Airline kvetching:
I pay for an airline seat; if I must make a change - I have to shell out big bucks. Any changes the airline makes (whether it inconveniences me or not): "tough!" They usually don't alert you to the change, say sorry, or offer any kind of compensation.
Ever been in a coach (economy) seat on a full plane - and the back bathrooms are occupied - you walk up to the front where 8 to 12 (or less) people share one bathroom, it's unoccupied, and the flight attendant says - sorry this is for first class only?
Who designs planes where the aisle seats in economy have almost no room for storage under the seat in front? Airbus seats are fine fine - but the Boeing designers probably all fly first class so what would they know?
Small regional jets - CRJ 900 (used by United) has room in the overhead for a standard 21 inch rollaboard; Embraer, (used by Continental) requires gate checking; why not use colored tags denoting close connections and need to offload these bags first?
Super market kvetching:
Why do they water the produce so much and then charge us for it? (it's sold by the pound and the water makes it heavier!)
Why do they sell veggies by the pound when half or more has to be discarded - like leeks,fennel, etc.?
Kvell:
Big smile on my face when 9 year old granddaughter Miriam called - all excited about her cooking class - "it was so much fun, nana!"
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
ANOSOGNOSIC?
Great NY Times blog by Errol Morris interviewing Social Psychology Prof. David Dunning of Cornell, NYTimes, June 20, 2010
"Anosognosia is a condition in which a person who suffers from a disability seems unaware of or denies the existence of his or her disability."
So - in other words a stupid person doesn't know he/she is stupid.
Many supposedly "intelligent" people are intelligent only about the things they know - or think they know. But do they know what they don't know?
Dunning talks about doctors, lawyers, etc. who are mediocre simple because they think they know it all.
All very depressing since Dunning is pessimistic about our ability to solve social problems: "getting along with other people, is something intrinsic to our survival as a species. You’d think we would know where our inabilities lie. But...we’re not necessarily very good at knowing what we’re lousy at with other people."
OK - the pressure is off: I can answer "I don't know" to any question,topic, debate with equanimity now. But what about the nonsense-spouting pols out there - who continue to bombard us with misinformation piled on top of misinformation? So many people believe anything in print or on radio/tv.
How about Anosognosia Anonymous?
"Anosognosia is a condition in which a person who suffers from a disability seems unaware of or denies the existence of his or her disability."
So - in other words a stupid person doesn't know he/she is stupid.
Many supposedly "intelligent" people are intelligent only about the things they know - or think they know. But do they know what they don't know?
Dunning talks about doctors, lawyers, etc. who are mediocre simple because they think they know it all.
All very depressing since Dunning is pessimistic about our ability to solve social problems: "getting along with other people, is something intrinsic to our survival as a species. You’d think we would know where our inabilities lie. But...we’re not necessarily very good at knowing what we’re lousy at with other people."
OK - the pressure is off: I can answer "I don't know" to any question,topic, debate with equanimity now. But what about the nonsense-spouting pols out there - who continue to bombard us with misinformation piled on top of misinformation? So many people believe anything in print or on radio/tv.
How about Anosognosia Anonymous?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tony Awards 2010 - Who Are the Clowns?
The Tony Awards for 2010 - what happened to all the creative people - so few examples of really entertaining new plays/musicals. Revivals are fine (most of the time) but where's the new stuff coming from?
The performance of Sondheim's "Bring In The Clowns" by Zeta-Jones was pathetic. She looked like a bobble doll turning her head back and forth (looking for the clowns?). Her tempo? Sounded like a funeral dirge. Who were the clowns presenting the Tony to her? She accepted her Tony and never credited Sondheim - hmmm.
The entire Awards show was mediocre - and made even worse with non-stop pharmaceutical ads. Am I missing something about theater lovers? Do they need medication for every little ache/pain/bit of discomfort?
On a more delicious note: Have to kvell about Cuisipro's new apple corer - wider, it really gets every bit of core out easily - and a click of the handle easily releases the core. More apple desserts this fall - for sure!
Off to the Fancy Food Show in NYC next week - looking for interesting new goodies.
The performance of Sondheim's "Bring In The Clowns" by Zeta-Jones was pathetic. She looked like a bobble doll turning her head back and forth (looking for the clowns?). Her tempo? Sounded like a funeral dirge. Who were the clowns presenting the Tony to her? She accepted her Tony and never credited Sondheim - hmmm.
The entire Awards show was mediocre - and made even worse with non-stop pharmaceutical ads. Am I missing something about theater lovers? Do they need medication for every little ache/pain/bit of discomfort?
On a more delicious note: Have to kvell about Cuisipro's new apple corer - wider, it really gets every bit of core out easily - and a click of the handle easily releases the core. More apple desserts this fall - for sure!
Off to the Fancy Food Show in NYC next week - looking for interesting new goodies.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Hypocrisy in action
After a week of what appears to be biased media reporting on the Israeli/Turkey incident - I just don't get it,
Seems that humanitarian aid has been flowing to Gaza for some time - and always with approved Israeli inspection before delivery. The agency in charge of this particular shipment of "humanitarian aid" didn't want to be inspected. why? What were they hiding?
Hmmm - wonder what would happen if I sailed through security at the airport - saying - hey - I'm not going to blow anything up - just let me through and don't look at my stuff. After all - I'm a frequent flyer and I do this all the time. I'm sure everyone would be in an uproar if I persisted in barging through the barriers on my way to the plane; we might notice more than a few pistols drawn. And everyone would understand - since we're concerned about our country's security.
But when Israel wants to inspect this ship with cargo provided by an agency which seeks to aid Palestinians,(including Hamas - known for its goal to obliterate Israel) and they're told they can't.....? They're supposed to smile and say - ok guys - just sail right through? Israel's security, defense of country is different than ours?
Am I missing something?
Seems that humanitarian aid has been flowing to Gaza for some time - and always with approved Israeli inspection before delivery. The agency in charge of this particular shipment of "humanitarian aid" didn't want to be inspected. why? What were they hiding?
Hmmm - wonder what would happen if I sailed through security at the airport - saying - hey - I'm not going to blow anything up - just let me through and don't look at my stuff. After all - I'm a frequent flyer and I do this all the time. I'm sure everyone would be in an uproar if I persisted in barging through the barriers on my way to the plane; we might notice more than a few pistols drawn. And everyone would understand - since we're concerned about our country's security.
But when Israel wants to inspect this ship with cargo provided by an agency which seeks to aid Palestinians,(including Hamas - known for its goal to obliterate Israel) and they're told they can't.....? They're supposed to smile and say - ok guys - just sail right through? Israel's security, defense of country is different than ours?
Am I missing something?
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Crowds/Mobs are scary
The mass hysteria about the road to ruin for this country via healthcare reform and other programs is not new - just louder and more accessible than earlier years due to instant replay on TV, websites. Anybody recall the dire predictions about how we would succumb to socialism when original discussions on social security and medicare took place?
Why are we having the uproar again?
It's a movement fed by moneyed interests, who have an insatiable need to acquire even more and are terrified that their share of the pot might decrease. I would guess that most participants in the rude mobs don't have a clue as to what constitutes socialism - and many are probably enjoying the fruits of our so-called socialistic programs.
It's all so scary - can't believe how many of my so-called intelligent friends (enjoying medicare and social security) are echoing the patter (read:lies)shouted by the mobs.
What happened to the truth? Or has that gone bye-bye along with civility in our technological society?
BTW - we could finance so many worthwhile programs in this country just by pulling out of Afghanistan muy pronto! History lessons anyone?
Why are we having the uproar again?
It's a movement fed by moneyed interests, who have an insatiable need to acquire even more and are terrified that their share of the pot might decrease. I would guess that most participants in the rude mobs don't have a clue as to what constitutes socialism - and many are probably enjoying the fruits of our so-called socialistic programs.
It's all so scary - can't believe how many of my so-called intelligent friends (enjoying medicare and social security) are echoing the patter (read:lies)shouted by the mobs.
What happened to the truth? Or has that gone bye-bye along with civility in our technological society?
BTW - we could finance so many worthwhile programs in this country just by pulling out of Afghanistan muy pronto! History lessons anyone?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Health Care change?
Kvetching time:
OK - so we won't get a single payer system in my lifetime probably (unless a miracle occurs) but can't believe we're talking about health care changes with no mention of the best systems - groups of salaried doctors (Kaiser, Mayo, etc) - offering superb, easy-on-the pocketbook care. No mention about the health care of our elected representatives - who pontificate about the dangers of "Socialized" medicine - Oy! What kind of medicine do they think they're getting? Their government care is not "socialized"?
Kvell:
What would we do without Netflix? Delightful foreign and art films (not available in El Paso)arrive at our home for hours of pleasure - just by clicking on a computer key!
OK - so we won't get a single payer system in my lifetime probably (unless a miracle occurs) but can't believe we're talking about health care changes with no mention of the best systems - groups of salaried doctors (Kaiser, Mayo, etc) - offering superb, easy-on-the pocketbook care. No mention about the health care of our elected representatives - who pontificate about the dangers of "Socialized" medicine - Oy! What kind of medicine do they think they're getting? Their government care is not "socialized"?
Kvell:
What would we do without Netflix? Delightful foreign and art films (not available in El Paso)arrive at our home for hours of pleasure - just by clicking on a computer key!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Peanuts, anyone?
I've been busy traveling and writing - and blogging was way down on the list. But reading a recent news release (Dec. 10,2008) from the British Medical Journal on "nut hysteria" brought a big smile - and the need to share this with friends.
Dr. Christakis at Harvard Medical School wrote that "measures imposed to reduce exposure to nuts are often based on irrational fears of nut allergies and are becoming increasingly sensationalist"
I love peanuts! They're great for snacking (preferably in small bags to limit my intake). I used to pick them up in Continental's Presidents Club in between flights - and over the past year or so was told by various personnel in the lounge that they were no longer available because "so many people are allergic to them". Really?
Statistics from Dr. Christakis: In the US each year, 45,000 people die in motor vehicle accidents, 10,000 are hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries from sports activities and 150 die - from ALL food allergies.
Hmmm - wonder how many of the 150 died from eating or being near peanuts?
Christakis wrote that a peanut on the floor of a school bus led to evacuation, decontamination and the school reassuring parents that they were "nut free".
Maybe we're getting a bit too nutty.
Fueled by media - we've become pathologic about our fears. How about less hysteria and more reason?
Dr. Christakis at Harvard Medical School wrote that "measures imposed to reduce exposure to nuts are often based on irrational fears of nut allergies and are becoming increasingly sensationalist"
I love peanuts! They're great for snacking (preferably in small bags to limit my intake). I used to pick them up in Continental's Presidents Club in between flights - and over the past year or so was told by various personnel in the lounge that they were no longer available because "so many people are allergic to them". Really?
Statistics from Dr. Christakis: In the US each year, 45,000 people die in motor vehicle accidents, 10,000 are hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries from sports activities and 150 die - from ALL food allergies.
Hmmm - wonder how many of the 150 died from eating or being near peanuts?
Christakis wrote that a peanut on the floor of a school bus led to evacuation, decontamination and the school reassuring parents that they were "nut free".
Maybe we're getting a bit too nutty.
Fueled by media - we've become pathologic about our fears. How about less hysteria and more reason?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)