My retirement date is ambiguous. I did my last work for my clients in early February of 2019, but I was theoretically on call for the rest of the year. Turned out, though, that they never needed me. Why did I retire? Because flagging energy made work a chore rather than something I felt good about accomplishing.
I say I'm retired but I have 14 meetings every month that last 1.5 to 2 hours each. I set it up as 2 per day in the first two weeks of the month. Sometimes the day gets shifted, but in general it works out. Still, it's not nothing. And Wil.still runs his home software business. But both end up being part time, which works. I guess all it really means is we pretty much make our own hours. Ha!
I retired at 62 because I was close to crippled after a year of exploding pain in my knees. Turned out later one of my two sisters had a similar flare up at bout the same age. I took early retirement even though it will cost me until I die. I looked into disability, but needed an immediate previous 10 years of social security donations. In my immediate ten years previous, I had started a craft business, gotten through a failed marriage, moved to California, returned and bought my land here, built this house, went home and took care of my mother. The gap was too big to fix. So I took retirement at early as I could. And never ever regretted it.
Ah, Susan. That's the way it ought to be...retire when you want to. I picture you owning a quilt shop, and teaching a few aspiring young people how to sew well.
An older cousin of mine advised me that "when the time comes to retire, you will know it," and she was right. I had no male role models who had quit working before they were physically incapacitated, so retirement is still somewhat mysterious for me. I also had/have the almost life-long compulsion to the good son. My brother is or was (he disappeared several years back) a ne'er-do-well. My better half made it possible for me to work harder and longer than I would have just for myself, but at work it ultimately became obvious that my error rate was increasing because I was more and more easily distracted; the potential results of a mistake that got away were too serious for others. On top of that it was clear that management no longer took my advice, experience, or opinions seriously-- I had become just a paid laborer for them. So it was time. The fact that it happened on April Fools Day was pure coincidence, but my sweetie thought at first that I was joking! All in all, it's pretty good, though. ---Alan [In the California where it's a pretty day and there is no problem with flooding; thin clouds obscure the view of the mountains, and it promises to be warm.]
I remember back in the early days of TFG's maladministration someone maintained that he had restored the reputation of James Buchanan; the still small number of visitors to Buchanan's library had increased. Trump now seems dead set on enhancing Buchanan's reputation.
‘Unless Y’all Are Great Poker Players, You Don’t Know What We’re Doing’
One of the striking aspects of this case, after years of Trump investigations that received copious media attention, is how little we still know about it. Alvin Bragg and his team’s theory of the case is largely still a mystery. What the indictment contains remains a topic of speculation. The DA’s first year in office has been marked by controversy — some having to do with New York city and state politics, some having to do with criticism of the pace with which he was pursuing the Trump cases. TPM’s Hunter Walker looked back at some of that history in a great piece last month. In hindsight, many of the criticisms of Bragg look baseless. Bragg, for his part, says he tries to ignore them.
“I need to be a bit apart from that because I’ve got to execute and prosecute,” Bragg told Hunter early last year.
In February 2022, two top prosecutors on the investigation into Trump’s business practices quit the case, claiming Bragg was reluctant to move forward with it. In fact, as we can see now, the case clearly did move forward. The Times has a piece today looking at how Bragg’s team took apart the work done under his predecessor, Cy Vance, and reassembled it gradually over the course of 2022 and early 2023, largely out of the public eye.
“Unless y’all are great poker players,” Bragg told Times in April 2022, “you don’t know what we’re doing.”
—Alan
Cafe blast in St Petersburg kills military blogger [Click] There seems to be more and more evidence of partisan activity within Russia proper. One can’t help but think of the events around 1917, although it hasn’t yet reached that point.
It could result in him being excluded from the courtroom. Trials in absentia are rare in the US, but they do occur. I think I testified in two--one for sure. ---Alan
I looked it up, and in federal courts the defendant must be present at the beginning of the case. In state courts evidently s/he must waive the right to be present. But that doesn't solve the question of what to do with a misbehaving defendant. Maybe give him a television showing the trial? ---Alan
I located "Guidelines for Controlling the Disruptive Defendant" online (can't figure out the link, but searching for the title should work). Evidently binding and gagging are acceptable, or removal from the court until s/he agrees to behave. It is up to the judge. ----Alan
A Classic Theory About Dinosaur Life May Be Wrong [Click] Some therapods grew large by growing fast for a short time; others grew large by growing slowly for longer. There seem to be ecological differences. Studies are being carried out on other types of animals. —Alan
Alan, congrats on 5 years retired, as of Saturday!
ReplyDeleteToday, Sunday, we are at the 1 year mark.
So far, so good! 😊👍
My retirement date is ambiguous. I did my last work for my clients in early February of 2019, but I was theoretically on call for the rest of the year. Turned out, though, that they never needed me.
DeleteWhy did I retire? Because flagging energy made work a chore rather than something I felt good about accomplishing.
Makes sense to me, Bill.
DeleteI say I'm retired but I have 14 meetings every month that last 1.5 to 2 hours each. I set it up as 2 per day in the first two weeks of the month. Sometimes the day gets shifted, but in general it works out. Still, it's not nothing. And Wil.still runs his home software business. But both end up being part time, which works. I guess all it really means is we pretty much make our own hours. Ha!
DeleteI still pick up a bit of work as a consulting forensic toxicologist.
Delete---Alan
Senator Bernie Sanders hosts first ever Vermont “Youth Chess Day”
ReplyDeletepuddle~
ReplyDeleteI retired at 62 because I was close to crippled after a year of exploding pain in my knees. Turned out later one of my two sisters had a similar flare up at bout the same age. I took early retirement even though it will cost me until I die. I looked into disability, but needed an immediate previous 10 years of social security donations. In my immediate ten years previous, I had started a craft business, gotten through a failed marriage, moved to California, returned and bought my land here, built this house, went home and took care of my mother. The gap was too big to fix. So I took retirement at early as I could. And never ever regretted it.
(Susan) I retired at 55 because I absolutely HATED every job I ever had. I have never regretted it.
DeleteAh, Susan. That's the way it ought to be...retire when you want to.
DeleteI picture you owning a quilt shop, and teaching a few aspiring young people how to sew well.
An older cousin of mine advised me that "when the time comes to retire, you will know it," and she was right. I had no male role models who had quit working before they were physically incapacitated, so retirement is still somewhat mysterious for me. I also had/have the almost life-long compulsion to the good son. My brother is or was (he disappeared several years back) a ne'er-do-well. My better half made it possible for me to work harder and longer than I would have just for myself, but at work it ultimately became obvious that my error rate was increasing because I was more and more easily distracted; the potential results of a mistake that got away were too serious for others. On top of that it was clear that management no longer took my advice, experience, or opinions seriously-- I had become just a paid laborer for them. So it was time. The fact that it happened on April Fools Day was pure coincidence, but my sweetie thought at first that I was joking! All in all, it's pretty good, though.
ReplyDelete---Alan
[In the California where it's a pretty day and there is no problem with flooding; thin clouds obscure the view of the mountains, and it promises to be warm.]
Donald Trump set to speak from Florida after arraignment [Click] If he should be subject to a gag order, things could become interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to be the poor slob charged with enforcing a gag order on that one!
DeleteJust toss him into the dungeon.
Delete---Alan
I remember back in the early days of TFG's maladministration someone maintained that he had restored the reputation of James Buchanan; the still small number of visitors to Buchanan's library had increased. Trump now seems dead set on enhancing Buchanan's reputation.
ReplyDeletePolitical cartoon of the day [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
Via Talking Points memo:
‘Unless Y’all Are Great Poker Players, You Don’t Know What We’re Doing’
One of the striking aspects of this case, after years of Trump investigations that received copious media attention, is how little we still know about it. Alvin Bragg and his team’s theory of the case is largely still a mystery. What the indictment contains remains a topic of speculation.
The DA’s first year in office has been marked by controversy — some having to do with New York city and state politics, some having to do with criticism of the pace with which he was pursuing the Trump cases. TPM’s Hunter Walker looked back at some of that history in a great piece last month. In hindsight, many of the criticisms of Bragg look baseless. Bragg, for his part, says he tries to ignore them.
“I need to be a bit apart from that because I’ve got to execute and prosecute,” Bragg told Hunter early last year.
In February 2022, two top prosecutors on the investigation into Trump’s business practices quit the case, claiming Bragg was reluctant to move forward with it.
In fact, as we can see now, the case clearly did move forward. The Times has a piece today looking at how Bragg’s team took apart the work done under his predecessor, Cy Vance, and reassembled it gradually over the course of 2022 and early 2023, largely out of the public eye.
“Unless y’all are great poker players,” Bragg told Times in April 2022, “you don’t know what we’re doing.”
—Alan
Cafe blast in St Petersburg kills military blogger [Click] There seems to be more and more evidence of partisan activity within Russia proper. One can’t help but think of the events around 1917, although it hasn’t yet reached that point.
‘My country has fallen out of time’: Russian author Mikhail Shishkin’s letter to an unknown Ukrainian [Click]
—Alan
Donald Trump ATTACKS Judge Assigned to Criminal Case Judge Juan Merchan [Click]
—Alan
Somebody, on CNN maybe?, said that DT attacking the judge will come back to haunt him at sentencing. LOL
DeleteIt could result in him being excluded from the courtroom. Trials in absentia are rare in the US, but they do occur. I think I testified in two--one for sure.
Delete---Alan
I looked it up, and in federal courts the defendant must be present at the beginning of the case. In state courts evidently s/he must waive the right to be present. But that doesn't solve the question of what to do with a misbehaving defendant. Maybe give him a television showing the trial?
Delete---Alan
I located "Guidelines for Controlling the Disruptive Defendant" online (can't figure out the link, but searching for the title should work). Evidently binding and gagging are acceptable, or removal from the court until s/he agrees to behave. It is up to the judge.
Delete----Alan
We went for our walk at 3PM; roughly 80% cloud cover, all great big fluffy white cumulus clouds. Reported temperature 69F.
ReplyDelete--Alan
A Classic Theory About Dinosaur Life May Be Wrong [Click] Some therapods grew large by growing fast for a short time; others grew large by growing slowly for longer. There seem to be ecological differences. Studies are being carried out on other types of animals.
ReplyDelete—Alan