The One-Minute Meeting
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s concussion from falling is a story that millions of American seniors can relate to. 800,000 people will be hospitalized with falling injuries in the U.S. this year. Falling causes 36,000 deaths a year in America. The total medical cost from falling is well over $50 billion a year. And falling has a hidden cost: the loss of confidence that seniors feel after they have hit the floor. This issue is worthy of your exploration because there is a lot that we can do to prevent falls, including looking for steps and curbs that are poorly designed and poorly lit. Young people, take note. Your parents and grandparents worry about this issue and, one day, you will, too. So, let’s address it.
Another Norfolk Southern Railroad train derailed right before the head of the company testified before Congress. It did not spill any chemicals or cause any big problems this time. But it looks bad. This is an opportunity to look closely at the rail industry’s safety record which, has not been very impressive lately, but overall is not the rolling death trap it is made out to be in headlines. In fact, trains are way safer per million miles traveled than trucks. This in no way excuses slow responses or safety shortcuts, but train companies do deserve some respect. Let me show you the numbers.
Pickleball has become such a big thing in the United States that it is causing some friction with tennis players. People who live near courts complain about the noise, and there is even some feuding between the leading associations who want to regulate the sport. And get a load of this data from The Tampa Bay Times: “In a span of three years, the sport grew over 158.6% to 8.9 million players across the country, according to a 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association report. The number of players more than doubled in 2022, growing 85.7% in a year, the report found. Another study from the Association of Pickleball Professionals said that number could be even higher — counting more than 36 million people over 18 years old who played at least once in 2022.”
By the way, here is a terrific video explaining why pickleball may sound louder than tennis, but really, it is not. The sound’s pitch and frequency may be what are annoying people. Or it could be that pickleball players usually don’t wear cute tennis clothes.
I will also tell you why a diabetes drug is in short supply. Hint: People are using it “off label,” as they say, as a weight loss drug. And I will reveal for you why those of you of a certain age know the jingle that goes with that drug. It was the second-worst song of 1973. And yes, I will also link you to the worst song of that year. The FCC should have fined stations that played it for committing a crime against humanity.
