Tag Archives: dangers

The Empty Highlighter

In one of the classes that I teach (acting) I used to have the students participate in an exercise I call the “highlighter game.” It was meant teach the students something about specificity, imagination, and simplicity regarding objects. One by one each of the students would draw an attribute from a hat filled with small pieces of paper and imbue the highlighter with that attribute from point A to point B. Simple. I’ve kept that relatively unused highlighter ever since as a simple reminder of how simple learning can be with the right idea. Earlier this week, however, something happened … Continue reading →

Reasons I am glad I homeschool: Local School Dangers

Today at a local school, probably 30 minutes from my front door, a student walked into school carrying what he said was a bomb. The child was a freshman, was 14 years old, and seemed confused and agitated. It will probably be weeks before anyone knows what his motives were. Fortunately, disaster was averted, as the school, with a population of 1700 students, was evacuated and the “bomb” did not go off. Whether it was a real bomb or not, has not been disclosed. He surrendered a few hours later. While I do not keep my children in my presence … Continue reading →

Baby Given Four Times the Legal Limit of Alcohol

We all know the dangers of adults drinking alcohol. Alcohol slows down mental functions and reaction time and in large amounts can case unconsciousness and even death. So why would parents give a two-month old baby alcohol? That is the question doctors and police in Colorado are asking themselves. The baby girl and her mother were dropped off at a hospital in Colorado by the mother’s boyfriend. Upon examination doctors found that the infant had a blood alcohol level of 0.364, four times the legal driving rate in Colorado. The mother gave mixed stories about what happened so investigators are … Continue reading →

Be Careful When Heating Up Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving may be over, but you may not be able to tell by looking in your refrigerator. Even if the turkey, stuffing and cranberries were exceptionally prepared there’s usually enough to last long after the holiday meal is over. And, if you’re anything like me you probably don’t think twice about sticking those leftovers in the microwave and reheating them. If you do—-beware. Food experts say when heating up food in plastic, you might be consuming chemicals you never knew existed. Studies have shown that in some plastics, a chemical called DEHA can seep into your food when exposed to … Continue reading →

The Dangers of High Heels

Oprah called it a “life-altering moment.” But, the queen of talk wasn’t referring to the progress made in finding a cure for cancer; rather she was speaking about the creation of a comfortable high heel shoe. After years living in pain, Oprah recently declared to the world that she had discovered a “good looking” high heel shoe (created by a former architect) that is fitted with an “air bag” that goes in the fore part and heel of the shoe, which in turn provides a cushion for the feet. Oprah’s news comes on the heels of a new report that … Continue reading →

Decorating Your Home For The Holidays—Tips On How NOT To Become a Statistic

It’s not even Halloween, but there are some people in my town who are already pulling Rudolph out of the garage for his annual planting on the front lawn. (Frankly, I don’t blame them, we’ve been experiencing winter-like temperatures for more than a week now). Ah, yes, the beginning of the holiday season means homeowners around the world will soon be making the obligatory climb to rooftop to attach a festive string of blinking lights. But before you pull out the ladder consider this: according to the National Safety Council, taking a fall is the leading cause of home fatalities. … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Housewarming Gift

My husband and I registered for and received many wonderful wedding gifts. That’s why when we moved into our first home together shortly after we returned from our honeymoon I didn’t feel comfortable accepting housewarming gifts. However, as much as I tried to enforce the “don’t-come-over-with-gifts” rule, we did receive (and accept) a few generous housewarming presents. Of them, there is one that I must admit has proved invaluable. It is an item I feel no home should be without. That’s why I am dubbing it “the ultimate housewarming gift.” It is a carbon monoxide detector. I know it sounds … Continue reading →

The Stuff Urban Myths Are Made Of

Did you hear the one about the Colorado teen who almost died after being struck by lightning while listening to his iPod. Does it sound like material that urban myths are made of? In this case most of the statement is true. Jason Bunch, a high school senior from Castle Rock, Colorado, was listening to his iPod while mowing his lawn last week. He was just finishing up when a bolt of lightning struck him. Bunch was rushed to the hospital where spent time in the intensive care unit before being released a few days later. “I woke up and … Continue reading →