5/21/08
Flip the tassel, YOSOHK ’08 grads
Tri-O's Oddities, observations, and opinions By Herb Kandel
Thank you once again, Ye Olde School of Hard Knocks, for the invitation to address the graduating class for the third time. As before, I will make this message brief, but not quite as fast as the rising price of gas at the pump.
Facing you in this ritual reminds me of when Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York, in a similar position as commencement speaker compared that role to that of a corpse at an Irish wake. Both bodies need to be there in order to have a celebration but no one expects it to say very much.
Your BS, Batchelor of Survival degree, was earned by hard work traversing through life experiences. Most of you are approaching middle age and go out each day into the work force in order to provide a better and more fulfilling quality of life for yourself and your family. Of late it has become more difficult to do so. Last year at this time unemployment was 4.5% today it is 5.1%, crude oil was $64 a barrel now it is $126, and a poll of peoples confidence for a secure retirement has shrunk from 41% to 29% in that short span. Headlines along with lead stories on TV, radio, and Internet blogs shout pessimism and gloom when they report on war in Iraq and Afghanistan, home foreclosures, food shortages and rising prices, global climate change, recession, terrorism threats, tumbling stock markets, illegal immigration, the Arabfication of America, outsourcing to foreign manufacturers, drugs, teenage pregnancy, the crisis in health care, and the decision making in the forthcoming presidential election. Whew! It’s no wonder that hair coloring is the fastest growing service in the salon industry today.
Yet despite all the above mentioned worrisome situations Newsweek magazine, in an excerpt from “The Post-American World” by Fareed Zakaria, cites a group of scholars from the University of Maryland who have tallied the number of deaths due to organized violence. They concluded “that wars of all kinds have been declining since the mid-1980’s and that we are now at the lowest levels of global violence since the 1950s. ……80% of those casualties come from Iraq and Afghanistan which are really war zones with ongoing insurgencies and the overall numbers remain small.”
Why then does it seem we are living in such treacherous times with disaster lurking around the corner? Zakaria alleges, a theory with which I concur, that the information “explosion” provides scenes of the immediacy of events 24/7 from around the world. It wasn’t too long ago when we had only the radio and newspapers to keep us up to date. The radio had its 6 and 11 o’clock news for only 15 minutes. That pretty much limited itself to the more important events leaving the local happenings to the community stations and papers. There was no TV bombardment of national/global reporting, around the clock, with the preponderance of incidents leaning toward the sensational, scandalous, or shocking happenings. Then repeating it over and over ad nauseam. Don’t let the talking heads mesmerize you into their world. Listen and look, if you want to, but think for yourself, keep true to your hard won principles. Go, turn off the TV, and then hug your spouse and kids.
Two generations have grown up behind yours. Most of you graduating now are of Generation X, born between 1965-1979. You were preceded by the Baby Boom Generation, 1943-1965. Generation Y, sometimes called the Millennials from 1980-2000 followed you. Now the current generation, very likely your children, born since 2001 is being touted as Generation Z (just because it is alphabetically next) or Generation 9/11. I propose either Generation T-M (text messaging) or the still better, Generation I. “I” standing for Internet, iPhone, Ipod, or just plain I -- personal pronoun first person singular. Why? Just observe the egoism of any of the reality shows and watch how self-centeredness eclipses common sense, consideration, courtesy, and kindness. Participants rationalize, “It’s just a game”, but basic instincts do surface, the narcissism is apparent, and their actions tend become the “norm” for emulation by Gen I viewers. Make some of the values and virtues of your Gen X rub off on your offspring and don’t be afraid to separate the cemented cell phone from the ear of your kid.
In conclusion, look forward with anticipation to the coming years in your chosen work and profession utilizing your experience and optimism. Keep in mind that the typical peak earning period is from age 57 to 65. So for personal security contribute the max, if you can, to your 401k (where else can you get a 50% return on investment?).
Finally, two quotes to take with you : from Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or think you can't -- you are right”……..and from me, “Remember to floss.”
Congratulations Class of 2008
http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2008/05/21/columnists/doc483322793b4c7215000806.txt
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
5/7/08
With energy for all
TRI-O’s:Oddities, observations & opinions
By Herb Kandel
Well here we are at our friendly neighborhood gas station. Just look around and you can almost feel the anger from fellow pumpers as the money gauge dial goes into fast forward, stopping at a price that used to buy you a nice dinner for two along with wine and the ability to leave a generous tip. Now just to fill up your four-cylinder, mid-size sedan tank costs half a hundred dollars! How did we get here in just a few short months?
Go back to 1973 when oil was selling at $3.15 per barrel. Then OPEC increased prices to $3.65 together with cutting back production. The Arab states, bitter over being defeated in the Yom Kippur War, also placed an embargo against the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan for their support of Israel. Marketers and the oil brokers knew that the demand for oil decreases very little when price increases. When lower production met the higher prices it triggered President Nixon to sign the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act that mandating price, production, allocation and marketing controls. Results: a gallon of gas vaulted from 30 cents to over a dollar, a “windfall profit tax” was charged to oil producers, a new speed limit of 55 mph was imposed, there were long lines at the pump some bearing signs “SORRY NO GAS”, and more federal bureaucracy (energy control was born). Reality bit in the form of the realization that energy was something we could no longer take for granted and that it is not infinite.
Currently, to defray some of the gasoline price increases, Senator Clinton has joined Senator McCain calling to suspend the federal tax on gas through the summer months, a savings of 18.4 cents a gallon. Senator Obama sloughs off this approach claiming it will save individuals very little while it will cost thousands of construction jobs as the tax money goes toward repairing roads and bridges.
We all know there are sources of energy other than petroleum. Solar, wind, and hydro-electric power have been around for a long time, and they will continue to be explored, expanded and experimented with. On the horizon is the prospect of providing sources of energy that are just as sustainable. When current sources are gone they are gone, i.e., shale oil, natural gas and coal. Some renewable (and therefore sustainable) sources besides the above (solar, wind and hydro-electric) are derived from waves, tides, wood and fusion.
All the sources listed thus far lie in the realm of the esoteric scientific domain. It got me to wondering what we, as concerned ordinary citizens, can contribute to the thinking of these technical innovators, providing them new potential avenues to explore. For instance:
Capture the power of the hummingbird. These birds, in proportion, are powerful; they have been described as flight muscles covered with feathers (30% compared to 5% human pectoral muscle weight), their wings beat about 80 times per second, they fly 500 miles non-stop. If our wizards can find a way to capture the energy of this tiny “Incredible Hulk” it won't be just for the birds.
Ever see the energy of a two year old baby? There is no stopping them.
Ask their moms if they would relish a two hour respite each day by dropping baby in the lab while the nanny scientist harnesses the kilowatts that the kid generates on some type of movement machine. This can be done by just kidding!
When my BH (Better Half) walks our untrained four legged children it takes a lot of alternate restraining and pulling on the leads. I'm sure others dog walkers face the same situation, Having a device somewhere on the leashes to channel this expenditure of energy could power an electronic pooper-scooper that pick up, bags, ties, and disposes its’ contents in a bio-degradable way. This would be a step in the right direction.
Speaking of steps, we all walk. Why not capture that miniscule sudden wind surge generated by our foot step? Each stride forward could propel a small fan blade in the toe or heel to produce power to a rechargeable battery for a flashlight or a computer. As long as you keep walking it will keep going and going providing needed exercise also.
Sports too can play a part. If we can swallow a pill sized camera and have it take pictures as it passes through our body why not miniaturized capacitors to hold onto energy acquired by the swing of a golf club, tennis racket, baseball bat, skateboard, bicycle, skis, fishing rod, football helmet, etc? The accumulated built up energy can be discharged later into running household appliances. Now when you are on the golf course you can tell yourself you are really helping your BH with the vacuuming.
There you have some thoughts about how to beat the energy crisis. Do not dismiss them so quickly remember when caveman Oog mocked his friend, “Hey Glug, rounding off the corners of those square wheels is a waste of time.”
http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2008/05/07/columnists/doc4820bebea9801773893863.txt
With energy for all
TRI-O’s:Oddities, observations & opinions
By Herb Kandel
Well here we are at our friendly neighborhood gas station. Just look around and you can almost feel the anger from fellow pumpers as the money gauge dial goes into fast forward, stopping at a price that used to buy you a nice dinner for two along with wine and the ability to leave a generous tip. Now just to fill up your four-cylinder, mid-size sedan tank costs half a hundred dollars! How did we get here in just a few short months?
Go back to 1973 when oil was selling at $3.15 per barrel. Then OPEC increased prices to $3.65 together with cutting back production. The Arab states, bitter over being defeated in the Yom Kippur War, also placed an embargo against the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan for their support of Israel. Marketers and the oil brokers knew that the demand for oil decreases very little when price increases. When lower production met the higher prices it triggered President Nixon to sign the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act that mandating price, production, allocation and marketing controls. Results: a gallon of gas vaulted from 30 cents to over a dollar, a “windfall profit tax” was charged to oil producers, a new speed limit of 55 mph was imposed, there were long lines at the pump some bearing signs “SORRY NO GAS”, and more federal bureaucracy (energy control was born). Reality bit in the form of the realization that energy was something we could no longer take for granted and that it is not infinite.
Currently, to defray some of the gasoline price increases, Senator Clinton has joined Senator McCain calling to suspend the federal tax on gas through the summer months, a savings of 18.4 cents a gallon. Senator Obama sloughs off this approach claiming it will save individuals very little while it will cost thousands of construction jobs as the tax money goes toward repairing roads and bridges.
We all know there are sources of energy other than petroleum. Solar, wind, and hydro-electric power have been around for a long time, and they will continue to be explored, expanded and experimented with. On the horizon is the prospect of providing sources of energy that are just as sustainable. When current sources are gone they are gone, i.e., shale oil, natural gas and coal. Some renewable (and therefore sustainable) sources besides the above (solar, wind and hydro-electric) are derived from waves, tides, wood and fusion.
All the sources listed thus far lie in the realm of the esoteric scientific domain. It got me to wondering what we, as concerned ordinary citizens, can contribute to the thinking of these technical innovators, providing them new potential avenues to explore. For instance:
Capture the power of the hummingbird. These birds, in proportion, are powerful; they have been described as flight muscles covered with feathers (30% compared to 5% human pectoral muscle weight), their wings beat about 80 times per second, they fly 500 miles non-stop. If our wizards can find a way to capture the energy of this tiny “Incredible Hulk” it won't be just for the birds.
Ever see the energy of a two year old baby? There is no stopping them.
Ask their moms if they would relish a two hour respite each day by dropping baby in the lab while the nanny scientist harnesses the kilowatts that the kid generates on some type of movement machine. This can be done by just kidding!
When my BH (Better Half) walks our untrained four legged children it takes a lot of alternate restraining and pulling on the leads. I'm sure others dog walkers face the same situation, Having a device somewhere on the leashes to channel this expenditure of energy could power an electronic pooper-scooper that pick up, bags, ties, and disposes its’ contents in a bio-degradable way. This would be a step in the right direction.
Speaking of steps, we all walk. Why not capture that miniscule sudden wind surge generated by our foot step? Each stride forward could propel a small fan blade in the toe or heel to produce power to a rechargeable battery for a flashlight or a computer. As long as you keep walking it will keep going and going providing needed exercise also.
Sports too can play a part. If we can swallow a pill sized camera and have it take pictures as it passes through our body why not miniaturized capacitors to hold onto energy acquired by the swing of a golf club, tennis racket, baseball bat, skateboard, bicycle, skis, fishing rod, football helmet, etc? The accumulated built up energy can be discharged later into running household appliances. Now when you are on the golf course you can tell yourself you are really helping your BH with the vacuuming.
There you have some thoughts about how to beat the energy crisis. Do not dismiss them so quickly remember when caveman Oog mocked his friend, “Hey Glug, rounding off the corners of those square wheels is a waste of time.”
http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2008/05/07/columnists/doc4820bebea9801773893863.txt
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