by Sandy Sand
Okay. I do remember. I was being as silly as the study.
Where do they come up with these nonsensical studies and who are the fools who pay for them? And why do newspaper editors allow their lazy reporters to get away with blindly rewriting press releases with no thought to the efficacy of the study, who paid for it or the study's conclusions?
I read this study with my usual skepticism and came up with more questions than ever about what were the so-called researchers thinking when they did a study on older people not remembering too "good" when they're distracted.
Like, doesn't everybody?
Being an early ancient, I can clearly remember having things go in one head and out the other, because I was distracted. Real bummer when that happens especially while driving and an errant trash can dashes in front of your car.
So, they threw a bunch of oldsters into a noisy lab and tested their concentrationess, and concluded that older people don't concentrate too well when distracted.
Golly gee!
Were any of their victims somewhat deaf or hard of seeing? They wouldn't be so easily distracted by sights and sounds.
How many of them had even heard of concentrating on something to the exclusion of anything else. It take years to develop that talent unless you're blessed with the single-mindedness gene.
Old as I am, I remember writing news stories while sitting at my desk in a noisy bullpen surrounded by an infernal babble of reporters and ad people hawking their wares. There was even a time when I wrote a story while standing in the unemployment line. Now I write with the radio on and only hear an occasional word uttered by the disembodied voices.
The only thing that distracted me was the hugely fat ad saleslady keeping the air-conditioning set at below Arctic zero. It's damn hard to think or type when you're shivering and your fingers are frozen stiff.
I can't imagine why the editor got pissed at me when one day I had the backshop guys literally pick up my desk and move it to the front office with all the chattering display ad people.
But I digress.The study was based on face recognition.
I dare anyone to see a face for one second, and then recall if it had been flashed before their eyes before.
Guess what, geniuses, I couldn't remember a face when I was younger and I can't do it now.
Heaven help me if I ever have to pass that are-you-going-soft-in-the-brain test and have to count backwards by sevens from one hundred, nor can I recite the times tables above five with any degree of accuracy.
I could never have done that at any age. Or worse, what if they tested me on remembering names, book or movie title. Everyone is you know, what's-his-face, and I have to describe movie or novel plots and let someone else come up with the title.
Unlike the average dufuss on the street that Sean Hannity interviews to see how current they are on what everyone should know, I unfortunately know the name of the vice president and I can find obscure and well-known countries on a map. We all have our talents.
There was also a degree of unfainess to the study, as they used more youngsters than oldsters, which didn't balance the study, but as far as I concerned, skewed and skewered the results.
Read the study for youself and draw your own conclusions, that is...if you can remember to do it.
Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_11084242
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Woman Who Kept Slinky Alive Died at 90
by Sandy Sand
Who can forget?
Ev'ryone knows it's SlinkyIt's Slinky,it's Slinky
For fun, it's a wonderful toy.
It's fun for a girl and a boy.
Betty James, who named the Slinky toy and rescued it from falling into oblivion after her husband abandoned his toy company, died at age 90.
Her determination to save the company and the toy paid off with Slinky becoming a household word.
It didn’t hurt either that Saturday Night Live and the combined brilliant comedic talents of Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray entertained us with their long-running version of coiled wire toy.
Curtin played the widow of “Poor Mr. Lupner,” the human Slinky, “He was born without a spine.”
Radner was their hapless daughter Lisa, who constantly suffered from “nooggies” dished out by her dufuss boyfriend, Todd, played by Murray.
Slinky soared into the hearts of American children by walking down stairs after Gimbel’s department store in Philadelphia gave the couple the opportunity to demonstrate the unique toy for its customers.
On that cold, snowy day 63 years ago, the James’ sold 400 Slinkys at $1 each. Considering how much the cost of everything has gone up since 1945, the toy is still a bargain that brings hours of entertainment to kids at $4.99.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-james25-2008nov25,0,7420591.story
Who can forget?
Ev'ryone knows it's SlinkyIt's Slinky,it's Slinky
For fun, it's a wonderful toy.
It's fun for a girl and a boy.
Betty James, who named the Slinky toy and rescued it from falling into oblivion after her husband abandoned his toy company, died at age 90.
Her determination to save the company and the toy paid off with Slinky becoming a household word.
It didn’t hurt either that Saturday Night Live and the combined brilliant comedic talents of Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray entertained us with their long-running version of coiled wire toy.
Curtin played the widow of “Poor Mr. Lupner,” the human Slinky, “He was born without a spine.”
Radner was their hapless daughter Lisa, who constantly suffered from “nooggies” dished out by her dufuss boyfriend, Todd, played by Murray.
Slinky soared into the hearts of American children by walking down stairs after Gimbel’s department store in Philadelphia gave the couple the opportunity to demonstrate the unique toy for its customers.
On that cold, snowy day 63 years ago, the James’ sold 400 Slinkys at $1 each. Considering how much the cost of everything has gone up since 1945, the toy is still a bargain that brings hours of entertainment to kids at $4.99.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-james25-2008nov25,0,7420591.story
Friday, November 21, 2008
Speculation Runs Rampant on the Future Who’s Whos in the Obama Administration
by Sandy Sand
Vegas odds makers are probably in on the spek-a-latin’ act, too. Maybe we should check them out; they were correct in calling Obama’s election.
Before we go all nutzy over the new same old faces in the Barack Obama administration, and some of his rumored picks don’t thrill me either, we should always keep in mind that those who have served in previous administrations, or are currently serving are the people with experience.
We’d be raising holy hell if the Obama team were only considering names we never heard of and people with no experience…like choosing a “Brownie”, who served on a horsie set board to head up FEMA.
That worked out really well, as did all of Bush’s other appointments that amounted to no more than political patronage and payback for support.
(Speaking of FEMA. Mr. President-elect, please take FEMA the hell out of Homeland Security and put it back as a cabinet position where it belongs!)
To hell with experience or people with a modicum of common sense and doing what’s best for the country.
Some have interpreted Obama’s theme of “change” during the campaign as throwing out all the old people for fresh new faces.
That was our and/or the press’ conclusion jumping.
More logical, “change” meant out with the Bush Doctrine, killing the Constitution, signing statements, fiats, hating average Americans and only loving the wealthy and corporations and every other evil afflicting the Bush administration, and dragging the country into the depths of worldwide animus and depression -- both psychologically and economically.
Below is a link to an Associated Press story that lists all the current possible who will be whos, who are under consideration.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_11036199
Sandy Sand is a resident of Los Angeles, free lance writer, former editor of the Tolucan and blogs at runrundan.blogspot.com
Vegas odds makers are probably in on the spek-a-latin’ act, too. Maybe we should check them out; they were correct in calling Obama’s election.
Before we go all nutzy over the new same old faces in the Barack Obama administration, and some of his rumored picks don’t thrill me either, we should always keep in mind that those who have served in previous administrations, or are currently serving are the people with experience.
We’d be raising holy hell if the Obama team were only considering names we never heard of and people with no experience…like choosing a “Brownie”, who served on a horsie set board to head up FEMA.
That worked out really well, as did all of Bush’s other appointments that amounted to no more than political patronage and payback for support.
(Speaking of FEMA. Mr. President-elect, please take FEMA the hell out of Homeland Security and put it back as a cabinet position where it belongs!)
To hell with experience or people with a modicum of common sense and doing what’s best for the country.
Some have interpreted Obama’s theme of “change” during the campaign as throwing out all the old people for fresh new faces.
That was our and/or the press’ conclusion jumping.
More logical, “change” meant out with the Bush Doctrine, killing the Constitution, signing statements, fiats, hating average Americans and only loving the wealthy and corporations and every other evil afflicting the Bush administration, and dragging the country into the depths of worldwide animus and depression -- both psychologically and economically.
Below is a link to an Associated Press story that lists all the current possible who will be whos, who are under consideration.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_11036199
Sandy Sand is a resident of Los Angeles, free lance writer, former editor of the Tolucan and blogs at runrundan.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Credit Crunch: Bringing Back an Old-fashioned Christmas
by Sandy Sand
Merchant greed may be out, consumer sanity and the real meaning of Christmas in.
For years I’ve been bitching about merchant greed, especially during the holidays.
It’s not that I want merchants to go bankrupt, it’s that I want to see some sanity restored to the holiday shopping season. They're going to have to learn to tighten their belts and get along with less, just as we have to.
Stores do not have to be opened 18 hours a day; they will sell the same amount of seasonal crap as they will by staying open only 10 hours a day.
My granny told me of the days when stores weren’t open on Sundays at all, as well as not being open on the Sunday before Christmas. It was a shopper’s joy when they remained open until 9 p.m. for the 10 days prior to Christmas.
Although not fun to work evening hours, it’s doable and still give employees time to be with their families and tuck the kiddies into bed.
It is outrageously ridiculous for stores to open at 4 a.m., 5 a.m., or even 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Who are the people who are the most employed in retail? Women, of course.
Women, the same people who worked a full day on Thanksgiving and Christmas; stood on their feet all day preparing, cooking, waiting on their couch potato, football-watching husbands, significant others and boyfriends and then cleaned up the mess.
They are the ones, who by and large have to get up at the ungodly hour of three, four or five to be at work at four, five or six in the morning.
Credit crunch
It was reported in last week’s papers that too many people have yet to pay off their credit card debt from last year’s holidays.
They really don’t need to increase that debt any more this year by being conned and guilt tripped into buying a bunch of crappy toys that will either be disintegrated or forgotten by New Year’s.
With all due disrespect to greedy retailers, who overwork and underpay their employees, it’s long past time to go back to the real meaning of Christmas for those who practice it religiously, and for those who participate at work, and get in on the act because “everybody else is,” and they’re forced to.
I don’t know about you, but when I worked, it was to support my family and pay for all the necessities. There was one extra dime to spend on gifts for anyone at work…most of whom were lucky if they got a friendly hello, because I wouldn’t have chosen 99 percent of them as friends.
If you’re honest, you might say the same thing. Co-workers are like family; they’re forced on us, we don’t choose them.
As adults, we’re making difficult choices. Some are choosing between food and medication, or between turning on the heat and rent, or a million other things.
If we can learn to economize, so can our children learn to be economic with their holiday desires. They are part of a family and they must learn to participate in family matters during good as well as bad times.
This Christmas/holiday season is going to bring along with it some big lessons in learning what the true meaning of Christmas is. Not a time of selfish longings, but a time of good spirit and goodwill and being thankful for what we have spiritually and materially and not wanting more of the material things.
Remember the Grinch? He could steal all the trapping of Christmas, but he couldn’t steal the spirit.
Merchant greed may be out, consumer sanity and the real meaning of Christmas in.
For years I’ve been bitching about merchant greed, especially during the holidays.
It’s not that I want merchants to go bankrupt, it’s that I want to see some sanity restored to the holiday shopping season. They're going to have to learn to tighten their belts and get along with less, just as we have to.
Stores do not have to be opened 18 hours a day; they will sell the same amount of seasonal crap as they will by staying open only 10 hours a day.
My granny told me of the days when stores weren’t open on Sundays at all, as well as not being open on the Sunday before Christmas. It was a shopper’s joy when they remained open until 9 p.m. for the 10 days prior to Christmas.
Although not fun to work evening hours, it’s doable and still give employees time to be with their families and tuck the kiddies into bed.
It is outrageously ridiculous for stores to open at 4 a.m., 5 a.m., or even 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Who are the people who are the most employed in retail? Women, of course.
Women, the same people who worked a full day on Thanksgiving and Christmas; stood on their feet all day preparing, cooking, waiting on their couch potato, football-watching husbands, significant others and boyfriends and then cleaned up the mess.
They are the ones, who by and large have to get up at the ungodly hour of three, four or five to be at work at four, five or six in the morning.
Credit crunch
It was reported in last week’s papers that too many people have yet to pay off their credit card debt from last year’s holidays.
They really don’t need to increase that debt any more this year by being conned and guilt tripped into buying a bunch of crappy toys that will either be disintegrated or forgotten by New Year’s.
With all due disrespect to greedy retailers, who overwork and underpay their employees, it’s long past time to go back to the real meaning of Christmas for those who practice it religiously, and for those who participate at work, and get in on the act because “everybody else is,” and they’re forced to.
I don’t know about you, but when I worked, it was to support my family and pay for all the necessities. There was one extra dime to spend on gifts for anyone at work…most of whom were lucky if they got a friendly hello, because I wouldn’t have chosen 99 percent of them as friends.
If you’re honest, you might say the same thing. Co-workers are like family; they’re forced on us, we don’t choose them.
As adults, we’re making difficult choices. Some are choosing between food and medication, or between turning on the heat and rent, or a million other things.
If we can learn to economize, so can our children learn to be economic with their holiday desires. They are part of a family and they must learn to participate in family matters during good as well as bad times.
This Christmas/holiday season is going to bring along with it some big lessons in learning what the true meaning of Christmas is. Not a time of selfish longings, but a time of good spirit and goodwill and being thankful for what we have spiritually and materially and not wanting more of the material things.
Remember the Grinch? He could steal all the trapping of Christmas, but he couldn’t steal the spirit.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Actual Weather in Southern California on Bellwether Election Day
by Sandy Sand
What never happens is happening in Los Angeles and environs; it’s raining on election day in sunny Southern California. Never happens. But it is and it’s an historic weather event on this bellwether election day.
Rumors started by local morning KABC radio guy, Doug McIntyre, are flooding the internet that Karl Rove was seen flying over the area seeding clouds.
Why would Rove do such a thing? Because everyone knows how laid back we are out here, and rain just might discourage voters from trekking to the polls.
Last, last minute desperation on John McCain’s part.
The last minute desperate act of losing panic was a deluge of despicable McCain Rev. Wright commercials in the Los Angeles area. They had to be kidding with that.
Eleventh hour sleazy, slimeball campaign ads in California? What? They’ve got money to burn in a state that’s so cemented in support for Obama that it couldn’t be broken up with a jackhammer?
While Barack Obama is in Chicago to cast his vote, and more than a million people are expected to flock to the downtown area for post-election celebrating, Sarah Palin will be flying to Alaska to cast her vote, then take a quick turn-around flight to rejoin McCain for his minimally planned post-election whatever you want to call it.
Rumors are flying that between flights Palin will give birth to another baby to collect on that generous, socialistic, share the wealth $3K a year from the oil companies each Alaskan receives.
Just in. It's twins and she'll name them Attu and Barrow.
What never happens is happening in Los Angeles and environs; it’s raining on election day in sunny Southern California. Never happens. But it is and it’s an historic weather event on this bellwether election day.
Rumors started by local morning KABC radio guy, Doug McIntyre, are flooding the internet that Karl Rove was seen flying over the area seeding clouds.
Why would Rove do such a thing? Because everyone knows how laid back we are out here, and rain just might discourage voters from trekking to the polls.
Last, last minute desperation on John McCain’s part.
The last minute desperate act of losing panic was a deluge of despicable McCain Rev. Wright commercials in the Los Angeles area. They had to be kidding with that.
Eleventh hour sleazy, slimeball campaign ads in California? What? They’ve got money to burn in a state that’s so cemented in support for Obama that it couldn’t be broken up with a jackhammer?
While Barack Obama is in Chicago to cast his vote, and more than a million people are expected to flock to the downtown area for post-election celebrating, Sarah Palin will be flying to Alaska to cast her vote, then take a quick turn-around flight to rejoin McCain for his minimally planned post-election whatever you want to call it.
Rumors are flying that between flights Palin will give birth to another baby to collect on that generous, socialistic, share the wealth $3K a year from the oil companies each Alaskan receives.
Just in. It's twins and she'll name them Attu and Barrow.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Voter Apathy Equals Election Board Apathy, Long Lines
by Sandy Sand
Changes are needed in how we conduct all elections.
This headline in today’s Los Angeles Daily News, combined with pervasive voter apathy might reveal the answer [or part of the answer] to long lines at polling stations: Experts Concerned System May be Overwhelmed by Big Voter Turnout.
I’ve been stunned every time I see excruciatingly long lines at polling places across the country on television.
Stunned and pleased. Pleased, in the hope that Americans have finally woken out of their eight-year coma induced by hypnotic lies and scare tactics spun by BushCo, and they’re waiting in those devastatingly long line to vote Obama for Change; change from Republican domination.
I’m also stunned when I think about these long lines in relationship to not having early voting.
If a third or more of registered voters are voting early, what would the lines at the polls look like if there weren’t so many early voters?
It would be a colossal mess and utter chaos on election day, and in some places it’s pretty messy as it stands.
Is part of this the fault of election boards across the country who were too lazy and too apathetic to pay attention to the surge in voter registrations?
Let’s hope this puts an end to voter apathy and election board incompetence, and brings about some changes in how we hold elections…although I doubt it will.
Experts Concerned…: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_10876711
Changes are needed in how we conduct all elections.
This headline in today’s Los Angeles Daily News, combined with pervasive voter apathy might reveal the answer [or part of the answer] to long lines at polling stations: Experts Concerned System May be Overwhelmed by Big Voter Turnout.
I’ve been stunned every time I see excruciatingly long lines at polling places across the country on television.
Stunned and pleased. Pleased, in the hope that Americans have finally woken out of their eight-year coma induced by hypnotic lies and scare tactics spun by BushCo, and they’re waiting in those devastatingly long line to vote Obama for Change; change from Republican domination.
I’m also stunned when I think about these long lines in relationship to not having early voting.
If a third or more of registered voters are voting early, what would the lines at the polls look like if there weren’t so many early voters?
It would be a colossal mess and utter chaos on election day, and in some places it’s pretty messy as it stands.
Is part of this the fault of election boards across the country who were too lazy and too apathetic to pay attention to the surge in voter registrations?
Let’s hope this puts an end to voter apathy and election board incompetence, and brings about some changes in how we hold elections…although I doubt it will.
Experts Concerned…: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_10876711
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