HOW TO FIX WHAT’S BROKEN

Remember when people fixed things instead of buying new ones? There were shoe repair shops all over town. Socks were darned. Broken crockery was glued back together. But now, we’ve become a throw-away society. Instead of repairing household goods and products, we simply toss them in the trash and buy a new one. But recently, I found a new product that works miracles in repairing numerous household and personal items. Here’s how I learned to fix what’s broken .

In a rental property I manage, a very nice built-in medicine cabinet had a cracked, yellowed lampshade.. Everyone told me there was nothing to do but buy a new medicine cabinet and lighting fixture. But I liked the cabinet, and didn’t want to yank it out of the wall, and hire someone to rewire a new medicine cabinet . Also, there would be a problem with new plaster or drywall.

You can repair a broken lampshade with moldable thermoplastic — Instead of buying a new medicine cabinet, I made a new lampshade. Here’s how to fix what’s broken.

Desperately, I searched the internet and home improvement stores to find a lampshade to fit. But alas, it was custom made and out of date. I tried to find someone who made custom lampshades, but no such luck. Then, I came across an article about moldable thermoplastic. It sounded like something way out of my realm of expertise. And yet, after watching a you tube video, I realized I could make my own lampshade.

Most artsy crafty people have been familiar with this stuff for years. I ordered some over the internet for $6.00, but you can buy it places like Walmart and Hobby Lobby. It’s incredibly easy to use and requires no special equipment. Just melt the little plastic beads in some hot water until it becomes soft and pliable and sticks together. Using the old shade as a mold, I pulled and stretched the gooey mass until it was.hard and tough. Within minutes, I had a new translucent lampshade.

It's easy to fix reading glasses with moldable plastic — Here’s how to fix what’s broken: use moldable thermoplastic to repair broken glasses

I had tons of the beads left over. It only took a few beads to repair some cracked reading glass frames. Then I fixed the cracked tip of my cell phone charger. It can also be used to repair cracked hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, or any household item made of plastic. Believe it or not, some people make their own false teeth! I don’t think I’ll go that far.

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020

SCARED SHOPPERS WEARING FACE MASKS

We aren’t accustomed to seeing people wearing face masks in the grocery store. Here in the USA, they’re mostly worn in hospitals. Anyone seen with one in a public place raises questions. Is the masked person sick, afraid of getting sick, or about to commit a robbery? We used to see them occasionally in Mexico and other foreign places like Asia. But now, the coronavirus has brought out our worst fears. Scared shoppers here in my Indiana hometown are wearing face masks in public places.

Most hospitals and doctor’s office provide surgical masks at the door. You’re asked to wear them if you have a cold or the flu. Their purpose is to prevent you from spreading infectious diseases and contaminating the air of those around you. Therefore, if someone nearby coughs or sneezes, you are still at risk of catching whatever it is they have. Infectious disease specialists say that the masks are too thin and loose fitting to completely prevent the inhalation of unfiltered air.

Scared shoppers wear face masks so they won't catch the coronavirus — Scared shoppers are wearing face masks, but they don’t offer much protection against the coronavirus.

And yet, this past week, I’ve seen one or two people wearing a face mask every time I go out to shop. But Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University has said that regular surgical face masks will not protect you from the coronavirus.

Consequently, respirators are the only thing that will protect you from the coronavirus. They are heavy duty, and form fitted to your face. The CDC says they filter out about 95% of airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria. But there are drawbacks. Respirators aren’t comfortable, and many people have trouble breathing while wearing them.

Meanwhile, I took comfort from a news report last night about the coronavirus. Apparently, 85% of all cases are mild, 12% are severe, and only 3% are fatal. Which seems pretty much like the seasonal flu we experience every year.

February 21, 2020February 21, 2020

MONEY CAN’T BUY LOVE

There’s an old saying: those who marry for money earn it. Can a mansion and a yacht make up for a miserable love life? By the same token, do Bloomberg’s paid supporters love him for himself, or for his money.? Small donors to any candidate are much more apt to get out the votes for the person they believe in. Therefore, big money can’t buy love. And it doesn’t send people to the polls.

If you watched the Democratic debates, you could see why each candidate has a base of supporters who love him or her. For example, Buttigieg appeals to people who value civility and intellect. Warren is an attack dog. Her fiery rhetoric appeals to those who want a ton of freebies including health care and college tuition. Sander’s socialists want to eliminate capitalism altogether. He’s passionate, and articulate, and loved by his supporters. Biden is suave, sophisticated, knowledgeable and personable. Klobuchar is just a good old girl who appeals to the working class. And she’s the only woman who doesn’t mind wearing a skirt. She’s witty and sharp.

Except for Bloomberg, all the candidates on that debate stage were people who have campaigned to the point of exhaustion. They’re seasoned and personable. Each, in their own way, is able to stir the soul and warm the heart. If any one of them wins the nomination, they will have earned it.

What could we say about Bloomberg ? As the mayor of New York for three terms, there must be something the voters liked about him. But I didn’t find him all that appealing. I guess that thing about the non disclosure agreements, and the women he treated like dirt had me against him from the get go. Sexual harassment is one thing, but when you chew out women for getting pregnant, and suggest that any old “black” could take care of your baby, you’ve lost me.

He had no warmth or charm. He’s came across as condescending and defensive. Sorry, Bloomberg. money can’t buy love.

February 19, 2020February 19, 2020

Can Bloomberg Buy America?

This is probably one of the scariest things I’ve seen in all my years of observing politics. Here is a man who is on the Democratic national debate stage tonight because he bought his way in. He didn’t campaign or talk directly to real voters. He just threw out a bunch of money that he had no other use for. Just as people who live on the interest and dividends from unearned income, he’s trying to win the election on unearned–bought and paid for–supporters. The question is: Can Bloomberg really buy America? Are we that gullible?

can Bloomberg buy the Deomcratic nomination for president? — Bloomberg can afford a great acting coach to teach him how to simulate compassion for women.

Bloomberg doesn’t even have to come up with a set a policies or beliefs. He can just hire some experts who will do that for him. They say he hasn’t been a strong debater. Money could change all that. Wearing an earpiece is illegal. But, with billions of dollars to spend, it’s highly possible he could acquire a high tech hearing device invisible to the naked eye. Watch and see If he pauses even slightly before answering a question. They claimed Hillary wore an earpiece in the debates with Trump, but it was never proven. Anything is possible when you can afford the best.

Former employees say that Bloomberg fostered a corporate climate that was degrading to female employees. As an example, in a lawsuit, one employee claimed that when a female employee got pregnant, he asked her “What the hell did you do a thing like that for?” . On another occasion, the lawsuit said, Bloomberg berated a female employee who had trouble finding a nanny. “It’s a f—— baby! . . . All you need is some black who doesn’t have to speak English to rescue it from a burning building.”

To overcome his appalling history of mistreating female employees, he could hire some great drama coach to show him how to fake emotions like empathy, compassion, and kindness.

Can Bloomberg buy America? It remains to be seen.

February 17, 2020February 17, 2020

SHOULD YOU ASK SOMEONE TO LOSE WEIGHT?

The media has taken out after poor Meghan Markle again. This time, they’re saying that she had the nerve to tell her husband to lose weight. On top of that, they claim she’s started picking out his clothes. Where do they come up with all this supposedly inside information? Was a reporter hiding in their bedroom closet? Maybe someone noticed Prince Harry had dropped a few pounds , and concocted this story. But it does present a moral issue: Should you ask someone to lose weight? Should you help your husband pick out new clothes?

Body shaming is another matter. It’s harmful to make fun of someone’s size. My sister struggled with overweight as a young adult, and was often the target of ridicule. She ended up taking so many diet pills that it affected her mental health for the rest of her life.

Should a wife tell a husband to lose some weight — A caring wife may ask her husband to lose some weight.

On the other hand, what is so terrible about a concerned wife suggesting her husband lose a few pounds? Seem to me, it’s the caring thing to do. My husband has bad knees, and must walk with a cane. When he starts complaining, I’m apt to suggest he take off a few pounds to relieve the pressure on his joints. Maintaining a normal weight is also important for heart health. On top of that, he’s a diabetic. Is a wife supposed to ignore it when her husband starts packing on the pounds?

Research has shown that the loss of 10 pounds can lead to a healthier life. Benefits may include: 1) 50% reduction in heart disease. 2) 60% reduction in diabetes risk. 3) 50 % decrease in arthritis.

What’s so mean and terrible about that?

About the clothes issue: My husband always wants me with him when he buys new clothes. I can tell him which colors are unflattering, or when the shoulders of a jacket or sweater are too saggy—things he doesn’t always notice. By the same token, I want his advice on what to wear for special occasions. Seems to me that’s one good thing about having a loving spouse or partner.

So I’m asking the media: please leave Meghan alone. It won’t hurt Harry at all to lose some weight. And it might inspire others to do the same.

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020

COAL GAVE ME A DIRTY NECK

I’ve never been a friend of coal. When I was a child, most everyone heated their homes with coal. On school days, I would bundle up in my snowsuit for the one mile walk. The skies in winter were clouded with a gray haze. You could smell the coal smoke in the air. No one gave it a second thought. It was a fact of life. On the worst days, I would get home from school and see a ring around my neck when I took off my snowsuit. That was the place where my cap rode up, exposing my neck to the air. Coal gave me a dirty neck.

I was a sickly child, losing many school days due to colds, flu, and respiratory infections. My parents had me in and out of the doctor’s office all winter, trying to figure out why. They tested my hemoglobin, checked my heart, and listened to my lungs. No one could understand what was wrong with me. They never mentioned allergies or air pollution from coal smoke as a possible cause. All I know is that when I went away to school, I was healthier. By that time, I suppose, fewer people had coal furnaces.

Coal mining is a major political issue in Indiana. The coal industry is doing everything it can to keep the mines from closing. . Any Hoosier politician who wants to win an election must promise to try and keep them open. To this day, most of the electricity in this country is produced by coal. Why? Because it’s plentiful and cheap, and coal miners aren’t interested in retraining for new jobs.

hundreds of railway cars full of coal pass through Indiana every day. But coal gave me a dirty neck. — Thousands of railway cars full of coal pass through Indiana .

The other day I was waiting in my car for a train to pass at a crossing. Yes, we’re a train town, which means you always have an excuse to be late for appointments. To fight the boredom, I started counting the coal cars but I gave up at 50. Every railway car on that train was loaded with coal.

The state of Indiana does offer a few tax breaks and incentives for clean energy, but It doesn’t look like we’re too worried about climate change here in Indiana.

February 12, 2020February 12, 2020

Spanx & Skin Ruled The Oscars

Most women over 40 have a few lumps and bulges—especially if they’ve had kids. Years ago, we wore girdles and other miserable contraptions under tight fitting dresses. Still, there were gaps. You might have a bulge above the waist, or below the panty line. Then came the body changing invention of Spanx. On Oscar night last Sunday, most women’s apparel depended on what they were trying to flaunt or hide. If you didn’t need Spanx, you could bare your flesh and prance around half naked. Otherwise, you had to suck it up and squeeze yourself into one of those miserable body condoms. Spanx & Skin ruled the Oscars.

A few women flaunt their flesh at the Oscars — If you didn’t need Spanx, you could run around half naked at the Oscars.

About Spanx. I have a couple of their products at the bottom of my underwear drawer. I should have thrown them out, because I could only endure their torture once or twice. But they were pricey. I keep thinking some day I’ll get my money’s worth. The first time I bought a Spanx, the salesclerk urged me to get a size too small. Something that fit comfortably wouldn’t do the job. And so, I yanked and tugged until I finally had my torso completely encased like a stuffed sausage..

Those first Spanx only had a slit of an opening. They hadn’t thought about anyone using the bathroom. Most of us cut a big hole, which meant the Spanx didn’t fit the way it should. The designers finally fixed that problem, but it’s still not fun to wear Spanx. It’s hard to smile when your guts are jammed against your backbone. But if you were attending the Oscars, you really didn’t have a choice. Did you notice the smooth silhouettes in those tight fitting designer dresses? You didn’t see a single bulging tummy—not a lump anywhere.

Spanx gave everyone smooth looks at the Oscars — Without Spanx, the ladies wouldn’t have looked so good in these gowns.

The few women with bodies beyond hope were smart enough to wear loose, flowing dresses or tops that camouflaged those extra pounds of flesh. They probably had the best time of anyone. Whether she won an Oscar or not, I’m willing to bet every woman wearing Spanx ripped off her clothes as soon as she got home.