Sunday, October 01, 2017

Welcome October!


12 comments:

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    1. I have problems with this article. One is the pretense that this is somehow "new." There have always been people in this situation, and it was far worse before we had Social Security. Another is that it traces things to moving from pensions to defined-contribution retirement plans. As soon as the concept of lifetime employment went away -- 25-30 years ago -- the idea of a pension became meaningless. And even prior to the late 1980s, there were many, many people who had nothing resembling lifetime employment. In fact, the couple they focus on never did.

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    2. The writer seems to think that pensions were not just common, but even standard or universal in times past.. No, they were highly prized (and in my experience) very unusual job benefits. This is a typical "golden age" or "good old days" fantasy. Just like the New York Times, where the writers often don't know their subject, and the editors are doing something else--maybe planning their three-martini lunches?

      Alan

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    3. *Most* union jobs and some non-union jobs came with pensions. But even in the union heyday of the 1960ss this likely accounted for no more than half the working population.

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  2. An interesting thesis on communications technology. [Click] I suppose that putting bibles into the hands of the masses opened the door to individual interpretations wide.

    Trump is back on SNL! [Click]

    Regularly playing the Star Spangled Banner before professional baseball games began during WWII. [Click] Later in other sports.

    The Coming Software Apocalypse [Click] In case you felt you didn't have enough to worry about…

    --Alan

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  3. Hey, caring friends, our favorite punk Dean blogger, Kimmy Cash Fairbaugh, really needs some hefty good vibes and prayers tonight. She recently had brain surgery that seemed to go well, but now she is back in hospital with some concerning symptoms. Please hold her in your hearts and in the Light as you are able. Kimmy's beloved sister Christy died in hospital years ago of sepsis, so I know she will have much anxiety now. Thanks so much. I will update when I hear more. ✨💖✨

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    1. Update: Kimmy has brain swelling. Please pass this along if you know someone who knew/knows Kimmy and might want to participate:

      Vermonters Liane and listener are collaborating to make Kimmy a blogger and friends quilt. Folks are asked to use a Quilting pen or Sharpie ink and write something loving, encouraging or inspirational to Kimmy on tie dye, batiked or bandana cloth. We'll use 12" x 12" [or 9" x 9" if we get hoardes of these], so please try to contain the art in that space. Send to:

      June Schulte
      42B Packard Road
      Jericho, Vermont 05465

      Thanks so much!! ❤️

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    2. listener, I'm so sorry to hear this. I remember the ordeal of her sister well. It was nightmarish. I want to tell you though that Sharpie will not work on fabric. It will bleed or wash out. You need a Pigma Micron pen or a fabric dye pen.

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    3. Oh, my. I am so sorry to hear that she needed such surgery. For what it is worth, swelling of the brain, albeit not usual, is also not rare; it can generally, as I understand it, be relieved with medicine so the body can heal itself. If medicine is insufficient (Heaven forfend), further measures can be taken.

      Alan

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  4. I have just written to my three Congress members, stating the above.

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  5. He is strengthening Kim's political position. Considering his fondness for dictators, this may be his goal.

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