Work and the Diminutiveness of Aging

Diminutive. It is the word that rolled around in my mind today as I was at work. The diminutiveness of my soul, or so it felt. Working in a job which I did 25 years ago for about the same pay. A women- the same age, 56, stopped by my desk and proceeded to tell me how important it was to wear makeup and always dress nice, even at Publix. Because age discredits us-whether we are competent or not-especially if we are competent-because our appearance is now the judging factor-and looking older is a mark against us-so always wear make up and nice clothes-never step out in sweats, or casual clothes. Look professional. Even at Wal Mart.

I ponder that advice. After having worked many years for both Masters degrees, running an agency, well actually more than one, and returning to school at age 39 to get a teaching degree in elementary education.

I consider how simple the judgement is made by looking at the wrinkles on my face, and the stoutness gained in my fifties. It seems the stereotypes offered to me are the Helen Gurley Brown, death mask of botox or the grandma wrinkles, which might make me employable at a daycare.

I observe the age old process of reinventing the wheel, and considering it new-something which occurs -an evolutionary process, repeating over and over again. The bright young minds with the new suggestions which have already been suggested, and yes, they are good suggestions, and for some reason over the past fifty years, someone considers these same ideas, not good. So often not tried.

My silence allows me to watch the assumptions of younger adults-those assumptions considering me old and out of ideas. I have learned, by presenting these ideas, it is the younger adults very youthful immaturity which replies back, the need to be competitive rather than evaluate what is best for clients.

A simple truth about is aging is yes, often, the judgement of younger days dissipates, what is left is the puzzle of what is best for the client. how can whatever program structure is on the table, best serve them. No ego. No threat. No territory to conquer.

Just focus.

Not looking for a better way to reinvent the wheel. Just want to make sure all possible methods have been exhausted of fitting it, before throwing in the towel, and once again, moving through the same repetitive evolutionary process, using new buzz words.

My face, my body, my words, often my expressions, which aren't hip, rob me of deep conversations with younger staff, unless I can engage them individually. I find most people fascinating-how they think, feel-how they got that way. What makes them tick.

My listening without interrupting, my silence, my patience are also what dates me as an older person.

All those skills which are so needed in our society of text messages, voice mail and e-mails. Real time. Real listening. Expression. Interest.

All age me in a society which values time more than intimacy, expediency over detail and judgement over compassion.

Racism In Denial-Is Destroying Our Country

Racism ramps up anger.

The fact President Obama is a black male appears to have lit a fuse to those who aren't so openly racist. The polarization of our nation has little to do with the issues.

In fact, citizens are so angry they have replaced white hoods with tea party signs, fighting universal health care insurance, which, much like medicare, would benefit every person in our nation, rich or poor.

Placards about taxes, which haven't changed for the middle class and poor, in fact, have been lowered, are actually protested.

It seems, any issue the Obama administration has addressed, be in credit, finance and bank reform, stimulating the economy, has been met with, not a majority of protest, but loud, racist, anitreligious , untruthful falsehoods and accusations.

Our history as slave owners, our violent protests to disallow integration, our subtle yet effective methods of maintaining high unemployment rates for black men and woman, our laws and lack of enforcing them have maintained our black citizens at the poverty levels, in the poorest schools living in the poorest neighborhoods .This does not seem to be at the forefront of issues for those who protest President Obama's administration.

In fact, racism in our country seems to have been given a free pass with President Obama in the White House.

Racism in denial, a dangerous form of racism, in which an individual will vehemently deny feelings or actions of bias and racism, yet feeling an uncontrollable rage and passion towards this administration, fighting against ghosts-such as the "Muslim issue, the birth certificate, the socialist and fascist accusations-are not only unreasonable and factually incorrect, but from an outside observation, appear to have created an insanity inside out country, one of absolute craziness and danger.

The fifties and sixties are still remembered by many of us. The dogs, the tear gas, the billy clubs.

Watching old films of black men and women walking in protest, beaten by the very people hired to protect them, living in the era, and watching the death of Martin Luther King, watching many cities burn, a violent era of fighting for the very rights each citizen is promised in our country.

Now I watch as we step backwards, calling the country's racism, "tea parties", goaded by a " anit-scrupulous" media- goading, the unease and that racism of denial, we head toward a disaster bigger than any issue our country debates.

As civilized countries around the world watched, amazed, the United States, as a superpower, is -no longer a stable neighbor.

We are quickly becoming, a gigantic threat, unstable, bizarre, blatantly corrupt, blatantly racist, and willing to destroy our own Constitution and form of government,.

Why? Because those in our country who cannot or will not deal with their anger and racism, divert that energy -many in great denial -would rather destroy our country than support a black man as our President.

Vero Beach town of 17,000 bans Presidents speech

Indian River schools alone on Treasure Coast in not allowing schools to air Obama's live address to students

Little Vero Beach, town of 17,000, home to Indian River County School district, decided to ban President Obama's speech -denying school children the ability to hear and discuss the speech in the classroom.

Superintendent Harry LaCava claims the speech needed to be censored prior to airing, thus the live broadcast would not be available to students.

This decision created an uproar amongst the conservative citizens of Vero Beach, delighted and welcoming censorship. Many racist and ugly comments printed in the TC Palm regarding President and the democratic party are available for your reading pleasure. (if you must know, this little town has a white population of 89%, divvy the remaining 11% between Hispanics, Blacks and Asians and you have a pretty good picture of the political; leanings of this little southern town, in which only 8% of business is owned by individuals of Black, Hispanic or Asian descent.

Interestingly enough, the level of poverty in Indian River County? 10.9 %. Gee, that just about matches the minority population of the county, doesn't it?

Many citizens believe a twelve minute stretch of the speech was omitted by President Obama after he was asked to provide the speech to the school districts in the nation. They believe this conspiracy, (the missing 12 minutes) must be the hidden messages President Obama intended for their children...

One of the few districts in the state of Florida to refuse to run a Presidential speech in the schools, little Vero Beach can be real proud of that dirty underwear flappin in the wind- showing the entire nation that even a little, "A" school district by AYP government standards, can still proudly display the adults' ignorance, racism and disrespect to the highest elected official in our country-to school children across the nation.

Be proud, Indian River county-hang in there and perhaps you can succeed with Texas and be your own third world country!

USA-The Unites States of Anger

Democracy is the abiity to express our own personal beliefs.

Democracy is not the freedom to assault others because we disagree with theirs.

Author: Constance Hays

Labor Day requiem-a generation of ignorance

Certain holidays are for old people, according to US citizens. Memorial Day, Labor Day and Veteran's Day are some of these.

Otherwise, for the rest of the nation, these are, "just another three days weekend" type holidays.

Now I am not a zealous patriot. I don't say this as some braggadaccio-honestly, I am not on that bandwagon. Yet I have become increasingly aware that even my little bit of patriotism to the ideals of this country are huge compared to the majority of my fellow citizens.

Labor Day was once an important holiday -a recognition of those who fought to end child labor, who stood and fought rich and greedy corporations and scions of wealth abusing the earnest labor of the working indiviudal.

Corporations did this in collusion with laws, law enforcement and even our own government.

Beating and arresting workers, killing ringleaders, threatening families, locking out workers and hiring "scabs", the labor unions fought for fair wages, reasonable hours and reasonable work expectations.

Now we have a nation which hates the unions. Considers them some kind of scam on the workers.

Or we have unions which really represent the coporations.

Fools. We are fast becoming a nation of fools.

Tea parties. Refusing to ensure all citizens have health insurance.

Screaming about the government's lack of response to the 13% unemployment levels across the country. Yet all the while blaming the government, refusing to take responsibility for the fact it took the citizens of the nation to get where we are today. Remember, that government of the past eight years? WE voted for it. Twice.

Millions of dollars entrusted to corporate individuals in the name of states, which continue to pocket the money and say, "Sorry, no jobs."

Ronald Reagan destroyed the air traffic controllers union. They went on strike in the 80's concerned over the lack of safety in the skies. Deregulated airlines. Unsafe practices. The liability of being responsible for too much airspace per controller.

Our citizens said, "yeah, way to go Reagan, don't let those unions control our "right to work". Free enterprise. Yeah!

Fools. Ignorant. silly, spoiled citizens of the United States-forgot the origin of your roots-haven't you?

All those "fascists"-those democratic socialists? They were the ones who passed regulations to ensure your food was safe, your medication and medical treatments were regulated to save your life, housing was available to anyone regardless of color, religion or sex.

Those "fascists" were the ones who made sure you had the right to vote- women, and your children didn't work sixteen hour days in a sweat shop, owned by your landlord, who maintained your entire fanily as indentured servants.

Labor unions provided people of color and without the silver spoon a chance at a middle class lifestyle. Look at Detroit in the fifties and sixties. People could afford houses. Automobiles.

Roosevelt,, branded a "socialist" (according to todays ignorant and spoiled citizens) created jobs, began social security and provided benefits for widows with children.

Today, as you are in the middle of your "just another three day weekend", look back at the past twenty years of "Republican rule", the ones you feels so very strongly represented you in this nation, and ask yourself, "How did we get to this point in our nation- No jobs, no health insurance, unemployment exhausted, losing homes, living with friends, no hope-

and then ask yourself,

Did those nice deregulated corporations, banks, Wall street, tax breaks to the rich, and the totally decimated labor unions, trade agreements with Mexico and other third world countries your tea parties and "no new taxes" make this country a better place?

How long has it been since you had a raise? A job? Did you lose your "401K" that those "non fascists" told you would be better than a retirement program required by your place of business?

I celebrate Labor Day because I honor those that fought for a standard of life we might all achieve through fair and equal labor laws.

As I watch all of it go down the toilet because a generation of ignorant and spoiled citizens who rarely suffered a day in their lives thinks if they throw temper tantrums, blame
"socialist, fascist" governments (for trying to balance the scales gain, -they don't even get that) believe our country will be free again.

I am sick of you.

We parents made grave errors in child rearing these past twenty five or thirty years. We did not allow our children to suffer.

Not allowing our children to suffer cheated them. Cheated them of the understanding that responsibility and restraint, compassion and loyalty, fairness and justice, are qualities we must practice to ensure the continuation of a strong and equal nation of citizens.

They just don't get that.

LVRJ Needs TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS

Harry Reid made the NY Times today. The Las Vegas Review Journal claims he told their advertising executive he hopes they go out of business.

That rag needs to go out of business. The LVRJ 's total dedication to the rabble rousing crazies, the likes of Sarah Palin's teabagger, birthers is just plain scary.

Las Vegas has become one isck, crazy town. I make a sport of printing the vicious, loony comments, but this town isn't "just" corrupt-it thrives on corruption. From the police living in half a million dollar homes to the county commissioners just getting out of prison, it is one scary place.

LVRJ loves stirrin' up the crazies.

I wouldn't be surprised if Harry Reid's comments have been taken out of context.

If they haven't-as the Las Vegas Review Journal would say, "Quite whinin-if you don't like the criticism-just leave the state."

SHERMAN FREDERICK: Enough is enough, Harry

Stop the childish bullying

This newspaper traces its roots to before Las Vegas was Las Vegas.

We've seen cattle ranches give way to railroads. We chronicled the construction of Hoover Dam. We reported on the first day of legalized gambling. The first hospital. The first school. The first church. We survived the mob, Howard Hughes, the Great Depression, several recessions, two world wars, dozens of news competitors and any number of two-bit politicians who couldn't stand scrutiny, much less criticism.

We're still here doing what we do for the people of Las Vegas and Nevada. So, let me assure you, if we weathered all of that, we can damn sure outlast the bully threats of Sen. Harry Reid.

On Wednesday, before he addressed a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Reid joined the chamber's board members for a meet-'n'-greet and a photo. One of the last in line was the Review-Journal's director of advertising, Bob Brown, a hard-working Nevadan who toils every day on behalf of advertisers. He has nothing to do with news coverage or the opinion pages of the Review-Journal.

Yet, as Bob shook hands with our senior U.S. senator in what should have been nothing but a gracious business setting, Reid said: "I hope you go out of business."

Later, in his public speech, Reid said he wanted to let everyone know that he wants the Review-Journal to continue selling advertising because the Las Vegas Sun is delivered inside the Review-Journal.

Such behavior cannot go unchallenged.

You could call Reid's remark ugly and be right. It certainly was boorish. Asinine? That goes without saying.

But to fully capture the magnitude of Reid's remark (and to stop him from doing the same thing to others) it must be called what it was -- a full-on threat perpetrated by a bully who has forgotten that he was elected to office to protect Nevadans, not sound like he's shaking them down.

No citizen should expect this kind of behavior from a U.S. senator. It is certainly not becoming of a man who is the majority leader in the U.S. Senate. And it absolutely is not what anyone would expect from a man who now asks Nevadans to send him back to the Senate for a fifth term.

If he thinks he can push the state's largest newspaper around by exacting some kind of economic punishment in retaliation for not seeing eye to eye with him on matters of politics, I can only imagine how he pressures businesses and individuals who don't have the wherewithal of the Review-Journal.

For the sake of all who live and work in Nevada, we can't let this bully behavior pass without calling out Sen. Reid. If he'll try it with the Review-Journal, you can bet that he's tried it with others. So today, we serve notice on Sen. Reid that this creepy tactic will not be tolerated.

We won't allow you to bully us. And if you try it with anyone else, count on going through us first.

That's a promise, not a threat.

And it's a promise to our readers, not to you, Sen. Reid.

Sherman Frederick (sfrederick@

Over 3,000 people replied to Sherm's "opinion". How is that for ratings? What is really crazy? They will probably succeed in voting Harry Reid out-only to vanish into nothingness-once again. Honestly, just put Yucca Mountain back on track. Nevada can't get any worse.

Dear Mr. Frederick,

Senator Reid had every right to punch Bob Brown in the gut and then drive his knee into Mr. Brown's nose as he doubled over. Unfortunately, Senator Reid is far too gracious to do what was deserved. I too hope your rag goes out of business. Who cares what your paper has reported in the past or how long the paper has been around. Wow, I am in awe--your paper actually reported the first day of gambling in Nevada. Amazing!. Recounting your paper's long history reminds me of a senile grandfather retelling the same story over and over to grandchildren who could hardly care less. Fortunately, your paper will indeed go out of business--probably sooner than you expect. Even the best papers will continue to struggle in the internet era. A second class paper run by thin-skinned tools like you have no chance at all. So, Mr. Frederick, take your feigned shock and choke on it. No one cares about your opinion, your paper or your indignation. I am sure Bob Brown does indeed toil everyday because he has the unfortunate job of pitching something no one wants to buy. But, if Mr. Brown insists on making his living selling rubbish, he should not be surprised if someone rubs it in his face from time to time. So, not only do I support Mr. Reid's wish to see your paper fail--on a personal note--I hope that your remaining days are spent coming to the gradual realization that you life was spent on something that hardly mattered. The war is over. You and your ilk lost. Good day Mr. Frederick.

Dr. D wrote on August 30, 2009 02:41 PM:Oh America, you are ever so quickly being conquered by the tyranny of the liberal/Democratic hordes. The Titanic is slowly sinking and it those who have elected the anti-American, anti-Christian tyrants to elected? public? office.
Do we as a people not see that the liberal agenda and its minions are rapidly taking our rights, our freedoms, our heritage, our history away and replacing it with asinine nonsense. Reid is among many who are telling us to our faces how stupid we are and how stupid we will be for: electing these liberals and then supporting them by NOT throwing them out of office as the traitors to America that are.
In closing, we have a long way to go...but the pain to endure as America falls will not be easy, especially for those who know the TRUTH and want it.

Senator Edward Kennedy-The death of honor

Senator Kennedy's death is a part of an old parable. Man screws up big early in life -reflective thought and experience propels him towards a change. In this case his values about humanity became the catalyst for change.

His death is not just the loss of a man committed to those less fortunate. It is the death of a generation who believed in the greatness of the US because we were the living breathing essence of the Statue of Liberty.

Perhaps France should bring their tugboats over and haul it back to Europe until, or if we ever learn the lesson of caring for all Americans and not just those in the top 3% of the income tax bracket.

Let us look at what is replacing the philosophy of Senator Edward Kennedy's generation-

We have a Republican Party which believes destroying our government is better than working within it.

We have a "Sarah Palin" party of illiteracy, untruths, malicious bloviations, damaging and yet inviting enough to rally dangerous thinking and destructive actions.

We have the Sanford and Ensigns, financially privileged yet dishonest, self absorbed, shallow, narcissistic, dimwitted and destructive enough to deprive their perspective constituents of the representation they deserve.

On local levels we have the Blogdanovich's, Nevada's Governor Gibbons, and the Nevada's "Happiest mayor", gin drinker and advertiser, former mafioso legal pundit, Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Senator Edward Kennedy's statesmanship in his last years was the little voice the wind carried out to sea, the lifeline thousands needed but could not see, the steadying rudder of a rudderless country.

Like Paul Wellstone, the consciences of our country, those we so desperately need, dwindle, overtaken by a country determined to move, full speed ahead into tornadic winds, standing at the bow, head into the winds, waiting to destruct.

President Obama, as idealistic and determined to Captain this ship away from self destruction, has lost one of his best mates and navigators.

He faces a sea of uncertainty amidst a gale force of ignorance, fear and terrorist tactics from rich corporations, threatened rich white men and angry uneducated citizens.

I will miss Ted Kennedy. As I miss Paul Wellstone, and those before them, the voices of those who believed all citizens of our country deserved to be treated equally, fairly and with compassion.