Noteworthy entries.
This article from Discover News reminded me that there is a big community of frozen people in the U.S. Apparently not alive nor dead; more than 90 people are cryogenically frozen. Fascinating FAQ at the freezing company's website. I wonder whether any of the frozen people has ever asserted the right to vote by proxy or by absentee ballot. [Question] "Please explain why you are unable to vote in person in this election." [Answer] "Because I am frozen."
How long can you hold your breath? I once did it for 2 minutes and I thought I was doing something impressive. It turns out that people who train hard and use exotic techniques can hold their breath for extremely long periods of time. Beware, though, that it is a dangerous hobby. Discovery News reports on the most recent record-breaker:
A Swiss freediver held his breath underwater for 19 minutes and 21 seconds, according to news reports this week. The gasp-inducing feat beat the previous world record by 19 seconds, and blew away the record of 17 minutes and four seconds that magician David Blaine set on Oprah Winfrey's talk show in 2008.
This may actually be more about problems in cross cultural communication. But it does appear to be a case of runaway Nanny-State-ism. I have come to accept with a chuckle the warning labels on toasters and VCR's to not use them in the bath or shower. I'm sure they are slippery when wet, and one might drop them on ones foot. This is a problem among electrocuted zombies, I'm sure.
But what am I to make of the warning on this product?
I need ANSI-Approved eye protection to open a drawer? Did an actual lawyer sign off on this?
This box is actually lower quality than a similar one that I'd bought at Target a couple of years earlier for the same price. Target doesn't have them any more, so I resort to Harbor Freight.
I've been mail-ordering from Harbor Freight since the 1980's, long before they had stores east of California. This is a cheap tools import house that now has an outlet a few blocks west of Crestwood Plaza Court. The prices are amazing, but you get what you pay for.
In June 2008, J.K. Rowling gave this delightful and insightful commencement speech recognizing the upside of failure. J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo. How is failure essential? Rowling told the audience that it "strips away the unessential" and sets us free to see what really matters. Rock bottom can become "a solid foundation." In fact, she urged that it is "impossible to live without failing at something." Rowling's 20-minute talk is filled with nuggets of wisdom, and illustrated with stories about people with the courage to freely think and act, as well as those who dared to value empathy more than "rubies."