MaryPage, it may have been manufacturing that I was thinking of when I opened my big cyber mouth.  I do know when our big local bank was bought by a bigger area bank, some locations were closed because they were too close together.  People were offered transfers, some of them out of town, if there was room in another location.  While service is good with the area bank, it isn't as personal as when we had a local bank. 

Tom told me this morning that my washer had bit the dust.  I don't understand why because it is only 35 years old.  I'll probably pay as much for a washer as what I paid for a washer and dryer 35 years ago.  I would like to put new ones upstairs but I'd have to remodel my bathroom and possibly a closet, so I doubt I'll go that route.  Tom was telling how much more convenient it would be to go to the laundromat up the road, but I don't want to be the one to wait while the loads are washing and drying.  I probably will get a new dryer too because the heating element has been replaced once.  Money is just rushing out the door right now! 

Mary Ann

Larry, I just sampled the Apple Pie Snaps. They are a mild taste with just a hint of spice. Will be great with hot chocolate or ice cream.


Mary Page, I agree about not losing jobs when a foreign company buys a US company. My concern is more along the line of the political influence these companies may have via lobbying and other such pressures. I haven't looked deeply into the situation, so I don't know if my concerns are unfounded or not.

Marilyne Mondalez, a spin off from Kraft Foods, put in a bid to buy Hershey. They have since withdrawn the bid. You are probably thinking of Hershey's decision to send some of their candy production to Mexico, including my beloved York Peppermint Patties. I am thinking it makes economic sense to Hershey because Mexico is one of the top ten cocoa producing countries, and therefore, is closer to the source. I wouldn't be surprised if, besides lower labor costs, that shipping costs for raw materials are lower too.

MaryAnn.  I never did replace washer and dryer as mine needed to be stackups. Cost about $1600 now. The big Laundry is just down the street from me. Massive as it takes care of the 3 big hospitals. I have known him for years. He mus have millions invested in it. Has every size . Some will hold as much as 5 loads. These I will put all my rugs in and do myself. Only takes 1 hour and the girl watches while I run to library and places.  But the rest I have them Launder. Sheets. towels things like that. They come back to me perfect. Folded like new. Same with tops, jeans, pants. Beautiful Job. Will never do my own again. I just drop them of yesterday and will pick up today.  We had that system as I was growing up and now I see why mother did it.  If I could only get someone to do the housework I would be Happy.  I still love doing the cooking and baking. Just not polishing and floors.

Jeanne, you gave me an idea about having the dry cleaner up the street do the laundry as I think they do both.  I have separate appliances and what I saw on the Internet would cost closer to $700.  I am a middle-of-the-roader and there is no way I'd pay $1600 for a combination washer/dryer.  Dot has a stackable too and it is upstairs; mine are in the lower level.  But I'd have to remodel my bathroom and a closet to accommodate stackables, and I'm not about to do that.

The laundromat is up at the corner but I'd have to do the folding.

Mary Ann

I have heard folks talking about losing American brands and jobs for decades, and I have spoken of this many, many times, and you should understand this. Back in the last Industrial Revolution, folks all over the world bought shares in companies when their stock was made public. No one said you had to be a citizen of this or that country to purchase and own company stock.

Most of the well-known brands are owned by foreign countries as stock majorites. Kraft. Palmolive, Hertz, Hershey, Ford, Chevrolet, Carnaval Cruises and others have the majority of stock in foreign hands. And this is just a few. It has been the way of business for two or three centuries now. When Lee Iacocca was complaining about the Japanese cars in the US, he never mentioned Chrysler was buying up majority stock in Japanese car companies.

You have to laugh when they say American made. Most of the products have parts brought together from several countries and portions of the manufacturing done in several more countries. It is a worldwide legality that the very last country to do something to a product has the right to slap a made in... sticker on the product.

The only way you can say made in this country is if all the original, essential parts were from here, and never left our borders. All processing, manufacturing, and fittings were concocted the same and done within our borders and the freight. And other parts were all done here and in this day and age, that is extremely rare.

Finally, do you think the US isn't doing the same elsewhere? Why do you think the world economies are so closely intertwined?

Patricia, I worked for many years in the appliance department of the state's largest utility.  At the beginning, everything we sold was Made in the USA, including the parts.  This would have been in the late 1960s and about that time what we sold began to have foreign parts.  We were alarmed, but nothing we could do about it.  Nothing was “homemade” any more.  There got to be so many appliance dealers in town that our utility discontinued selling retail, then discontinued them entirely.  It meant no job for me but I ended up in Marketing.

Norm was adamant about having US cars.  We tried to tell him there were no 100% US cars, but when he bought (after having cars furnished for many years and he sold only US named cars) he bought cars with US names â€" Ford, Chevy and Chrysler (you remember Old Blue?  Chrysler).  He would be shocked to hear Tom bought a Toyota Camry and when he was looking, I told him to get what he wanted, not what his dad would have liked.  Tom loved and loves the Camry.

I know that we can't go back to what the manufacturing was and I think we would have less unemployment, but that will not happen again.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, yes I remember "Old Blue!"  I fully understand what you are saying as to this day I have had people argue with me about this.

I worked in the seventies and eighties, for 15 years in Alaska House and Xanadu, a combination art gallery and import-export shop.That is where I learned and discovered so much of this information. What is sobering is so many politicians know this to be true, yet will egg their supporters with false information to fit their political agenda and to be receiving support for their candidacy and party. The Tea Party and conservative talk radio use this type of thing as a favorite standby to egg on folks who do not have a clear understanding or simply do not make the connection.

Maryann.  If they have it as a Drycleaners/Laundry then you just leave the things and they will fold then for you. Can't see has they can expect you to fold your own.

Mine even put them into a nice big Plastic bag . If shirts and blouses they don't even need any ironing. Forgot to go get mine today. Not been out. So cold. Going to be 70 again tomorrow.

No such a thing as a USA Made car anymore. Even all the parts are made in other countries.  Don't think that the big factories will ever get started up again in the US. People will not work as cheap.  We even had a all the GE stuff made around my area. Big General Motors, Magnavox. and Moterolla was right across the street from me.
Thing is we can by things now as cheap if not cheaper than we bough in the late 50s 60s.  I remember buying first TV and paid $499 for a little 15 inch now can buy a 42 inch for $299.  First new Fridge I bought cost less now than in the 60s.  Look at the prices on most clothes we buy.  Almost give them away when the sales are on.  None of us would be using computers if they where made in the USA . Be so expensive.

Good Morning Everyone from the soaking rainy rocky coast of Maine. 

Looks like it will be dryer later on today. 

All is well here as Friday comes and goes. 
Getting close to Election Day and I
would like to believe that all is right
with the world,  but of course, only
time will tell.   

After Election day,  I am going to have
to rethink  what to do with all that
time that is now wasted on
"election stuff" ...   Also
in just a few days,  Erin will be
off into her new apartment.     

So it is time for me to start
preparing  for new days and
new ways.   
 
I  never sit too long contemplating
empty plans.  I guess that I will
first start by reorganizing,  again
and getting rid of all the food that
is here that I don't want to be here,
as it is all too tempting.   Erin will
take that with her.

I need to get some new authors to
add to my books on disc..   
And am looking for suggestions. 

Have a great day,  everyone ..

Sandy

Hi everyone on this Friday morning.  Once again we will be in the low 80's this afternoon.  I really had an most enjoyable day yesterday as  wasn't rushed about anything.  I didn't have to leave coffee at a specific time yesterday, which was enjoyable.  Today may be very similar as the only thing on the schedule is a 10:45 appointment for Pat with the eye doctor.  We then plan on eating our main meal of the day out at lunchtime.  That will be it for today.  Last evening we watched the news and Wheel of Fortune and then turned off the TV and we both listened to our recorded books for the evening. 

I am pretty certain the new home across the street was closed yesterday as the real estate sign has been moved out of the yard and late yesterday afternoon I saw a couple of vehicles across the street with things being unloaded from the back of one of the vehicles.  The outside lights were left on all night, which hadn't happened before.  I look forward to meeting our new neighbors. 

MaryPage, as I hear about China buying up so many properties and having money invested in the USA it makes me think they wouldn't want to destroy our cities although would like to see our way of life destroyed.  Back in the late 1970's I took a number of graduate courses and one of the things I remember from the Marketing course I took was that America was in the process of changing from a manufacturing country to a services country.  I think that prediction has pretty much become true.  One thing is certain and that nothing stays the same and we must be willing to accept change even though we may not want to do so.  At least that is my take on things. 

Marilyne, I am confident I would not have lived as long as I have with this weak heart without today's medical procedures like bypass surgery and the medicines we have today to keep the angina under control.  I am most thankful for each new birthday I experience. 

Mary Ann, pretty inconsiderate of your washing machine giving out in only 35 years!    We have been through several washing machines in that time.  Our dryer will probably be the next appliance to give out for us as we have had it for a number of years.  We are very happy with our LG washing machine as it removes so much of the moisture from the clothes in the final spin that drying time has been greatly reduced.  Personally I wouldn't care to use a laundromat again as am spoiled with the laundry room so close and just a few steps from the bedroom and kitchen. 

MarsGal, the Apple Pie Snaps sound tasty.  I will have to keep my eyes open for them.  You are right about the lobbying influence of the big companies and trade associations. 

JeanneP, you are fortunate to have such a good laundry situation that suits your needs.  We really enjoy having our housekeeper here every two weeks and getting the entire house cleaned at once.  For us it is money well spent. 

Patricia, you are certainly right bout the world economies being closely intertwined and many of us with any type of investments in mutual funds, etc., are also owners of foreign companies through our shares, however small or large our investments may be. 

Sandy, have to wonder what the 24-hour news stations will find to fill up the hours when the election is over.  I suppose that is never a problem for them to find something to talk about.  Have you listened to any of the M. C. Beaton books, such as the series of book featuring Agatha Raisen.  I have listened to a number of them and found them enjoyable as she is quite a character.  What type of books do you like?

Larry, you are so right, and how wise of you to have noticed the direction we were headed in so long ago.
The important thing for all human beings is that when they run smack up against a humongous heave of change, they look sensibly at the history of our species.  You can go all the way back (in books) and see the pattern over and over and over again, or you can be a bit lazier with your study of history and go only as far back as the Industrial Revolution.
Oh, the yelling and crying and moaning and groaning.  And the attacks on the machinery itself! "We can't let those machines take away our jobs!"  was the cry of the day.  Owners got a better product, more quickly made, with less labor on hand to pay wages to.  It took an investment in the new equipment, but it paid off in the long run and was better for all society.  For one thing, it cut down on CHILD labor, which later became a cause in itself.
When we take a look at the lessons of history, we suffer the pangs and pains of "repeating them" less, for we know the verdict.  The verdict we must accept is that WE CANNOT GO BACK.  Ever.  It never has been and never will be the case that we can go back.  Time marches only in one direction, and the roads back are not to be found.  Trust me in this.  The history books are the record of US, and they prove the thesis.  We cannot go back.
So, with our innovative spirits, we take hold of the new order of things and change our own small ways and expectations in order to fit in with the flow.  There is no one of us, nor any one group, can stop Change.  We are now into one globe.  We are no longer just little jigsaw pieces of nations, walled in with our own language, customs, and culture.  You can pick up your phone, probably already in your hand or glued to your ear, and call Timbuktu in Africa and speak to someone who knows English and make an arrangement or gather some information.  Right this moment, you can do that.
Anyone who insists we can and should travel back in Time is wailing against the Winds of Change.  Adapt or perish is the rule of The Game of Life.  We are one planet, and one day we will meet up with a species of life from Another planet.  They are out there by the billions, and, if we do not cause OUR species to become extinct right here on our own Earth, we will meet with one, and then another, and then another.  What then?
Don't we wish we could stick around and find out!

Larry, lately I've not been able to watch Jeopardy on Thursday but I think I did watch it last night.  No football?  Or is my mind playing tricks on me?

I remember hearing that the US was changing from a manufacturing country to a service country.  I also remember when malls started being built.  First there was one here, then another, and after a few of them, I said we had too many malls for our population.  And downtown is nothing like it was, our local department stores are all gone and only specialty stores and restaurants are there.  I will say that apartments are being built in the downtown area, also high-rise buildings for both residences and commercial use.  A history book I had in high school had this:  Time is, man marches on.

I doubt we'll send our laundry to a dry cleaner/laundry or do it at a laundromat although we could use their services temporarily.  The dry cleaner is just up the street and the laundromat is further up the street at the corner.  Tom has been doing the washing while working.

I used to think I was keeping up with progress because I had a computer and managed to figure out how it operated and I could run several programs, in fact, I would say that I never met a computer program that I didn't like.  I now know that progress has overtaken me.  I am satisfied to do what I can but I have no desire to have a lot of technological ability.  I just want to keep my head above water with the information I have.

I just hope China and the Third World don't overtake the US while I'm alive!

Mary Ann

"Anyone who insists we can and should travel back in Time is wailing against the Winds of Change."

Mom ...
Change is so very difficult for most
people..  Most get very settled and
often go out of their way to buck the
changes that inevitably take over our
lives.   

I personally have always been  a
person that thrived  "changing"...
(to a fault,  unfortunately ...  but that
is just the way I was)     

Now I struggle with the fact that I
will not be subjected to the changes
that inspired me...  so I need to focus
on making changes in one  place, 
in order to escape that boredom that
I could fall victim of,  should I be
restricted too much.   

Well that is not going to happen
to me,  I am determined.

Fortunately for me,  this new era
of computers and 24 hour news etc.
makes it easy for me to keep on
top of things... 

I am very lucky to have been born
in the midst of the computer age.   


Thanks Larry for suggesting M.C. Beaton. 
I have ordered up three of her books
on disc  to see how they feel..

For me, there is a huge difference between
reading a book and listening to a book
being read to me.       

So much depends on the narrator that is being used.   I tend to like female  voice narration. 
Unfortunately if I don't like the voice, then
I won't listen to the book. 

So when someone recommends an author
then I get  2 or 3 of their books and
test them out, before subscribing to more. 

I appreciate any and all recommendations. 

Thanks again.
Sandy   

Because of my family situation, I feel I've always had to adapt.  It seems others needs always came first and I find I like it that way.  Terry's wife told me once I was the "great adapter".  I find I am happier when I cater to others needs.  I know if I had married and had my own family things would be much different.  But I didn't and they aren't!

Change isn't always bad and I like to think I adapt to change with little trouble.

Mary Ann

Good morning!

Sandy, I tend to range from photography to philosophy to books on social change and history. I am reading more biographies, especially ones on people that were not considered significant in their own time. I recently finished one book on women and war.

Many battles in WWI and WWII were fought by women just as vigorously and just as hard as the men. There were extensive spy networks in every war that competent women organized and ran as well as those who disguised themselves and went on the front lines.

Of course, none of these stories ever made it to the history books. Another version of this is those who first climbed various mountains around the world. There is almost always somewhere in the small print, a short mention of native guides.

I have read numerous books about suffrage, emancipation and the birth of the gay movement, colonization of other lands and people such as the "police action," in the Philippines or England in India. In every time, there were individuals who fought back either because there was aggression or in other cases because it was a change in their expectations.

And they felt it was wrong and that the new expected behavior destroyed them and being inclusive scared them and left them feeling ignored and abandoned. You can see that today with a particular politician and in Germany in the thirties. Of course,I'm over oversimplifying, because nothing we humans tend to do is ever straightforward and forthright.

For kick off your shoes and hang your feet over the chair reading, I tend to look for something not very realistic. Nora Roberts in her many pen names and different book styles, John Grisham, Truman Capote, Catherine Coulter, Linda Howard, etc.

MaryPage, I think everyone just wants to go back to life as it was either as a child. When we looked to our parents, families, and friends to set life's standards. Or to the point of teenage and young adulthood when everything was fresh, and we thought that just being ourselves was enough to effect change.

As a child of the sixties, we thought we were accomplishing great and wonderful effects, changing the world and now we have seen that nothing has changed, that the fight is continuous and never to let up on ourselves or others. Even if it is just shouting encouragement from the wings.

MaryAnn, I worked in appliances for a time with both Penneys and Sears. One of the first things they told us was that machines had built in obsolescence, usually in five years. Your washing machine was very well built to go as far as it has!

People do not realize, in my opinion, that we are right now, in the midst of a great upheaval. Just as vast and life-altering as those in the past. Perhaps, we are simply continuously evolving and never static?

I wish I were an adapter, MaryAnn. I have had to struggle in my family, in my life and nothing ever seemed to be natural or finished. I always felt out of step or sync from being handicapped or from being brought up one way, taught to believe in certain behaviors and ideas, only to see that it wasn't a common belief.

We tended to read in my family and discuss and argue among ourselves so that building an argument logically and forthright was necessary. I still remember my mother listening to my sisters and I and agreeing that she was wrong in her interpretation of the Kent State shooting.

Then to discover there were those who expected to be able to ignore, belittle or simply shout you down. Others who were not inclined to listen, reason or debate but to attack either physically or verbally. I sometimes felt that we were initially experiencing what was later termed, "shock and awe."

Okay, call me old fashion.  But change for change sake is dumb.  A good for instance.  Sundays.  It wouldn't bother me one bit to see Sundays to return to the Sundays of my childhood.  And the holidays are no longer holidays per se.   They are celebrated more as shopping holidays and I think it sucks.  Not necessarily for the religious part, but I always remember my Fathers sentiments, he was a small businessman in the retail business, and he hated having to open on holidays. He ranted at merchants who insisted they would open so he had to do the same to meet the competition.  His main gripe, he and his employees didn't get to enjoy holidays.  And most retail folks already work 56 hours per week, Mon thru Sat.

Hal, I spent 49 years in either retail or hotels. I can sincerely say that no one that I knew wanted to work on a holiday and most clerks being subjected to Christmas music beginning the end of July and running through January's sales and inventory, soon developed an almost extreme dislike of the season.

The relentless scheduling expected on holidays and making that period longer has begun to stall. There is a movement now saying less is more, and some major retailers are now saying they will close for those holidays. One even announced they would be closed on "Black Friday."

I recently saw a meme that stated, playing Christmas music in August was grounds for murder.

I never minded working on a Sunday. It was either Monday or Wednesday that bothered me.

There really, to me is no simple change for change's sake. Almost everything we become involved with started out months, sometimes years ago.

Only one thing bothers me when I see the world changing. People who have lived back from the late 1920s see the pattern more than the young people of today. Countries get to be good.  Like the USA got from 1947 .

Took longer in my UK. But my mother had gone through. The Boar War, First world War. Second, Then Korea. We were still feeling the hard ships left by the BoarWar. and First one even when I was born. Lot of men had been lost in them. Both on my fathers side and mothers. Brothers gone. Then came Number 2 20 years later. Another 7 years for UK and Europe. Most of the World.  Helped the Depression that had been going one.   America go Rich then. Things really took off.
I came in the 50s. UK still Bankcrupt but getting better.  I saw things here just get better and better when it came to what we could have and Buy. This went on up to after the Vietnam but now as we see. No Manufacturing .
We have made such as Japan, China. Even Germany much richer that both of Our countries even though they lost the Wars .
NOw we see who are the Richest countries. all the rest of the World is getting disastrous. Will be nothing left of the Far East. All the places we   go for   Oil from making it cheap for us. Along with cheap cars from Asia. along with all our goods for our homes. Also cheap
Along with that most of our good farm lands have been sold to build shopping mall. Interstates. big hotels.  Soon we will be getting our food from Asia. Mexico. other places.
And now we don't even have good leadership. None seem to want to be the one to be President.  Right now is unbelievable.  Even the rest of the world are shocked.
Money seems to be the number one thing people go for now.  We have had the last 3 Governors of Illinois serving time in prison and the one now already has millions and just wants his to grow while the state goes bankrupt.

I look at myself. My family now growing older and worry some as to will they do as well in the future as we have done.  Something I never use to think about 20 years ago.
Soon we will see how the Election goes.  Lets just hope World  War number 3 is not in the near future.
I always read that Wars had to be if for nothing else it kept the population in order. Well in the last 70 years Trillions of people have gone (by killings), that should have been with us today, so time will tell.  I read a lot about the world back in history  as to what Populations were and how after wars things looked up.  Would like to know now how things will be written 70 years from now. (I will never know). I just want to see some changes for the better while I am here.

BET I HAVE REALLY CHEERED YOU ALL UP ON THIS ONE.  I KNOW HAL WILL THINK ME BIG WINDED.  HE KNOWS THAT US BRITS ARE BIG WINDED.

Jeanne, I read somewhere that the generation after mine, the millennials? are the first to actually be worse off than their parents.

Patricia, many young folks start their working life deeply in debt for education.  I know a couple of my Grandkids will be paying off their debts for years.  And at the time they were getting these loans, old Grandad told them to find a cheaper college to attend, but I didn't know nothing.......one I even told to switch majors, that the one she was studying was a deadend degree, of limited use.  But now she has a Masters in it and no job.

Good afternoon, I hate writing this, but ii is cool, cloudy and one more time very windy ( gust of 40)Both the friends who take me out are in bed with flu like colds.  I am out of milk.

MaryAnn, my husband was a Chrysler man, all out married life he would buy Chrysler products.  When i got a job and bought my first car on my own, I bought a Ford Mustang, which I was very happy with. then I went to a  Plymonth Sundance, which I had for 18 years.
MaryAnn and Sandy, there was one time I thought I knew all about computers.  Years ago when the hospital was thinking  about getting into computers. I was in the group that flew up to Albany,NY to look over computers in a hospital up there. Now what I know you could put in a thimble.

Larry, when I was about 14, I had and uncle who kept saying, I am glad I am on the way out.  His other saying was the East will overrun the West.  I had a problem with my band, I called and talk to someone, who told me I could not do what I wanted to do. I got upset, got in the car and went to the bank.  The manager said told me I was speaking to a person either in Hong Kong, or Shanghai.  As that was the main office.  Oh! I was able to do with my account, what I wanted to do.

Patricia, another time I got upset, I went to the fishmarket, there was a sign that said Fresh Bays scallop, I ordered half lb. then I read frozen from China, also the fresh flounder was frozen from China. This end of the Island is known for it fresh fish. I am a mile from the Peconic Bay (which is famous, for it scallops, I live about form the Long Sound. Plus a few miles from the ocean.

Guess I will get off my soap box.  Hi, June that is such a nice thing you are doing.

Joan and  JeanneP and all others hope you have a nice day.  Jane, I know everyone had a smile for you.

Amy, prays for both you and your husband. Please no more snow.

Hal, the story of my life. I have two history degrees and three Business associate degrees. I am even now taking free senior classes where you audit for no credit. My absolute favorite course was studying European warfare in Medieval times. I have spent thousands on college courses and yet my entire working career has been in retail and hospitality middle management. Multiple college degrees are showing up with McDonald's employees,  and everyone else.

When I was growing up, it was to be sure to get a high school education. Now employment positions fully expect a year or two of college similar to what was once expected of high school. When I was interviewing applicants, that was one of the first things I was expected to look for.

Gloria, it is the same here. Our local fish is overcharged in the big chain groceries because it is rare outside.  We have a cup of berries selling in Safeway for $5.99 when they are like weeds on the ground.

And why in the world would they sell items here like hummingbird feeders or bass fishing poles and sets? We don't have either one here!

We keep dropping degrees, it is chilly outside, yet our snow, all two inches of it is long melted and gone.

This has been an interesting discussion and I don't have anything to add to whatever I already said - except for something I've said for years - I'm glad my future is behind me.  With so many dire things predicted, one wonders why the world doesn't come to an end.  But I won't be here that long and as curious as I am about the future, I've had a good life and I'll keep it there.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn I just returned from OTL and it was fabulous and I still have half for another meal. We started off with chevre cheese and sour cherries on toast points and a nice riesling.

Then we had Boarshead sandwiches. Mine was called a screaming eagle, sourdough bread, fresh spinach, avocado, jerk chicken and spices. It was just hot enough to singe the tongue and it was delicious. There were seven of us and we had a good time. Then it is back home and time spent playing on the computer.

I've been telling Bubble and some others of my belief that we are approaching another world war. The similarities between the 20 years between WWI and WWII, along with many of the same areas and reasons is just too coincidental. I am also glad I will probably be long gone as well.

Patricia, your lunch sounds delicious.  Annie asked to come to dinner tonight so Tom had bought a lasagna and broccoli cheese dish.  Annie gets here for a meal so seldom so it was nice she asked.  She said she will be back Sunday.  She is the only one who can pick up Kendrick and he needed his toenails cut.  She managed that but I will have to wait until Sunday.  She did change my bed for me.  I have trouble lifting the mattress with my right arm and I do help but she does the bulk of the work.  It doesn't take long with two of us.

Our temps are rising and will be in the upper 50s next week.  I do have four plants to bring inside for the winter and I can do that any time.

Mary Ann

Oh! gosh. I thought people would get back to me calling me a Pessimist but I think the older people can now see that the World is not in good shape and things are not going to be easy for the young people of today.
All think that spending another 6 years going to college will give them a easy life but they seems to want college to be easy also. In our University of Illinois right now. We have 43000 people and of them l8450 are International Students. Mostly Asia and India. I watch the awards as see the list when graduating. Now many get the high degrees. Mostly the are these International. Even in the grade schools and High Schools it is the same.
Now is the time for Schools to stress to the US students that they need to start taking a look at those people and realize that they will be the ones taking all the good jobs specially as lots of companies here are owned and run by International People and they know that their own young people are going to do their best.
Even the Doctors in the US now are mostly Indian, Asian. Over 50% in our 3 hospitals/clinics in my town are.
I was talking to a PA the other day and asking why Americans not coming to be Dr. and she said that 2 new ones had started but didn't want to have new patients who came under the Medicare system. Now they will get a shock as mostly people now are coming into their 60s/70s and will be more on Medicare as part of their insurance. Those Dr. better stop dreaming of getting Rich fast. Which some have done in the past.  Things are interesting if nothing else these days.  I kid a couple of my Dr. and Say that one day things will get like other countries and health will be under "Socialized Medicine".  That scares them.

Hi everyone on a beautiful Saturday morning here in North Augusta.  We will once again be in the low 80's this afternoon.  Pat got up before I did this morning and prepared her own breakfast for the first time in almost 3 months.  It was a pleasant change.  I thought I was coming down with a cold last night as had a very stuffy head on one side but it seems to be back to normal this morning. 

Yesterday morning turned into something of a mess when we got downtown for Pat's eye appointment the main street and numerous side streets around where the office was located had been blocked off to get ready for the Halloween festival and parade that is held each year downtown.  We like to never have found a way to get to the parking area for the medical office.  I finally found a way but had to deal with a lot of detoured traffic and narrow alleys.  We were late getting there but she was seen right away.  I was lucky that while I let Pat off at the door someone pulled out of a parking space just ahead of me as there were no other spots in the parking lot.  When we got through it was another struggle to get back to a side street where we could get "out of town".  From there we went to Ruby Tuesday's, which is not in the downtown area, and had a nice lunch.  The rest of the day was enjoyable and restful. 

Nothing on tap today other than to watch some football.    I brought down her old computer for her to use from upstairs as her new one is totally unreliable.  I am in a quandary as to what to do but when I am sure it is not working right again, which is an intermittent problem, I will contact the warranty department of COSTCO again and see where that leads.

Interesting comments on our changing society and the fact that it is constantly occurring and that is nothing new.  I am also concerned that we are headed into a another world war but try not to think about it much as nothing I can do so why waste my time and peace of mind worrying about it. I am thankful for many of the changes we have seen over the years and especially for computers and the world wide web. 

Larry - Have you considered replacing your PC with a Mac? We bought the iMac that I'm using right now, in January, 2002. It was the first of the iMac flat panel models.  Never once has it stopped working or had to have repairs of any kind, in 14 years of constant use.  We have added memory a couple of times, and upgraded the operating system. (free from home.)  I am looking to replace it now with a new one, because we can no longer upgrade the OS. It is VERY slow now, and takes some patience to sit here and wait for a page to load, but I love this reliable old machine, and hate to part with it.  My husband also has a Mac - 2012, with a 21 inch screen. We have never had anything but Apple products - first computer purchased in 1995.  Never a problem with any of them. 

Good morning from a still chilly Interior. In the morning, when the sun finally shows up, it's rays no longer look like gels, thick and creamy. The rays show as lavender etchings against the lighter, cooler blue. It is cold out there.

Yesterday, after lunch, I walked back with three friends from the bus terminal.The poor husband had his wife on one side and me on the other, trying to stay upright on the ice and navigate safely home, the snow has gone to ice everywhere.

I can remember so many times in my childhood when I would say something and two or three family members would say "prove it!"  Or "Oh yeah?" Sometimes my father would just shake his head at you. You had to be able to back up what you said, not "just because" or half-hearted reasons because you read it somewhere or someone, you believed told you so.

You were expected to reason for yourself and to explain yourself. My father would play devil's advocate, you never knew which side he would promote. This was the way I was raised. He would tell us that everyone put their pants on the same way and that only the intellectually  lazy accepted the status quo.

I also remember one time at work when I mentioned something. One girl snickered, shook her head and said "where did you come up with that?" When I said it was from a book I was reading, she laughed again and said that was my problem. I needed to throw out my books, go to church and listen to my pastor. I think I stood there with my mouth open for at least a moment or so.

She went on to say she hadn't read any books since she stopped being home schooled. That the bible and her pastor or her husband would tell her what she needed to know. I was simply flabbergasted. That was long ago but it still shocks me to think about it. I never did tell her that the book I was reading was one my Episcopal priest had mentioned he was reading. I wonder what she would have thought of that?

Larry, I am so glad to hear that Pat is feeling better and sorry that you felt stuffed up. My sinuses will act up periodically and my bones, especially this time of year. Everything seems to be sore and so dried out. And this spraying issue has me sleeping erratically and not very deeply.

MaryAnn, there is so much that is hard for me. I am so weak and I hate it. One of the office ladies helped me to try and sign up for a CNA. However, I don't qualify because I still cook and am not housebound. I am looking into paying someone fourteen dollars an hour simply to come in monthly and do what I can no longer do. The office lady feels I need to get a doctor to advocate for me. Especially with my tendencies to fall unexpectedly. I envy you and others who have family available to help.

Since you do not have televised news, Patricia, you may have missed an item that was on last night's broadcast.  It would appear that this "potion" has injured a number and killed at least one churchgoer who believed what their pastor told them about his miracle cure all.  So believe everything?  I don't think so.

https://eideard.com/2016/10/27/feds-investigating-church-selling-bleach-as-a-cure-for-autism/