ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - Have we become so warped in modern society that we surrendered our ability to think rationally and accepted rationalized insanity as prescribed by social norms? Have we stretched compassion to the point that has become a mental illness of it’s own category. Are the inmates finally running the institution we call society? Read this news heading: ‘Youth may be buying opioids from B.C. drug vending machines, recovery centre warns The MySafe machines dispense hydromorphone, a medical-grade opioid, providing people with addiction a lifesaving alternative to the toxic drugs circulating on the street.’ Really--- vending machines!!! You got to be kidding. “PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION A LIFESAVING ALTERNATIVE”. Really!!! Are you kidding me? How did they ever get this past the government? Is the B.C. government heavily taxing? Probably not. Then who in the B.C. government got paid off to actually implement these machines as life saving? Life saving? Now entertain my insanity as I would probably be labeled by some for not conforming to their confusion and delusional thought that having vending machines with drugs saves lives. Picture this. You have an addict. He is walking our streets. They are a little off touch with reality because they need their fix. They may be a threat to everyone around them as they are not mentally sound. Then all of a sudden there is the almighty dispensing life saver making hydromorphone available to them. They consume it on the spot and now they are in the realm of unicorns and rainbows. Which one is the bigger risk to society at large? Now don’t get me wrong. If you have a drug problem. Don’t make it mine by expecting for me to accommodate to you. Don’t expect me to change my way of life so that you can continue to feed your psychological compromise. I think when it comes to drugs in this country. We have taken the wrong approach. Don’t get me wrong. I am compassionate towards those addicts. But, we must stop the transfer or responsibility from them to us the non users. These vending machines are not life saving. These machines are our way of saying, it is ok for you not to get real help... and please here take the drugs and don’t kill us. NO, no more. Lets get tough on this issue. Anyone walking our streets under the influence of drugs. Must undergo a 4 month rehab problem or same time in jail. Put the responsibility where it should be on the addicts. No more excuses or special provisions. We as a civil society should be proud of our civil responsibility and duty. No instead we reward failure and allow compromised to accommodate all kinds of psychological and psychiatric conditions. Just because the numbers have increased it does not make behavior acceptable. Time for change. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Asking for Feedback is Pointless. Instead Ask for Advice

By Nick Kossovan If a candidate I did not hire wants to make me uncomfortable, they only need to ask for feedback. (I will revisit this.) Self-proclaiming job search experts and career coaches commonly advise asking for feedback when you do not get the job you have interviewed for. The thinking-as if all hiring managers assess candidates in the same way-is that you will learn "tips" on improving your interview performance. Employers own their hiring process, to which job seekers are not entitled transparency to. Nor do employers owe candidates an explanation of how they select candidates. Consequently, job seekers have no idea whether their application or resume has been reviewed and discarded or gone into a black hole. Even if someone looks at your resume and LinkedIn profile, you will not know why you were not selected for an interview. Likewise, if you were interviewed, you will not know why you did not get the job. There are infinite reasons why you did not get selected, the most probable: - An internal candidate got the job. - There was a candidate who interviewed better than you and was a better fit. (It is possible.). - None of the candidates the employer has interviewed has met their criteria, so they are still looking. - The employer has decided not to fill the job at this time. (This is common, given the talk of a looming recession.) - A candidate networked themselves into being hired. (It is no secret that most highly desirable jobs are filled through referrals.) So, besides being a regular reader of this column, how do you improve your job search skills, particularly when interviewing, if you don't ask for feedback? By asking for advice rather than feedback. As I mentioned, being asked to give feedback makes me uncomfortable. The last thing I want to do is hurt a candidate's feelings. There is also the possibility that my feedback might be twisted to create a narrative for legal issues. This is the prevailing reason why I, and almost all hiring managers, avoid giving feedback. ("We had numerous applicants…") However, when someone asks me for my advice, I become a chatterbox. Asking for feedback is asking, "How did I do?" Asking for advice is asking, "What can I do?" Advice has a very different tone. If you have built a bond with your interviewer, which you should have to some extent, you should feel comfortable asking for advice. Think about the last time someone asked you for advice. I am sure you were flattered. How does this feel? "While I'm disappointed I wasn't selected, thank you for interviewing me and assessing my skills and experience. As you know, I am seeking a senior analyst position with a mid-size IT firm. Do you have any advice for someone with my background searching for such an opportunity?" Tell me this does not feel very different from asking for feedback, which, to be honest, is essentially asking, "Why did you not hire me?" Feedback is pointless because, as the name implies, it is backward-looking. Feedback is an "evaluation" of past performance. On the other hand, when you ask someone for advice, they are more likely to think critically and specifically about how you can improve to succeed in the future. Here are two tips to help you get advice you can use in your job search. - Be specific in the advice you seek. If you need help in a specific area (e.g., your resume, cover letter, networking, interviewing, LinkedIn profile), specifying where you need help will make the advice you are given relevant. For example, do you need help crafting STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories to answer behavioural interview questions more compellingly? "When you ask me to tell you about a time when I handled a challenging situation, I felt my response, the story I told, wasn't resonating enough. What advice can you give me on improving my response to this question which I'm sure I'll be asked in future interviews?" You will receive more specific and actionable advice if you ask people to think about what you feel will help you in the future. "Can you offer me any advice on improving my presentation skills so I can deliver a more powerful presentation than I did with you and Carminia?" or "What suggestions would you have for making my slides more eye-catching?" - Give a little nudge. Do not end the conversation if you are given a vague answer like "You did great. However, there was a candidate whose background was a better match," which is probably true. Probe further. "In what ways can I improve how I present my background, so my next interviewer will clearly see how my background meets their needs?" Good advice can transform your job search. Lastly, your interviewer does not owe you advice or feedback. Be respectful of their hiring decision. They know what they need in their next employee. Insisting on being given advice or feedback-aggressive behaviour-will be remembered should you and your interviewer cross paths down the road, which is more common than you think. _______________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

Millennials Opting Out of Having Children

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones A Moroccan proverb claims, “If a man leaves little children behind him, it is as if he did not die.” A Sanskrit saying translates as, “A house without children is only a cemetery.” Having children may be central to sustained human life. But over the past several years, there has been a crescendo of voices arguing for restraint. The most fervent views are expressed by women concerned about climate change. We know some couples decide on a childless marriage in exchange for personal freedom. Others worry about the risk of a difficult child or the effect of a child on an unhappy marriage. And there are other reasons people opt out of parenthood. As Napoleon Bonaparte concluded while in exile on the island of St. Helena, “Children are always ungrateful.” The BirthStrike Movement is an activist group choosing to forgo having children to protect them from worsening social, economic, and environmental conditions. They may be right that deciding not to have children is possibly one of the most effective way individuals can cut their own carbon emissions. According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, “Having a child is 7-times worse for the climate in CO2 emissions annually than the next 10 most discussed mitigants that individuals can do.” There does seem to be a trend among Millennials away from having children. But aside from the activists, do young people have a generalized concern about the consequences of climate change, enough to change the urge for children? Or has something else happened? It is undoubtedly a great injustice to subject innocent children to the hazards of a polluted, poisonous planet. Can you blame would-be parents for opting out when scientists raise alarms that their children will encounter more floods, droughts, fires, tornadoes, and famine, fight wars over water, land and other resources, and that economic crises will lead to social chaos? There are other considerations that affect fertility rates. For instance, having a child can send a woman’s career into the abyss. A study from the University of Massachusetts examining data from 1979 to 2006 found that, on average, men earn 6 percent more when they had children (and lived with them), while women earn 4 percent less for every child. More recent studies show the same. In 2019, a study using data from the US census found mothers earned 71 cents for every dollar earned by fathers. Women have a justified right to complain. Friendships can also take a hit. A survey of 1000 parents revealed almost half of moms and dads had fewer friends after children were born. In addition, there was less marital satisfaction. CivicScience, a polling platform, adds another depressing note. They analyzed one million responses and concluded that non-parents lead healthier lifestyles, sleep longer, exercise more, drink less coffee, smoke less, avoid fast food restaurants, and were less overweight. But what about the health benefits of parenthood. There is good news for women, including decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding lowers the chance of type 2 diabetes. And a University of California study reports that for children born to mothers over age 25, there’s an 11 percent greater chance of living to 90. Finally, does having children mean parents are happier and less lonely later in life? Researchers in Germany found that parents tend to be happier than non-parents in old age, but this only holds if their kids have moved out! Older people without children get similar rewards to those having children, it seems, by maintaining any close social connections that share their issues and concerns. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Ontario and the carbon tax on industry

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East It is worth mentioning that Ford and his government have been opposed to all forms of carbon pricing since taking office in 2018. Nice and good but…… However, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the federal carbon pricing law, so the provinces faced a choice: either put a price on emissions (and collect the revenue) or Ottawa imposes a carbon price anyway (and the feds get to collect the revenue). The latter is what happens with the carbon tax that has drawn the most public attention: on fuel at the pumps. The Trudeau government has collected that revenue in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, handing it back to taxpayers in those provinces through income tax rebates. While that isn't changing in Ontario, the province is taking over collecting fees for CO2 emissions from large industrial producers, at prices set by Ottawa: $65 per tonne for this year, climbing by $15 each year, to reach $170 per tonne in 2030. Ontario's industrial carbon pricing system applies to the biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions, including auto manufacturers, steel mills, cement makers, chemical plants and oil refineries. In conclusion, Ontario is supposed to collect $2.2B from industrial emitters over the next 8 years, as new reliable estimates show. However, the three biggest industrial emitters of CO2 in Ontario are a trio steel plants. The province's steel industry is aiming for a dramatic reduction in its pollutant gas emissions by converting to lower-carbon sources of energy, funded in part by nearly $2 billion from provincial and federal taxpayers. Let's think a little: 2 billion from taxpayers money and 2 billion will be collected by the province from them. The province led by Ford and his finance minister still hasn't said what it will do with the revenue. That has everyone from corporate lobbyists to environmental groups calling on the province to clarify its plans for this new source of income. The question is why this revenue should not be spent in favour of taxpayers, who have already forked out a lot of money to improve the industry by reducing their pollutant emissions. So Ontario is poised to start collecting what it calls "compliance payments" from the biggest industrial producers of greenhouse gas emissions, including auto manufacturers, steel mills, cement makers, chemical plants and oil refineries. This marks the transition from the federal program for industrial carbon pricing that has been in place since 2019, imposed by Ottawa when the Ford government scrapped Ontario's cap-and-trade system. In an announcement, saying nothing, so typical of the public service, Gary Wheeler, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, wrote the following in an email to CBC News: "We are developing an approach for the use of proceeds collected under the program," As usual, there is a lot of advice given to the province by different interest groups, but all the advice is centered around only one subject; the eternal climate change hysteria and nothing else. For example Dennis Darby, president and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, says the government should put the money back into the industries that pay the fees in ways that help them reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. "I think Ontario's got a great opportunity," said Darby in an interview. "If they do it right, this can be net beneficial to industry, but also of course net beneficial to the environment." For industries to decarbonize, Darby says governments need not only to show them the stick of carbon pricing but also the carrot of funding for technologies that reduce emissions. "I think we have an opportunity right now to do this in a way that will ultimately lead to the outcome we want, which is helping companies improve their GHG performance," he said. Jason Wang, senior analyst at the Pembina Institute, said the government should look at investing in new or emerging technologies, such as low-emission production of cement. "Revenue from carbon pricing should be spent on clean economy initiatives," said Wang in an interview. Lana Goldberg, Ontario climate program manager at Environmental Defence, said she supports the province providing clean-technology funding to help companies electrify their operations, but opposes any funding for fossil-fuel companies. "The best use of the funds would be to invest in renewable energy projects like wind and solar to ensure that Ontario is replacing the many gas plants that are currently being used to generate electricity." Noticeably, all these people are concerned solely with their own narrow self interests. None of them is concerned with spending taxpayers' money for the benefit of the community; in health care for example, which is a disaster in this province. You can judge for yourself how taxpayers' money is being wasted, or is to be wasted again, on nirvana projects, rather than the immediate needs of the community. I sincerely hope that the Ontario government will do the right thing, but I have my doubts, especially in view of how Ontario finances are managed.

4.98

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - For the 82% that surrendered their right to a municipal voice in 2022. Now open your wallets and pay. You have no voice. You have no reason to complain. I may be sounding harsh and hard but it is the reality of your irresponsible actions and lack of civic duty. In 2022 only 18% of you came out to vote. 18% of you are deemed the majority in our City. It is beyond shameful. It is beyond words to think that no one would care enough. Today your lack of civic responsibility is going to cost you and it is going to cost you dearly. As for the 18% that voted the same incompetent municipal government back in with the exception of one. Hope you can afford the increase during one of Canada’s worst economic downfall. Some news reports on the increase have councillor Brian Nicholson Safety & Facilities Services Chair puts the blame squarely on the shoulders of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government and specifically Bill 23, which limits the ability of municipal governments to collect development charges to pay for growth. He was quoted as ““We have been pretty good at keeping our tax increases under two per cent in the past but that’s not possible anymore,” he said. “We have a Premier who is like a boy in short pants with no understanding about municipal government.” This is the same guy that in my opinion has no real life qualifications to make budgetary desicions. Here we have a councillor that has no real life business experience. A careered politician that instead of leading looks for ways to pass off the responsibility and or the buck. He points his fingers at Ford. When Nicholson only real source of income is that the government gives him. Really, Brian. Your envy is showing. I put it on his shoulder and that of Carter that this economic hardship of 4.98% increase could have been averted. Clearly council does not care about the average tax payer. It is after the election and common sense is no place to be found. How dare they borrow against a reserve fund.... A reserve fund!!! Do you hear that. They have RESERVE FUNDS. What does this mean to you.... That the City has numerous ‘RESERVE FUNDS’. That we already paid into. Meaning that the City is profiting by claiming loss. I never graduated from Harvard business. But I surely am not a Brian Nicholson nor a Dan Carter. Business sense would have told you that the key to being economically responsible during this tough economic time. CUT WASTE... CUT EXPENSES... FREEZE WAGES. You want to buy new trucks. No problem. Bill 23 has limit the amount you can charge. Fine. This does not mean that the City can’t pass by-laws mandating that developers enter in partnerships to better the community. The saving from the Bill 23 mandates would be offset on the partnerships. A good business sense to abide by the legislation and yet get what you want. No instead Carter and his council of incompetents take the easy way out. Borrow and dig further into the tax payers well. Our city is being run by incompetents without the ability to use common sense. This is not a budget. This is a rip off at the hands of incompetents. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Turbocharge Your LinkedIn Profile to Generate Job Opportunities

By Nick Kossovan "The power of visibility can never be underestimated." - Margaret Cho (American comedian) Welcome to 2023! I hope this is the year you find an employer where you feel accepted and at home. A job seeker's best compass is to prioritize finding where they belong. Think: "I'm not looking for a job; I'm looking for my tribe!" Imagine how much more efficient (NOTE: I didn't say "easier") your job search would be if employers were contacting you about their open positions-asking if you'd like to join their tribe. (Throughout the hiring process, you can determine whether you'll fit in well with the employer and feel welcomed.) Your LinkedIn profile plays a crucial role in achieving this aforementioned efficiency. It's common knowledge that a well-thought-out, complete LinkedIn profile attracts attention. Truism: Visibility is essential to success. Ask yourself: "Am I missing out on opportunities because I'm not visible enough?" Odds are the answer is "Yes." Here's how to turbocharge your LinkedIn profile to generate job leads. 1. Upgrade your profile picture. Fair or unfair, your profile picture forms the first impressions of you. Hence, make it a good one! - Upload your profile picture to Photofeeler.com. - Analyze the feedback. -Based on the data, reshoot/edit your picture. Not having a LinkedIn profile photo is "damaging" and will likely prolong your job search and hinder your employment prospects. Lack of a LinkedIn profile photo can result in the following adverse effects: - It'll seem you lack a basic understanding of how LinkedIn works. There's even a possibility some viewers will presume you're incapable of uploading a photo. - Fake LinkedIn profiles abound. Most people will assume, rightfully so, a profile without a photo is fake. - Your profile is incomplete without a photo. In search results, complete profiles appear higher. According to LinkedIn Help: "Members with profile photos can receive up to 21 times more profile views than those without profile photos." - When a LinkedIn profile doesn't have a profile picture, it suggests that the person isn't committed to professional networking. If you're going to a networking event, you can't hide your face, so why are you hiding it on LinkedIn? 2. Take advantage of keywords. Recruiters and employers use keywords to find candidates. By using the right keywords, you'll appear in more searches. You can find keywords that'll help you appear in searches by following these steps: - Find 10+ job descriptions for target roles. - Paste them into Cultivated Culture's job description scanner. - Save the top 15 skills. (These are your keywords.) - Integrate these skills (keywords) throughout your profile. 3. Create a compelling headline. Your LinkedIn headline is a public one-sentence resume that tells the viewer who you are, what you do, and what you bring to the table. Using the following formula, you can write a compelling headline: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] For example, a medical device salesperson's LinkedIn headline might look like this: Medical Device Salesperson | B2B, Cold Calling, Capital Equipment | I cultivate high-value prospective clients, thus having increased my territory's sales by 28% 4. Write an 'About' section that makes the reader say, "I must meet this person!" A great 'About' section has three parts: 1. A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value proposition. (Include your keywords!) 2. Five bullets that showcase specific (READ: qualified, measurable) achievements. 3. Your email address so the reader can contact you. 5. Leverage your 'Featured' section. It's hard to convey your value on a resume or LinkedIn profile, thus why LinkedIn provides a 'Featured' section where you can upload your work and demonstrate your expertise. Showing your work to employers is the best way to convey your worth. Hence in your 'Featured' section, share examples of your work, upload certificates, awards, links to your content etc. Speaking of content, create it! Content (e.g., articles, eBooks, videos, polls, charts and infographics, memes, podcasts) is networking en masse. It's possible to reach more people through one post than through your entire network of connections. Posting content, instead of simply uploading it to your 'Featured' section, illustrates what you can offer employers and your communication style and personality. Yes, it's uncomfortable and frightening to put yourself out there, which is why only 2 to 5% of people do it. However, when done strategically, the return on creating and posting is substantial. 6. Skills have an impact. LinkedIn uses a profile's 'Skills' section to rank profiles. Boost your ranking by: - Add every keyword from your Cultivated Culture scan. - Pick the five most relevant skills. - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements regarding your five most relevant skills. 7. Support and engage. The more comments you leave, the more views you get! Try this: - Find ten thought leaders in your area of focus. - Bookmark their post feed. - Every day, check their feeds. - Leave a supportive, insightful comment on new posts. If you need an additional reason why you should give your LinkedIn profile lots of love, besides turbocharging it to attract job opportunities, keep in mind that employers will review your LinkedIn profile to determine whether you're interview-worthy. _______________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

Rules Of Conduct

I have been obsessed with a male teacher of mine for months. I am a 16-year-old girl, and he is in his late 30s, married, with young children. We have a nice rapport and are friends in a very appropriate sense. I’ve been to his place to meet his family a couple of times. He is proper and respectful to me, as a teacher should be. However, I have a huge crush on him. I think about him constantly, and every time we exchange a few words, my heart races. I hope this obsession will die down, but in the meantime I want to know what to do. I know we can’t be more than friends, even though I’d love to kiss him. Should I discuss my feelings with him? I want to talk to him about it, but I don’t want him to be uncomfortable. Darcy Darcy, a crush is not a “we thing,” it is a “me thing.” It is something you experience and let pass. Left alone, time takes care of it, and your letter shows you know that. If you believe that is true, then why do you want to talk to your teacher about it? Because you still have a fantasy about making something occur. Some part of you wants to test your powers on him, even though he is not actively seeking a relationship. In legal ethics, there is a principle known as “the appearance of evil.” What it means is that lawyers, and especially judges, should not only avoid doing things which are wrong, they should avoid even what could erroneously be perceived as being wrong. That is the position your teacher is in. For the sake of a romantic play in your head, you could jeopardize this man’s marriage and family life, his career and place in the community. At the very least, you will strain your relationship and make him wary of being in the same room with you. Talking about this can only spoil your relationship. Wayne Dating Principles I’m 42, divorced from my husband of 20 years. The dating scene has changed so much I feel as if I am back in high school trying to figure out the difference between games and reality. I’m an assistant principal and needed to talk with a principal from out of state concerning a new student. During our telephone conversations, we found out we are both single, the same age. We exchanged emails, and he suggested exchanging pictures. I sent mine, and the email stopped. I know what that sounds like. He didn’t like what he saw. I’m a nice-looking woman and take care of myself. I feel so vulnerable and innocent at times. My husband was the only man in my life from college until last year, so I am not very experienced. My questions are simple. How do I know if a man is really interested, or just out for a fun time? When does a man feel a woman is too pushy? Rebecca Rebecca, the quickest way to find out if a man is just looking for a fun time is not to give him one. This doesn’t mean you can’t be a pleasant date or a good conversationalist, it means just leave it there. Let a man get to know you. If he keeps coming back, the interest is in you. Thinking about why this man hasn’t emailed is absolute speculation. It can range from you look like the woman who broke his heart to, at second thought, a long distance relationship is too much trouble. Don’t let “no” prevent you from going forward, presenting yourself with absolute honesty. There is no more powerful appeal than honesty. Honesty is only perceived as pushiness when the other person doesn’t want what you want. “Pushy” is just a negative word for that. Wayne & Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com Wayne & Tamara are also the authors of Cheating in a Nutshell, What Infidelity Does to the Victim, available from Amazon, Apple and most booksellers.

Edema Is a Common Problem Often Ignored

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones What is one of the most common health problems that develops in people as they age, and also one of the least discussed? The answer is chronic swelling of the legs. At best, it’s a natural consequence of aging. But also known as peripheral edema, there can be medical, nutritional, or lifestyle causes and serious health consequences. Edema is a general term meaning swelling. Peripheral edema occurs in the legs, ankles, feet, as well as arms and hands. Swelling in other parts of the body include pulmonary edema (in the lungs), cerebral edema (in the brain), and macular edema (in the eye). It’s a medical emergency when the lungs or brain are affected, and a life-altering condition when vision is impacted. But in the legs, while victims must deal with pain, weakness, and limitations on mobility, for many, there is a sense of stigma, when once shapely or muscular legs have become less sightly. That’s at least one reason why there’s not a lot of information about how many people are suffering from the condition. In the minds of sufferers, it doesn’t warrant a visit to the doctor, and clothes can help conceal the issue, if not make it go away. One research team at the University of Rochester used data from the American Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of about 20,000 U.S. adults over the age of 51, to estimate prevalence of the condition, which they found to be 19-20% of survey respondents. They also found social disparities among those reporting lower limb edema. Blacks/African Americans and other racial minorities, women, and less wealthy individuals were more affected. As is the case with many other health conditions, the researchers reported, “Minority racial status and lower wealth could be associated with peripheral edema for multiple reasons, including higher rates of other chronic health conditions as well as lower access to healthy foods and preventive care services.” What is causing edema is not always easy to determine. For the individuals involved, it can be hard to know if the swelling is the result of fluid gathering in the tissue. Or is it from the buildup of fat? Known as Lipedema, it is fat, not fluid, that occurs in the limbs, and in the early stage, people do not typically have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. But peripheral edema is an accumulation of fluid. Causes of fluid buildup can be long periods of sitting or standing. Pregnant women can develop the condition, as can people with low levels of protein in the diet. But more sinister causes are also common, including chronic lung diseases or congestive heart failure, when the heart muscle doesn't pump well. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when leg veins fail to carry blood back up to the heart. When valves that normally ensure blood flows toward the heart don't work well, gravity takes over, causing blood to pool in the legs. Depending on the cause, the treatment should be tailored. This is not the time for armchair medicine. An accurate diagnosis depends on a full medical history and potentially a battery of tests to pinpoint the issue. Keep in mind, it’s better to treat the underlying cause than the symptom. Raising the affected limbs will help. Diuretics can also help but need to be used with care as removing too much fluid too quickly can, among other things, impair kidney function. Attention to diet, consistent moderate exercise, and maintenance of a healthy weight should be the goal – early in life, and all lifelong. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

PHARMACIST

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - The big news today - Pharmacists Now Treating Thirteen Common Ailments and Renewing Prescriptions for Most Medications - What has happened to the pharmacist profession? I remember the days before cell phones, before 911, before land line phones. Places that would have one phone for the town of 200. Normally at the local pharmacy or bar. The phone would ring and someone from the pharmacy or bar would run to your house and holler that you had a call waiting and who it was from. I remember the days when you fell off your horse or scraped your knee. No, 911. No, hospital or ambulance near by. You would walk to your local pharmacist and he would treat you on the spot. Needed, stitches? No problem. Hell needed a tooth pulled. The pharmacist was your man. He would even treat gun shot wounds. Prescriptions what were they? The pharmacist would ask your weight and look at you for a bit and then he would go in to these jars pull out powder, mix it and compress it right in front of you to a pill looking thang. He tell you when to take it and how. Boom. I even remember having the pharmacist mix his mix and put it in an envelop type contraption made out of wax paper and tell you to take a tea-spoon or how much... as needed. I know by making these statements I am aging my self. But history is history.. and modern day society could not survive back then. I remember when being fat meant you were healthy. I remember the days when milk was delivered to your front door in glass jars sealed by nothing more than a foil cap. Or my fav. Having to wait on Tuesdays for the sound of the horse and wagon pulling the fresh caught fish off the peer. The smells, the look f that old wagon insulated by metal sheets dripping from the blocks of ice keeping the fish cool. It appears that today in modern society the pharmacist must acquire degrees to barely read a prescription assigned by a doctor. The pharmacist today are nothing short of pill counters. Many don’t give to much advice as it could hold them liable for misinformation. Others stick to the basics and tell you to go see a doctor. It seems that in modern times. We the people have surrendered common sense and practicality. Everyone needs to be an expert. Everyone needs to protect their best interest. I give my right arm to go back to the old days when your neighbor was like family. When your last name meant something. When people had integrity and basic human decency. Those were the days. REMEMBER ALWAYS Hope for the Best. PREPARE FOR the worst.

Canada and the F-35 fighter jets saga

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Canada has finalized a long-awaited deal to replace its aging fleet of CF-18 fighter jets with 88 of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighters, set to begin arriving in the coming years as Canada finally signed the contract. This, despite the fact that in 2015 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his liberal government committed to never buying the F-35 fighter jets. What an about face, and at what exorbitantly inflated expense to Canadian taxpayers! Indeed the deal directly contradicts a 2015 pledge from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada "will not buy the F-35" after controversial cost estimates forced the previous government to put an earlier F-35 deal on ice. While Canadian governments have been in talks about the F-35 since the late 1990s, the former Conservative government formally announced its intent to buy 65 of the stealth fighter jets in 2010. Deliveries at the time were projected to begin in 2016. However, high costs and concerns about inaccurate budgeting dominated headlines over the subsequent years, and in 2012 the auditor general of the day criticized the handling of the sole-sourced deal. In 2010 the former Conservative government claimed that buying 64 F-35s would cost $9 billion. However, the auditor general report shortly afterwards said that those costs failed to account for the money it would take to keep the fleet running over its entire life cycle. With all of those costs factored in, the auditor general estimated the cost would actually be closer to $44 billion. By the time the 2015 federal election rolled around, then-Liberal leader Justin Trudeau vowed he would not buy the F-35 jets, pledging instead to look into a "more affordable aircraft." Despite that promise, the government did not excluded Lockheed Martin from entering the contest for a replacement fleet - and now, seven years later, Trudeau's government has finalized a deal for the fleet it promised not to purchase in 2015. "This is a decision that probably should have been made a decade ago, maybe even five years ago," said Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute. "The delays have been so serious and so long coming that … it's had some serious consequences for Canada's ability to defend itself." Canada's air force has struggled to retain its pilots, and Shimooka said the outdated fleet and everlasting deliberations over a potential replacement did not help this issue. The air force is supposed to have about 1,500 pilots, but was short around 225 at the end of December 2019. According to the Canadian Press, the issue had improved slightly by 2021 - but the air force was still short about 130 pilots. So after several years of delays and dramatic cost increases, the government is now purchasing the F-35 fighter jets. The deal is now $19 billion, but officials said in a technical briefing last week that the cost estimate for the lifecycle of these fighter jets is expected to land around $70 billion. The first aircraft is set to be delivered in 2026, officials said, and the full fleet is expected to reach operational capability between 2032 and 2034. Compare the purchase price at $9 billion versus $19 billion, the maintenance costs at $44 Billion versus 70 billion, and the delivery date of 2016 versus 2026. Now consider the purchase price of replacing its aging fleet of Boeing CF-18 fighter jets in 2017, when the government also said it would buy 25 used jets of the same model from Australia as a bridge toward a longer-term fleet replacement, and you have the whole devastating picture of recklessly misspent taxpayer money. Is anybody being held accountable? "The delay, of course, has impacted quite severely on the Royal Canadian Air Force in terms of recruitment and retention of pilots, fighter aircraft capability, and the world has changed," former defence minister Peter MacKay said recently in an interview with CTV National News Senior Political Correspondent Glen McGregor. Interestingly enough I was in the Defence Committee in the House of Commons during the Harper government's negotiations, and I witnessed first hand the wavering of the government to make the decision to have the contract signed for the F-35 fighter jets. Not signing it was certainly a grave mistake, as the leadership essentially succumbed to uninformed public pressure whipped up by a politically partisan media and the pressure of an imminent election campaign. In today's world, faced with the complexity of defending our long neglected arctic, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the growing tensions in South East Asia with the emerging power of China, we cannot afford future mistakes of this kind. We must have a military capable of defending our country from any foreign threat. We cannot base our defence by proxy on our strong neighbour to the South. What do you think?

Why Do Some People Seem to Have Jobs Fall into Their laps?

By Nick Kossovan We all know someone who seems to get job opportunities dropped into their laps, whose career appears to be a seamless meteoric rise. Job opportunities don't fall into some people's laps more than others; they're available to everyone. What sets the "job opportunities fall into their laps" people apart: 1. They heed the Roman philosopher Seneca's words, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Simply put, putting yourself in the right position creates luck. For example, having a completed LinkedIn profile that shows what you've achieved for your previous employers is much more likely to lead to hiring managers and recruiters contacting you. 2. Whenever an opportunity presents itself, they're open-minded and decisive about whether it will get them closer to their goal(s). Rather than feeling envious of those who seem to have it easier than you or who are achieving the success you wish you had, ask yourself, "How are they creating the luck they have that I wish I had?" Preparation to meet opportunities has many looks, such as how you choose to present yourself to the world, educate yourself, and being assertive. The following are some ways those you envy are attracting job opportunities. - Everybody knows what they do. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Constructive self-promotion helps you connect with the right people. In addition, it makes you memorable. Therefore, family, friends, acquaintances, and everyone you regularly interact with, think of you when opportunities arise that fit your abilities. Whether reworking your LinkedIn profile, preparing for an interview or navigating networking events, knowing how to promote yourself is essential. - They embrace networking. Networking goes hand-in-hand with self-promotion. Obviously, the more people you know and know about you and what you do and have accomplished, the more opportunities you'll be presented with. So, for better visibility, cast a wide net. Many people who claim to be introverts have adopted limiting beliefs to go along to get along. It's easier to be withdrawn than put yourself out there and risk being rejected. Opportunities are all around you-the caveat is that they're attached to people, which means you have to connect with people. Regardless of how comfortable you are with networking, if you're serious about your job search and career, read Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi. TRUISM: The world is made for and run by extroverts. - They're charismatic. I'm going to tell you something all the other self-proclaiming job search experts and career coaches never say. Throughout your interview, your interviewer is asking themselves this one question which determines whether you move forward in the hiring process and get hired: "Do I like this person?" TRUISM: Being likeable supersedes your skills and experience. Four ways to be more charismatic in your job interviews and career: 1. Embrace small talk. 2. Listen with intent. 3. Make eye contact. 4. Ask questions. (show interest) Many believe that charisma comes from within, that it's innate from birth. This is limiting-belief nonsense! Anyone can become charismatic if they put their mind to it. Besides Ferrazzi's book, I recommend reading Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards. - Their personal brand is important to them. Whether you realize it or not, your personal brand (aka, your reputation) says four things about you: - What you value. - What you're great at. - What kind of person you are. - What you're known for. Most people don't give their personal brand any thought. Nor do they want to put in the effort to cultivate a personal brand that'll be invaluable to their job searches and career. People whose careers you admire strategically control their personal brand narrative. I have another book to recommend, Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future by Dorie Clark. - They've positioned themselves as a SME. Since employers hire for results, they look for SMEs (Subject Matter Experts)-thought leaders-who can address specific issues or challenges in their company and industry. Becoming and being recognized as an SME is a lengthy process; however, your efforts to become one will pay off. Begin by learning everything you can about a subject, procedure, or process related to your industry or profession. Online courses, certification coursework, attending conferences, participating in discussions in a community of experts, posting on social media, and keeping up with the latest news and trends are ways to gain knowledge. Once you have mastered your "subject," the next step is the most important one; establishing yourself as an authority or thought leader. You achieve this by managing your social media presence, participating in Q&A websites offering expert advice, writing publications columns, and starting an informative blog or a YouTube channel. The activities mentioned above of those who "appear" to have opportunities fall into their laps are designed to accomplish one goal: to set them up for success. What are you doing to set yourself up for job search and career success? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

TIC-TOC

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. - ONE DAY AT A TIME - Can it be that those that we elect to lead us be such incompetents. From Hillary and her issued with securing servers or even having the knowledge of a government from a private server. Baffles the mind. Now under the guidance of the Intellegence community. The U.S. government decides to go after Tic-Toc as they are deemed the new evil empire attempting to over throw the American dream. Really.... and the U.S. government have gone as far as deeming Tic-Toc a national threat. REALLY!!! The government in its ignorance will block access to TIC-TOC and it’s users at the white house. It baffles the mind. First. If the U.S. government is so insecure over technology. They must ban all cell phones. They are the bigger threat to national security as any cell phone can be accessed remotedly. This so true that when an Amber alert goes out. So does your individuality and privacy. As a signal is sent across all networks alarming the population at large of any dangers. People wake up. This technology anuls your right to privacy and proves the power of the government to collect information about you without your consent. But wait, this is more than a China - U.S. security issue. This Tic-Toc is about the government putting fear in people’s mind so that we the people keep surrendering our civil rights. The Chinese are listening... Don’t use Tic-Toc or let the government intervene. WRONG. The government of the world for the past 30 years have attempted at all cost to monitor, scensor and control who and what goes online. So far they failed. Now with this new found threat against the people. BINGO - the magic bullet to force U.S. citizens to comply and forfeit on their freedoms and civil liberties. If the government is so interested in protecting the identity of American’s and personal information. How is it that the COMCAST of the world are allowed to send all of our personal information to call centers in Africa, Carribean, South East Asia and South American countries. Do you not think that is a worst national security threat? Companies like Comcast and others volunterr our information without consent from the American public. Are our Intelligence community that stupid to not see it? But wait, Tic-Toc is an issue. No it is not. They are making it an issue so that they can pass laws in order to prevent us access and tighten the control online. This action should be denounced by every red blooded American. Tic-Toc is no different than Facebook or Twitter. No diffrent that any browser you may use. Why the all of a sudden attack on Tic-Toc. Yes you thought it. Politics and government attempt to work their way in controlling what goes on the net. Beware.

The new Canadian Liberal Dream

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East We are at the beginning of 2023, just finishing celebrating the New Year's arrival and hoping for a brighter future. Then, as if the burdens of the housing crisis, high mortgage rate and a faltering economy were not enough, the liberal government has announced a new dream objective for greening themselves even more. The liberal government guru on the environment, Environment Minister Steven Guilibeault, has proposed new regulations recently, under which one-fifth of all passenger cars, SUVs and trucks sold in Canada in 2026 will need to run on electricity. By 2030, the mandate will hit 60 per cent of all sales and by 2035, every passenger vehicle sold in Canada will need to be electric. Wow!!? Ironically enough, Guilbeault's parliamentary secretary Julie Dabrusin said during the recent announcement that the new target is "about making sure that Canadians have access to the vehicles they want." Are these guys for real? This is a clear demonstration of the dream world this liberal government is living in. For the record, geographically, Canada is the second largest country in the world with a relatively small population of just 36 million souls. We have long roads to cover and a cold climate to combat. Are they hoping that leviathan driven global warming and climate change will alter these realities? Unless they do, we will need reliable car batteries and charging points to power the vehicles. Where will they come from? Solar or wind energy? These people have lost their mental compass, infatuated as they are with the new global reset, initiated by the World Economic Foundation (WEF), promoted strongly from elsewhere, and certainly not made in Canada or for Canada. In addition, manufacturers or importers who don't meet the sales targets could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act through a phased-in approach. Very encouraging for entrepreneurs and people who are really working and not just talking nonsense. In the first six months of 2022, sales of fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles made up just 7.2 per cent of new car registrations. For all of 2021, the proportion was 5.2 per cent. Clairvoyants like Cara Clairman, president and CEO of Plug'n Drive, a non-profit organization (Paid for by Whom?) that encourages electric vehicle use, said the toughest part of promoting the change from gas-powered vehicles is availability. "Long waiting lists are definitely discouraging consumers that are ready to make the switch," she said. "And if we all agree that we're in a climate emergency, we need to help consumers make the switch as soon as possible." Other, more thoughtful people, like Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, said the federal government should be building up necessary infrastructure for electric vehicles before regulating sales. He suggested that Canada's infrastructure is not on track to support a growing fleet - and those who will be driving the new cars. "The vehicles are coming, but we need a supercharged effort to help marketing, and actually make that purchase and make it easy, convenient and accessible," he said. Under the draft regulations, to be formally published soon, the government proposes tracking the sales by issuing credits for vehicle sales. Fully electric cars and trucks would be worth a bigger credit than plug-in hybrid versions, though the government acknowledges that plug-in hybrids will likely remain in demand in rural and northern areas. How considerate of them! The mandate fulfils a 2021 Liberal election promise. It's the first major set of regulations to come out of an emissions reduction plan the government published last April. That plan is Canada's broad road map toward hitting its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors to a level in 2030 that is 40 to 45 per cent below what it was in 2005. Passenger vehicles account for half of all road transportation emissions and about 10 per cent of Canada's total emissions across all sectors. Before this latest move, Canada already had targets for electric vehicle sales. However, they were not enforceable, and the government wasn't successfully compelling car companies to ramp up the number of electric vehicles available for sale. Kingston said the government's approach seems intended to "regulate away global supply chain challenges" - but he said that is not realistic, since a completely new supply chain is being created for electric vehicles. "You can't regulate away shortages, and it simply doesn't work like that," he said. The new policy would decouple Canada's regulatory regime from the United States, Kingston warned, and the impending penalties for vehicles sold outside of the prescribed federal targets could raise the overall cost of operating in Canada. Clean Energy Canada, an advocacy group (hostile to nuclear power) housed at Simon Fraser University, close to la la land, celebrated the latest government announcement but warned that the penalties will need to be legally enforced, "a time consuming process" that will create complexity and uncertainty. Welcome to the newly crafted 'democracy'. So, autocracy is in the works eh… With this hysteria in the making, and no regard for the realities of life we are surely heading for new dark ages led by a "necromonger" government. Joy to the world, and Happy New Year!

Obstacles to Remove From Your 2023 Job Search

By Nick Kossovan We're in the third year of what many call "unprecedented times," which feels accurate when not compared to what earlier generations experienced during the Great Depression and World War II. Today headlines of labour shortages and layoffs coexist. While companies strive to keep costs under control, consumers and employees demand increased corporate investment in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance), including DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). I ask myself: - Will economic pressures drive companies to pause their ESG and DEI commitments? - Will companies cut back on employee experiences? - As employee demands increase, thus increasing their liability to their employer's profit margin, will companies be more inclined to use AI, robotics, outsourcing, and contractors? 2023 will be a year employers and job seekers will be navigating many obstacles. Inevitably, job searching is heartbreaking and frustrating. Therefore, job seekers will benefit from mitigating "obstacles," real and perceived, so they are in a better headspace while searching for employment. For a successful job search in 2023, remove these obstacles. - Accept the fact that companies are wishy-washy. Employers can't predict the near-term economic future. Many economists foresee a brutal 2023 recession. Therefore, businesses are facing the challenge of hiring applicants who can assist them in staying afloat in a recession. Understandably employers are skittish when hiring, hence a lengthy hiring process or putting off hiring. Continuously pursue multiple companies during your job search-create a pipeline of potential employers. Placing all your eggs (READ: hopes) in one basket (employer, industry) isn't a wise job search strategy. - Embrace the fact today's job market is as competitive as ever. Don't be fooled by the media's claim that it's a job seeker's market. Every job opening is fiercely competitive, especially those highly sought-after. Getting a job in today's job market isn't a cakewalk. On the contrary, believing it'll "be easy" creates frustration and heartbreak, obstacles that are difficult to overcome. Believing it'll "be easy" is also why many job seekers don't give 100% to their job search or take networking seriously. - Not following up. Following up consistently and persistently is key to networking, researching companies, and interviewing, which ultimately leads to job search success. A peek behind the curtain: Many hiring managers purposefully don't follow up with candidates. This is because they believe that candidates who follow up are the ones genuinely interested in the position. The logic behind this can't be argued. When you don't hear back, follow up! Show you're serious about the position and joining the company. - Having a sense of entitlement. Among job seekers, I see an entitlement epidemic. Hence, they're increasingly victims of their unrealistic expectations and demands of employers. A sense of entitlement is a massive turn-off with employers, putting you at a disadvantage. You're not owed a job or to make a living. Get rid of any sense of entitlement you may have and accept responsibility for the consequences of your actions and life choices. (You'll make better choices.) - You're a ghost online. Having no online presence severely restricts your visibility to recruiters and employers. A LinkedIn profile with a professional photo is much more visible and likely to be found than one that's incomplete. To get employers to find you think "digital assets" instead of "digital footprint." Having a blog, a website or writing LinkedIn articles showcasing you as an SME (Subject Matter Expert) in your field are excellent ways to get employers' attention. Your digital presence should demonstrate your value, not just that you exist. - You don't think in terms of "innovation." Candidates with more than textbook solutions are whom employers gravitate towards. Employers are looking for creative, out-of-the-box ideas and solutions, especially if the idea/solution will give them a competitive edge. Whether you work in retail or engineering, employers are hungry for ideas that'll generate revenue, save time and money, and enhance profitability. The next time you're interviewing, offer an innovative solution to a pressing problem the employer has or a solution to one of the problems the position you're interviewing for exists to solve. Try to entice your interviewer to say, "That's a great idea. Thanks for bringing it up." - Your salary discussions are all about "the money." The current advice from so-called career and job search experts is "grabbing the bag" and "getting what you're worth." When layoffs happen, which they will throughout 2023, who will be laid off first? The employees who negotiated "what they're worth" or the employees being paid market value? You should, of course, negotiate a fair compensation package (e.g., base salary, benefits, paid time off, commission/bonus structure) in line with your current local job market. Being inflexible regarding your starting salary prolongs your job search. Also, should you find an employer that's "stuck" and therefore agrees to your salary demand, you're now an expensive employee. You don't want to be the employee that has management always wondering, "Is Bob worth what we're paying him?" I hope 2023 is the year you find the right opportunity for you. If I can assist you in any way whatsoever, don't hesitate to reach out. Best of luck in your job search. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

Aging Well at Home

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones It’s been said that parents should be nice to their children. “After all, they are going to choose your nursing home.” So it is punishment or reward when children choose to help their parents stay living in their own homes? Some lifestyle choices are clear as night and day. Don’t smoke. Do exercise. Don’t lose sleep. Do eat a nutritious diet. But there is no clear answer to the question of where it is best to live out the senior years of life, with significant consequences for everyone in the family. Factors affecting in the decision are plentiful. Healthcare needs and cost of care. Housing suitability and safety considerations. Family location and friend groups. Availability of transportation and other services. And there’s no mistaking that as one gets older, these factors change in unpredictable ways. As important as these issues are, another factor might be even more crucial. Attitude plays a vital role in happiness, good health and longevity. A positive attitude has been linked in many studies with improved measures of well-being. A fascinating study conducted 20 years ago by Yale University researchers found that older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions. Findings like this offer a strong rationale for a positive mindset. But happy thoughts only go so far when a decision to age at home bumps up against the common, everyday challenges of a world designed for younger people. In the home, being able to open a tin can or a bottle of wine makes the difference between having a good meal and enduring a frustrating barrier to it. Taking out the trash, doing the laundry, or keeping up with home maintenance are significant challenges for people with precarious mobility. Technology’s innovations and solutions have worked wonders for society, but not always for seniors seeking to maintain their independence. The failures of technology to serve the interests of seniors are observable, for example, outside urban concert venues that attract young and old alike. When the event is over and crowds emerge onto the streets, the young jump into waiting Ubers while seniors search for rare taxis or struggle in the dark and cold to put on their glasses so that they can puzzle with their phones to arrange a ride. It’s a rare young person who stops to help, let alone notices the problem. How will today’s society be judged in the future? On the surface, it appears that our eldest citizens are not always the recipients of the care and respect we claim they deserve. The influential baby boomer generation has an opportunity to change things for the elderly. The oldest boomers are now pushing into the second half of their 70s. They are goal-oriented and accustomed to getting things their way. It’s reasonable to anticipate that they will demand enhancements in lifestyle options for their senior years, whether at home or in assisted group residences, which no doubt they will rebrand. But until they do, the realities of senior living are still big challenges for most. For those seeking to stay at home, there are more services today than in the past, from food delivery to in-home healthcare and personal support. The question remains debated whether institutional settings have learned how to protect health while also promoting it. Has the COVID pandemic ignited new thinking among children about helping their aging parents stay at home? So it seems. Occupancy rates in assisted living facilities are down and “aging in place” is a top trend in senior housing. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones