Lifestyles: May 2008 Archives

Who said American ingenuity has been quashed under eight years of the Bush regime? Not The Hound. Especially after learning about a new line of urinals made of about 30 percent soybean resin. If one was living in Florida, the expectation of a soybean urinal wouldn't be too exciting.

But this is Illinois, where despite the city slicker superiority of Chicagoans, soybeans and corn pay a lot bills, whether from tractor assemblies in the Quad Cities and Peoria, grain bins in Gilman or the commodities pits in the Windy City. Which is why this breakthrough is exciting.

Yet, it took a Vista, Calif., firm to figure out how to use soybean resin in urinals (perhaps our governor vetoed some agricultural research and development funds in a continuing attempt to balance the Illinois budget?). The Waterless Co. expects to expand the percentage of soybean resin in their future product line.

According to the company, waterless urinals made with soybean resin can save as much as 40,000 gallons of water annually. Bet those folks talking about water resource management Wednesday at Brae Loch Golf Club in Grayslake didn't take waterless urinals into account.

While soybeans have been used for everything from ink to fuel (i.e., biodiesel), using this cash crop for urinals is truly a breakthrough. And, one more way for Illinois farmers to be on the cutting edge of high performance, even if it is in the water closet.

As suspected, most Lake Countians failed to fly the flag on Memorial Day, one of two national holidays where it really matters if your flag is unfurled. Um, for all you immigrant bashers, that would be an American flag.

The Hound used up precious gasoline (isn't that what expense accounts are for?) to investigate how many of you are real patriots, or just, as Thomas Paine coined back in the Revolutionary War, "sunshine patriots." As any journalist, Paine was sitting far behind the lines and didn't have to engage in a 360 (if you don't get that, ask your friendly neighborhood infantryman). He merely pointed out his fellow Americans' failures.

So-called patriots carp about adopting a constitutional amendment banning flag burning, but fail to put their flag out there on their front porches for all to see. That gets The Hound's dander up which means an upcoming complete coat dip. Full disclosure here: The News-Sun sells American flag kits at the front desk, or they used to. The Hound will check before the Fourth of July sneaks up on us.

Hoisting the flag may not be a big deal to most of you, but flying a national standard or battle flag or unit flag dates back to the Revolutionary War (Anybody remember "Don't Tread on Me" from Mr. Miller's American history class?). OK, so most of the flags today are made in China. It's still our flag.

Flying the flag (your friendly American Legion or VFW post certainly will elucidate one on flag etiquette or perhaps a Boy or Girl Scout or two) is like voting, The Hound believes. You don't have to, but you should. It makes you a better American. Who doesn't need more of those around the camp fire?

Drive on, warriors.

The Hound spent the past weekend with head out the window, cruisin' the highways of Lake County and catching a few bugs in the teeth. One wonders how those motorcyclists manage not to get a few moths in their molars without a helmet on. During what now passes for country roads here, one thing was certain: The price of petrol wasn't stopping folks from taking a ride.

The Hound expected most Lake County drivers would face $4-a-gallon gas this weekend, but that didn't appear to be the case, unlike Chicago drivers who are closing in on the $4.50 gallon price. You folks in Cook County can thank Todd Stroger for that.

Anyway, the roads were just as packed as if gasoline was $3.50 a gallon. Economists and talking heads keep discussing at what price will be the tipping point when we park the rides and walk or take the bus to the mall. It surely isn't here yet.

And what happens when cruisin' season gets in full swing? You know, like Nostalgia Days in Zion where The Hound knows some folks who are already readying their '80s Monte Carlo to cruise Sheridan Road. What about Scoopin' Genesee in Waukegan? The McDonald's at Gurnee Mills on Fridays; the Cruise on Park in Mundelein? And what about all the parades?

Like The Hound said, that tipping point isn't here yet. So, what are gearheads giving up in exchange for higher gas prices? Food?

Cruise on in this summer of '08 and $4 gas. And, drive on road warriors.

Is The Hound the only one who thinks Steve Kreuscher of Zion is a little kooky. And not like "Kookie, Kookie, give me your comb" kooky.

Kreuscher wants to change his name to "In God We Trust". Is that strange or what? What do you call him? Mr. Trust? Mr. In? God-like?

Sort of reminds The Hound of the retail saying: "In God we trust --- All others pay cash."

The Hound can't believe a Lake County judge is going to allow this petition for a name change unless he or she has been out late drinking the night before Kreuscher is due in court, which is June 13. After all, legally the term "In God We Trust" is the national motto of the United States and has been such since the Cold War when the U.S. was toe-to-toe with the godless commies.

In fact, The Hound's favorite coin collector notes that "In God We Trust" first appeared on a two-cent coin back in 1864, in the midst of the War of Northern Aggression, as Confederate sympathizers still believe. The motto first went on paper money in 1952, once again, when we were afraid of the pinko Russkies.

While an animist, The Hound believes everyone should practice the religion of their choice. Just don't wear it on your sleeve, or in Kreuscher's case, as your monicker.

The Hound has noticed a lot of those "recyclable" bags at area food and retail stores. But here's the question that has been bothering The Hound: Is it OK to take a Jewel bag into, say, Dominick's or a Wal-Mart bag into Target?

The Hound has heard of one Dominick's where a manager gave a customer two free bags (theirs are black) rather than seeing her use Jewel bags (dark green).

So, what is the etiquette here? Is it OK to use any bag you have because they are environmentally sound (or so we are told)? Or do your bags have to be store-specific?

Life is just full of questions, right? Next week The Hound will tackle organic foods. Then again, maybe not.