Beech Tree News Network

Three facts have come to my attention. First, a national figure, John McCain, died. Second, advertising is specifically targeting children and preteens, and then Kentucky ranks near the bottom regarding exercise. Mark Twain said, “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/facts).

First, U.S. Senator John McCain (08/29/1936-08/25/2018) from Arizona will likely be remembered for his service to our country. During the Vietnam War, he was imprisoned for more than five. years. Later he was elected to the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, representing Arizona, and was a presidential nominee. Some of the things he said reveal much about the man he was:

•It’s very important to lose gracefully. You know, no bitterness, no anger, no remorse – can’t display that.

•Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.

•Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears.

•Our political differences, no matter how sharply they are debated, are really quite narrow in comparison to the remarkably durable national consensus on our founding convictions.

•We are a country with a conscience.

•Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.

I didn’t always agree with John McCain’s positions, but I respected him. I hope our country is blessed to have many more men and women like McCain. He was an American hero.

Second, the Daily News recently published an article, “More Kids Shopping Online: Here’s How Brands Are Courting Them” (August 15, 2018, 1B, by Abha Bhattarai, The Washington Post), that explained how children and pre-teens have begun to make purchasing choices from information gathered on their smartphones, tablets, and/or laptops. The author said, “…companies are flocking to Snapchat, YouTube Kids and other mobile apps to reach children….” My older grandchildren use their devices to shop, and my younger grandchildren use their devices for entertainment. I am sure they all see advertisements on the apps used, but I can’t guess how much impact the ads have on my grandchildren’s purchase preferences. If they’re like me, most of the time they scroll right past the ads; but, this practice marks a change in the way advertising targets children.

Next, the Todd County Standard included an article, “KY Ranks Next to Last in Exercise, Which Should Include both Aerobics and Strength Training; ‘Closest Thing to a Wonder Drug’” (July 11 to July 17, 2018, p. 8, by Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News), which stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had polled people about their exercise habits and health, then used the information to look at trends. The author stated, “The poll found that only 14.6 percent of Kentucky adults reported getting the amount of exercise that experts say is needed, well below the national figure of 22.9 percent.” Further, the study found that adults in the Southeast were less likely than those living in other regions to meet the suggested activity guidelines. The only state ranking lower than Kentucky was Mississippi. The top two ranking states were Colorado (32.5%) and Idaho (31.4%). Additionally, “the 2008 activity guidelines call for muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week, with either moderate aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week or vigorous aerobic activity for at least 75 minutes per week….” I walk and use exercise equipment, but I cannot say that I get in 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. So, I need to do better. I believe most people know what they need to do to be healthy, but lack either the opportunity or the motivation to do so.

Andy Warhol said, “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/time_changes). As time passes, things do change – some good, some bad. But Warhol made a good point: some things require personal effort.