Number One

In 2012, the world population was greater than 7 billion; therefore, the upper 10% was greater than 700 million and perhaps 45% or 315 million older than 15 years. There will be a wide range of intelligence and abilities in that upper 10%, mostly older population. I believe I am in that upper 10% which means that anything I can do or think or dream could potentially be equaled by a lot of other people–maybe 315,000,000–approaching the population of the United States. I understand that multiple factors are involved in thinking original thoughts, creating new products, solving everyday problems or just surviving in difficult conditions. The sheer numbers however should makes us not so quick to think we are so special. The take-away, be humble.

 

Number Two (2015)

Since September 11, 2001, about 400,000 gun-related deaths have occurred in the United States. Fourteen years times twelve months per year equal 168 months. 400,000 divided by 168 is about 2381 gun-related deaths per month during this post-9/11 time.

If a fully loaded 747 can carry 400 people, then 2381 people would fill 6 fully loaded 747s and this would have to happen every month for the entire 14 years for a total of 1008 fully loaded 747s to account for that many deaths.

Even one would be unacceptable under normal circumstances, but 1008? We need a more sensible approach to gun safety.

 

Do we need to defend ourselves from terrorists? Of course, but since 9/11, about 100 of our citizens have been killed by terrorist activities or one (1) for every four thousand (4000) of our citizens killed by gun violence.

 

Guns don’t kill people, people kill people

Nonsense, of course guns kill people because they are so much more lethal and/or impersonal than knives, axes, hammers, strangling, drowning, etc. Good people on both sides of the issue need to continue to talk and work toward a solution.

 

 

So Take a Trip to the Dead Zone

Where common sense takes a holiday,brains are anything but brainy,

logic is a forbidden concept and

fear a commodity to trade large.

Enter this fairy land at any gun show or

NRA official gathering where

semi-automatics, mega clips, open or concealed

carry is religion but any kind of regulation fascism.

We should all stand-by the Second Amendment–

owning flint-fired muskets as members of a well regulated

militia is fine by me.

 

 

Number Three

Some hedge fund managers make a billion dollars in one year–that is 1,000,000,000 dollars in one year. Pretty incredible to contemplate when many hard working people make 10-20 thousand dollars per year per job, often working several to make ends meet. Maybe the hedge fund manager is a super outlier, but there are certainly many in the upper 0.1 percent of income who make 1 million, 10 million, even 100 million dollars in a year. To compare these huge incomes with those of ordinary people, consider the following ratios of a 10,000 dollar per year income:

1 million/year equals 100 ten thousand dollar incomes

10 million/year equals 1000 ten thousand dollar incomes

100 million/year equals 10,000 ten thousand dollar incomes

1 billion/year equals 100,000 ten thousand dollar incomes

Do you think there is something wrong with this–like income inequality? Can one individual really be worth the same as 100,000 others?

 

Number Four

Why is it that General David Petraeus can commit the serious crime of leaking highly classified documents to his mistress and get a plea deal with a sentence of two years probation and a stiff fine but no loss of rank or retirement benefits and no jail time; whereas, someone caught dealing marijuana has jail time in their future. If you can’t pay court costs for a minor infraction in Ferguson, MO, it’s jail time and/or you lose your driver’s license. Being poor, perhaps the most major inequality.

 

King-Size

King-size beds are the root of our problems demanding

bigger rooms in bigger homes costing more, consuming more

and polluting more. Bedding, accessories, accoutrements, all

add to the tab.

We have developed an infatuation with king-size

beds making them a mega slumber symbol. Checking into

a hotel, the choice is often two queens or one king.

Not sure if women are booking, but for men it is the king,

not some queen, even if there are two of them.

Given that Americans are some of world’s stoutest people and

growing, the king may become a necessity not a choice. Maybe

we should call them fat-size beds, but that would raise a

rumpus.

Why do we like king-size beds? Is it for comfort, having our

own space (creating an eating nook), romance—there are two

things to be done in bed and only one is sleep?

As to comfort, some king-size beds have a crease or seam in

the middle (if you can’t afford the giant mattress) which is

uncomfortable leading to issues with the second reason to be

in bed, romance.

If the middle of the mattress is uncomfortable and there are

acres of space on either side, do some king-size beds actually

inhibit romance? Who does the traveling; is there a schedule;

who decides?

divorce rate; I submit it is king-size beds. If you spend one

third of your life in a different zip code (opposite side of a

king-size bed) from your mate when you should be getting

cozy, it can’t be the right recipe for romance. It takes

effort and scooching over to get to the other side or out

of bed, especially for older guys, if you know what I mean.

For all those social scientists and other experts examining our

sexual habits, the answer is right between the sheets,

especially if there is a mattress crease. So get rid of

separation-inducing sleeping arrangements and put couples

back in touch with a good old double bed or maybe a queen for

the well-adjusted. Touching can be thrilling and

stimulating; let’s promote it by saying, the king is dead, long

live the queen or make mine a double.