Many people tell me I neither look my age nor act it. To the latter, the reply is simple. My mother must have lost the manual that came with me at birth with the chapter on growing old. Had I observed her more closely I might have had a model but she never seemed to change until, all of a sudden, she just gave up doing things she had always done. Arthritis stiffened her fingers so she stopped sewing, crocheting. She never had been much of a reader other than phonetically spelling out signs when we were driving since English was not her natural language. Short term memory disappeared.
It made me think about how I judge age. White hair, 'liver spots', wrinkles, arthritic lumps and bends, slowed responses and speech, short term memory loss, and lots of verbal repetition. Women gain weight in the abdomen. I assume that when the spine compresses, the only way to go is out. Men seem to somehow lose their butts. It is rare to see a mass of great proportion filling out the back of an old man's trousers. These are the major criteria I have been taught to notice.
Presuming it is must be a genetic feature, neither of my parents had liver spots nor significant wrinkles and neither do I, nor do my older siblings, even those who sunbathed excessively. My arthritis seems to be covered by flesh, with the exception of two small knobs on my forefingers, though I was promised I would have arthritis (by my orthopedist) twenty-four years ago over a broken ankle. He kept his word.
According to Wikipedia: "Liver spots are blemishes on the skin associated with aging and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. They are also known as age spots, sun spots, lentigos, or senile/solar lentigines. They range in color from light brown to red or black and are located in areas most often exposed to the sun, particularly the hands, face, shoulders, arms and forehead, and the head if bald. Liver spots are not related to the liver physiologically, but do have a similar color. It was once believed, apparently incorrectly, that liver spots were due to liver problems."
What, then, is it to look old or act old? Recalling my father's sadness when he outlived all his friends and relatives of his generation, it was determined a long time ago that I would never limit myself to interacting with people my own chronological age, at least not until after I was thirty or forty. Prior to that, I hung around with people who were older than I because those my own age seemed too young, couldn't drink, drive, or lacked the curiosity about life that I suffered.
Today, the criteria for spotting age has changed somewhat. More often, with women I look for signs of plastic surgery having been done since there are professions where youthful looks are important, like those in the public eye (entertainment, politics, TV media, and vanity). Both men and women dye their hair and male politicians wear toupees when they bald. Since none of those are my category, I blissfully age and just try to look in the mirror less often because I see my mother looking back at me from there.
Since I'm not convinced there is an afterlife, I live every day to the fullest extent within my control. Liver spots would be the only way there could be 'time on my hands'. Twenty four hours a day is just not enough time to enjoy all there is to enjoy. Survival takes too much time! Cutting out unnecessary tasks only leaves the space I live in looking like 12 small rooms of obstacle course. One would think my motto is 'leave no space unfilled'. Perhaps it is. Since my mind is cluttered, it seems natural that my space would do the same.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
HANDWRITING NOTES RATHER THAN EMAILING THEM
Every once in a while my head takes a vacation from world events and politics. This time, as my eyes roamed around my office, I spotted the huge, more than lifetime supply of note papers with pretty matching envelopes that people for reasons I can't fathom, thought I used in great quantity. Actually, I send very few handwritten notes as I prefer the brevity and convenience of email. However, the few in my life who won't have computers are also the ones who write lovely handwritten thank you notes, usually either in gorgeous, cursive hand, or the other alternative...chicken scratchings that are totally illegible.
Writing a note requires a stern lecture to myself. I need to rationalize doing so is not wasting too much of my life. I think back to the hours of my childhood spent practicing the Palmer Method to perfect my handwriting. Now the only ones who notice are eight year olds learning 'cursive' who say, "Gee, you write really good!". Now we have keyboards that produce (ignoring the occasional missed typo) notes than can be understood as English, whether one agrees with the contents or not. Actually I experience only a few seconds of guilt when I send thank-you notes by email. I save time, 43 cents, energy....elements which are usually more important to me than whether an old-fashioned friend thinks I have violated Emily Post.
I struggle whether just to throw the whole lot of unused cards out, or use them up (a hangover of conflict with me since the Great Depression). It doesn't seem that any charitable organization would take them. Most people low on cash won't want to spend the 43 cents for postage when they can go to the Public Library and email for free. The thought sets my fantasy factory to work. I think of a homeless person writing one to the shelter from which dinner was served.
Dear Server Person:
Thank you for serving me the lovely dinner of leftovers from the Thai restaurant last evening. It is my favorite food, made even more enjoyable by your smile and cheerful greeting as you slapped the food into the dish on my tray. It sure beats dumpster diving.
Yours truly, the homeless person with the 3 day old beard and no knees in my jeans.
On the other hand, I might use a thank you note like this:
Dear (dinner guest):
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a thank you note, by hand, for having been my guest at dinner last night. It was kind of you to acknowledge and thank me for my having taken so much time to plan a meal, shop for ingredients, cook for hours, tidy up the usually messy house, serve the meal, then clean up the dining room and klitchen afterwards. So often, those efforts go entirely unappreciated.
I'm writing this note to thank you for your note since you are unlikely to give me another reason for thanking you. I've never received a return invitation and have given up expecting one. However, your taking the time to write a note is very touching and gives me an opportunity to get rid of one of my huge supply of blank note paper and envelopes.
Sincerely, (Your hostess)
Trash collectors probably don't get thanked often but I didn't know an address to mail them a note. I finally decided they wouldn't mind my holding up their truck long enough to hand them an envelope (I will print it since many of them may not have stayed in school long enough to learn cursive) and hand it to the driver. (It will also save the 43 cent postage!)
Dear Trash Collectors:
Your job must be difficult with all the smelly stuff my neighbors and I throw out weekly. You and the crew do your jobs quickly and seem happy though I can't understand your language to be sure that is what you are talking about. I try to make your job easier by not putting my trash in heavy cans, though I apologize if some animals like to tear at the plastic bags so that things begin to fall out when you pick them up. Since I have never thanked you before, I want to thank you now. Keep up the great work. We benefit by being able to store more stuff that you can take when it gets old, and you benefit from the exercise you get while being paid.
Yours truly,
The old lady in the brick house
Maybe I should go back to thinking about politics and world events......
Writing a note requires a stern lecture to myself. I need to rationalize doing so is not wasting too much of my life. I think back to the hours of my childhood spent practicing the Palmer Method to perfect my handwriting. Now the only ones who notice are eight year olds learning 'cursive' who say, "Gee, you write really good!". Now we have keyboards that produce (ignoring the occasional missed typo) notes than can be understood as English, whether one agrees with the contents or not. Actually I experience only a few seconds of guilt when I send thank-you notes by email. I save time, 43 cents, energy....elements which are usually more important to me than whether an old-fashioned friend thinks I have violated Emily Post.
I struggle whether just to throw the whole lot of unused cards out, or use them up (a hangover of conflict with me since the Great Depression). It doesn't seem that any charitable organization would take them. Most people low on cash won't want to spend the 43 cents for postage when they can go to the Public Library and email for free. The thought sets my fantasy factory to work. I think of a homeless person writing one to the shelter from which dinner was served.
Dear Server Person:
Thank you for serving me the lovely dinner of leftovers from the Thai restaurant last evening. It is my favorite food, made even more enjoyable by your smile and cheerful greeting as you slapped the food into the dish on my tray. It sure beats dumpster diving.
Yours truly, the homeless person with the 3 day old beard and no knees in my jeans.
On the other hand, I might use a thank you note like this:
Dear (dinner guest):
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a thank you note, by hand, for having been my guest at dinner last night. It was kind of you to acknowledge and thank me for my having taken so much time to plan a meal, shop for ingredients, cook for hours, tidy up the usually messy house, serve the meal, then clean up the dining room and klitchen afterwards. So often, those efforts go entirely unappreciated.
I'm writing this note to thank you for your note since you are unlikely to give me another reason for thanking you. I've never received a return invitation and have given up expecting one. However, your taking the time to write a note is very touching and gives me an opportunity to get rid of one of my huge supply of blank note paper and envelopes.
Sincerely, (Your hostess)
Trash collectors probably don't get thanked often but I didn't know an address to mail them a note. I finally decided they wouldn't mind my holding up their truck long enough to hand them an envelope (I will print it since many of them may not have stayed in school long enough to learn cursive) and hand it to the driver. (It will also save the 43 cent postage!)
Dear Trash Collectors:
Your job must be difficult with all the smelly stuff my neighbors and I throw out weekly. You and the crew do your jobs quickly and seem happy though I can't understand your language to be sure that is what you are talking about. I try to make your job easier by not putting my trash in heavy cans, though I apologize if some animals like to tear at the plastic bags so that things begin to fall out when you pick them up. Since I have never thanked you before, I want to thank you now. Keep up the great work. We benefit by being able to store more stuff that you can take when it gets old, and you benefit from the exercise you get while being paid.
Yours truly,
The old lady in the brick house
Maybe I should go back to thinking about politics and world events......
Thursday, March 26, 2009
AIG: THE POWERFUL AND THE HELPLESS
Once again I find myself writing about AIG because the situation there has been so distorted by the Media and politicians who have not bothered to try to understand the real situation. The NY Times published a letter from an AIG-FP employee of eleven years, whose resignation explained what the political terrorists are doing to the people trying to fix the situation, but are making it worse for many. Those who are being hunted by men like Grassley won't find the ones he'd like to blame because they are no longer there. Those who are there are the people who were trying to do the right thing to the company to whom they had been loyal for years, the company who threw them under the bus.
To read this letter, got to this link. It starts: "DEAR Mr. Liddy,
It is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from A.I.G. Financial Products. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:
I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in — or responsible for — the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. Most of those responsible have left the company and have conspicuously escaped the public outrage."
To read a letter from an employee who is still there, go to this link. This should hopefully allow you to see how intelligent and thoughtful Obama's remark about taking the time to know the truth before he speaks seems.
To read this letter, got to this link. It starts: "DEAR Mr. Liddy,
It is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from A.I.G. Financial Products. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:
I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in — or responsible for — the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. Most of those responsible have left the company and have conspicuously escaped the public outrage."
To read a letter from an employee who is still there, go to this link. This should hopefully allow you to see how intelligent and thoughtful Obama's remark about taking the time to know the truth before he speaks seems.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
DUMB QUESTION ASKED BY MEDIA
Generally speaking the Media comported themselves professionally and asked appropriate questions. However, it has always fascinated me to hear the unexpected question. Whereas most asked questions that related to the economy, the budget, the economic burden to be handed down to next generations, and reasonable questions about how Obama planned to handle these major issues, one man asked the question as to why it took Obama so long to respond with anger about the AIG bonuses. Wisely, Obama said he likes to take his time until he feels he knows what he is talking about.
Actually, I liked the answer though I am not sure he understood the problem when he talked about his rage over the bonuses...but he is playing to a very broad and fickle audience.
Anew question which has arisen is whether people now working in the White House but who worked for companies that gave bonuses before they took their new jobs, should take the bonus received from these companies that took bail-out money from the government. The NY Times wrote: "Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a former member of the A.I.G. board of directors, and Michael Patterson, the chief of staff to the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, is a former lobbyist for Goldman Sachs. But both left the firms in the middle of 2008 and received no year-end bonuses. Several other administration officials worked in some capacity for companies that received bailout funds last year but did not receive year-end bonuses.
At least three members of the still-growing team of political appointees, for example, worked at Citigroup and were eligible for year-end bonuses. One of the former Citigroup executives, Michael Froman, the deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, has decided to give his bonus to charity. The White House declined to provide specific details on what the other two — the deputy Secretary of State, Jacob J. Lew, and David A. Lipton, the White House’s senior director for international economics — will do." Read the entire article here.
Oddly, it was Al Jazeera that wrote one of the more objective, I thought, summaries of all that Obama had to say.
News Americas Obama urges patience on economy
The press conference was Obama's second since taking office in January [AFP]
"The US president has urged patience over his plans to boost the country's ailing economy.
"We will recover from this recession. But it will take time, it will take patience," Barack Obama told a media conference in Washington on Tuesday.
Obama said he was "beginning to see signs of progress" in his strategy to confront what many say is the worst US economic crisis since the 1930s."
It was comforting to read the account, without distortion or opinion, of the press conference. It made me wonder why the Americans can't be decent enough to do the same.
Actually, I liked the answer though I am not sure he understood the problem when he talked about his rage over the bonuses...but he is playing to a very broad and fickle audience.
Anew question which has arisen is whether people now working in the White House but who worked for companies that gave bonuses before they took their new jobs, should take the bonus received from these companies that took bail-out money from the government. The NY Times wrote: "Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a former member of the A.I.G. board of directors, and Michael Patterson, the chief of staff to the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, is a former lobbyist for Goldman Sachs. But both left the firms in the middle of 2008 and received no year-end bonuses. Several other administration officials worked in some capacity for companies that received bailout funds last year but did not receive year-end bonuses.
At least three members of the still-growing team of political appointees, for example, worked at Citigroup and were eligible for year-end bonuses. One of the former Citigroup executives, Michael Froman, the deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, has decided to give his bonus to charity. The White House declined to provide specific details on what the other two — the deputy Secretary of State, Jacob J. Lew, and David A. Lipton, the White House’s senior director for international economics — will do." Read the entire article here.
Oddly, it was Al Jazeera that wrote one of the more objective, I thought, summaries of all that Obama had to say.
News Americas Obama urges patience on economy
The press conference was Obama's second since taking office in January [AFP]
"The US president has urged patience over his plans to boost the country's ailing economy.
"We will recover from this recession. But it will take time, it will take patience," Barack Obama told a media conference in Washington on Tuesday.
Obama said he was "beginning to see signs of progress" in his strategy to confront what many say is the worst US economic crisis since the 1930s."
It was comforting to read the account, without distortion or opinion, of the press conference. It made me wonder why the Americans can't be decent enough to do the same.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
SO MUCH FOR THE DREAM OF UNITY, WINNERS AND LOSERS
It seems that the Media is now in a contest which will ultimately prove which is the most powerful by proving they can make the biggest distortions and mangle the truth while sustaining their viewership. Rush Limbaugh has been proven in lies for so many years it amazes me that so many people still believe him. It doesn't really matter that people believe him because he is Rush, but they believe him when all logic flies away in front of their face.
Posted by Matt Corley, Think Progress at 2:31 PM on March 23, 2009. Fox News' Senior Vice President for Programming admitted that the network is consciously aiming to be "the voice of opposition" to the Obama. Fox News has wasted no time in opposing the Obama administration's agenda. For example, the network has unleashed a steady drum beat of misinformation and propaganda against the Employee Free Choice Act. In fact, when it comes to challenging the Obama administration, Fox News CEO Roger Ailes has compared the network to "the Alamo."
Major media ought to go to some kids' sports games to learn about team play. We are in a mess. Emotions are volatile and the ambience in most places feels and sounds dangerous to our normal way of 'live and let live' life. Meanwhile we have another loose cannon in Michelle Bachman. Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 10:50 AM on March 23, 2009. "Crazy Rep. Michele Bachmann Calls for Armed Revolution" Bachmann appeared over the weekend on the First Team radio show with John Hinderaker and Brian Ward, speaking about the horrible stuff that the Democrats are doing: "I'm a foreign correspondent on enemy lines and I try to let everyone back here in Minnesota know exactly the nefarious activities that are taking place in Washington." "Steve Benen, Matt Corley,
Posted by Matt Corley, Think Progress at 2:31 PM on March 23, 2009. Fox News' Senior Vice President for Programming admitted that the network is consciously aiming to be "the voice of opposition" to the Obama. Fox News has wasted no time in opposing the Obama administration's agenda. For example, the network has unleashed a steady drum beat of misinformation and propaganda against the Employee Free Choice Act. In fact, when it comes to challenging the Obama administration, Fox News CEO Roger Ailes has compared the network to "the Alamo."
Major media ought to go to some kids' sports games to learn about team play. We are in a mess. Emotions are volatile and the ambience in most places feels and sounds dangerous to our normal way of 'live and let live' life. Meanwhile we have another loose cannon in Michelle Bachman. Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 10:50 AM on March 23, 2009. "Crazy Rep. Michele Bachmann Calls for Armed Revolution" Bachmann appeared over the weekend on the First Team radio show with John Hinderaker and Brian Ward, speaking about the horrible stuff that the Democrats are doing: "I'm a foreign correspondent on enemy lines and I try to let everyone back here in Minnesota know exactly the nefarious activities that are taking place in Washington." "Steve Benen, Matt Corley,
Monday, March 23, 2009
THE RABBLE HAS BEEN ROUSED ENOUGH
There is a new perspective from others I have recently seen on the bail-outs that came from ReasonOnline. While I not infrequently disagree with many writers and find them less than reasonable, in all, the magazine generally challenges one's thinking, thus a good read. Amusingly, it writes: "These days, every politician assumes that because he has a driver's license and an ATM card, he must have all the necessary skills to run an automaker and operate a bank. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, for example, said Detroit should use its bailout money to become "a global, competitive leader in fuel efficiency." It goes on to say, "Of course, some taxpayers feel that members of Congress should forfeit their salaries in years when they fail to balance the budget. But our leaders' contempt for failure applies only to the private sector." The old saw about "Do as I say, not as I do." is what the Congress runs on.
While I have been writing for days at the unfair and naive response by the Congress to the whole Bail-out and Stimulus packages, the Washington Post writes: "After a week of unexpected setbacks for an industry accustomed to deference, bank executives said they were now racing to convince Congress and the Obama administration that imposing punitive taxes on bonuses would unfairly punish thousands of people for the sins of a few. Executives also argued that hitting banks would hurt the broader economy."
Are we to believe that, after the Media frenzy of stirring up the masses by the Media's ignorance of facts, some people who matter are beginning to see the bigger picture?
Meanwhile, all problems are not about money, bonuses or politics. The Space Agency reported: 2:00 PM, 3/22/09, Update: Urine flow problem forces station crew to delay processor test A critical test run using the space station's presumably repaired urine processor system was called off today when the lab crew ran into problems loading the system with stored urine. After several hours of troubleshooting, mission control told station commander Mike Fincke to close the water recovery system rack and call it a day. The troubleshooting steps we just did to try to resolve this problem with the UPA (urine processing assembly) were no joy," Rick Davis called from mission control shortly before 2 p.m. "We are going to stand down from UPA activities for today so that we can get everyone looking at it to come up with some additional ideas." Perhaps the Congress might shut down for a few days to give people with ideas an opportunity to solve the problems in a more productive way than spending all the time trying to find out a person to blame.
Why does a Boston Globe headline seem to me to cheapen the purpose of attending church? Churches vie to be Obamas' spiritual home Will there not be Divine Intervention to make sure the right one is attended?
While I have been writing for days at the unfair and naive response by the Congress to the whole Bail-out and Stimulus packages, the Washington Post writes: "After a week of unexpected setbacks for an industry accustomed to deference, bank executives said they were now racing to convince Congress and the Obama administration that imposing punitive taxes on bonuses would unfairly punish thousands of people for the sins of a few. Executives also argued that hitting banks would hurt the broader economy."
Are we to believe that, after the Media frenzy of stirring up the masses by the Media's ignorance of facts, some people who matter are beginning to see the bigger picture?
Meanwhile, all problems are not about money, bonuses or politics. The Space Agency reported: 2:00 PM, 3/22/09, Update: Urine flow problem forces station crew to delay processor test A critical test run using the space station's presumably repaired urine processor system was called off today when the lab crew ran into problems loading the system with stored urine. After several hours of troubleshooting, mission control told station commander Mike Fincke to close the water recovery system rack and call it a day. The troubleshooting steps we just did to try to resolve this problem with the UPA (urine processing assembly) were no joy," Rick Davis called from mission control shortly before 2 p.m. "We are going to stand down from UPA activities for today so that we can get everyone looking at it to come up with some additional ideas." Perhaps the Congress might shut down for a few days to give people with ideas an opportunity to solve the problems in a more productive way than spending all the time trying to find out a person to blame.
Why does a Boston Globe headline seem to me to cheapen the purpose of attending church? Churches vie to be Obamas' spiritual home Will there not be Divine Intervention to make sure the right one is attended?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
SOME, OTHER THAN MEDIA, ARE BEGINNING TO SEE SHADES OF GRAY
Yesterday I wrote about what may happen when everyone gets lumped in a group whether it fits a single profile or not. Today I read that charities and non-profits which tried to do the right thing and sign up as lobbyists are penalized for having done so. I applaud President Pbama for trying to clean up the disgrace detritus left after the past few years of lobbyists getting more and more powerful and increased in numbers.
AIG is finally taking a risk trying to make a differentiation between its top executives, and their obscene bonuses, and the workers in the company who have no say in policy but are just doing their job...not traders. It is heartening to see that some people see the collateral damage to innocents while the Media just continues on with its feeding frenzy to stir up their viewers and ratings. There seems to be little interest in calming the public down with realities...only firing them up with emotional matches.
While this kind of obfuscation of the real issues by the Media may work with much of the population, we have finally elected a President who, in his own words, can chew gum and walk at the same time. His multiple goals remain clear and he has wisely taken the Show and Tell part of his plan to the public himself. The Media may fuss and criticize but they have done it to themselves. They have forced the President to do his own PR directly with the people since the Media has proven itself to be unreliable for truth and lacking objectivity. He had 200,000,000 viewers while he did not have the cantankerous bullies trying to trip him up as they might have on any of the Media stages with far fewer people watching.
84 year old Maurice (Hank) Greenberg built AIG to the large International company it became. In 2005, he was forced out after an accounting fraud investigation, by then New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, cast a cloud over his leadership. All the criminal charges were eventually dropped, though some civil charges were still unresolved. For more on that, see this. Now we have Greenberg being interviewed while his objectivity is clearly camouflaged. People have already started saying the Obama has failed and the Republicans will gain seats back in the next election. I can only hope the bad losers of 2008 with vote with their logic, not their narcissistic injury for having been wrong, again.
AIG is finally taking a risk trying to make a differentiation between its top executives, and their obscene bonuses, and the workers in the company who have no say in policy but are just doing their job...not traders. It is heartening to see that some people see the collateral damage to innocents while the Media just continues on with its feeding frenzy to stir up their viewers and ratings. There seems to be little interest in calming the public down with realities...only firing them up with emotional matches.
While this kind of obfuscation of the real issues by the Media may work with much of the population, we have finally elected a President who, in his own words, can chew gum and walk at the same time. His multiple goals remain clear and he has wisely taken the Show and Tell part of his plan to the public himself. The Media may fuss and criticize but they have done it to themselves. They have forced the President to do his own PR directly with the people since the Media has proven itself to be unreliable for truth and lacking objectivity. He had 200,000,000 viewers while he did not have the cantankerous bullies trying to trip him up as they might have on any of the Media stages with far fewer people watching.
84 year old Maurice (Hank) Greenberg built AIG to the large International company it became. In 2005, he was forced out after an accounting fraud investigation, by then New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, cast a cloud over his leadership. All the criminal charges were eventually dropped, though some civil charges were still unresolved. For more on that, see this. Now we have Greenberg being interviewed while his objectivity is clearly camouflaged. People have already started saying the Obama has failed and the Republicans will gain seats back in the next election. I can only hope the bad losers of 2008 with vote with their logic, not their narcissistic injury for having been wrong, again.
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