Technology is amazing, annoying

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 02 October 2012 14:25

Technology has never been more amazing than it is now—but it’s also never been more challenging. While you can do so much more, there is so much more that can go wrong. And baling wire doesn’t work anymore.

Case in point. For some time we have had some issues with our story submission and online store modules of our Free Press website. We believe we have fixed them now and apologize for any inconvenience we have caused those who have been trying to interact with us in this way. It’s all in the settings.

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I’ve been to my eye doctor, and now I know I can see as good as I can see. He says my glasses are doing the best they can for me. The next thing is fixing the cataracts when they get bad enough. I am told it is a matter of time.

But here is something I didn’t know: Doctors can suck out the stuff in your lenses which become clouded, and put in new lenses that can actually make you see better. I’ll be glad when that day arrives.

My dad always said aging wasn’t for sissies.

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And speaking of see—what’s the big deal with sea salt? All kinds of food products now tout that they have sea salt on them or in them.

I’ve got news for them. All salt is sea salt—the state of Kansas, where the big salt mines are located, used to be under a vast sea that contained salt.

Also, salt is salt no matter where it came from.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many people do not know that last month was dedicated to Prostate Cancer Awareness. Fox Sports emphasized it during all of September. No matter what the month is, you can be on the lookout for any type of cancer.

Cancer is on my mind since I found out I had a tumor on my prostate five years ago this past month. The concern isn’t about me anymore, but for any man approaching age 50-60 who hasn’t had a check-up lately—or ever.

The secret is early detection. And the way it is usually detected is with the PSA level. If it is elevated, like mine was, there is suspicion. It is a simple blood test. It doesn’t hurt. Go do it if you haven’t. I am serious.

I know at least 20 men who have had prostate cancer and are still living. Most of them had it surgically removed as I did. There are side effects though, affecting quality of life, with some being worse than others. Staying alive is good.

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Our veterans book is now at the printer and I believe all of us at the Free Press will be breathing a bit easier now that this step has been accomplished.

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In all of my years of watching football I don’t ever recall seeing such an improbable turn of events than what I witnessed at the end of the game Saturday night between the Tabor Bluejays and Ottawa Braves.

Tabor deserved to win by how it played all night. I thought the play Tabor ran near Ottawa’s end zone with 1:37 left in the game was over by the length of time it took—and suddenly the ball is rolling free in the end zone to be scooped up and run 100 yards the other way.

There is apparently no justice. You can second-guess the ending of this game until your face is blue and it will never make sense.

If you wish to share your comments or ideas, my e-mail address is joel@hillsborofreepress.com.