I collect tabs like someone people collect coins. My Firefox browser almost always has 20-30 tabs open. Sometimes I run through and clean them and other times I forced to. When I upgraded to Firefox 4 I needed to clean out the tabs and came across an awesome blog post from an emergency room physician. It details the top ways middle aged men kill themselves. Not suicide, but through activities.
Going through the list, I was happy that I avoid almost all the situations. Some were surprising, though.
The one that I don’t avoid is the road biking. The blog post says:
Do not road cycle or jog on public roads/roadsides. This is self-evident.
Ugh. I love road cycling. I am not an idiot about it, as I go to sidewalks if there is no shoulder, but still, it is a risk according to the list.
Some of the other points are evident such as avoid ladders and chain saws. The following three were the ones a little surprising:
Avoid intoxicated groups of people: If you think about it, this makes a ton of sense. The problem is that our society has become so politically correct that if you do walk to the other side of the sidewalk, some people might take offense.
Don’t move if you are retirement age: I hadn’t considered this, but the doctor is a strong advocate of reducing stress and moving is a primary cause for middle aged men. The doctor says that if you have to move, buy something that is pre-existing and don’t build new. It compounds the stress.
Don’t get a pilot’s license: This one I haven’t ever thought of, but I guess enough upwardly mobile professionals consider it. The doctor says, “Expertise in one area of life does not transfer to piloting, often with fatal results.” I think that is right on. Someone who is accomplished in one facet of their life might consider everything conquerable.
I guess it is all about reducing risk. The wife and I constantly argue about getting on roof to clean out the gutters. I’d just as soon hire someone to do it, but she insists.
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