Reaction to the News: Excavator stolen from I-86 work site

Yesterday, WIVB News reported that an excavator was stolen from an I-86 work site. For those who do not wish to click a link, the story is as follows:

Excavator stolen from I-86 work site
Published : Wednesday, 22 Jun 2011, 7:33 PM EDT

Posted by: Eli George
RANDOLPH, N.Y. (WIVB) – Troopers are looking for a stolen excavator that was being used to make repairs to the damaged roads and bridges on the I-86 in Randolph.

State Police say that sometime between Monday evening and Wednesday morning, a CAT mini excavator was stolen from the I-986 construction site. The machine is owned by a private company that was working to make repairs. The machine and its attachments are worth around $70,000.

Anyone with information regarding the excavator can call the State Police in Jamestown at 716-665-3113.

My reaction:

1. How did the perps get away with this?! It’s not like they could have taken it and shoved it under their sweater, or rolled it up and stashed it in their shopping bag, a la Stephanie Tanner.
   

   Stephanie steals a sweater for D.J., as Mr. Bear looks on in disapproval.

    

2. The excavator was stolen sometime betwen “Monday evening and Wednesday morning”? What happened to Tuesday? Taking a little break from your construction work, hmmm? Caught ya.

 If anyone sees a neighbor with a new piece of digging equiptment in their backyard, call the number listed in the article above. They probably did not inherit it from a relative like they told you.

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Hearing Aid Ban for Police Officers??

Yesterday I came across an article in the New York Times titled, “Ban on Hearing Aids is Forcing Out Veteran New York City Police Officers“. In late 2009, the New York City police department began enforcing a ban on hearing devices. This ban has a large negative impact on current officers who have suffered a hearing loss, even those who have obtained this loss while working. Officers who have hearing loss are forced to enter disability retirement.

Police work itself causes hearing loss, yet officers are not allowed to aid this loss. As mentioned in the article, police officer Daniel Carione, 44, currently has hearing loss as a direct result of the job. On July 4, 1996, Mr. Carione was menaced by a drunken man with a knife, requiring him to shoot the man in self defense. Another officer on back up fired five shots, less than two feet from Mr. Carione’s ear. I can guarentee that these men did not have time to insert ear plugs before defending themselves. (I can further guarentee this was not even on their minds at the time). A job which requires exposure to impulse noise of 100 dB+ without proper hearing protection has no right to then descriminate against its own casualties.

Consider the listening levels police officers are subject to on a daily basis. Officers are exposed to all kinds of unsafe listening levels while on the job. A study conducted in France on French police officers found that police officers were 1.4 times more likely to have a 4 kHz hearing loss (a typical noise-induced hearing loss) than civil servents. American officers working in the subway system are exposed to at least 70 dBA at the platform multiple times an hour*- this is the threshold at which noise-induced hearing loss is considered possible. Some sources list subway noise to be as loud as 106 dBA (NYTimes), a level that can not be listened to for longer than 30 seconds before causing damage. Officers who work above ground are no safer; midtown Manhattan traffic is estimated to be between 70 – 85 dBA. The safe exposure duration for 85 dB is 45 minutes, a length of time I’m sure police officers exceed on an average work shift.

Why are police officers allowed to wear glass or contacts, but not hearing aids? Paul J. Browne, department’s cheif spokesman, declared hearing aids were not suitable with police work since they were vulnerable to “mechanical failure, earwax buildup or any number of things”. A properly cared for hearing aid will not malfunction anymore than glasses may break or fall off of your face, or contacts fall out or rip or tear. Perhaps a solution to this problem is to have a daily hearing aids check before officers report for duty. Wax guards can be changed, and batteries can be tested for strength. This is a process that would take 30 seconds, maximum. Police officers who are shamed into hiding their hearing loss by not wearing their hearing aids are putting themselves in danger, by not being able to hear their radios, fellow officers, or environmental warning cues around them.

This ban on hearing devices will do nothing but have police officers hide their hearing loss. Hearing loss should not be something to be ashamed of, since with proper amplification hearing thresholds can be that of a normal listening person. This ban on hearing aids is ridiculous, and the New York City Police Department needs to re-evaluate the way they see hearing aids. These are tools that will beneift seasoned police officers, officers who have the experience and the right to serve and protect New York City.

*Richard Neitzel, MS, Robyn R.M. Gershon, DrPH, MHS, Marina Zeltser, BS, Allison Canton, BA, and Muhammad Akram, PhD, “Noise Levels Associated with New York City’s Mass Transit Systems,” American Journal of Public Health, August 2009, Vol 99, No. 8, 1393-1399.

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Unitron- Hearing Matters!

An email popped up in my inbox today from Unitron-

 

The pictures we took at AudiologyNOW! are available to view online! I loved going through and seeing all the images. People’s favorite sounds ranged from heartwarming (babies laughing), to scary (the blast of a gun? Hopefully under proper protection!), to silly (Shazam!).

Oh! And what’s that? Page 8, top left corner? The best response of them all!

$5 per entry were donated to NEADS, an organization that has trained over 1300 assistance dog teams in all 50 States. As it costs about $20,000 to train each dog, I’m sure Unitron’s donation was much appreciated.

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Infographic Thursday – Bradley Hearing Research

Searching for an infographic to post today, I came across this multimedia representation of hearing loss.

 

 

This infographic was found at the Bradley Hearing Research website. If you click on the infographic above, it will take you to the website. If you click on the infographic THERE, your multimedia experience will begin. Enjoy 🙂

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Infographic Thursday!

So it’s pretty terrible when 1) the last time I posted was also Infographic Thursday, and 2) I had to be reminded to post. Apparently I’m not on the ball.

This weeks infographic comes from TechTea.Tv – “a delightful fusion of technology tips & tricks mixed with tea reviews and zen-style lifehacks”.  Tea and technology – two of my favorite things!

I am part of that 82% that drinks black. I can’t get into green tea, no matter how much my fiance tries to push it on me. Black tea with a splash of milk- I’ve been drinking I was a kid! Some kids got chocolate milk for a treat; we got tea time. Delish.

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Infographic Thursday!

Inspired by one of my favorite Higher Ed blogs, Marketing for Higher Ed, I’ve decided to post fun infographics I have found. However, mine will probably not be as serious or educational.  Without further ado I bring you the first weekly anual Infographic Thursday!

Brought to you by Jezabel.com

 

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Another activity to do!

While talking to my friend Molly today about our domestic adventures, she mentioned wanting to make wine bottles into lamps. I found a tutorial from a blog called “Lavender Clouds”.

I can’t wait to try it!

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Bloomin Boots

(Yes, another post about shoes)

 

The weather in Buffalo has been pretty dreary the last couple of days weeks. Walking around in the rainy outdoors in my canvas sneakers has NOT been cutting it. I decided heaftier footwear was in order. I have had my eye on Hunter boots for a while now for a few reasons. First, they are adorable. Second (and more important), they can be transformed into winter boots with the addition of a liner.

SO, I ordered them online and waited anxiously for them to come. When they arrives, I practically clawed open the box to take them out and put them on immediately. However, my joyful glee soon changed to anger when I opened the box and found this:

 

What the heck. I ordered “Hi Gloss Black”, not “Dusty Gross Grey”. I double checked the invoice in the package, and it claimed it sent me the correct pair.  What to do, what to do… Google search it, of course! I searched the terms “Hunter Boots Arrived White”, and “Dusty Hunter Boots”, and found out that this is quite common! Apparently, it is called “blooming”, a phenomenon that happens when the wax that has been added to the rubber compound in the boot “blooms” to the surface.

Personally, if my boots were going to start blooming, I’d rather they do this:

Hahahaha. Get it? Bloomin Onions? Mmmmmm. I sense a trip to Outback Steakhouse in my future. It’s not like I’m trying to fit into a wedding dress anytime soon.

ANYWAY.

From what I gathered on various forums, the best way to get rid of the white marks is to slather it with olive oil. However, I had none on hand, so I tried vegetable oil instead. What a difference!

See?! This is after only one wipe down, too. I applied another layer, then did the same to the other boot, and here are the results!

Now THAT is what you call “Hi Gloss”! You can even see me taking the picture on the right. I might do some more on the soles. Detailing, I suppose.

Hopefully whoever has a problem with this will find my blog in the future and oil up their bloomin boots!

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Wedding Shoes!

Has anyone else heard of  Ebates.com ?

 

I found it after browsing online coupons, and this is pretty amazing. I’ve already earned $5 back for shopping online (which I do a LOT). I wish I had heard of this earlier. Basically, if you shop online and follow a link to a store through their website, you get a certain percentage of your purchase back through them! For example, today I bought shoes for the wedding (!!!!):

I followed the link through Ebates.com, and recieved 12% cash back!

 

List price: $109.00.

Sale price: $59.95

Free shipping

12% cash back ($5)

Final cost = $54.95!

Not too shabby.

Next big wedding purchase: ties and pocket squares for the groomsmen. Off to search online!

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AudiologyNOW!

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