Monday, October 31, 2016
Smoke At Work
People should never get exposed
to hazardous fumes at work, but sometimes it comes with the job. It can lead to major health issues later on in life.
While doing an errand today, I encountered a group
of workers repaving a parking lot. The smell of asphalt was very heavy in the air. These guys breathe this in all day. It's
part of their job, but it doesn't mean it's right.
One
worker looked indifferent to it all as he used a rake on the asphalt while smoking a cigarette. He was getting
a double-dose of deadly fumes.
11:07 pm edt
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Always Made In China
Everything seems to be made in China. It has become
an issue in the Presidential campaign with our trade imbalance.
There was a story in the news tonight about Halloween masks for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It only
seems natural that they are made in China. That's how they keep the retail cost down.
11:03 pm edt
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Wait Until Elelction Day
I have mixed feelings about
the options in some states to vote early in this election. I wonder what type of influence it will have on the final
outcome.
It's great
to see the voter turnout. I think every American should make an effort to vote if they can.
I will wait until election day. In years past, I have been
out of town for some elections and used an absentee ballot.
There should be a thorough study done on this after the election to see if this should be an option
in the future.
10:33 pm edt
Friday, October 28, 2016
The Long Weekend
It's the beginning of Halloween weekend. I have never been
into this so-called holiday. I think it's a waste of time and money.
It's obviously me because it's a big industry in America,
with adults and children embracing it.
Maybe
if I had kids, it would be different. There will be parties all over the place, but I won't be part of it.
9:24 pm edt
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Finish The Road First
I was reading some interviews with various New Hampshire
political candidates and their thoughts about a rail link between southern New Hampshire and Boston.
This sounds like a wonderful idea, but it will never be built. The cost would be staggering. Who
would cover the cost? One candidate wanted the rail company to pay for it. Someone needs to tell them that there is no company
yet.
Everyone wants to advocate for more rail lines, but nobody
wants to pay or have them in the neighborhood. The state is struggling to build and pay for the expansion of Rt 93. The commuter
rail should not even be on a dream list.
11:49 am edt
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Selling Too Soon
Concert tickets cost way too
much money. The acoustics in large venues are not always the best. I find it outrageous that some performers start selling
tickets almost a year in advance.
They
know that the show will sell out quickly. In some cases, that's a ton of money earning interest for the promoter or whoever
has their hands on it.
So
much can happen a year from now.There is no guarantee that the performer or audience members will even be around.
5:32 pm edt
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
The Shrinking Window
It was in the 40's today and windy. It felt so cold when I ran in the late morning. I wore a hood for the first time.
It's the start of a long season of cold running.
I played golf in the afternoon and it was cold. It wasn't the
best conditions to play. I wore so many layers on to keep me warm.
Hopefully, I will play a few more times before the golf season
ends. It's a small window at this point.
11:13 pm edt
Monday, October 24, 2016
Going For 42
A former co-worker who I've known for almost 40 years posted
a comment on Facebook about her pending retirement. She was questioning whether she should stay another year and max
out her pension at 80%. It would make a difference of $200 a month in her check.
She drew a vast array of comments. I sent her a private message with my own. It's a decision only
she can make. It was interesting to see her put her thoughts out there.
Retirement is a very individual choice, influenced by a number of factors.
10:20 pm edt
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Stay With Five
I bought my Samsung Galaxy 5 phone over two years ago. I'm eligible for an upgrade, but I think I'll
sit tight. I have been very satisfied with it. There is so much I don't know about it and probably never will.
Ironically, I could've bought a Samsung 7. I'm so glad I never did. They are taking a huge financial hit with the battery problem
in the phone.
9:54 pm edt
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Never To be Built
One of the biggest jokes is
the involvement of a local Congressman in the attempt to build a train link between North and South Stations in Boston. It
would allow for uninterrupted train service between Maine and Washington DC. It doesn't make sense that there is a two mile
gap in downtown Boston, but it has been like that forever.
The biggest farce is the cost. Most estimates have it pegged at $8 billion. He said it could
be done for $2 billion. I don't believe that for one second.
If it ever gets done, and that it highly unlikely, it will be over $10 billion. They don't even have
any drawings for it.
5:20 pm edt
Friday, October 21, 2016
No To Halloween
A public school in Connecticut
is eliminating their annual Halloween costume parade and related events for children. Officials cited safety concerns.
I fully support this idea and feel that Halloween has
no place in schools. The education system performs poorly enough in America without wasting valuable classroom time on
frivolous matters.
Parents
are upset because they want to be part of it. They are part of the problem because many of them want to be in costume. This
is so crazy in light of the recent clown issue across the country.
We wold be better off as a nation if schools spent more time educating children rather than
having ridiculous parties.
7:00 pm edt
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Watching The Band
Sports watches are relatively
inexpensive, but the band breaks before anything else happens. Batteries don't last as long as they should.
My band is now held together by a safety pin and duck tape.
It fits terrible around my wrist. If I wear a warm-up jacket, I put it in the pocket.
For some reason I cannot find the replacement for my TIMEX
Ironman. I don't want to order one that might fit. I need to get it right the first time.
It might be easier to go to Walmart and buy another new
one for $35.
9:19 pm edt
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
A Night For The Candidates
It's less than ten minutes before the third and final Presidential
debate. It will get crazy between Hillary and Donald.
I was struck by a comment on Facebook that showed total lack of knowledge of civics in America. I realize
that it's not part of the curriculum in schools.
People have some real strange and ignorant comments about the political system.
8:52 pm edt
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Not Ready To Pick
I have never gone apple picking
and have no plans in the future. How many apples can you eat before they spoil? I don't do pies or desserts.
It seems to be pretty popular this time of year. I saw some
photos on Facebook and was surprised to see how many apples end up on the ground. What happens to them? Do they go to waste?
What about the ones left on the trees?
I guess I will never really know.
7:22 pm edt
Monday, October 17, 2016
Everyone Gets A Diploma
There is news that the national high school graduation rate
is now 83.2%. That sounds impressive and good news, but there is another story behind it.
The curriculum has been dumbed down to the point where kids gets social promotions. It seems like
if a kid goes to school, they will graduate. Nobody is being denied a diploma if they showed up. Their performance doesn't
matter.
The inferior education that many kids get is being reflected
in the amount of remedial courses needed by students at community colleges.
Kids need a diploma to get anywhere in the working world. There are still too many that fall through
the cracks and never get one.
7:06 pm edt
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Those Boring People
The world is full of boring
people. They go on Facebook and tell the world that they are bored. That is their current status. If you say you're bored,
you must be a boring person.
I
read one update from someone who listed all of the reasons they were bored. Others commented that they were bored too.
These people don't have enough interests in life. It's
so lame for them to admit this publicly.
5:46 pm edt
Friday, October 14, 2016
Ready To Break
A library of a nearby community is lending its members a
portable telescope. Officials greeted it with excitement, but is this really a good idea?
What measures have been taken to ensure the device isn't broken by a user?
I have no doubt that it won't last long. Accidents and
carelessness are a way of life for some people.
6:12 pm edt
Thursday, October 13, 2016
All Don't Wear Belts
It was interesting to read
the analysis of seat-belt use by drivers in Massachusetts. For 2015, it was 78.2% compared to 74% last year and 67% in 2006.
The nation's overall rate is 88.5%. The Bay State is
48th on the list, trailing only New Hampshire and North Dakota.
A total of 34 states allow police officers to stop drivers for not wearing a belt. Massachusetts
mandates that a stop occur for another violation. The belt is secondary.
There is no doubt that seat-belts save lives. There are periodic stories where the belt contributes
to a fatality, but those instances are rare.
There is always the issue of the government mandating you to wear it. This strikes against personal
freedom and choice. Many don't wear them because of that.
9:10 pm edt
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
October Being Cool
It's a real challenge to wear
the right amount of clothing this time of the year. It doesn't matter if I'm running or just doing things.
I thought I dressed right to play golf this afternoon, but
I put on a light jacket after a breeze picked up. I never felt hot at any moment today.
That won't happen again until next spring for me.
10:31 pm edt
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Some Brush It Off
I have a dental appointment
later on today. It's for a cleaning and exam. The last time, I had a cavity under an old filling. That didn't surprise me
because my fillings are so old.
I floss after every meal. It really helps with my gum health. If you get a problem with them, it will
certainly effect your teeth in a big way.
So many people are missing teeth. Dental health is a big problem in this country. Some people don't
even brush daily. They are not about to start flossing.
10:50 am edt
Monday, October 10, 2016
Sweater Season
I already turned on my heat other day. I finally started
to wear sweaters when I go out. The time has come to put away the polo shirts until next year.
The next step will be to wear my winter coat. We have not
reached that point with the weather, but it's only a matter of time.
9:04 pm edt
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Debate 2
The second Presidential Debate begins very shortly. A large
part of America will be watching to see what the candidates have to say.
So much is at stake for both of them. Recent events will be raised. How will they react?
Voters are seeing history being made between these two
candidates, for better or worse.
8:47 pm edt
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Not Listening Anywhere
I heard a radio commercial about audio-books. I would never
use them while running outside or doing things at home.
I know someone who listens to them while driving. That would be too distracting for me.
People need to stay focused when they drive. Music or the
news is good enough for me.
10:10 pm edt
Friday, October 7, 2016
Field of Bad Decisions
A local community has only itself to blame after allowing
a festival to use its stadium and ruin their field turf and running track. It was a foolish idea to rent the venue for a concert.
The field was littered with broken glass and trash. Organizers erected tents on the field and
track. They pounded stakes into both and caused great damage.
The mayor says the field and track will need to be replaced to the tune of $850,000. He plans to go after
the festival organizers and make them pay.
Good luck with that. This situation has all the makings of a protracted legal battle with neither side being
happy with the result.
Someone should have spoken up to ensure that the stadium
was not used for this type of activity. The field and track surfaces were damaged beyond repair.
2:11 pm edt
Thursday, October 6, 2016
The Train Will Never Leave
I find it hard to believe
the latest expansion plans of the MBTA and their Orange Line. This is the project that will never be built because costs continue
to spiral out of control.
Their
latest proposal is to extend the line to a stop near the new casino being built in Everett. They say it could open in seven
years at a cost of $85-95 million.
There
is no way it will be built in this time-frame or at cost.
12:12 am edt
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Never A Good Time
It sounds like Hurricane Matthew
will give Florida a real pounding in the next couple of days. It's a Category 3 storm with tremendous winds.
I have only visited Florida once. It was at the end of October
which is still in the hurricane season.
It's very difficult to plan a trip there once the storm season starts. It would be foolish to make long range
plans and then have them effected by a hurricane.
I'm in no hurry to get back there.
11:14 pm edt
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Driving Technology
It's hard to believe
that Ford and BMW plan to sell driver-less cars by 2021. The technology
is rapidly evolving, but are Americans really ready for this?
What is the future of driver-less cars? One economic report said that 5 million American
jobs involve drivers of vehicles. Will those jobs disappear?
It's hard to believe that we could ever get to a point
where people don't drive cars, but who ever thought that a telephone could become a computer and camera.
11:02 pm edt
Monday, October 3, 2016
Greetings With Dismay
Animal rights groups make
many good points, but they can get really carried away. The latest involves a series of greeting cards sold by Hallmark which
depict smiling chimpanzees.
Apparently,
the group says the chimps are abused by being forced to smile. They claim that it is done out of fear as they are separated
from their mothers at birth.
I
don't know if this is true, but the same thought process goes into the objection of removing wild animals and birds from airport
runways. There is no way that airplanes can coexist with them.
6:39 pm edt
Sunday, October 2, 2016
The Geese Always Win
Politicians are filled with talk and no action. We
see that on every level of government.
The Boston City Council plans to take on the problem of Canadian Geese fouling public parks and playing fields.
They are a real nuisance. People don't help by feeding them.
Years ago, they were put on the protected species list. Now, they are out of control with no end
in sight. They love grassy places. It doesn't matter if it's a golf course, public space or private property.
People don't want to admit that they need an aggressive
plan to deal with them. Politicians will express their outrage, but the geese will keep leaving their messes behind for
us to deal with.
4:38 pm edt