occupational hazard

as you may know, part of our job involves dubbing a documentary into new languages... we take this amazing portable recording equipment all around the world to make authentic & accurate recordings. sometimes our work has taken us to exotic locations with exotic landscapes, people, food, and tap water. from time to time, people comment on the dangers involved in this line of work.

little did any of us know, however, that we never had to leave our training studio in orlando to incur serious bodily harm....

while reading aloud from Bill Bryson's Notes from a Big Country* last night, we were enlightened:

"According to the latest Statistical Abstract of the United States... More people were injured by sound-recording equipment (46,022) than by skateboards (44,068), trampolines (43,655), or even razors or razorblades (43,365)... even chainsaws claimed a relatively modest 38,692 victims."

note that these injuries were those "severe enough to warrant a trip to an emergency room."

and before you nurturing types begin to suggest another line of work, consider this as you drift off to sleep tonight:

"Every year more than 400,000 Americans suffer injuries involving beds, matresses, or pillows."

*a fantastic read, by the way, for anyone with a curiosity about, love for, or address in America... anyone with a pulse, really. We've especially enjoyed reading it while away from "home".