Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Some Enlightning Things About Lightning Strikes

Good Day World!

May lightning strike you if you don’t tell the truth!

That old phrase/threat went through my mind when I watched this video of a guy that was struck by lightning during Hurricane Harvey. 

Oddly, I also recall when the Pope resigned Feb. 2013, and lightning struck the Vatican on the same day!

The key to not getting hit by lightning is to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Before you hand me a cookie and tell me to go away with that seemingly stupid observation, let me explain: 
   
It doesn’t matter where you stand, what you wear or carry, the best thing to do is to avoid the locations where lightning can strike.


That sound better?

For example, anywhere outdoors or in unprotected structures. Let’s say you’re somewhere outside where there are no buildings to hide in.

A car (with a hard top of course) will protect you. A direct strike to your car will flow through the frame of the vehicle and usually jump over or through the tires to reach ground.

Note, I said usually. If you happen to be unlucky enough to touch the metal frame with your arm (or other body part) it could ruin your day.

Especially if you don’t get out of the vehicle and check it out. Fuel can be ignited by a strike and cause a fire or explosion.

Did you know it’s relatively rare for people to die from a lightning strike? Mary Ann Cooper, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, estimates that nine out of 10 people survive!

As a matter of fact there are so many survivors they’ve formed an organization: The Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors.

It’s even international. If you want to read some startling stories, look that group up. Many of them have been zapped more than once.

Make no mistake however, the small percent who do die adds up. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an estimated 24,000 people are killed worldwide each year.

Over the last 21 years, the United States averaged 51 lightning strike fatalities, according to NOAA, placing them second behind floods for weather killings. That should be eye-opening news for us all. Don’t underestimate them.

I’ve got a couple of medical terms dealing with lightning I bet you never heard of:

Keraunomedicine (study of lightning casualties and associated treatments), and Keraunopathy (the study of effects of lightning on the human body).

Illuminating as all of this information may be, being struck by lightning is not something most people worry about. That is unless you’re a statistic and this information comes too late for you!

For those of you who don’t think about being struck by lighting…bravo. There are lots of other

things to be more concerned about, I’m sure. Like where your next meal is coming from or if you can find a babysitter so you and your spouse can go out for a romantic dinner.

Forgive me for being so flippant about a subject that strikes terror into some people. Sometimes I can’t help myself.

I’ve never been struck by lightning (knock on wood!) nor have I ever met anyone who was. Like most of you, I’ve heard and read a lot of lightning strike stories, however.

One of my favorites is Frankenstein. Who can forget that tense moment when Dr. Frankenstein opened up the ceiling of his lab to allow a bolt of lightning to bring his monster to life?

Zap!He’s alive! He’s alive! He’s alive!”

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Monday, September 11, 2017

I know you may think so, but it's not the Apocalypse - Just Tough Times and Trump

Good Day World!

Hurricanes, earthquakes, major flooding, rumors of war with North Korea...

Hey! Wait a minute!

This all sounds a lot like the Apocalypse.

When I hear that MegaChurch Pastor/Televangelist, Paula White, say Trump is a man of repentance, I can't help flashing on all the end time talk lately.

FYI: Predictions about the end of the world have been going on since ancient times, so I'm not too concerned over our latest run of tough times.

In the news...

The White House is holding up to it's new tradition of a lie-a- day in grand style. This time, social media director, Dan Scavino informed the nation that Miami International Airport was flooded.

The truth is, the video Scavino shared with the world (and his boss Donny) was not a video of Miami - or even Hurricane Irma.

The White House had no comment. Are you surprised?

I'm also betting the video he shared of Trump and Pence sitting near a TV, ready to respond to any emergency 24/7, was as false as Trump's claim President Obama bugged Trump Tower.

I have to admit it's amusing watching Chief of Staff, Gen. John Kelly, drain the swamp in the West Wing. Watching Steve Bannon slither out the back door hissing at Kelly was perfect. 

His latest action, a wonderful "no-fly list" is a savvy move.

It's a list for his aides who previously wandered into meetings unannounced, and uninvited. The chief offender was aide Omarosa-Manigault.

Watching an adult walking around in the West Wing is a novel thing to witness in the Trump administration.

I can't help wondering when Donny gets tired of too much reality around him, what he'll do.

He can't just "duck walk" Gen. Kelly out of the Oval Office. The resulting backlash would be catastrophic for his already besieged administration.

It's time for me to walk on down the road...

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Be Happy! Life Is Too Short Not To Be


                                         Good Day World!

In this highly stressful society finding happiness can be a real challenge. The pressure of daily life – just making a living – has a way of harshing many people’s attitudes.

There’s a lot of good reasons to seek happiness. Sometimes people think happiness can be bought like any other commodity.

If your rich enough you can buy anything and not have to worry about where your next meal is coming from. It’s easier than the alternative.

Most of us struggle to make ends meet. But does that mean we can’t be happy.
In short, the latest research suggests wealth alone doesn’t provide any guarantee of a good life.

What matters a lot more than a big income is how people spend it.

For instance, giving money away makes people a lot happier than lavishing it on themselves. And when they do spend money on themselves, people are a lot happier when they use it for experiences like travel than for material goods.

Life experiences give us more lasting pleasure than material things, and yet people still often deny themselves experiences and prioritize buying material goods.

Extremely wealthy people have their own set of concerns: anxiety about their children, uncertainty over their relationships and fears of isolation, according to research by Robert Kenny, a developmental psychologist and senior advisor at the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College.

His research shows the rest of the world, who often think that if they just made one more bonus or sold one more item or got one more promotion, then their world and their family's world would be so much better, that this isn't necessarily true.

There's another whole level of concerns that parents are going to have about their kids. One of those concerns is this feeling of isolation. That's actually a No. one concern for families with a high net worth — this sense of isolation — and the higher the wealth, the worse it gets.

Yes, it’s easier being rich than poor. No one can deny that. But money isn’t necessary if you can enjoy the simple things in life, like going for a walk, laughing at a friends joke, or writing a poem.

Happiness has many sources if we allow ourselves to seek them out. I’m speaking from the experiences of over six decades in the quest to be happy. Your greatest happiness can come from living in a close family, and having lots of friends.

It’s an almost unbeatable combination when you boil everything down to the basics. Watching your daughter take her first step, or your son say his first words, can be more precious than all of the money in Ft. Knox.

10 Reasons Why Lazy People Are Actually The Happiest

What makes you happy?

Time for me to walk on down the road…
(This column first ran in As It Stands 2/7/15)

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Poison Politics: America Adrift In A Sea of Division

                
                         Good Day World!

The heyday of dirty politics is having a renaissance since the Trump regime moved into the White House.

Poisoned politics are now par for the course. Lots of lies. Alternative realities. Fake News. 

They all warp the minds of good people who willingly follow their party regardless of the cesspool they're making out of Democracy.

The snake-pit.  A voice with venom dripping from it spews hateful agendas from the Oval Office. 

Snake-bitten, Republican senators cower in their quarters, hoping Trump will magically disappear, or at least not tell a lie for one whole day.

Us vs Them. It gets murkier all the time.

Russia vs the USA. Right?

Except when Putin helped Trump get elected. 
Except for Trump's open adoration of Putin.
Except for Trump's obvious desire to do business with Communist Russia. 
Except for Donald Trump Jr.s meeting with Russian operatives where they told him how they could help his dad win.

Trump vs America

Our National Parks are under siege as Trumpies seek to loot their natural resources.

Our educational system is staggering under the lack of leadership from Betsy DeVos, a Trump appointee.

Our environment is under assault from the energy czars who see no need for regulations to protect our air and water.

Our standing among other nations has been diminished by Trump's stupid moves, like backing out of the Paris Climate Accord.

Let's face it. America is adrift in a sea of deviousness. We don't have a captain at the helm, and little idea of where we're going.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Friday, September 8, 2017

Story Time With "Return of As It Stands"

Good Day World!

Today, I'm sharing my second blog with you,


It's a real change of pace. I feature short stories with twist endings and surprises.

Stop by and have a drink at Dewey's Bar,


History won't tell you about the time Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday met the REAL fastest gun in the Old West...

  • A Stunning Showdown at Snake Junction

  • And 

  • The Day Racism Died in the World
  • How Logan ‘The Last Lizard Lord’ Saved Earth
  • The Mobster and The Tunnel



  • There's many more. All easy, fast reads, that will leave you thinking...and perhaps wanting more.

    Time for me to walk on down the road...

    Thursday, September 7, 2017

    The Buzz On How To Deal With Pesky Mosquitos

    Good Day World!

    The buzz today is about dealing with those pesky mosquitos that devil us, especially during this time of the year.

    First, I'd like to introduce the very latest in mosquito control (color me surprised):

    The Mosquito Away line of TVs being produced and marketed in India by electronic giant LG, has an ultrasonic component designed to repel mosquitos in it.

    Mosquitos are considered a major health hazard in India, where more than 10,500 cases of dengue fever were reported in New Delhi alone.

    You might want to look into getting one of those TVs, especially if you're a couch potato!

    Other ways of getting rid, or coping with mosquitos, is to wear clothes that are designed with biting insects in mind. Bite-proof clothing is generally sold in sporting goods stores.

    Just keep in mind these bite-proof clothes are often treated with repellents (DEET) or poisons (permethin).

    Another way to combat certain species of the little blood suckers is to not wear dark colors such as black, blue, and red, which can make mosquito season tough for gang members!

    Another trick: avoid mosquito prime time. Dusk, dawn, and during darkness - these are the times when most mosquitos feed.

    This may come as a rude shock, but did you know that Citronella candles are no more effective at keeping mosquitos away than regular candles, which also produce heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide that draws mosquitos to people?

    I'm all for natural responses to mosquito attacks. Here's a good article about 13 natural ways to keep mosquitos away.

    One more helpful article: What Attracts Mosquitos and How To Repel Them.

    Meanwhile, I'll be trying to figure out how to order one of those Mosquito Away TVs!

    Time for me to walk on down the road...

    Wednesday, September 6, 2017

    I Had a Dream Last Night That This is All Just a Bad Dream

    Good Day World!

    It's a nightmare right?

    No one could be so cruel that they would send the "Dreamers" - children of illegal immigrants who've spent their entire lives in America - back to Mexico and other south American countries... for revenge. 

    No one, but Trump that is. 

    Let's take his latest action where he announced (actually the Chickenshit had his puppet Sessions do it) an end to the immigration protection program called DACA.

    There is no rule of law in the Trump era. He's on an mission. Every since Barrack Obama roasted him at a White House Press Dinner, Trump has been lusting for revenge.

    The moment he slunk into the Oval Office Trump had his minions seeking out every bit of legislation, and executive order Obama signed in his two terms.

    He doesn't give a damn what they were about. All Donny knows is that a black guy made fun of him and white supremacists didn't.

    That nightmare, where he was publicly shamed, keeps playing over and over again in Trump's tiny brain. 

    Americans have become mired in Trump's mission to dismantle the government and overthrow Obama's legacy.
    We are part of his nightmare.

    Like the walking-dead, people walk around in a haze, wondering when the government is going to come get them. Immigrants are the current recipient for Trump's wrath.

    There will be others. Our Maniac-In-Chief is more like the boogeyman than a president. He'll make more people suffer too.

    I had a dream last night that this is all just a bad dream.

    Then my alarm went off, and I was faced with the reality that Trump was probably squatting on the toilet tweeting the mornings marching orders.

    Time for me to walk on down the road...

    Tuesday, September 5, 2017

    Good Journalism Still Exists in the Age of 'Fake' News

    "He campaigned on applause-line policies: Anything that roused a response from his rabid adherents, he repeated and amplified. He never gave details because the details didn’t exist, and he wouldn’t have been able to understand and articulate them if they did." OpinionNY Times, 7/20/17

    Good Day World!

    There are two great newspapers in America that understand good journalism. They both are setting the gold standard for investigative reporting in the 21st century.

    The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

    It's no wonder Trump hates them both. Unlike CNN, Fox, or MSNBC, they really strive for fair and balanced reporting. They are the top two newspapers in the nation with millions of subscribers.

    The people who read the NY Times and the Washington Post aren't interested in alternate realities presented by bias publications and websites.

    Readers of these two newspapers have the ability to read beyond one paragraph, and to comprehend difficult issues facing our world.

    As a retired newspaper editor and publisher, I know that mistakes can happen with the best of publications. When they do, a correction is run the next day.

    This is just one of the differences between legitimate reporting, and sensational fact-free reporting which has become so prevalent. 

    The news and the editorial sections are separated in the NY Times and The Washington Post, unlike most other publications where the two merge all too often on the front page.

    My fellow journalists today face challenges I never dreamed of when I worked. The fact that more people are politically hardwired complicates the situation.

    A straight fact-filled news story is suddenly challenged because it doesn't fit a certain world view; left, or right. This blurring of reality makes it that much harder to get the truth out.

    The icing on the cake however is our president's loathing for the free press, who he calls the enemy. In spite of that, The NY Times and The Washington Post have managed to turn out great investigative stories that rival the Watergate reporting.

    Make no mistake, The NY Times and The Washington Post are two of the last bastions of credible reporting in America. Fake and bias news has no place to hid in these publications.

    You can fact-check them on numerous websites from PolitFact to Snopes to assure yourself your not reading someone's fantasy.

    It's not that there aren't other good newspapers out there, it's just that they don't have the history or quality of reporting that The NY Times and The Washington Post have. 

    Take heart. There's still some good journalism in America.

    Time for me to walk on down the road...

    Monday, September 4, 2017

    Drunk in America: Which States Can Claim Bragging Rights?

    Good Day World!

    When it comes to lushes, Americans come in behind a lot of other countries that drink alcohol like water.

    Russia, Germany, the UK, Italy, and France come to mind.

    Among ourselves, the states that drink the most may surprise you.

    For starters, they're in the northern part of the country. According to this link, here's the 15 most alcohol consuming states in America.

    Brace yourself.

    15. Massachusetts
    14. Vermont
    13. Ohio
    12. Hawaii
    11. Michigan
    10. Alaska
    9. Maine
    8. Nebraska
    7. Minnesota
    6. Illinois
    5. Iowa
    4. Montana
    3. Washington, D.C.
    2. Wisconsin
    1. North Dakota

    So what's going on with North Dakota?

    I'm not sure why California and Oregon didn't crack that list. I've lived in both, and they make a lot of wine.

    Booze facts:

    In most Muslim countries booze is taboo. That's really too bad when you think about it. It could really benefit Muslim men to tie one on now and then without being beheaded.

    Just an observation.

    Time for me to walk on down the road...

    Sunday, September 3, 2017

    Harvey Help, Heat on Trump, and Heat Thanks To Global Warming

    Good Day World!

    I felt like I should have been wearing some high water boots when I saw the photo optic of Trump kissing a black toddler in a Houston shelter.

    It's going to take more than kissing adorable little girls to clean up Trump's act. He's been a bad boy lately and is getting desperate as the Russian/Trump campaign collusion investigation heats up.

    The word is he's chaffing under his new chief-of- staff, Kelly, because he always acts like an adult and expects Donny to do the same.

    I'm hopeful that Congress will pass a bipartisan bill for $6.7 billion in aide for Harvey survivors... ASAP. The money can come out of whatever funds Trump hoped to con Congress out of to build his fantasy wall. 

    I'm also hopeful the unhealthy air quality in southern Oregon will get better sometime soon. Where I live in Medford, we have unhealthy air alerts daily. It's been that way for a couple of weeks.

    Fires to the right of us, and fires to the left. Winds shift and the Rogue Valley becomes a scene out of downtown Beijing. Throw in triple digit temperatures, and it's downright ugly.

    Fires burning all over the country. California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Montana at last count. Maybe more today.

    It's about climate warming. Everyone - but our stupid president and some of his minions - know earth temperatures have been rising dramatically and man-made emissions is not helping anything.

    The sickening part of the so-called argument about Global Warming is that the someone who doesn't believe in what 97% of the scientists in the world says, is the leader of the free world!

    It's hard not to feel doomed. It's also arguably a good time to buy a good gas mask with reserve oxygen tanks!

    Time for me to walk on down the road...

    Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

    This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...