January 2012 - Time Goes By - The Network of Care

Crabby Old Lady's Customer Service Success

Last week, Crabby Old Lady's internet and television provider, Comcast, sent a letter with a big bold telephone number and headline asking, Are You Getting the Best Value? In November, when the company raised her monthly fee again (as they... Read...

Published Wed, Jan 11 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

ELDER MUSIC: Some Classical Couth

This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to... Read More...

Published Sun, Jan 15 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

Are You More Conservative or More Liberal Than When You Were Younger?

The results at the Republican Iowa caucuses on Tuesday were striking for the age breakdown of the vote. In the 40-49 age group, the largest bloc – 25 percent – voted for Rick Santorum. So did the largest bloc of... Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 05 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

Contest Winner, Jobs and Social Security

Now don't go thinking those three topics in the headline have anything to do with each other. They're just what's on my mind right now so I am including them all today. CONTEST WINNER From the number of entrants in... Read More...

Published Mon, Jan 09 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

How We Might Come to Terms with Death

I am aware that what I'm about to write is a long-ish, roundabout way of getting to my point today, but I think it is relevant. If it's not, I'm sure you will let me know. A recent email exchange... Read More...

Published Mon, Jan 23 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

Mr. President: Don't Sell Out American Elders

[RONNI HERE: It wears me out that every few months President Barack Obama scares the bejesus out old people by saying something about "strengthening" Social Security which everyone knows is code for cutting it. He did it again in the... Read...

Published Fri, Jan 27 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

It's All Iowa's Fault

The Iowa Republican Caucuses, being held tomorrow, are giving Crabby Old Lady heartburn. What a rotten, miserable event for the first big thing of a brand new year. Crabby can no longer recall a time when, natural disasters aside, Iowa... Read More.....

Published Mon, Jan 02 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

What Old Timey Print Ads Tell Us

Within an hour or so of each other on the weekend, emails arrived from two friends – one from Nancy Leitz whom you know from her family tales at The Elder Storytelling Place and the other from John Brandt, whom... Read More...

Published Tue, Jan 31 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

INTERESTING STUFF: 14 January 2012

IT TAKES A CAT... ...to know how to puncture human pomposity. We could put this one to good use on the Republican presidential campaign trail. NICE BOOKSHELVES Having spent the past couple of days assembling 14 feet of bookcases six... Read More...

Published Sat, Jan 14 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

Watching Out for Elder Scams and Fraud

As a general rule – no, I take that back. As a hard and fast rule, never, ever fall for anyone offering free anything. A mid-2010 survey by Investor Protection Trust revealed that 7.3 million older Americans – 20 percent... Read More...

Published Wed, Jan 18 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

Toad Spots: A Minor Affliction of Old Age

As long as we are already talking about non-life threatening medical conditions of old age this week (see Hair Thinning story), why not follow up today with another which Darlene Costner identified in yesterday's comments: ”Now write about those ugly...

Published Wed, Jan 04 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

ELDER MUSIC: Class of 55

You never know who you're going to meet on the internet and I came to know Peter Tibbles (bio here) via email over the past couple of years. His extensive knowledge of most genres of music and his excellent taste... Read More...

Published Sun, Jan 08 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

ELDER MUSIC: Georgia on my Mind

This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to... Read More...

Published Sun, Jan 22 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

<em>Tribes of Eden</em> by Dr. Bill Thomas

So much to read; so little time. Of the 200,000 or so books published each year (that's just in the U.S.), I learn of – oh, maybe several hundred through reviews, advertisements, personal internet alerts, publisher requests for blog mentions... Read...

Published Thu, Jan 26 2012 5:30 AM by TIME GOES BY

ELDER MUSIC: Toes Up in 2011 - Part 2