Friday, July 29, 2016

Is Pokemon Go bad for the Environment?

Is Pokemon Go helping to add toxic gases into the atmosphere, one of which is carbon dioxide CO2, the principal greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change?
Unless you live in a cave (which is not a bad choice) you have heard of the newest fad amount the young, not so young, and even the old. It's Pokemon Go, and it's main mission... Get people up, get them outside, and get them walking. How could that possibly be bad? Well, the good part is that many are indeed coming out of their housed, and doing just what the game makers intended. The not so good part of that (aside from the stories of inattentiveness that we all have read) is when people play the game in a manner in which it was never intended, and by that I mean in a car.
I happen to have a front row seat to a downtown main street, and since it's release there have been Pokemon Go car players every night. I can see them while I am working, driving slowly down the street, looking at their phones. Darting in and out of parking spaces trying to catch these little critters. Absolutely idiotic, you say...who would even consider doing this while driving? Well I am here to tell you that their number is large. I also know that if it is going on in my small town, it is going on everywhere the game is being played. These are not feeble people who want to get out, and unfortunately cannot walk, oh no, these are self consumed people who put their wants, and needs above all, even the safety of others. They want to play the game in a comfortable environment, but what will be the cost to the rest of us?
Gas:
Yes wasting gas for one. I have seen the same cars on many nights for an hour or more. These people have actually made a conscience choice to buy more gas, so they can keep playing the game. Many people don't realize how much gas they spend idling. Idling your car wastes gas and pours pollutants into the environment.
Polution:
FYI: Idling is when a driver leaves the engine running and the vehicle parked. Everyday in the U.S. millions of cars and trucks idle needlessly, sometimes for hours and an idling car can release as much pollution as a moving car
Granted, you may not be able to avoid keeping your engine running when you’re stopped at a traffic signal or stuck in slow-moving traffic. But other times idling is unnecessary. Playing Pokemon Go would be one of those times. For every 10 minutes your engine is off, you’ll prevent one pound of carbon dioxide from being released (carbon dioxide is the primary contributor to global warming).
How is idling harmful to those around you, including those walking around playing Pokemon Go?
Idling increases the amount of vehicle exhaust in our air. Exhaust contains many pollutants that are linked to asthma and other lung diseases, allergies, heart disease,increased risk of infections and cancer and other health problems.
An operating vehicle emits a range of gases from its tailpipe into the atmosphere, one of which is carbon dioxide CO2– the principal greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Remember, those people outside of your car have no choice but to breathe the air around them. It amazes me that these people playing Pokemon Go in their cars are not thinking these same things, but as I have said...it's all about them, and their comfort.






Monday, July 25, 2016

Kellogg's NYC! Are you ready for it?

Kellogg's has opened a Cereal Cafe in New York's famed Times Square!
Now I like cereal, only having coffee for breakfast, I usually have it for lunch. I even like the thought of someone opening up a Cereal Cafe. In my home town the only creative idea seems to be another bar, so to me this is a good thought. It was said that New York was the place to do this, but I beg to differ. I think many towns would welcome a Cereal Cafe. think about it... Who doesn't like cereal?
Kellogg’s NYC opened on the Fourth of July on Broadway at 49th St., with a menu that is not necessarily just for kids, or for many residents of the five boroughs.
“It’s not for us anyway, it’s for the tourists,” said Art Alvaradi, 41, of Astoria, Queens. “They don’t know any better.” A naive comment, but still a good idea, so I will overlook it.
A little Kellogg history:
John Harvey Kellogg, M.D. (February 26, 1852 – December 14, 1943) was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas, and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism for health and is best known for the invention of the breakfast cereal known as corn flakes with his brother, Will Keith Kellogg.
John Harvey Kellogg was an especially strong proponent of nuts, which he believed would save mankind in the face of decreasing food supplies. Though mainly renowned nowadays for his development of corn flakes, Kellogg also patented a process for making peanut butter and invented healthy "granose biscuits."
Back to the Cereal Cafe:
The restaurant believes breakfast cereal is the most important meal of the day, as we all know, and will cater to a clientele eager for food and favorite childhood memories characters such as of Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam. Unlike those childhood memories The cereal bowls will set you back $7.50, and come in 6 flavors, such as Raisin Bran, the circus, toasted peanuts and banana chips.
You can also get:
"Berry Me in Green Tea" Rice Krispies with fresh strawberries and green tea powder. "Pistachio & lemon" Special K Original, Frosted Flakes, pistachios, lemon zest and thyme. Yum!
A regular bowl of cereal and milk, like the one you make in the kitchen each morning, is $7.50 for a large serving and $6.50 for a small. You might as well get a large...
While the idea does have it's critics, I do like the concept. It is New York, so you have to expect the higher price, but it could be a wonderful thing in your town, or mine.





Monday, July 18, 2016

Ghostly Hand Print Left On Bed Cover, Paranormal, Ghost, Spirits

Hand print appears on bed cover. #Ghost #Paranormal #Spirits


I walked into an unused bedroom in the house the other day and found this hand print was left on the bed cover.









Tuesday, July 12, 2016

How To End Violence In One Day

How We Could End Violence In One Day
Sounds impossible doesn't, but it can be done, and at absolutely zero cost to anyone. Search the internet, and you will find thousands upon thousands of sites dedicated to ending violence. Violence against women, violence against children, violence against black men, violence the police, and the list goes on, and on, but the solution is really very simple, and it lies with you. Your own behavior, and your attitude, and your comments are really the only thing that you can control in life. You can try to influence others, but in the end the only person you can guarantee to change is yourself. So that is where you must begin.
What is this magic pill, you ask???
It all has to do with you, and your behavior. Your reactions to others in your everyday life.
Make today a new day. Use it as a day to begin again. Greet others with a smile, and a friendly "Hello". Show everyone you meet in your day respect, no matter what kind of person it is. They are a person, not a group, or a stereotype. Be kind, and see what kind of response you get. It may not work every time, but that is not a reflection of you, it is another person who also must change. Don't make everything about you, and you will drastically improve your life.
Think of others, and how their day may be going, and how you could influence that in a more positive way. We must, as humans begin to accept responsibility for our own lives, and where we are in them. We cannot blame anyone else for that.
Never do illegal drugs, or abuse alcohol. Both will lead to violence. Illegal drugs support the drug cartels, and alcohol is a factor in 40% of all violent crimes today.
Remember the The Golden Rule “Treat others as you want to be treated.
Never lie, cheat, or steal. Never listen to those with negative thoughts. Never listen to those who tell you you cannot succeed because of someone, or something else. That is pretty easy, so if it has been a part of your everyday life, you may wish to remember the rules of Karma:
1. THE GREAT LAW - "As you sow, so shall you reap". This is also known as the "Law of Cause and Effect". Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us. If what we want is Happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship. Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.
2. THE LAW OF CREATION - Life doesn't just HAPPEN, it requires our participation. - We are one with the Universe, both inside and out. Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state. BE yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your Life.
3. THE LAW OF HUMILITY - What you refuse to accept, will continue for you. If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.
4. THE LAW OF GROWTH - "Wherever you go, there you are". For us to GROW in Spirit, it is we who must change - and not the people, places or things around us. - The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES and that is the only factor we have control over. When we change who and what we are within our heart our life follows suit and changes too.
5. THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY - Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me. We mirror what surrounds us and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth. - We must take responsibility what is in our life.
6. THE LAW OF CONNECTION - Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected. Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on. Someone must do the initial work to get a job done. Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance, As they were both needed to accomplish the task. - Past-Present-Future they are all connected...
7. THE LAW OF FOCUS - You can not think of two things at the same time. When our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.
8. THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY - If you believe something to be true,then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth. - Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned, into actual PRACTICE.
9. THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW - Looking backward to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW. - Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams... - Prevent us from having new ones.
10. THE LAW OF CHANGE - History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.
11. THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD - All Rewards require initial toil. - Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil. - True joy follows doing what we're suppose to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on its own time.
12. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION - You get back from something whatever YOU have put into it. - The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it. Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole. - Lack luster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.
In short... Be to be happy, you must spread happiness, kindness, respect, and joy. Try it today, and start a new life.



Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Is It Time To Restrict Fireworks To The Professionals Only.

They are dangerous, dirty, smelly, and very noisy. Fireworks are loved, and hated by many, including pets. Has the time come to ban them from the general public everywhere?
The vast majority of the world’s fireworks come from China. And sometimes they explode early, with deadly consequences. Many times they are mishandled by adults and children without an understanding of what could happen.
As firework laws are relaxed in the U.S., injuries are increasing, and in some instances, death. Many adults still allow children to handle them, even though it is not recommended.
According to CNN: "Since 2000, there's been a trend toward relaxing firework restrictions. The latest state to loosen its laws is New York. As of 2015, the state went from an outright ban to legalizing novelty items such as sparklers, party poppers and cone fountains in some counties. Only three states have laws that maintain total prohibition of all consumer fireworks: Delaware, Massachusetts and New Jersey."
New Research:
[4135.266] Effect of Fireworks Laws on Pediatric Fireworks Related Burn Injuries
John Myers, Charles Woods, Yana Feygin, Carlee Lehna. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.
BACKGROUND: Changes in US fireworks laws have allowed younger children to purchase fireworks; and allowed individuals to purchase more powerful ones. To date, no study has evaluated the effect these changes have had on medical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the epidemiology of pediatric fireworks-related burn injuries among a nationally representative sample of the US for the years 2006-2012.
DESIGN/METHODS: We examined inpatient admissions for pediatric (<20 years of age) firework-related burn patients from 2006-2012 using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample; and examined ED admissions using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Both data sources are part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Trajectories over time were evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 3193 injuries represented an estimated 90,257 firework-related burn injuries treated in the US from 2006 to 2012. A majority of injuries were managed in the ED, 62.9%. The incidence modestly increased over time; increasing from 4.28 per 100,000 population in 2006 to 5.12 per 100,000 population in 2012. However, definitively, the proportion of injuries requiring inpatient admission (28.9% in 2006 to 50.0% in 2012), and mean length of stay (LOS) in the hospital (3.12 days in 2006 to 7.35 days in 2012), significantly increased over time, while the mean age decreased over time (12.1 years old in 2006 to 11.4 years old in 2012).
CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric fireworks-related burn injuries have increased in incidence, apparent severity of injury, the proportion requiring hospitalization and LOS (in the hospital) in a time period of relaxed fireworks laws in the US. Fireworks laws may need to be revisited by policy-makers.
E-PAS2016:4135.266
Session: Poster Session: Emergency Medicine: Epidemiology (7:00 AM - 11:00 AM) Date/Time: Tuesday, May 3, 2016 - 7:00 am
Room: Exhibit Hall F - Baltimore Convention Center
Board: 266
Course Code: 4135
Myers' research used discharge data from inpatient hospitals and emergency departments. His findings were presented at the Pediatrics Academic Societies meeting in Baltimore in May. The research has not been published or peer-reviewed.
"In terms of severity of injuries requiring hospital treatment, we are very concerned about the misuse of fireworks and have seen an increase in injuries among youth..."
The University of Louisville research team measured the number of firework-related injuries for youths aged 20 and under from 2006 to 2012. While the number of minor burns and related injuries (estimated at 90,257) increased only slightly over that time period, the amount of serious injuries requiring hospitalization jumped from 28.9% to 50%. The means that the length of a hospital stay related to a significant firework-related injury also increased, from 3.12 days in 2006 to 7.35 days in 2012.
Fireworks by the numbers:
From 2009-2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 18,500 fires caused by fireworks. These fires included 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and 16,900 outside and other fires. An estimated two people were killed in these fires.
In 2014, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 10,500 people for fireworks related injuries; 51% of those injuries were to the extremities and 38% were to the head. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2014 Fireworks Annual Report by Yongling Tu and Demar Granados.
The risk of fireworks injury is highest for young people ages 5-9, followed by children 10-19.
More than one-quarter (28%) of fires started by fireworks in 2009-2013 were reported on July 4th. Almost half (47%) of the reported fires on the Fourth of July were started by fireworks.
Source: NFPA’s Fireworks report, by Marty Ahrens, June 2016
*To minimize risk of injury, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends never allowing young children to play with or ignite fireworks and to always have an adult supervise fireworks activities.

4th of July fireworks linked to spike in pollution:
In addition to the debris that is often left behind following displays, studies have linked fireworks to water contamination, particularly by perchlorate, a chemical used in fireworks to create bright flashes of light. Perchlorate exposure can cause thyroid problems, and is considered a “likely human carcinogen” by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It can also harm wildlife.
This pollution doesn’t have to happen. There are methods of preventing, or at least minimizing, pollution from fireworks. Some cities are already doing this. In San Diego, for example, companies putting on fireworks displays are required to use practices that give maximum protection to the body of water below.
Levels of tiny pollutants are 42% higher on the holiday than on a typical day, one study says:
Fireworks on the Fourth of July dramatically increase air pollution, boosting exposure to potentially dangerous pollutants for millions of onlookers, according to a recent study in the journal Atmospheric Environment.
The level of particulate matter, or small pollutants like dust, dirt and soot present in the air, increased by 42% on average across the U.S. on the Fourth of July, according to the study. Air conditions are at their worst between 9 and to 10 p.m. on the day of the holiday. The researchers, who looked at data from 315 sites across the country, found that ten of the sites met a threshold deemed unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when sustained for a prolonged period of time.
“Particles tend to stay suspended in the air for days,” says Schwartz. “They’re going to drift whichever way the winds goes, so it’s not just going to be the people sitting in the park watching the fireworks.”
For years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists observed sites across the United States on July 4 and 5, to determine hourly concentrations of fine particulate matter.
“These results will help improve air quality predictions, which currently don’t account for fireworks as a source of air pollution,” says Dian Seidel, author of the study and a scientist at the NOAA.
Short and long-term exposure to air pollutants from fireworks can lead to numerous health issues including:
Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Asthma
Heart attack
Stroke
The Environmental Protection Agency encourages those who are sensitive to particle pollution to watch the fireworks from a distance.
“We chose the holiday, not to put a damper on celebrations of America’s independence, but because it is the best way to do a nationwide study of the effects of fireworks on air quality,” Seidel says.