Should Companies Interfere with our Personal Lives?

By Nate Feldman

In class today, we were reading about companies that had a policy of firing workers that smoked during their free time away from work.  Although it is good to encourage a healthy workforce, my initial reaction to this policy is that it was wrong for a couple of reasons.  First of all, the main goal of any company is to have worker's perform the things they need to do while at the office or wherever they are working.  What they do in their spare time should be completely separate from that.  In addition, the idea that the company is monitoring your habits away from the office seems kind of creepy if you ask me.  I personally value my time away from my work as just that: my time.  Some might say it is good to promote a healthy lifestyle, especially if the company says that its objectives is encouraging good health.  The problem is telling people not to smoke is just the beginning.  People will also have to monitor how much sugar they eat, how much exercise they do, or how much fried food they eat.  We can encourage people to be healthy, but we can't coerce it.  It is for these reasons that we should not have draconian policies in place to prohibit people from having habits we don't approve of, but can't really do anything to stop.

This Month in Review, September 2019

By Nate Feldman

We are now approaching the last couple of days of September.  With that, I have had an opportunity to recap some of the amazing things I took part in during the past month.  I am looking forward to making this a monthly tradition moving forward. 

This Week in Berwyn

By Nate Feldman

This may be the beginning of a new tradition of mine in which I will do a program recapping some of the images and events I saw during the previous week.

This week, the weather continued to be very sunny for the most part with mild temperatures.  I caught some nice images of the local area while outside.

My Advice about Perfection

By Nate Feldman

Today, I saw a student watching a video about people's unhealthy obsession with perfection.  This really resonated with me as I have often felt that some of my biggest mistakes have come from trying to do things a perfect way and not just doing the best I can.  I have come to believe that a lot of people make the mistake of not doing things unless they are done perfectly, or if they do the things, they obsess about perfection in an unhealthy way. 

In the following video, I give some advice on how we should just do our best and not worry about being perfect all of the time. 

Advice on Doing the Things You Want

By Nate Feldman

One thing I have recently told people is if you want to do something, no matter what it is, you have to find the time to do it, even if it seems like you don't have any.  Here is a video in which I give that advice.

Visit to the Franklin Institute

By Nate Feldman

On Sunday, I had plans to take my daughters to a park in downtown Philadelphia because the weather was so nice, but when they said they wanted to go to the Franklin Institute, I couldn't say no.  The Franklin Institute is a science museum in Philadelphia with many exhibits ranging from a giant sized model of a human heart, a longstanding attraction, to the planetarium which runs different shows about a variety of scientific subjects throughout the day.  I was happy that the girls are so interested in educational places like this and will continue to encourage this love for knowledge.

The Heidelberg 5K Video

By Nate Feldman

As mentioned on Saturday, I attended the Heidelberg 5K.  It was an enjoyable but challenging course with some amazing scenery along the way.  Here is a short video I made about my time there.

The Heidelberg 5K and the West End World of Food Festival

By Nate Feldman

A scenic area the race went through

Today, I participated in the Heidelberg 5K race, hosted by the Heidelberg Union Church, just outside of Slatington, PA.  The race went up and down hills in the very bucolic Northwestern part of Lehigh county.  The scenery was breathtaking, and I especially enjoyed the backdrop of Blue Mountain while I was running.  Because of its hilly nature, the race was a bit challenging in some spots, but I did well, finishing eighth overall and third in the men's 30-39 age group. 

Following the race, I spoke with members of the Kellyn Foundation, an organization which is seeking to promote healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle to people in the Lehigh Valley.  They were selling fruits and vegetables of all kinds, many locally grown.  They will be hosting Vegistock on October 12, 2019 from 11 AM-5 PM, for a day of promoting healthy food and entertainment for the entire family.

Allentown's West End lined with concession stands

From the race, I went to Allentown and attended the West End World of Food Festival, held between Liberty and 19th Streets.  The area was lined up with concession stands offering food of all sorts from a variety of countries.  There was also a stage with live music to entertain the crowd.  The festival is designed to attract people to Allentown's West End district and support local businesses.

While I was at the festival, I came across the Hava Java coffee shop on N. 19th Street and enjoyed a hot glass of Chai Tea.  The drink was delicious, and the atmosphere was very comforting. 

The inside of Hava Java

Waking Up

By Nate Feldman

This is something I wrote as a listening passage for an exam today, but it could be included in one of my stories:

John’s friend called him last night at 2 AM. John was asleep at the time. He picked up the phone. “What is it?,” John asked.

“Do you want to go shopping today?” asked John’s friend.

John looked at the time. “It is 2 AM. Please call me back in the morning.”

“Can you go shopping?” John’s friend asked again.

“Come on,” said John. “This is bad etiquette. I was lying and resting just a minute ago. Call later.”

John turned off his phone and quickly fell asleep again as he was exhausted.  When he got up three hours, he vaguely remembered the conversation with his friend.  He wondered if it had been a dream.  It was odd that his friend would have called him in the middle of the night wondering about going shopping.  It was still too early to check, although he realized if he woke up his friend now he would be returning the favor.

John went downstairs and began stretching his legs.  He was getting ready for his morning jog, a routine he had had for the past few years.  He went to the closet and got out a grey hoodie because the morning temperatures had cooled significantly with the arrival of autumn. 

John put on his shoes and opened the door and trotted out to the street to begin his mile long run around the community.  As John started picking up the pace, he began looking at the houses he passed by.  He noticed that their gardens, which typically were filled with plants of all kinds, were barren.  It wasn't one house, or even a group of houses in one section of the community.  It was all of them.  He knew it hadn't looked like that the day before.  It startled him.  He kept running, but he wanted to investigate further what was happening to people's gardens.  

Roadwork, Good News, and a Tour of the Countryside

By Nate Feldman

Yesterday, I was driving home on Montgomery Ave. This is the way I usually get home. However, it took much longer yesterday to get home. People were doing roadwork, so it was slowing down the traffic. This was true on Montgomery Ave. It was also true on Lancaster Ave. They were doing road work as well, so it took me 15 minutes longer to get to my home.

 Fortunately, I did not hear any heartbreaking news yesterday. I am sure if I read the news, I’ll find it. Actually, it was a nice day in my community.   The weather was similar to the day before.  I am sure there is some data about how many sunny days we have had, but I haven't seen it yet.

In other news, I have made a short video about the scenery here in Pennsylvania's rural areas.  I have been fortunate to catch remarkable shots of the beautiful areas this state has to offer.

Another Nice Day

By Nate Feldman

I ran this morning under a moonlit sky.  The air is crisp.  Autumn is definitely coming.  It is refreshing after a long summer.  This is my favorite time of year because of the mild temperatures and the beautiful scenery.  The leaves are changing colors and people in some places are beginning to decorate their houses for the upcoming Halloween season. 

The afternoon was just as lovely as yesterday.  There was barely a cloud in the sky.  I went running on the Schuylkill River Trail near Valley Forge Park.  I definitely encourage people to be outside when it is nice like this. 

A pumpkin for Halloween

Bright Weather Comes to the Philadelphia Area

By Nate Feldman

A clear view from Berwyn, PA 

Morning clouds gave way to a clear afternoon in the Philadelphia area on Tuesday.  The temperatures were mild, so it was a pleasant day to be outside.  According to the weather forecast, it is supposed to remain sunny and dry throughout the week with pleasant temperatures. 

The Fall Festival in Werley's Corner

By Nate Feldman

 A sign for the Fall Festival 

For the past few years, the Weisenberg/Lowhill Township historical society in Werley's Corner, PA has hosted "Der Spoatyahr Fesht," which means, "The Fall Festival," in Pennsylvania Dutch, on a weekend in the middle of September.  The festival has live music, locally produced arts and crafts and food, and a chance for visitors to see barnyard animals.  Children have the opportunity to play games and decorate pumpkins and weave baskets.  People can also enter the historical society and see old pictures and items, some of which date back many years, from the local community. 

A Trip to the White Lake Natural Resource Area and Blairstown, NJ

By Nate Feldman

On Saturday, I was in New Jersey's bucolic Warren County and visited some important landmarks.

I began the afternoon by walking around the White Lake Natural Resource Area, which is run by the Ridge and Valley Conservancy, an organization dedicated to protecting natural areas in Northwestern New Jersey.  There are several trails winding around the lake and the surrounding area that take you through a series of woods and meadows.  I walked along the blue and red trails.  The weather was overcast, but I still enjoyed many excellent views.  Besides walking, the area provides people the opportunity to fish and boat on the lake.  Although I did not participate in it, I saw that there were evening activities where people can boat on the lake under the moonlight.

I also visited Blairstown, about 3 miles away.  I walked through the downtown area which is featured in the original Friday the 13th film from 1980.  Since it was Saturday the 14th, there were still tons of fans of the movie walking around taking pictures and making short videos.  I visited several places featured in the movie.  First, I went to the Blairstown Diner, where Steve Christy, Camp Crystal Lake's owner, has coffee and a conversation with the waitress.  The restaurant was covered with hockey masks and tons of Friday the 13th paraphernalia.  There was even a special menu with dishes named after characters from the movie.  After that,  I went into the Blairstown Museum, which was filled with tons of memorabilia from the film, such as old photos and props.

Afterwards, I went across the street from downtown Blairstown to the Footbridge Park.  The Paulinskill Valley Trail, which is 27 miles long, goes through it.  I got on the trail and jogged through an area of dense woods.

I had a great time and plan to return to see some of the more attractions the area has to offer.

The Vegetarian Zombie (Continued)

By Nate Feldman

Michael Duncan noticed his bare garden one morning just as it was beginning to lighten up.  He had just taken his morning jog in the dark and was at his kitchen stove preparing his morning oatmeal.  He looked outside the glass slide door that separated the kitchen from a deck overlooking his yard.  He caught a glimpse of his garden in the distance and saw nothing but brown soil.  The garden had been overgrown with plants of all sorts, but now there wasn't anything.  He put the stove on low heat as he walked towards the slide door to get a better look. 

Michael opened the slide door and walked out onto the deck.  There was a grey mist in the air, but he still saw the image of a garden with only soil and not a trace of any vegetation.  He went down the deck stairs onto the yard and walked to the garden.  When he noticed that all of his plant life had completely disappeared he stared in shock.  He didn't gasp or show any sign of anxiety.  He just stood there, looking at what was before him. 

The Vegetarian Zombie

By Nate Feldman

Note: This is the beginning of a story I am writing for the upcoming Halloween season.

There were no vegetables of any kind left.  Something had completely devoured them.  The local community was completely aghast.  They had successfully isolated their area from every vermin known to mankind.  Some had hunted them.  Others had semi-fortified their gardens and fields with fencing of all sorts.  Others had generously applied pesticides to keep away pests.  But it had all been to no avail.  The plants were all gone.  All in one night.  And nobody knew why.

Remembering the September 11th Attacks Eighteen Years On

By Nate Feldman

It's been eighteen years since the September 11th attacks on the United States.  It's hard to believe that so much time has passed between that day until now.  I still remember the events from that day clearly.  There's very little I can add that probably hasn't already been said about this terrible day.  I think the most important thing is that we always remember that this happened and do our best to prevent things like this happening again in the future. 

What Causes Anxiety?

By Nate Feldman

I was reading today about an author who found ways to reduce anxiety in his life by taking chances and letting it gradually vanish through a process he referred to as "extinction."  What he meant by this was the more you do something, the less anxious you will feel about it eventually.  While reading this, I began to think of why people get anxious in the first place and how this can be harmful to one's well-being.  Here are some of my thoughts about that.

Anxiety is that jittery feeling inside us that we constantly feel, especially when we are in difficult situations, but also in plenty of ordinary life situations. Some might say it is a survival mechanism because it helps us do things to protect ourselves. Without it, we wouldn’t feel danger. But, some people feel it about everything, and that can be potentially harmful. So, why do so many people have out of control anxiety? It’s because they overthink.

Some people see a problem everywhere. They assume that the world is just a bad place with tons of bad things. Their brains have all kinds of images of horrible things happening. For example, if they smell smoke, they think there is a fire. If they hear a strange sound, they think a bad thing is going to happen to them. They don’t just go with the flow of life, so they are filled with endless anxiety.

The effects of this of course can be quite detrimental to people. People can have tons of chronic health problems because of being overly anxious. They can also have social difficulties because they are always nervous and upset, which will make people feel the same way when they are around them. Even worse than both of these is that life will pass them by, and they won’t take the time to enjoy some of the amazing experiences that come with it because they will be worrying about everything all the time.

So, in the end, while we need to have a little anxiety to protect ourselves from bad situations, it is ideal if we can learn to rid ourselves as much as possible of anxiety and enjoy the many great things that life has to offer.

Phoenixville Holds its 10th Annual Blues Festival

By Nate Feldman

A singer from the group Hotlanta performing

Reeves Park in Phoenixville, PA hosted its 10th annual Blues Festival on Saturday.  There were many performers throughout the day playing live music.  The park was crowded with people of all ages, who came out to enjoy both the festivities and the beautiful weather. 

In addition to the music, the park was lined with different vendors of a variety of arts and crafts. 

The Leaser Lake 5K

By Nate Feldman

Leaser Lake

Today, I ran in the second annual Leaser Lake 5K.  Leaser Lake is located in northwest Lehigh county, PA, between the villages of Jacksonville and Wanamakers, and near the town of Kempton.  The weather was crystal clear with mild temperatures, so it was an ideal day to run.  The race followed a trail through a wooded area beside the lake.  The terrain was quite steep in many locations, but the scenery was breathtaking.  Prior to the race, I heard one of the other participants refer to the area as a "hidden gem," and I agree with that.  The race went out about a mile and a half in one direction, and then the runners turned around in the direction they came.  I came in third place overall and first place for the men's age group of 30-39.

The race's start and finish line

The race was organized by the Kempton area Lion's Club with the hope of raising money to build a pavilion beside the lake.  They plan to hold this race in the future for other causes.

Overall, the pristine nature of the area and the beautiful weather made this a race well worth participating in. 

Time at the Delaware Beaches

By Nate Feldman

I was at the Delaware beaches a little over two weeks ago.  While I was there, I spent some time at the beaches at Rehoboth and the Delaware Seashore State Park.  Here is some footage I got while I was down there.

A Nice Sunset

By Nate Feldman

Here is a video of a nice sunset I saw today. 

The Great Allentown Fair

By Nate Feldman

As mentioned in my previous article, I was at the Great Allentown Fair yesterday.  I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the festival.  Here is a short video of some of what I saw.

The Great Allentown Fair

By Nate Feldman

I've always enjoyed fairs for their atmosphere.  The bright lights and large crowds are fun to be around.  Fairs also teach us to appreciate the basic things, such as farming life, which is something that we all depend on but perhaps overlook sometimes.  One fair in particular I like to visit is the Great Allentown Fair.

The Allentown Fair has been around for 167 years.  It takes place the week leading up to Labor Day.  The fairgrounds is located across from the Lehigh Valley Hospital on the corner of 17th and Chew Streets in Central Allentown.  It celebrates local agriculture with farmers showcasing their best crops and animals.  There is basic livestock, such as chickens, cows, and sheep, other animals like rabbits and pigeons, as well as more exotic animals like Alpacas. 

The fair has a carnival atmosphere with countless games and rides, ranging from a Ferris Wheel, a carousel, and a maze, to thrill rides like roller coasters.  The paths are lined with food concessions of all sorts.  There are also food and art exhibits inside the Agri-Plex building.

Next to the Agri-Plex, there is a small play area, known as Lil' Farm Hands, where children can pretend to do different farming activities, such as husking corn and milking cows. 

People can also enjoy top notch entertainment with performances by both local and nationally known artists of all kinds.  There are singers and dancers.  This year's highlight was a concert by the famous pop duo Hall & Oates.

The Allentown Fair has been entertaining the local community for a long time and will continue to do so well into the future.