Nov. 22nd, 2015

xiphias: (swordfish)
1. Wear your seatbelt. Something on the order of 30 thousand people die in auto accidents in the United States each year; most of those people aren't wearing seatbelts. We can make a reasonable conclusion that at least a few thousand of the people who died not wearing seatbelts would have lived if they were wearing seatbelts; it is virtually certain that "not wearing a seatbelt" has killed more people in the United States in the past year than terrorism has, ever, including 9/11.

2. Make sure that any firearms you own are always either under your direct control, or locked up. Accidental firearm deaths have dropped precipitously over the past several decades, but there's been a disturbing uptick recently as stupid people have decided that they want guns. If you're going to own a firearm, make sure to have good training in firearms safety and an NRA-approved firearms safe. Consider whether trigger locks are a good idea for you.

The lowest number of accidental firearms deaths in one year in the past several decades was 600. So, in any year, more people are killed by poor firearm safety than in all terrorist attacks in the United States other than 9/11. Firearms injuries are much higher; it's hard to get numbers, but it is probable than, every year, there are more people injured by poor firearms safety than in all terrorist attacks in the United States ever, INCLUDING 9/11.

Like they say, "Guns don't kill people. People who have no clue how to use guns safely kill people." For the most part, guns aren't dangerous to people because bad guys get them: guns are dangerous because STUPID people get them. The idea of common-sense gun control and licensing isn't to keep bad guys from having guns; it's to reduce incompetence, which is frankly more of a danger to most people.

3. Cut down your smoking. We all know that one.

4. Control your drinking, and eliminate binge-drinking entirely. Look. I like alcohol, a lot. It's a hobby of mine. But let's be honest -- blacking out and/or puking, that's not enjoying alcohol responsibly. That's not even enjoying alcohol AT ALL. How can you enjoy ANYTHING when you're blacked out? And any alcohol that ends up on the ground isn't something you actually got to enjoy.

5. Get a carbon monoxide detector. It's not like in the Victorian era, when entire buildings of people would be found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heating, but it's still important -- if something blocks the air intake of your heating system, you can still get dangerous levels of carbon monoxide even today.

6. Make sure your smoke detector batteries are working. Make sure that you keep the areas around your radiators clear. Don't overload your electrical outlets.

7. If you leave dishes soaking in your sink in soapy water, DON'T PUT KNIVES IN WITH THEM. In a restaurant, putting knives in the dish sink without letting the dishwasher know about it is a "be taken into the alley and be beaten" offense. And for good reason.

8. Make sure to be active for at least a half-hour a day, every day. Go for a walk or something.

So, there are seven things to do to protect yourself, if you are afraid of terrorists. All of them will make you safer than keeping Syrian refugees out of the country will.

Edited to Add, based on observation in comments: Sunscreen. Don't forget sunscreen.
xiphias: (swordfish)
Not one of tartar sauce, cream of tartar, and the tartar that builds up on your teeth is actually made from ground-up Mongol horsemen.

The Financial Times website has a really great 404 page.

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