[daisyscarlett]

How exciting to know and have been taught by a Nobel Prize winner....

American Paul C. Lauterbur raises his glass while being toasted by friends and colleagues in Champaign, Ill., Monday, Oct, 6, 2003, after winning the 2003 Nobel Prize for medicine for discoveries leading to the development of MRI, now relied on by doctors for getting a detailed look into their patients' bodies. Lauterbur, 74, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Sir Peter Mansfield, 69, of the University of Nottingham in England were honored for work they did independently of each other in the 1970s. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

[lodwick]

Protester-turned-politician must rid his roof of toilets

10/6/2003

MONACA, Pa. (AP) -- A protester-turned-politican says town officials are trying to flush his campaign by claiming the toilets he's displayed on his home the past four years are a health hazard.

Officials in Monaca, about 20 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, last week sent Tom Suica a letter telling him the 10 commodes on the roof of his garage had to come down because they could be a breeding ground for mosquitos and West Nile virus.

Suica, a plumber and Democratic candidate for councilman in the borough of 6,300, claims efforts to get rid of the toilets have more to do with politics than public safety.

"West Nile? Don't you think that's a little much?" Suica said.

The borough soon rescinded its request that the commodes come down after discovering Suica taped the bowls to keep water out.

Suica began his potty protest in 1999 to stop a bank from building a parking lot next to his home. Suica said the toilets symbolize his view that his neighborhood should remain residential.

Suica has successfully argued in court that the toilets are an expression of his free speech and decorations. He routinely embellishes them on holidays -- mounting antlers on them at Christmas, hearts and cupids on Valentine's Day, leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day and patriotic decorations on Memorial Day.

[Endeavor]

What makes this so sweet is that Paul is a stroke victim and I see him around campus all the time - it is difficult for him to walk - he shuffles and appears to be in poor health. Each time I've seen him, I've thought, "There goes a great man." It is so nice to see his achievements recognized while he's still on the planet.

One of my other profs recently received the equivalent of the Noble Prize - the Crafoord Prize, given by Sweden to recognize scientific work that is outside the Nobel parameters for recognition. He's also received the prestigious Medal of Science.

The U of I is outstanding in the life sciences (and many other areas). It is great to see the University get this kind of recognition. Everyone always fawns over MI, but IL is one of the greatest state schools in the nation (and continually ranks that way, too.) It also is not a liberal bastion. We just don't have much of a football program. (Arghhh!)