I should have written this one at the beginning of Summer...
Why do people love Summer? Often I kid that people are wrong, but this time I am serious. People are wrong about loving Summer. Heat related deaths according to NOAA in 2010? 138. Cold and winter- two separate categories that I combined into one- combined? 76. Then add rip current deaths- I assume most happen in the Summer- 64 and that brings Summer's count to 202. Well more than twice cold and Winter.
Why then does the government help people pay their electric bill in the Winter to supply heat and landlords MUST by law supply heat 6 months a year, but there are NO such programs for air conditioning in the Summer?
It boggles my mind. Heat kills even in France there is only so much clothing you can take off in the Summer. In the Winter if you're cold you can put on another layer.
Most people are most comfortable when its in the 70's outside. Lets do a little math. Lets say the ideal temperature is 70- most people prefer a little warmer for some reason. The record high for New York City, where 18 million people live in and around, is 106. That's 36 degrees above 70. 100+ degrees is DEADLY. Lets subtract 36 degrees from 70 and you get 34, not even freezing. NOT DEADLY.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
One of my favorites
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED
The 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!
The 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Heat? What heat? (Life Lessons from My Son)
The last several days (actually a couple of years now, but its gotten worse) our air conditioner has not been working. None of us, not I nor Kerri nor Yosh, like the heat. My wife and I are miserable. My son, my 9 year old son who has Down Syndrome, is acting as cute as ever. He continues to laugh and give high fives and sing and dance. It's like its 70 degrees in the house instead of close to 90.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Lessons from last week and Parshas Pinichas
Was it a coincidence that the events of last week occurred during the week of Parshas Pinichas? I don't believe in coincidence.
Pinichas has been compared to Eliyahu, the harbinger of Moshiach. Some Miforshim even go so far as to say that they are one and the same person. What trait are they both known for? Ahavas Israel. They put themselves in danger to create Ahavas Israel. We have an opportunity following the 8,000 plus acts of ultimate kindness, of people coming to Leiby's funeral, to continue that and maybe, just maybe turn this Tisha B'Av around. What destroyed the Bais HaMikdosh? Sinas Chinim. what can bring it back to us? Ahavas Chinim. All it takes is one act... spread the word.
Pinichas has been compared to Eliyahu, the harbinger of Moshiach. Some Miforshim even go so far as to say that they are one and the same person. What trait are they both known for? Ahavas Israel. They put themselves in danger to create Ahavas Israel. We have an opportunity following the 8,000 plus acts of ultimate kindness, of people coming to Leiby's funeral, to continue that and maybe, just maybe turn this Tisha B'Av around. What destroyed the Bais HaMikdosh? Sinas Chinim. what can bring it back to us? Ahavas Chinim. All it takes is one act... spread the word.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Two quick thoughts
If nature abhors a vacuum, how come over 99.99% of the multiverse is vacuum?
Why do people insist on putting the water on full blast when they water their lawn and end up getting more water on the sidewalk and street than on their lawn?
Why do people insist on putting the water on full blast when they water their lawn and end up getting more water on the sidewalk and street than on their lawn?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Book publishers vs Hollywood
I don't know how accurate this is but... it seems to me that Hollywood is more into book publishing than book publishers are into movie production. What I mean is a lot of movies and tv shows have novels based on the concept. A great example would be Star Wars. Go to the sci fi section of any book store and you will see a ton of novels set in the Star Wars Universe. Yet, you don't see nearly as often New York Times best selling authors books made into movies or tv shows- at least not good movies and shows and certainly not on a consistent basis. An example would be John Saul. His books are ALWAYS best sellers, yet no movies or tv shows. His Blackstone Chronicles is just begging to be made into a mini series.
Why can movie production companies hire top name authors but book publishers can't hire top name directors?
Why can movie production companies hire top name authors but book publishers can't hire top name directors?
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July and Independence Day (Warning: this post is Rated R)
Ever wonder why its not called Freedom Day?...
Anyway I was on Facebook this morning and my Cousin Once Removed posted this ... http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/06/30/violence_sex
Thanx Jess
I have often wondered why sex is considered MUCH more obscene than violence. The PG rating of the MPAA system states the movie may contain violence or brief nudity- usually someone may throw a punch or you might see the unclothed back of a woman.
Now lets consider R rated movies. How much cursing and violence take place in those movies? LOTS. How much nudity and/or sex? Usually a lot less otherwise it would get an NC-17 rating.
My personal opinion? Be fruitful and multiply and live and let live.
Anyway I was on Facebook this morning and my Cousin Once Removed posted this ... http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/06/30/violence_sex
Thanx Jess
I have often wondered why sex is considered MUCH more obscene than violence. The PG rating of the MPAA system states the movie may contain violence or brief nudity- usually someone may throw a punch or you might see the unclothed back of a woman.
Now lets consider R rated movies. How much cursing and violence take place in those movies? LOTS. How much nudity and/or sex? Usually a lot less otherwise it would get an NC-17 rating.
My personal opinion? Be fruitful and multiply and live and let live.
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