100 Years Ago

-
I love finding old newspapers because I marvel about what life was like back when.

Someone sent out a post about what life was like just 100 years ago and I was fascinated.

The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

What will it be 100 years from now?

I guess we won't know, but it's fun to speculate.

The advancements being made every year...will it be possible to go to 150 or so?

Will people in 2115 look back and say:

They only lived to 75?

Only 14% of the homes had bathtubs.

They must have been some stinky bastards.

Most women only washed their hair once a month...they used Boras or egg yolks for shampoo.

Attractive.

The population of Las Vegas was 30.

I'm going to Vegas next month...every time I'm there I wonder about the waste of resources.

100 years ago there were only 30 people living there???

Coffee was 15 cents a pound.

We pay five bucks a cup in some places now!

The average U.S. worker made between two and four hundred dollars a year.

There are members of one political party who believe that it should still be that way!

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 MPH.

When the idiot in front of me at the E-Z Pass lane slows to 10 to exit it pisses me off to no end.

Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

Now you get a smart phone for graduating pre-K.

Two out of every 10 people couldn't read or write.

Is that much higher now?

And my favorite stat of the 100 years ago report:

There were about 230 reported murders a year in the United States each year.

Perhaps all that we've learned has actually set us way back.

Can't wait to see what happens in the next 100!

Maybe I will know somehow.

Who the hell knows?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more