Bits and pieces

I have several thoughts running through my head this morning, so instead of a single blog dedicated to one subject, I'm going to run down a stream-of-consciousness assembly line and we'll see what happens:

• As I've gotten older, I find it more and more difficult to stand on one foot. Don't laugh. This is an essential skill if you're trying to put on one sock at at time, or to put on a pair of pants.

I once heard from a rehab specialist that as we age, the capillaries in our extremities deteriorate, thus inhibiting the flow of blood to nerve endings - especially in our feet. We literally lose touch with the earth, and it goes far to explain why older people tend to fall more often.

It's probably a good idea not to put on socks or pants on while in the bathroom. Nothing good can happen falling in a room surrounded by porcelain fixtures like sinks, tubs and commodes. Might be best to put on socks or pants in the bedroom, where there's a soft mattress to land on.

• Sheldon Cooper fun fact: In 1961, the American League expanded to 10 teams with the addition of the Washington Senators and the Los Angeles Angels. That necessitated expanding the season by eight games, from 154 to the current 162 (unless there's a pandemic, when there's only 60 games).

But expansion didn't hit the National League until the following year with the addition of the Houston Colt 45s and the New York Mets. 

Consequently, the American League played a 162-game schedule in 1961, while the National League played a 154-game season. Asterisks all over the place, huh?

I had forgotten that.

• I'm not sure what to make of the Boeing 777 that literally lost an engine over Denver Saturday. It caught fire in flight and dropped engine parts over a residential suburb.

The plane didn't crash. No lives were lost. And it landed safely back in Denver with a trail of smoke behind it. Does this mean Boeing makes incredible aircraft that just keep flying under all sorts of duress, or was the whole episode just plain luck?

Early speculation centers around metal fatigue, especially in the jet engine fan blades. The Triple 7 came into service in 1994, and this particular plane is said to be one of the oldest in the fleet. It could be 27 years old.

I once flew in a Ford Tri-Motor that was 70 years old at the time, and later in a Consolidated B-24 that was also about 70 years old when I flew in it. Metal fatigue never entered my mind.

How does metal fatigue happen anyway? Does metal just say, "OK, I'm tired now," and give up its properties? Yikes.

This particular flight was scheduled to fly from Denver to Hawaii. It could have been a lot worse.

• Sheldon Cooper fun fact: When George Washington commanded the American Army in 1775, he was 43 years old. I always had it in my mind that he was older. Other Founding Fathers that year were John Hancock, 39; John Adams, 40; and Thomas Jefferson, 32.

Revolutions are not for the elderly. Unless you're Ben Franklin. He was 69.

• And what's up with Texas Senator Ted Cruz?

While his state is suffering incredible hardship during the recent winter vortex, he slips away to Cancun? And then blames his error of judgment on his daughters when he realizes this isn't a good look if he ever wants to become president?

Our elected officials are put there by the people in order to work for us to make our lives better, not to make their lives better or skip responsibility. Meanwhile, a New York congresswoman raises $2 million and donates it to Texas relief. Where were you, Ted?

This type of irresponsibility goes to character. He may be representing Texas, but the arrogant and self-serving decisions he makes in the Senate affect all of us.

• While the Texas power grid came close to catastrophic failure, and airplanes in our infrastructure are losing body parts, America was still able to put an RV on Mars, equipped with its own helicopter-like drone.

I hope when we finally put a human on Mars, the Martians have a thoughtful and welcoming immigration policy.

Food for thought. That's all for today, folks.