What’s New In Who Knew?

Who knew the cost of gas would triple in eight years? Wyoming pays the least for gas and California pays the most - but the cost of gas is going up all around the country. Among the reasons given for this are unstable world conditions, increased demand because China and India are becoming industrialized, OPEC cutting production, strict U.S. emission standards, increasing refinery costs, oil company mergers and taxes added to the cost of gas for road maintenance. Although we need to be oil-free and... Read more »

What Would Change If I Ran The World?

If I ran the world, I’d outlaw rap music because - it isn’t music. It’s negative, violent, police bashing, women debasing, trash talk. It’s the kind of talk that would have gotten my sons sent to their rooms for an extended period of time. This, of course, would have been followed by complaints that such treatment was unfair - but maybe that’s where rap comes from - from boys thinking they got a bad rap. When I see a car with an array of dents and scratches, I think... Read more »

What Would We Do Without Words?

The Oxford English Dictionary contains 616,500 words and 10,000 - 20,000 of those are in the average person’s vocabulary. Unfortunately, a large percent of those words are only in our recognition vocabularies - not in our everyday speech. Maybe that’s why greeting cards are a seven and a half million dollar business. Maybe we’re willing to pay $4.99 for a card because we’re short on words. The Miriam Webster Dictionary has more than 100 new words and phrases in its 2007 edition.... Read more »

Is There A Recipe For Making Money?

Because of the importance of money, many people frame the first dollar they earned. I didn’t. Because I earned my first dollar selling lemonade, I would have had to frame four quarters. Nevertheless, because I believe it’s never too late, I framed my first earnings notification from Google. For selling ads on my blog I was notified I’d earned two cents. I interpreted that as meaning someone had gotten their two cents worth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, there... Read more »

Is Work A Four-Letter Word?

Secretary, knitting instructor, social worker, writer - I’ve enjoyed my work. I’ve also enjoyed other peoples’ work - like hairdressers. When I’m in a salon, I enjoy watching hairdressers change the look of their clients. Usually people with straight hair want curly hair and those with curly hair want straight hair; but with all the products on the market today, we can have the look we want. Rinses and dyes, perms and straighteners, extensions and implants - I’m continually... Read more »

What’s Good About Good Health?

There are 5 components of good health. The first is genetics. Although you can’t change genetics, pharmaceutical manufacturers help us live with them. Bayer, one of the largest manufacturers of over-the-counter medications and supplements, is starting a line of products for aging baby boomers. “Nutritional Science” will feature labels that make the benefits of each product clear, enabling consumers to choose the products that are right for them. Hmmm, is it just me or does it sound... Read more »

Haunted Airports in Hawaii!

Kaua’i, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth to live. The island embraces you with a feeling of love and there is a pulsating spiritual energy that covers the island. I was fortunate to live and work on the island for 5 years. I can recall several instances where I encountered ghosts when traveling around the island. I saw Hawaiian ghosts in my house, at my work, in restaurants and even hotel bathrooms. At the airport my shift began at 5:00 A.M., even though the first flight... Read more »

Is There Humor In Politics?

Humor isn’t a word usually associated with politics, but it’s there. Abraham Lincoln, one of our most admired politicians, was good at turning insults into smiles. When Stephen Douglas called him two-faced during one of their debates, Lincoln replied, “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I would wear this one?” Winston Churchill, prime minister of England, frequently used humor to his advantage, as well as to get the advantage over his opponents.... Read more »

Industrial Design Has It’s Uses - Somewhere

Look up the back of the kitchen cupboard, or under the stairs in any house in Britain and you will find a product of industrial design that has been hidden away since its first use. Get someone in the house to admit is was useless and you’re on a losing streak. If the husband bought the gadget it was highly important and absolutely necessary at the time of purchase. Any product of industrial design deserves a loving place in the garage. What the wife wants to know is how come this desperately... Read more »

Can You Take The “I” Out Of Traffic?

My grandmother believed traffic was one of God’s ways to teach patience. Well, the next time you’re waiting for a red light to turn green you can think about William Potts. William Potts, a Detroit policeman, used red, amber and green railroad lights and about $37 worth of wire and electrical controls to invent the first, four-way traffic light. It was installed at a major, Detroit intersection in 1920; and within a year 14 more traffic lights were installed. Unfortunately, Officer Potts’... Read more »