10.16.17 One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who have only interests.-John Stuart Mill
Be Careful with Candles
-Candles are a great way to give a room that warm glow, but they can also cause fires. According to the National Candle Association, almost 10,000 home fires start with improper candle use.
-Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire.
-Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc.
-Keep burning candles out of the reach of children and pets. Trim candlewicks to ¼ inch each time before burning.
Extinguish candles before you go out and before you go to bed for the evening.
-Check your smoke detector periodically and keep a fire extinguisher in your home for safety.
Life is Good! / October is Fire Safety Month
Stats/Information:
- In the US, Fire deaths between 2010-2014 was an average of 2,520 with 50% of those deaths occurring from 11p-7a-
- -84% of fire deaths occur in 1-2 family homes
- -60% of firedeaths occurred where there wasn’t an active smoke alarm
- -2 out of 5 house fires start in the kitchen and are mainly caused by unattended cooking.
- New synthetics cause fire to spread more rapidly than ever before. Once a smoke alarm goes off you only have abouttwo minutes to escape.
- Test your escape plan twice a year, have an escape ladder, identifya meeting place.
- Less than 50% of US homes with an Escape Plan have ever practiced it only 8% said their first thought is to escape when a smoke alarm activates.
- Change smoke detector with the time change (every 6 months).Replace smoke detectors every 10 years!
- Sleep with your door shut. It is ideal to have your smoke detectors “linked together” so that if one alarms they all alarm. This make notification more ideal with your door shut
- Once out of the house, stay out of the house. If you can think about it, close the door behind you as this will keep the flow path/growth of the fire down significantly including the oxygen that would feed the fire
- Remember to designate a Meeting Place.Many tragedies have occurred when one family member went back in to a burning structure thinking that another member had not made it out when, in fact, they had escaped but did not have a designated location to meet.
Use Caution on Ladders
Wearing appropriate footwear is important when using a ladder; shoes or boots may be wet, causing you to slip as you climb the ladder. The ladder should be positioned on a flat surface before use. Be sure that the tools you are using are specifically designed for this purpose and are in good condition before starting work.
Clean Up Fallen Leaves
Keep your driveway and walkway clear of falling leaves. Wet leaves can create a hazard for pedestrians in the fall by making sidewalks slippery. Later in the season, snow may mix with leaves to increase the risk of falling. Homeowners should mulch or rake up fallen leaves and dispose of them according to local bylaws.
Look Up Before Pruning Trees
If you have decided that your yard needs to be spruced up by trimming your trees, be sure to look up and survey the area carefully before you start. Make careful note of where power lines are located before you set up your ladder so that it is positioned away from them.
Reminder: Fog lights are for foggy mornings not for everyday driving. They tend to blind other drivers, especially if you’re driving a pickup with a lift kit. Thanks!
Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7
Perception
…something to think about…
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The questions raised:in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
Or, do we pass on by because we are too busy -- so caught up in the madness that we forget to live?
…. How many other things are we missing?
Enjoy each day and what it brings(e.g., the sunrise or sunset, the rain, a rainbow, the moon, the stars, the falling leaves, the squirrel gathering nuts, a friendly smile, a loved one’s time, a friend’s laugh, etc., etc.). Live in the minute – take time out of your busy schedule to live… you’ll never get this day back again… so you might as well live a little! Keep smiling – life is great!