Good news is coming to us. They show a line graph of GNP growth. They have lines for Europe, Japan, China, and the US of A. The line for America is pointing up at 45 degrees, showing growth and progress. The lines for the rest of the world are flat or drooping.
Wow. To look at this graph you'd think things are booming here. We all know they aren't. But if there is any truth in this graph, then the rest of the world is deep into hurtsville. Worse off than we are, and that's gotta be bad.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Salt may be innocent
Right now conventional wisdom says that salt is bad for you, and contributes to high blood pressure. This has resulted in an avalanche of "low sodium" (aka unsalted) products to clutter grocery shelves. I always wondered about the evils of salt. The saltiness of your blood (which is also the saltiness of all your body) is controlled by your kidneys. There are a lot of chemical reasons for the body to maintain a constant saltiness. When the kdneys sense to low a salt level, they retain some salt to keep the saltiness of blood up. Contrary wise, when the kidneys sense excessive blood salt, they filter it out and you excrete it in the urine. If things work this way, then the amount of salt you eat doesn't matter much. Within limits that is.
Now comes an article in Scientific American supporting the "salt doesn't matter" view. It makes sense to me.
Of course the medical community probably isn't on board with this. And may never be. And, Scientific American is no longer the gold standard it once was. Twenty years ago Scientific American had real science articles written by real scientists, and was authoritative. No longer. Journalists began to rewrite the articles and they got so bad I dropped my subscription many years ago. The article linked to is short, written by a non scientific type, and merely quotes half a dozen studies performed by others.
But it's worth watching, especially if you find the "low sodium" products tasteless.
Now comes an article in Scientific American supporting the "salt doesn't matter" view. It makes sense to me.
Of course the medical community probably isn't on board with this. And may never be. And, Scientific American is no longer the gold standard it once was. Twenty years ago Scientific American had real science articles written by real scientists, and was authoritative. No longer. Journalists began to rewrite the articles and they got so bad I dropped my subscription many years ago. The article linked to is short, written by a non scientific type, and merely quotes half a dozen studies performed by others.
But it's worth watching, especially if you find the "low sodium" products tasteless.
NRA meets the Press
David Gregory had Wayne LaPierre, NRA chief, an the show as a guest this morning. Despite a lot of badgering from Gregory, Lapierre did pretty well defending his position. He, and the NRA, advocate stationing armed policemen in schools to defend them against homicidal maniacs. In actual fact, this would be pretty effective.
It would be expensive, although not as expensive as the TSA grope and scan operation. My little town has a single school and a 5 or 6 man police department. We would have to hire at least one more officer. Neighboring Bethlehem has three schools, and would need to hire three more officers.
Not so clearly stated, is the NRA's objection to an "assault weapon" ban. "Assault weapon" is a propaganda term. There are no objective differences between deer rifles and "assault weapons". The NRA fears that an "assault weapon" ban would broaden to ban deer rifles and eventually all firearms. And, in fact, that is the gun control people's plan. The gun control people know they can't pass a law to ban all firearms in one fell swoop, so they will use the camel's nose in the tent strategy. Ban a few at a time.
In real life, all firearms are deadly, and the Connecticut shooter would have killed as many no matter what sort of gun he used. Calling the 22 caliber semi automatic rifle he did use an "assault weapon" makes it sound like the weapon is responsible for the killing, not the homicidal maniac pulling the trigger.
It would be expensive, although not as expensive as the TSA grope and scan operation. My little town has a single school and a 5 or 6 man police department. We would have to hire at least one more officer. Neighboring Bethlehem has three schools, and would need to hire three more officers.
Not so clearly stated, is the NRA's objection to an "assault weapon" ban. "Assault weapon" is a propaganda term. There are no objective differences between deer rifles and "assault weapons". The NRA fears that an "assault weapon" ban would broaden to ban deer rifles and eventually all firearms. And, in fact, that is the gun control people's plan. The gun control people know they can't pass a law to ban all firearms in one fell swoop, so they will use the camel's nose in the tent strategy. Ban a few at a time.
In real life, all firearms are deadly, and the Connecticut shooter would have killed as many no matter what sort of gun he used. Calling the 22 caliber semi automatic rifle he did use an "assault weapon" makes it sound like the weapon is responsible for the killing, not the homicidal maniac pulling the trigger.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Car Dashboards
My car has a regular dashboard with analog indicators for oil pressure, water temp, fuel level, and voltage. The analog indicators ( a red needle) are easier to read at a glance than digital displays. But it could be better, for no cost increase.
The gauges could be marked with real numbers instead of just H and L. This way you would have something meaningful to pass on the the mechanic on the phone.
The scales could have a green band to show normal and proper levels. And a red band to indicate trouble. And they could be arranged so that all the needles point up at 12 o'clock when things are good. That makes a quick glance at the instruments more meaningful.
Too bad the stylists rule in Detroit.
The gauges could be marked with real numbers instead of just H and L. This way you would have something meaningful to pass on the the mechanic on the phone.
The scales could have a green band to show normal and proper levels. And a red band to indicate trouble. And they could be arranged so that all the needles point up at 12 o'clock when things are good. That makes a quick glance at the instruments more meaningful.
Too bad the stylists rule in Detroit.
Cannon Mountain Ski Weather
It's cooled down, it's now below freezing and we have a few flakes drifting down from the sky. No accumulation yet. It was too warm to make snow last night.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Arming Teachers
Well, any of the formidable grownups who taught in my grade school, Miss Shirley, Miss Gaudette, Miss Percy, Mr. Convery, Mrs Falby, would have no trouble handling firearms, and preventing a massacre of students.
Teachers might be more willing to carry if the school provided good student proof gun safes in each classroom. And didn't make a fuss about firearms locked up in privately owned automobiles on the school parking lot. And some state laws protecting them from lawsuits by the shooter's lawyers.
Teachers might be more willing to carry if the school provided good student proof gun safes in each classroom. And didn't make a fuss about firearms locked up in privately owned automobiles on the school parking lot. And some state laws protecting them from lawsuits by the shooter's lawyers.
Cannon Mountain Ski Weather, It's Bad.
It's warmed up to 40, it's raining, and the snow is vanishing. Not good.
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