Qin Jie, a former Chinese bank employee, now has his own business – sound. He’s set up an online, audio archive that includes such sounds as hiccups, a giant salamander that cries like a baby and a myna bird that gives Chinese New Year greetings. An about-to-be-built, luxury hotel in Hefei will have Jie’s voice-activated sound systems, allowing guests to have such sounds as bird songs or waves breaking at any time. Jie believes there’s also a big market for sound effects for television, film, software and telephone ringtones. Qin Jie is making the sound of success.
Greensburg, Kansas – population 1,400 - turned the tornado that flattened the rural town on May 4, 2007 into a success. Two years later Greensburg is rebuilding a green community of the future. They’re using solar and wind technologies to harness both power and geothermal heat and planning a community-owned wind farm that will fill the town’s general power needs. They’re conserving energy by building with solid concrete, using more natural light, better insulation and state-of-the-art windows. One of the residents founded “Greensburg Green Town”, a nonprofit that’s building 12 Eco-Homes to teach visitors about energy efficient construction. Maybe the town’s name should be changed to Greenestburg.
The name of Cincinnati’s most unusual crime fighter is “Shadowhare”. All that’s known about this masked, caped crusader is he’s 21, from Milford, a former foster child and heads a group called “Allegiance of Heroes”. Armed with handcuffs and pepper spray, he had his shoulder dislocated 2 years ago while helping a woman who was being attacked. Nevertheless, Shadowhare continues his mission to intervene in crimes, enforce the law and make citizen arrests – legal in Ohio. However, he could face civil litigation if the arrestee is innocent – obviously making it more difficult to be a 21st century superhero.
The 21st century “shoe-missal-of-discontent” was inspired by the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush in 2008. When the gesture moved to India, it became known as “shoe bite” and was first used by a New Delhi journalist against the home minister during a news conference. The journalist instantly became a national celebrity, inspiring 4 shoe throwings during the elections. This powerful insult has the support of many of India’s poor and often illiterate voters, who say they don’t have opportunities to question leaders. The American translation of this gesture might be “walk a mile in my shoes”.
Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting cards. Now she writes a 400-word blog three times a week. KNIGHT WATCH, a second look at what makes life interesting, takes only seconds to read at http://knightwatch.typepad.com
