Mini Research Project #3

     The Beacon Hill Village is an inspirational location for the seniors in its community to come together and enjoy the later years of living.  As the announcer commented,a community is a place people want to live in.  This development is affordable and offers a senior medical, functonal, emotional, social and spiritual needs within its community.  Everything an older person unable to get around would need.  It also offers transportation, help with household tasks, education and day trips to go to nostalgic locations to enjoy.  This gives the older person peace of mind that they are not a burden on their families, get to socialize with people their own age, and enjoy life without so many restrictions while remaining in their own homes for as long as possible.
     As a letter carrier, I have the pleasure of seeing many elderly living alone in their own homes.  Some I question why they prefer to stay when it limits their ability to get out.  Most say they are private people and enjoy the freedom to move about as they like.  Unfortunately, they are not moving as much.  Many are stuck at home without transportation.  Others have financial difficulties maintaining their homes and their properties become a point of contention with their neighbors.  Some programs are available here in Rhode Island to ease their burden. 
     Meals on Wheels is an organization that brings specialized dinners to the homes of elderly living alone in their homes.  It is not limited to that however, they deliver to senior citizen apartment complexes too.  Anywhere a senior is located that is in need of a meal.
     Trans wick is a bus available to all seniors that will bring an individual shopping or to the doctors.  Many seniors I've spoken with dislike the hours this benefit is available and want more specialized service.  As the video for Beacon Hill Village pointed out, volunteers are required for many of their services.  This is an easier thought than reality.  Also a challenge, financial sustainability.  Many seniors and many demands can challenge even the best run program.
     There are many senior citizen housing complexes, but they require you to wait on a list for an opening.  Unfortunately, someone needs to pass for that opening to occur.  These apartments are incredible small and cramped.  Many people complain about how close together everyone is located, and nothing is private.   
     Public Senior Recreation Centers set up social functions that give a senior the opportunity to meet other people their age while enjoying an activity they all love.  Dancing, Bingo, Chess as well as smaller groups playing cards.  There are even the occasional people sitting alone putting a puzzle together or reading a book.  Refreshments are available as well as abilities to socialize with people in the neighborhood.  These centers are for all seniors and can also be used for referrals or other funcitons.
     Many homeless elders may not be aware of what is out there for them as resources.  For this reason, they remain on the streets instead of warm beds at night.  It is difficult to reach these people because they move about and many do not wish to be housed.  Unfortunately, a great number require some form of mental illness medication.  As adults, they are allowed to stay on the streets as desired until they become a hazard to themselves or others.  We as a community would be better served if we took care of these citizens with shelter, food and medical attention.
     Living in elderly communities allow seniors to live less institutonalized in a place where they can remain for the rest of their healthy days.  One of the better private locations is Shalom I, II, and III in Warwick, RI.  In buildings I and II, residents live as they wish and have an office that assists them if they have need of anything.  Once they have difficulties on their own, they may choose to move to building III, the newest and nicest of the three, where a staff of workers care for them until the end.  This building offers a large dining area, beautifully furnished, where a menu of two to three selections for dinner are available every day, every meal.  If they cannot come to the dining room, assistants will help or bring their meals to them.
     Many more facilities like Shalom I, II, and III need to be developed.  They are more accomodating to residents, less project looking and take care of residents to the end.  Instead of being scrutinized in a more public facility where everybody's business is someone else's.  For this reason alone, many seniors refuse to move out of their homes.  Privacy is the greatest priority, and enjoying their private gardens, yards, porches or just watching out their windows without nosey new neighbors gives them the greatest pleasure.

Blog VI

            As a grandmother myself, I was impressed by the reading, Weighing the Grandma Factor.  It discussed the importance the role a grandmother has in the lives of her grandchildren.  Most surprising was the result, "…that if the father was alive or dead didn't matter."  This demonstrated to me that the caregivers of the family were the mothers, and children fared better when they were there to nurture their young.  The reading noted that paternal grandmothers were not as influential as maternal grandmothers.  Their explanation that daughters will seek the advice of their own mothers over their mother in laws made perfect sense.  Unless a woman was extremely close to her mother in law, or the mother was considered undesirable, I would naturally think that this were the case.  Also noted was the fact that if the grandmother dies, you notice it, but if the father dies, you don't.  This study may show the children of Gambia require the assistance of an older woman for the betterment of their growth.  Not knowing the culture of this population, it would leave me to believe that the fathers are away a great deal, leaving the wife at home alone and in need of another adult to assist with the children.  I would think that if the father were there more, then he would make an impact on the wellbeing of the children.

            The second reading, Aged Mothers Aging Daughters, made me think how fortunate I am to have parents that are stubbornly independent.  My own mother is fighting a health battle at seventy-one, yet still works full time, lives alone and is getting treatment without "bothering" her children.  The reading noted "mothers do not want this burden for their own children" which reminded me how my own grandmother acted.  Within my own family I see where this statement is true.  For my own mother, I've asked repeatedly if she wanted to move in with me, sell her house and live a less stressful life.  She immediately responded with, certainly not!  She enjoys her freedom, likes her home and furnishings, and wouldn't want to live under another person's rules.  I respect that, but still worry she is overstressing herself when she wouldn't have to.  For her, there is no question she is where she wants to be and is happy with her situation.  Still, at some point I expect to be the daughter in the middle.
            One point brought up in Feminist Gerontology and Old Men made me think about the viewpoint given and how it perceived women.  "…even though we realize that research on women does not mean feminist, scholars often equate research on women with feminist approaches."  It made me realize that once again a woman is stereotyped feminist if she stood up for her rights.  Why?  When a man could stand up for himself and never is labeled.  "We do not generally refer to men living shorter lives, being lower users of prescription drugs, having lower rates of institutional care, and so on."  That statement made me wonder, what if we did.  Obviously, men would be viewed in a different light, and not necessarily a positive one.  So why do we always find the one viewpoint that will make a woman appear less appreciated?  I find this in so many situations, it makes my head spin.  Even within these readings, as this sentence suggested, the viewpoint is always from a perspective that puts men in a positive light and women in a lesser light.
            That makes me jump ahead to Sexualities, Gender and Ageing.  Throughout the reading, he kept referring to Lesbian and Gay.  This drives me crazy!! That L word is offensive, except to men, not to mention it is redundant.  To be accurate, it should read Lesbian and Queer, but that might offend a man.  Gay refers to both genders, yet as women we allow this insult so that this group can call themselves Glad. 
            Importance of sex in later life was not surprising results.  Starting at 50 was however!  Perhaps because that is my age, I never imagined why sex wouldn't be important.  My Aunts and Uncle are in their eighties and still having sex, so it never occurred to me that this would be a question in anyone's mind.  I would love to see more advances that improve the quality of a person's sex life once they start having health issues that affect their abilities.  It is the best way to make people feel love, wanted, secure as well as stress free.  

Mini Research Project#2

 USPS "CARRIER ALERT" PROGRAM

    The United States Postal Service has a program designed to take care of elderly people that are living alone in their own homes.  This program has saved many elderly that have no one to look in on them and were in need of help.  The mission statement is, "The Carrier Alert Program is a Gatekeeper type program making use of the regular, daily presence of letter carriers to watch for signs that something is out of the ordinary with the elderly especially elderly persons living alone."

     This program is available nationwide, with every letter carrier participating in the program.   Some of the services offered are:  Carrier Alert Symbol placed in the person's mailbox; Carriers notify the agency where senior is registered or report to their postal supervisors; Social Service Agency will try to contact the elderly person; and Social Service Agency will send a worker to the residence. 
     As a letter carrier, it has been my experience that before Social Service is called however, the letter carrier will attempt to contact the elderly person.  Many have the phone numbers of the closest relative and will contact that person.  Some have permission to enter and know which door is open or where a key is hidden. 
     I myself have several women and one man that I've looked in on.  They are wonderful people, very lonely and look forward to seeing their carrier every day.  They know what their carriers day off is, the exact time they will be arriving and make it difficult to continue the rounds because they love to stop and talk.  Some like me will take their charge to shop for groceries, do chores around their homes, or drive them to their doctor's appointments.  Three have my personal phone number and my permission to call should they need anything.
     The webpage, http://www.programsforelderly.com/safety-carrier-alert-usps.php has a link to Elder Abuse Prevention Programs that contains 54 different links to every imaginable need a person requires.  Also a video of "Victims of Family Elder Abuse Speak Out" is located on this link.  There are also other links on this master page for senior check in service: Emergency Response, Driver and Senior Transportation, General Senior Safety, Home Modification, and Home Repair Assistance for Elderly.  There is also a video showing an award ceremony for honored letter carriers.
     It is also just as easy to contact your local Post Office and inquire about the Carrier Alert Program.  While this is an official program the Postal Service offers, many letter carriers take it upon themselves to get involved without the person officially registering in the program.  The sticker in the mailbox is helpful to those carriers substituting on the route, but many may have it annotated in their route books.  Also there are carrier alert cards cased in that alert substitute carriers on the route to be on the lookout for things out of the ordinary.  Those things may include a buildup of mail, no snow removal, something amiss around the area of the box to indicate the elderly person has not been out in a while.  Many letter carriers across the country that have earned service awards for saving a person's life.

Unit V

     The block of reading interested me mostly because I'm currently going through menopause.  I looked forward to learning what these different studies brought to the forefront about aging, menopause, and how it's perceived.  Some of the information surprised me, and the information about taking care of ourselves made sense.
     In "Healthy Lifestyle Triggers Genetic Changes: Study," I was amazed with the results of the study.  "After three months, the men had changes in activity in about 500 genes-including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off."  I had no idea we had the ability to change the settings on our genes!  I did understand about turning on and off switches, and have tried to reprogram my body since this change has begun.  It's a long drawn out process, yet this study saw changes in three months! This has given me renewed hope!
     Not surprising, the "Excerpts from Ourselves, Growing Older" focused on the "male domination in medicine, researchers have emphasized general problems or male problems, without noticing that women experience aging and illness differently."  While it was noted in one of the readings that more emphasis has been given to remedy this problem, only a small portion of legislation that was submitted was actually passed.  Sadly, we still have much work to go in this department.  "We have been discriminated against in treatment settings and excluded from research in ways that have been dangerous to our health and survival."
     I knew the United States didn't have the best medical care, and in "US Life Expectancy Lags Behind 41 Nations," the information there only confirmed my belief.  With Americans eating on the go, fast food has been a number one killer for this country.  "Adults in the US have one of the highest obesity rates in the world.  Nearly a third of US adults 20 yrs and older are obese according to the National Center for Health Statistics."  This information should not surprise anyone.  What was also confirmed was the fact that we lag in healthy births.  With all our technology, we lag behind even underdeveloped countries when it comes to infant mortality and ensuring their survival.
     The"Ancient Bodies, Modern Lines,""Like Mother, (Not) Like Daughter:The Social Construction of Menopause and Aging," and "Menopause is the 'Good Old'" all discussed the feelings of women in different age groups and how they perceived menopause.  This age group used baby boomers and their mothers as the focus.  I could understand and even feel for the older women not seeing it as a time where they saw a loss.  This group would have been chastised like the women sent to a mental ward and issued pills to control her depression, or as the doctor described it, suicidal.  It must have been difficult to go through this period without any support system, understanding in the medical community or even the ability to voice the problems.
     Not much has changed however when it comes to understanding that we want answers.  I would think not so much because we fear getting old, but more to the point, were not ready to consider ourselves old.  The doctor laughing at you because you thought maybe you were pregnant, instead of this understanding this cycle in your life is uncalled for.  More education should be provided prior to this phase of our lives.  We should start effecting those healthy life choices earlier than the peri-menapausal stage.  This is where our doctors should prepare us better for this chapter in our lives and help us with that transition.  It is unacceptable to hear the typical, "your getting older, what do you expect!"  I expect the way they ensure men's quality of life past age 50 is upheld, would apply to women too.

Unit IV

              According to Life Cycle Nutrition by Quizlet.com, Compression of Mobility is defined as "delaying disabilities caused by chronic disease in adulthood."  That definition ties in perfectly with the Blue Zones website.  Here you can read about research conducted in regions around the world on aging.  I found it extremely interesting how these areas had so many things in common.                       

            Dan Buettner's research in Okinawa took a young woman named Sayoko from her home and successful life in Tokyo to the small island.  Here she and Dan meet Ushi, a 104 year old woman that lived a simple life in a fishing village.  Ushi's advice for living a long life was to be welcoming of strangers, unusual in Japan.  She also said she prepared all her meals with love, and was not "chasing the carrot" anymore.  When asked what her secret would be specifically, her reply was, "work hard, drink mugwort sake before bed, and get a good night's sleep."  Sayoko was so inspired by her simple, stress free way of life that she left her job to become a full time mother.
            In The Sardinian Blue Zone, researchers discovered a genetic marker that narrowed the population down to the same ancestor's.  35% of the population had this M26 genetic marker.  According to the article, "It suggests that the Sardinians' lifestyle in the Blue Zone hasn't changed much since the time of Christ."  What this area did have in common with the Okinawa fishing village is the isolation, tight knit community, simplistic living and diet.  This region also had the largest population of centurions than anywhere else in the world.
            The Blue Zone also had some good advice in the Power 90 and Thrive Centers.  After researching "Blue Zones" around the globe, or more specifically, areas with a healthy population of seniors living well into their 90's and past 100, the researchers gathered the information and developed these lists.  What I noted about the list was how all these regions shared many similarities.  Having a purpose in life, good diet, including some alcohol of some kind everyday to a minimum, surrounded by family, friends and community, and moving naturally were the common theme.
            LOE-"Doing It My Way: Old Women, Technology, and Wellbeing," is an article that questions how we as a society can get our nonagenarians into the age of technology.  "Some elders prefer to be sedentary or home bound, and technologies like reclining chairs and walkers can be used to support this goal."  This reminded me of my friend Patty, a 74 year old woman that has been single her whole life and has no family.  She lives alone and considers her broken down car to be a symbol of independence.  It doesn't matter that it has not run in years, isn't registered, inspected or insured.  I worry about her constantly, but the suggestion that she join some kind of community is not an option.  She prefers to be alone.  This article made me think of her, and how my own 71 year old mother is so different.  She too lives alone, but was married, had a family and is surrounded by community.  Both have physical ailments, yet one chooses to wallow in her misery while the other gets out and enjoys life despite the obstacles.
            Looking at my own longevity through the Vitality Compass, I'm expected to live to the ripe old age of 78.4.  It also noted that I could live an additional 13.9 years if I made the life choices the site suggested.  One of those areas was religion.  I am religious, but not associated to any particular community.  I don't think it took into account communities I do belong to that would give me that aspect.  In addition, both sides of my family have longevity, although that wasn't always healthy.  Again, I note my own mother's battle with cancer, yet looking at her one would never know.  I myself have already crossed that road, as well as my daughter.  It was easily remedied and we all continue to take care of ourselves.  Unfortunately, this was another indicator used with this formula.  My feeling about this is simple, if I live life to the fullest until the age of 78, then I'm happy.  I have no desire to exist.  That would be an end to my life as far as I'm concerned.  The True Happiness Test gave me a B+.  As a single mother, I have four children and two grandchildren whose success is my responsibility.  Of course I could improve that grade if they were older, successful and independent.  My oldest is out of the house with her children, but I suppose I will always worry about her until she is truly happy and fully on her feet.  Someday, maybe when I'm 77!

 

Alan Simpson: Social Security is like a "Milk Cow with 310 Million Tits!"

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014698-503544.html

I included this article after reading the angry response by an older woman that I posted earlier. 
It can be viewed further down on my blog.  This is about a senator that is completly out of touch
about Social Security and the people his cuts affect.  He forgets we have all paid into this system
and for some, our entire lives. 

Divorce, Older Women and Alimony

http://www.ebennettlaw.com/CM/Articles/DivorceOlderWomenAnd.asp

This article discusses the catch 22 that older divorced women face when they divorce later in
years and the court system expects them to go to work to support themselves.  These are women
well into their 70s who were told by judges that their husbands deserve to retire.  She gets no alimony
despite the fact that she was a stay at home wife.

Women and Social Security Column

http://www.bothell-reporter.com/opinion/189934281.html

The column talks about the social security system and the benefits being available
for women well into their retirement.  The statistics show 57% of all Social Security
beneficiaries age 62 and older, and approx. 68% of beneficiaries age 85 and older are
women recieving benefits.  The article is dated February 5, 2013 by Kirk Larson.

Unit III Blog Assignment

     I found three of the readings used the Census as a basis for their research.  Unfortunately, my experience with the US Census leaves me discouraged with the readings and their findings.  Case in point, I have a daughter that is half Hispanic and two grandsons that are tri-racial.  When I filled out the census back in the early 90s as noted in "The Economic Consequences of Widowhood for Older Minority Women," I was only given one choice to make for my daughter.  I chose white since she lived with me.  That in turn caused a census worker to arrive at my door, verify that I was white, noted my daughter looked Hispanic, and changed my information in front of me.  I protested, but her response was that the city gets more money based on the number of minorities it holds.  It didn't matter that my daughter would never receive a dime of that money.
     This past census I was happy to note that I would be able to annotate all my children and grand children's races.  What I wasn't prepared for was the fact that the white race was only one box, and European Spaniards and Arabic people were also to consider themselves "white."  The next block was Hispanic, where I was amazed to see about 25 choices.  I selected Puerto Rican for my daughter and decided to go back to the white box and write Italian/English next to it.  Then for my grandsons, I was given 3 choices as to what "black" they considered themselves.  I'm not sure how they came up with the choices of "black," "African-American," or "Negro/Negroid."  I wrote Liberian next to the black box.  Just because it intrigued me, I looked over the Asian block.  Yep, sub-categorized.  This led me to believe the Census was skewed. Not even our bi-racial president is considered half black, half white, but instead seen only as a black man.  The issue of race in a country that can only see skin deep leaves me hard pressed to give credibility to any race related research that doesn't properly consider the demographics of its' people.  Starting at the top, our president.
     In the reading, "Two Steps Back" the author doesn't discuss any entitlements the poor received throughout their child rearing years.  I agree that these women, regardless of race, were unable to pay into the system the same, but how much money did they receive in entitlements as a result of not making a better wage, or less hours, if any? None of this information was incorporated into the research, but one could argue that they received their social security benefits in the form of welfare, child care assistance, section 8, food stamps, wic, etc.  Many of these women have been in these programs through generations, and know how to play the system.  The fact that they will earn less social security when they get older doesn't reflect that they may have earned far more from years of assistance.
     "Late Life Widowhood, Selfishness and New Partnership Choices: A Gendered Perspective"  was an article that I could relate to, with regard to selfishness.  I'm not surprised to find that women that are widowed chose not to remarry, while men were more inclined to take another wife.  The article noted, "The words 'selfish' and 'freedom' were often used by the widows when describing their present existence, which was associated with not having to look after someone all the time."  Most of these women had been married for so long and in a subservient role, that knowing any freedom was foreign to them.  I would hardly consider focusing on themselves, instead of having to continually give of themselves, as being selfish.
     Of the readings, I found "Social Security and Older Women: A Feminist Political Economy Perspective" to be one I found more enjoyable, accurate, unbiased and thought provoking.  I agreed with Carroll Estes' assessment that women stand to lose more should Social Security become privatized.  Her reasoning's appeared more accurate to me, having never considered the time lost when I had my children.  This forced me to think about those times I struggled out of work, didn't pay in through those years, and as a result, earned less income towards my retirement.  On the other hand, I've always considered that Social Security would never be there for me anyway.  The way the government has mismanaged it, and increased the age requirement to "fix" the problem, has affected a lot of future retiree's negatively.  I personally consider it another tax, and one I'll never live long enough to see a return on.  For this reason, I feel that I'll be working long into my retirement years just to support myself.  I posted an earlier blog from a woman in Wyoming to her senator.  Her angry response said it all!

Unit II Reading

     Reading these five articles, I noticed the dates on some were not very current.  We've come a long way in just the past two decades.  As a fifty year old women, I have seen these changes unfold within my lifetime.  I would even say that today's younger woman would not have experienced the discrimination that women of my age and older have faced.  That said, here is what I gathered from the readings.
     The first article by Casalanti, "Age Matters Realigning Feminist Thinking,"  discussed "...the system of inequality, based on age, that privileges the not-old at the expense of the old." (pg. 1)  It states that feminist scholars give little attention to old age and women.  Agreeing with Sontag's notion of the double standard of aging that says women are judged by their appearance.  This article says that "successful ageing means not aging, not being "old," or at the very least, not looking old." (pg.2)  The latest reference from this article is dated 2004.  I would like to believe that much has changed in the past decade with regard to women's awareness and studies into later life issues.  We have many elderly entering the social security system.  AARP, the senior citizen's organization, has done well for its members in congress and continues to lobby hard on their behalf.  As more enter this organization, their rights are greater protected.
     The second reading by Margaret Cruikshank, "Learning to be Old; Gender, Culture, and Aging" resonated more with me.  "Learning to be old means knowing that the way you age depends on where you live" (pg 8) was on point.  As Americans we have learned that as we get older we are devalued.  Being self-reliant, or as the book noted, "rugged individualism" is a very real part of our culture.  I would say that as a group of hard working immigrants, most all of our ancestors have made the trip here and learned to work hard to succeed.  We were required to do this alone, with only family for our support.  Many elderly now facing what painter and writer Mary Meigs faced, with insensitive treatment by caregivers, still gives me great fright.  I watched as my very strong, independent grandmother, a hardworking Italian immigrant, was placed in one of these homes since the state deemed her dementia in need of constant care.  It became a place where she lost her dignity, being strapped down because she refused to be placed in diapers and demanded to use the bathroom.  Ultimately, drugged and placed in a corner until death took her.  Ms. Meigs stated, "The old person becomes a person who can be disciplined.  Lessons you must learn to have the dignity of someone who can't be disciplined." (Beyond Recall, 104)  The Eden Alternative nursing home model would be a good start if we saw it implemented on a nationwide scale.  This reading was dated in the late 90s and early 20s, well before Obama care and the future our elderly now face with death panels.
     "The Aging Women in Popular Film: Underrepresented, Unattractive, Unfriendly and Unintelligent" was written in 1997.  Also, Prochuk's, "Hell is Older People" review on horror movies and old women depicts them as witches; ghoulish and decaying.  I would say again that while some of these stereotypes will always exist, they are not exclusive to elderly, nor elder women in general.  Every group has Hollywood to blame for refusing to shatter these images.  Whether it is the dumb blond, the cranky old man, the decaying elderly woman, the illiterate muscle man, etc.  Today, we have more choices on what we desire to watch, thus telling Hollywood we no longer want to be entertained by these negative images.  Good examples are BET, Black Entertainment Television that successfully changed the image of minorities. Placing them in roles as doctors, lawyers and good wholesome families.  As for the older groups, I myself enjoy The Lifetime Channel.  Betty White is an awesome actress that made her earlier success as the dumb blond, even in the later role on The Golden Girls.  She is beautiful, witty, and sexy and currently kicking butt in her new roles on cable television.  Not bad for a woman in her nineties!
     Finally, "The Intersection of Age and Gender" by Krekula discusses studies conducted in Sweden.  This study is more recent, 2007, but in a country well known to be gender forward.  They were probably the first to socially consider women equal.  Yet, the findings were that women were considered "others" compared to men.  By doing so, we therefore become invisible.  I felt the findings were subjective and could have been twisted to become what was needed.  In no way did I consider these studies close to the trends American women have had to face.   In a nation where we supposedly have the greatest freedoms, you can see that just viewing the female body here is deemed offensive.  Where Muslim countries have had female presidents/leaders, we lag way behind on equality.  It is time to do more in depth studies, in our current times to see where we have been, where we are now and what we need to do again to move forward.
     Personally, I feel this country is stagnant as to the progressive movement of women. As more immigrants from oppressive countries enter ours, democracy demands majority rule.  These women have lived under the umbrella of submission for so long that having little freedom seems wrong.  As a result, we have started to move in the wrong direction, losing footing on our ability to attain equal status.  Small strides are finally being made, only after many set backs. It almost feels like a revolution like the one in the sixties needs to happen again to make demands for equality.   I hope someday that my daughters live in a country where they earn the same pay as their male counterparts, have better access to medicine geared towards their well being, are given the ability to do what they want with their bodies without justification, have a strong female leader and role model to move them forward to equality and live without fear of losing their identity.
    

"A little ticked off"

*Not sure if either statement is true, but I agree with the comments (minus the labels)

  

Alan Simpson, the Senator from Wyoming calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security " to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats.

 

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Montana... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is! Both political parties have raped our Social Security!

 

"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight!!!!!

 

1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for FIFTY YEARS.

2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).

3. My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.

4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your ilk" pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age, 67. NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to pay the bills.

6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you "incompetent bastards" spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.
To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" to your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU:

1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.

And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed, leech.

That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted
America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.

P.S. And stop calling Social Security benefits
"entitlements". WHAT AN INSULT!!!!

I have been paying in to the SS system for 45 years “It's my money”- give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out these monthly checks!

Introduction/Ageism readings

                In the article, "America's Aging Population" I noted the age span used to defined baby boomers.  It always amazes me how the age span is different depending on which article you're reading.  Having been born in 1962, I hardly considered myself a baby boomer.  I immediately noted that this article included my age group which offended me.  I've always considered my parents to be baby boomers, and my generation the one that will support them while generation X comes up with a better plan for their retirement. 

                The article did bring up many points about how other cultures take care of their elderly.  In addition to many statistics about life expectancy between the genders, races, and even social standings, the information contained interesting facts about cultures and roles of women within those areas.  I was not very surprised by the numbers, or the closing gap between men and women.  It gave good information about living healthier lifestyles and how that contributes to living longer.

                In the text, "Is There A Double Standard Of Aging?:  Older Men And Women And Ageism" by Chetna Narayan, it discussed the term "ageism."  I never put a lot of thought into the need for a word for growing older, but the definition developed by Butler made sense for its time, specifically 1969.  It describes the biases and discrimination directed toward the elderly.  The results from the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD) didn't surprise me.  I do feel that the term does need to be redefined.  The results of the survey should be an indication that not all people are compelled to believe the bias' out there.  I did appreciate how the headings to the surveys may have affected the results, but seeing the numbers listed, I don't think it an accurate assessment.  I believe the locations the surveys were conducted would have had a greater influence.  For example, the central plains where religion is heavily regarded would make me believe they take better care of their elderly than the Northeast, where the pace is much faster.

                Finally, I liked Susan Sontag's "The Double Standard of Aging."  She discusses the differences men and women face when aging.  I found it interesting that she felt women feel more anxious and aware of their mortality than men.  Also that woman hesitates when asked to reveal their age as if it would create a problem for her in the eyes of the person asking.  I do believe there is a double standard, but some of those barriers are slowly coming down.  No longer is it just the silver foxes having a good time.  Welcome to the age of the cougar and the empowerment of older women.

misscomputernication

Hi, my name is Andrea Albanese and I am a junior working towards my Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. I have two Associates Degrees, one in Liberal Arts and the other in Business Transportation. I also studied at RISD earning my Interior Design Certificate. My most embarrassing moment would have to be a CAD (computer animated design) class I was taking at RISD. I had just construed a funnel that I had to turn into a piece of furniture. After all that work, I hit the wrong button somewhere and freaked! It took my professor some patience and his extreme knowledge of the program to retrieve my design. I would have to say I hardly recovered from that event. After that, I made sure I saved along the way to spare myself the embarrassment of losing my work and having to start from the beginning again.

Blackhawk travel through Iraq

1. Name, and what you prefer to be called:

 Andrea Albanese, but my friends call me Andi

2. Year in school:

 This is my junior year towards my bachelors, first year at URI

3. Major/minor:

 I attend part time and am in Interdisciplinary Studies.

4. Languages you speak:

 English, Italian (poco)

5. Which other women’s studies classes have you taken? (If none, N/A):

 Also taking GSW 301 this semister.

6. Which other popular culture studies classes have you taken? (If none, N/A):

 N/A

7. Why are you taking WMS 350?

It is an online course that fits into my degree program.  I also hoped to learn more about myself as I get older.  May have had a different idea of what this course was about. 

8. In my spare time I like to:

 Work out, read, hang out with my children watching movies or going out to eat.  Together we enjoy going to Maine white water rafting.  They are older now so I enjoy the time I have left with them while I can.

9. What is your favorite band/musician/song?

I have several favorite bands, but my favorite is Live.  My favorite musician is Jeffery Osborne, a Rhode Island local.  My favorite song is Overcome by Live.

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpCa7Ay596M&list=TLnKw71M-Bt6M

also Walk the line by Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_daJjRrv0A

also Home, Heaven and actually everything!  I love all their songs!

10. Movie?

While You Were Sleeping, The Parent Trap, Twilight series, Anything with Haley Joel Osmete except AI, Pride and Prejudice

11. TV show?

Chopped , any design show

12. website/video game?

 Facebook

13. Embed a picture of yourself that will help me learn names/faces!

 See above

14. Embed a video you like! (this could be a music video, tv show… anything!)

Posted a video of Iraq.