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Show CIiron'icU MowdAy, Paqe Eiqtu My2, 198 ACCENT 'Great Ziggy' the wizard He laces education with a little magic classes help form his checkered backart ground. But so does a and a no golf money in it") major ('There's class this quarter. In fact, Peacock describes himself as a "staff member with a few classes under my belt" He thinks of one day graduating, but it By Darren Hawkins Chronicle feature editor now-defun- ct All is darkness. A low sound permeates the tension-fille- d air. Unrecognizable at first, the sound gains momentum and volume until it bursts full force into the theme from Star Wars. Seconds later, the once-impenetrab- doesn't worry him. Peacock, who came to Salt Lake Qty in 1967, didn't get around to starting college until he was 29 years old. le black is pierced by two rays of white And even though he hasn't graduated, he is much more a teacher than a student. Kids in college love him. Kids in elementary schools love him. Teachers and professors love him. He leaves memories because his demonstrations are so unforgettable. Peacock stresses the importance of science and math with his audiences, telling them the subjects can be easily understood and fun to learn. They readily believe him, especially the fun part. Few children will ever forget one of Peacock's demonstrations on the laws of gravity. A huge air gun overhangs the where Peacock peramphitheatre-rooforms his physics wizardry. A "Beat BYU" sticker on one end gives some clue as to what will happen. At first, Peacock hangs a plastic ball from one end of the room, releasing it mechanically at the same time a giant bullet is shot from the gun. The two collide and tumble safely to the floor. Then he pulls out a stuffed BYU cougar to the delight and dismay of the clamorous and partisan audience. Each time, the cougar is shot. It never escapes the light, eerily illuminating a modern-da- y wizard wielding two shimmering rods. Blue electricity streams from one of them, dancing in colorful patterns, while the other remains poised above his head, a ready weapon. His audience shrieks, laughs, screams, claps and whistles. The incredible demonstration has left them in ecstacy. Then, abruptly as it began, all is returned to darkness. Lights flicker on and the "Jedi Wizard" takes his bows as the elementary school children continue to applaud him wildly. They don't want to go back to school. They just want to see more amazing feats. Their hero for the moment is Zigmund "Ziggy" Peacock, an otherwise ordinary staff member and student at the University of Utah. A lab assistant with the physics department, Peacock's job is to devise and carry out physics demonstrations. He amazes not only young children, but also wows U. students regularly. Students taking the liberal education m class Physics of Hi-get a quick introduction to Peacock when, on the second day of class, he puts his wizardry to use in laws of science. Peacock delights in shooting the cougar. knocking down 1,000 dominoes, setting off He tells, in a style near bragging, how he a bewildering array of lights and actions. received a parking ticket at the BYU bookBut Peacock is in his prime when perstore when he bought it. His favorite part of before school as kids, elementary forming the story is that the Y. didn't make him pay he does once every few weeks. And Friday, he was totally in control of the ticket. He was even allowed to keep the his audience. His Jedi display was so ticket as proof he was daring enough to step impressive it even blew the tubes of the on Cougarville Campus one day. More than almost anything, Peacock KSL camera filming the demonstration. "I got great shots," the cameraman said loves the U. and his job. He enjoys tinkeras he joked with Peacock about billing ing with his demonstrations and takes him for blown tubes. "But I don't know if pleasure in entertaining while teaching. And while the Great Ziggy admits to my camera will ever be the same." The Great Ziggy, as school children some stage fright, the children certainly native of don't sense it. surely see him, is a for the In their view, anyone who can lay much doesn't care who England between two beds of nails, make a girl's math behind advanced physics. Don't get him wrong. To Peacock, math hair stand straight up, shatter rubber balls is of utmost importance. At the end of as if they were glass and make styrofoam each hour-lon- g demonstration he makes a fly as if it were possessed is Peacock thinks the shows are pretty for learning math in elementary pitch is so important in school because it himself, but for a different reason. almost any field. Because somehow, somewhere, some But a math and physics major day, he may just fire the imagination of a Newton. Or an Einstein. Peacock isn't. One year of calculus and a few physics Or another Ziggy. Fi 1 soft-spok- ' " ) en A-O- K. all-rig- ht Chronicle photos by Jennifer Peterson . f-J- OHN PECORELLI- wizard Zigmund "Ziggy" Peacock uses elementary school volunteers to his amazing, flashy show of scientific experiments. complete U. Physics - Shoplifting requires a certain technique Note: This column does not condone theft. It merely reports on it objectively and goes into stunning detail as to how such crime is committed. This is not meant to be a shoplifter's how-t- o guide, rather it is meant to expose the methods used by these depraved souls . God knows university students don't have it easy with tuition, books, trying to make ends meet-w- hat clothes and numerfood, booze, records, rent, drugs, into necessities other ous play. coming And sometimes students just can't afford to actually pay for these goods, and there are times when mommy and daddy just won't foot the bill, either. So what do students do? Why, they steal, of course. And I have no qualms with tnis. In fact, it's almost a moral imperative to steal from Smith's, Albertson's, Sears and other capitalist swine basting in their own fat. It's not like these guys are hard up for money or anything. But let's take a closer look at the theft process itself, shall we? Clothing theft is fun and easy. You wear baggy garments into nearly any local department store. You take several shirts, pairs of pants, etc. into the change rooms. You put the store's clothes on under the ones you wore in and exit casually. One could easily acquire a full, new wardrobe in a matter of hours. Remember, if security spots you, get rid of the goods fast. They can't nab you if you don't leave the store with them. And if they do stop you after you've ditched the merchandise, count your blessings. You can make a bundle in court. Small-good- s shoplifting is most successful in the winter months, when thieves can sport heavy, spacious jackets and coats with lots of pockets. But don't get me wrong, free goodies are plentiful all year 'round. You just have to keep a few things in mind: 1) Don't get carried away. Steal a little at a time. Hit a lot of stores if you have to. The longer you stay in a store without purchasing, the more suspect you become. 2) Sometimes it's good to buy something cheap like a candy bar or a pack of cigarettes. Clerks won't suspect you as much. And depending on the value of the goods stolen, it can be a good investment. Always remember, looks are important when If stealing. Try to seem confident and clerks see a quivering wreck in a great hurry to get out of the store, you can reckon on pig trouble. (I have a friend who can steal very large items in plain sight of all about the look on your face," sez she.) security-'T- t's There are many, many other methods of shoplifting, such as getting a friend to divert the clerk's attention while you make off with a case or two. But alas, I don't have enough space here to describe them all. (Perhaps column is in order.) a follow-u- p In any case, don't be afraid to steal. Penalties are mild for first offenders. And the more you steal, the better you get at it-- so the less you get caught. Repressive capitalist systems often force the underprivileged into actions such as theft. While these crimes are regrettable and to be condemned, we must learn to accept them as inevitable as long as unjust economic distributions persist. 3) self-assure-d. |
