The Writer's Life 3/29 - A Wrap, a Zap & a Eulogy

A new trend is featured in an article in today's NY Post. Here are highlights, edited by yours truly: Some New Yorkers are snuggling beneath blankets weighing up to 30 pounds to help alleviate anxiety, depression and insomnia. For decades such products have been used primarily as a therapeutic tool for children and adults with autism and sensory processing disorder. Increasingly, they’re being made for, marketed toward and sought after by millennials who have minor, garden-variety psychological issues. They’re priced from $175 to $289, and customers are told to choose one roughly 10% of their ideal body weight. An expert cautions: “All the beautiful weighted blankets in the world won’t help you if you have poor sleep habits.” Here's a pic:

And in the never ending pursuit of sexual longevity, another innovation provides hope. Here are excerpts from an article at the Post's website, edited by YT: There’s a new treatment for erectile dysfunction - and it’s shocking. The procedure, called GainsWave, zaps tens of thousands of sound waves through a man’s member to improve blood flow and enable erections. Urologists and sexual-health proponents are excited about it. Currently, it is available only in a handful of practices in NYC and several more nationwide. The therapy is administered about once a week for six to 12 weeks. It costs about $3000 and isn’t covered by insurance. 75 to 80% of one doctor's patients experience success. Some go off meds like Viagra entirely, or use them far less. Now if innovators would only come up with a gadget to revitalize man's other head, the one used for thinking, but let's not upset our priorities. Man's ego must be stroked - pun intended.

RIP Rusty Staub, who succumbed to organ failure three days shy of his 74th birthday. He was one of the most beloved players in MLB history, especially by Mets' and Expos' fans. A Montreal announcer dubbed the red-haired slugger Le Grande Orange, one of sports' greatest nicknames He was the only batter in MLB history to have more than 500 hits with four different teams (Astros, Expos, Mets, Tigers). Beginning at the age of 19 with the Astros and into his 23rd season at 41 in 1985, he batted .279 and clocked 292 homers. He appeared in his only World Series in 1973 when the Amazin's took on the mighty A's, and batted .423 against them. He was a superlative pinch-hitter late in his career. Although he was stocky, he was a fine right fielder and led the NL in assists five times. He was also a six-time all-star. A wine connoisseur, he went into the restaurant business in Manhattan, opening two venues that specialized in ribs. I had the pleasure of eating at one, and the ribs were delicious. He stopped by our table briefly, putting a smile on our faces. He was a class act who did a lot of charitable work. Well done, sir. Thank you.

The scaffold enabled the floating book shop to open today, negating the mist. My thanks to Ira, who bought a book on one of his favorite topics - UFO's, and to the woman who purchased a children's book on Aladdin. Special thanks to the gentleman who pulled up on his bike late in the session and overpaid for six CD's.

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