CLOSE
Opinion

by -
0 673
Pixabay photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Almost everyone I have ever asked hates housekeeping. Who wants to be scrubbing floors, cleaning bathrooms and dusting furniture when one could be taking a walk, reading a book or just visiting with a friend? Well, here comes a solution, if not immediately, then before too long. It’s called a domestic robot.

Robots that clean swimming pools and sweep carpets have been in use for many years, but according to news reports, more personal robots are on the way. If you were to own one, in theory at least, what would you have it do?

I would gladly yield to a robot that could sew on a button, or fold the laundry at the end of the wash cycle and put the items away in the drawers. How about one that could iron? Talk about spoiled! 

I can clearly remember when, as a small child, I would watch my parents washing their clothes by rubbing them against  a “wash board” in the soapy work sink, then hanging them, with a myriad of clothes pins, to dry. We thought we had come so far when washing machines and dryers were invented. Now I am asking for an unpaid valet to do the job of several maids over 100 years ago in Downton Abbey.

I would also appreciate a robot that could take out the dog for a walk on freezing or snowy or rainy days when I would prefer to stay nicely warm under the covers in bed.

“Edgar,” I would say, for I would have already named my robot, “Please take the dog as far as the stop sign this morning and dry him off before he comes back into the house.” The dog, of course, would have to get used to the robot first, but with a little patience that could be managed.

Then there could be a sous-chef robot. “Cut the red onions, mushrooms, red pepper, cucumber and radishes for a salad, Edgar. And tear apart the Boston lettuce. While you are at it, put all the ingredients in a bowl and set it on the table along with oil, balsamic vinegar and serving tongs.”

Now I don’t mind cooking. In fact, I rather enjoy it. But it would encourage me to make more complicated dishes than tuna fish with mayonnaise if I could summon Edgar to clean up after I was finished. While I was cooking, Edgar could set the table, and when we were finished eating and were leaving the dining room, Edgar could put the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on. 

Remember how excited we were in the olden days when dishwashers appeared in our lives? Now I’m looking to have them filled, then unloaded, with the dishes put back in the cabinet, ready for the next meal. Sounds ridiculous? It’s not.

According to Wikipedia, “A domestic robot or homebot is a type of service robot, an autonomous robot that is primarily used for household chores, but may also be used for education, entertainment or therapy. While most domestic robots are simplistic, some are connected to WiFi home networks or smart environments and are autonomous to a high degree. There were an estimated 16.3 million service robots in 2018.”

Robots have been designed since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to help with production, but personal robots started to appear, according to Wikipedia, in the 1980s. “People could use it to play songs, games, wake people up in the morning, notify important events, and even guard the home.” The robot can be programmed with a computer and some software or it could be controlled with an infrared transmitter and a remote pad.

So guess what?

In addition to cleaning floors, there does exist an ironing robot, a laundry-folding robot, and even a cat litter box-cleaning robot. There also exist robots that can make rotis and tortillas. And robots can patrol the house with night vision to protect against intruders.

All of these will, I suspect, become family members soon. 

by -
0 748
Julia and Valerie D’Amico. Photo courtesy of D’Amico family

In 2025, labels are toxic, political and problematic.

DEI? Not allowed anymore. Woke? There’s undoubtedly an executive action to rid the nation of anything that fits under this large umbrella.

Fortunately, during last week’s final stage in a contest run by Stony Brook University’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science, politics didn’t enter the room, even though women, girls, families and boys met for a science competition.

The IACS unveiled the winners in their competition a few days after the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The competition helped over 150 local students learn about women scientists who may not be household names, but who made significant contributions to their fields.

Some of these historical role models were firsts. Mary Jackson was the first female Black engineer. Marie Curie was the first woman to earn a degree from the University of Paris.

Others made significant, and sometimes overshadowed, contributions to their fields. Rosalind Franklin, for example, provided key x-ray crystallography images that uncovered the double helical structure of DNA.

For students in the area, the competition was not only an opportunity to learn about the history of these women and the challenges they overcame, but was also a chance to conduct their experiments and present them to a receptive audience.

All the competitors were not girls. The participants, whether or not they won, appreciated the opportunity to learn and compete.

Parents of these precocious children were thrilled that this contest provided an enrichment learning opportunity, built their daughters’ confidence, and gave the next generation a sense of the myriad opportunities the sciences might present to them.

Each of these students — and some of them worked in teams — produced a one minute video explaining who the scientist was, why she was important and how they conducted their own experiment.

Some of them extracted DNA from strawberries, while others, like co-winner Allison Wong launched small objects through the air with their own miniature catapults, measuring the time marbles, cotton balls, ping pong balls and bottle caps were in the air and the distance these objects traveled.

Even amid concerns about future funding for all kinds of science and educational programs, this second annual competition was clearly a success for the competitors and a source of great satisfaction for parents, science teachers, and extended family members.

This kind of educational outreach program is exactly what every area needs, as students not only competed to win cash prizes, but also asked about future opportunities for scientific learning and advancement.

We congratulate the IACS and the co-chairs of this effort, Professors Marivi Fernandez-Serra and Monica Buggalo at Stony Brook University, for putting this great event together. We also hope that this kind of community service and outreach continues to provide necessary opportunities for personal growth.

These students expanded on the typical effort to study for a test, memorize dates or answer multiple choice or short answer questions for a class assignment. These videos took days to produce and edit.

We thank women scientists of the past for everything they did in and out of the limelight and we take great comfort in pondering a future led by the boundless enthusiasm of the competitors who are in the early stages of their own journeys.

by -
0 720
File photo by Raymond Janis

This is NOT “Resistance Corner”

As stated in our NYS charter, the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) organization composed of local businesses. It is not by design nor practice, one that supports politicians or engages in political demonstrations. The antique train car, near the corner of NYS Routes 112 and 347, is the private property of PJS/T CoC as is the surrounding land, flag pole and Legacy patio. The 100-year-old car serves as the CoC office.  It and the property, intended solely for use for CoC sponsored events, is diligently maintained by the all-volunteer board, despite the Town Park sign having utilized our old corner marquee to rename the park behind the train car.  The public park is marked by the paddock fencing.

The Feb 6. Port Times Record cover and page A3 showed trespassers with a megaphone and signs standing on the train car decking and patio. This letter is intended to clarify: the train car and its surrounding property is private space and the PJS/T CoC has given no public individual or group permission to use it. The chamber liability insurance does not cover trespassers either. I ask you and your readership to help spread the word.

Jennifer Dzvonar, President

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce

Murphy teacher went too far

After reading one letter and two articles written to the Times Beacon Record on Feb. 6 defending the R. C. Murphy Jr. High School teacher placed on leave, I must respectfully disagree with their positions. I consider myself a strong defender of free speech rights. They are truly the cornerstone of a free country. However, the facts in this case warrant an objective analysis.

The teacher in question did not simply criticize the Trump administration, call for impeachment or use derogatory words for the president or his staff. She went a step further, and used very specific and rather dark imagery to describe her hope for “all Trump supporters.” She hoped that they “don’t swallow right” (choke?), have no help, struggling to gasp (suffocating?), withering away (dying?) and suffering long. I think most reasonable people can agree that we don’t expect the educators of our middle school aged children to publicly call for the bodily harm of people with whom they disagree with politically or ideologically. Exercising self-control, good judgment and accountability are all qualities we expect from our educators, especially those involved with younger, more impressionable students.

This educator could have used her distress with recent political events as a “teachable moment” on how we can disagree politically yet maintain civility in our society. She could have protested on a street corner and campaigned for change. Unfortunately, she did not. She chose to speak in a disturbing manner that rightly causes concern given the sensitive nature of her job. Imagine for a moment if one of her students became aware of her public comments. Would that foster a trusting, safe, nurturing educational environment for that student if they thought their own teacher wanted their Trump supporting parents to suffer the terrible things she outlined in her post?

The reality is that we hold people in positions of power (police, teachers, health care workers, elected officials) to a higher standard when it comes to speech. I support the district’s decision to do their due diligence to determine if this is a one-time lapse in judgment or indicative of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. We are extremely fortunate to have a school district that employs dedicated, caring professionals. Making sure that standard is maintained by all employees is in the best interests of the district as a whole and the students that it serves.

Charles Tramontana

Setauket

The train car is chamber property

It is important to respect organizations and their missions. I am referring to the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce and their office train car located at the south east corner of Routes. 347 and 112. Over the years certain organizations, groups have chosen this location for their rallies without notifying the chamber and inappropriately trespassing on their private property. The nickname, “Resistance Corner,”’ not a title the chamber has sanctioned or approved of, has become the setting for such gatherings. The chamber is responsible for maintaining the train car and the grounds it sits on. They pay for the insurance, utilities and general upkeep at great cost and effort by their members and their officers.

Understandingly, this location is very visible and great exposure for groups to mobilize, but it could be reflected that said groups have the endorsement of the PJS/TV Chamber. This would not fit the mission of any chamber. We recognize that public display is lawful, but this corner isn’t fitting for ANY type of demonstration. There are other approximate locations for these types of assemblies. Just east of the train car in the public Town of Brookhaven Park and across the street from the car on the north side of 347.

It is distressing that people/groups assume they may use this property for their own use. That would be an incorrect supposition. To all, in the future, please be mindful of your actions and respectful. Thank you.

Barbara Ransome, President

Brookhaven Chambers of Commerce Coalition

P.S. I love you day

On Feb. 14,  the Three Village community not only celebrated Valentine’s Day, but also P.S. I Love You Day.  On this day students in this district and those across the state wore purple and shared messages to acknowledge love, caring and kindness toward one another.  It began as a response to a tragic loss by suicide suffered by a West Islip student and grew into a movement to recognize mental health needs and interventions. 

I want to commend the Three Village schools for the celebrations that occurred throughout our PK-12 buildings and thank them for their valiant attempts to combat and aide in our battle for positive mental health. The music, the purple bracelets, the visits from the therapy dogs and the celebrations of life all contributed to a wonderful atmosphere of love and acceptance.  In light of our recent tragedy and the loss of a valued member of the Class of 2027, it is most important to remember this; everybody counts or nobody counts.  Continue to care for and respect each other no matter what our differences are and keep this in mind, P.S. I Love You lives on EVERY day.

Stefanie Werner

East Setauket

by -
0 551
METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Uh oh. I started to feel sick more than a week ago.

What could it be?

Let’s see: I had a headache, my nose was running, I had a low grade-ish fever, although my thermometer was much more like a magic eight ball than an effective way to determine my temperature, and I was much more exhausted than usual.

Of course, I had…. well, what?

I mean, these days, one person’s virus is another’s bacteria is another’s combination of things.

I went to the pharmacy and picked up a collection of over the counter flu treatments to reduce the symptoms for everything.

You see, the problem is that I know that I had only three or four days to get to a doctor to get a definitive diagnosis.

I felt too sick to go to the doctor and hoped my vague, general symptoms would leave me alone.

Nope, they barnacled their way into my system, leaving me, day after day, wondering what I had, how contagious I was and whether I should see a doctor.

After muddling through four days, I went to a local drug store, where I picked up a test for Covid and the flu.

After receiving negative tests for both, I scheduled a doctor’s visit. I wasn’t sure what she’d be able to tell me, but I was hopeful that she could give me a magic pill or a definitive diagnosis.

After explaining all my symptoms to the nurse, I went through the same routine with the doctor.

“Well, you should be getting better in a few days,” she shrugged. “There’s really no point in testing you at this point.”

“What can I take?” I asked.

“Advil? Tylenol?” she recommended.

Hmm. I felt as if I were hearing the old “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” advice.

I racked my brains trying to think about what might have made me sick. Was it the money I touched? I rarely handle cash, but I didn’t want to pay the extra 3 percent credit card fee for a food purchase in the days before I got sick.

Was it traveling on an airplane? Probably not, because I still wear a mask to keep my hands away from my face.

METRO photo

Was it the guy at the gym who was exhaling hard in my direction while he race walked on the nearby treadmill? Sometimes, when I can smell someone’s breath at the gym, as I did earlier last week, I figure that’s a sign to move to another apparatus, but those dang endorphins were kicking in, making it hard for me to give up my treadmill before working through my routine.

Much as we might wish that we could return to normal now that Covid is gone, normal, as we might recall, still includes the passing along of all kinds of disagreeable illnesses with their persistent symptoms.

Perhaps it’s the extended winter. After all, usually by now, we’ve had some respite from the lower temperatures and strong winds. We might be spending more indoor time with other people.

Yeah, people can be great, because they can make us laugh, commiserate with us when things don’t go well with our kids or at work, and can share entertaining and enjoyable outings to concerts and sporting events.

And yet, those same people are like walking petri dishes, with their own sets of flora and fauna that can threaten to keep us from feeling completely healthy.

Despite being a bit obsessive compulsive about germs, I am not antisocial and I don’t generally try to avoid people.

I do, at times when I’m feeling sick, wish that I had an app on my phone that’s akin to finding all my friends. Instead of searching for people in my network, this app might warn me about entering a room with a preponderance of viral or bacterial particles.

Maybe this app could be like a GPS with a safety feature.

“No, that bathroom in Grand Central Station is a bad idea. The knob is covered in virus A and the paper towel dispenser has virus B.”

Being sick saps some of the fun from each day. If misery loves company, I suppose I have plenty of friends with stuffy noses, dull headaches, and mild to moderate congestion.

by -
0 707
Pixabay photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Houses are like children. They need constant care and rescuing, especially in this current bout of tempestuous weather we’ve been having. Sometimes they have several needs that just pile up on each other.

The trouble started Saturday, when we plugged the vacuum cleaner into an electric strip and the lights went out. So did the computers. After much hunting and flipping of fuses in the fuse boxes, we finally found the culprit and restored the electricity—but not the computers. That took another long and arduous retracing of procedures, with the help of a kindly electrician, who came over despite his hernia operation four days earlier, until they  worked.

Vowing never again to plug the vacuum into the power strip, we thankfully continued on with our lives. We might have even felt a little smug about figuring out how to solve the various problems. 

That is, until Monday. Now, no one I know loves Mondays. Unless they work on the weekends and have the day off. So it was not a pleasant beginning to the anyway unwelcome start of Monday, when we found that the fearsome winds of Sunday night had knocked down a heavy tree. It had fallen across the driveway, innocently forming a perfect right angle with the blacktop, making the driveway passable only for deer.

Eventually we got out, only to be informed that the toilet bowl in the office was having a bad day. According to prior plans, the plumber had come to restore the grout at the base of the pedestal, from which tiny amounts of water had been seeping onto the floor. In the process, he heard something snap, he said, and suddenly the minute (my-NOOT) leak turned into a gusher. 

We rushed around the building, fumbling for the intake valve. Before we could turn off the water, the plumber somehow stopped the flow, but the problem was not solved. He told us that he needed to replace a particular part. Of course, Monday was Presidents Day, a holiday for plumbing supply stores the world over. After a fashion, our plumber was able to put the crisis on hold until the following day, but not until considerable hysteria was expended, along with the water.

We went home Monday evening, consoling ourselves that these were only inanimate material losses. At least we had personally survived unscathed.

At 7:12 the next morning, a text message arrived, informing us that the managing editor, our only managing editor, had a temperature of 102.3 degrees. She gamely told us that she could do some of her work remotely, but it was going to be a difficult day since the papers are due at the printer Wednesday afternoon. We took some prophylactic action, helped by the good nature and generosity of others, and hoped for the best.

The miseries weren’t over. When we got home, the mixer we were using, that had been valiantly making pulp of the raw fruits and vegetables for a smoothie, suddenly stopped. Just like that, in the middle of making dinner. Unplugging, replugging, restarting, shaking, switching receptacles, giving it a rest, were all to no avail. It was as if a ghost had snuck into the house and jinxed the heretofore powerful mixer, which wasn’t nearly old enough to have died on the job. We looked up the brand on the internet to see if instructions might help us solve the trouble. We found lots of instructions, all of which we had already tried, and the dumb machine just remained on the kitchen counter, silently defying us.

Exasperated, we moved into the living room, picked up the daily newspaper and were ready to turn our attention to exogenous problems about which happily we had no responsibility to solve. 

And there it was. One more impotent machine before us. One more challenge to try and fix. The humidifier that we rely on to keep the heat from drying out our biological pipes, as well as our house, was not sending up its normal stream of vapor. I capitulated and went to bed. 

Those few days, there must have been something in the water. 

by -
0 1367
Stony Brook University. File photo

This month, Stony Brook University anticipates the induction of a new president: an exciting time for students. Who will this new leader be and how will they shape the school? What do they have planned for the bustling university? What expertise do they bring? 

Simultaneously, the fate of the monetary foundation of SBU’s research is uncertain. The new president will be stepping into the role amidst changes that would redefine the school’s research aspirations. New York had previously received $5 billion in funds from the National Institutes of Health–an amount that was cut on Monday. The move was blocked by a federal judge after 22 states, including New York, filed a lawsuit against it.

“[The policy] will devastate critical public health research at universities and research institutions in the United States. Without relief from NIH’s action, these institutions’ cutting edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt,” the lawsuit reads. 

The plan creates ambiguities on a local level as institutions envision a future without millions in funding. The SUNY system’s downstate flagship university is not excluded. “From working to cure Alzheimer’s disease to improving cancer outcomes, from supporting 9/11 first responders to detecting brain aneurysms, your research is essential to our national security and economic leadership. NIH’s cuts represent an existential threat to public health.” SUNY Chancellor John King wrote in a statement released on Monday.

As much as 60% of the NIH grant budget can be devoted to indirect costs such as infrastructure and maintenance. These costs, known as facilities and administrative costs, help support research and would be lowered to 15%. “[The plan] will cost SUNY research an estimated $79 million for current grants, including more than $21 million over just the next five months.” King wrote.

The new president will be juggling the specific priorities of Stony Brook while navigating federal legalities of policies that will undoubtedly affect one of the institution’s major focuses, research. As president, they will have the power to shape the university in momentous ways, leaving their trace for years to come just as previous presidents have. They will also have to adapt to federal directives. The current changes on the national educational stage would put pressure on any university president and could affect the economy of surrounding areas, particularly as the university is the largest single-site employer on Long Island.. As we await the announcement of this new leader, who will have to navigate national funding in addition to the countless other challenges of assuming the top job, we recognize that their success is our success.

by -
0 677
File photo by Raymond Janis

Relocate the PJ country club, stop the project

I appreciated Lynn Hallarman’s February 6 article, “Report finds no maintenance or repairs carried out on Port Jeff East Beach Bluff project”. It provides a great recap of how the village got to where we are in relation to the Bluff/Country Club. 

Near the end of the article, we learn that the Mayor said, in a written email to the paper, that an open forum will be held where GEI will present the Phase 2 project design and path forward for Phase 1 remediation and restoration. “ 

It appears to me that this presentation will not provide options for residents to consider or gather input on how the residents would like to move forward but, instead, it will tell us what’s going to happen and how much we will pay via our property taxes.

I believe that this will not be the end of this nightmare. There will be other multi-million dollar work that needs to be done after Phase II is completed. This includes millions for a drainage system to prevent more damage to the campus, the restoration of Phase I project that partially failed, ongoing expensive upkeep including DEC-required yearly inspections, and a grandiose plan for a future sports complex (tennis courts, pickleball courts and more). When will the spending stop?  Enough is enough and remember this is just a temporary fix. Nature will eventually win. All we will accomplish is postponing the inevitable and pushing the problem into the future. 

We need to remember that the main purpose of this project was to protect the Country Club building from falling off the cliff since it provides a major income to the Village. Yet, I hear that the current tenant has not paid their rent in months. Maybe this is a sign that we need to stop, retreat and build a new smaller facility in a safer location that would serve not only this generation but future generations. 

Robert Grimm,

Port Jefferson Village

BESS facilities are inefficient

In battery energy storage systems (BESS) fabricated using lithium-ion storage cells, the possibility of an uncontrollable thermal runaway fire, such as the recent event in Moss Landing, California, is a serious problem. However, there is another problem, which may cause even greater concern. This is the possibility of prolonged blackouts, due to an insufficient number of BESS installations, brought about by the occurrence of several consecutive days of overcast weather, during which little or no solar energy will be provided by the sun.

We have been told that climate change is an existential problem, and that all emissions of carbon dioxide must be eliminated. One apparent solution, which is apparently under serious consideration, would be to replace our existing power plants with solar arrays, with BESS installations to be charged with energy when sunlight is available, and will then provide power to the grid during times when the sun’s rays are not present, such as at night or during periods of overcast skies. This raises the question: in the worst case, how much energy must be stored, and how many BESS units will be required to make this energy available to prevent a blackout?

The reported annual electrical energy consumption for Suffolk County is approximately 10,800,000 MWh/year, or 1233 MWh/hour. A large BESS facility can provide 1400 MWh, from a full charge. This is the energy required by Suffolk County for 1.135 hours. During a normal winter day, let us assume that we have 8 hours of sunlight to charge the batteries, followed by 16 hours of darkness. Thus, under ideal conditions, each 16-hour period would require the stored energy of 14 fully charged BESS stations. Now let us consider the effect of one or more overcast days, during which we would lose the ability to charge the BESS batteries on those days. In this case, for one lost day, the fully charged batteries would need to provide power for 16 + 24 hours, or 40 hours. This would require a total of 35 BESS stations, an increase of 21 stations. In a similar manner, for each additional consecutive day lost, an additional 21 stations will be required, if we are to avoid a blackout, with no electrical power. For example, to maintain power with 2 overcast days, we will need 35 + 21 = 56 BESS stations For 3 days, 77 stations will be required. And so on.

These projections are based on our present level of energy usage, which is a mere 10,800,000 MWh/year. If recent predictions are to be believed, this may be a precursor to very large increases in the near future. These will be due to AI memory storage requirements, widespread (possibly mandatory) use of EV’s, electrification of the LIRR (as championed by the prolific Larry Penner) and alternative methodologies for home cooking and heating, to name but a few.

Should these applications eventuate, we will, of course, need to increase the number of BESS installations accordingly.

George Altemose

Setauket

Cancer prevention month

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Did you know that almost half of all cancer cases are preventable? The Cancer Prevention in Action program at Stony Brook Cancer Center wants to share how you can prevent cancer for yourself and your loved ones.

Vaccinate: The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine can reduce your child’s risk of six types of cancer later in life. HPV is a common virus, responsible for about 36,000 cancer cases annually in the U.S. These cancers include cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal–cancers of the mouth and throat. The HPV vaccine can prevent 90% of these cancers by preventing the virus that causes them. If your child is nine or older, talk to your child’s healthcare provider to schedule. For those who were not vaccinated in childhood, you can still get your HPV vaccine through age 45. Talk to your healthcare provider about your vaccination needs, or get vaccinated at your local pharmacy if you are 18 or older.

Get screened: Cancers such as breast, cervical and colorectal cancers can be detected early through screening tests. These three cancers account for one out of four of all cancer deaths in New York State. Finding cancers early can save lives, as treatment is more likely to be successful. Some cancer screenings can even identify and remove pre-cancerous cells before they develop into full-blown cancer. Examples of cancer screenings are mammograms, pap smears, fecal tests and colonoscopies. Talk to your healthcare provider about what screenings are recommended for your age and risk factors, and how often you should be screened.

Sun safely: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and indoor tanning beds is the primary cause of all skin cancers. The use of indoor tanning beds has been linked to increased rates of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and should be avoided. Protecting your skin from the sun when outdoors, even in the winter months, can also help reduce your skin cancer risk. Precautions to take include wearing sunscreen daily, reapplying every two hours when outdoors, covering up with wide-brimmed hats, UV sunglasses, long-sleeved clothing, and seeking shade, especially during the midday sun are all proven ways to reduce risks.

Live healthy: Having a healthy lifestyle is a way to lower your cancer risk. Quitting smoking and vaping, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy body weight, and staying physically active are all forms of cancer prevention. Health coverage enrollment has also been shown to reduce cancer risk by improving your access to preventive care.

In New York State, nearly one in four deaths is due to cancer. The CPiA program at Stony Brook Cancer Center is working to change this by educating the community on cancer prevention, mobilizing communities to take action against cancer, and supporting local organizations, businesses, and municipalities to implement policies that prevent cancer.

The best time to take action against cancer is before it starts.

To learn more cancer prevention or to get involved with CPiA at Stony Brook Cancer Center, go to www.takeactionagainstcancer.com or contact us at 631-444-4263 or at [email protected].

CPiA is supported with funds from Health Research, Inc. and New York State.

Annalea Trask,  Program Coordinator, Cancer Prevention In Action

Stony Brook Cancer Center

 

by -
0 510
METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

We recognize and register the temperature as soon as we leave our climate controlled house, car or office and step foot outside.

Cold, windy air might cause us to raise our shoulders, protecting our necks the way frightened turtles might pull back towards the shell when they sense a threat.

We have developed a real feel temperature or a “it feels like” temperature. Yes, it’s 28 degrees, but it feels like 12, which, to some, is more like negative 20.

How people experience temperature varies widely. An 85 degree day, with bright sunshine, could make one person feel as if he’s ready to conquer the world and is absorbing the sun’s energy.

Another person, say me, for example, might step out into that same temperature and instinctively search for shade, an air conditioner or a place near the water.

Many of us have friends, coworkers, spouses, children or roommates who prefer temperatures that are diametrically opposed to our own heat or cold sensitivity.

If my house were, say, 66 degrees, I would likely feel comfortable, while my wife would probably come into my home office wearing a sweater, gloves and a frown.

Taking out the financial part of the equation, people can and often do battle for control of the thermostat.

Differences between the sexes can explain some of this temperature disconnect.

Beyond describing the different cultures, expectations, communications and score keeping between men and women, the metaphor from the book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” also might aptly capture the temperature differences, as Venus, with its gaseous carbon dioxide atmosphere, is the hottest planet and Mars is the fourth hottest. Neptune, incidentally, is the coldest.

While the gender generalization may apply in some cases, that’s never been my family’s reality. My daughter and I tend to run hotter, while my wife and son are cooler and prefer some heat as a counterbalance.

During the extremes of either season, half of the family is comfortable while the other half is either looking to dive into a pool of ice water or is eager to sit with a book near a roaring fire.

Many years ago, my wife and I attended a spectacularly hot college reunion. Well, it was incredibly hot for me. My wife left my side for a moment and returned with some ice cubes. She dumped them down my back and was shocked when I didn’t arch my back or pull my shirt out of my waist to dump the ice on the floor. The ice provided welcome relief.

The moderate middle tends to keep the family happy, as no one is complaining about uncomfortable extremes.

Given temperature sensitivities in our house, we all tend to be closest to our temperature best in the fall and spring.

Of course, as with everything else in life, different stages bring different temperature sensitivities.

When my wife was pregnant with each of our children, her body ran much hotter. We took winter walks that would have been almost inconceivable, so to speak, before we conceived.

The passage of decades, however, has changed how I experience temperature. I have become much more comfortable sitting in a warm baseball stadium and am not so tough when confronted with single digit temperatures.

To be sure, I’m still not able to wallow in a jacuzzi or an unusually hot pool for any length of time without feeling as if my skin is starting to boil.

Recognizing that what constitutes comfortable temperatures varies, I wonder why people so often imagine hell as a place with fire and brimstone.

The poet Robert Service wrote a wonderful and lengthy poem about Sam McGee, which a bus driver recited from memory when my wife and I took a trip to Alaska. With beluga whales we could see surfacing in the distance as we drove along the coast, she shared “The Cremation of Sam McGee” about someone who left Tennessee to search for gold in the Arctic only to discover that the cold was much easier to find than gold.

Sam is so spectacularly cold that he delights in the idea of being cremated when he inevitably dies.

For Sam, and perhaps many others, heat might be far preferable to a frigid afterlife.

by -
0 549
Pixabay photo

By Leah S Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

What happens when opposites attract? Are those the most successful marriages? It is sometimes said that we subconsciously supply missing strengths to our partners when we select a mate. Do we really? Or is it just chemistry? Or possibly both?

We all know different couples and can notice who brings what to each pair. But of course, we don’t truly know about any marriage except our own, and to some extent, that of our parents.

Speaking for my own marriage, I can attest to the fact that differences make for an interesting life. The first example that comes to mind was our view toward vacations. Here is a typical scenario.

He: “Let’s go on vacation next month.”

She: “Oh, I couldn’t leave work next month. We have two new supplements due and not enough staff to finish them.”

He: “You always say that.”

She: “Besides, where would we go?”

He: “How about white water canoeing in the Adirondacks?”

She: “With the children?”

He: “Yes. We can all learn how to canoe. And we can bring the dog.”

She: “How would that work?”

He: Pulling out from his inner suit jacket pocket an envelope stuffed with tickets, “I have reservations for a cabin, four canoes and an instructor for five days.”

You probably guessed. We went. We had a wonderful time. My mother and sister came too, which was critical since our third son was too young to join us on the water. He had a good time back at the cabin, and we did indeed learn how to white water canoe, although I have probably forgotten by now. 

I also thrived on the break in my work routine, and the competent staff back at the office handled the workload just fine. 

Since my husband died, I have had to set a date deliberately for each vacation, and it’s a fight I have with myself because I don’t think I should leave the office. But I also know that I will function much better if I take a rest, and thanks to him, I have become a big believer in the restorative power of vacations.

So what did I bring to the relationship?

Here is another true life adventure story. The children were a bit older, and we were going to learn to ski in Vermont.

He: “I’ll do some research and make the reservations.”

She: “OK, I’ll pack.”

We got a late start and didn’t arrive at the motel until well after dark. Exhausted, we fell  asleep despite uncomfortable beds. The morning light revealed an unmanageable scene. The five of us, along with our suitcases, boots, heavy ski pants, sweaters and jackets, hats and gloves, could barely fit into the room. I had brought a toaster oven with the thought of making Eggos for breakfast and then getting an early start on the slopes. When I plugged it in, a fuse blew with a nasty zap. The bathroom left a great deal to be desired and there were no closets.

She: “Why did you select this motel? Are we near the lifts?”

He: “It was the most reasonable one. The slopes are only ten miles away.”

She: “C’mon kids, pack up. We are going to find another place to stay.”

And we did. It was more expensive, a half a mile from the entrance, and we did become a skiing family. It was also a bit of a turning point. My husband and I agreed that henceforth, we would spend enough money to be comfortable on our two weeks of annual vacation, and upon our return home, we would resume our normally frugal lives.

After that, even our children noticed the difference.

by -
0 647
METRO photo

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced her intention to ban cell phones during the school day. The state-wide initiative became more palpable when Hochul announced the 2025 budget plan, and she set aside $13.5 million in state funding to make it a reality. 

Hochul’s announcement occurs during an international trend of banning cell phones in schools. Countries like Brazil and Italy have passed legislation restricting phone use in schools to varying degrees; now, it is New York’s turn. The ban would prevent phone use throughout the entire school day rather than just in the classroom. 

One of the main arguments against the ban is parents’ fear that their children won’t be able to contact them in an emergency. Hochul’s report, published on her website, does not close off the possibility of allowing students access in extenuating situations. The scope of the ban is undefined, and seems to allow room for school modification. For instance, Hochul’s report does not wholly eliminate the use of devices for educational purposes, stating exceptions for, as an example, English-language learners who need the device to help translate. 

In many schools across the Island, including the Three Village School District where cell phones are banned except for during lunch periods in the middle and high schools, cell phone use is already restricted. 

The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to increase technology’s hold on the attention of students, serving as both their social lifeline and surrogate classroom, and now, back in the classroom, educators are observing the effects through decreased attention. Over 70% of teachers say that cellphones are distracting and problematic, according to Pew Research Center. 

Even the mere knowledge that their device is close by, either in their bag or on their desk, can distract students from absorbing information, diminishing retention and memory. In addition, phones can serve as a social crutch, keeping students from truly connecting with their classmates. 

The advantages of having a cellphone in school are numerous, including seamless communication in emergencies and access to educational services such as Flip grid and Kahoot, but given the many adverse effects on concentration, mental-health, memory and sociability, a ban seems favorable. The ban would begin at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. It brings to light issues that we should take into consideration, adults and students alike. 

Some adults complain of issues retaining information. Could cellphone-use be the culprit, sitting in our peripheral vision  and serving as a distraction as we try to read a book or get some work done? Research has shown it has.

Prev1...456...166Next Page 5 of 166
TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©