Centenarians

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Posted by on in Social

I read a piece in Yahoo! yesterday, about a 100-year-old woman who met her natural daughter only six years ago.  The daughter is now 77.  This seems to be a very positive, life-affirming event, for both women, and for their families.

This is one of the many anomalies that have arisen, and will continue to arise, as more and more people reach the century mark.  If you aspire to attain Methuselah status, what are your plans for such an event, and, more importantly, for the time afterward? Some, like George Burns and Bob Hope, just barely crossed the finish line and made it their last race.  Others, like all those who become the Oldest Man/Oldest Woman in the World, or like Frank Buckles and Claude Choules, the two last surviving combat veterans of World War I, (both of whom died last year),have plans for staying in the game and achieving real goals.

If I am so indulged, I want to leave this all behind with my hips swinging and my arms outstretched, in embrace of all that life has to offer, and with an appreciation for what this life has taught me.  As my Penny said, “I want to die with my boots on.”  She did so, when it was her time, though far from the century mark.  I wouldn’t mind going the distance, since her spirit is always around, and I have this thirst for achievement and experience.

Adam vs. The Man

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Posted by on in Social

I had a chance to view this broadcast, online yesterday.  ‘Adam’ promises to be a regular feature on Real Truth network.  The host is a veteran of the Iraq War, and considers himself a Libertarian- neither “right” nor “left”, thus reserving the prerogative of calling out the self-appointed experts of both ideological poles, and those in-between.

He regards everyone from Barack Obama to Sean Hannity as being full of hot air, and has no use for social icons, such as Bill Clinton and Bill O’Reilly.  Adam seems more of a down-to-Earth, let’s have a drink together kind of guy, but is deadly serious about the need for a more intensely people-centered system of government.  He refers to his concept as “Love-olution”.  It is, so far, short on specifics (surprised?) and long on name-calling (SHOCKED?).

Here in righteous land, I will be addressing social and cultural issues, specifically, one at a time.  As with yesterday’s post, “Who Owes Whom?”, I want to be focused on these things, avoid platitudes and not seem dreamy-eyed.  It didn’t work in the ’60’s, and won’t now.

I believe in the power of Millennials (born 1980-1998) and “Generation Wired” (born 1999-present) to act more cohesively, and less self-centered than those who came before them.  They have had plenty of training in attention to detail, even to minutiae, on a minute-by-minute basis.  What is needed along with this skill, however, is patience.  The idea of processes versus events does not come easy to those raised in an age of instantaneous communication and problem-solving,.  The notion of overcoming setbacks comes hard to many who have been raised in a climate of political correctness and inviolable self-esteem.  Hard Knocks is an alien concept, for those raised to act entitled.

So, my challenge to the young Libertarians is this:  Develop a Five-Year Plan, a Ten-Year Plan, for the “Love-olution”.  My son, a young conservative, has lots of ideas for building a society based on empowerment, group cohesion and good, old-fashioned elbow grease.  He is learning patience; learning that a setback or delay does NOT mean, instantly, that someone or some “They” must be to blame.  Put together the best qualities of the rising generations and of those who came before them, and we will actually see a global civilization based on love and harmony, rather than tyranny and division.

Who Owes Whom?

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The Arizona Senate, in its “wisdom”, is actively considering a bill which would require anyone whose mortgage is foreclosed, or whose house is transferred by short sale, to reimburse the lender for any amount over  the sum recouped by said bank. It is said by the bill’s author that this is necessary, in order to not cheat the small investors whom the bank represents. I am among those who are currently short-selling a house.  My mortgage payments went adrift when my late wife and I were dealing with her failing health, and the peripheral expenses that come with day to day living.  We went through bankruptcy, put the house up for short sale, and began waiting.  She passed away ten months ago.  I am still waiting, still in the process, with help from a competent real estate agent. As I stated in an earlier post, I am anticipating being asked to make amends for the difference between the short sale price and the actual mortgage, in the event this bill passes and is signed into law.  I am not a gold-digger, or a leech, and so will work with the “small investors”, as the law requires. I do have a couple of questions, though. 1.  In 2009, the Obama Administration released billions of dollars to several large banks, my mortgage holder among them.  This was to- HELP THE BANKS RECOUP THEIR MORTGAGE LOSSES!  It must have been a drop in the bucket, because now, people are running to their conservative, “Tea Party” politicians, saying they are losing millions of dollars to the feckless, irresponsible foreclosees.  Where did all the money go? 2.  Much of the overage, which State Senator Jack Harper and others want to see come out of our pockets, is due to interest charged at a rate well above 12% APR.    Time was, such an interest rate was usury, forbidden by law as exorbitant.  The question begs answering: How much money does any individual, any corporation, really NEED? I know what many people WANT- as much as they can get!  What do they NEED? Maybe I will hear from thoughtful people about this, instead of the current-“The crazy pinko liberals want to destroy capitalism”.  It was the liberals who gave the banks their 2009 bailouts.  The liberals (I’m NOT one of them, by the way) are not the problem here.

2012

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Posted by on in Personal goals

This is where I can get very real about 2012, and the period immediately following- up to 2020.

I will try my level best to be on WordPress every day.  Since I missed January 1, there will be two posts today.  That’s okay, since the government and the finance industry are calling this “New Year’s Day”, as well.

Here are the first goals that come to mind, for me as an individual this year:

1.  Restructure my financial portfolio, such as it is.  The first step has already been taken- the nest egg is in good hands.  Next, I’m switching from whole life insurance to a mix of  money ops, one of which is, of course, to make sure my survivors can bury me with dignity when the time comes.  Another is seed money, so that I might actually grow enough capital to pay back the people who are supposedly so egregiously wronged by the short sale of my home.  It may not happen quickly enough to satisfy the government of Arizona, but I believe fair is fair.  Besides, I wasn’t brought up to expect handouts without reciprocation. The rest will go to taking care of things like taking the course I need in order to continue teaching and counseling, and getting my passport- for those times when I might like to visit my fellow humans across an artificial border.

2.  Continue to update my family tree, at least on my father’s side.  I want to get in touch with more cousins during the next three months, and join Ancestry.com, to get further along the history train’s earlier tracks.  My uncle got as far as the 1600’s.

3.  Establish Prescott chapters of ChildHelp USA and Stand for Children.  The first organization cares for abused and neglected children.  The second, works on educational issues.

4.  My faith is very central to my being.  I’ve been told, bye the bye, that my assistance is desired on a higher level.  I will keep my time open, in case that actually turns out to be true.

5.  Those who know me, know that travel, the outdoors and human heritage are all very important to me.  These interests will continue to be honoured in 2012.  I’m hoping a cousin of mine will be in Arizona, later this month, and I will join him in Tucson, if so.  Otherwise, I’ll just boogie on down to Arizona’s First City at the end of the month.  Other places await, as the year unfolds.

Hello, World!

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Posted by on in Personal goals

Prescott, AZ-

I am expanding my presence, just a bit.  I hope to put photos on here, as I do on Xanga, but we’ll check it out and see what may be accomplished.

Word is slow to get out, and I have several Xanga friends who are also here.  Xangans tend to be reticent about comments, as I’m sure many have noticed.  I am quite vocal, when I get to people’s sites.  Usually, I like to encourage free and responsible thought.  If you are an unmitigated troll, though, I will not feel quite so nice.