Advice to a young friend still in an ELCA congregation--get out while you can

The recent battle in ELCA was supposed to be about ordained ELCA gay pastors being released from the celibacy vow. The 2009 vote to OK "committed relationships" (it's been in play and voted down since 1988) won't stop there. Obviously, this inclusiveness conference your pastor is attending is the next step. And it won't stop with gay marriage or anything similar, because polygamy and sex with minors are waiting at the door for approval. Lutherans who mistakenly believe all this will go away if we are just "loving and accepting" of differences are badly mistaken. If it were me, I'd find a believing church while you are young enough to establish new friendships and outlets for service. Our new synod is North American Lutheran Church, headquartered at UALC--about 400 churches right now. It will grow, but ELCA is moving to make it more difficult for congregations to leave. Get out while you can.

Among Six Types Of Failure, Only A Few Help You Innovate

When I see the term FAILURE, my mind immediately strays to the Obama Administration. Fail early and often certainly seems to be their motto, although I'm not sure I see much innovation resulting from this, as the article (about computer design and problem solving) suggests. And even the examples the author gives for "abject failure"-- BP oil spill and the mortgage meltdown --haven't been failures, but rather golden opportunities, for BO. Yes, he appeared weak and ineffective, but he did manage to drive all those oil rigs into the deep water off other countries where they can't contribute to the U.S. economy, but can still spoil the oceans. And the collapsed housing market was just another reason to rachet up government regulations, one of the primary causes of that failure. These failures have contributed to his assuring us we just need more of the same, and for many voters on the left, that works. It's soothing and familiar.

Among Six Types Of Failure, Only A Few Help You Innovate | Co. Design

He must have gotten bad news from the doctor!

Today I saw a man jogging. Lots of people jog, but I've only seen this guy do two things, 1) sit on his porch, and 2) walk slowly around the block with his even slower dog looking for a yard to poop in. Now he's jogging? And sweating? Must have been told by the doctor that he needed to do some exercise.

Actually, I couldn't jog even if the doctor prescribed it. Besides walking is better for you and rarely damages the knees.

Week 11--Senior Venture Week at Lakeside

This week we're learning about notable Ohioans. Sunday night I watched a movie on the Wright Brothers, and yesterday I attended a program on Ohio Astronauts. I didn't know we had 24 astronauts! The speaker covered just a few of the highlights, like John Glenn, James Lovell, Judy Resnick (died in the Challenger explosion), Sanita Williams, and Neil Armstrong. I'd sort of forgotten what rock star celebrities these guys became. We got our babies up on the night of July 20, 1969 to watch the "first step".

But we learned that NASA isn't going away even though manned space flight (now called "crewed space flight" so as not to use the word man) is being discontinued. A young female employee giving her first presentation talked to us about her research in radioisotopes and about the Discovery Mission. There is still a lot going on.

I had no idea someone had written a song about the astronauts, but I found this on the internet.

Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins
were launched away in space
Millions of hearts were lifted,
proud of the human race
Space control at Houston, radio command
The team below that gave the go
they had God's helping hand.

Yes, it was a very proud time for Americans.

Get the shingles vaccine!

Are you an older adult (over 50)? For your own sake, get the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine--even if your insurance doesn't cover it! A friend of ours is suffering so, and it is needless. Shingles is like sleeping on a bed of poison ivy times 100. You won't die, but you may wish to!

Desperate for jobs boost, Obama taps labor economist

Really? This is what he spent his "vacation" working on? More of the same with Alan Krueger. ". . . advocated for hiring tax credits for businesses and increased government spending on infrastructure, two programs Obama aides are considering proposing this fall. There's a reason for this rut. 80% of people in government, at any level, have never held jobs in the private sector. They don't know that there's no hiring if you're being choked to death with regulation, red tape, and threats of higher health care costs.

Desperate for jobs boost, Obama taps labor economist for top White House post - The Washington Post

Nero in the White House

"Three significant historical events have been eclipsed by Obama: 1) Jimmy Carter will no longer be looked upon as the worst president in American history; 2) Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton will no longer be recognized as the greatest liars in presidential history; 3) Clinton's stain on Monica's dress, and what that did to White House in general and the office of the president specifically, will forever pale in comparison to the stain and stench of Obama."

Murray sent along this good read by Mychal Massie. I guess Massie is a racist?
Nero in the White House

Unequal Harm: Racial Disparities in the Employment Consequences of Minimum Wage Increases

Increases in minimum wage are very popular with politicians--Democrats run on it, and Republicans don't want to appear to be meanies, so they shuffle along and agree to it. But it is those in the lowest job ranks who get cut first as employers look for ways to save (it doesn't increase their income, you know). When Democrats took over both houses in 2007, it was the first step downward for the coming recession--hit employers hard, then the poor. And most of all, young and black. Unemployment in the current recession is about 25% for young white males without a high school diploma, but 50% for young blacks. But why?

The authors find that they’re more likely to be employed in eating and drinking places–nearly one out of three black young adults without a high school diploma works in the industry. Businesses in this industry generally have narrow profit margins and are more likely to be adversely impacted by a wage mandate. There’s also substantial variation in regional location, as black young adults are overwhelmingly located in the South and in urban areas.

Unequal Harm: Racial Disparities in the Employment Consequences of Minimum Wage Increases | EPI Study

Here's how one small businessman (RV parks in Arizona) handled the problem of a 41% increase in 2 years of minimum wage in a heavily labor intensive business. In his case, it was the retirees who were let go, a trade off of experience for younger, faster, healthier workers.

Light & Tasty

The Lakeside Antique Show was yesterday and I bought a few goodies, one of which wasn't actually at the sale, but next door at the Methodist Church book sale. It was the Premiere Issue of Taste of Home's Light & Tasty, for cooks "who are looking for light recipes that don't sacrifice flavor," and it was 10 cents. I'll be writing about it at my hobby bloggy, In the Beginning.
I would never use egg substitutes, or low-fat cheese or fat free evaporated milk, but the photos are good and I've come up with a few ideas about how to use zucchini and tomatoes.

When Reiman's Taste of Home began diversifying, it wasn't unusual to find more than one cover for a premiere issue. The photo of the cover on the far right with the raspberry cream cake with chocolate topping is the one I have. Inside, they are pretty much the same.

Technically, I'm no longer looking for first issues because they were taking over my house, but if one falls in my lap (hands) at a sale, well . . .

Week 10 at Lakeside--Civil War Week

Because of our trip back to Columbus for a meeting and a quick visit to the vet for our cat, we missed the Monday and Tuesday daytime programs by Dale Phillips, Howard Strouse and the dinner with "President Lincoln" (Robert and Barbara Brugler of Columbus as Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln). However, later in the week Randy Koch who spoke on the Presidential Election of 1860 mentioned that at the Monday night dinner he shook the hand of a WWII veteran, whose grandfather had been wounded at Gettysburg, and he had been visited by President Lincoln and shook his hand. He said he got chills thinking about it.

There were 3 women presenters this week, Marjorie Wilson of Cleveland gave a very informative talk on Mortimer Leggett, one of Ohio's generals. She's a retired school teacher who got interested in the Civil War because she's a volunteer docent at Lakeview cemetery where 800 Civil War veterans are buried. Carol Zeh, a Civil War historian from Akron, provided great maps and explanations about the Battle of Gettysburg with graphic details on the injuries and deaths. She said if you want to be a volunteer guide at Gettysburg, it's harder than getting into medical school! That same day (Thursday) I attended "Horses of Gettysburg" a PBS documentary. Other than numbers and a few bad photos, there wasn't that much, but good information on the statuary that includes horses. Joan Cashin of OSU spoke on Black & white women of the Old South, which I didn't attend. Those who did said she gave good current information on slavery today--which in numbers is higher than the 18th century. On Friday Tom Lloyd of the music faculty of Columbus State led us in some rousing songs of the Civil War era with very interesting background about instruments, military bands, song writers and publishers. I had no idea that Columbus State even had a music department.

Socially, it's been a busy week. Dave and MaryAnn were with us Friday and Saturday and we had lunch at the Hotel Lakeside; Tuesday evening we had Dan and Joan here for dinner on our deck; Wednesday evening we went to the community picnic with Rob and Lynn; then Thursday morning we were at Dan and Joan's B&B for breakfast with Marsha, a former architecture colleague of my husband; then Friday night we went out to Crosswinds for great perch with Wes and Sue and then back here for dessert and an evening program of eclectic music--mostly Celtic.

With Dan and Joan at the Idlewyld B & B in Lakeside.

With David and Mary Ann at our cottage.

With Rob and Lynn at the picnic in the park.

Solar Manufacturers Slowly Closing Up Shop In U.S.

Even with loans from China and subsidies from local governments, solar is having a problem catching on in the U.S. and "green" jobs are evaporating as solar plants close.

Solar Manufacturers Slowly Closing Up Shop In U.S. | Institute for Energy Research

What you can do to make sure your kids don't smoke

This is the heading of a 2 page ad in a women's magazine--sponsored by Lorillard Tobacco Company! Hmmm. Not sure that's the best source. Anyway, this tobacco company which is dedicated to getting your kids hooked into a life time habit that costs about $4,000 a year, says these things will keep them from smoking: 1) Reinforce the immediate consequences, 2) instill strong values and beliefs. Ha, ha, ha. That's rich.

What 13 year old have you met who could weigh the risks of bladder and lung cancer against being included with the kids he admires? Peers win every time.

I'm guessing this advertisement is included as part of a law suit.

Sonia Hermosillo Arrested For Throwing Her Baby Off A Parking Structure

An uncanny resemblance to Casey Anthony, another killer mom.

Sonia Hermosillo Arrested For Throwing Her Baby Off A Parking Structure

An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 2

Is there anything in this expensive federal agency that actually improves education? I realize it pays a lot of salaries which in turn buys groceries, pays mortgages, and shops for new clothing, but really, what has it done for education of our young people if we're still so far behind other first world countries?

An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 2

Sustainability--the new squishy buzzword

Like nailing jello to the wall. Here's some meanings for the corporate world.

Key Practice Area - Sustainability - What is Sustainability - NAEM

Living with an aging parent--JAMA Aug 17, 2011, vol 306.no.7

JAMA has a bimonthly series called, "Care of the Aging Patient; from evidence to action," and the most recent was Living with an aging parent, a well written summary with citations to the medical literature of one family's exerience. In the library field, we used to call these articles, "How I done it good" papers. JAMA solicits these articles from actual experience, assures the authors of "peer review" status to put on their CV, and gives a $500 honorarium.

The three authors tell a story of a healthy couple, 89 and 86, who move across the country in 2006 to live with their daughter and husband after the husband begins showing signs of dementia. The daughter invites them, rather than have them go to a retirement community. The backstory is that for 15 years, the parents lived with this family in the summer to take care of their children while the parents worked. The article describes the health condition and living arrangements and how things changed between 2006 and 2011. There are 3 tables which would help anyone considering this type of living arrangement, and one list of "issues."

I could have written this article myself, and I don't have an MD, PHD or MSPH, but my good frinds Jim and Jackie did a similar move to Colorado a few years back with similar results. Nor would I need 5 grants from the U.S. government, or various awards from foundations, all listed as an appendix to the article.

Now I say this for two reasons: 1) the article is an interview with 46 citations from medical databases to confirm the points made by either the interviewer or the interviewees. There is nothing wrong with this method--it's informative, easy reading, and although it would seem to be common sense, many people don't have that, so it will be very helpful for anyone considering a multigenerational living arrangement; 2) this type of writing isn't rocket science, but for the tax payer it is very expensive.

As near as I can determine, Alabama has received nearly $9,500,000 from the federal government of Title VIII just in 2010. Glancing through the list I think this is all geriatric health issues. That's just one state, one issue. The lead author, Christine S. Ritchie, according to her vita which I looked up, has at the moment, 7 simultaneous positions/titles, and if my experience in academe is to be trusted, she's being paid for each one. I found two different amounts for Dr. Richie, both over $200,000, for grants that supported this research--research that I could have written given a few days off my regular duties. The other two authors also report (disclosure) support from grants.

No heroic measures

We came back to Columbus on Sunday and I got an early a.m. appointment today with the vet. Our cat stopped eating on Thursday, and has had very little since then and has lost a pound. The vet could find nothing in the physical exam and recommended some tests--blood, urine, etc. We've been through this before with 2 other cats, and know that not only are the tests expensive, but that more medications will follow and usually something uncomfortable for the cat or the owners. I decided against the "panel" and requested an appetite stimulant and rehydration. I went to the store and bought some "people" food she might like--tuna and salmon--and cooked her a little chicken. At this point, anything she will eat is OK.

Rich Americans Poor Americans

Why aren't we dancing in the streets?

Red Tape: Rising Cost of Government Regulation

Full employment for regulators creating and monitoring red tape.

In the first six months of the 2011 fiscal year, 15 major regulations were issued, with annual costs exceeding $5.8 billion and one-time implementation costs approaching $6.5 billion. No major rulemaking actions were taken to reduce regulatory burdens during this period. Overall, the Obama Administration imposed 75 new major regulations from January 2009 to mid-FY 2011, with annual costs of $38 billion.

Red Tape: Rising Cost of Government Regulation

What Do We Do With Barack Obama?

Michael Wolff said this 11 months ago--September 2010

Some mass misperception put Barack Obama in the White House and now nobody knows what to do with him.

What Do We Do With Barack Obama?