Salt

You may remember a VOB column from March of last year, in which we explored the age-old question, how long would it take to consume 400 pounds of salt? It turned out to be a bit less than a lifetime supply for a person with a typical level of sodium consumption, or enough for five people for life, with the minimum consumption level. But, you wonder, how long does that amount of salt last in the water softener. Well, just the other day I poured the last 80-pound bag into the salt hopper, so about 10 months.

A number of VOB readers has suggested that I comment on the inauguration of our new president. I was sitting in my living room a short while before the actual oath of office was administered when a bird hit the window. It didn't die, though; it just flew away.