Unconventional

Headline from nypost.com: “Tech workers getting leg-lengthening surgery that costs up to $150K: report.” According to the accompanying article by Thomas Barrabi: “…doctor breaks the femur in each of a patient’s legs and inserts extendable metal nails. The nails are gradually extended over the next three months by one millimeter a day… patients can add up to six inches if they are willing to have the same surgical nails implanted in their tibias.” The reasons: self-consciousness about being short and improvement in romantic possibilities. Recovery is painful and may take months. I wonder if the bones will become more susceptible to breaking.

Opening line of an NYP editorial: “Since President George H.W. Bush signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Rio de Janeiro,” for “every ton of carbon dioxide the West cut, the rest of the world emitted an extra four…” Only those not paying attention would be surprised.

Newsmax.com headline: “New Orleans Takes Over as Murder Capital of US.” Per capita, that is. 205 so far in 2022.

Headline from foxnews.com: “Biden nears 100 executive orders estimated to cost taxpayers almost $1.5 trillion.” According to the accompanying article by Joe Schoffstall: “With more than $201 billion in costs, the Biden era to-date far outpaces its predecessors, with more than three times the costs of Obama’s first year and nearly 40 times those of Trump’s…” Anyone surprised?

Also from FN: “Cleveland auto mechanic becomes doctor at age 51, inspires others to pursue their dreams.” Meet Dr. Carl Allamby, first job in hospital emergency room, photo from FN:

I became curious about the opening chords of AC/DC’s Back in Back: one stroke of E, three of D and three of A/C#. The third is tough. I tried it with a simple A and it doesn’t sound far off — at least to my tin ear.

It was a very enjoyable session of the floating book shop, despite the humidity. My thanks to the kind folks who bought, donated and swapped titles. Here’s what sold: Physics Made Simple: A Complete Introduction to the Basic Principles of This Fundamental Science by Christopher De Pree; one volume from the Night World vampire series by L.J. Smith; Truth or Die by James Patterson and Howard Roughan; a stack of elementary school testing manuals; a stack of music DVDs for elementary school; two prayer books in Hebrew and English; Banking: An Illustrated History by Edwin Green; Third Circle Theory — Purpose Through Observation by Pejman Ghadimi; Le Silence Du Totem by Fatoumata Ngom, which translates from French as The Silence of the Totem, the latter term defined as “a natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem.” I am blessed… Steve, a retired salesman who recently had a stent job, stopped by and related a nugget about Hurricane Sandy I don’t recall having heard from anyone else in the neighborhood. We are about a half mile from Sheepshead Bay. When it breached and water came pouring down the streets, it flooded basements. Steve said there were fish in the garage of his co-op, and some were big!

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