Rubber Ducky Day. Today marks the day that Ernie’s Rubber Duck first appeared on Sesame Street, February 25, 1970. The song Rubber Duckie (sung by Ernie, voiced by Jim Hensen) made its way to 16 on billboard charts in 1970. Celebration of Rubber Ducky Day later moved to January 13, when promoted that day as Rubber Ducky’s birthday in 1973.
I have an interesting book on Rubber Ducks. Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie wrote “Slow Death by Rubber Duck. The Secret Danger of Everyday Things” 2009. This is an eye-opening book on pollution, and how dangerous chemicals can get into human bodies. The Rubber duck was only one way that the authors showed that chemicals, in this instance phthalates (one chemical that makes plastic items “rubbery”), can get into human bloodstreams. Once there, lots of issues can happen, especially with kids.
These chemicals are not just in plastics, but in fragrances and skin care, all sorts of stuff. While there are now more safeguards on common items, and the chemicals in them, this book shows ways to still monitor and protect ourselves. The authors used themselves as human guinea pigs, by taking blood tests and urine samples before immersing themselves with products they deemed dangerous, and then testing themselves during and after. It is quite an interesting read. And older, rubber ducks are indeed more dangerous around chewing children.
I mention that, as my grandchildren have gotten “ducked” lately when riding around in my Jeep. There is a trend among Jeep lovers to call out “cool Jeeps” by giving that Jeep a duck. I image if I was an alarmist, I could say that Jeeps are pollutional, and are dangerous to children, too.
I have several Jeep books to help me keep my Jeep running as efficiently and cleanly as possible. I have also used these books to repair issues as they happen. And they do happen. JEEP stands for “Just Expect Expensive Parts”, Just Empty Every Pocket”, and “Just Eats Every Penny”.
While it is good to understand different pollutions, and what one can do to avoid less giving of, and absorbing/breathing in of, one should read the above book “Slow Death by Rubber Duck.” On the other hand, one cannot help but smile when riding in an old Jeep. For a parade, or picking up grandkids at school, or driving around the house in the yard, now and then to irritate my wife, I only use the Jeep occasionally. Perhaps Jeep could stand for “Jumps Excitedly (in) Every Puddle” or “Juvenile’s Extremely Expensive Playtoy”.
Be knowledgeable of the world around you, but don’t be afraid to smile and have fun, too.
“Rubber Duckie, I’m awfully fond of you…”
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