and we wonder why we have the government we have today!

My grandson just finished his first week at the University. He told me that the professor of his “American Politics” class gave a 25 question test on the first day to see how much the students knew about the government. He happened to see one of the other student’s answers to a couple of questions as they turned in their paper. To the question “Who is the Secretary of State?” she answered Jesse Jackson and “who is the Secretary of Defense?” she answered Colin Powell. She had to be at least 18 years old, a college student, and eligible to vote.

She is representative of the electorate. Most voters are abysmally ignorant of current events unless it has to do with Michael Jackson, Madonna or Brad Pitt and I am not talking about the youth entirely. If you look at the Oprah Winfrey audience of screaming middle aged dunder-heads you have to wonder about their knowledge of current events. I venture to say if they were given the same test the results would be the same.

The media, et al is always exhorting the public that they have a “duty to vote.” Yes, but before they do they have a duty to study the candidates, the issues and make an informed vote. Sadly, that’s not going to happen. People, for the most part, vote on emotion, charisma and media bias.

One thing I have noticed when making an online purchase is that delivery most often comes sooner than expected when choosing the least expensive delivery option. So unless I really need something quickly I go for the cheaper shipping method. My theory is that the shipper probably processes all orders the same way and although you may choose a delivery option for up to 21 days it goes out right away and the carrier doesn’t hold on to it either, so you usually get the item in 3-4 days.

Bad back – I may have the cure for you, but ….

nobody believes me when I tell them how to solve the problem (in many cases).

Actually, my back would “go out” at least a couple times a year. Just reaching over to pick up a T-shirt would do it. Then I would suffer and I mean SUFFER for 4 to 6 days completely laid up.

One day I was reading an article about the back. It said that the lower spine should be in convex position when sitting and that most people allow the lower back to curve out when they sit. This stresses the ligaments and muscles constantly and keeps them in a weakened condition so that you are more vulnerable to damage by the simplest movement.

The answer is to use a small pillow behind your back, which keeps the lower spine in the proper position. The rub is that you must do this ALL THE TIME. The idea is keep from stressing those muscles so that they are not weakened and subject to injury when you make a bending or twisting movement. By doing it all the time you maintain a healthy condition and avoid causing the miserable “bad back.” In other words you are practicing preventative medicine.

I tried those so-called lumbar pillows, but found it hard to get in and out of the car. I ended up with a small throw pillow from the couch and still use it (thread bare as it is) now after over 15 years without one bad back.

The upshot is that now even when I don’t have a pillow as in someone’s office or home I instinctively arch my back. In fact I feel uncomfortable now if I were to let the back bend out.

Comments: bobtaylor@njsleuth.com
My Web Site: http://www.njsleuth.com/

Saturday, December 27, 2003

What’s bothering me today is these “mail rebates” that merchants use as part of the sale price of an item. In my opinion it is a gimmick, because unless you follow the complex procedures to the letter they may not honor the offer. In addition you had better keep a follow up file with copies of all the documentation required or you may be left tangling in the wind. I suspect that these manufacturers and merchants expect a good portion of the rebates may never be claimed or followed up.

In addition it makes the price look favorable when it is not. I took a page of an Office Max newspaper advertisement and compared the after rebate price on several digital cameras with prices on the net and found substantially lower prices with a simple Google search, even allowing for shipping costs.

Comments: bobtaylor@njsleuth.com
My Web Site: http://www.njsleuth.com/