Western Connecticuts sports have not faired well this season, our football team suffers a tremendously heavy burden for a record, and our Mens soccer team is nothng but average.
The best record of the season belongs to a club sport, WCSU Rugby. The Men's rugby team is currently undefeated with 5 victories and one unfortunate forfeit. The 6-0 team is preparing for the playoff season.
The first match will take place Saturday, October 31st at 1:00 , against Tufts University from Boston. Tufts is not far behind WCSU with a record of 5-1. With an outstandingly athletic and versatile team, we are hoping for the best possible outcome.
Westconn Rugby will fully appreciate any support given, so please come out and enjoy a fantastic sport that is renowned world-wide.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Danbury Deteriorating?
At one point in time Danbury, CT, was one of the safest cities in the United States. The city had low crime rates and few complaints. Have things changed? Off of memory alone, recollections of events regarding drive-by shootings outside downtown bars and gas stations have plagued the cities title of safe.
In mid October, a man grabbed a woman outside her apartment, dragged her inside, and raped her. Afterwards, he left with her tied up with duct-tape and carrying her credit cards and cash. By far, this is the most dramatic, intentional crime I have yet heard of in our area.
Locally, there have been repeated "brawls" set up between schools, fortunately none escalated to the point where action was taken. During my highschool years there was an ordeal between Danbury High and New Milford, where a love triangle sparked a feud that had various participants.
Bordering Danbury, Bethel, recently had an event that lead to the drawing of weapons and the death of one man. The call made was to a despondent armed person, the man eventually took off into the woods where police officers pursued. While attempting to convince the man to drop his weapon, he leveled his weapon at the police officer causing him to take action and release his firearm.
On top of this, in Brewster not too long ago, a 17-year-old leaving a party was enraged by a 19-year-old resident leading the 17-year-old to slash the resident with the knife. The knife managed to cause a wound on the face and hand of the resident who recieved 17 stitches.
When the new census comes out, it would be an interesting idea to compare the criime rates.
http://www.newstimes.com/search/ci_13603561?IADID=Search-www.newstimes.com-www.newstimes.com
http://www.newstimes.com/search/ci_13635217?IADID=Search-www.newstimes.com-www.newstimes.com
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_13656675?source=most_viewed
In mid October, a man grabbed a woman outside her apartment, dragged her inside, and raped her. Afterwards, he left with her tied up with duct-tape and carrying her credit cards and cash. By far, this is the most dramatic, intentional crime I have yet heard of in our area.
Locally, there have been repeated "brawls" set up between schools, fortunately none escalated to the point where action was taken. During my highschool years there was an ordeal between Danbury High and New Milford, where a love triangle sparked a feud that had various participants.
Bordering Danbury, Bethel, recently had an event that lead to the drawing of weapons and the death of one man. The call made was to a despondent armed person, the man eventually took off into the woods where police officers pursued. While attempting to convince the man to drop his weapon, he leveled his weapon at the police officer causing him to take action and release his firearm.
On top of this, in Brewster not too long ago, a 17-year-old leaving a party was enraged by a 19-year-old resident leading the 17-year-old to slash the resident with the knife. The knife managed to cause a wound on the face and hand of the resident who recieved 17 stitches.
When the new census comes out, it would be an interesting idea to compare the criime rates.
http://www.newstimes.com/search/ci_13603561?IADID=Search-www.newstimes.com-www.newstimes.com
http://www.newstimes.com/search/ci_13635217?IADID=Search-www.newstimes.com-www.newstimes.com
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_13656675?source=most_viewed
Monday, October 12, 2009
Lumenhaus
Take a guess at the word. Lumenhaus, seemingly simple. Lumen-light illumination, haus-house.
In this case the name is referring to a solar powered house being constructed out west in Washington state, on the National Mall.
Multiple universities, from the US, Canada, and Europe are competing to contruct the most efficient solar powered home. Each team starts with $100,000 to create the eco-friendly home. After the houses are finished they will be tested and awarded on 10 different categories, some being architectural design, comfort, and marketability.
The competition is being hosted by the Federal Department of Energy, with sponsors for certain teams. Lumenhaus is being sponsored by Siemens.
Solar powered accessories are not a terrible concept for homes. Lumenhaus took a total of 20 kilowatt-hours out of the system, however it sent back three times that amount from the roof alone.
A competition is an ideal way to make sparks fly and create innovation. Events like these inspire the future of technology and broaden the possibilities of our societies current norms. I can personally envision an "off-the-grid" home that has electricity in the most impossible of places to deliver it. For example, maybe a house in the mountains with solar powered shingles and energy converting thermal blinds that shift according to the suns position to allow the most heat.
The idea is not far off, inspiration and possibly price are the only elements holding society back from a seemingly successful future home. This kind of stimulation needs to take place more often, allowing for more practical ways to live freely and reliably.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/earth/13solar.html?ref=science
In this case the name is referring to a solar powered house being constructed out west in Washington state, on the National Mall.
Multiple universities, from the US, Canada, and Europe are competing to contruct the most efficient solar powered home. Each team starts with $100,000 to create the eco-friendly home. After the houses are finished they will be tested and awarded on 10 different categories, some being architectural design, comfort, and marketability.
The competition is being hosted by the Federal Department of Energy, with sponsors for certain teams. Lumenhaus is being sponsored by Siemens.
Solar powered accessories are not a terrible concept for homes. Lumenhaus took a total of 20 kilowatt-hours out of the system, however it sent back three times that amount from the roof alone.
A competition is an ideal way to make sparks fly and create innovation. Events like these inspire the future of technology and broaden the possibilities of our societies current norms. I can personally envision an "off-the-grid" home that has electricity in the most impossible of places to deliver it. For example, maybe a house in the mountains with solar powered shingles and energy converting thermal blinds that shift according to the suns position to allow the most heat.
The idea is not far off, inspiration and possibly price are the only elements holding society back from a seemingly successful future home. This kind of stimulation needs to take place more often, allowing for more practical ways to live freely and reliably.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/earth/13solar.html?ref=science
Animal Officer Dies
I notcied a quick article in regards to a Connecticut animal officer that died after an encounter with a pitbull. According to the News Times, the officer responded to a call made in regards to an aggressive dog that had trapped a family in their home.
Officer Theresa Foss, was not bit by the pitbull rather knocked over and hit her head. It was reported that the death was not caused by the pet, Yale-New Haven Hospital did not release the cause of death.
The circumstance seems to be worst case scenario for an animal officer. Fortunately the owner of the pitbull was respectful and understanding of the matter by immediately having his pet put down. I am sure there are many pet owners who would be incapable of doing a task like this especially with such immediacy.
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_13523099?source=most_viewed
Officer Theresa Foss, was not bit by the pitbull rather knocked over and hit her head. It was reported that the death was not caused by the pet, Yale-New Haven Hospital did not release the cause of death.
The circumstance seems to be worst case scenario for an animal officer. Fortunately the owner of the pitbull was respectful and understanding of the matter by immediately having his pet put down. I am sure there are many pet owners who would be incapable of doing a task like this especially with such immediacy.
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_13523099?source=most_viewed
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
"A High-Tech Hunt for Lost Art"
A prestigious piece of art, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, has been thought to be hidden within the walls of City hall in Florence, Italy. As the New York Times puts it, truly something out of a Dan Brown novel.
A small portion of the vast painting currently on the wall, Battle of Marciano, has a flag with the encryption of "Cerca Trova" that translates to seek and ye should find. The words were discovered in 1975, however no means of looking behind the wall painting without removing it completely have been found until recently.
One scientist, Dr. Seracini, has at last managed to figure a way of looking behind the painting by shooting neutrons through the painting and by feedback discovering what materials lie behind it and the wall. The fact we are capable fo doing such a thing is impressive in itself.
The lost painting, The Battle of Anghiari is likely to be present in between the previous wall that was once showing and the present wall. A tight chamber was formed and because of the absence of outside forces it is expected that if there is a painting it will be well preserved.
What I find truly remarkable is the living legend of people like Da Vinci. The man is known for his scientific studies which were far more advanced for his time and spectacular art that takes the breath away. Essentially Da Vinci has lived through history and made one hell of a name for himself! Are there any modern thinkers in the worl dof today that will be looked back upon as we do upon Da Vinci?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/science/06tier.html?_r=1&ref=science
A small portion of the vast painting currently on the wall, Battle of Marciano, has a flag with the encryption of "Cerca Trova" that translates to seek and ye should find. The words were discovered in 1975, however no means of looking behind the wall painting without removing it completely have been found until recently.
One scientist, Dr. Seracini, has at last managed to figure a way of looking behind the painting by shooting neutrons through the painting and by feedback discovering what materials lie behind it and the wall. The fact we are capable fo doing such a thing is impressive in itself.
The lost painting, The Battle of Anghiari is likely to be present in between the previous wall that was once showing and the present wall. A tight chamber was formed and because of the absence of outside forces it is expected that if there is a painting it will be well preserved.
What I find truly remarkable is the living legend of people like Da Vinci. The man is known for his scientific studies which were far more advanced for his time and spectacular art that takes the breath away. Essentially Da Vinci has lived through history and made one hell of a name for himself! Are there any modern thinkers in the worl dof today that will be looked back upon as we do upon Da Vinci?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/science/06tier.html?_r=1&ref=science
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