Julius Caesar created the Julian calendar back in 46 BC and chose January 1 as the first day of the year, in part to honor Janus, the two-faced (literally) Roman god of beginnings. The two faces enable Janus to see both the past and the future—a handy god for any civilization. However, the New Year has been celebrated as far back as 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon following the vernal equinox in March. Therefore, New Year celebrations and resolutions have been with us for quite some time. One New Year’s resolution you may wish to consider is quitting smoking because studies indicate half of all male smokers are impotent. If you go to www.TED.com and search for Dean Ornish, you find at least three lectures, two of which are only six minutes long. Dean Ornish, M.D. is a clinical professor for UCSF (University of California, San Francisco) and a famous nutritional author. For example, did you know that 95 percent of cardiovascular disease may be reversed by changing your diet and exercise habits? Did you know your genetics may be changed this way as well? The culprits appear to be saturated fat and processed (junk) foods. Did you know there are foods that will increase your brain cell size, such as blueberries, chocolate and alcohol in moderation?
Additionally, another New Year’s resolution to consider is to be very careful when you use your cellphone or other portable electronic device. Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than nine people are killed every day in the U.S. due to vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver? The Internet is an intriguing invention, however, the annual fatalities here total more than 3,650. Nation Safety Council (NSC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research indicates cellphone use causes more than 25 percent of vehicle accidents and the trend is increasing. These figures are actually much higher in number due to underreporting. Drivers questioned by the police and courts do not want to incriminate themselves so they deny Portable Digital Assistant (PDA) use, such as with a cellphone. See www.caraccidents.com/cell_phone_car_accidents.html for related pictures, stories and statistics.
To end on a positive note, did you know that the nation’s oldest college, which charges more than $100,000 annually in tuition, fees, room and board, has created a Web site with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that offers a variety of free online courses to audit or take for certification if you register with the site? The Internet is allowing the public free access through Harvard’s ivy covered walls at www.edx.org. One may find free online courses for the following schools at www.edx.org: Harvard, MIT, The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and the University of Texas System.
Ted J. Bloom, MLS., MSEd., CPL., has been a published columnist in New York since 1999. A college librarian in Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan with two graduate degrees, some of his credentials include creating and running a career preparation computer lab for at-risk youth through the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as being a SUNY Communications Instructor and a YMCA Director.
Bloom! 