prime. A LIFESTYLE RESOURCE • AUGUST 2014
JUSTICE FOR ALL Sharon Bennett: trailblazer for women in law enforcement
60-SOMETHING
Cute to creepy
PARKOUR
For all ages
60-something.
The Uncanny Valley
of Discombobulation We all know about the “Valley of the Shadow of Death” where we shall fear no evil. But what about the “Uncanny Valley of Discombobulation”? Shall we be fearless there as we navigate the precipice? Having slipped into the valley and clawed my way up the jagged cliffs, I’m here to report that we shall all escape, unnerved, if not unscathed. Grandparents, beware! You live on cliff, a spit, a mesa, a batholith. One misstep, down you go.
T
he Uncanny Valley refers to a fine line between “cute” and “creepy.” Scientists first noticed this when people confronted human-like robots. When the robots looked clearly like robots, people thought they were “cute.” When the robots were designed to be more and more like humans, folks thought they were kind of “creepy.” Researchers called the graphed moment when “cute” started looking “creepy”—the Uncanny Valley. Remember Mr. Bill, years ago from “Saturday Night Live”—a cute little doll getting bashed up— kind of creepy. Buxom, sexualized Pez dispensers. “Hello Kitty” getting hit by a truck. In Japan they call it “kimo-kawaii,” which translates to “gross cute” and seems to be a backlash to decades of adorably cute marketing icons. My discovery of the Uncanny Valley occurred at the scene of my granddaughter’s fifth birthday party. Several months ago the perfect 4.75-yearsold child took me aside and said, “Nana can I have my birthday party at your place?” Not since my son asked if he could get married out here in Northwest Indiana have I been so thrilled. Or frankly, so nuts. The child said she wanted an “Elsa” party on the beach. If you’re immune to everything animated and Walt Disney (as I was for years), you wouldn’t know that “Elsa” is the star of “Frozen.” It’s an animated film, with a subplot of repressed power and sibling rivalry, incorporating catchy songs, which apparently enraptured all the five- year-old (4.75, too) girls in America. When Nana went looking for “Frozen” party trappings, she could find none. “Frozen” was the highest-grossing animated film of all time, sold
more dolls and other licensed goods than anyone else. Nobody around here even had ice-blue party plates. The blue “Elsa” dress, that Perfect Granddaughter wanted, sold for more than $1,000 on EBay. What’s Nana to do? I hate to admit it, but I went to Hobby Lobby. Turns out they have aisles and aisles of DENISE DECLUE kitschy party doo-dads. No “Elsa,” but they had “Ladybugs”--cute little black and red critters, with polka-dots, which to my demented mind (half an hour in the Hobby Lobby will do that do you) looked kind of classy. “Ladybugs” also didn’t represent any corporate brand that Nana recognized, were completely asexual, and fell into the “generic art” category: Those ladybugs remind us of nothing at all. Perfect for a five-year-old. Unless they tumble into the Uncanny Valley. So. . .Nana bought all the Ladybug stuff. Invitations, plates, smaller plates, hanging objects, expandable ladybug signs, napkins, cups, table decorators, crepe paper, party tape and the coup de Nana—a
Ladybugs can be cute or creepy, especially on a birthday cake. 2 |||||| PRIME ||||| July 15, 2014
ladybug red net tutu with black spots and a little spotted pointed hat! Ever-the-modest Nana then found ballet tops and spandex pants for undertutu glamour. The stuff was so cool, the Nana even showed it off to friends stopping by. Then, the unknowing foot slid into the Uncanny Valley without knowing it at all. Nana ordered a birthday cake--layers of chocolate and raspberry and whipped cream icing. And she asked especially if the decorator could put ladybugs on it. Oh yes, she could! Party day approached, and Nana brought the cake home in a box and put it in the fridge. Dad distracted Perfect Grandchild taking her to the park, and the Nana and the daughter-in-law decorated the table, the walls, the ceiling, and assembled the presents. When the big moment came, we opened the cake box. There were ladybugs all right—swarming artistically in red and black across the cake. Dappled in unusual places. Spots and all. But there was something odd about those bugs. They had legs. A lot of legs. Every single one of them had at least six legs. They looked like crawly things you find in the basement. We made the best of it, and the child was thrilled and looked adorable in Nana’s ladybug get-up. But we all knew we’d tripped into the Uncanny Valley. Next year I’m going to get it right: I’m thinking bumble bees. What could possibly go wrong? THINKSTOCK A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.
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July 15, 2014 |||||| PRIME |||||| 3
cover story.
JUSTICE FOR ALL Female sheriff’s commander forged her way in a man’s world, mentoring other womEn and youth
L
he has been impressed by her dedication to law enforcement from those early days throughout her entire career. ake County Sheriff’s “She has been involved in Commander Sharon Bennett’s organizations that provide scholarships law enforcement career has spanned 37 years. During that and mentoring opportunities for local students,” Buncich says. “While working time she has accomplished as a security officer for the Star Plaza much: establishing a departmental unit to aid victims of crime; Theater in Merrillville for more than 20 mentoring many area youth; and being an years, Sharon was quickly promoted to advocate for female colleagues in a male- Security and Front of the House Manager. She hired and trained police officers dominated profession. At age 20, Bennett worked as a security in celebrity security procedures. Her contribution as a law enforcement leader officer at Zayre Department Store on was a priority for her as she mentored and Ridge Road in Calumet Township. “I had never seen a Lake County police hired hundreds of first time job holders from area high schools and colleges. These officer prior to that time and I made student employees developed life skills inquiries about female officers,” Bennett that have helped them achieve positions says. “I was told by Lake County Officer in law enforcement, as well as corporate George Droza that his department didn’t have any women officers on the road only executives, attorneys, and hospitality managers, just to name a few.” a couple of ‘matrons’ who were assigned Initially, there was a significant to jail duty. Officer Droza encouraged inequality between the few female officers me to apply and insisted I was the right and the males in the police department, person for this job.” Bennett says. Bennett says she had many mentors “The female officers were assigned both male and female. to radio dispatch, juvenile division and “Robbie Floyd was the first women ‘women’s issues,’” Bennett says. “The to be a sworn merit Lake County Police Officer,” Bennett says. “I was in awe of her women were under estimated in their abilities and were prohibited from full and motivated by everything she taught participation in the field.” me. Robbie had this strong powerful Bennett says the gender gap has fallen persona but she always emphasized that slowly. She says early in her career she although folks are locked up and in jail, was not afforded the same opportunities you treat them with the same respect as as many of her male colleagues. you would want to be treated.” “I believe the public moved quicker Bennett says she has adopted Floyd’s in changing their attitude towards philosophy as her own. Two jail supervisors, Daryl Longfellow police women,” Bennett says. “Most departments have female officers and and John Buncich, the current Lake more are being hired all the time.” County Sheriff, were unafraid to assign Bennett says there is a tremendous female officers to non- traditional need for women in law enforcement assignments, Bennett says. “These two men along, with Detective because of their ability to resolve issues with good communication skills and not Paul Patton would become instrumental physical aggression. in the majority of my career decisions,” Tony V. Martin “Statistics show that women in law Bennett says. enforcement are more successful in that Commander Sharon A. Bennett works with the Special Victim’s Unit as part Buncich, who was Bennett’s sergeant area,” Bennett says. when she entered law enforcement, says of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
Diane Poulton
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orthopaedic specialists
of Northwest Indiana
“Oxinium” -- The Ceramic Metal
Commander Bennett works with Buddy the comfort dog. Bennett says her proudest accomplishment has been her work with the Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Unit which evolved into the Special Victims’ Unit. “In 1995, the newly established Domestic Violence Unit began as a one detective unit, just me,” Bennett says. “Under my command it has evolved into its own criminal investigations entity. The Special Victims’ Unit division has advanced into a county-wide forensic interviewing unit, utilized by police agencies and the Department of Child Services. Detectives investigate crimes of child maltreatment, sexual assault, elder abuse, human trafficking and provide the services of a comfort dog.” A graduate of Gary’s Horace Mann High School, Calumet College of St. Joseph and the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Bennett’s other certifications include: jail management, instructor development, homeland security courses and numerous continuing education seminars and conferences. Bennett says the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Star Plaza Theatre gave her the opportunity to influence the lives of young people, which has been the most touching part of her career. “Often I see youths around the community,” Bennett says. “They share what a positive impact they had working with me and consider me a mentor. When I run into someone who has made changes in their life or perhaps it was someone I hired for their first job, it is awesome to hear their success stories.” Bennett finds time in her busy schedule for her hobbies of photography, gardening and scrapbooking. “And I’m an undercover party 5 |||||| PRIME ||||| July 15, 2014
TONY V. MARTIN
decorator,” Bennett says. She is committed to her community and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, AFL-CIO Police Union, South Shore Leadership Center-Leadership Northwest Indian Class 34, St. Jude House Development Board, Lake County Fair Board, Lake County Child Fatality Review Team, Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, Lake County Child Protection Team, Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault Board, Lake County Task Force on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and Northwest Indiana Community Action Advisory Board. Lake County Sheriff spokesperson Patricia VanTil has worked with Bennett on the job and on many committees. “The work that Sharon Bennett has done in the area of women’s and children’s issues has made a difference not only in the lives of those she’s touched, but through sharing and educating other professionals they have been able to better serve our community as we’ll,” VanTil says. “She has been a dedicated police officer in these issues.” Over the years, Bennett has seen education has become a priority for law enforcement officers and women receiving more respect. “Women are respected as professionals in the field more than ever,” Bennett says. “There have been more promotional opportunities, less sexual harassment and less gender discrimination.” Bennett advises women to pursue this career choice. “There is a huge need for women in law enforcement in all areas,” Bennett says. “The challenges are still there but the barriers are less than ever before.”
As technology has advanced, researchers have looked to newer materials that might last longer in hip and knee replacements. The original materials used were metals that mimicked the mixture of strength and flexibility of healthy bone. Currently Titanium alloys are used to interdigitate with the bone of the hip because they match that similarity to bone. The interface that rubs on the joint needs different properties, because the materials that rub together have to be extremely hard but durable. As successful as hip and knee replacements have become, this procedure was initially restricted to patients with severe arthritis at older ages because of concerns that the implants would wear out over 10 years, leading to a more complex revision surgery. As the baby boomer population aged, work continued to try to lessen the failure rate from particle wear which can happen on either the metal or plastic side of the replacement joint.
New Techniques in Joint Replacement “If the components could last longer, then even younger patients could be considered for hip and knee replacement treatment options.” The metal side of the joint replacement has traditionally been an alloy of Cobalt and Chrome, which is extremely hard (harder than Titanium or Stainless Steel) making it resistant to wear over time. Gradually, the Cobalt-Chrome can develop microscopic scratches which don’t significantly affect the metal itself but leads to wear on the polyethylene plastic side of the joint over time. In the search for materials that can last longer than our previous options, aluminum ceramic surfaces were developed. This ceramic material is also extremely hard but has almost no wear over time, making it a good consideration for younger patients with severe arthritis considering hip or knee replacement surgery.
ARTHRITIS UPDATE:
ADVANCES IN JOINT REPLACEMENT ♦ Residency/Training: Univ. of Chicago ♦ Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons (ABOS) ♦ Member American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)
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Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana 730-45th Street, Munster, IN 46321 www.josephhechtmd.com
Phone 219-924-3300 Fax (219) 922-5424
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active.
Seniors learn ‘parkour,’ sport of daredevil youths pacemaker. “Every single technique in parkour can be changed so that anyone can do it,” says Jade On a recent morning in Shaw, artistic director of Parkour London, Lara Thomson practiced Dance, who teaches the class. The spinning on benches, swinging parkour sessions initially began as from metal bars and balancing a pilot project last year and Shaw off raised ledges — all elements is hoping to get more funding of a daredevil discipline known as to expand it further. For now, “parkour.” the classes are free and held at a What was unusual about the Tibetan Buddhist center in South scene is that Thomson is 79 and London. all of her classmates are over 60. “I think it’s very beneficial They are members of a unique and I’m hoping we’ll soon have a weekly class for seniors in a lot more older people bouncing sport more commonly known around the parks,” she says. for gravity-defying jumps than David Terrace, a health and helping people with arthritis. fitness expert for the charity Invented in the 1980s in Age U.K., says any efforts to France, parkour is a sport usually get older people more active favored by extremely nimble should be welcomed. He says people who move freely through adaptations have been made to any terrain using their own other sports to help the elderly strength and flexibility, often exercise more, such as turning using urban environments such soccer into walking soccer and as benches, buildings and walls as building customized boats to a type of obstacle course. It’s also accommodate wheelchairs for known as free running. sailing. The London parkour class of “There’s no age limit for about a dozen students is taught by two instructors who have AP PHOTO, LEFTERIS PITARAKIS exercise, it’s just about the individual and what they feel adapted the sport’s main elements George Jackson, 85, an army veteran and former boxer swings on monkey bars as he comfortable doing,” he says. to a level that can be handled participates at a parkour class for elderly people at a park in south London. “I really enjoy At 85, George Jackson is the even by those over 60 who have it and wish I could do more,” said Jackson, the class’ oldest participant. The unique weekly oldest participant in the London replacement joints or other class for people over 60 called parkour, a flashy discipline usually known for its acrobatic parkour class. medical conditions. running, climbing and gravity-defying jumps. “I really enjoy it and wish I “I wondered whether it was a could do more,” says Jackson, an government plot to get rid of old army veteran and former boxer. problems and warned anyone Sport, Exercise and Health at activities such as dance or people when I heard about the “I just sometimes forget how old with a joint replacement or University College London. He yoga, experts say parkour is a class,” Thomson jokes. She said I am and that I can’t do certain muscle weakness should be reasonable, if unorthodox, option. is not connected to the program. she has balance problems and things.” “But when you look at the things careful. “When I first heard about that the class helps her feel more He said he struggles with The parkour instructors say they’re doing, it’s actually quite this, I had a picture in my mind confident about getting around. everyone who takes the class fills a swollen ankle and knee but gentle and could increase their of elderly people jumping off of “Being able to get outside and that the class has helped. “I was out a health form and they are strength and flexibility to help walls and I thought there was no do silly things like hugging trees limping around before and now I particularly careful to dissuade them with their daily activities.” way this could be appropriate,” is great,” she says, referring to a can walk straight,” Jackson says. participants from doing too Still, Paton says parkour says Bruce Paton, a physical stretching exercise. “But I still don’t plan to jump off much; several students have could potentially be dangerous therapist who works with While most fitness classes of anything higher than a bench.” artificial joints, arthritis or a for people with serious heart the elderly at the Institute of aimed at seniors focus on calmer MARIA CHENG AP MEDICAL WRITER
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photo finish.
JOHN NIEMANN First Place: “Gas Brazing” by John Niemann. The photo was taken with Nikon FM2 35-70 lens at f/5.5 using Kodachrome 64 and scanned digital.
TRACI O’DONNELL Second Place: “You know who is in charge” by Traci O’Donnell
CHRISTINA GULBRANDSEN Third Place: “A Touch of Italy” by Christina Gulbrandsen. “These grape vines are over one hundred years old. They were brought from Italy to America by my grandmother’s father,” she says.
ARE YOU A PHOTOGRAPHY ADDICT? Do you carry your camera with you wherever you go, looking for the perfect shot? If so, send your photos in to prime@ nwi.com and you will be entered for a chance to see your photos in an upcoming edition of Prime. The photos should be no larger than 4 MB in jpeg format. Please provide your full name, address, telephone number and caption information for the photo. Good luck, and happy shooting!
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