a car traveling between 55-70 miles an hour. Did I mention he was hit from behind...from a car travelling on the OPPOSITE side of the road?
This car was driven by Whit Darby and held two other passengers, Tony Hopper and an unnamed youth. Tony Hopper has testified that they all saw Mr. Butts walking on the opposite side of the road. When Whit started to turn slightly towards the old man, the boys warned him not to do anything stupid.
Well, Whit Darby ran over Johnny Lee Butts. It was no accident! It was murder and Whit Darby is in prison awaiting trial next month. But guess what? He is NOT being charged with a hate crime! This has many people in Como understandably shaken, and it has Tony Hopper fearing for his life if he testifies against Darby. Hopper's mother has said her family has received numerous death threats.
Residents of Como are accusing the police and lawyers involved of negligence in the case. They believe the boys would "crack" if questioned harder about their motives in running down Mr. Butts. They believe this was certainly a case of racial prejudice.
The sheriff of this county has even threatened CNN for reporting on this case, warning that if the news organization "stirs up trouble in [his] county" he will be "coming after" them.
How could this possibly be happening? Isn't it 2013? How do we stop this cycle of violence and hate in the world?
The idea of spending mlk day "doing" instead of "doing nothing" gives us hope. If we sit back and just tsk, tsk, tsk, the problems of the world we will be soon overcome with gloom. If we "act" instead of doing nothing we are committing ourselves to each other and to making the world a better place.
click here for volunteer opportunities in Omaha
I haven't decided what I will do on Monday for my act of service. But whatever it is, you can bet I will be thinking of Mr. Johnny Lee Butts and praying for justice!
It was last July but seems appropriate to discuss as we celebrate Martin Luther King ,Jr.'s birthday on Monday. Here is what happened: Johnny Lee Butts, a 68 year old man from Como, Mississippi left his house for his regular 4 mile early morning walk. A half hour later he was laying dead in the road. His leg was almost severed and he suffered fatal head injuries from being hit by a car traveling between 55-70 miles an hour. Did I mention he was hit from behind...from a car travelling on the OPPOSITE side of the road?
This car was driven by Whit Darby and held two other passengers, Tony Hopper and an unnamed youth. Tony Hopper has testified that they all saw Mr. Butts walking on the opposite side of the road. When Whit started to turn slightly towards the old man, the boys warned him not to do anything stupid.
Well, Whit Darby ran over Johnny Lee Butts. It was no accident! It was murder and Whit Darby is in prison awaiting trial next month. But guess what? He is NOT being charged with a hate crime! This has many people in Como understandably shaken, and it has Tony Hopper fearing for his life if he testifies against Darby. Hopper's mother has said her family has received numerous death threats.
Residents of Como are accusing the police and lawyers involved of negligence in the case. They believe the boys would "crack" if questioned harder about their motives in running down Mr. Butts. They believe this was certainly a case of racial prejudice.
The sheriff of this county has even threatened CNN for reporting on this case, warning that if the news organization "stirs up trouble in [his] county" he will be "coming after" them.
How could this possibly be happening? Isn't it 2013? How do we stop this cycle of violence and hate in the world?
The idea of spending mlk day "doing" instead of "doing nothing" gives us hope. If we sit back and just tsk, tsk, tsk, the problems of the world we will be soon overcome with gloom. If we "act" instead of doing nothing we are committing ourselves to each other and to making the world a better place.
click here for volunteer opportunities in Omaha
I haven't decided what I will do on Monday for my act of service. But whatever it is, you can bet I will be thinking of Mr. Johnny Lee Butts and praying for justice!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
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Look at all the guns!
Right after Christmas this year, a Connecticut newspaper, The Journal News, published the names and address of handgun permit holders in the area by using an interactive map. The newspaper explained it as a public service.
As you can imagine, this caused quite a stir. Many people object to having their name splashed across the internet...let alone their address. Bill Grueskin of Columbian Universities journalism school even suggested that gun owners were being made to look like sex offenders and that "they (gun owners) felt they were being branded with a scarlet G".
It was also pointed out by many that the media had just "outed" the people in the neighborhoods with NO guns making them easy targets for burglaries.
Now, I am no gun lover. I have always been pro gun control and I do not own a gun...no, you may not have my address :) In the wake of the tragic shooting in Connecticut last month, some even suggested arming teachers and training them in weapons. Really? Really? Do you want to see Mrs. Hake armed with a weapon? Yeah...I didn't think so. I guess you might be surprised, then, to find out that I do not believe these statistics should be published. What good can come of it? How can it help? I have always operated with this question in mind: "do the benefits outweigh the risks?". In this case there are just too many risks and not enough benefit. This information as made public produces too many "visceral" reactions. Burglers dont just target houses with "no" guns...maybe it is "guns" they really want. What about police detectives in the neighborhood who have used those guns to put away the bad guys? Will they become targets now? Publishing the names and addresses of gun owners does not help the overall problem of gun violence in our society. While I do believe that gun ownership statistics must be compiled, I see no benefit to publishing this information. Do you think it is ethical for newspapers to print this information? Maybe watch this video clip to help you make up your mind. |
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