Here is a recent picture taken in March. 
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Parenting Issues
I read an interesting article by David Brooks, the conservative, but reasonable columnist for the New York Times. He discussed a book, Unequal Childhoods, by Annette Lareau. She is a sociologist who has written about how parenting style influences the behavior children when they become adults. While, it may be oversimplification to generalize, the article discussed how working class parents raise their children compared to upper-middle class parents. .
Working class people tend to think adulthood comes soon enough, and make a sharper boundary between childhood and adult life. Children of working class people tend to be more relaxed, with less whining. Parents tend to give orders, without discussion.
On the other hand, upper-middle class children seem to involve their children involved in many “adult-supervised activities” (thus, for example, we have soccer moms). Children are given choices, and there is a lot of discussion, even arguments, which turn into battles, on what is to be done. However, from this children learn how to talk to adults, and how to navigate in an adult world.
The final outcome? Well although the child’s world in the upper-middle class life is turbulent, as adults, the children seem better prepared for life. They are better able to compete in the world. The children have higher expectations and demand more, whereas the children of the working class parents seem to be less able to compete. David Brooks concludes. “ …. Today’s rich don’t exploit the poor; they just outcompete them.”
I am not sure I agree with Brook’s conclusions. Certainly the availability of a college education is vastly different between the rich upper-middle class and the working class. If it is going to cost $40,000 to $50,000 to send a child to college, obviously a child of a working class parent may well have lower expectations than a child of an upper middle class parent. Nevertheless, there may be something to be said for raising children in an environment more in tune with teaching children at an early age how to interact in an adult world.
Working class people tend to think adulthood comes soon enough, and make a sharper boundary between childhood and adult life. Children of working class people tend to be more relaxed, with less whining. Parents tend to give orders, without discussion.
On the other hand, upper-middle class children seem to involve their children involved in many “adult-supervised activities” (thus, for example, we have soccer moms). Children are given choices, and there is a lot of discussion, even arguments, which turn into battles, on what is to be done. However, from this children learn how to talk to adults, and how to navigate in an adult world.
The final outcome? Well although the child’s world in the upper-middle class life is turbulent, as adults, the children seem better prepared for life. They are better able to compete in the world. The children have higher expectations and demand more, whereas the children of the working class parents seem to be less able to compete. David Brooks concludes. “ …. Today’s rich don’t exploit the poor; they just outcompete them.”
I am not sure I agree with Brook’s conclusions. Certainly the availability of a college education is vastly different between the rich upper-middle class and the working class. If it is going to cost $40,000 to $50,000 to send a child to college, obviously a child of a working class parent may well have lower expectations than a child of an upper middle class parent. Nevertheless, there may be something to be said for raising children in an environment more in tune with teaching children at an early age how to interact in an adult world.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Still in Florida, Musing about Health Care
We are still in Florida. Madeline is spending much of her time with her grandchildren and of course, her son and daughter-in-law. Over the last month or two we have spent a lot of time maintaining our health, but also we are seeing some of the problems that friends and other elderly members of our family dealing with health care issues.
We seem to be very fortunate in implementing the new Medicare prescription program. We were able to access the Internet, and price out various options with a wide choice of providers. There are puzzles that I don’t understand. We are technically Texas residents. If we were residents of another state, our premiums could be either more or less. Why?
I believe the program will end up lowering drug costs by a considerable amount. The price drug companies charge for drugs when purchased via a health provider, seem to me to be a lot less than were the costs of the drugs formerly when we got them from our pharmacy. Also, information is provided on the web sites giving the cost of similar, but not exactly the same drugs from generic sources. Thus, one could reduce their drug costs even more by investigating these generic options.
What is alarming about the new program is that it is very complex, and one really has to be able to use the Internet to investigate the options in a rational way. Of course many elderly people – many whom we know - are unable to use the computer in this way, and in fact do not even own a computer. Without doubt these people in many cases will just go to a provider they trust --- it may not always be the best choice.
We are of the age where nearly all our health care is paid by Medicare or Medigap health insurance. It is difficult to see what is the future of the Medicare entitlements. I know we get excellent health care. If government programs are to be curtailed, it will still be necessary to find a way to provide health care for everyone. It seems to me the main argument is whether it can be done with less costs if paid by an individual rather than the government. Anyone that has ever had the unfortunate experience to compare the cost of medical care when the price is negotiated by an insurance company as compared to a price dictated to an individual, understands clearly that an individual seeking medical care has almost no negotiating power, and his (or her) medical cost will be of several magnitudes of what they would be,, if negotiated by an insurance company. “Nuff said, the “good old days “of individuals paying their own medical bills will not work!
We seem to be very fortunate in implementing the new Medicare prescription program. We were able to access the Internet, and price out various options with a wide choice of providers. There are puzzles that I don’t understand. We are technically Texas residents. If we were residents of another state, our premiums could be either more or less. Why?
I believe the program will end up lowering drug costs by a considerable amount. The price drug companies charge for drugs when purchased via a health provider, seem to me to be a lot less than were the costs of the drugs formerly when we got them from our pharmacy. Also, information is provided on the web sites giving the cost of similar, but not exactly the same drugs from generic sources. Thus, one could reduce their drug costs even more by investigating these generic options.
What is alarming about the new program is that it is very complex, and one really has to be able to use the Internet to investigate the options in a rational way. Of course many elderly people – many whom we know - are unable to use the computer in this way, and in fact do not even own a computer. Without doubt these people in many cases will just go to a provider they trust --- it may not always be the best choice.
We are of the age where nearly all our health care is paid by Medicare or Medigap health insurance. It is difficult to see what is the future of the Medicare entitlements. I know we get excellent health care. If government programs are to be curtailed, it will still be necessary to find a way to provide health care for everyone. It seems to me the main argument is whether it can be done with less costs if paid by an individual rather than the government. Anyone that has ever had the unfortunate experience to compare the cost of medical care when the price is negotiated by an insurance company as compared to a price dictated to an individual, understands clearly that an individual seeking medical care has almost no negotiating power, and his (or her) medical cost will be of several magnitudes of what they would be,, if negotiated by an insurance company. “Nuff said, the “good old days “of individuals paying their own medical bills will not work!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
January in Florida
Since our last posting we have traveled over the Florida. We spent Christmas week in the West Palm Beach area, then after New Years Day traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for our annual physical exams.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
January in Florida
Since our last posting we have traveled over the Florida. We spent Christmas week in the West Palm Beach area, then after New Years Day traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for our annual physical exams.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
The Day after Christmas, Lake Worth, Florida
Since our last posting we have traveled from Livingston, TX to Lake Worth, Florida. (Lake Worth is a city South of West Palm Beach, north of Fort Lauderdale.) The trip east was uneventful. We stopped in northern Florida to visit my sister for a day and then moved on to Southern Florida.
I must say it was nice to reach the warm weather. It gets up in the 70’s during the day and perhaps in the high 40’s at night. It is fun, although really a little bit obnoxious, to read the weather page to see how cold it is where we have been, and where are friend and relatives live.
Christmas was fun. We spent it here with our son’s family and our daughter-in-law’s brother and parents were also here. It seems funny to have reached the stage of life where one does not really want presents. Living in an RV, there is really very little room for anything new, and we both pretty much have everything we need anyway. So – we had a very nice Christmas, got a few gifts, but happily not more than we can absorb.
Next week we go to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, for our annual medical stuff. The big event will be Dan’s evaluation for suitability for cochlear implant. We will keep you informed.
Following our cruise through the Caribbean, I have been thinking about what there is that makes different countries develop differently. Cost Rica, for example seems quite prosperous, and to be socially progressive. Jamaica, seemed very poor, and much of the population unschooled and barely getting by. Grand Cayman seems to do OK, probably much as a result of being a center for off-shore banking, which I gather is a scheme for tax avoidance by British and American citizens. Mexico, seems to have an emerging economy that stumbles much more than it should, given the resources the country has -- particularly in oil and agricultural capacity. It is hard to figure out why societies evolve so differently.
The Cost Ricans apparently attribute much of their prosperity to the fact that land was given to people to raise coffee, years ago, resulting in a prosperous middle class. I think slavery probably set back a substantial developed middle class in Jamaica. Still, I think there is something we are missing, to know why some societies develop with absence endemic widespread poverty.
I must say it was nice to reach the warm weather. It gets up in the 70’s during the day and perhaps in the high 40’s at night. It is fun, although really a little bit obnoxious, to read the weather page to see how cold it is where we have been, and where are friend and relatives live.
Christmas was fun. We spent it here with our son’s family and our daughter-in-law’s brother and parents were also here. It seems funny to have reached the stage of life where one does not really want presents. Living in an RV, there is really very little room for anything new, and we both pretty much have everything we need anyway. So – we had a very nice Christmas, got a few gifts, but happily not more than we can absorb.
Next week we go to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, for our annual medical stuff. The big event will be Dan’s evaluation for suitability for cochlear implant. We will keep you informed.
Following our cruise through the Caribbean, I have been thinking about what there is that makes different countries develop differently. Cost Rica, for example seems quite prosperous, and to be socially progressive. Jamaica, seemed very poor, and much of the population unschooled and barely getting by. Grand Cayman seems to do OK, probably much as a result of being a center for off-shore banking, which I gather is a scheme for tax avoidance by British and American citizens. Mexico, seems to have an emerging economy that stumbles much more than it should, given the resources the country has -- particularly in oil and agricultural capacity. It is hard to figure out why societies evolve so differently.
The Cost Ricans apparently attribute much of their prosperity to the fact that land was given to people to raise coffee, years ago, resulting in a prosperous middle class. I think slavery probably set back a substantial developed middle class in Jamaica. Still, I think there is something we are missing, to know why some societies develop with absence endemic widespread poverty.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
In the Middle of the Sea Again
Wednesday, December 15, 2005
Since my last note, we spent a day in Jamaica and a day in Grand Cayman.
First Jamaica; we landed there on Tuesday. We took a guided tour of the island in a jeep-type vehicle that covered a lot of the backcountry. We drove through some sugar cane fields and several orange groves. The people in Jamaica seem to quite poor. The people we talk to, admittedly not very many, talk a lot about the years of slavery and the slave revolt(s). Jamaica got rid of slavery somewhere about the 1830’s or 40’s, a full twenty years before we got rid of it in this country. I gather, though, no land reform ever occurred, so much of the land is still held by descendents of the plantation owners, and there is not much of a middle class. People are either rich or poor. The most surprising thing we learned was even that today, there are no free schools.
The Cayman Islands were once associated with Jamaica, when Jamaica was a British colony. When Jamaica became self-governed country, the people of the Caymans decided to remain British. The island is quite small, with very few trees. It first was prominent with sailors as a source of sea turtle for fresh meat. Even today there is a farm, where sea turtles are raised. (Indeed, in my former life at Purina Mills, I used to formulate all the sea turtle feed that was exported to Grand Cayman Island). The Island seems fairly prosperous. I think the main industry is offshore banking.
Today and tomorrow we are at sea, and will return to Galveston on Saturday.
Since my last note, we spent a day in Jamaica and a day in Grand Cayman.
First Jamaica; we landed there on Tuesday. We took a guided tour of the island in a jeep-type vehicle that covered a lot of the backcountry. We drove through some sugar cane fields and several orange groves. The people in Jamaica seem to quite poor. The people we talk to, admittedly not very many, talk a lot about the years of slavery and the slave revolt(s). Jamaica got rid of slavery somewhere about the 1830’s or 40’s, a full twenty years before we got rid of it in this country. I gather, though, no land reform ever occurred, so much of the land is still held by descendents of the plantation owners, and there is not much of a middle class. People are either rich or poor. The most surprising thing we learned was even that today, there are no free schools.
The Cayman Islands were once associated with Jamaica, when Jamaica was a British colony. When Jamaica became self-governed country, the people of the Caymans decided to remain British. The island is quite small, with very few trees. It first was prominent with sailors as a source of sea turtle for fresh meat. Even today there is a farm, where sea turtles are raised. (Indeed, in my former life at Purina Mills, I used to formulate all the sea turtle feed that was exported to Grand Cayman Island). The Island seems fairly prosperous. I think the main industry is offshore banking.
Today and tomorrow we are at sea, and will return to Galveston on Saturday.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Caribbean Sea, Dec 12
Caribbean Sea, Dec 12, 2005
Last Friday we landed at Cost Rica and spent most of the day on a tour. We traveled into the mountains and went on a tramway through the rain forest. The idea was to observe the jungle at all levels, particularly the canopy. Although we could certainly see that the jungle differs as you go higher, with definite changes in vegetation, we were a little disappointed not to see any wildlife to speak of. I think that since the tramway goes through an unchanging route, the wildlife probably avoid it.
On the way to the mountains we passed lots of pineapple farms and banana plantations.
We sailed that night, and early yesterday arrived at Colon, Panama. Our cruise ship entered the Panama Canal. Going through the locks was very interesting. There was about one-foot clearance on either side of our ship. They have tugboats on alert as we enter the locks, ready to give us a little push, if the heading is not just right. Once in the lock, they attached line to the port and starboard side, and pulled them tight to ensure we did not hit the sides of the canal. The “locks” were a series of three locks; we gained about 85 feet in elevation. There are three locks on the Atlantic side and three on the Pacific side. The boats are raised 85 feet. Instead of making a passage thru the mountains they flooded the area made one of the worlds largest man made lakes and raised the boats up 85 feet to go over the mountains back down to sea level and out to the Pacific ocean.
After going through the locks and anchoring in Lake Gatun, we took a tour in a very small boat around a portion of Lake Gatun. A dam formed the lake, so it is actually a flooded valley, with mountains (Really hills, I think, but they call them mountains here.), which became islands in the lake, are populated by wildlife that formerly inhabited the valley. Anyway, we saw lots of wildlife including three species of monkeys and several sloths. The monkeys were quite active and moved about a lot. The sloths were slothful.
Today we are at sea, enroute to Jamaica.
Last Friday we landed at Cost Rica and spent most of the day on a tour. We traveled into the mountains and went on a tramway through the rain forest. The idea was to observe the jungle at all levels, particularly the canopy. Although we could certainly see that the jungle differs as you go higher, with definite changes in vegetation, we were a little disappointed not to see any wildlife to speak of. I think that since the tramway goes through an unchanging route, the wildlife probably avoid it.
On the way to the mountains we passed lots of pineapple farms and banana plantations.
We sailed that night, and early yesterday arrived at Colon, Panama. Our cruise ship entered the Panama Canal. Going through the locks was very interesting. There was about one-foot clearance on either side of our ship. They have tugboats on alert as we enter the locks, ready to give us a little push, if the heading is not just right. Once in the lock, they attached line to the port and starboard side, and pulled them tight to ensure we did not hit the sides of the canal. The “locks” were a series of three locks; we gained about 85 feet in elevation. There are three locks on the Atlantic side and three on the Pacific side. The boats are raised 85 feet. Instead of making a passage thru the mountains they flooded the area made one of the worlds largest man made lakes and raised the boats up 85 feet to go over the mountains back down to sea level and out to the Pacific ocean.
After going through the locks and anchoring in Lake Gatun, we took a tour in a very small boat around a portion of Lake Gatun. A dam formed the lake, so it is actually a flooded valley, with mountains (Really hills, I think, but they call them mountains here.), which became islands in the lake, are populated by wildlife that formerly inhabited the valley. Anyway, we saw lots of wildlife including three species of monkeys and several sloths. The monkeys were quite active and moved about a lot. The sloths were slothful.
Today we are at sea, enroute to Jamaica.
Friday, December 09, 2005
At Sea in the Caribbean
At Sea in the Caribbean, Dec 9, 2005
We took the bus to Galveston, TX from Livingston, last Monday. We boarded our boat and began our cruise. We were pretty surprised at how luxurious the ship was. It turns out it is pretty nice to be waited upon also. The food, as everyone predicted, is fabulous.
We were at sea all night and all day Tuesday. Somewhat to our surprise, the boats seem to rock a fair amount. We have heard that a few people were motion sick, but Madeline and I have no trouble.
Wednesday we landed at Costumel Mexico, where we went to visit an ancient Mayan City. Thursday we landed at Costa Maya Mexico. There was not too much to do there. We shopped a little, and walked about town, and then returned to the boat. After we were at sea, we swam, sunbathed, ate, read, napped and lots of other strenuous activities.
Today, we are at sea, and will land at Costa Rica tomorrow.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Monday Dec 5 2005
Monday, Dec 5, 2005
We left Virginia last Monday and spent most of the week traveling to Livingston, Texas.
It was cold and rainy when we left, and warm and sunny when we arrived Friday. It is a little chilly yesterday, but compared to the snow our New York State brothers reported, we feel pretty fortunate to be back in the South.
It is nice to be back in Livingston, our official home and site of our mailing and voting address. We are in a large RV park owned and operated by our RV club, the Escapees. We are surrounded by nomads of similar interests and outlook.
Today we are embarking on a 12-day cruise in the Caribbean. We will try to keep you posted on what we are doing.
We left Virginia last Monday and spent most of the week traveling to Livingston, Texas.
It was cold and rainy when we left, and warm and sunny when we arrived Friday. It is a little chilly yesterday, but compared to the snow our New York State brothers reported, we feel pretty fortunate to be back in the South.
It is nice to be back in Livingston, our official home and site of our mailing and voting address. We are in a large RV park owned and operated by our RV club, the Escapees. We are surrounded by nomads of similar interests and outlook.
Today we are embarking on a 12-day cruise in the Caribbean. We will try to keep you posted on what we are doing.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Visiting in Virginia
We are visiting my son, Tom and his family in Glen Allen, Virginia. We will be here through Thanksgiving. Then we will travel to Texas and will board a cruise boat out of Galveston, for a ten-day cruise. A number of couples from our RV club, the Escapees, will be going on this cruise, so we will be enjoying lots of company of like minded nomads! When we return from the cruise, we will have to rush to Florida to spend Christms with Hap and Jeannine and our two granchildren. We have a busy and active month or two ahead of us.
We have spent much of the fall in New Hampshire and in Ithaca, and we got a chance to recall how cold it can get in the north. In fact, we had snow flurries on the last couple of days we were in Ithaca. We have about decided that freezing weaher and the RV life dont mix well.
We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Dan and Madeline
We have spent much of the fall in New Hampshire and in Ithaca, and we got a chance to recall how cold it can get in the north. In fact, we had snow flurries on the last couple of days we were in Ithaca. We have about decided that freezing weaher and the RV life dont mix well.
We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Dan and Madeline
Monday, November 21, 2005
Setting this up
We are just setting up this blog today, so we are still working our way through the mechanics.
Dan and Madeline
Dan and Madeline
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