Why are none of the pundits or candidates discussing the dangers facing the global environment? Have the problems of global climate change, resource depletion, evaporating food and water supplies, debasement of huge swaths of our planet's surface disappeared?
While the corporate hegemony focuses on the expanding economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China (the BRIC countries), has the challenge of meeting the inevitably surging consumer demands that result from this economic expansion been solved? Has it become possible that all countries now can share in the lavish lifestyle of first world countries without endangering the already threatened ecosystem of Mother Earth?
While glaciers melt, sea levels rise, depleting fossil fuel sources open gaping holes in the ozone layer, and human population continues to grow, perhaps our species is not really accelerating its rush to extinction?
Surely if this were not the case, environmental issues would lead political and public discussion, not be largely ignored by it?
Here's what I think...
Monday, January 16, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Caveat Emptor Ekornes?
Roughly 11 years ago my husband and I visited Stickley Furniture in Albany. I can't even remember what we were shopping for. We sat down side-by-side in two identical chairs to rest our bones and a 10 year love affair began. After a minute or so we looked at each other and said, "these chairs are REALLY comfortable." We ended up buying two of them before we even knew they were Ekornes Stressless Loungers - a ground-breaking ergonomic triumph created by a Norwegian company.
They were expensive. We decided they were our birthday, anniversary and Christmas gifts to each other for the next year and a half and never regretted it. For 10 years we sat in comfort and knew if the hips or back ached a session in "our" chairs would ease the pain. My mother fell in love with the chairs during her visits and 3 years ago I took her up to Albany and she purchased one for herself.
And that is when the story began to change. Within a year, the arm came off her chair. Reattached once. The second time the screws were irretrievable.
Despite Mom's experience, last January Bill and I decided the time had come to replace our chairs. Constant, rough wear had beaten up the leather on his and mine, although less worn, would be replaced so we could have a matching set.
The new chairs were over twice as expensive as the original ones. The store models were not as comfortable and a new sizing system was awkward, but we finally selected two we felt would suit us. I have been missing my old chair since the day a friend took it off my hands and the new ones arrived. The new chair is awkward at the back of my neck, although better than when I first started using it. It is definitely NOT as comfortable as the original Ekornes Stressless Lounger, and both chairs are already showing deterioration of their leather. Despite being far more expensive, the new ones are much lighter (what is that about?).
I Googled to see if other owners were having problems and found some negative comments, but mostly raves. Personally I feel Ekornes has made the same mistake Coca Cola did when they changed their formula back in the 80s. Coca Cola quickly rectified its mistake. It does not appear Ekornes intends to return to its original model - the one that established its reputation for excellence and eased the backs of so many weary customers.
Sad.
They were expensive. We decided they were our birthday, anniversary and Christmas gifts to each other for the next year and a half and never regretted it. For 10 years we sat in comfort and knew if the hips or back ached a session in "our" chairs would ease the pain. My mother fell in love with the chairs during her visits and 3 years ago I took her up to Albany and she purchased one for herself.
And that is when the story began to change. Within a year, the arm came off her chair. Reattached once. The second time the screws were irretrievable.
Despite Mom's experience, last January Bill and I decided the time had come to replace our chairs. Constant, rough wear had beaten up the leather on his and mine, although less worn, would be replaced so we could have a matching set.
The new chairs were over twice as expensive as the original ones. The store models were not as comfortable and a new sizing system was awkward, but we finally selected two we felt would suit us. I have been missing my old chair since the day a friend took it off my hands and the new ones arrived. The new chair is awkward at the back of my neck, although better than when I first started using it. It is definitely NOT as comfortable as the original Ekornes Stressless Lounger, and both chairs are already showing deterioration of their leather. Despite being far more expensive, the new ones are much lighter (what is that about?).
I Googled to see if other owners were having problems and found some negative comments, but mostly raves. Personally I feel Ekornes has made the same mistake Coca Cola did when they changed their formula back in the 80s. Coca Cola quickly rectified its mistake. It does not appear Ekornes intends to return to its original model - the one that established its reputation for excellence and eased the backs of so many weary customers.
Sad.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
OMG - Where is the Shut-off Valve?!?!
The Romans knew it and so, I believe did the Babylonians. Civilization is NOT possible without good plumbing. Plumbing - the management of water access and waste removal. No modern American home functions without it. But when things go wrong - your life can head south in a hurry.
Today my daughter experienced a leak in the home she and her husband purchased just 2.5 years ago. The main shut-off valve did not stop the flow. WTF?!?! Evidently a separate line with a separate shut-off was laid for the refrigerator and its ice/water mechanism. It took seven hours work by a master plumber to locate the line and shut off valve that was trapped behind sheet rock, stop the water source and fix the leak. The line was illegally (not according to code) installed.
At the end of the ordeal, my daughter was a basket case (she is my daughter, after all), the day had been wasted and the plumber's bill promised to be astronomic and she had a brand new hole in the wall.
Please tell me again why our educational system focuses on the "professional" fields and college educations while the trades are left to scramble?
Shut-off valves are only important when they are urgently needed. It is a VERY good idea to know where they are located and how they work. When it comes to plumbing, sooner or later shit will happen.
Today my daughter experienced a leak in the home she and her husband purchased just 2.5 years ago. The main shut-off valve did not stop the flow. WTF?!?! Evidently a separate line with a separate shut-off was laid for the refrigerator and its ice/water mechanism. It took seven hours work by a master plumber to locate the line and shut off valve that was trapped behind sheet rock, stop the water source and fix the leak. The line was illegally (not according to code) installed.
At the end of the ordeal, my daughter was a basket case (she is my daughter, after all), the day had been wasted and the plumber's bill promised to be astronomic and she had a brand new hole in the wall.
Please tell me again why our educational system focuses on the "professional" fields and college educations while the trades are left to scramble?
Shut-off valves are only important when they are urgently needed. It is a VERY good idea to know where they are located and how they work. When it comes to plumbing, sooner or later shit will happen.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Smokin in the Girls' Room
1964. Senior in high school. Every study hall I asked for a bathroom pass and once there, quickly entered a stall, lit up a Tareyton and smoked a few drags, dropped the butt in the toilet and flushed. Yes, it did flush in those days. Returned to study hall where my neighboring seatmates caught the whiff of tobacco and looked at me with varying degrees of "knowing what you just did" to "how pathetic" and the inevitable goody two shoes "you are soooo disgusting."
Spring 2011 my husband of 44 years, suffering from an absolutely devastating case of the flu, decides to give up his pipe. (He gave up cigarettes 20 years ago.) Fall 2011, my husband starts to make comments about how much the smell of cigarette smoke bothers him. December 2011, in the darkest hours of one night, I hear my husband wheezing as he sleeps. I already have accepted I cannot smoke in the house when my kids, mother or grandchildren visit. Now I have to go out when He is home.
Late December 2011, On nice days and nights, I alternate with trips to the front porch - it's amazing what goes on in the neighborhood after dark. I have not had this many chats with my next door neighbor (who has been smoking outside for over 20 years) in about 20 years! Also a very nice early morning chat with my neighbor on the other side (non-smoker but an early riser who was tinkering with her Christmas decorations). Probably would not otherwise have spotted Orion hit the early evening sky. Saw a spectacular Jupiter give a show in December. Caught two absolutely gorgeous full moons (plus half moon, crescent moons and of course, the dark of the moon).
The downside? During cold, stormy weather, I am once again smokin the the girls' room with the vent on and the door closed.
Spring 2011 my husband of 44 years, suffering from an absolutely devastating case of the flu, decides to give up his pipe. (He gave up cigarettes 20 years ago.) Fall 2011, my husband starts to make comments about how much the smell of cigarette smoke bothers him. December 2011, in the darkest hours of one night, I hear my husband wheezing as he sleeps. I already have accepted I cannot smoke in the house when my kids, mother or grandchildren visit. Now I have to go out when He is home.
Late December 2011, On nice days and nights, I alternate with trips to the front porch - it's amazing what goes on in the neighborhood after dark. I have not had this many chats with my next door neighbor (who has been smoking outside for over 20 years) in about 20 years! Also a very nice early morning chat with my neighbor on the other side (non-smoker but an early riser who was tinkering with her Christmas decorations). Probably would not otherwise have spotted Orion hit the early evening sky. Saw a spectacular Jupiter give a show in December. Caught two absolutely gorgeous full moons (plus half moon, crescent moons and of course, the dark of the moon).
The downside? During cold, stormy weather, I am once again smokin the the girls' room with the vent on and the door closed.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Beanie Babies and stuff - IMO Janice Koweek
This time of year I think of Jan. She owned the world's best toy store during the year's my daughters were growing up. Each year's presents were kept on the third floor until we picked them up Christmas Eve. The Barbie dolls; the Barbie cruise ship; the Princess Leah doll; the games; the kids' table and chairs. Her store had them all.
Walking into The Town Fair, the girls entered a "kid friendly" place. A place of wonder and wonderful surprises and displays. In our small town, all the kids were familiar to Jan and her employees. Every birthday, every Christmas, every time the girls had saved up enough to buy that special Barbie outfit or Star Wars figure, we headed for the store.
And Jan would slip something into our bags of purchases we had not chosen. Something she knew I loved. A beanie baby toy. Soft, cuddly, adorable. She warned her customers that these were not investments, they were toys. Today they are worth about the same or less than they paid for them then. But I have a small collection of them that I treasure. Tiny reminders of a woman who always gave full value to her customers. A woman who gave generously to every local service organization that petitioned for a donation. A woman who knew her customers by name. A woman who was one of the greatest friends I have had in my life.
Every Christmas Eve our family would march into The Town Fair to pick up that year's Christmas gifts and to give Jan and her husband Art our homemade gifts of baked goods, ornaments, and cookies. It was a major part of our Christmas celebration.
Unfortunately, The Town Fair closed its doors before my granddaughters (now 10 and 6) were able to experience its delights. But my daughters treasure the memories spawned there. And I? I have a small collection of Beanie Babies that Jan slipped into our bags. It is hard to believe Jan left us over five years ago.
IMO Jan Koweek
For her myriad acts of kindness to my family and myself, I give thanks.
For her attentive involvement in the large and small matters of my life, I give thanks.
For her sound counsel, advice and unflagging support, I give thanks.
For her steadfast example of how to grow a worthwhile life, I give thanks.
For her keen, often irreverent sense of humor, I give thanks
For her warmth, hospitality, generosity and caring, I give thanks.
By her incredible fortitude in the face of suffering,
Most remarkable expressed in her unfailing kindness and her famous and atrocious puns, I am awed.
For the greatest gift of all, knowing her as friend for thirty-six years, I rejoice and give thanks to God.
Farewell dear friend, you are most sorely missed.
IMO Janice Koweek.
Walking into The Town Fair, the girls entered a "kid friendly" place. A place of wonder and wonderful surprises and displays. In our small town, all the kids were familiar to Jan and her employees. Every birthday, every Christmas, every time the girls had saved up enough to buy that special Barbie outfit or Star Wars figure, we headed for the store.
And Jan would slip something into our bags of purchases we had not chosen. Something she knew I loved. A beanie baby toy. Soft, cuddly, adorable. She warned her customers that these were not investments, they were toys. Today they are worth about the same or less than they paid for them then. But I have a small collection of them that I treasure. Tiny reminders of a woman who always gave full value to her customers. A woman who gave generously to every local service organization that petitioned for a donation. A woman who knew her customers by name. A woman who was one of the greatest friends I have had in my life.
Every Christmas Eve our family would march into The Town Fair to pick up that year's Christmas gifts and to give Jan and her husband Art our homemade gifts of baked goods, ornaments, and cookies. It was a major part of our Christmas celebration.
Unfortunately, The Town Fair closed its doors before my granddaughters (now 10 and 6) were able to experience its delights. But my daughters treasure the memories spawned there. And I? I have a small collection of Beanie Babies that Jan slipped into our bags. It is hard to believe Jan left us over five years ago.
IMO Jan Koweek
For her myriad acts of kindness to my family and myself, I give thanks.
For her attentive involvement in the large and small matters of my life, I give thanks.
For her sound counsel, advice and unflagging support, I give thanks.
For her steadfast example of how to grow a worthwhile life, I give thanks.
For her keen, often irreverent sense of humor, I give thanks
For her warmth, hospitality, generosity and caring, I give thanks.
By her incredible fortitude in the face of suffering,
Most remarkable expressed in her unfailing kindness and her famous and atrocious puns, I am awed.
For the greatest gift of all, knowing her as friend for thirty-six years, I rejoice and give thanks to God.
Farewell dear friend, you are most sorely missed.
IMO Janice Koweek.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Payroll Taxes and Funding Social Security - A Contrarian Viewpoint
Another December and once again payroll tax cuts are "on the table." I opposed them last December. I oppose their extension beyond the end of the year and I adamantly oppose increasing the payroll tax cuts.
"But why?" You ask. "We thought you were a big liberal. All the liberals support the payroll tax cuts."
I oppose the cuts because:
1. In 2011 they cost roughly $120 billion that did not go to support Social Security benefits and accellerated Social Security's inevitable arrival at "cash flow negative" and the depletion of the Social Security Trust Fund.
"That's what the Social Security Trust Fund is for," proponents argue.
True. But the cuts increase demands on the Trust Fund and decrease the number of years it will last.
2. Social Security has succeeded because it was NOT an unfunded entitlement program. It was fully funded. It is threatened because it will, at current levels of contributions, cease being funded when the Social Security Trust Fund runs dry. Contributions should be increased - by crashing through the ceiling on contributions (currently $106,800 of earned income).
"The shortfall will be funded by other taxes or the general fund," my fellow liberals retort.
Right. How long do you expect THAT to last if Obama loses in 2012 and Republicans gain control of both houses? 5 minutes sounds optimistic to me.
3. Tax cuts have NOT proven to be terribly effective tools for economic recovery. More jobs is the best way to raise government revenues and support safety net programs.
Many of my fellow Americans, liberal, conservative and libertarian have been convinced the population demographic dooms safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security. I believe the greatest threat to these programs is not aging baby boomers, but the ever increasing concentration of our nation's wealth in the hands of a shrinking minority of its citizens and the eroding income of the 99 percent.
I am not sure I am a Progressive. I believe our government should pay for what it spends, not borrow to cover operating expenditures. On the other hand, capital expenditures (i.e. infrastructure, education, research and development) can be amortized over time.
For now, it looks to me like it is the liberals who may in the end be responsible for putting the final nail in the coffin of this country's hard-won safety nets. The radical right must be licking their lips in anticipation.
"But why?" You ask. "We thought you were a big liberal. All the liberals support the payroll tax cuts."
I oppose the cuts because:
1. In 2011 they cost roughly $120 billion that did not go to support Social Security benefits and accellerated Social Security's inevitable arrival at "cash flow negative" and the depletion of the Social Security Trust Fund.
"That's what the Social Security Trust Fund is for," proponents argue.
True. But the cuts increase demands on the Trust Fund and decrease the number of years it will last.
2. Social Security has succeeded because it was NOT an unfunded entitlement program. It was fully funded. It is threatened because it will, at current levels of contributions, cease being funded when the Social Security Trust Fund runs dry. Contributions should be increased - by crashing through the ceiling on contributions (currently $106,800 of earned income).
"The shortfall will be funded by other taxes or the general fund," my fellow liberals retort.
Right. How long do you expect THAT to last if Obama loses in 2012 and Republicans gain control of both houses? 5 minutes sounds optimistic to me.
3. Tax cuts have NOT proven to be terribly effective tools for economic recovery. More jobs is the best way to raise government revenues and support safety net programs.
Many of my fellow Americans, liberal, conservative and libertarian have been convinced the population demographic dooms safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security. I believe the greatest threat to these programs is not aging baby boomers, but the ever increasing concentration of our nation's wealth in the hands of a shrinking minority of its citizens and the eroding income of the 99 percent.
I am not sure I am a Progressive. I believe our government should pay for what it spends, not borrow to cover operating expenditures. On the other hand, capital expenditures (i.e. infrastructure, education, research and development) can be amortized over time.
For now, it looks to me like it is the liberals who may in the end be responsible for putting the final nail in the coffin of this country's hard-won safety nets. The radical right must be licking their lips in anticipation.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Too Much Stuff
I clear off the dining room table, disseminating the mail to: business, home, my spouse, myself. But there is still that hand-embroidered holiday tablecloth I have to find a place for. The drop-leaf table that serves as a credenza in my home office stubbornly refuses to let me clear it to the point I can put that leaf down that is SUPPOSED to elevate ONLY for the day I do my household accounts. Medicare stuff for me and my spouse. The camera with pictures still not uploaded to the computer. The Cd's I have yet to copy onto my IPod. The odd notes, forms and notices I don't dare to file until I am absolutely sure they are no longer needed. If I can't clear it off, where the HELL am I going to wrap holiday gifts?
My computer desk is covered with notes on pending matters. Charges on my debit card that have not yet come through. Notices from my health insurance company that have to be matched against invoices from my health providers to guarantee each charge is correct and balanced.
The cards for my current health care coverage and the cards for the coverage that begins January 1. The notices from Medicare for me and for my spouse whose coverage will begin in February. The coupon from JC Penney that is only good until Christmas. The receipts for all those online Christmas gift orders. The note on the electrician's visit - oh right, he came last Thursday. I can toss that one, but where the hell is the invoice?
Three books I am currently in different stages of reading. Four small yellow pads with important notes on the first page that I do not DARE to discard. The binder containing "Medicare and You."
I have way too much stuff and way too little space in which to store it. Every time I try to clear some of it out, it seems to say "Wait, you might need this later."
Time for a bonfire in the backyard?
My computer desk is covered with notes on pending matters. Charges on my debit card that have not yet come through. Notices from my health insurance company that have to be matched against invoices from my health providers to guarantee each charge is correct and balanced.
The cards for my current health care coverage and the cards for the coverage that begins January 1. The notices from Medicare for me and for my spouse whose coverage will begin in February. The coupon from JC Penney that is only good until Christmas. The receipts for all those online Christmas gift orders. The note on the electrician's visit - oh right, he came last Thursday. I can toss that one, but where the hell is the invoice?
Three books I am currently in different stages of reading. Four small yellow pads with important notes on the first page that I do not DARE to discard. The binder containing "Medicare and You."
I have way too much stuff and way too little space in which to store it. Every time I try to clear some of it out, it seems to say "Wait, you might need this later."
Time for a bonfire in the backyard?
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