Eric Zorn has an article about Richard Sherman who was almost hired to teach science in High School District 211 in Palatine. Last Monday, however, the officials at the District changed their minds and decided that they weren't going to hire Sherman to teach there after all. Eric Zorn: It couldn't be--could it?--that officials at High School District 211 in Palatine yanked … [Read more...] about Richard Sherman
VAC, Part 3
I did some more exploration of the local electrical power situation I outlined in my previous two postings. (Part 1 and Part 2.) I drove to another block fed by a different phase of the same three-phase distribution lines that feed my building. After a couple of times around the block, I spotted an apartment building with an outdoor outlet, so I parked and walked up to test … [Read more...] about VAC, Part 3
Google + Keyhole = Google Earth
Google just released the next version of their Keyhole software. It's called Google Earth, and of course it's a beta release. (Update: All I got was a message from a Google email address saying that they were making the beta available to current Keyhole subscribers, which I am. The message included a download URL that has a parameter that looks like some random key that … [Read more...] about Google + Keyhole = Google Earth
Some Relief For Skyway Congestion
People driving between downtown Chicago and northwestern Indiana have for several decades now had the option of taking the Chicago Skyway. This is a toll road built and operated by the City of Chicago, and it's the only toll road not operated by the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. That's a bit of a problem, because it doesn't participate in the I-Pass electronic toll … [Read more...] about Some Relief For Skyway Congestion
VAC, Part 2
As I mentioned in my last entry, we're having a few electrical problems at our house. ComEd is supposed to supply voltage at 120VAC (Volts Alternating Current). That's just a nominal value, it can vary a bit. ANSI standards supposedly permit 5% variation, from 114 volts to 126 volts. ComEd's rule book says they may have 5.8% variation, from 113 volts to 127 volts. This … [Read more...] about VAC, Part 2