Kudos

I continue to be impressed with the technological advances our society makes each day. In an article release be the Associate Press ("Patch may one day let you skip the needle", CNN.com 11/7/06) an innovation is on the way that may be able to replace painful vaccination shots with a patch. Whether or not this technology will ever be accepted and widely used is debatable, but the impacts it could make on society are certainly not. I am grateful myself for the innovation as it will possibly allow be to circumvent needles in my future, but I am most grateful for the countless lives this may save. This technology allows vaccinations to be shipped world wide, without the dangers of needing a syringe or the need for refrigeration. The impact this could have on the health of developing countries is immeasurable. It will take time before the innovation is available for widespread use, but those responsible (and others making similar innovations) should be commended.

Where is the respect?

I am disappointed with the Daily Iowan's sports coverage on Monday November 6. I can understand that the headline must go to the upset of Iowa football at the hands of Northwestern, but do we really need four front page football articles, and how does the Field Hockey team making an incredible run through the Big Ten Tournament to become Big Ten Tournament Champions not get the front page? It is shameful that this campus focuses so much attention on football, and other sports loose out on the attention they so deserve. I want to wish the Field Hockey team luck as they head off to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the opening rounds of the NCAA Championship. I only hope that if they return to Iowa City with good news that its not buried in the back pages behind more football disappointments.

Stay Active

Now that the flurry that was the 2006 mid-term elections are over, I urge people not to put the issues that were central to the election (and even those that weren't) to the back burner. We need to stay in the game and be sure that those elected stick by the issues they committed to. Even if the person you voted for didn't get elected, its up to you to make sure that the candidate that was elected understands that you are a constituent too, and your voice counts the same as everyone else. Let's be sure we hold all those elected accountable for their actions, and be sure that they understand how we feel before they make decisions.

IF YOU DON'T VOTE, YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN

I thoroughly enjoyed this sign of a neighbor's, because it really is that simple; I don't want to hear any nagging from the folks who don't get out to the polls. Excuses that it doesn't really matter to you don't cut it, because there is at least one issue in this debate that everyone can relate to. It shouldn't take a wrong against you or your family for you to decide its time to vote. Voting is not only a right but, more importantly, its a responsibility. Use it wisely.

Think Before You Speak

It's unfortunate that the majority of the public likely agrees with the letter written in reference to the landscaping along Fleur Drive ("A weed by any other name....", DM Register 11/06/06). Unfortunate because those responsible for that landscaping should be commended not criticized, because their efforts are making this a cleaner Iowa. A well maintain natural landscape helps water absorb down to the water table where it belongs rather than allowing surface runoff or point loading like in storm sewers. True, most farmers see some of the intrusive species of prairie grasses to be a nuisance, but that probably comes from that fact that the prairie grasses are native to the area and adapt well, were the corn, soybeans, and other row crops are definitely not native. The letter also refers to the long root system in negative light, which is also unfortunate, because it is those long roots that help absorb more water. All in all the letter is so far off base and far fetched it upsets me deeply. Not only should the area not be mowed, it should be replicated throughout the Des Moines area and Iowa. Bioswales (roadside natural plantings) are a perfect way to replace the age-old curb and gutter system, and provide Iowa with an extremly cost effective way to clean its waters.

For more information feel free to email me or visit:
Conservation Design Forum, Inc.
Building Green

Emma Goldman Commercials

It appears as though some reporters don't do all the research necessary when writing thier pieces for The Daily Iowan these days. Andrea Waterfield reported that new commercials for the Emma Gold Clinic have reseived both positive and negative feedback ("'Emma' ads draw praise, fire", Daily Iowan 10/17/06). However, it appears that she does not understand that after 10 PM, when the new commercials will air on cable channels, Cartoon Network follows programming they call "Adult Swim", which has programs specifically for an adult audience (widely popular among college students) and even carries a disclaimer before programming begins that it is for adults. If she were aware of this fact she might never have received the quotes from UI graduate student Anita Jayachandran and campus director for the Campus Crusade for Christ Chip Martenson. Both allege that it is inappropriate for these types of commercials to play on Cartoon Network. It is obvious that these two were unaware of the fact that Cartoon Network plays adult programming during the airtime for the commercials; thus, either Waterfield was unaware of that fact and did not inform them, or simply did not inform them. Regardless, all those who think that the commercials will be viewed by children simply because they air on Cartoon Network are completely misinformed.

Wisconsin well within its rights

I don't feel sorry for Waukee in the least that they will have to pay thousands of dollars to create a new logo and rid themselves of the one they more or less stole from Wisconsin ("Wisconsin yelps; Waukee agrees to remove its flying W", DM Register 10/17/06). It appears that people don't realize that this is a national trend in high schools. In stead of allowing students the chance to be creative and have a say in their school's logo, school officials often very slightly alter a collegiate logo and call it good. This is, of course, cheaper and takes less time than actually being original. Ames High School and Iowa City City High School couldn't be more blatant examples, simply adding little to the mascot of the local university. Davenport Assumption uses the Atlanta Braves "A" hat for baseball, Urbandale J-Hawks are awful close to the Kansas Jayhawks, Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars stole the Kansas State Cougars logo, and these are just off the top of my head. I am sure that before the letter came in school officials were simply looking at how to slightly alter the Michigan State Spartan logo to use for their new mascot (spartan warriors). This issue isn't about the universities being money hungry, its about high school officials and directors being uncreative and unoriginal. Had they been a little innovative when creating the W in the first place, they could have avoided this whole mess to start with.

Schools Are Safe

Why is it that when rare instances of tragedy arise, people what to make sweeping changes, that will likely not deter the events from happening again? The freak “storm” of school shootings throughout the country in the past several weeks is no doubt tragic, confusing, disheartening, and an eye opener; yet it seems as though the public reaction takes the events as though the are a common occurrence nationwide. Of course, there are isolated events each year, but on the whole, this is not something that happens all the time, and thus society does not need to drastically change scholastic security as though it does. This by no means indicates that I hope that school officials ignore the events of the past weeks, or that security is schools is not important, yet security is most schools is exactly where it needs to be. I agree with the DM Register Editorial Boards’ stance against the proposed legislation in Wisconsin (“Arm teachers? Think again”, DM Register 10/6/06). Allowing teachers to carry guns is simply asking for trouble. No one can argue that many junior high and high school students are easily of apt strength to wrestle a gun away from their teacher if they truly wanted to. Having guns in schools is like having them in courtrooms, why put them where they simply aren’t needed. Have trust in your school officials that they are doing everything in their power to keep children safe. After all, school officials have more important tasks to tend to: teaching.