DANGER LURKS IN TRAIN TOWNS

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT TRAINS? Life as we know it would come to a standstill. For one thing, they transport toxic chemicals too dangerous to be carried by trucks. This latest train derailment in Ohio caused a massive spill of vinyl chloride that is threatening the health of the entire town of East Palestine. Why should I care? Because I have lived in a train town for a major part of my life. Danger lurks in train towns.

Not being a chemist, I’ve never paid much attention to vinyl chloride. But apparently it’s a compound needed to make polyvinyl chloride, a hard plastic resin used to produce tons of important products: pipes, wire and cable coating, packaging material. It’s also used for life saving devices such as medical tubing and blood bags. It is in footwear and kids toy. Also, paints, rubber products, and some cosmetics. Polyvinyl chloride has been in use since 1926.

As the saying goes, somebody has to do it. Transport vinyl chloride, that is. It’s typically shipped in liquid form, but can turn into poisonous gas under certain conditions, like in Ohio. Apparently, there are safety features available that trigger automatic braking on trains carrying hazardous materials, before they derail. But somewhere along the way, those safety features were deregulated under the Trump administration. I guess they cost too much money or something. Anyway, the Biden administration under Transportation Secretary Buttigieg didn’t do anything to re instate the regulations, so I guess we can blame just about anybody for what happened in Ohio.

DANGER LURKS IN TRAIN TOWNS when trains derail and spread toxic fumes from hazardous material spills

Why should I be concerned when I live across from a beautiful, green, well maintained city park that covers 177 acres? Because there is a railroad track going straight through the park. I can look out my window and–through the bare trees in winter– see railroad cars gliding across the hills. A lot of classy homes have recently been built along the train tracks down the road. And a whole new subdivision of high end condos continues to grow less than a mile away..

There are 40 railroad crossings in this small college town, with a dwindling population of 57,699 people. We have beautiful parks, 5 colleges and universities, a new convention center and a casino in the works. Why don’t people want to stay here? Are the railroads the elephant in the room? Is there a subconscious reaction to the sight of trains running through our city at all hours of the day and night? We may never really know. All we can do is hope we don’t have a train derailment like the one that just occurred in Ohio.

Danger lurks in train towns.

February 6, 2023February 5, 2023

COLLEGE DROPOUTS WILL WIDEN WEALTH GAP

Remember the old saying, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer?” That axiom began to change in the last few decades, because college became more affordable and appealing to poor kids. But now, enrollment from that demographic has started to drop. In the town where I live, University enrollment has dwindled by 30% of what it was just a few years ago. Instead of roughly 12,000 students, it’s down to 8,000. Wowza! Conversely, enrollment at private colleges has greatly increased. Higher tuition and housing costs don’t seem to bother rich kids. Which means that college dropouts will widen the wealth gap for future generations.

Why do certain colleges and universities appeal to first generation students? Obviously, it’s all about money. Lower tuition and housing costs for sure, but also, lower academic standards. Kids who attend high schools in poor inner city neighborhoods don’t have the same advantages as children in ritzy suburbs. They don’t do nearly as well on achievement tests as their upper middle class counterparts. For obvious reasons. If you’ve ever taught school in a poor neighborhood, you know that some of the children can barely stay awake in class, and others are disadvantaged in ways that affect their academic achievement.

The Higher Education Act of 1965 changed the scenario for high school graduates raised in poverty . Pell grants and college loans were more readily available. Conventional wisdom was that a college graduate’s loans could be quickly repaid because of higher paying jobs after graduation. That worked out for students in certain fields like medicine, law, engineering, and other degrees. But for the C student who majored in English Lit, or became an elementary school teacher, that promise of a high paying career turned out to be a heartbreaking myth. And yet, a college degree was still seen as the key to upward mobility, higher social status, and a better life.

In the past few years, high school graduates have started to make pretty good money. Labor shortages and increased demand has resulted in higher wages for skilled workers. Now they can afford to buy a house or new car at a young age. A plumber or laboratory technician might make as much as a marketing manager. Truck drivers may earn more in the short run than English teachers. And they don’t have student loans hanging over their heads.

However, higher education still pays off in the long run. Over a lifetime, a person with a college degree will have more job security, occupational mobility, and greater earnings. Compare the job satisfaction of a 50 year old accountant to a top earning construction worker of the same age. Their incomes may have been similar. However, the construction worker’s legs and back could be giving out, while the accountant has no such worries. The accountant also has a good pension coming when he finally retires at age 65.

College enrollment is dwindling because a college education seems to have lost it’s appeal for kids from low income families.. Consequently, the wealth gap between rich and poor is likely to widen in the coming years.

January 25, 2023January 25, 2023

ANOTHER WACKY SQUAD IN CONGRESS

To paraphrase Tolstoy : “All ordinary congressmen are alike. Every wacky congressman is wacky in his/her own way.” In contrast, most US Senators tend to be more dignified. They’re thoroughly vetted by their own party, and the media in the states they represent. But when it comes to congressional candidates, it seems like anything goes. Especially in states with mega cities and numerous congressional districts. This year’s strange Republican congresspersons boggle the mind. If you thought the Democratic Squad was off the wall, hang on to your hat. There’s another wacky new squad in Congress.

ANOTHER WACKY NEW SQUAD IN CONGRESS, thanks to the Republicans. — ANOTHER WACKY NEW SQUAD IN CONGRESS include Rep. Boebert, Gaetz, Santos and Greene.

Let’s start with last season’s Democratic Squad. There’s Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota who was rumored to have married her brother. In 2019, she filed a joint tax return with her future husband while she was still married to the old spouse. It goes on and on. Then there’s Rashida Tlaib from Michigan who declared on the first day of Congress that her main goal was to get rid of Trump, and loudly declared, “we’re going to impeach the m…….f…….. Such crude behavior would not fly in Indiana, but apparently it pleased the constituents in her district.

Next, we have Alexandria Cortez who, among other things, killed a deal with Amazon that would have provided thousands of new jobs to constituents in her New York district. Finally, extreme liberal Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts who wants the voting age lowered to 16, and has sparked anger by calling for “unrest in the streets.”

If you live in fly over country, you’re probably wondering how anyone could have voted for these extremists. But not to be outdone, the Republicans have managed to produce their own wacky new squad in Congress.

Topping the list is George Santos, a pathological liar from New York who faked his resume and entire work history to get elected. Why? Because the Democrats paid him no mind, and he got caught up in a Republican sweep. Next, we have Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia who recently claimed Bill Gates wanted to force people to eat burgers grown in “peach tree dishes.” Lauren Boebert ran a restaurant in Colorado where the wait staff carried guns. Finally ,there’s Matt Gaetz who’s currently under investigation for sexual misconduct in Florida.

It’s kind of scary, but it demonstrates the danger of knee jerk voting. Most Americans vote for the party, not the individual candidate. They rarely listen to the candidate speeches, or God-forbid, read about their platforms in the newspapers. If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat or Republican, the poll workers will happily hand you a one party ballot. No explanations necessary.

So now, Republicans have their own squad to grab headlines and distract from the important work of congress.

January 15, 2023January 15, 2023

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING IN UK

I guess by now everyone has read some excerpts from Harry’s memoir, SPARE. It’s amazing that it’s a #1 best seller. The British monarchy is an outdated institution. For 1,000 years, it’s been assumed that the oldest son of a dying king was qualified to take over his Dad’s job, and do whatever kings are supposed to do. Which seems like a pretty flimsy premise. Would the oldest son of every cardiologist automatically qualify as a heart surgeon? Does a Kentucky derby winner stud breed a champion with every mare? As far as I can see, the British obsession with the monarchy is much ado about nothing.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Harry's memoir reveals the monarchy's many flaws — MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING IN UK. Prince Harry’s memoir, SPARE, exposes the frailty of the monarchy.

One episode in the book exemplified the trivial pursuits of the monarchy. Pregnant Princess Kate forgot something and American wife of the Spare jokingly attributed it to baby brain. Kate, being an uptight future queen, did not brush this off or take it in stride. She and the Prince of Wales decided this was a major insult that called for a formal confrontation at their home, after inviting Meghan and Harry for tea. Kate might have vented to her husband , but did they really need to make a mountain out of a molehill ? And when Meghan tried to explain, did William have to stick his finger in her face? Much ado about nothing

The monarchy is probably super touchy because they’re aware that their very livelihood is based on a scientifically invalid premise. They’re scared to death it’s finally going to dawn on the British taxpayers that the whole thing is a hoax. They’re frantically trying to maintain their image, even if it means playing games and planting stories with the British tabloids. It must be nerve wracking to think your very existence depends upon the whims of yellow journalists and muckrakers.

I don’t know what’s going to happen to Harry and Meghan in California. They may run out of steam after awhile, but I hope they achieve some sort of stability for their children. As far as re uniting with Harry’s toxic family-why would they want to?

January 3, 2023January 3, 2023

STOP! DON’T USE DISPOSABLE DIAPERS.

Once upon a time, no one had ever heard of disposable diapers. Strange as it may seem, babies were born and raised for hundreds of years without them. Cloth diapers were the norm. My first children, born in the early sixties, never had their skin touched by the numerous chemicals that go into producing disposable diapers. Stop! Don’t use disposable plastic diapers.

When disposable diapers first came out, they were considered a luxury. But it didn’t take long before they took over the baby world. I’ll have to admit that my third child, born in 1970, never wore a cloth diaper. No more laundry days spent folding diapers! Who wouldn’t love that?

Since that time, landfills all over the world are jammed with plastic diapers that will be impacting the environment for hundreds of years to come. It’s been estimated that it takes 500 years for a plastic diaper to decompose in a landfill. Politicians are quick to criticize fossil fuels and demand that we respect the environment with clean energy. And yet , I’ve never once heard a politician propose that we do away with plastic disposable diapers. Think of all the votes they would lose!

Not for profit diaper banks are available in many communities. Well meaning charities are praised for helping low income women keep their babies clean and dry. Disposable diapers are considered a necessity, not a luxury. Consequently, discarded dirty plastic diapers are everywhere– along the highways, in parking lots, public restroom, and beaches.

Stop! Don't Use Disposable Diapers; use bamboo cloth instead — Stop! Don’t Use Disposable Diapers. They’re expensive and clog up landfills.

You can now purchase biodegradable bamboo disposable diapers but they’re way too pricey for the average consumer. Wouldn’t it be better if diaper banks issued bamboo cloth diapers? They’re earth friendly, without skin irritating chemicals. If we banned plastic diapers just as some communities have banned plastic bags, landfills would stop filling up with dirty diapers. Money would be saved to be spent on other necessities.

According to a recently published article in Mint Intuit ” Disposables came in at $800 for the year, while reusables cost $584 – a savings of 27 percent. That savings climbs drastically – to 60 percent – when you look at the second year of your child’s life. Cloth diapers require scant extra investment, while disposables keep hacking at your wallet.”

Inflation is rapidly eating away at our purchasing power. Stop! Don’t use disposable diapers. They are more expensive than cloth.

December 23, 2022December 23, 2022

BUSINESSES ARE SLIP SLIDING AWAY

Economists can’t agree on whether or not we’re in a recession. Some are predicting doomsday, while stock brokers are advising investors to buy now. Financial analysis is far too sophisticated for me to understand. What I do know is that in this small midwestern college town, businesses are slip sliding away.

Let’s start with the past month. We called and ordered new window blinds to shut out the sunlight glaring in my husband’s failing eyesight. We chose to buy from a business that had been around for a quarter of a century. But when it came time to deliver the blinds, we were informed they’re going out of business at the end of the year. Unfortunately, the remote control didn’t work on the motorized roller blinds. Now, we are waiting for a working remote. And have just been informed it won’t be in until sometime in January They wanted us to pay the bill now, but we’re waiting until we get what we ordered.

.A few weeks ago, we bought all new tires for our aging SUV. Several days later, we found the tire pressure down on the left front tire. Asked the dealer what was wrong, and they shrugged and simply put more air in the tire. It went down a week later. They wanted us to stay and look for a nail in the tire, but we were low on time, so just got a refill on the air. The next week, the pressure went down again. This time, they grudgingly agreed to an inspection and found a leaky valve, which they had overlooked when installing the new tires. I suspect this dealership is understaffed and seeing a drop in new business. It won’t surprise me if they either change hands or simply slip slide away in the coming year.

. Lost my eye glasses, then accidentally found them after we stepped on them under the table. Called the hospital optical shop which has been in here over 35 years. Said they’re going out of business, but offered to fix my glasses. Which they did, free of charge. So sorry the people there will lose their jobs next year.

Took my prescription to one of those bargain optical companies in a strip mall for a pair of back up bifocals. There was one person waiting on folks. While he checked my face to fit my glasses, he stopped to wait on other customers who were making new appointments. Then, he left again to help someone at the desk fill out some paperwork. Finally, finished the measurements, and said the glasses would be ready the next day. But they weren’t, which I found out after driving across town to pick them up. Although I’ve already paid for them, they can’t tell me when they will be ready because the person in the lab is sick, and their equipment for grinding out glasses is broken down.

These experiences have all taken place within a months’ time. I can’t remember anything like this in my lifetime. I have to believe that our economy isn’t as healthy as the politicians would like us to believe. How many more businesses will slip slide away next year?

December 2, 2022December 3, 2022

TWITTERDUM & TWITTERDEE ARE DIFFERENT

Like most people my age, I’m not very tech savvy. As an example: I don’t understand what Elon Musk meant when he said that any employee who can write code should come to his office. I asked my grandson what it means to “write code.” He calmly replied, “It means you can write software programs.” I didn’t pursue the topic any further. I’ve been on Twitter for about a decade and outwardly, nothing has changed. However, my blog posts on the new Twitter are getting many more traffic referrals in the past few weeks. I haven’t the faintest idea why. All I know is that Twitterdum and Twitterdee are different. They’re not the same now.

Why in the world would an octogenarian be on Twitter ? I daresay, there are few of us on this particular social media site. It all started when I published my first novel, Take the Money; Romantic Suspense in Costa Rica. After finishing that Herculean task, and seeing the finished product for sale on Amazon, someone said that I should be marketing it on Twitter. Somehow, I figured out how to open a Twitter account. I had no idea what I was doing. In fact, I ended up with two Twitter accounts. I still don’t know how to delete the old one, but someone up there in Twitter heaven knows the difference, and links my blog posts to the right one.

If you think it takes a knowledge of computer science to write a blog, think again. I poked around on the internet and finally found what they call a host server, or something. Once again, in my ignorance, I set up two different blogs on Word Press, but only use the one. I don’t have the technical knowledge of how to delete the old one and this has caused some major problems with analytics. To make matters worse, I decided to move my blog to a different host server., Scratching your head? I can’t explain any of it. However, I do have a statistical plug in that tells me thousands of people all over the world are reading my blog every day. So I just keep writing away.

Back to Twitter. For several years, I used it only for promoting my novel. And then I started this blog, which took on a life of it’s own. For awhile, I thought I’d ask some publisher if they were interested in printing a book of my most popular posts. But a literary agent told me no one publishes something that’s already been over the internet. However, I’m not trying to monetize it– just connecting with family and friends while expressing my opinion on various subjects before I leave this world.

I try to look at both sides when talking politics, empathizing with Republicans and Democrats alike. But somewhere along the way , I must have written something that Twitter didn’t like. They didn’t kick me off, but obviously, they weren’t promoting my blog, because I only got 1 or 2 referrals a month from them. Now I’m getting about 30 or 40 a day. What has happened at Twitter? I don’t know, but I like it. Twitterdum and Twitterdee aren’t the same.. They’re distinctly different now.