Why I missed my Wednesday post.

Funny and quick.  Click the pic.

Norway is number 1.

New Zealand is number 2. (Huh. Wait until Black Sheep comes out.)

Denmark is number 3. (Guess they got over that regicide thing.)

Ireland is number 4. (Pretty sure we’re not talking Northern Ireland though things have also improved there.)

Japan is number 5. (Though there are those who say that they sit under the US military umbrella.)

…

Iraq is dead last at number 121.

The Sudan is next at number 120.

Israel is number 119.

Russian is number 118.

Nigeria is number 117.

Where do you suppose the most powerful nation on earth sits? I’ll give you a hint. There’s a reason Iraq is dead last.

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While we are on the subject of public health issues, odd time signatures has a heartbreaking post up today by a woman who lost her husband last year to a rip current at a Florida beach:

By the time I got to the beach Larry was dead. Floating face down in the waves. It took 20 agonizing minutes and the life of another before Larry’s body was rescued. Yes, another father, Ken Brindley, also lost his life to the rip current trying to help Larry. He left behind a loving wife and two small children. Somehow that is the hardest thing for me to face.

Here’s the catch: this wasn’t a freak accident. Six more people died that day in the rip currents along the Florida panhandle. Most of them drowned before Larry, the kids, and I set foot on the beach that day.

A trip to an ocean or beach is one of my very favorite vacations. But rip currents are no joke. odd time has some excellent tips on what to do if you get caught in a rip current. Other things you can do: check the local papers; they often provide warnings about dates and locations of unsafe swimming conditions. The safest course is to swim only at beaches with life guards, especially if you have young children with you.

Check it out.