Autumn is finally here. Here are a few photo reminders.
This photo is taken on a fairly high hill, from a cemetery actually.
This is one of the reddest trees I saw, and its background is one of the bluest skies I have seen. I also was sure to position the quilt of color in the lower right hand corner.
This is a fence at a local state park. I like it because you can clearly appreciate that this is a fall scene from the multi-colored leaves in the background.
Here is the scoop on the Ohio Anti-Smoking Issues.
Issue 4:
- Keeps Smoking in Restaurants and most public places
- Overturns local anti-smoking measures
- Would prevent any new anti-smoking measures from passing
- Backed by Big Tobacco
- Voting Yes on Issue 4 would cancel out Issue 5
My Take: Vote NO
Issue 5:
- Bans Smoking in most public places
- Smokers will have to step outside to smoke
- Supported by various health groups
My Take: Vote YES
Issue 4 pretends to be a “smoke less” initiative, but it will not have this effect, because, if passed, this issue (sponsored primarily by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco) would overturn local anti-smoking ordinances across the state and prevent new ones from being passed. Plus, since Issue 4 is a proposed constitutional amendment, if it passes, it will nullify Issue 5, which polls show will likely easily pass. So don’t be fooled into voting for both Issue 4 and 5, because if Issue 4 passes by a few votes, Issue 5 fails, even if it passes 80-20.
Issue 5 is not an outright “smoking ban” but rather a proposed state law that makes smokers smoke in a place that will not affect those who have chosen not to smoke. Smokers would still be allowed to smoke on restaurant patios or in tobacco stores (and a few other exempted places). I honestly believe Issue 5 is a positive step for those of us concerned about health care costs and who don’t like to leave a restaurant smelling like we just sat around a campfire!
I know, I know, “smokers have rights,” and “let’s not regulate” and so forth. We are not talking about blacks on the back of buses or censorship of ideas, i.e. serious matters. I am simply suggesting that a person who lights a plant rolled in paper should do so outside. I could say “it’s about the children” but I don’t like inhaling smoke either, and I suspect non-smoking restaurant workers don’t like it either. In fact, a study in Scotland showed that restaurant and bar workers’ health improved after just one month of being in a smoke-free environment.
For more information, check out Smoke Free Ohio
I am becoming less and less interested in getting a PhD. I used to think that getting my PhD was the way to go, but now I am not so sure.
I am really enjoying teaching high school, and my Master’s Degree allows me to teach at the college level anyway as an occasional instructor. Plus, even if I would get my PhD, my future would likely involve moving to a big city, taking low pay, and having to deal with the Academic nonsense that pushed me out of the system to begin with. Plus, I really don’t want to put myself or a family through the agony of PhD poverty.
Also, I just wonder what benefits a PhD carries anyway. With the internet, ideas are available to anyone (with a computer), written by anyone. This, of course creates problems, but it also means that a person doesn’t have to earn an advanced degree to publish information. Sure, to publish academically a person needs the advanced degrees, but to publish popularly (where the real market is anyway), a degree isn’t needed. And for someone like myself that is far more interested in discussion/writing that has an academic tone but is meant for the popular level, the time and effort needed for me to get a PhD seems like a bad use of time and money.
Sure, I am still interested in getting a doctorate. However, I am going to wait for the right program, make sure I can afford it, and make sure I don’t have to move to a ghetto with skyrocketing rents to get my PhD. Any thoughts? Keep in mind I am not saying PhDs are worthless, since I would like to get one eventually, just thinking out loud.
I just sent for it today. I always take voting seriously, but this time I really am concerned. Why?
- A smoking ban referendum. There is a statewide smoking ban on the Ohio ballot, and I want it passed. Sure, call me whatever name you want, but when I go into a restaurant, I would like to be able to breathe. I don’t think the constitution guarantees the right to put a burning stick in one’s mouth in public.
- A minimum wage hike referendum. Don’t call me a liberal here, please. I am pretty conservative economically, but Ohio has a large chunk of working poor, folks who WANT to work, and DO work, but who are still poor. Even many college-educated folks are under-employed. Plus CEO pay is at an all-time high while wages for everybody else aren’t growing, and with the cost of health care and energy outpacing general inflation, some people are making less than they did a few years ago. I have to stand up for ordinary folks here.
- Mike DeWine is up for re-election. This is proof I am a mixed bag when it comes to voting. I like DeWine and want to vote for him. I am not happy with the Republicans, but the thought of Democrats in office is pretty scary too.
Opec is going to trim their output informally, and the result has been an additional $1.40 tacked onto the price of oil just this morning. I believe OPEC has the right to do whatever it wants, but let me offer a perspective on this.
America is still addicted to oil. So gas is nearing $2.00 again. So what? We are still addicted to oil. The leader of one of our major oil suppliers came into our country, put down our leadership, acted like a complete idiot, and we are still paying his way into power. I for one am sick of it. I don’t care if gas is 99 cents a gallon again, we need to start focusing on alternatives. If I had a flex-fuel car (which I don’t now, but will definitely consider in the future), and a station with E85 nearby, I would use it. I would pay extra to put ethanol into my tank. However, the oil companies have been going slow on installing E85 pumps. I wonder why?
Folks, 2.12 gas is not cheap. Funding near-totalitarian regimes is not good. I think we all need to not be blinded by “cheap” gas. We still have a problem, and it still needs fixed. Americans have short memories for things like this.
I am trying to take off a few pounds, and as everybody knows, laziness comes easy for most of us. I have been using Fitday Online for awhile now. However, I decided to pay 20.00 for their software I can use anytime. Plus the software has extra features. I can log my food, activity, mood, and so forth. Plus, since I paid 20 dollars for it, I will definitely use it. I have a tendency to use the things I pay for.
I am finding that my diet is interesting. It tends to be high in fiber, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Magnesium, which are all very good things. It is low in vitamin D, Calcium, and Vitamin C, and too high in calories and sodium. I am not much of a milk drinker, although I do get some Calcium from my daily lunch yogurt. I am going to try to work this out.
On a related note, I took the Real Age Test, and I came out at a real age of 23. That is five years younger than I am, which is kind of nice to know. I can still get it lower if I make a few changes, and I intend to. I am not obessed with looking young per se, but I am concerned with feeling young and having my body be young. I would love to avoid the troubles that come with old age if possible: heart disease, cancer, obesity, joint pain, etc. I honestly believe that diet, exercise, and moderation help prevent many of these problems, and I intend to prevent them as much as possible.
