The good
“Oh, McFly, your shoe’s untied.” Not for long. Nike has filed a patent for sneakers with an automatic lacing system, much like the pair Marty McFly wore in “Back to the Future 2.” According to officials, “The shoes would have a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position.” This would be controlled by a button and powered by a battery near the heel. Pushing the switch activates a motor that rolls, or unrolls, a spool of wire placed throughout the shoe. As the spool reels in, it tightens the shoe. Although there is no timetable on the release of the shoe, Nike is working to complete the technology as quickly as possible. Now, when is someone going to make a hoverboard?
They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Chelsea Shea of Leon hopes that holds true. Shea was running from the front door of her high school to her friend’s car last week and was struck by lightning. The next thing she remembered was waking up in the hospital. She said she reached for her friend’s car door, and a flash knocked her to the ground. A volleyball coach called 911, and Shea spent the night in the hospital. Fortunately, she had no signs of injuries, but she couldn’t remember anything that happened. According to statistics, lightning kills 58 people in the United States each year.
The bad
Maybe diamonds aren’t forever. Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford forgot to take his earring out before practice and realized soon after that it was gone. This particular earring was a 2.5-carat diamond, estimated at more than $50,000. Langford and a number of teammates searched for the diamond, some crawling on their hands and knees while others used rakes. Unfortunately, they failed, and the grounds crew came in soon after to mow the grass. What’s truly sad is that Langford was wearing a piece of jewelry that is worth more than most people’s annual salaries.
Fall is only weeks away, but the summer of 2010 was an unforgettable one. An average of 23.23 inches of rain fell from June to August, making it the second wettest summer on record. In 1993, Iowa averaged 26.83 inches of rain during the same period. The heavy rains and flash flooding affected hundreds of people across the state. Let’s hope for a safe and pleasant fall season.
The ugly
Talk about blowing up in your face. Stricter regulations have forced drug manufacturers to come up with creative ways to continue making illegal drugs. And they are taking that risk, no matter the consequences. Last month, five people were injured trying to make methamphetamine using a technique called “shake-and-bake” or “one pot.” Two men have been arrested for allegedly using this method that also left approximately 100 people homeless after the mixture exploded at the Willow Creek apartment complex. Both men suffered burns to their body. The “shake-and-bake” or “one pot” method uses cold and allergy medicines that contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine, a key component of meth.
What’s in a letter? Drake University officials are receiving backlash from current and former students, along with faculty, over the college’s new marketing campaign featuring a “D+.” Officials say the new logo, which is aimed at high school graduates, was created to be edgy and distinctive, not to stand alone or represent a letter grade. Drake University tested the campaign and found that of the 921 surveyed students, approximately 75 percent said the logo grabbed their attention. Maybe that’s because they could relate. CV
