Journey's in Journalism

In the airports I have been to in the last 7 years- nobody ever says, “the police are gonna get you.” But that is just how the lady on the intercom sounded, “Do not leave your baggage unattended…yada, yada… the Chicago Police.” Now maybe it’s just that Chicago sounds big and scary all on it’s own, but “contact Airport Security,” sounds much less intimidating. And come to think about it, I don’t know that is a good thing. Perhaps you have to already have the intimidation factor, who would quiver over “contact the Reno Police?” Images of Reno 911 quickly come to mind, short-shorts, anyone?
Apart from the impending doom of a massive police squad seizing my carry on personal bag (really it’s ok if this weeks J-720 book get stolen!) I have seen some unique and thought provoking, aspects of ‘sense of place.’
Somewhere between the remodeled 1980’s bathroom with the plastic self-changing toilet seat covers (that was such a random fad, wasn’t it?) and the cool mural-esq wood-bench artwork, was a little touch-screen kiosk. In Chicago, when the police aren’t coming after you, and the toilet seat is …secretly scrubbing, sanitizing and drying itself behind the commode , you can stand at an informational kiosk and have an interactive experience of how “Green” Chicago is. The little waist high stand reminding all airport patrons that Chicago cares about the land water and air. Too bad I was too busy looking for the potty and too nervous about placing my bags on the ground to stop and explore the Green Chicago that would have been displayed.
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