Today, miscellaneous observations and thoughts:
I'm very thankful I have, and my family has, healthcare insurance. I'm also glad about my social security income each month. I earned it, at least the first 3-5 years of it. I took it to young, and I'm missing bigger payments, but it helps coming in now.
Healthcare:
Everyone should have access to affordable healthcare, including mental health. Period. I'm lucky. I retired from the state of New Jersey with 39 years pension, in 2008. I had accumulated 25 years before they changed the law in 1997, so I pay no premiums for my HMO/PPOs. Yes, I do make co-pays, but only $10, ridiculously low. My insurance only covers 80% of my psychiatrist visits tho, but I'm not complaining at all, I'm surprised its that much.
I think paying over $400 a month for family coverage like my self-employed friend has, is outrageous. Maybe co-pays of $25 or $35 max would decrease that. I hope the new exchanges improve out-of-pocket costs.
But this brings us squarely into the topic of insurance. The concept is that healthy people's premiums will pay for services not only for them when they need them, but for other "sick" adults and children as well. I don't think so. The high costs of MRI's, CAT scans and other tests, just to diagnose the real problem, as opposed to treating it, are just to high. Tests are among the highest costs in healthcare care right now, especially unnecessary tests. Out of control, because doctors and hospitals make make bigger profit margins on them. We've passed the threshold where premiums cover the services.
Kinda like social security, when we went from every 3 workers paying for 1 collector, now down to 2. Unsustainable. These systems are doomed to failure. New models are needed. I'm meditating on that, just like the unsustainable model of advertising to generate sales; a hit or miss proposition. At least, finally, its becoming more targeted like on Facebook and Google! Show me something I might actually be interested in for God's sake, instead of inane, shotgun based, TV and cable commercials that I watch but could care less about. So many are trite, not even funny like the old Benson & Hedges TV ads, or the Super Bowl half time.
And take social security. If you've paid into SS, and used up all your own contributions into the system, and are solely collecting from the government, why in the world should the government, us taxpayers, pay for your spouse and/or children to receive payments after you die? Your spouse and children didn't earn those benefits! It's not a full retirement plan like a 457, it's a contract you earned from your employer, bolstered by the Feds. It's only one small leg of the retirement stool. And its meant for you, you only to my way of thinking.
But . . . I am sympathetic to the man or woman who was the breadwinner being able to support their non-working spouse, perhaps during child-rearing years. Janet stayed home with our kids and quit her full time teaching job. However, she had many part time jobs during that period, as much to bring home needed income and for the sanity of being around other adults. So I'm saying even the stay-at-home spouse can work part time if the breadwinner has at least a job with normal hours (shouldn't we all). And the State and Feds need to provide much better job training, as do our schools - at all levels. It's not all about an academic college career.
So stay-at-home spouses should also be able to earn SS credits.
Does that mean all employees should be guaranteed pension income of some kind? Absolutely! And that means every American should have a job to boot, and become vested to earn it. At least get the unemployment rate down to a natural turnover of 5% and not 7% or more, which means millions of more people unemployed. Each 1% represents 19 million American working age adults (Wikipedia). And at the very least, as is mostly done, a laid off employee should receive his contributions and matching funds back upon severance, or roll them into another plan.
Hospitals
I like Capital Health, with it's new Hopewell location, and Helene Fuld in Trenton (one of the few left there), and previously Mercer Hospital on Bellevue Avenue in Trenton, now practically closed (because of Hopewell, a better facility). I've been to all three. The emergency room with Janet a few years ago to Hopwell, to three polynoidal cyst operations (for the same cyst) at Mercer, as well as a fractured arm, to psychiatric diagnosis at Helene Fuld. Yes, of course we need hospitals and emergency rooms, and now, the burgeoning emergency clinics/doctors.
My mother even worked at Mercer for years, in maintenance, and I traveled its hidden passageways and elevators first hand when visiting. No yellow, blue, or green dots in the middle of the floor for them. Now there's no dots anywhere, just signs - if you're lucky.
Take Capital Health Hopewell. I've already been there multiple times for doctor's visits (yes, its full of doctors offices, a smart thing), to the maternity ward for friends babies, and recently my Dad's stay, who's now on a ventilator (prayers welcome for the Will of God).
So with no more dots, signs are critical. And what are most critical to me? The men's room and coffee shop. They have a beautiful large cafeteria on the lower level, open late. A coffee shop/bistro on the first floor, and a smaller coffee shop on the second. Great! But the signage? Poor. Hard to know their there, with the large cafeteria called a cafe, something small to my mind.
And some bathrooms are unisex, even when there's two right next to other. I have to ask myself, "What woman wants to go into a bathroom that a man has just used?" Pee all over the toilet and/or seat. And by the way, all toilet seats, everywhere, should have an embedded plastic handle on the side to lift it. I really don't like pulling up the seat from underneath. Nobody should be allowed to sell those seats without the handle.
Another thing, elevators. Signage poor again. Their off to the side and you'd almost miss them. There should be overhead signs, easily visible, Elevators. And, the small signs that are there say "Blue elevators," "Gold elevators," and "Green elevators." What the heck does that mean? What's the difference? They take me up and down don't they? And of course the worst possible signage, no map of the floors for first time visitors. Standing in line for a badge while the receptionist gives long directions to others is very frustrating, especially when I know where I'm going.
And security at Capital Health Hopewell? Non-existent. At the two entrances, Main and Emergency Room, a guard should be posted 24/7. Recently I only saw one at one entrance the five days i was there. A room with cameras with one guard monitoring is not enough for my taste. And besides, even while walking the halls, seeing security has been rare.
So, today, just a few observations, thoughts. Hopefully more coming.
You're experiences with Healthcare/hospitals?
Like you, I've had many ups and downs, and quite a few sideways experiences. I firmly believe everyone should write theirs and share them, whether just for themselves or their kids. Here are some from my memoirs, observations and thoughts.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
The Joy of NJ Auto Inspections
If you live in New Jersey and own a car, you must have that car or van or small truck inspected. I just got back from my inspection on my 2008 Honda Civic. It was actually due by july 31st, but I hadn't noticed til yesterday, and I had time today so I went at 8:30 this morning to Baker's Basin DMV. It has an administration building to get licenses and registrations, take driving exams etc. It also has an inspection station. First of all, I knew better than to take my car in during the last five
days of the month, or the first five days of the new month, so I could avoid all
the last minute drivers/inspections which backed up the waiting lines
horribly. Whether 1, 2, or 3 lanes are open when you do go, is critical to how much total time you need to spend there. Good time to bring a newspaper or check your cellphone messages.
Let me tell you, today's 2013 car inspections are nothing, nothing like they were fifteen years ago.
Let me explain:
In 1998 or earlier, annual inspection was required. After waiting a half hour or longer in line, I'd pull my car inside the building to the first segment, "Documents." Incorrect document? No document? Automatic failure. I stayed in the car, engine running. First, "Window wipers please." I'd turn 'em on. Don't work or one broken? Automatic failure. Second, waist-high convex mirrors were set up at both ends of the car, "Turn on your left blinker please," then the right. "Hit your breaks please." Each time a glance in the mirrors would tell if the lights were working or not. If not? Automatic failure.
Then, "Pull up until your tires hit the depression," a concave depression in the concrete, easily found. The same inspector would push a lever, and the front end would be lifted a foot off the ground by a pneumatic lifter. The inspector would go around to each front wheel, and shake it vigorously. If there was something wrong with the front end, or linkages, he would know, and, "automatic failure." The lift would go down, and he'd say "Headlights please." He'd wheel a metal contraption that's ten feet away, into the path of the headlights. Each end of this contraption sensed whether the headlight was in alignment. If not, it failed.
Then the hose came out, was stuck up the tailpipe, and emissions were automatically sensed and measured. Too high? Automatic failure. Then "Step out of the car please and proceed to the waiting area," which I'd do. He'd hop in the car and pump the gas peddle, revving the engine, looking for visible smoke. Is there some? Automatic failure. All the time the engine's been running.
For the next segment, another inspector would take over, get in the car, speed up down the line, and drive over raised pads in the floor, braking hard. He'd look over at the extra large computer screen and see red bars indicating the levels of each of the wheel brakes. Too low? Automatic failure. Then he'd pull the car up so the rear wheel (front wheels?) where exactly placed onto two large rotating bars, responsive to tire speed; he'd gun the engine, wheels spinning faster, then stopping. He'd look over at a computer screen for . . . some indicator. Not okay? Fail. This I believe was the infamous Parson's system, or one of them. Parson's was one of the largest contracts in NJ history, to supply equipment and technology to all the inspection stations. Lots of controversy and customer complaints.
After that, he'd pull up to the good-sized booth, where the last inspector either put a new sticker on your windshield, or handed you the paper with the failure results. Meaning, don't come back until they're repaired, within 30 days. By this time NJ law allowed regular gas stations to fix the problem and perform this re-inspectiion, and give you a passing sticker, for a fee, like 25 bucks. All well and good. Having to go thru this every year mind you. Mine and my wife's cars passed, or I took them to Bruce Robinson's gas station, our longtime trusted mechanic, and he would fix the problem and re-inspect. Problem solved.
Compare that to the inspection I just had this morning, August 14, 2013.
Documents? Check. Mirrors to check lights? Gone, not there, not checked. Check windshield wipers? No. Check front end for mechanical problems? No, gone. Use headlight contraption to check headlight alignments? No, gone. Check emissions with hose and computer? Yes, the same. Maybe they check for visible smoke then also. Speed the car down the lane and hit raised pads to check braking functions? No, gone. Drive wheels onto a different contraption with free spinning metal bars? No, gone. Stop at another computer, plug a cable into the car's electronic brain and check something? Yes, this is new. Drive car to booth and get sticker? Yes, the same. And I got a two-year sticker to boot, no more annual inspections.
Other changes? Fewer inspectors. The documents guy checks two adjacent lanes. One other inspector per lane does all the rest, even to putting the new sticker in.
Still, the car is running the whole time. I hope the inspectors get hazard pay for breathing the noxious fumes. Other than that? They don't nearly make enough, wouldn't you say?
Does that make you feel any better about the condition of other cars on the roads in New Jersey, and how safe they really are?
Well, I don't want this to sound all bad. Of course newer cars are intrinsically safer, electronically and mechanically. New materials, new alloys, complex operating and fuel systems, indicators for tire pressure, oil life and everything else. And annual inspections probably stopped in 2000. In fact brand new cars get an automatic 3 or 5 year pass.
But, I wanted you to know what's missing.
by Rodney Richards
Let me tell you, today's 2013 car inspections are nothing, nothing like they were fifteen years ago.
Let me explain:
In 1998 or earlier, annual inspection was required. After waiting a half hour or longer in line, I'd pull my car inside the building to the first segment, "Documents." Incorrect document? No document? Automatic failure. I stayed in the car, engine running. First, "Window wipers please." I'd turn 'em on. Don't work or one broken? Automatic failure. Second, waist-high convex mirrors were set up at both ends of the car, "Turn on your left blinker please," then the right. "Hit your breaks please." Each time a glance in the mirrors would tell if the lights were working or not. If not? Automatic failure.
Then, "Pull up until your tires hit the depression," a concave depression in the concrete, easily found. The same inspector would push a lever, and the front end would be lifted a foot off the ground by a pneumatic lifter. The inspector would go around to each front wheel, and shake it vigorously. If there was something wrong with the front end, or linkages, he would know, and, "automatic failure." The lift would go down, and he'd say "Headlights please." He'd wheel a metal contraption that's ten feet away, into the path of the headlights. Each end of this contraption sensed whether the headlight was in alignment. If not, it failed.
Then the hose came out, was stuck up the tailpipe, and emissions were automatically sensed and measured. Too high? Automatic failure. Then "Step out of the car please and proceed to the waiting area," which I'd do. He'd hop in the car and pump the gas peddle, revving the engine, looking for visible smoke. Is there some? Automatic failure. All the time the engine's been running.
For the next segment, another inspector would take over, get in the car, speed up down the line, and drive over raised pads in the floor, braking hard. He'd look over at the extra large computer screen and see red bars indicating the levels of each of the wheel brakes. Too low? Automatic failure. Then he'd pull the car up so the rear wheel (front wheels?) where exactly placed onto two large rotating bars, responsive to tire speed; he'd gun the engine, wheels spinning faster, then stopping. He'd look over at a computer screen for . . . some indicator. Not okay? Fail. This I believe was the infamous Parson's system, or one of them. Parson's was one of the largest contracts in NJ history, to supply equipment and technology to all the inspection stations. Lots of controversy and customer complaints.
After that, he'd pull up to the good-sized booth, where the last inspector either put a new sticker on your windshield, or handed you the paper with the failure results. Meaning, don't come back until they're repaired, within 30 days. By this time NJ law allowed regular gas stations to fix the problem and perform this re-inspectiion, and give you a passing sticker, for a fee, like 25 bucks. All well and good. Having to go thru this every year mind you. Mine and my wife's cars passed, or I took them to Bruce Robinson's gas station, our longtime trusted mechanic, and he would fix the problem and re-inspect. Problem solved.
Compare that to the inspection I just had this morning, August 14, 2013.
Documents? Check. Mirrors to check lights? Gone, not there, not checked. Check windshield wipers? No. Check front end for mechanical problems? No, gone. Use headlight contraption to check headlight alignments? No, gone. Check emissions with hose and computer? Yes, the same. Maybe they check for visible smoke then also. Speed the car down the lane and hit raised pads to check braking functions? No, gone. Drive wheels onto a different contraption with free spinning metal bars? No, gone. Stop at another computer, plug a cable into the car's electronic brain and check something? Yes, this is new. Drive car to booth and get sticker? Yes, the same. And I got a two-year sticker to boot, no more annual inspections.
Other changes? Fewer inspectors. The documents guy checks two adjacent lanes. One other inspector per lane does all the rest, even to putting the new sticker in.
Still, the car is running the whole time. I hope the inspectors get hazard pay for breathing the noxious fumes. Other than that? They don't nearly make enough, wouldn't you say?
Does that make you feel any better about the condition of other cars on the roads in New Jersey, and how safe they really are?
Well, I don't want this to sound all bad. Of course newer cars are intrinsically safer, electronically and mechanically. New materials, new alloys, complex operating and fuel systems, indicators for tire pressure, oil life and everything else. And annual inspections probably stopped in 2000. In fact brand new cars get an automatic 3 or 5 year pass.
But, I wanted you to know what's missing.
by Rodney Richards
The Joy of Car Problems: Part one
No one likes car trouble, but it hits all of us sometimes. Whether a flat tire (Janet gets one per year), or a blown engine rod in our '66 Chevy Nova in 1973. Its a testimony to most guys it seems, that we learn to change tires, and somehow extricate ourselves from breakdowns on strange, rural roads, and learn to make other car repairs, change plugs or oil etc. Easy in the old days. Being a guy, and married, I've always been expected, and rightly so, to take care of our cars, even my daughter's. Luckily son Jesse doesn't own a car, living in Manhattan, or I'd be responsible for that also. But i don't mind (grumbling). One secret we stumbled upon? Buying more reliable cars, like Hondas and Toyotas, helps, even tho they cost more, comparing feature to feature. Fewer /no breakdowns, and minor repairs depending on age. After 10 years its always better to get rid of any car. But back then our cars were older.
I'm 63 now, been driving since I got my license at sixteen in California in a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, a big unmanageable boat. Even drove over a curb during my driver's test. Passed anyway. Traded license in for a Jersey one when I was eighteen (no driving test, just written). So I/we, my wife Janet of 42 years, have owned almost two dozen cars between us. Here's some highlights:
January 1967. My dad unexpectently, and sadly, trades in the '57 Chevy for a new two-door Subaru, its first year in the states from Japan. Two stroke engine requiring oil mixture. Max speed on fast California freeways? 60 mph, and you felt it, and trucks almost pushed the car off the road it was so small. But no engine problems, no flat tires, only body damage. Body damage from when I opened my driver's side door one night traveling down the highway because it wasn't closed all the way. normally not a problem. But I forgot. Because the door opened forwards and outwards, the opposite of 99% of cars, when I opened the door the wind caught it, flung it back into the car body, denting it and the door significantly. My dad was lying drunk in the passenger's seat when it happened, passed out. I never told him I did it, letting him think it was from a hit and run in the bar parking lot where I had picked him up that night. And gas mileage was great in that little car!
Summer 1969. With my girlfriend Janet's help on her State farm Insurance, I/we buy Rosy Badi, a red and white 1963 VW bus with canvas rollback top, and windows around the perimeter. Top speed? 50 mph. In winter, freezing because the heater was terrible anyway, and there were holes in the floorboards letting rushing cold air in. But a really fun vehicle when we packed our friends in and drove from one Baha'i fireside to another. I only had to replace the rebuilt alternator on it, myself, 'cause we couldn't afford dealer/mechanic'c bill.
Circa 1972, a new car, only two years old. after we've married. Janet needs super reliable transportation to her teaching job in Hamilton, sixteen miles away. It wasn't. Forest green VW Wagon, automatic on the floor. Their first attempt at automatics I believe, because you still had to shift at certain points. Car ran like a top, only two problems. Coming home from anywhere to our three room Hopewll Boro NJ apartment, basically had to pull nose forward into our parking spot. In cold weather, it would start up great, but, the gearshift would not go into reverse to back down the driveway. Absolutely would not! "Damn you! Damn you! Smash, smash, smash" I would pummel the gear shifter, ultimately it worked, but for no rhyme or reason. Other seasons? Fine. Mechanics could not fix it. Lived with it. That meant me getting up earlier, starting the VW up in the freezing cold, somehow getting it in gear, and moving it so Janet could hop in and drive to work. Once transmission warmed up it was fine all day.
Then one day, driving east on Carter Road toward Hamilton, a buck strikes Janet's passenger side while going 50 mph. Car totalled. Janet's only accident since 1972 to 2013. stupidly, we took insurance money and had it repaired at Tom's Auto Body on Route 18. Don't ask me why, probably not emnough to buy a decent alternate car with. No memory of how much longer we kept that Wagon.
Circa 1973-1976 my Chevy Impala. Year 1965, gold color, perfect condition. Magnesium wheels, five spokes. Interior black upholstery, like leather. Bucket seats. Four-on-the-four shifter with hard to push clutch. Almost to hard for Janet to push the few times she had to drive it. 327 hp engine under the wide, wide hood. Cost to me used? No more than $1,000. Loved that car! Could burn rubber in first and second gears, and did. Big and fast. Clutch went. Sat on blocks in our driveway for weeks, me reading up on how to replace it myself, but gave up, and sold it for a few hundred dollars "As is." Along with the '57 Bel Air, still miss that car.
More cars to follow.
So, in America, its rare to stick with one car, it always get replaced. What was your "first car?' Favorite car? Let me know.
by Rodney Richards
I'm 63 now, been driving since I got my license at sixteen in California in a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, a big unmanageable boat. Even drove over a curb during my driver's test. Passed anyway. Traded license in for a Jersey one when I was eighteen (no driving test, just written). So I/we, my wife Janet of 42 years, have owned almost two dozen cars between us. Here's some highlights:
January 1967. My dad unexpectently, and sadly, trades in the '57 Chevy for a new two-door Subaru, its first year in the states from Japan. Two stroke engine requiring oil mixture. Max speed on fast California freeways? 60 mph, and you felt it, and trucks almost pushed the car off the road it was so small. But no engine problems, no flat tires, only body damage. Body damage from when I opened my driver's side door one night traveling down the highway because it wasn't closed all the way. normally not a problem. But I forgot. Because the door opened forwards and outwards, the opposite of 99% of cars, when I opened the door the wind caught it, flung it back into the car body, denting it and the door significantly. My dad was lying drunk in the passenger's seat when it happened, passed out. I never told him I did it, letting him think it was from a hit and run in the bar parking lot where I had picked him up that night. And gas mileage was great in that little car!
Summer 1969. With my girlfriend Janet's help on her State farm Insurance, I/we buy Rosy Badi, a red and white 1963 VW bus with canvas rollback top, and windows around the perimeter. Top speed? 50 mph. In winter, freezing because the heater was terrible anyway, and there were holes in the floorboards letting rushing cold air in. But a really fun vehicle when we packed our friends in and drove from one Baha'i fireside to another. I only had to replace the rebuilt alternator on it, myself, 'cause we couldn't afford dealer/mechanic'c bill.
Circa 1972, a new car, only two years old. after we've married. Janet needs super reliable transportation to her teaching job in Hamilton, sixteen miles away. It wasn't. Forest green VW Wagon, automatic on the floor. Their first attempt at automatics I believe, because you still had to shift at certain points. Car ran like a top, only two problems. Coming home from anywhere to our three room Hopewll Boro NJ apartment, basically had to pull nose forward into our parking spot. In cold weather, it would start up great, but, the gearshift would not go into reverse to back down the driveway. Absolutely would not! "Damn you! Damn you! Smash, smash, smash" I would pummel the gear shifter, ultimately it worked, but for no rhyme or reason. Other seasons? Fine. Mechanics could not fix it. Lived with it. That meant me getting up earlier, starting the VW up in the freezing cold, somehow getting it in gear, and moving it so Janet could hop in and drive to work. Once transmission warmed up it was fine all day.
Then one day, driving east on Carter Road toward Hamilton, a buck strikes Janet's passenger side while going 50 mph. Car totalled. Janet's only accident since 1972 to 2013. stupidly, we took insurance money and had it repaired at Tom's Auto Body on Route 18. Don't ask me why, probably not emnough to buy a decent alternate car with. No memory of how much longer we kept that Wagon.
Circa 1973-1976 my Chevy Impala. Year 1965, gold color, perfect condition. Magnesium wheels, five spokes. Interior black upholstery, like leather. Bucket seats. Four-on-the-four shifter with hard to push clutch. Almost to hard for Janet to push the few times she had to drive it. 327 hp engine under the wide, wide hood. Cost to me used? No more than $1,000. Loved that car! Could burn rubber in first and second gears, and did. Big and fast. Clutch went. Sat on blocks in our driveway for weeks, me reading up on how to replace it myself, but gave up, and sold it for a few hundred dollars "As is." Along with the '57 Bel Air, still miss that car.
More cars to follow.
So, in America, its rare to stick with one car, it always get replaced. What was your "first car?' Favorite car? Let me know.
by Rodney Richards
Friday, August 9, 2013
The Joy of Risk Avoidance
(I wax philosophical today)
WHYY/NPR guest this morning, "We're moving towards utopian risk avoidance." Yes, it seems that way. Billions of dollars spent on risk avoidance, not just by the U.S. Government closing 19 embassies in the Middle East based on intelligence of a terrorist attack, and not just by insurance companies, intent on limiting the perils they insure against, and their payouts.
How do you avoid terrorist attacks? How do you insure against hurricanes, or tornados, or forest fires, or floods, and much more? They are "unforeseen." Over 127 countries have experienced terrorist attacks since 2001. Just like you or I could die of a heart attack at any moment. Over 597,000 died from heart disease in 2010 in the U.S. alone.
"Utopian" means "founded upon or involving idealized perfection."
Governments would like no risk. Companies want no risk. Investors want high yields with no risk.
Ideally. They work hard at that. Limiting their exposure as much as possible, as much as citizens will pay for it, like border fences, policyholders will pay higher premiums for extra endorsements, investors will buy preferred stock.
We'd all like to lower risk - rob a bank and not get caught, have a good job and not get laid off, or retire with a guaranteed pension for life. Not get struck from behind while stopped at a traffic light. Not have a child with learning disabilities, for their sake, although we love them just as much.
But life, living, is risk. Taking risks. Surrounded by risks. Drowning in risks. Some avoidable? Yes, if we can ameliorate them thru a study of history, facts and trends, even inferences. Most are not avoidable, like a sudden electrical fire in your new home.
Fate? Must we all live with innumerable, uncontrollable risks? What's the greatest risk? To hundreds of millions its leaving this world without having the last rights - without a last confession and lasting forgiveness. Can a human being even forgive sins? Millions do, because hundreds of millions believe. They've decreased their risk of going to . . . hell. Their soul going to hell.
What if there is no physical or spiritual place . . . hell? What if the afterlife is a continuum, a never ending journey, a never ending journey of atoning for one's ill deeds. And what if, on the balance, you led a good life? Were of service to your employer, your community, neighbors and friends? Cared for, loved, and provided for your family? Wouldn't those good deeds overwhelm and completely obliterate your bad ones? What a thought! Judged solely by our deeds.
Judged by them in this life as well. Laws. Order. Society. Community. Family.
For good laws and lives, morals are needed. Fairness is needed. Equity and ethics are needed. Learning those, assimilating those, performing those, the risk of going to hell is obliterated. A never ending journey on the continuum toward the light, toward wholeness and goodness, and love. Embracing our loved ones in the next world also.
Just trying to be as good as we can be means that when these catastrophes fall upon us, and they will, we rise above them, we carry on, we build anew. We are assisted. We are thankful for the assistance.
Service to the world of humanity is a worthy goal to set before our eyes then. Deeds, not words. Not a utopian, never reached ideal. Reality. Here and now.
Gandhi said, "be the change you wish to see in the world"
By Rodney Richards
WHYY/NPR guest this morning, "We're moving towards utopian risk avoidance." Yes, it seems that way. Billions of dollars spent on risk avoidance, not just by the U.S. Government closing 19 embassies in the Middle East based on intelligence of a terrorist attack, and not just by insurance companies, intent on limiting the perils they insure against, and their payouts.
How do you avoid terrorist attacks? How do you insure against hurricanes, or tornados, or forest fires, or floods, and much more? They are "unforeseen." Over 127 countries have experienced terrorist attacks since 2001. Just like you or I could die of a heart attack at any moment. Over 597,000 died from heart disease in 2010 in the U.S. alone.
"Utopian" means "founded upon or involving idealized perfection."
Governments would like no risk. Companies want no risk. Investors want high yields with no risk.
Ideally. They work hard at that. Limiting their exposure as much as possible, as much as citizens will pay for it, like border fences, policyholders will pay higher premiums for extra endorsements, investors will buy preferred stock.
We'd all like to lower risk - rob a bank and not get caught, have a good job and not get laid off, or retire with a guaranteed pension for life. Not get struck from behind while stopped at a traffic light. Not have a child with learning disabilities, for their sake, although we love them just as much.
But life, living, is risk. Taking risks. Surrounded by risks. Drowning in risks. Some avoidable? Yes, if we can ameliorate them thru a study of history, facts and trends, even inferences. Most are not avoidable, like a sudden electrical fire in your new home.
Fate? Must we all live with innumerable, uncontrollable risks? What's the greatest risk? To hundreds of millions its leaving this world without having the last rights - without a last confession and lasting forgiveness. Can a human being even forgive sins? Millions do, because hundreds of millions believe. They've decreased their risk of going to . . . hell. Their soul going to hell.
What if there is no physical or spiritual place . . . hell? What if the afterlife is a continuum, a never ending journey, a never ending journey of atoning for one's ill deeds. And what if, on the balance, you led a good life? Were of service to your employer, your community, neighbors and friends? Cared for, loved, and provided for your family? Wouldn't those good deeds overwhelm and completely obliterate your bad ones? What a thought! Judged solely by our deeds.
Judged by them in this life as well. Laws. Order. Society. Community. Family.
For good laws and lives, morals are needed. Fairness is needed. Equity and ethics are needed. Learning those, assimilating those, performing those, the risk of going to hell is obliterated. A never ending journey on the continuum toward the light, toward wholeness and goodness, and love. Embracing our loved ones in the next world also.
Just trying to be as good as we can be means that when these catastrophes fall upon us, and they will, we rise above them, we carry on, we build anew. We are assisted. We are thankful for the assistance.
Service to the world of humanity is a worthy goal to set before our eyes then. Deeds, not words. Not a utopian, never reached ideal. Reality. Here and now.
Gandhi said, "be the change you wish to see in the world"
By Rodney Richards
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
The Joy of Awareness
The night before, putting out the trash for curbside pickup the next morning. Sleeping. Waking at 3 a.m. for first cigarette, outside. Going to throw butt in trash can on the side of the house, forgetting the full one is by our curb. Walking to car and throwing butt in full trash can on the way. Driving to Dunkin. Closed. Forgot they're undergoing renovations for two weeks. Did the same thing the night before. Backtracking to 7/11 for coffee, not bad coffee. Same price as Dunkin this early in the morning. Usually it's $1.63 at Dunkin inclusive of my senior discount. But early morning clerks there don't know how to ring up "Senior discount please," so they charge me for a small altho its a medium. Same price as 7/11, $1.49.
Getting home, typing on computer for an hour drinking my hot coffee. Coffee dregs lukewarm, so walk upstairs to throw cup away in outside trash cans by the house and have another smoke. Forgetting that this morning they're down by the curb. Remembering as I look down into empty trash can by house. Walking to front porch and sit, finishing smoke. Forgetting to sit on bench near garage, much closer. Get up to throw butt and coffee cup into trash by the house. Forget full trash can by the curb. Walking down driveway, throwing them in.
An hour later, going outside, lighting up again. Start walking to side of the house to toss butt before remembering full trash can by curb. Walking down driveway again to throw butt away, then back into the house. Begin writing this blog.. . . .
Now, a normal person, an aware person, would do the following:
Waking at 3 a.m. and having first cigarette. Throwing butt away in trash can by curb on way out for coffee. Driving to 7/11, remembering Dunkin closed. Getting medium hot coffee with half-and-half and two Sweet-n-Lows for $1.49, same price as Dunkin, not bad. Driving home, typing some more, drinking coffee. Getting up to throw lukewarm dregs out (I only like hot coffee). Set coffee cup next to me on bench by garage. Have second cigarette. Empty dregs on grass as I walk to trash can by curb and throw out butt and cup.
An hour passes. Light up second cigarette outside, sit on bench enjoying it, craving it. Get up, toss butt in trash by the curb. Back into the house, the basement computer, to write this blog . . . .
Does this sound familiar to you? (Not the smoking I hope) Which scenario are you most likely to perform? How old are you? I'm 63. Is it Alzheimer's? Short term memory loss? But I've always been this way.
How do I change? How do I remember better? Or is this a male thing? What's wrong with me? My long term visual memory is fine. Is it because I'm a visual learner and not an oral learner?
Janet doesn't operate like me, forgetting. She never forgets. Always purposeful, planned, aware, whether having seen OR heard something. Hates remembering for me to. Hates it when I ask "What's going on tonite?" when she told me thirty seconds earlier. It's not fair to her. I absolutely must look at the calendar first thing in the morning; it's all there, all appointments, family outings and meetings. But I forget. As if its all unimportant . . . .
Pay attention! Is that too much to ask after 42 years of marriage?
By Rodney Richards, NJ
Getting home, typing on computer for an hour drinking my hot coffee. Coffee dregs lukewarm, so walk upstairs to throw cup away in outside trash cans by the house and have another smoke. Forgetting that this morning they're down by the curb. Remembering as I look down into empty trash can by house. Walking to front porch and sit, finishing smoke. Forgetting to sit on bench near garage, much closer. Get up to throw butt and coffee cup into trash by the house. Forget full trash can by the curb. Walking down driveway, throwing them in.
An hour later, going outside, lighting up again. Start walking to side of the house to toss butt before remembering full trash can by curb. Walking down driveway again to throw butt away, then back into the house. Begin writing this blog.. . . .
Now, a normal person, an aware person, would do the following:
Waking at 3 a.m. and having first cigarette. Throwing butt away in trash can by curb on way out for coffee. Driving to 7/11, remembering Dunkin closed. Getting medium hot coffee with half-and-half and two Sweet-n-Lows for $1.49, same price as Dunkin, not bad. Driving home, typing some more, drinking coffee. Getting up to throw lukewarm dregs out (I only like hot coffee). Set coffee cup next to me on bench by garage. Have second cigarette. Empty dregs on grass as I walk to trash can by curb and throw out butt and cup.
An hour passes. Light up second cigarette outside, sit on bench enjoying it, craving it. Get up, toss butt in trash by the curb. Back into the house, the basement computer, to write this blog . . . .
Does this sound familiar to you? (Not the smoking I hope) Which scenario are you most likely to perform? How old are you? I'm 63. Is it Alzheimer's? Short term memory loss? But I've always been this way.
How do I change? How do I remember better? Or is this a male thing? What's wrong with me? My long term visual memory is fine. Is it because I'm a visual learner and not an oral learner?
Janet doesn't operate like me, forgetting. She never forgets. Always purposeful, planned, aware, whether having seen OR heard something. Hates remembering for me to. Hates it when I ask "What's going on tonite?" when she told me thirty seconds earlier. It's not fair to her. I absolutely must look at the calendar first thing in the morning; it's all there, all appointments, family outings and meetings. But I forget. As if its all unimportant . . . .
Pay attention! Is that too much to ask after 42 years of marriage?
By Rodney Richards, NJ
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The Joy of Could Be
It could be that . . .
Coffee at 7-11 at 2 a.m. was fresh, not mud.
ATMs only charged $1 instead of $2.50, if not your bank.
Education is universally recognized and respected as the highest profession.
Teachers were respected and paid better, not laid off when they got their Masters Degree.
Every single job had a sheet of duties and responsibilities given to the employee prior to being hired or promoted.
"A Chance to Win an . . . Ipod, Cash, a trip etc." told you the odds of winning before entering.
American laws at the local ordinance, State and Federal levels, were categorized by subject, written in English, simplified and easy to understand, and available on the web. (There are more than 40,000 laws I've heard).
Every municipality and government organization has a website, in fact every company, non-profit etc. all have one too. Governmental semi-detailed budgets are shown online before being passed.
You can review/print dated vendor Terms and Conditions before "Accepting" them.
New bills (potential laws at every level of government) were put up on the web first, as NJ does at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/bills0001.asp
No more "Free trials" that require you to "automatically" pay within 14 days, i.e. give your credit card info. "Free" means 100% free. (Smart companies are doing this with an "Opt-in" later.)
All, I mean all, purchases showing the words "One Time Charge," or "Recurring Charge" next to every purchase transaction, retail or online, wherever.
Every business accepting cash or credit cards showing the order cost before the purchase, like cash registers do. This can be printable or saved, automatically cancelled in ten days if no action.
Every purchase must give, have, a written receipt, printable at the time of the transaction if online, followed by an email copy, and must have a case or order number and be tracked/trackable printed on the reciept.
More cars had pinstripes from the factory (I like them).
Mankind and society recognize the sacredness of the sperm impregnating the egg: science and all religions (I think), recognize life begins at conception, but society is not yet organized enough to provide universal, easy and careful adoptions or healthy and loving baby/child care.
Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues and is taught from from an early age at home and in every classroom.
A courteous and honest, hardworking and peaceful child/youth/adult is more valued by society than fancy education and wealth.
Everyone has enough wealth to live a peaceful life with gainful employment; home/apartment, food, education, clothing and the necessities of life like clean water and air.
We attack, now, our greatest problems -- poverty; poor food supplies and overfishing, waste; lack of adequate dental and health care; and climate change.
Defense spending is cut so that money is available for natural disasters like fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, mud slides, droughts, tsunamis and others.
All men held doors open for females or children.
Those who voted more than once or twice to repeal the Affordable Care Act are stripped of their free health benefits.
Anyone receiving a pension must be vested at least ten years, including politicians and political appointees (judges etc.) and its illegal to fire someone (without valid cause), close to being vested unless company goes out of business, or government goes bankrupt. Even then, everyone pays a few dollars into Social Security and gets that and partial retirement income from years served and wages paid in, even if lump sum.
Luxury taxes are paid on anything over $50k, and no inheritance tax on anything under $500k, but tiered taxes after that not to exceed 10% to social services/the government.
What are some of your "Could be's?"
By Rodney Richards, NJ
Coffee at 7-11 at 2 a.m. was fresh, not mud.
ATMs only charged $1 instead of $2.50, if not your bank.
Education is universally recognized and respected as the highest profession.
Teachers were respected and paid better, not laid off when they got their Masters Degree.
Every single job had a sheet of duties and responsibilities given to the employee prior to being hired or promoted.
"A Chance to Win an . . . Ipod, Cash, a trip etc." told you the odds of winning before entering.
American laws at the local ordinance, State and Federal levels, were categorized by subject, written in English, simplified and easy to understand, and available on the web. (There are more than 40,000 laws I've heard).
Every municipality and government organization has a website, in fact every company, non-profit etc. all have one too. Governmental semi-detailed budgets are shown online before being passed.
You can review/print dated vendor Terms and Conditions before "Accepting" them.
New bills (potential laws at every level of government) were put up on the web first, as NJ does at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/bills0001.asp
No more "Free trials" that require you to "automatically" pay within 14 days, i.e. give your credit card info. "Free" means 100% free. (Smart companies are doing this with an "Opt-in" later.)
All, I mean all, purchases showing the words "One Time Charge," or "Recurring Charge" next to every purchase transaction, retail or online, wherever.
Every business accepting cash or credit cards showing the order cost before the purchase, like cash registers do. This can be printable or saved, automatically cancelled in ten days if no action.
Every purchase must give, have, a written receipt, printable at the time of the transaction if online, followed by an email copy, and must have a case or order number and be tracked/trackable printed on the reciept.
More cars had pinstripes from the factory (I like them).
Mankind and society recognize the sacredness of the sperm impregnating the egg: science and all religions (I think), recognize life begins at conception, but society is not yet organized enough to provide universal, easy and careful adoptions or healthy and loving baby/child care.
Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues and is taught from from an early age at home and in every classroom.
A courteous and honest, hardworking and peaceful child/youth/adult is more valued by society than fancy education and wealth.
Everyone has enough wealth to live a peaceful life with gainful employment; home/apartment, food, education, clothing and the necessities of life like clean water and air.
We attack, now, our greatest problems -- poverty; poor food supplies and overfishing, waste; lack of adequate dental and health care; and climate change.
Defense spending is cut so that money is available for natural disasters like fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, mud slides, droughts, tsunamis and others.
All men held doors open for females or children.
Those who voted more than once or twice to repeal the Affordable Care Act are stripped of their free health benefits.
Anyone receiving a pension must be vested at least ten years, including politicians and political appointees (judges etc.) and its illegal to fire someone (without valid cause), close to being vested unless company goes out of business, or government goes bankrupt. Even then, everyone pays a few dollars into Social Security and gets that and partial retirement income from years served and wages paid in, even if lump sum.
Luxury taxes are paid on anything over $50k, and no inheritance tax on anything under $500k, but tiered taxes after that not to exceed 10% to social services/the government.
What are some of your "Could be's?"
By Rodney Richards, NJ
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