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As "1-31-18" points out, his preferences for a retirement location differ from those of some others here. It's really a good thing that not everyone prefers the same place, or it would be terribly crowded and expensive. ...
+1 Everyone has to weigh the pros/cons for themselves, as individuals. Some people won't care one wit about easy access to one of the best (many will say
the best, and few would argue against being in the top 5) Symphony Orchestras in the world. And I'm not trying to 'sell' the Chicago area on anyone,to each their own, but I do feel I need to defend it against the claims of being unsafe in general. There are pockets of high crime rates, and large numbers due to large population.
Going to the Museum of Science and Industry at age 7 was a landmark experience in my life and I will never ever forget that incredible museum, especially the Foucault Pendulum which managed to convince the obstinate, doubting 7-year-old me that the earth actually DOES rotate. I watched it for over an hour and since then I absolutely know that it does.
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MSI is wonderful, but I think it has changed a bit in the past 20 years. Seems to me they have eliminated some of the old "hands on" things, in favor of some more splashy, 'exciting' exhibits. Probably needed to hold the interest of a newer generation. But I recall the hand cranks on two motor/generators that were wired together. You turned one (making it a generator), and the other turned (as a motor). And it worked the other way 'round as well. That little exhibit just taught a kid so much, and made such an impression on me. It was like magic that motion on one side went through wires that didn't move, and motion happened on the other side. It was magic! And it taught you that motors and generators are the same thing, just a matter of which was being driven (the principle behind regenerative braking in Electric cars and hybrids). And if your partner held the crank steady on the one side, it made it hard to turn the other crank! But there was no connection, other than wires! You start thinking about the connection between electricity and magnetic force in a way you (or at least I) could not get from a book.
Hmmm, maybe I should build one to give to a teacher at our local school?
RE: the Foucault Pendulum - I should probably post this to physicsforums.com, but one aspect of the Foucault Pendulum always escaped me. I understand how it would act like it does if it were on the North or South pole, but I have a problem visualizing that motion at our ~ 45 degree latitude, seems to me it would just move with us.
And gosh, those Chicago Style Hot Dogs sound divine.
It's just one of those things where the combination of flavors just works (like a Poor Boy, mmmm!). And the ketchup thing is important. People expect ketchup (or catsup?) on a hot dog, but it just ruins the combination of flavors in a Chicago dog. Some gastronome explained it in technical terms. But as Chicago columnist Mike Royko pointed out, there's nothing wrong with ketchup on a hot dog, if that's what you want. Just don't call it a Chicago-Style dog if you put ketchup on it - that's just wrong.
Catsup vs. Ketchup: What’s the Difference? - Writing Explained
This graph charts the use of ketchup vs. catsup over time, and, as you can see, ketchup is used much more frequently than is catsup. If you are a writer in any English speaking country today, ketchup is the spelling you will want to use.
-ERD50