The Low-Tech Times

This past weekend, my wife and I celebrated our fourth anniversary.  We met at a previous job.  Many of our married friends met in college or at a party.   Now, it seems that more and more people are turning to online dating services, such as harmony.com or match.com, when looking for a partner.

It seems to me that there is something special about meeting the old-fashioned way, by chance and in-person.  At very least, you have a better story of where you met than just naming a website.

I heard a radio ad for eventsandadventures.com the other day in the car.  Unlike harmony.com and match.com, singles have the opportunity to meet in person during a shared interest activity.  I know nothing about the Events and Adventures service or how much it charges, but it does sound like a better approach than relying on the computerized matches of online dating sites.

There’s really no need to join an online dating service at all.  If you’re looking for a partner, simply take an active role in your community.  By joining an organization you’re interested in, you’ll have an excellent chance of finding someone special with a shared interest.

Senator Barack Obama won yesterday’s U.S. presidential election. Understandably, many supporters of Senator John McCain are disappointed with the result.

There’s no better cure for the post-election blues than classic Merle Haggard music. In particular, I enjoy Okie from Muskogee and The Fighting Side of Me.

• Okie from Muskogee
  We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee;
  we don’t take our trips on LSD.
  We don’t burn our draft cards down on Main Street;
  we like living right, and being free.
  I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
  a place where even squares can have a ball.
  We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse
  and white lightning’s still the biggest thrill of all.  We don’t make a party out of loving;
  we like holding hands and pitching woo.
  We don’t let our hair grow long and shaggy,
  like the hippies out in San Francisco do.And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
  a place where even squares can have a ball.
  We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse
  and white lightning’s still the biggest thrill of all.

  Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear;
  beads and Roman sandals won’t be seen.
  Football’s still the roughest thing on campus
  and the kids here still respect the college dean.

  We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
  in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.

• The Fighting Side of Me
  …Running down the way of life,
  our fighting men have fought and died to keep.
  If you don’t love it, leave it!
  Let this song I’m singing be a warning.
  If you’re running down my country, man,
  you’re walking on the fighting side of me.
  

I watched watching free tv on NBC 11 (WBAL-TV) this weekend and caught an interesting story about the risk of brain cancer from using cell phones. The problem is that since it takes 10 years for most brain cancers to develop, the jury is still out on how great of a risk cell phones bring:

Cell phones allow us to be in constant communication with others 24 hours a day, seven days a week almost anywhere in the world — something that what was once uncommon. But some scientists said they think the devices need a closer look.

Dr. Devra Davis is director of the world’s first Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. She said she first became interested in cell phones and cancer after seeing some studies from Scandinavia that showed an increased brain cancer risk for people using cell phones for 10 years or more.

“There have been more studies that show no risk. Unfortunately, those studies haven’t looked at cell phone use for 10 years or more,” she said.

Davis said it takes 10 years for most brain cancers to develop. Pictures from cell phone companies show the electromagnetic signal goes about two inches into the adult brain — halfway through the brain of a 10-year-old and completely through the brain of a 5-year-old. Yet children are one of the fastest growing markets for cell phones.

Davis said children’s’ brains are the most vulnerable.

The best policy is to avoid using cell phones except when absolutely necessary. In addition to preventing cancer, you will also save a lot of money by going with a pay-as-you-go plan.