Just Dis n Dat

I visted our main Post Office twice this week. One clerk was working and apparently in no rush. We love the branch PO set up in a convenience store down the road. People are friendly - take time with you - and show you how to save money.

So, what is it? The conclusion that the Post Office will be phased out - so who cares at one place - and the other just more optimistic?

Resolving the chicken and the egg thing has always bothered me. But, then again, it just could be that the lady running the convenience store location, is from Pittsburgh.

No prejudice here.

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Speaking of Pittsburgh - it's nice to see the Pirates fielding a competetive team, so far. Much will be watched closely after inter-league play and contracts start to run out.

Then we'll find out if it's just a case of "The same old Pirates" -
or signs that our Buccos have regained that fire in their bellies.

You have to love the pitching improvement as well as Hurdles early showers.The wins on the road speak well for their growing maturity.

Hope to catch a couple games in person with the kids
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Now, they done it! With the realization we're going to be climbing a lot more steps in Pittsburgh I've returned to the diet mode. For a good reason:

The Tampa Bay Rays asked me if they could attach a tether to my legs, inflate me- just a little- and shove a camera in my rearend for additional improved televising of home games.

Yep, it was time to start another diet but maybe this time skip that old skimmed milk inclusion.

A recent article asked this question: "Is skimmed milk making you fat?" Then they proceeded to answer the question in an obtuse way by quoting one recent study that concluded - "Contrary to our hypothesis - skim and 1% milk were associated with weight gain but dairy fat was not."

I'm starting to adopt Woodrow Wilson's "watchful waiting" policy where "scientific" health studies are concerned.

I am now enjoying guilt free my one daily piece of dark chocalate and the occasional red wine. I'm also enjoying pasta more now that I've been told it won't kill me.

Please give me a call, therefore, when some government study announces "hot fudge sundaes are just fine for your health."
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Finally, Massie Energy - or whatever it's called now - has announced that the disaster we all watched and prayed for safe resolution was not their fault. It was just an unavoidable natural disaster.

This company has been cited for more violations than any I can recall. Still they continue to deny any published report containing scientific data that points out their safety failures.

So, apparently it's deja vu all over again on the part of the mineowners?

That this country has allowed these company safety abuses to exist as the total number of deaths to their "pseudo -indentured servants" continue to climb - is a crying shame and per the various studies it's largely avoidable.

The Wallenda family experienced sadness in their vocational choice, but, they were few in number and declined certain safety protection precautions without which most of us would have been observed hunched over in a corner snivelling.

Miners are not refusing better safety protection.

In most instances, mining is all many of these coal digging folks have ever known in their family for generations. Geography is just one factor in their choice of work.

And, when they do their death defying stuff, nobody applauds as they climb out of the mines at the end of their performance -except when they leave their relatives and friends permanently buried behind them.

We need to insist on safety in this industry and punish those who abuse common sense for the sake of a buck. It's been going on too long but, seems to take another tragedy to get our attention.