I must relate my opinion of some recent news items.
The first was truly epic.
There
was an announcement that presidential hopeful Mitt Romney
was headed to England to visit his British friends
and take
in the opening of the Olympics. I’m sure his intent
was to show us he could blend in with people from around
the world.
His plan was to meet with and be advised by leaders from
countries whom he hoped to be doing business with in the
near future
as president of the U.S.
Not only did he meet with world leaders, he got a lot of press
coverage that almost overshadowed the opening of the Olympic
Games.
Romney’s
trip could have been a golden opportunity to present a different
Mitt Romney, one who could speak
without putting his foot in his mouth and be representative
of the
country he longs to lead.
I
could hardly believe what I witnessed as Romney responded
to Brian Williams’ questions about his opinion of London’s
preparedness for the games. He not only grossly offended
the British Olympic Committee but an entire nation.
He created a feud between himself, the Brits and representatives
of
Salt
Lake City! This time he literally put both feet in
his
mouth and the more he tried to bail out, during subsequent
interviews,
the worse it got.
Before Romney starts the next world war, I hope someone is
delegated to baby-sit him and give him guidance. At the very
least, they could see to it that he avoids live newscasts.
He may view live interviews as free publicity, but time after
time they have spotlighted his inadequacies.
Let
the Games begin and forget Mitt; he doesn’t represent
our country — at least not yet.
I was a little disappointed in the opening ceremonies of the
Olympics. The stunt of making it appear the queen had bailed
out of a helicopter and joined the activities via parachute
did not appear to amuse even her. The Brits are not known for
their lightheartedness or humor, so the whole thing seemed
very strained and somewhat boring.
The
Games will keep me glued to the action because of the opportunity
to view the best competition
in the world
in
such a variety
of events. I’m sure the classy British
style will enhance each of the sports presented.
Close to home, several news items got my attention and I wish
to add my comments to those presented.
The
most recent was a front page headline story July 28 that
stated; “Experts warn after another rescue: be careful
with kayaks.” The article related
a mishap regarding kayaks that ventured
too
far offshore.
Kayaks
can be fun but when you put a kayak, float, tube or many
other such “toys” in
the water, you must determine several
items:
1.
Does my PFD (lifejacket) fit properly? Test it by lifting
it at the shoulders,
if it slides
up,
it’s
too loose.
2. Will I be cold if I get too far offshore?
3. What direction is the wind blowing from? Is it offshore
from where I am starting out?
4.
Does anyone on shore know where I’m
going and when I plan to return?
5. Will I be capable of reaching my destination or getting
back to where I started?
It’s a good idea to carry a cell phone but they don’t
last long if they get wet.
Place it in an airtight,
clear plastic
bag.
You can
dial
and use a cell
phone in the
container.
There
are many magazines, books and articles devoted
to the
sport of
kayaking. It
is the fastest growing
activity on
the water. When enjoying
the activity on an inland
lake,
pond or
river you’re usually
close to shore and therefore
able to
easily reach safety
or at
least a place
to rest. When
kayaking on one of the
Great Lakes, you are usually
limited
to one
point of safety. If the
wind is blowing
you
away from shore, you may
be a long distance
from safety.
Ocean
kayaking is very common along the Florida
coast,
in mangrove passes or
ponds. Kayakers
are advised
to never go
offshore
in ocean or gulf areas.
The Great Lakes — often referred
to as fresh-water oceans — should
be no different.
As I see it, it really comes down to common sense; use a buddy
system when enjoying any type of water sport. Take all the
precautions to keep yourself safe.