Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Between 2007 and 2008 the number of people living in multigenerational homes increased by 2.6 million, equaling 16% of the population. The Pew Research Foundation attributed this increase to three things. One, the bad economy created boomerang children for baby boomer parents and these children moved back in. Two, the baby boomers’ parents, who had more children, had more children to potentially live with. Three, multigenerational living was the cultural norm for the increasing immigrant population. Because 2009’s home sales were the same as 2000’s – in spite of 30 million more people – multigenerational living is obviously closing the generation gap.

Regardless of living arrangements, only 2.5% of the population drives safely while using cell phones. In a Utah University study 200 participants were tested twice in a driving simulator. During the second test they were engaged in a hands-free, cell phone conversation involving memorization and math. For 97.5% of them breaking time decreased 20% and following distance increased 30%. Then there’s the 2006 study that found motorists using cell phones while driving were as impaired as drunk drivers and the National Safety Council’s estimate that 28% of accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones. Obviously, we’re waiting for a wake-up call.

When it comes to television, more Republicans watch sports; but some sports attract more Democrats. This is according to National Media Inc., which worked with the Nielsen and Arbitron rating companies to study more than 200,000 adults. It seems wrestling fans are solidly Democratic, but vote least. Golf fans vote most and are mostly Republicans. College football, NASCAR and hockey attract more Republicans, while baseball, football and college basketball attract only slightly more. More Democrats are attracted to tennis, soccer and basketball. However, both groups watch sports live; and no fast forwarding through commercials makes them both targets for the sport of political advertising.

Both groups are also targets for supersizing, but it’s not a new phenomenon. According to a Cornell University study, the portion sizes in paintings of The Last Supper steadily increased between the years 1000 and 2000. Using computer technology to compare 52 paintings, researchers discovered bread size increased 23%, plate size increased 65.6% and entrée size increased 69%. As the production, safety, availability and affordability of food increased, artists reflected the changing times in their paintings. Interestingly, the body mass index of Jesus and his disciples didn’t increase – perhaps another miracle.

About the Author

Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting cards. Now she writes a 400-word blog three times a week. KNIGHT WATCH, a second look at what makes life interesting, takes only seconds to read at http://knightwatch.typepad.com

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