End-of-the-year trivia: Handy little facts and figures to ponder in the coming year

This is the time of year that traditionally, in western culture, we pause and reflect. It’s a seasonal time-out; it gave our ancestors a rest from farming, hunting, gathering, and other physical labor in unfriendly weather, and even though most of us don’t really do those things for survival any more, it gives us a much-needed break from the 2015 equivalents.

By Carol Ladwig • January 7, 2016 3:57 pm

This is the time of year that traditionally, in western culture, we pause and reflect. It’s a seasonal time-out; it gave our ancestors a rest from farming, hunting, gathering, and other physical labor in unfriendly weather, and even though most of us don’t really do those things for survival any more, it gives us a much-needed break from the 2015 equivalents.

I like that phrase, too, “pause and reflect,” mainly thanks to Mark Twain, who said “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,” but also because it’s “pause,” not a full stop, and “reflect,” not brainstorm, problem-solve or, my favorite, make lists.

The year happened, there’s no changing it. There’s just, maybe, taking a few minutes to think about it all and then, maybe, taking a few minutes to think about the year ahead.

That’s the approach I tried to take when I reviewed some stories and information last week. It lasted about three minutes, before I gave into my curiosity and had to start a spreadsheet to crunch some numbers. I was surprised to find out how many people didn’t vote in the last election and how few people who cast ballots still didn’t vote in some races. Turnout ranged from 10 to 70 percent in most precincts, and the blank percentage (ballots left blank for a specific race but marked for other races) was 50 percent or more in about 80 races. Blanks were most prevalent in unopposed races, naturally, but five of the 10 races that saw 100 percent responses, no blanks, were decided by voters.

Before the election data, I looked at traffic stats for a couple of intersections reported to be very dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Accident reports for two different intersections, both declared high priority by multiple people, totaled five or less per year.

Of course, data can be manipulated to prove or disprove almost anything. Those 10 races with the 100 percent response rates all had 19 or fewer registered voters. Those dangerous intersections may see a lot more collisions that, for lack of insurance or some other reason, go unreported. Knowing those little facts can make a big difference in how we see the year ahead.