It seems that this critical piece of life saving advice cannot be repeated enough: do not fall down.
According to the New York Times, on August 17 Dave Freeman, co-author of 100 Things to Do Before You Die, died after he fell down in his home, hitting his head.
Occasions to fall lurk everywhere. This week while carrying a bag of top soil from the car to the garage, a little dog darted across my path. A fall was avoided only by executing a ballet move that sent me spinning onto the hood of the car. It seems that those years of childhood dance lessons may have saved my neck - thanks mom and dad.
In any event, Mr. Freeman's sad and untimely death at age 48 presents another opportunity to say it out loud: Don't Fall Down.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
NYT Op-Ed Columnist on the Palin Pick
Gail Collins wrote an interesting Op-Ed piece about the selection of Governor Palin as GOP VP nominee.
Highlights:
"John McCain has a low opinion of the vice presidency, which he’s frequently described as a job that involves attending funerals and checking on the health of the president. (Happy 72nd birthday, John!)"
"I do feel kind of ticked off at the assumptions that the Republicans seem to be making about female voters . . . The idea that women are going to race off to vote for any candidate with the same internal plumbing is both offensive and historically wrong. When the sexes have parted company in modern elections, it’s generally been because women are more likely to be Democrats, and more concerned about protecting the social safety net. “The gender gap traditionally has been determined by party preference, not by the gender of the candidate,” said Ruth Mandel of the Eagleton Institute of Politics."
"This year, Hillary Clinton took things to a whole new level. She didn’t run for president as a symbol but as the best-prepared candidate in the Democratic pack. Whether you liked her or not, she convinced the nation that women could be qualified to both run the country and be commander in chief. That was an enormous breakthrough, and Palin’s nomination feels, in comparison, like a step back."
Highlights:
"John McCain has a low opinion of the vice presidency, which he’s frequently described as a job that involves attending funerals and checking on the health of the president. (Happy 72nd birthday, John!)"
"I do feel kind of ticked off at the assumptions that the Republicans seem to be making about female voters . . . The idea that women are going to race off to vote for any candidate with the same internal plumbing is both offensive and historically wrong. When the sexes have parted company in modern elections, it’s generally been because women are more likely to be Democrats, and more concerned about protecting the social safety net. “The gender gap traditionally has been determined by party preference, not by the gender of the candidate,” said Ruth Mandel of the Eagleton Institute of Politics."
"This year, Hillary Clinton took things to a whole new level. She didn’t run for president as a symbol but as the best-prepared candidate in the Democratic pack. Whether you liked her or not, she convinced the nation that women could be qualified to both run the country and be commander in chief. That was an enormous breakthrough, and Palin’s nomination feels, in comparison, like a step back."
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Governor Palin Selecton
I don't understand all the discussion about whether or not Governor Palin's selection as GOP VP candidate will draw women's votes, particularly those women who supported Senator Clinton, to McCain-Palin. Can that really be the analysis by Republican strategists? How completely silly.
There are so many reasons why this line of thinking is off the mark that it's almost exhausting. Where to begin? Here are the two easiest.
First, assume that a serious chunk of Senator Clinton's most dedicated female supporters are pro-choice. Pro-choice women do not vote for anti-choice Presidential candidates. McCain and Palin are anti-choice; or to use the their terms "pro-life". There is a possibility that the next President could appoint up to three new members to the United States Supreme Court. There is zero chance these women will vote for the GOP ticket. End of story.
Second, apparently the GOP completely misunderstood the Democratic Presidential primary. On issues of policy, and with respect to the choice between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, the candidates essentially agreed on almost every point. So, some voters thought, 'I get the same policy from either one. I'd like to see a female President. I'll vote for the Sen. Clinton.' That just isn't the case with the GOP candidates McCain-Palin in comparison to Senators Obama and Biden.
So, who does that leave? Pro-life women who will only vote for the pro-life candidate if it is a woman? Who is that? If the voter is really motivated by being pro-life, that voter was always going to vote for Senator McCain. Thus, choosing Gov. Palin gilded the lily, but didn't bring in any new voters.
For these and many more reasons, the mere selection of a woman as his running mate will not cause women voters to move toward voting for Sen. McCain.
There are so many reasons why this line of thinking is off the mark that it's almost exhausting. Where to begin? Here are the two easiest.
First, assume that a serious chunk of Senator Clinton's most dedicated female supporters are pro-choice. Pro-choice women do not vote for anti-choice Presidential candidates. McCain and Palin are anti-choice; or to use the their terms "pro-life". There is a possibility that the next President could appoint up to three new members to the United States Supreme Court. There is zero chance these women will vote for the GOP ticket. End of story.
Second, apparently the GOP completely misunderstood the Democratic Presidential primary. On issues of policy, and with respect to the choice between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, the candidates essentially agreed on almost every point. So, some voters thought, 'I get the same policy from either one. I'd like to see a female President. I'll vote for the Sen. Clinton.' That just isn't the case with the GOP candidates McCain-Palin in comparison to Senators Obama and Biden.
So, who does that leave? Pro-life women who will only vote for the pro-life candidate if it is a woman? Who is that? If the voter is really motivated by being pro-life, that voter was always going to vote for Senator McCain. Thus, choosing Gov. Palin gilded the lily, but didn't bring in any new voters.
For these and many more reasons, the mere selection of a woman as his running mate will not cause women voters to move toward voting for Sen. McCain.
Labor Day Weekend: "We have been oxen long enough"
"We have been oxen long enough" is the view of O.I. Richardson in his article contained in a fascinating booklet published in 1900 by the Milwaukee Trades Union Label League, and preserved and published on the web by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
The booklet, titled End of the Century Labor Day Souvenir, was published as part of the festivities on September 3, 1900. It's an interesting snap shot of the economy and politics of that time, including a pitch for Eugene Debs, candidate for President of the United States on the Social Democratic ticket (pages 10, 11, and 34).
In 1900, workers were losing their jobs to a cheaper manufacturing source: machines. Some of the frustration of that job loss is reflected in the opinions of one writer: "'Can't a man who is replaced by a machine turn to something else?' Well, shall he turn to shoemaking? But the machine is there. Shall he turn to furniture making? The machine stares at him there also. Shall he turn to farming? He has neither land or capital, and capital is required to get machinery to compete with the bonanza farms. Wherever he turns his hands, he finds thousands striving for the same thing." (page 26).
These frustrations from 1900 sound like the frustrations of today as workers lose their jobs to cheaper labor markets in other countries.
Labor Day is also a time to rally people to make further efforts. In the booklet, workers are are urged to continue to fight for a better life and not simply be content with their lot. Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes in her poem: "Prize what is yours but be not quite contented; there is a healthy restlessness of soul by which a mighty purpose is augmented, in urging men to reach a higher goal." (page 24).
If you are enjoying a three-day vacation from work this weekend, thank the people who weren't content, who demanded safety in the workplace, dignity for the worker, and fair compensation for working people's labor. And in looking to the future, demand the same for yourself and for future generations. Reach for a higher goal. Strive for a better future. We are not oxen.
The booklet, titled End of the Century Labor Day Souvenir, was published as part of the festivities on September 3, 1900. It's an interesting snap shot of the economy and politics of that time, including a pitch for Eugene Debs, candidate for President of the United States on the Social Democratic ticket (pages 10, 11, and 34).
In 1900, workers were losing their jobs to a cheaper manufacturing source: machines. Some of the frustration of that job loss is reflected in the opinions of one writer: "'Can't a man who is replaced by a machine turn to something else?' Well, shall he turn to shoemaking? But the machine is there. Shall he turn to furniture making? The machine stares at him there also. Shall he turn to farming? He has neither land or capital, and capital is required to get machinery to compete with the bonanza farms. Wherever he turns his hands, he finds thousands striving for the same thing." (page 26).
These frustrations from 1900 sound like the frustrations of today as workers lose their jobs to cheaper labor markets in other countries.
Labor Day is also a time to rally people to make further efforts. In the booklet, workers are are urged to continue to fight for a better life and not simply be content with their lot. Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes in her poem: "Prize what is yours but be not quite contented; there is a healthy restlessness of soul by which a mighty purpose is augmented, in urging men to reach a higher goal." (page 24).
If you are enjoying a three-day vacation from work this weekend, thank the people who weren't content, who demanded safety in the workplace, dignity for the worker, and fair compensation for working people's labor. And in looking to the future, demand the same for yourself and for future generations. Reach for a higher goal. Strive for a better future. We are not oxen.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Food and Drink
The Splendid Table, a public radio program that is both entertaining and informative, had a particularly interesting episode this week (August 23). To begin, there was discussion about at what temperature to serve red wine (short answer: warmer than you refrigerator, but cooler than room temperature if the room is at 65- 70 degrees).
In addition to that discussion, the big idea from the broadcast is instruction on the correct method to steel a kitchen knife from Chad Ward, author of An Edge in the Kitchen, The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Knives. Listen to the program - the directions are very simple (frankly, it would take me longer to type it out than for you to listen to the broadcast). Go to the link above and scroll down to Kitchen Knives.
Finally, there is a discussion about Japanese scotch. It sounds delicious.
Check out the complete broadcast - an easy but delicious idea for pasta is presented during that portion of the show where folks call-in with questions.
Per usual, close your eyes, and recall how it sounded when the late, great, Julia Child said the following: bon appetit!
In addition to that discussion, the big idea from the broadcast is instruction on the correct method to steel a kitchen knife from Chad Ward, author of An Edge in the Kitchen, The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Knives. Listen to the program - the directions are very simple (frankly, it would take me longer to type it out than for you to listen to the broadcast). Go to the link above and scroll down to Kitchen Knives.
Finally, there is a discussion about Japanese scotch. It sounds delicious.
Check out the complete broadcast - an easy but delicious idea for pasta is presented during that portion of the show where folks call-in with questions.
Per usual, close your eyes, and recall how it sounded when the late, great, Julia Child said the following: bon appetit!
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