I haven’t done any obits for the past few days, for reasons I don’t want to go into here.
But a few people have sent me some, and it would be rude not to acknowledge them.
Sir Michael Parkinson, British talk show host. (Hattip: Lawrence.)
Darren Kent, actor. IMDB. Other credits include “EastEnders”, “Les Misérables” (the TV series), and “C.O.O.L.I.O Time Travel Gangster”. (Hattip: Lawrence.)
Paul Brodeur, longtime New Yorker writer.
Mr. Brodeur also reported on the possible dangers of radiation from microwave ovens, computer terminals and electromagnetic power lines. But this reporting was not as widely accepted as his work on asbestos and CFCs.
In 1997, the National Academy of Sciences found little to no evidence of any risk from power-line radiation. Other studies have been far from conclusive. (Mr. Brodeur noted, however, that the World Health Organization classified microwave radiation from cellphones to be a possible carcinogen.)
James L. Buckley, former Senator from New York (and brother of William F. Buckley Jr.).
I have been away myself. My wife had a birthday this week and so we went over to the other side of the state to Frankenmuth. We drove through Saginaw thinking that would be a bit faster route. I forgot just what a hellhole that town was the last time I drove through it, and it hasn’t changed.
We came home a different route, and even though on paper is should have taken longer, in reality, it was faster. Except for the rain storm we ran into. And of course, my passenger side windshield wiper broke. Fortunately I was able to rob the rear windshield wiper and put it on the front, to get us home.
I’m glad you’re back, and safe. I had no idea Saginaw was so bad.
Have you ever noticed, it always seems to be faster going back than heading out? Is there some sort of time distortion going on? Is it just perception, not reality?
Saginaw is in some ways a lot like Flint. An old factory town, with the area that the main throughfare goes through all rundown and what we used to call a Ghetto. I am sure that in some places there are nice homes, just like in St. Louis, MO and Detroit,MI.
The time distortion effect is likely real, but we watched the clock, since it took us a lot longer on the way there then we anticipated. I tend to drive the same speeds no matter where I am, that being what other traffic is going, about 5 MPH over the speed limit. I try not to go more than that, since many places won’t let you get away with much more. I am usually pretty cautious in residential areas.
If you want to make yourself slow down, watch Youtube videos of traffic accidents due to poor driving. Some of them are horrific. And some drivers are really criminal, the way they drive. Michigan just went to a law banning any handheld device, cellphone or text use. The exception is calling 911 or for Ham Radio operators.