Care and Feeding of Seniors

 15.2% of the Population are 65 years of age and older...

13.4% of the Population are African Americans, Blacks, or People of Color...

There are more seniors in the United States than there are African Americans who collectively are pushing the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement...  and, while black lives do in fact matter, so too does ALL LIVES MATTER which is why I personally have a problem with the BLM movement to begin with.

Why separate blacks from all the other Americans?

BUT...  let's look at seniors.

They represent ONE out of SEVEN Americans.

and...  in many cases, these seniors are being treated for some kind of medical illness like heart disease, a variety of cancers and other illnesses associated with older people...  many of these seniors are living on Social Security payments which averages around $1,500/month nationwide...  which ain't much...  

A couple on Social Security might receive close to $3,000/month (if they are lucky) and in some locations around the country, $3,000/month is a livable wage...

However, the average cost of living ranges between $4,000 and $5,000 each month which is much higher than the average Social Security monthly allocation...

IF we are concerned about our BLACK POPULATION surely we should be worried about our SENIOR CITIZENS and how well that they are living, especially after working for America for over 40 years.

Today... in the Valley

Today...  is a "tad" chilly in East TN with a high temperature of in the low 50's which means very little if any work will be done outside...  but, starting Saturday, the temps will be in the 60's/70's and that trend will remain several days out into the future...  so, whatever outside  work was not accomplished today will have an opportunity to be completed in the near future.

For me, it does not matter if there is adverse weather conditions outside because I have plenty of things I need to do inside...  like prepare for next week's class on Personal Financial Planning that I am teaching for a local university, work on my blogs, and do a little cooking...

But, what is getting under my skin is the fact that I am counting my calories each day...  typically less than 2,000 each day and more often than not, averaging 1,500 +/- each day and instead of my weight going down, it is going up.  And that does not make any sense to me...  eating less...  weight going up...

However...

living in East TN is much different than living in a larger city, like Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles.  We don't have the traffic nor the crime in this area and the rural community where our home is located is quiet and serene and I feel secure enough to be able to walk around the community at any time of day or night.

For most of the morning at least until 10:00 am or so, I will watch FOX News and during the time that I am watching FOX, I will change the channels to CNN, CBS and sometimes ABC and NBC and what I have discovered is the fact that these other stations do not spend much time promoting the news that negatively reflects on the Biden administration.

I watch these other stations because I want to make sure that I get both sides of the story so I can make up my mind what to think and/or believe rather than be told what to think.  If I don't have access to both sides of the story, then I am receiving CENSORED NEWS.  I am against CENSORED NEWS being aired in a DEMOCRACY...

Today...  in East TN...  as long as I can watch FOX News, I am happy and content...   and, with that said...  I like the money that the Dems are spending and hope that they personally send me MORE...

My Faith

I was raised in a Christian home and we attended the United Methodist Church close to our home almost every Sunday without fail and our attendance included both Sunday School and Sunday Church Service.  I was baptized by my parents at a very young age and don't remember anything about the procedure...  so, 20 years ago, I was baptized again and was fully aware of the procedure and since it was in a Baptist Church, I was fully emerged in a tank of water.

After leaving high school my faith followed me even though I did not attend Church very often for one reason or another.  Once I was married, my wife and I attended an Episcopal Church which is not as odd as it sounds because we received free counseling if we attended on Sundays.

During my second marriage, my wife and I attended a Baptist Church and because of the Pastor and his enlightened religious philosophy and understanding and teachings, I decided to get baptized for a second time...  it was important to me that I made the decision rather than have that decision made for me by my parents.

The Pastor that baptized me was released from his contract with the Church because of receiving numerous DUI traffic violations.  While I did not intentionally put him on a pedestal, I did hold him in a position above everyone else and was incredibly disappointed. 

I have read the BIBLE cover-to-cover, took notes and copied passages on a CD for future reference and while I do not think about my faith everyday of the week but my faith is so embedded in my mind that it automatically follows me around everyday and allows me to appreciate the beauty all around me that has been created by our Creator.

Science tells me that our Universe was not created by our Creator that is was created by a BIG BANG and accelerated expansion probably from the explosion of a BLACK HOLE...  but, science cannot explain where all the matter inside this BLACK HOLE came from...  that is to say, did this stuff just appear out of nowhere...  and, this is where my faith comes in because it explains what science cannot explain.

AND...  while I had no idea after leaving high school where I would end up in life, my life was actually predetermined for me and while I made choices, these choices were orchestrated in such a way that I ended up where I am today...  in other words, I was supposed to end up here regardless of what I did to take me in another direction.

ALSO...  all my skills and natural abilities were given to me as a gift from our Creator.  I did not give myself these gifts nor did my parents...  so, they had to come from somewhere...  I am where I am for a reason...  and my purpose in life may not be shared with me but it will be made clear to me when it is appropriate...  until then, I just live my life.

Good Friday

Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Holy and Great Friday), and Black Friday.

Members of many Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox and Reformed traditions, observe Good Friday with fasting and church services. Communicants of the Moravian Church have a Good Friday tradition of cleaning gravestones in Moravian cemeteries.

The date of Good Friday varies from one year to the next on both the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Eastern and Western Christianity disagree over the computation of the date of Easter and therefore of Good Friday. Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world, including in most Western countries and 12 U.S. states. Some countries, such as Germany, have laws prohibiting certain acts, such as dancing and horse racing, that are seen as profaning the solemn nature of the day.  SOURCE:  Wikipedia

The Reticular Activating System

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a network of neurons located in the brain stem that project anteriorly to the hypothalamus to mediate behavior, as well as both posteriorly to the thalamus and directly to the cortex for activation of awake, desynchronized cortical EEG patterns.  From: Textbook of Clinical Neurology (Third Edition), 2007

The reticular activating system spans an extensive portion of the brainstem. Most of the neurons comprising the midbrain reticular formation lie dorsal and lateral to the red nuclei. Complex interactions between multiple neurotransmitters modulate the action of the reticular activating system with both cholinergic and adrenergic neurotransmission having key roles. The reticular activating system's fundamental role is regulating arousal and sleep−wake transitions. The ascending reticular activating system projects to the intralaminar nuclei of the thalami, which projects diffusely to the cerebral cortex. The ascending projections of the reticular activating system enhance the attentive state of the cortex and facilitate conscious perception of sensory stimuli. Additionally, the collective role of the brainstem reticular formation is to regulate autonomic function, muscle reflexes, and tone. From:  Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences (second edition)

According to The Pacific Institute, the reticular activating system regulates mental motivation and the subconscious movement towards a goal or a destination through not just positive affirmation but actually believing that you deserve the goal...  I know this for a fact because I was sent to a 3 day class by my employer that was being taught by employees of The Pacific Institute.

It's a Plan

 

WOKING Up

 

Systemic Racism

 

Ain't This the Truth

 

Believe it or Not

 

COVID America -- East TN

 TODAY...  was the end of a two week wait after my 2rd COVID vaccine shot...  so, now I am 96% protected against all forms of the virus...

How does that make me feel?

Well...  when others have asked me that same question, I typically answer by saying "I FEEL WITH MY FINGERS."  And...  that response usually elicits some mild form of laughter...  not wanting to give me the impression that I have said anything that was really too funny.

BUT...  knowing that I am protected is a good feeling especially because of my on going battles with:  heart disease, lymphoma, melanoma, and hypothyroidism all of which has contributed to my constant fatigue, low immunity and anemia.

HOWEVER...  I will continue to wear my facemask in public and I will continue to wash my hands often especially when I am in public or going to a doctor's appointment...  and, since I am currently teaching a night class for a local university, I will be protecting myself there as well.

My concern about COVID will for the most part end once we develop herd immunity in the US and once we get control over the COVID that is being brought into the US as a result of our current immigration policies...  and while it does not really impact me, living in East TN, immigration could have a negative impact on our country in the months to come.

MEANWHILE...  my wife and I are planning several trips down to the Gulf Coast and to the East Coast, specifically Myrtle Beach, SC (above).  Myrtle Beach is not a place that attracts millionaires and billionaires but it is a place where my wife and I can stay in an efficiency apartment for a week for $1,200 and sit in lounge chairs with umbrellas for under $150 for that same week and spend $50 a night (or less - including tips) on dinner for a total of $250...  Our round trip visit usually involves 3 tanks of gasoline for about $100.  Our total visit cost is $1,800 +/- and since we received $6,400 in total stimulus checks as a result of this pandemic, we will be able to use the stimulus to pay for 3.5 visits before needing to use our own money...

As far as I am concerned, the Democrats can keep the money flowing, especially since it will not be me that will be responsible for our National Debt nor will it be me that suffers should the FED print up a bunch of money to pay off the debt resulting in a severe dilution of the value of the US dollar.  That dilution will not be necessary until after I am dead.

PERFECT TIMING FOR ME...

Do We Need Religious Institutions?

 TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. You shall have no other Gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony
10. You shall not covet

Religious institutions put the ten commandment in their sermons that the clergy deliver to congregations over and over again in a variety of lessons and proverbs, etc. in the hopes that their congregations will finally follow Jesus' teachings...

But, why do we make the assumption that our congregations are intellectual void and cannot manage their own feelings and follow the ten commandments on their own without constant reminders?

I am an adult.

I am an educated adult.

I am a well educated adult.

I am a retired adult after working for 45 years.

I have read the Bible cover to cover.

Do I need to be constantly reminded by clergy that I should follow the Ten Commandments or do I think that I can remind myself and use my own personality to make sure that I adhere to the Ten Commandments?

If I can do this on my own...  why do I need to attend Church on Sundays?

It is said that there is fellowship going on in Church with like minded people...  and, while that may be true to some extent, my experience is that most of these people in Church that I saw behave in a completely different manner Monday through Saturday when not in Church...  consequently, I have no desire to fellowship with hypocrites...

My fellowship is completed with NATURE...  animals, the environment, rain showers, snow falls, spring flowers, birds of all shapes and sizes, sunsets and sunrises...  and all the fresh air that I can breathe into my lungs by living in the country.

I fellowship with God and His creations everyday...

It don't no better than that...

WHITE PRIVILEGE

 Most of the wealthy people in the USA are white and became wealthy because of WHITE PRIVILEGE...

I am a white person

I am not wealthy

BUT...  I am still being accused of receiving my life's success because of WHITE PRIVILEGE...

Absurd...

because I have never earned an annual salary of over $50,000 during my 45 year career...

compare that to WHITES

who

earned millions and billions

and their careers are not even half over...

WHITE PRIVILEGE pertains to the WHITE WEALTHY not the WHITE POOR...

The Rest of US

 THE WEALTHY SHOULD FINANCIALLY TAKE CARE OF THE REST 

OF US...  IN AMERICA...

Share your money with the rest of us

Share your success with the rest of us

Share your special skills with the rest of us

America is financially DIVIDED...

Wealthy versus the poor

Wealthy versus the middle class

Billionaires versus Millionaires

Our government should not force the Wealthy to pay higher taxes, the wealthy should want to help the rest of us simply because we don't have the skills and/or ability to acquire the wealth like you did.

If we had those same skills, we would be as wealthy as you are but we don't have those skills so why should be penalized because you were BLESSED...

We all need to be successful.

You got your wealth because of WHITE PRIVILEGE and the rest of us have not had an opportunity to enjoy WHITE PRIVILEGE...

April Fool's Day

History of April Fool's Day...

On April 1, 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools’ Day by playing practical jokes on each other.

Although the day, also called All Fools’ Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery.

Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.

These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as poisson d’avril (April fish), said to symbolize a young, “easily hooked” fish and a gullible person.

April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.  SOURCE:  History.com

Global Concerns

The USA has the following serious ENEMIES...

1. Russia
2. China
3. North Korea
4. Iran 
5. Syria
6. Afghanistan

BUT, the liberals, the progressives, and the Democrats do not see these 6 countries as enemies to the US of A...

Oddly enough,

China, Russia, and North Korea just formed a coalition against the USA

Russia and Iran just formed a coalition against the USA

AND,

the Biden Administration is considering reducing the MILITARY BUDGET to help pay for his spending increase...

It has been reported by reliable sources that:

• China has a bigger Army than the USA
• China has a bigger Navy than the USA
• China has a bigger Air Forces than the USA
• China has more missiles than the USA
• China has more fiber optic cable laid than the USA
• China's economy is growing faster than the USA

The Middle East has SWORN JIHAD against America and to America's DEATH...  and, terrorists continue to plan attacks against the USA and/or it allies.

The moment we reduce our military we are letting the rest of the world know that AMERICA is VULNERABLE...

BIDEN's focus is on:

1. Increasing government spending
2. Increasing immigration
3. Increasing taxes on corporations
4. Censoring the conservative voice
5. Making sure conservatives never have a majority

Online Instruction Versus Classroom Instruction

I have taught college/university classes in the classroom and online and have designed both classroom and online curriculum for other instructors who have been asked to teach either of these outcomes are both...

AND,

I have taught class at this level for over 20 years in my 45 year Educational Career...

In my opinion (and opinions are like buttholes since everyone has one) in the classroom is much preferred over online classes...  especially since, online classes have been designed with BUSY WORK in mind...  for example:

it is estimated that a student reads ONE PAGE in three minutes...  so, it is then estimated that 10 pages of reading would take 30 minutes and 20 pages of reading would take an hour...  so, 20 pages is always selected.

There are ONE to TWO Discussion Questions that are always asked each week...  the students are required to visit the Forum 3 times for each questions, making a comment and responding to 2 other comments.  Each response must be OF SUBSTANCE...  not just "I agree."

There is always a research project where 1-3 sites must be visited and a 2-3 page paper 10 point font or 250-300 words per page) written that is hardly ever graded for grammar and punctuation mistakes.

There is always a weekly quiz that has T/F, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank, and Essay questions...  and oftentimes, the quizzes are not timed, can stop and begin later if needed, and no oversight to see if the student is using the textbook or has another person answering the questions on behalf of the registered student.

There may or may not be a team project because if there is a team project, there has to be an agreed upon time for all the students on that team to meet and sometimes that is difficult to arrange when students are working various shifts at work.

Others things can take place like watching videos or slide shows to get the material across in addition to the Chapter Readings.

VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER TAKES PLACE IN ONLINE CLASSES.

Online classes are preferred by teachers because there is less work involved that teaching in a classroom plus instructors teach from home and can work on these classes a little bit at a time throughout the day and throughout the week. 

For the Student, much more time is spent in an online class than is spent in a classroom class plus the student typically finds it difficult to get the instructor to respond to emails in a timely manner which is frustrating as well...  and, there is no time set aside for tutoring by the instructor which is available in the classroom.

Discussion Forums do not adequately replace in person discussions that can develop into respectful debates and learning opportunities.

OWL Technology in the Classroom

Shippensburg University has implemented the Meeting Owl Pro in the majority of its classrooms in order to accommodate students who elect to participate in classes remotely.

The Meeting Owl Pro is an all-in-one tracking camera/microphone system that connects to Zoom on the classroom instructor’s station. The camera is designed to track one or more active speakers by tracking the location of their voice(s) in the room. The camera then focuses on and tracks their movement, providing a clear image of in-room participants to those who are remotely connected to Zoom.

The microphone in Meeting Owl Pro is designed to capture speech and audio from 15+ feet away, making it a robust solution to streaming classes and capturing both student and faculty input.
How it works

The video below outlines how classrooms will look for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, including a demo and description of the Meeting Owl Pro.

Faculty training/support
Faculty wishing to learn more about using the Meeting Owl Pro in their assigned classrooms can view the recording of the Meeting Owl & Classroom Technology Demo/Training held in late July 2020.

Those interested in using a secondary device, such as a tablet or laptop, to help moderate Zoom sessions and/or share content wirelessly can view the walkthrough video below created by Dr. Kimberly Presser from the Mathematics department.

Sharing content
Faculty who are utilizing classrooms that have students participating remotely are encouraged to use the Share Screen function in Zoom. This ensures that students who are attending in-person can see content being shared from the computer via the projection screen, and that remote participants in Zoom can also see the screen.

This is particularly important when using the whiteboard. Rather than using the traditional whiteboard or chalkboard in a room, consider alternative digital whiteboarding programs. One example is the whiteboard built into Zoom – just click on Share Screen and choose the Whiteboard option.

All classrooms have been outfitted with a touchscreen display, so faculty have the option to use their finger or any capacitive stylus to write or draw on the screen. This works in any whiteboard software as well as in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and a variety of other applications.

Photography

 

Thoughts of an Ordinary Kind

Very few people read my blogs, especially this one so I do not really care about what I write nor do I care if you like what I write or not...  but, the sad truth is that I am going to continue to do this because I am retired and writing articles that no one is going to read gives me something to do each day.  Besides, if I did have a large following and wrote something that offended someone, the WOKE Mob would do every thing in their power to cancel me out.  Of course, I would still write until they actually convinced BLOGGER to shut me down...  and if that happened, I would go to another free blog site and start another blog that no one would read...  So, I really don't have anything to lose.

Interestingly, having nothing to lose reminds me of a serial killer who believes that if s/he kills more than one person, then the State can only kill them once.  So, the killer has nothing to lose by killing more than one person.  I thought that was a concept with a little irony since most killers would like to stay in prison all their lives rather than be put to death...  but, this one killer had a different outlook.

Today's society is screwed up and the more screwed up it becomes the more people seem to like the way the county is heading.  Personally, I don't really care one way or another.  I am tired of the roller coaster that Politicians create...  like Dems put this into place and then the GOP does the opposite and then the Dems put back into place and the GOP does the opposite.  Nothing ever gets done.

We need ONE PARTY to control America like a DEMOCRATIC DICTATORSHIP where the Democrats are elected but then they have complete authority and power because there is NO PARTY to oppose them.  The media would like that as well because it would be totally clear who to BLAME if something goes wrong, since they would no longer be able to blame the previous party.

BUT...  I do like the Dems spending money...  and the more money they spend the better I like it.  It is like having a wealthy family member who wants to share some of their wealth with the rest of the family.

Oh well...  what does it matter since no one is going to read this anyway...  Gotta run folks...  but I will be here tomorrow for a little while post more thoughts that no one will read...   Damn, you gotta love being retired.