Trick Or Treat

Lots of adults try to take the fun out of Halloween. They either do something that threatens the safety of kids, claim it's not a positive way for children to express themselves, or turn out their lights, lock their door, and get grumpy. I think that they are all missing the point. What other holiday do you give to complete strangers without the hope of getting anything material back in return?

I'm not the type to don costumes or party. I revel in the Trick-or-Treaters. This year, I had two large bags of candy. I really didn't expect many kids since we only had 15-20 last year. The first showed up around 5:45. Then they slowly knocked on the door. By 7pm there had only been about 20, so I started giving out handfuls. That sure put smiles on their faces!

After 7 they were coming in truck loads. I ended up emptying both big bags and closing the doors at quarter to 8.

Each of the Trick-or-Treaters was polite. They said thank you and smiled broadly at their stash. Their costumes were festive and scary. None wished ill intent on anyone.

I enjoyed seeing them all, conversing, and laughing at their attempts to scare me. They should have been more afraid of my screen door. It opens oddly and I almost knocked several kids off the porch.

For kids, Halloween is not a day for evil. It's a day for fun. Kids learn valuable lessons. They learn to be courteous and say thanks. They also learn that people are willing to hand out candy for free to complete strangers. What better lesson is there in life than that?

[Photograph credit: Arley Soca, www.sxc.hu]

Senator Tries to Cut Pork for Hurricane Relief

The House has recently voted to gut programs for the poor, disabled, and elderly in order to pay for hurricane relief. It appears that the cruelty of sticking it to the disadvantaged to help the disadvantaged is lost on them. One Senator tried to pay bills without hurting the poor. He wanted to cut frivolous projects from the budget and use that money for Louisiana, Mississippi, and other states that are being pounded by hurricanes.

Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, proposed legislation that would cut pork barrel projects to pay for the mounting hurricane bills. This included dumping such projects as the bridge to an Alaskan Island where 50 people live. The project carried a $200 million price tag. Several other projects would have been axed. The money would have helped those who really need it.

Selfishness won out in the end. Only 15 Senator voted yes on the amendment. The others clearly were too worried about winning votes than doing what is right in a time of need. I think most Americans wouldn't mind giving up pet projects if it meant rebuilding areas that desparately need it. Balancing relief efforts on the backs of the middle class and poor just isn't right.

Tom Coburn should be applauded for trying to raise the bar and make sure that every pitches in for Gulf Coast Recovery. All 15 Senators deserve thank you cards for putting aside politics for a day. A national emergency should take precedence over special interest groups. Here are the names of the Senators. Let them know that you appreciate their actions even if the amendment failed in the end.

Allard (R-CO) Allen (R-VA) Bayh (D-IN) Burr (R-NC) Coburn (R-OK)

Conrad (D-ND) DeMint (R-SC) DeWine (R-OH) Feingold (D-WI) Graham (R-SC)

Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Sessions (R-AL) Sununu (R-NH) Vitter (R-LA)

The Artistic Linebacker

In this day and age of stereotyping, artists and jocks aren't supposed to mix-- right? Well, Greg Van Hoesen is out to prove all the critics wrong.

Greg is a sophomore at Cal Berkeley. He's a 6 foot 3, 225 lb linebacker. He's also an art major. Even at the diverse Cal Berkeley, it's unusual to blend athletics and arts.

Greg has been drawing since he was 6 years old. It wasn't until high school that he found his hidden talent--painting. He loves football and enjoys being on the team. When he's on the field he's one tough customer. In the artist's studio, he's at peace. While football allows him to burn off aggression and steam, painting allows him to mellow out and relax.

Many of his paintings reflect his passion for football. He's painted plays on the field, players' facial expressions, and everything else related to the game. Greg isn't sure where his art will take him. Although alot of his art leans towards football, he's experimenting with different themes and media. In addition to painting, he dabbles in drawing and sculpting.

Coaches and teachers praise Greg's determination, persistence, and hard work. Those are skills that will propel him into whatever field he chooses. So far, his experience on the football field has blended with his artistic expression. This first hand look at football may just be his niche.

Wallet Found after 43 Years

If you've lost your wallet, don't give up hope! This man lost his 43 years ago and it's found it's way back to him.

Robert Gibson was in the Air Force 43 years ago. He'd just gotten back from Germany. While waiting at a bus station in Pittsburgh, PA, his wallet was stolen.

The bus station is being demolished. The asbestos inspection crew came in to check out the site. Leroy Fillmore, one of the technicians, noticed the wallet sitting next to some pipes. He realized the ID card was for someone in the military and contacted the Army recruiting office.

Capt. Jason Hearn took up the case of the lost wallet. He tracked down Robert Gibson who was incredibly happy to get his wallet back. The $300 was gone, but the wallet holds sentimental value for Gibson. It harkens back to a part of his life long forgotten. Besides, how many people find a lost wallet after 43 years?

White Sox Win the World Series

Two years in a row, the baseball Gods have deemed that the cursed teams should take home the pennant. Last year the Boston Red Sox broke the curse of the Bambino. This year the White Sox put to rest the Black Sox scandal of 1919. That was the year several players threw the World Series.

Baseball players are a superstitious group. Some eat certain meals before games, some won't shave, other never step on baselines. So, believing that a team is curse only seems natural.

This year the White Sox seemed to be charmed. They jumped out ahead under the leadership of Ozzie Guillen, a man with a unique style of managing. They feel off in September, but righted the ship when they needed it the most--the last week of the season.

Then came the playoffs. In the first round, they took out last years dream team, the Red Sox, with ease. Next stop, Anaheim! And, they were as quickly dismissed.

The Houston Astros seemed to be fighting demons of their own. They had never even been to the World Series. Their road to the championship was as dramatic as they come. They were the wild card team. They beat off the Atlanta Braves and then the St. Louis Cardinals. The Killer B's getting hits when everything seemed to be over.

This year the charmed team was the White Sox. The White Sox got the breaks,the timely outs, and the lucky hits. They played four hard fought games, two of which could have gone either way. In the end, the White Sox got the champagne and the Astros gave the "what went wrong speeches". They both had excellent seasons, fought off the critics, and made it to World Series. Both teams should be proud of their accomplishments.

It tooks 88 years for the Sox to break the curse. So, who is next? Will the Dodgers overcome their drought? Will the Cubs overcome the curse of the billy goat? Or will the Astros get another shot at the brass ring? I can't wait until Spring Training!

The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement Passed Away

A couple of years ago my niece was in kindergarten and learning about the Civil Rights movement. I remember her telling me all about Rosa Parks and how people wanted to take her seat on the bus and how it wasn't fair. She should be able to sit down. She didn't really grasp the whole complexity of the issue, but her 5 year old sense of what was right said it all.

When I was in elementary school in the early 1970s, I also remember learning about Rosa Parks. She was riding the bus home after a hard days work. Her feet were sore and sitting down felt good. A white man demanded her seat because the distorted laws of the day said he could. But, she refused to leave her seat. She was thrown in jail for her defiance and fined $14 which probably was a good size sum in 1955.

Our textbook version of Rosa Parks is a little distorted. We never learned that she was active in the NAACP and had taken part in acts of civil disobedience prior to the bus incident. However, on that day in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to get out of her bus seat, something changed in America. That simple act of standing up for herself and for what is right sparked a movement that spread like wildfire. A boycott of the bus system was ordered by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who was unknown at the time. That boycott lasted 381 days, made Rosa Parks a symbol, and propelled Martin Luther King Jr. onto the nation scene and towards greatness. Although people were already mounting small protests in the US, that day Rosa Parks changed the course of history. In 1956, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation in the transportation system was unconstitutional. It wasn't until 1964 that the Jim Crow laws were overturned at the Civil Rights Act became the law of the land.

I think about what Rosa Parks did and how much courage it took for her to stay in her seat. She had to know that people would do everything in their power to make her life miserable. After that day, she had trouble finding work. She was seen as a trouble maker and her life was threatened. She eventually left Alabama for Michigan where she became an aide to Representative John Conyers.

Rosa Parks died of natural causes--she was 92. She is one of our most revered and beloved public figures. She had a quiet strength that always shined through and she will be greatly missed. I don't remember a world without Rosa Parks. Her story is intertwined with the history of America. You can't think of the greatness of our nation without mentioning Rosa Parks.

Teens Protest Radio Station Formats

Teens are banding together to gets some changes in Bay Area radio stations and the content of the music they play. 50 teenagers set out for the Clear Channel headquarterses to show their discontent. Their protest focuses on two radio stations with urban music formats. They don't have anything against the format, just the negative subject matter of the music played.

The Youth Media Council is comprised of about 20 organizations including La Pea Cultural Center, Media Alliance, Youth Movement Records, and EastSide Arts Alliance. The teens within these organizations are tired of radio stations playing music which promotes violence, gangs, and negative stereotypes. They believe that it has an impact on those who listen. Some don't even listen to the stations anymore because it turns them off. They want to hear more of a variety and would like to see local artists get more air time.

Many teens are turning away from radio. Between the violent lyrics and limited playlists, they are looking elsewhere for their music. They can find what they like on the internet, satellite radio, and websites. They don't have to depend on local radio to find out what's new on the scene.

Clear Channel is a major player in radio across the nation. They own 1,200 stations nationwide. The youth organizations don't want the radio stations yanked off the air. They are asking Clear Channel to listen more to the community and be more responsible about what they play.

Mukhtar Mai Honored At Home and Abroad

In 2002, 30 year old Mukhtar Mai of Meerwala, Pakistan, was gang raped near her home in Pakistan. The rape was ordered by the village council as retribution for her 12 year old brother's alleged affair. In addition to the rape, she was paraded naked throughout the village. Mai was expected to take the punishment meted out for her brother's trangression in complete silence.

Mai was one of 151 women gang raped in Pakistan that year. The majority of the woman took their punishment then went on with their lives. But, Mai stood up for herself and spoke out publicly. It was not easy for her to do. She had to stand up against village tradition and threats against her life. She withstood it all and pressed charges against her rapists. She won the case and received a monetary award from the government. She has used the money to build two schools in her village.

Three years later, the fate of the rapists is still up in the air. One appeal court overturned the verdict and ordered the release of the men. A retrial was ordered and the case now waits in Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Although she was vindicated, she still had many hurdles within her country to overcome. She had opportunities to travel outside Pakistan to meet with human rights organizations, but was blocked at every turn. Her passport was confiscated at one point and a ban was applied for out of country travel. It's ironic that at the same time she was banned her from travel, her fellow citizens honored her. In August 2005, Mai received the Fatima Jinnah gold medal which is awarded to those showing courage and bravery.

Mai is ready to add another honor to her collection. Glamour Magazine has selected her as the 2005 Woman of the Year. The prize is $20,000, which she plans to use towards earthquake relief in her recently devasted Pakistan. This time she will be on hand to receive the honor. President Musharraf has lifted the travel ban and Mai has already left Pakistan for New York. Mai is truly a hero of international proportions.

Get Ready for the World Series, Cinderella!

Cinderella is going to the World Series! And, not just one Cinderella but two. No Yankees this year. The White Sox and Astros are going to the Ball (field) and the evil stepsisters, the Yankees, get to watch it from their living rooms.

What can be said about these two teams? The White Sox almost blew a huge lead at the end of the season. Under Ozzie Guillen's unusual style, they righted themselves to capture the division title. Their pitching staff dominated the playoffs and left the competition in the dust.

The Astros fought off practically every team in the National League East for the Wild card spot. They almost left the playoffs early, but outbursts of run production at the right time downed the Braves and then the Cardinals.

It's hard to say which team deserves to win the pennant more. The White Sox are battling a curse. The last time they went to the World Series was 1959. They haven't won it since 1917. In 1919, the several players on the team threw the World Series, thus earning lifetime bans and the nickname the "Black Sox".

The Astros have been around since 1962 and they've never been to the World Series. The Killer B's, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, have played on the same team together for 15 seasons, yet neither has been to the World Series. It's an interesting contrast to their teammates, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite, who've both been to the World Series multiple times.

Whose Fairy Godmother will answer the call? Time will tell what the Baseball Gods have in mind. These two teams have played with heart and hopefully they'll bring that to the championship games. On with the Fall Classic!

[Photograph credit: Tracy Scott-Murray, www.sxc.hu]

Killing Them With Cookies

Oh, the elderly women who make up Raging Grannies are a wily bunch. This week they planned an anti-war demonstration inside the enemy's lair. They donned their traditional floppy hats and were heading to the Army recruiting substation to get some answers.

The small group of women converged on the Belmont, California recruiting office. Their ambush must have been foreseen as the "open" sign was in the window and their were Army inside, but the door was locked. The Marine Recruiting office was just a short distance away. The Marines met them with open arms and allowed them to enter their recruiting office.

What happened next was purely diabolical. Once they gained entrance, they surrounded the staff and served them...cookies and tea. They weakened them with kindness, buttering them up with soldier shaped gingerbread men.

Although the Raging Grannies oppose the Iraq War they support those in the military. The cookies and tea were meant as a peace offering. But, they were on a mission. They wanted answers about some of the military recruiters' tactics, information on military insurance plans, and a chance to talk their minds. How were they received? The military staff commented that it was a very nice meeting and that the women were respectful and pleasant to talk to. They had a nice conversation though they had varying points of view. One staffer made note that this was the first time anyone had ever baked them cookies and he hoped that they would come back again.

It appears that the Raging Grannies channel their rage is most unconventional ways. By showing a little bit of kindness, they were able to work their way into the hearts of the people they spoke to that day. They may not have changed any opinions about the war, but they were able to make some friends. We will always find people who disagree with us, so it's important to have differences of opinion and still be able to have a friendly conversation over gingerbread men and tea.

It was the Army's loss that day. They may not have had to answer those adamant grannies. But, the Marines got the cookies and tea!

Couple Walks Across America

On February 27th, Ken and Marcia Powers did something no one else has done before. They walked 4,900 miles on the American Discovery Trail. The journey took them through 13 states and took almost eight months to complete.

The Powers set out from Delaware last February. The couple walked an average of 22 miles a day. They saw an America that most of us don't get to experience close up and in person. They traversed from coast to coast and saw a variety of landscapes. They met the challenges of snow, rain storms, and the heat of the desert. They met many interesting people along the way. On October 16th, they reach the end of the trail in California.

The Powers were no strangers to cross country hikes. Previously they had done what's called the "Triple Crown". The Appalachian, the Continental Divide, and the Pacific Crest trails. Each winds 2,000 miles or more.

The American Discovery Trail is relatively new. It was opened to the public in 2000. It's the first coast to coast trail and the Powers are the first to complete it.

The trail spans 6,800 miles and runs through 15 states. It starts at Cape Henlopen, Delaware and finishes up at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. The trail merges with other hiking trails 5 national scenic trails, 23 national recreational trails, and more. It's the first coast to coast trail made entirely for hikers--no cars allowed!

The Powers kept a blog throughout their adventure. If you're interested in reading more about it, here's the link: Marcia & Ken Power's 2005 Journal

GenealogyForum.org Holds an Open House

I've blogged before about the great people at genealogyforum.org. The wonderful volunteer crew will be holding an online Open House October 16-22 starting at 8pm PST/5pm EST every night. If you're into genealogy, stop in and meet the staff.

Here's the announcement:
The GenealogyForum.org Open House will be held this week (October 16th to the 22nd). Everyone with an interest in genealogy is welcome to join us, meet our staff, and participate in the various activities.

Here are some of the highlights for this week:

~~Genealogy Quiz (Sunday Night)
~~Mini lectures on Irish and Scottish genealogy (Wednesday and Friday Nights)
~~The Research Party - we do lookups in a variety of sources for you for free!!! - (Wednesday Night)

*Everyone who comes to the Research Party on October 19th will be entered in a drawing*

More events are planned, so please check our Open House schedule: http://www.genealogyforum.org/openhouseschedule.php

==How to join the festivities for Open House==
1. Go to http://www.genealogyforum.org
2. Click on Chat in the menu bar
3. Click on chatroom in the drop down menu
4. A login screen will appear. It may take a few seconds to load.
5. Enter the name you would like to be known as for the evening (only staff members need passwords), then click Login.
6. Click on Choose a Room to enter a chat room
7. Enjoy yourself!

This link will take you directly to the chat room login screen: http://www.genealogyforum.org/chat.php

If you have any questions about GenealogyForum.org's Open House or our website, please send me an email.

Open House starts at 5pm PST/8pm EST each night this week...all activities are free! We hope you'll stop in to visit!

Thanks,
Melody
Volunteer, www.genealogyforum.org

Mother Saves Kids from Carjacker

As an Oakland woman was strapping her twins into their car seats, a man jumped into the front seat of the car and started to drive away. In that split second, she only thought of her children. The quick thinking Mom jumped into the back seat as the car sped off.

She knew her only chance was to get her hands on the keys in the ignition. She began fighting with the man. A struggle ensued. She was able to get her hands on the keys, pull them from the ignition, and press the panic button. As she screamed for help, the car swerved out of control and hit the median.

The carjacker fled from the scene. He stole her purse and some cash when he fled. The woman sustained minor bruises and her 4 year old twins were unharmed.

Back Up Quarterback Shows Her Skill

Miranda McOsker is the third string quarterback on the Bishop Montgomery High School Varsity Football Team. That's Boy's Varsity, mind you! Last Friday, she was the star quarterback.

The regular quarterback was out with a broken leg. When the team got ahead, the coach pulled the second string quarterback and let Miranda play. She ended up throwing three touchdowns.

Miranda tried out for the team just to be involved in a sport. The coach spotted her throwing talent and selected her for the quarterback spot on the Junior Varsity team. She was added as the third string quarterback for the Varsity Team.

The 15 year old is part of rare group. Only 253 girls play football at the high school level. She gets along well with the other players. There's none of that animosity that female's once faced when trying out for the school football team.

The coach isn't sure where he'll play her next year. He's pretty sure she'll be vying for the starting quarterback position on the Varsity team.

Sexual Predators Caught Thanks to Oprah

Pedophile Caught Thanks To Oprah

If you haven't heard, Oprah Winfrey has gotten into the crime fighting business. On one of her shows this season, she said she had had enough! She's launched "Oprah's Child Predator Watch List" to help capture child molestors and sexual predators.

Each week on Oprah a different sexual predator will be featured. You will also be able to view photographs and read their profiles on her website, Oprah's Child Predator Watch List Main Page. If your information leads to the capture of one of the fugitives, you'll get a $100,000 reward! Oprah Winfrey is putting up the cash for the rewards herself.

Within 48 hours of the first show, two of the sexual predators were caught. Just this week, two women received $50,000 each for information leading to a sexual offender in Indiana. The friends recognized the man who lived in an apartment in Fargo, North Dakota.

It takes one person to get the ball rolling and others to have the courage to ID these fugitives. A thank you to Oprah for helping to get these sexual predators off our streets! And, a thank you to the people who are giving valuable tips to the FBI.

Nine Year Old Swims from Alcatraz to San Francisco

Most kids sleep in during holiday weekends. Nine year old, Johnny Wilson, got up early and made the record books. He became the youngest person ever to swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park in San Francisco.

Wilson had been training for months. He woke up in the early dawn hours. It's cold in San Francisco that time of morning! (Well, sometimes ALL day!) He stepped onto a boat with his best friend, Jordan, and they made their way to Alcatraz. Wilson jumped off the boat into the 53 degree water. The waves were choppy and sharks have been none to be on the prowl.

A National Guard helicopter hovered over head in case of trouble. But, Wilson didn't need it! He swam the whole 1.4 miles and only stopped once. He did it in under 2 hours.

On shore, his fans were cheering him on. Classmates and their parents were on hand as well as Wilson's father and mother. They wore special t-shirts and waved signs. The media was there to capture the moment.

Johnny Wilson not only made it into the record books, but he did some good. His effort raised $30,000 for survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

[Photograph of Alcratraz credit: Sean Graham, www.sxc.hu]

Third Graders Learn About Recycling

Val Hetherington teaches third grade in the San Lorenzo School District. She's been teaching for 14 years. One of her goals is to incorporate the concept of recycling in everything they do. And, it's working!

The students are taught that everything can be be reused. They go on field trips to the local landfill so they can see all the garbage we throw away. They chose things that can be reused and take them back to the classroom. Other items are donated by families and businesses.

With a little imagine you can reuse almost anything. What can you do with some old chair legs and X-ray sheets? Make butterflies of course!

Project are incorporated into regular class lessons. Many of the regular subjects can be enhanced with a craft project. Hetherington tries to stimulate their minds as well as their sense of community pride. Each item they reuse is something that won't sit for a millenium in the landfill.

The third graders are busy preparing for the school auction. They've got butterflies to complete. After that, who knows what they'll be building?

[Photograph credit: Roberto Burgos S., www.sxc.hu]

Rock Star Turned Pumpkin Grower

When Jim Martin was a child he marveled at the huge pumpkins shown on tv each Fall. He wondered how folks grew them so big. He never knew he'd be growing them himself one day.

Martin took a slightly different career path than farming. He left his native Hayward in California for the glamor and glitz of rock in roll. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was a guitarist for the band "Faith No More". After spending years on the road, he felt like settling down. Being a rock star had taken it's toll.

Martin returned to his roots. He bought a home in Castro Valley, California, which isn't too far from Hayward where he grew up. He's married and raising a kid.

Then he realized his childhood dream. He began farming on his land. He started growing pumpkins--huge pumpkins! He enters them in contests and recently won first prize at a Santa Rosa event for a whopper weighing 1,087 pounds.

Martin has big plans for his pumpkins. Next week is the Half Moon Bay Ar and Pumpkin Festival. It's touted as the biggest pumpkin festival in the world.

[Photograph credit: Brad Harrison, www.sxc.hu]

Teacher Helps with Special Delivery

On a crowded BART train stairwell, a woman went into labor 12 weeks early. She was having triplet. As she doubled over in pain, people walked by. Everyone was so caught up in their own world that they don't even see the woman. 99% of them probably had cell phones on them. She called out for help, but no one could be bothered.

A Berkeley High School teacher was taking a break from classes and went for a walk. He came upon the woman in the stairwell. He ran to a nearby cafe and called 911. He ran back, ripped off his t-shirt, and caught the first baby as it was born.

The other two babies were delivered by c-section in the hospital. Mother and babies are doing fine, though the babies are being fed by feeding tubes.

Two days after the special delivery, Lanitta Lewis got to meet her hero, Biko Eisen-Martin. Biko also got to see the babies. Lanitta is grateful that one person stopped to help her. Who knows what would have happened if Biko hadn't rushed over that day?

[Photograph credit: Adrian Y, www.sxc.hu]

Woman Gives Money Away to Strangers

Ruby Dickens of Liverpool has been dubbed the "Generous Granny". The 79 year old widow has been handing out £5 notes. For three days, she's been standing out on the side walk handing out money to passers-by. One of her grandchildren accompanied her as she did her good deed.

Dickens has 3 children and 4 grown grandchildren. She's been a widow for eight years. When asked why she was doing it, she only replied that she didn't need the money. She had come into some money recently and didn't really have use for it. She's lives comfortably and doesn't have very many expenses, so why not give it to others?

Some people don't know how to take this spontaneous act of generosity. Some even refuse to take the money. Others are quite pleased which makes Dickens happy. She looks for those who seem like they need it like teens and students. If anyone asks her why she's giving them money, she just walks away. She expects to hand out money for a couple of days.

Talk Radio Host Answers the Call

Talk Radio Host, Ed Schultz, is doing more than talk! After Hurricane Katrina, Schultz set up a special fund to aid hurricane victims called the "Adopt a Family" fund. The fund won't just hand out money, it will step in to assist people in rebuilding their lives.

The "Adopt a Family" fund is designed to help individual families. Any displaced family that is interested in leaving their current situation for the Midwest, will get assistance from the fund. The fund pays for transportation to upper Midwest States and works with families when they arrive. When they get there, they are put in contact with people who help them get what they need: housing, food, clothing, work, education, money, direction--whatever! The fund has set up an excellent support system and is assisting folks get through the mindless paper pushing that has bogged down so many other agencies and organizations. Instead of getting lost in a huge bureaucracy, the fund is able to go into action right way.

The project is entirely funded by donations. Those assisting the families donate their time. All the money goes towards reaching out to people.

It may not seem like much to help one family at a time since so many are displaced. But, think of all the folks who have lost their homes, their jobs, and loved ones. Children can't go back to their schools or meet with their friends. People have lost their support systems or the means to support their families. Each family that is helped by the fund means one more familythat is closer to leading a normal life.

Daring Young Man in his Shark Fin Machine

When Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, was six years old, he saw the movie Jaws against his parents wishes. Since then, he's been fascinating by great white sharks. Now, he's able to swim with them.

Cousteau has designed his own great white shark. The submersible is made of Skinflex and was made to look exactly like a real shark--scars and all. It's 14 feet long and the skeleton is stainless steel. In has camera lens eyes and realistic movements. Dubbed the "Trojan Shark", it allows the explorer to observe sharks while being inside the contraption.

His father, Jean Michel Cousteau, had designed the first mechanical shark in 1989. However, his prototype was a failure. When tested, the sharks attacked it making it useless.

Very little is known about great white sharks. They have not been observed for long periods in their own habitat. In fact, no one has observed their breeding patterns.

Cousteau hopes to add volumes to the material on great whites. He also hopes to changes people's perspective of the predators. While dangerous creatures, Cousteau notes that amongst their own they are very timid.

It looks like Fabien is walking in his grandfather's footsteps (or perhaps his dog paddle). Jacques Cousteau taught us all about the underwater world and why it should be protection. Now his grandson is helping us see sharks in a way we never have before.

Whippersnapper takes on Senior Citizen

The Democratic primary in South Carolina should be entertaining. On one side is Rep. Thomas Rhoad. He's 82 years old and going for his 13th term. The challenger is Bakara Sellers. He just 21 a couple of weeks ago and wasn't even alive when Rhoad's first ran for office.

Rhoad is a retired mail carrier. He was elected in 1982 to South Carolina's statehouse. Since then he's held the post. He isn't the oldest legislator in the state. That distinction goes to Senator John Drummond who is 86.

Sellers is a law student. If elected he will be the youngest member of South Carolina's House, though not the youngest ever. Another 21 year old, David Beasley was elected to the House in 1978 and later became Governor.

Since Thomas Rhoad has served since 1982, his constituents must like how he represents them. However, maybe it's time for new blood and new ideas. It will be interesting to see how this race plays out.

Fire Crews Save Hundreds of Homes

23,000 acres were lost to wildfire in the Verdugo Mountains near Burbank, California. The fire started Wednesday and spread quickly. Winds whipped up flames as they swallowed up brush and trees. The landscape was pretty dry as it normally is at the end of Summer. Hundreds of homes were in danger. However, only two homes were lost and there were only six minor injuries--thanks to the brilliant work of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

There were fears that the another disaster coming on the heels of hurricanes Katrina and Rita might be too much for the nation to handle. We'd seen fragmented and chaotic approaches to those disasters. Would the wildfires get out of control too?

The Fire Department is credited with saving many homes that surely would have been lost. In 2003, wildfires in San Diego got out of control and took hundreds of homes. The fire department spent time learning from that experience. They carefully planned stategies on where to fight the fire and where the fire might flare up. This includes gauging humidity, burn patterns, wind speed, among other factors. There was coordination between nearby counties so they were all working towards the same goal. Evacuations went off without a hitch.

There was also some preplanning. Residents had been encouraged to clear brush near their homes. The residents did their job which created a fire break.

By Saturday, the fire was under control. Many residents were allowed to return to their homes.

[Photograph of Verdugo Mountains cred: US Environmental Protection Agency, http://yosemite.epa.gov]