On Emergency Calls

In the US and Canada, 9-1-1 is an emergency response number. Similar system also occur throughout the world, such as 000 (Australia), 100 (India, Israel), 112 (European Union, Hong Kong, and some non-EU countries), 113 (Norway), 117 (Philippines), 133 (Chile), 155 (Turkey), 999 (UK), and there are others.

In the US, calls to the 9-1-1 center are part of the public record – therefore, recorded calls may become part of a news report. Whether on a large cable/satellite network, a national network, or the local news, I’ve never thought much about these calls beyond hearing the initial account …. well, not until last month.

What you are about to read is simply the basic facts about the event – and by no means will I go into more details about the incident – thus keep in mind, my point in this post is regarding emergency calls being part of a news story.

A friend of mine was sitting in a chair one evening. His wife was sleeping, my wife received a Facebook comment from him, and within an hour, shots from outside his house killed him. His wife found him in the chair, thus called 9-1-1.

The next day, the local news included that emergency call as an update to their story. Hearing a person’s voice that I know well describing her discovery troubled me. Yes, this was my first encounter of knowing the people involved in a 9-1-1 call that made the news. Throughout my 60 years, I’ve had people close to me die of a wide range of ages – some unexpectedly, some from prolonged illness. – from heart attacks, cancer, accidents, and others – but never murder.

Nonetheless, hearing her voice made me think about 9-1-1 calls. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a wonderful service – but should emergency call center recordings remain private for a designated number of days as 30 or 60? What’s your opinion?

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On Closet Cleaning

Being that I’m still a bit short of breath due to the Freshly Pressed honor, I’m behind on preparing a Saturday morning classic cartoon post. However, I also need to clear a few bookmarks of unused videos – so here’s a potpourri for you to enjoy. What did you watch?

Inspirational quotes

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Here’s Curly (3 Stooges) eating clam soup

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For the many who marvel at a timelapse video of the sky

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A beautiful handbell piece featuring cathedral images

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A tribute to the original Gomez and Morticia Adams

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Opening credits to Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie with Adele

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If you are one of the few who didn’t see this fun Where’s Matt video, enjoy this tribute to humanity

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On Back to Sleep

How you ever been able to not fall asleep? Which is worse being unable to fall asleep, or awakening in the middle of the night and being unable to return to sleep?

We know the tale of just counting sheep jumping over a fence, but how many sheep have you ever seen jumping a fence?

My wife was discussing with a coworker her inability to return to sleep, and the coworker said that a relative who is a doctor suggested that when you get up in the middle of the night to visit the pee-pee room, first, don’t look at the clock. If you can’t return to sleep, do the following: select a broad topic (movie titles, car models, authors, trees, wine brands, baseball players, or whatever) and then go through the alphabet selecting a word for each letter that has to do with a selected topic.

As one who enjoys problem-solving exercises, the first time I tried this I stayed awake because I was obsessed with completing the task! Because of my experience, not only here’s the topic that I use, but a list to jump-start your mind for whenever you need. Heck, I now start with naming 3 per letter.

By the way, this is NOT meant to be a comprehensive list of U.S. produce, let alone the world.

Topic: Grocery Store Product Department

A) Asparagus, apples, arugula, avocado, alfalfa sprouts, apricot, artichokes

B) Broccoli, brussel sprouts, bibb lettuce, bananas, bean sprouts, beets, bok choy, blueberries

C) Carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, cherries, cranberries, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, coconut, corn, chives, cilantro, cactus pears

D) Dill, dates, D’Anjou pears, dandelion greens

E) Escarole, eggplant, endive, Empire apples

F) Fennel, figs, fava beans

G) Grapes, Grapefruit, green beans, garlic, ginger, guava

H) Honey Crisp apples, honeydew, Habanero peppers, horseradish, Heirloom tomatoes

I) Iceberg lettuce, Italian parsley

J) Jonathon apples, Jalepeno peppers, jicama

K) Kale, kiwi, kumquats, King Royal pears

L) Lemons, limes, lettuce, lemongrass, lychee

M) Melons, mustard greens, mango, mushrooms, morels

N) Nectarines, nuts

O) Onions, oranges, okra, oregano, oyster mushrooms

P) Pineapple, parsley, peaches, papaya, portabella, pecans, parsnips, peas, pears, plums, potatoes, pomegranate, pumpkin, persimmon, plantains, pine nuts

Q) Quince, Queen Pineapples

R) Radishes, romaine, Roma tomatoes, Russett potatoes, rosemary, rhubarb, radicchio, rhutabaga

S) Spinach, strawberries, sage, squash, Shittake mushroom, star fruit

T) Tomatoes, tomatillos, tangerines, tangelos, taragon, thyme, tara root, turnips

U) Ugly fruit

V) Valencia oranges

W) Watermelon, white asparagus, watercress, walnuts

X) —

Y) Yellow squash, yucca root, Yukon potatoes, Yams

Z) Zucchini

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On Ninja Squirrel Training

Breaking News: Ninja Squirrel Training Routine Discovered

For those expecting a mid-week dose of satire, this breaking news forces the satirical headlines to the next post.

Yesterday, the AFA investigative team published a recruitment film used to attract members for the Ninja Squirrel Corps. After a recent mission into dangerous territory, the AFA investigative team successfully taped exercises at the Ninja Squirrel Training Center – which may help prepare Zannyro’s Warrior Princess for prepare for a future battle.

Meanwhile, although the Ninja Squirrel Patrol spotted the AFA investigators, the team safely returned. However, we are unsure how this will affect reporting in the immediate future.

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On Recruiting Fighting Squirrels

Breaking News! An update on the looming battle of human versus squirrels

As a result of an Indiana photographer declaring war on a ninja squirrel, the investigative team here at AFA discovered a squirrel recruiting film regarding the potential future battle. If the recruiting theme is any indication, Zannyro will have to travel one treacherous Highway to Hell.

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