Going Slowly This Week

Internet source

That's what I've been doing this week, usually sitting down with my left leg elevated as much as possible.

What happened? Thanks for asking, but of course, I would have shared anyway.

The truth is that I'm not exactly sure but hoping that it is a possible muscle issue in that leg. This is the first time that I've experienced anything like this, so I have no thoughts on how. While there's no pain, an area to the side of my left knee is sensitive (tender) when pressed in one area.

The cause? Yet to be determined and, later today, I have an appointment with our medical professional, a nurse practitioner. After phoning for an appointment this week, the triage nurse recommended using an ice pack for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off and also to take ibuprofen.

Like myself, maybe you have been curious about this 20 on and 20 off regimen. If you are already knowledgeable, than read no further.

Why 20 minutes?

Applying ice for 20 minutes can reduce inflammation and pain by constricting blood vessels. It's important to allow at least 20-30 minutes between icings as longer is not necessarily better but can be detrimental. 

Too Much of a Good Thing ?

When it comes to icing an injury thinking that longer icing could be better is counterproductive and even harmful as it can lead to what's called reactive vasodilation. If you're not familiar with those words, me too. It refers to the widening of blood vessels, which can reverse the benefits of icing causing possible tissue damage or ice burns. Also, too much cold can restrict blood flow, potentially slowing down the healing process. 

What caused my discomfort?

Treadmills at Clocktower Place

I've used that term because I really am not sure what caused this knee issue.  It's possible that my over-attention fanaticism in making a daily step count was the cause, however unlikely that seems to me. 

Most days, it wasn't about completing 10,000 steps, more like 12-13,000 steps. More than half the steps were usually done using the treadmill or elliptical in the mill building's health club when the weather has been nasty. The in-house gym here is convenient on days when driving to a gym would be an excuse not to go; it takes under 4 minutes to walk there. And, as we live downtown, excursions to the library, post office and other places are always walked.

It's also possible to walk the apt hallways in the apartment building, the third or main floor is  an estimated 1/4 mile, end-to-end. Some residents walk it several times rather than using the gym facilities, which require a monthly $25 fee. 

Equipment in the Health Club facility at Clocktower Place

There are actually three equipment rooms/gyms in the health club here, as well as a pool, whirlpool, showers, changing rooms and sauna. It's unusual for a former mill building, not many area apartments offer have similar facilities.

Where did the 10,000 step-a-day standard originate ?

Couldn't locate an English version

I mentioned a 10,000 step routine, which most likely many of you know about. It's become the default for many walkers, myself included.

Did you know that its creation was partly due to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics? These games brought renewed focus on physical activity and healthy living. A Japanese research team led by Dr Yoshiro Hatano, professor at the Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, began to worry about the rise in obesity in Japan.

Enter the Yamasa company in Tokyo, Japan (internationally known as Yamax) which in 1965 created a pedometer called Manpo-kei which translates to the 10,000 steps meter believed to be the amount of physical activity sufficient to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease. 

The company used the slogan Let's walk 10,000 steps a day! as part of a marketing campaign. It soon became the mantra of Japanese walking clubs and Manpo-kei was the minimum they were expected to walk. In time, this concept spread to health conscious walkers worldwide. Essentially, the 10,000-step goal was based on marketing. Despite its start, the 10,000-step goal was adopted globally as people around the world adopted it as a fitness target. 

Is walking 10,000 steps a day helpful ?

The Manpo-kei concept is not a set requirement. Many recent studies including by Harvard Health have shown that even fewer steps can provide health benefits. Some studies have suggested that regularly walking just  4,000 to 6,000 steps a day can result in improved health. It's more important to set a target which meets individual needs for a person to commit to staying motivated for the long run. 

Currently, activity trackers, also known as fitness trackers on wearable technology and cell phones are the modern equivalent of pedometers. Most do far more than count steps. Activity trackers can determine how far you've traveled and the type of movement such as jogging or swimming.

Pedometers go way back

Early pedometer sketch by da Vinci

Surprisingly (to me) Leonardo da Vinci who has been credited with so many things is also credited with inventing the first mechanical step counter in the 15th century. It was worn at the waist, with a long lever arm tied to the thigh. When the thigh moved back and forth in walking, the gears rotated, activating gears to count the distance. 

Da Vinci envisioned this device as a tool for military purposes, specifically to track the distance covered by soldiers and aid in laying out encampments. While this pedometer design was never realized in his time, it represented an early conceptualization of a device that later evolved into the modern pedometer which still serve the same purpose of tracking steps and distance

In the 1700s, Thomas Jefferson commissioned a step counter made by one of the top Parisian watch-makers. Worn in a vest pocket, it had a lever arm which was tied to a string that passed through a hole in the bottom of the vest pocket. The other end of the string was tied to a strap below the knee, walking caused it to pull on a lever arm attached to gears. Back then, there were big issues than closing activity rings, so Jefferson wasn't posting his daily activity anywhere. Proof is difficult to obtain as Jefferson didn't apply for patents on any of his inventions and I couldn't locate an online image.

Abraham-Louis Perrelet

In 1777, Abraham-Louis Perrelet, a Swiss-born horologist (watchmaker) invented a self- winding mechanism for pocket watches that used an oscillating weight inside the watch that moved up-and-down during walking. 

Then, in 1780, he invented a self-contained pedometer that also used a spring-suspended lever arm to measure steps and distance while walking. His invention it was based on the mechanism he created to power a self-winding watch.

The Japanese model came many years later, Perrelet is widely credited with inventing the first working pedometer.

While 10,000 steps a day originated as an arbitrary number for marketing purposes, there's significant evidence that walking affects both physical and mental well being. 

Of course, the number of steps walked daily can vary depending on age, fitness level and overall health. A research review found that the risk of death was lowest in people who walked 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day if they were over the age of 60 and 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day if they were under age 60. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicated that women who averaged 4,400 steps per day had a 41% lower mortality rate than sedentary women. 

Certainly, everyone is different in their goals. The important thing is that people can get better at walking and even faster and just starting is what really matters.

Just don't overdue it, like me. Until my medical evaluation and diagnosis is completed, my walking is on pause, hopefully not for too long, update to follow.

Friday Funnies

Wondering where SC has been in recent months now that his busy season is over? 

Apparently, he's in New England or at least someone with a similar name is here.

This license plate was seen in Nashua, NH, this week. 

This Santa was getting around, not in a sleigh, but in this understated car.

Check out this rear wiper blade that was on the car, definitely a custom one. I met the car owner who coincidentally was attending the same presentation as ourselves at the local historical society. He did indeed have a flowing white beard and told me that he has enjoyed representing the actual Mr. C. Regretfully, I did not take a photo, but suspect we may see him locally again.

Meanwhile, this shiny red sleigh car was seen in our parking garage last week. My first thought was that would be perfect for Mr. SC.

Another soggy weekend is forecast for Nashua, NH, with even a bit of snow by mid-week. Spring is definitely late in its arrival.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're going to an organ recital, Pops for Pipes, at a local church

Access is Granted

Yet, there is no plausible explanation, except maybe for the FM principle.

Some of you may be familiar with this expression, which doesn't mean frequency modulation. so I will leave it at that. Of course, you're free to substitute freakin' madness and that will work just as well.

A previous post detailed that I couldn't access several blogs on my sidebar, but instead received a warning that the sites could be risky. 

Frustrated and just plain annoyed as to why this message suddenly came up as these blogs were ones accessed regularly without any issues. It seems this could have been a recent security add-on through our home internet provider (Xfinity). This feature would block a site from loading if it suspected any potential dangers from malware, spyware or other risks. Yet, the sites could be accessed when not on my home network, so I was going to access blogs away from the apt.

Happily, I will not have to do that.

Maybe due to that FM principle?

Not sure how or why, but this past weekend all of those sites could be accessed with no displayed cautions. And, that trend thankfully has continued into this week.

And, I did absolutely nothing to cause either the initial problem or the eventual resolution.

Sometimes, there is magic and as long as all is working again, I believe.

Several mornings this week, our river views have been fogged in. The weather hasn't been spring-like with steady rain last weekend and a forecast of light snow changing to rain this week. However, we haven't had any of the nastier weather affecting many other states.

Thanks for all the comments on last week's Friday Funnies post that showed photos of lost shoes in singles and pairs. The diverse locations where the footwear was seen didn't provide any clues. As in many cities, there is a homeless population within Nashua, so perhaps a few bloggers were correct in supposing that the paired shoes were left for them. 

That said, here's what I saw earlier this week l and in this location, a Recycle can downtown on Main Street and only the lone boot. This one was not made for walking solo.

Friday Funnies

There's been many songs that mention shoes and or walking, for example: Blue Suede Shoes,These Boots Are Made for Walking, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem, Boogie Shoes, Walking Shoes, Red High Heels, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, Dancing Shoes, Walking in Memphis, Waling on Sunshine, Just Walking in the Rain, I'm Walkin'.

Shoes, not songs, are the subject of this post

In the past, I've seen lost or discarded clothing, especially gloves. But, recently on local walks in Nashua, NH, there's been a recurrence of seemingly abandoned footwear. Of course, it's certainly not funny to think of shoeless people, I documented the sightings. 

None of the footwear shown below was moved or posed. All photos were in situ in other words as found in the original place (as noted) and not arranged for photo purposes. 

In late fall, this leaf pile almost concealed a pair of very worn sneakers and a lone sock.

A couple of weeks ago, this lone right child's boot was found just off a walkway. It featured Woody from Toy Story movie fame, but was missing a companion boot.

These two lone sandals found in different locations on local streets. They almost made a pair as the top photo looked like a right shoe, the bottom was definitely a left one.

This nearly-new white sneaker had no nearby mate and seemed in like-new condition. It was spotted in a grassy area near the local library.

This pair of what's referred to as boat shoes was poised on a good vantage point near a local bank.

Here's another complete pair. These black mens' shoes seemed in very good condition. The pair was alongside a wall in the downtown area.

Shoes haven't been the only things spotted. These socks were in the middle of a downtown street this week which even more curious.

Just wondering — Has anyone else had similar experiences finding articles of clothing or footwear? if so, please share in a comment.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

West Side Story (1961) is showing at the library this Sunday

We're bringing popcorn for this 2 hr+ film

The Culprit Revealed

Yesterday's post, Proceed with ⚠️ was shared after I received a security notice when accessing a few blog sites early yesterday. 

After the notice displayed for one site, I systematically went through all the blog sites on my sidebar and received the same caution for two other blogs.

The notice advised the sites be avoided because: This site might compromise your device or contain high-risk content. To avoid these risks, we recommend avoiding this site.

This struck me as quite unusual and highly unlikely as these blog sites were ones I've been accessing for several years, not some recent sites. All three are listed on my sidebar.

Do I think these sites pose any risk?

Certainly not and also several other bloggers commented that they had previously received similar cautions, which they ignored. Nothing dire happened as a result.

But, of course, I wanted to know more especially why did this message suddenly displayed when these blog sites have been accessed without issue. To be honest, I still do not have a complete answer, but at least determined the source.

Why the Block?

Apparently, it's related to the security provided from our internet provider, Xfinity. According to online information this feature monitors network traffic and blocks a site from loading when it has detected potential dangers that could contain malware, spyware, phishing or other risks that could harm personal devices and/or compromise personal information. The message strongly recommends to avoid the blocked website to protect devices and data. 

What can be done 

Again, according to online sources, when trying to access a website that may have been blocked mistakenly by Advanced Security, it's possible to go to the Security Risk History for a device and select Allow Access next to the website you want to visit. 

Alternately, if you believe the site is legitimate and need to access it, you can carefully evaluate the source of the link or information and consider using a different browser or a more secure connection (like a VPN). 

What's not recommended

While it's possible to disable Advanced Security, doing so would remove security protection for all devices on your network. As we currently have a number of these on our home network, this option will not be completed. 

It's unfortunate that this advanced security feature from our internet provider has blocked certain blog sites, However, Patrick isn't planning to change or modify any security settings.

Personally, I'm hoping that this is a temporary glitch. I'll try to access the selected sites, but will not click Proceed Anyway to ignore the caution. My advance apologies for not being able to read or comment on some many blog sites.

Further Update: It seems that our home internet service is now blocking even more blog sites through a feature called Safe Browse IO, which is not a virus or malware. This security feature is a central element of Xfinity xFi Advanced Security. It blocks access to potentially dangerous or malicious websites, acting as a security layer to protect users from online threats. 

That may be so, but to my mind it's become a downright annoyance and very frustrating.

Again, I do not believe any of these blog sites has harmful information, but I'm not willing to take any chances that could compromise our devices or data. That said, it's possible I may find another way for internet access that doesn't use our home service. There's a Function Room with wi-fi available for residents, which I will use later this week. Details to follow.

Proceed with Caution ⚠️

A caution to fellow bloggers — this screen displayed on three blog sites listed in my sidebar this morning.

FYI this message displayed attempting to access these blog sites on both an iPad and MacBook using Apple's Safari browser, the only browser on my devices. 

Needless to say, I didn't proceed, but took a screen shot to display here and then ran a virus check on my PC with no dire report. (The screen shot above was edited to blur a blog site and my bookmarks.)

It's posted for your information as a precaution, since the websites are displayed on my sidebar: Buttercup Counts Her Blessings, Carola Bartz and Mad Snapper. I'm hoping this is a temporary situation and that I can re-visit these blogs in the future.

If it's happened to you, now or previously, please feel free to comment.

Friday Funnies

🌼 Happy Spring to Everyone 🌻

The first day of spring, or the spring equinox was yesterday, March 20, in the Northern Hemisphere. Currently, there's a lack of flowers around Nashua, NH, compared to other areas where blooming daffodils, crocuses and tulips have been posted on blogs.

Instead, here's a bright bit of yellow that I spotted in the area last week.

First sighting for Spring ?

Hoping that Spring makes an appearance in the next couple weeks, but tit may be delayed. The forecast is calling for the possibility of some snow and rain next week.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my earlier Spam Begone post, I appreciated reading how others deal with spam calls and texts and junk mail. Of course, the best advice as many commented is never reply to an unknown call, text message or email is to — delete it, block it, mark as junk and never, ever reply.

Book Sale Update: The Friends of Nashua Public Library Book Sale held last weekend netted $32,700 which was slightly higher than the 2024 sale (which was about $31,000, not $34,000 as previously posted). Sale proceeds were all from donated items and will continue to support ongoing and future library programs, such as twice weekly film showings, Recent Releases are on Tuesday and Cinema Classics are on Sunday. (This Tuesday, we saw Wicked at the library.)

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're going to the see a cinema classic at the library

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) in B&W

Spam (Somewhat) Begone

An earlier post this month on blog spam detailed how I've been reporting spammers to Google as spam, malware or phishing. Recently, I reported some as harassment since they had left repeated spam comments. That seemed like harassment to me.

Internet graphic

Have Blog Spam Comments Gone?

Not completely, but there has been a marked reduction in the amount of blog spam that has been posting in comments compared to previously. In the past couple of weeks, I've received a few sporadic spam comments, none for online cricket betting as before. 

So, maybe, going through this process has been having an effect. I know that many bloggers moderate their comments and so reported they received little to no spam. While that seems a more time-consuming process, this is strictly a personal view since this process works for many bloggers. I will continue filing reports to Google.

Blog spam is just one issue. So many people, we know complain about receiving unwanted phone calls for so many things (auto warranties, credit cards, insurance). They also lament about the amount of junk mail.

Phone Call Spam
We have both cell phones and a residential or "house" phone. Today, most people only have a cell number given out to family, friends, medical providers and anyone else who needs your phone number. 

Internet graphic

While both Patrick and myself own and use cell phones, our numbers are only shared with family and friends and, when necessary, to others such as when we are traveling away from home. Otherwise, the "house" number is given out. It has proven effective in not having folks send us text messages, including medical offices. I always know when I have an appointment and thankfully have few of these, so do not need both phone and text reminders.

There's a lot of articles on how to deal with phone spam. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has one as well, How to Block Unwanted Calls on both a cell phone and/or land line, regardless if you are already registered on the National Do Not Call Registry. The article explains the difference between Call Blocking and Call Labeling.

Internet graphic

Junk Mail, Everyone?

Our postal mail, when we receive any, gone are the days when mailboxes contained real mail (remember post cards, letters and cards?), contains hardly any junk mail. 

Why? Because when and if we receive mail in the form of requests for donations, unwanted catalogs, etc. After we moved into this apartment, we would get unsolicited catalogs addressed to the former resident.Then, and now, I call any number that's included and politely request that no future mailings be sent.  The usual response is that the mailings could take a few months to stop. I again politely reply that they will be recycled until they stop. Wonder of wonders, it never takes that long. I've stressed that politeness is always a keyword. Customer service folks who answer calls should never be shouted at or abused. Far too often, I suspect they are on the receiving end of nasty calls. There's no excuse for this abuse.

Once again, the FTC has an online article on How to Stop Junk Mail explaining how to get less mail from marketing companies and also credit card and insurance companies. Real Simple magazine also had a good article on How to Stop Junk Mail for Good in Less Than in less than 5 Minutes.

Mail asking for donations to worthy organizations is a big problem for many. I follow the same procedure as for unwanted catalogs and call the organization to request our name/address be removed from the solicitation list and also not be sold to another organization. It's working for us; we get virtually no unsolicited donation requests, really. Our donations are limited to local organizations with exceptions for donations to relief organizations that provide assistance for natural disasters and, most recently, the LA fires.

These are always done in the form of a check (remember those) not by credit card. A letter is included specifying that the monies be used for whatever purpose necessary and no acknowledgement or receipt is required or requested (we do not itemize for taxes). The letter further requests our names and address are not to be provided to any other organization as we make our own choices. Adhering to these requests assures that the organization remains on our donation list. We haven't yet removed one we've selected.

Also, you can cross off your mailing address on a check. I do this on all donation checks. As advised by our local bank, a check can still be legally cashed — we've never had one returned. 

Do These Things Work?

Yes, they do at least for us and possibly for others. Unwanted catalogs usually stop after one call. Local organizations do not send additional solicitations during the year and we do not get solicitations from other local organizations. 

The information in the post is based on my personal experiences. Yes, it can take a bit of effort up front, but the results have been worth it. You may have other methods that work for you as there are countless articles, websites, YouTube videos available providing info on how to stop/lessen unwanted spam from calls, texts, email and mail.

BIG Movie & Book Buys

☘️ Happy St Patrick's Day🍀 from us and Maxine (photo below).

First, braggin' rights to many fellow bloggers, who correctly named Big as the 1988 movie featuring Zoltar, the antique fortune telling machine in the previous post.

Correct first response was from Kathy followed by Ginny, Emma (mimmylyn), Rita, Michelle and Denise. Also, braggin'rights twice to Emma for providing this synopsis: Of course I remember the movie. It was Big. The first time it was shown was when the boy was at the carnival and wanted to ride a ride that a girl he had a crush on. He was unable to ride because he was too short. He came upon the Zoltar machine and made a wish to be big. The next morning he was indeed 'big'. He spent the rest of the movie waiting to see Zoltar again so he could be back to normal. When he saw Zoltar at the end of the movie his wish is again granted.

Big starred actor Tom Hanks who also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. However, at the 1989, 61st Academy Awards he lost to Dustin Hoffman who won for Rain Man. Ironically the late actor Gene Hackman was also a Best Actor nominee for the film, Mississippi Burning.

My total book sale purchases were under $10

The annual book sale of Friends of the Nashua Public Library was a huge success. We attended the Friday night preview which was quite hectic with book sellers looking for bargain buys. I bought a couple of books the first night, David O. Selznick's Hollywood and a Simple Weeknight Meals cookbook (America's Test Kitchen. It's not that we needed another recipe book, but this oversize softcover is similar to a couple of other ATK books, so it fit well in the bookcase.

Always room for an ATK cookbook

On Saturday, I volunteered for 6 hours basically tidying up books and adding more to the sale tables from the overflow books stored below. It's amazing how tired you can get bending up and down after doing so for a couple of hours. After that, sorting and re-filling tables in the paperback fiction room was much easier. Boxes there were all displayed on tables and it was just a matter of condensing and filling in empty spaces in boxes.

The other books shown in the above photo were all purchased Sunday, the final sale day, when I went to return some borrowed books and to browse the sale (without volunteering) just as a buyer. 

My 2-day buying total was $9.50 and that was a definite bargain when compared to the $193 suggested retail cost for all six books. Most hardcovers with the exception of very large oversized ones (like Selznick's Hollywood) were priced at $2; paperbacks were priced at $1 or 50 cents. So, you can readily see why book sellers always attend this sale in large numbers. The Friends' goal is to clear out as many books as possible since more will be donated in time for the 2026 sale.

The official sales tally hasn't been announced yet, but I heard from other Friends members (in the know) that Preview Night sales were around $17,000. This was before the general buying public shopped all day Saturday and half-day Sunday. (Once it's known, I'll share the total in a future post.)

Maxine was all decked out in her finest greenery for a St. Patrick's Day celebration which will take place at the Hudson Senior Center this week.

She's a permanent resident at this senior center where we meet to play dominoes weekly. There's no resident housing there; Maxine hangs out in the center office when not celebrating a holiday and never misses the chance to dress for the occasion. In reply to a blogger's comment, it does look like she's holding an angry stuffed cabbage 🥬.

Friday Funnies

Today's post is a trip down movie trivia.

Can you name the 1988 movie that featured this antique fortune telling machine ?

Bonus Point if you know why the machine was used and what happened. (This isn't an internet grab, as I took this photo of the machine, but can't recall its location.)

Zoltar granted a wish in the film

This fantasy-comedy film, directed by Penny Marshall, met with widespread critical acclaim, especially for the lead actor's performance. It established him as a major box-office success and crowd favorite. The film was a commercial success; it grossed $151 M worldwide against a production budget of $18 M.

As always, no prizes, just braggin' rights. The answer (and winners) posted next week.

Nashua Public Library Friends Book & Media Sale Set-Up

This weekend, the Friends of the Nashua Public Library are holding their Annual Friends Book & Media Sale. The 3-day sale starts with Friday Preview sale night for Friends and invited book sellers and ends Sunday afternoon. Monies raised fund various library programs and events throughout the year. The 2024 sale brought in $35,000. The sale includes thousands of donated books, hundreds of movies,  music CDs, assorted games and puzzles. It takes place in the library's entire lower level. Set-up was done several evenings this week by Friends members, including myself, assisted by local high school students.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

As Friends members, we're going to Preview night

We vow not to buy more books, but then we can donate them back