Greetings from the Green Mountain State. Home of Bernie Sanders. Well, the home of the adopted Brooklynite. After all, he was elected the mayor of Burlington in the early 80s (our largest city) and then served as the only VT representative in the House. Then he was elected to the Senate as an Independent. We have all been feeling the Bern lately, over the last several weeks as he is giving Hillary a good run. A close finish in Iowa and then a big win for him in New Hampshire. But now it’ll get more difficult as the primaries move south and west.
Meanwhile, this is turning out to be the year without winter. We’ve had more rain than snow in January and February and yesterday we had thunderstorms along with 24 hours of rain.
In fact, the sugar maples are already being tapped (cold nightsnd warm days) and it’s probably the earliest that this has happened in many a year.
What other trends do we observe?
Vermonters are walking and biking more and driving less.
Here’s some news out of our state capital of Montpelier.
The Vermont Transportation Board recently released its Annual Report, which documents the comments the Board received during a recent series of public forums that focused on the difficulties of navigating Vermont without a car and the transportation trends of middle-aged and older adults.
The report documents that older Vermont adults, much like their younger counterparts, want to drive their cars less and walk, bike and use public transportation more often.
“Driving is on the decline nationwide, but what we found is that Vermonters are not just part of this trend, they are actually leading the charge,” said Transportation Board Chairman Nick Marro. “In just about every measurable category, Vermonters outpace the nation when it comes to walking, biking and curtailing the amount of time they spend behind the wheel. They also thirst for greater public transportation options.”
From the end of World War II until 2004, the number of miles the average American drove an automobile annually increased. But beginning in 2005, Americans reversed this trend. Between 2007 and 2013, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita nationwide dropped 6 percent, while per-capita VMT here in Vermont dropped 8.4 percent.
Across the nation, more Americans also walk and bike to work than they used to, with Vermonters also leading this charge. Nationally, workers commuting by bicycle increased 39 percent from 2005 to 2011, while bike commuting increased from 0.61 percent of total population in 2011 to 0.63 percent, an additional 3.2 percent increase. In Vermont, despite the state’s harsh climate nearly 1 percent of the population biked to work as its primary mode of transportation between 2011 and 2013.
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There is much more to that article, but I think you get the point.
What’s the point? Of course it is that I am a proud Vermonter. We do cool things here!
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But there is another issue to discuss and debate:
What to call “older persons”?
As the mid-point birth year of “baby boomers” has now reached 65 and the overall number and percentage of older persons is increasing, it seems that a problem is evolving as to what they/us wish to be called or labeled. How is society supposed to refer to this expanding group of “older adults”? It seems that many baby boomers do not wish to be called “senior citizens”! Well then, what about just “elders”? (As in “Respect Your Elders!”) Or maybe we could allow us to be labeled as persons in their silver years. Others have suggested “seniors” and another one I’ve heard is “super adult”. In the end, it probably doesn’t really matter; as we will most likely be treated as all other generations before us: that is more or less ignored or discounted and under-valued, unless the grandkids need a baby-sitter.
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This week the news is all about the Apple refusal to allow the CIA/FBI to access the phone of one of the terrorists in San Bernido. It’s complicated but I’d be weary of governments trying to oblige companies to compromise the confidentiality of its clients.
One of the other big stories is the appointment of a Supreme Court member to replace the late Antonin Scalia, who died last week. What a mess! And I thought our country was the beacon of democracy and rule of law! ???
The other issue that the newly elected Barack Obama promised to resolve when he was first elected in 2008 was the closing of Guantanamo prison. There was some late-breaking news on this front this week:
FEBRUARY 23, 2016
Obama Signs Executive Order Relocating Congress to Guantánamo
BY
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Making good on one of his key campaign promises, President Obama signed an executive order on Tuesday relocating the United States Congress to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The President seemed to relish signing the order, calling the relocation a “win-win for America,” and indicating that Congress could be moved to its new headquarters “immediately.”
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I heard that this following story is a true one!
The late great singer/songwriter Utah Phillips was touring California and one day visited an old mining town. Although most of the town was now deserted, there was a very nice, well-maintained wooden catholic church. He stopped inside for a look, and the priest was there so he had a chat. The priest explained, "Yes, we love our church, and we're very proud of it. We're also a progressive church." "Really", said Utah, not easily associating 'catholic' and 'progressive'. "Oh yes", the priest continued. "For instance, we now serve 'lite' communion wafers, instead of the old fatty ones. The brand is "I Can't Believe it's not Jesus"".
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Thoughts
I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now.
Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers.
You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone? That's common sense leaving your body.
I didn't make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.
I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.
Old age is coming at a really bad time.
When I was a child I thought “Nap Time” was a punishment. Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation.
The biggest lie I tell myself is…"I don't need to write that down, I'll remember it."
I don't have gray hair; I have "wisdom highlights." I'm just very wise.
Teach your daughter how to shoot, because a restraining order is just a piece of paper.
If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would've put them on my knees.
Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet.
Why do I have to press one for English when you're just going to transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway?
Of course I talk to myself; sometimes I need expert advice.
At my age "Getting lucky" means walking into a room and remembering what I came in there for.
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Things are tough all over . . .THE GLOBAL RECESSION has hit everybody really hard:
My neighbor got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
Wives are having sex with their husbands because they can't afford batteries.
CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.
A stripper was killed when her audience showered her with rolls of pennies while she danced.
I saw a Mormon with only one wife.
If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.
McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ounce burger.
Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America .
Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.
My cousin had an exorcism but couldn't afford to pay for it, and they re-possessed her!
A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.
A picture is now only worth 200 words.
When Bill and Hillary travel together, they now have to share a room.
The Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.
And, finally... I was so depressed last night thinking about te economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a pickup truck.
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An interesting Einstein Theory
Einstein was born March 14, 1879.
He would be 137 if he were alive today.
Few people remember that he married his cousin, Elsa Lowenthal,
after his first marriage failed in 1919.
after his first marriage failed in 1919.
At the time he stated that he was attracted to Elsa
"because she was so well endowed".
"because she was so well endowed".
He postulated that if you are attracted to women with large breasts, the attraction is even stronger if there is a DNA connection.
This came to be known as....
Eintein’s Theory of Relative-Titty!
Oh, stop moaning! I don't write this shit, I receive it from my warped friends and then send it on to you.
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Okay, it’s time for the weekly TGIF Golden Classic!
An Amish boy and his father were in a mall.
They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again.
The boy asked, 'What is this Father?'
The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, ’Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is.'
While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheelchair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button.
The walls opened, and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially.
They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.
Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24 year-old blondie stepped out.
The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son.....
'Go get your Mother’
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I probably first used that one in a TGIF message in the 1990s. So, it is truly a golden oldie!
Enjoy the Leap Year with the 29th of February this next week. And now it’s time for me to wish you all a Fantastic Friday and a Wonderful Weekend!
TGI-Jeff
