100 YEARS AGO

An interesting article in the local paper caught my eye this morning. Bob Kriebel, a local writer, shared an email he had received earlier this year...from a writer who describes some of the interesting facts from the year 1910. I don't know if Mr. Kriebel did any research on these facts...but he shared them as written.

I guess why it caught my eye...is that my dad was born in 1909...my mother in 1912. So these 'things' that were supposedly occurring in 1910...were what my parents were experiencing as young children.

Here's a few of the things that were shared:
-in 1910, 100 years ago, the average life expectancy for American men was 47 years
-only drugstores sold fuel for cars
-there were 8000 cars in the U.S, and 144 miles of paved roads
-the maximum speed limit was 10 mph
-1 in 7 homes had a bathtub, 1 in 12 a telephone
-the average American wage was $0.22 an hour
-the average American worker earned between $200-400 a year
-a competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 a year, a dentist $2500, a veterinarian $4000, a mechanical engineer $5000
-over 95% of all American births took place at home
-90% of all doctors had no college education. Instead they had attended 'so-called' medical schools
-sugar cost 4 cents a pound, eggs 14 cents a dozen, coffee 15 cents a pound
-most women washed their hair once a month and used Borax or egg yolks as shampoo
-the leading causes of death were, 1)pneumonia, 2) tuberculosis, 3) diarrhea, 4) heart disease, 5) stroke
-the U.S. flag had 45 stars
-the population of Las Vegas was 30
-crossword puzzles, iced tea, and canned beer had not yet been invented
-there was neither a Mother's Day or Father's Day
-2 in 10 adults could neither read nor write
-1 in 16 finished high school
-there were 230 murders reported in the entire U.S. that year

Things have changed in 100 years.


Dan

WORKING BLACK FRIDAY

Today is 'Black Friday'...reportedly the busiest shopping day of the year...the Friday following Thanksgiving. They call it Black Friday...because every business makes money (in the 'black') that day.

Yesterday...Thanksgiving Day...our newspaper was thicker than our usual Sunday paper. On Sundays...there's the news...and all the ads for the week. But yesterday...in preparation for Black Friday...EVERY store in our city had an ad section in the paper...or so it seemed.

I happened to be on-call for the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend. I got called in this morning at 3am. Usually...at 3am...there are few cars on the road with me. But today...there were lots of cars...apparently people on their way to early shopping. A few stores in town opened at 4am...more at 5am. Those 3am cars, I guess, were on their way to get in line for those 4am openings.

I got done at the hospital and was back on my way home at 445am. The Menards store (big box store that's similar to Loews and Home Depot) is on my way home. The lot was filling with cars...with lots of them with their lights on and running...it was 25 degrees at the time...as they waited for the 5am opening. Cars that weren't pulling in to Menards...were turning right at the next intersection...heading to the mall that is about 1 mile north of Menards.

I was glad I was on call this weekend...and not out in the craziness of shopping at 3am...and 5am.

I'm not a good shopper anyway...but I'd be a nasty shopper at those hours!


Dan

THE WINNER IS...

There is no winner. I'm talking about the hot subject in the news lately...do I get x-rayed at the airport security...or do I let them grope me?

This is not an easy subject to find a side to stand firm on. The world as it is today...has created a monster...and we all become the loser to the monster.

With some of the radical lunatics out there who want to cause harm...we have to find ways to protect ourselves.

One way is the x-ray machine. But it doesn't come without cost. Our bodies are getting a small amount of radiation...that we don't want. Our images are being seen...and stored (I don't believe them when they say they aren't or can't be saved...and looked at by others).

If we don't want the x-ray...it's no longer just having a 'wand' waved over you to check for metal...because the lunatics have found ways to make bombs without metal. So the option now is a 'hands on' pat down...that includes the breast areas and groin.

Now...as in most professions...most people who do their job...are good at it...and professional. But as with every job...there are a few who take liberty with their liberties...and you can't tell me there aren't a few guys who take advantage of 'feeling up' a few of the pretty girls...because they can.

I have a family relative whom it happened to...so you can't tell me it doesn't happen. Her choice was...let it happen...or take the risk of them not letting you on the plane.

I am glad I am not flying this Thursday. It sounds like there is a ground swell of people who intend to raise a fuss...at not getting x-rayed...and not getting groped. Their complaints...are simply going to tie up the system...making it longer for everyone to get on the plane...and risk not getting on it at all.

On the other hand...we simply can't allow everyone to get on the plane without some kind of check system to make sure we will be safe on that plane.

Both sides are a little wrong...both are a little right.

Until we can find a way that we all win...a little more than what we feel we're losing...it will be ugly.


Dan

GRANDMA

Well...since I talked about granddad on Saturday...I guess it's only fair I talk about grandma today. This time...on moms' side. Today grandma Fravel would be 130 years old.

Grandma was born in 1880. And yes...I do remember her. She died in 1965...I had just turned 11.

Grandma lived down on the south end of town in Owensville. My mom and dad and my brothers and sisters lived near there too...before my time. They moved to the house I 'do' remember before I was born. But I remember grandmas house.

The funniest story I remember about grandma, was when my cousin and I were playing outside her house...and she came out to ask us if we had seen her glasses...she couldn't find them. I remember telling her that they were 'on top of your head'. She had...as we glass wearers are sometimes known to do...pushed them up on top of her head...and forgot. Then she obviously spent some time looking for them in the house...before coming out to ask the grandkids if they'd seen them or done something with them.

I suppose I'll do something goofy to my grandkids...if I haven't done it already...that they'll recall 50 years from now.

I hope so.


Dan

GRANDDAD

Today is the day my granddad was born. I'm a papaw to my grandchildren...my dad was papaw to his grandchildren...but my grandfather was 'granddad'.

Granddad was born 129 years ago...and amazingly...I still remember him. Many of my readers might think...and say...geez you must be old. You remember someone that would be 129 years old!!

As most of my readers know...I was born late in my parents life as parents. Granddad was 73 years old when I was born...so by the time I was old enough to know he was my granddad...he was pushing 80. Luckily for me...granddad lived into his 90s so I had a long time to grow up and remember him.

Even with that...I never really got close to granddad. He just wasn't a guy that kids got close to. But when I'm 80 and going into my 90s...maybe the kids won't wanna get close to me either.

I hope not. I want my g-kids and g-g-kids and g-g-g-kids to remember me as somebody they liked being around and was a cool 'old' guy.


Dan

WATCHIN

I have owned...I believe...about 6 watches in my lifetime. There might be a few more in there that I'm not thinking about...but that's pretty close.

I just started wearing one again in the last few weeks, after not wearing one for many years. That's my usual cycle. Wear one for awhile...let the battery die...not replace the battery...quit wearing a watch.

I never really missed wearing a watch all those years. It's different today than it used to be. Who needs to wear a watch these days? There's a clock on the dashboard of my car...there's one on my cell phone...there's one on the stove, the microwave, the TV...there's one in almost every room of the house...and the 'monster' that wakes me up each morning. Who needs to wear one...you don't have to look too far, or too hard...to find the time displayed on 'something'.

My first watch was given to me by my dad. He worked at the hardware store in Owensville and inexpensive Timex watches were on a display rack there, near the cash register. Since we moved from Owensville when I was 8, I assume dad gave me mine for Christmas in 1961 when I was 7 years old. We moved that next summer.

My next watch that I remember was given to me on Christmas Day 1972. Cindy bought me a watch for 'our' first Christmas together. We were dating then...it would be a couple more Christmases before we'd be married. I wore that watch for a long time.

After Cindy & I moved to Lafayette...and before children...we'd once in a while go to Anderson's Auction Gallery nearby on Friday night for entertainment. It was always interesting to see what would be auctioned that night...old and new...and exciting once in a while to bid on something. As long as you didn't buy...it was cheap entertainment for the evening...and we were pretty cheap in those days. One evening...Colonel John was hawking 'new' digital watches for $5...and I bought one. I think it lasted about as long as you'd expect a $5 watch to last.

Cindy again bought me the next watch I recall...a beautiful watch for my 50th birthday. I happened to get another watch at about the same time...not sure who gave it to me...obviously not Cindy. It was the first time I'd owned 2 functioning watches at the same time. I could alternate wearing one, then the other...until the batteries wore out on both of them and I haven't worn a watch since then...

...until last month, when Jaime & Shawn went to Gatlinburg and strolled through the Fossil watch shop...among the thousands of shops down there...and bought me a new watch as a gift. (For being the world's best dad!)

The old Timex that dad bought me...got lost among the shuffles of life in the last 50 years. The 2 that Cindy bought me are in Cindy's jewelry box. Someday I'll take them to a jeweler and have them repaired...or put in a new battery...whatever it takes to get them running...and I'll hand them down to my grandsons.

I hope they'll wear them proudly...assuming men wear watches then.


Dan

VETERAN'S DAY 2010

My brother-in-law served in WWII. My brother served in Korea. Another brother served in Vietnam. My nephews served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

Cindy's dad served in WWII. Her uncle served in the Army. With as many uncles as she had...I know there were many of them that served in WWII and other armed service areas.

Today is Veterans Day. A day to pause, reflect and thank those who served...and are serving...in any capacity.

A touching story is attached...about a group of men who have honored those who served and who have fallen...at over 57,000 funerals.

Remember those in your family...those of your friends...who have served. We have privileges beyond our imagination...because of them.


Dan

IT AIN'T RIGHT

Ever been swimming...in deep water...and got into trouble? And for a few brief seconds...that may have seemed like minutes...you thought that you might drown?

I have. It's a frightening feeling. I'll bet if a poll were taken...a vast majority of people would state two ways that they DO NOT want to die...burning to death in a fire...and drowning in water.

Sorry about the morbid thoughts...but I read the headlines today about George Bush's book...in which he authorized 'waterboarding' on some men while he was in office. And he still feels he was right in doing so.

Waterboarding...as I understand it...is basically simulated drowning of a person...and then stopping at the last second...saving them so they don't drown. And then maybe repeating the steps. And then maybe again.

The idea...again as I understand it...it that a person who is 'tortured' in this way...will 'break' and tell the torturers 'anything they want to hear'. Otherwise...the next time...maybe they won't stop the 'drowning' at the last second. And we've already decided this is 'one' way we don't want to die.

If I were to be waterboarded...I'd tell you anything you want to hear. Did I kick your grandmother in the knee? Damn right I did...if you won't drown me. Did I steal a box of pens from my workplace? Damn right I did...if you won't drown me.

Anyway you look at it...in my opinion...this is torture of the highest degree. I can't find it in my soul...to say it is the proper thing to do...even if the guy is a 'bad guy'.

Well...let me restate that. If somebody waterboaded one of my loved ones...and I knew who did it...I might find it in my soul to return a little 'eye-for-an-eye'.

And maybe that's the way those whom we waterboard...and their loved ones...and those of similar beliefs...feel about us. Maybe that's why they don't like us. No...HATE US!

George Bush is wrong. And if Barack Obama agreed with it...I'd say he is wrong too. And if in 2012 there is a new president...and that person says it would be okay...I'd say they were wrong too.


Dan

20 YEARS AND COUNTING...DOWN

I didn't know this about chocolate. Cocoa trees are only in the equatorial part of the world...and they are not being replenished as fast as they are being used.

The article implies we might run so low in 20 years that few will be able to afford chocolate.

Say it ain't so!!


Dan

MONOPOLY

The board game of Monopoly...has been around for 75 years...at least the version that 'we' are all familiar with.

There's really quite an interesting story that can be read about how this game came about and who really invented it.

I just remember as a youngster, my friend Mike and I would play entire weekends. We'd play into the wee hours of the morning...go to bed...and resume again when we woke up.

When Mike, or someone else, wasn't around...I'd play by myself. I'd sit on one side of the board and I'd play for the 3 'pretend' guys on the other sides. I'd be the banker...the deed watcher...house and hotel distributor...the dice roller...I did it all.

I was easily entertained. But I had fun...and stayed out of trouble.

Like my article about baseball cards and comics the other day...I've owned several versions of Monopoly. Sounds like the 'new' versions don't even have money these days...it's all done on a computer chip. The last one I owned...the houses and hotels were plastic.

I swear that first one we had...the houses and hotels were made of wood. Oh...to still have that version. Probably worth some real cash today.


Dan

WHAT...ME WORRY?

Nearly 2 years ago, Cindy surprised me with a gift of a laptop computer. Her main purpose...was that she was tired of me always disappearing to the computer room and not spending time with her.

It wasn't that I was ignoring Cindy. I was working...almost daily...on a personal project using our desktop computer.

The gift of the laptop, allowed me to still work on the project if I wanted...but at least I could be in the same room as she was.

Today...I rarely use the desktop...I'm hardly ever in the 'computer room'. Now...I can be found all over the house...in the bedroom...in the TV room...with the laptop...on my lap.

Today I read...the dangers of men having their laptops...on their laps. Scrotal hyperthermia.

Now...that may be an issue that some men need to worry about. But after all I've been through...it's not something I will.


Dan

MURDER IN PROGRESS

Cindy's trying to kill me! She's disguising it by cute little tricks...but oh don't let that fool you...she's trying to kill me.

The reason? Because my 'to do' list is so long...I get too flustered to even start working on it...so when a new task comes along...it just goes on the bottom of the list. She gets tired of me not working on a project...so today...the slow killing began.

She disguised it...by asking if the two grandsons...Mason & Owen...wanted to earn a few bucks. She walked them to the half bath...where the wallpaper has been in need of getting taken off the wall for...well...for a long time. So she told the boys to start peeling.

Well they started...but guess who's finishing? Yep...me! And my body is aching tonight for all the reaching...stretching...bending over...sitting on the floor...laying on the floor...reaching behind the toilet...under the sink...over the medicine cabinet.

I took three Advil to see if I can limit the body aches...but they don't seem to be doing any good. Of course...Cindy will get me loosened up in the morning...when she sends me back in there to finish the job.

I'm guessing this job will run me a couple of weeks. Hopefully by Thanksgiving, I'll have the bathroom done and newly painted. No wallpaper getting put up this time.

Cindy will try to kill me again if I do.


Dan

OH...TO GO BACK IN TIME

Every time I read a story like this, I think about my younger years when I had more comic books and baseball cards than I could count.

I'm sure I didn't have a Honus Wagner card...like the article...but I'll bet I had some cards (and probably old comics) that today might be worth hundreds...maybe thousands of dollars.

But no...they got thrown out...or left somewhere...or given away...or cards used to make my bicycle sound like a motorcycle.

To go back in time and find those cards...would be a real treat. And while I was back there...I'd invest in IBM, Apple and Google.

Then I guess I wouldn't need the cards!!


Dan

MEET MR. GRUMPY

This has been one of those days where bad news has come in bunches. It's put me in a less-than-friendly mood...and at bedtime that's not good for me...as I will toss these ideas in my head all night and sleep poorly.

I read where the Republicans have gained control of the House. They boast. I'm not sure why. They say they want to take the country back. Back where? They want to fix the problems? Good. As far as I'm concerned...they caused them...so they 'should' fix them. My gut tells me they won't be able to fix anything any better than the current administration. Try working out solutions that everyone gains...something...especially your constituents. But alas...I fear it won't be that easy.

Then...I hear that one of my friends is leaving their job...because of someone they have to work with. That person has no integrity...and gives no respect...yet demands it from others. My friend has had enough...and is taking their skills elsewhere. My friend...feeling they have asked for the matter to be addressed...with no changes taking place...has decided they will take their 30 skilled years to a competitor. I wish them well.

There's more...but it only makes me more frustrated to continue talking about them all. I am angry. My stomach is turning. I'm grumpy.

I am a firm believer in justice...'karma' if you will. My only relief is that I believe all the above will work out. My frustration is that it won't be as soon as 'I' want it to.

That's the part that will keep me up tonight.


Dan

NEW POLL

After work...I stopped off to vote...then came home to check email and Facebook before getting ready to go see my Boilers basketball team play tonight. Looking forward to a great basketball season.

While on Facebook...I thought it was interesting that you could click on a box to indicate to people that you voted. (I didn't click the box...because I don't think it's anybody else's business).

What made me chuckle...is that...as I write this...5,881,889 Facebook people say they have voted. The purpose for the chuckle...was because I wonder how factual this number really is. Usually at mid-term elections, such as this...voter turnout is usually very low. Yet 6 million Facebook folks say they voted.

I wonder if it's like the 600,000 people who say they attended Woodstock in 1969? Reports are that somewhere around 250,000 actually attended...but it's 'cool' to say "I was at Woodstock"...and who's gonna know?

Who's gonna know if 6 million people on Facebook voted? And for me...who cares?

I hope you voted. All I know is that I did...and that's all that counts.


Dan

I MADE IT !

It is the evening of November 1st. I have survived my first day back at work...after a full month off.

Now...not that I was loafing that month off...there were a few days in there that 'no one' would want to go through if they didn't have to.

But that month allowed me to heal...and get rested...and get as ready as one can get...to return to work.

I was greeted by a number of co-workers throughout the day who gave me a hug and a comment that they were glad to see me back. And in all honesty...it was good to be back. After 35 years...some of those folks are just like family...and I missed interacting with them as much as I would miss my own family.

I did comment to one of them that the only reason I came back...was because I didn't win the lottery while I was off. That's not 'totally' true...but if I'd have 'played'...and 'won'...it would've been very interesting!!


Dan