My last post painted a rather dire picture of the future. All that has changed. First, our driving trip to Las Vegas was such a success that we are now planning a driving trip to Denver and Phoenix in late September. Ron had tons of energy, and although we used a wheel chair in the casino all the time, it worked well and was easy. We discovered that driving and having all our equipment handy in the car to be much easier than flying and having to ship a walker, rent a wheel upon arrival, and deal with having to get into our kids cars, all SUV's. We will solve all that with a driving trip, and we can't wait to go.
Second, I saw Dr. Bugbee last week. He's the orthopedist who operated on my left knee four years ago. After reviewing my x-rays he agreed that I did have osteoarthritis and if the pain was severe, surgery would be necessary, but he said that if I could control the pain with cortisone injections I should do that. I had a cortisone shot in my right knee on June 4, and over seven weeks later, I am still pain free. I feel fantastic and relieved that for now, there is no knee replacement in my future. I can have a shot every three months if necessary, but I may be lucky and may go much longer without pain. In any event, it reminds me NOT to jump to conclusions until I have all the facts. I will keep playing pickleball, golf, walking and boogie boarding as long as my knees allow.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Friday, July 27, 2018
Planning For The Future
When Ron and I were first married, we made lots of plans. We saved money, bought our first house with help from Mom and Dad, and we were on our way. Five houses later, three wonderful children and five grandchildren later and multiple trips to countries all over the world, we achieved most of what we planned for.
Now, at 75 and 73 years of age, we still have plans, but I find planning for the future is quite different. We have many health issues to consider, so driving trips are always easiest. We plan to go to Las Vegas in July (driving), and assuming that is successful, we will fly to Denver in late August to see kids and grandkids. I have just been told that I need a knee replacement on my right knee, so I am planning for that.
Out of nowhere my right knee began hurting, so much so that I was close to tears. X rays revealed severe osteoarthritis, among other problems. So I'm now planning for how I can take care of my own medical needs while still taking care of Ron. My friend Phyllis from the dog park gave me a suggestion that I intend to follow.
I will first make a list of my needs. I will consider options for after care. Who will help me? Where will I stay, home or after care facility? After I figure that out, I need to figure out care of my dog (list of several options for his care) and care for Ron (again, several options). This will be a big list! So much to think about. When we have someone else who is relying on us for help, we often ignore our own needs. I have found that this is NOT a good idea. Caregivers need to take care of themselves, so I am going to do what I must and get this knee repaired. I will feel better and happier (living with pain is a bitch) and be a better everything(caregiver, wife, daughter, mom, grandma). That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Thanks, Phyllis, for the great suggestion.
Now, at 75 and 73 years of age, we still have plans, but I find planning for the future is quite different. We have many health issues to consider, so driving trips are always easiest. We plan to go to Las Vegas in July (driving), and assuming that is successful, we will fly to Denver in late August to see kids and grandkids. I have just been told that I need a knee replacement on my right knee, so I am planning for that.
Out of nowhere my right knee began hurting, so much so that I was close to tears. X rays revealed severe osteoarthritis, among other problems. So I'm now planning for how I can take care of my own medical needs while still taking care of Ron. My friend Phyllis from the dog park gave me a suggestion that I intend to follow.
I will first make a list of my needs. I will consider options for after care. Who will help me? Where will I stay, home or after care facility? After I figure that out, I need to figure out care of my dog (list of several options for his care) and care for Ron (again, several options). This will be a big list! So much to think about. When we have someone else who is relying on us for help, we often ignore our own needs. I have found that this is NOT a good idea. Caregivers need to take care of themselves, so I am going to do what I must and get this knee repaired. I will feel better and happier (living with pain is a bitch) and be a better everything(caregiver, wife, daughter, mom, grandma). That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Thanks, Phyllis, for the great suggestion.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Fishmongers For The Freshest Fish
Lunch on a cloudy day was slow, which meant we had the fishmonger, owner, and server's full attention. There was only one other table occupied, but that did not deter of from having a fabulous time and eating more fabulous food. Fishmongers is an inviting restaurant, with big tables, nice bar area, and outdoor seating with beautiful hanging plants. The restaurant is attached to another building called 57 Degrees (the temperature at which wine should be stored), which can be rented out for private parties. Great space, but back to Fishmongers.
We always like to share, so we can get a taste of everything. We started with a delicious bottle of white wine, something we don't usually do at lunch, but I felt like a glass of wine, and everyone agreed to join me. We started our meal with some tastings from their crudo (raw fish) menu. We ordered hamichi with a mango salsa, beautifully displayed. It was almost too pretty to eat. We also tried a crab crudo on cucumber and several other flavors. They had a cherry hamachi and a chocolate tuna, among other crudos. For the main course we ordered the following, which we split up so everyone got a taste of everything: smoked tuna with brie cheese melt, crab cake sandwich, seafood salad and .........Everything was served with wonderful thin cut french fries. Oh, did I mention the crusty sesame seed bread that was served with oil and balsamic vinegar. It was great. The owner was funny and friendly, and made sure everything was just right. The fishmonger, Frankie, gave us suggestions, and even gave us samples of their famous smoked tuna. Even Regina, who doesn't care for smoked fish, tried it and liked it.
Too full for dessert, we vowed to come back again, try some other dishes like fish and chips, chowder, and grilled halibut, and to save room for dessert. We were happy and satisfied when we left, another lunch bunch outing success.
Monday, July 23, 2018
Eataly Los Angeles: Where Do I Start?
Eataly is huge. It's on three floors, and I couldn't get the square footage, but it must be tens of thousands. The new rooftop restaurant Terra, is 11,000 square feet, and the bottom two floors are huge. We did not eat at Terra, but I would sure want to try it in the future. It has a big bar, where the focus is gin and tonic, with special gins from all over the world. The restaurant is indoor/outdoor, with twinkling lights everywhere and a beautiful view of the city. The food features Italian skewers, meats and fish on a skewer cooked over the grill, and lots of fresh grilled veggies. It has a complete menu of salads, lots of Italian themed dishes and good wine. Very romantic.
On the other two floors, you will find several restaurants, including a casual pizza place where you stand in line to order, the get your pizza and seat yourself. The line was very long when we were there. I would not have waited, but lots of people did, and were rewarded with some fantastic pizza. Wine bars are everywhere, and a huge wine shop is there too. Another eating possibility is the place mom and I ate. It's also casual dining, with an open kitchen. All the tables are high tops, and you seat yourself. Soon a very knowledgeable wait person will come and explain the menu items to you. We had a delicious charcuterie plate (for 2) but very large, which included several meats like prosciutto, ham and salami, several cheeses, an apricot spread (think spicy jam), and pesto. This was served with thin grilled rounds of bread that resembled pita. Delicious. We also tried the tagliatelle with lamb ragout and beef and pork meatballs with marinara. Fabulous, all of it. We each had a nice glass of wine and were thoroughly stuffed. One final restaurant option is a full service fish restaurant, with great grilled fresh fish and Italian specialties. Wherever you eat, you won't be disappointed.
There is another area near the front of the store that serves coffee. Lots of delicious kinds of coffee. Most people select a dessert from one of the many dessert windows to enjoy with their coffee. Around the rest of the store you will see a large cooking school, busy most weekdays with lots of students learning how to cook Italian. There are several cheese displays, featuring hundreds of cheeses, both imported and local. Love the smell. Also, another display of sliced meats. There were about 20 different types of salami alone! You can watch the pasta man make pasta, or the bread man make bread. There are imported Italian canned foods, dishes, pots and pans, you name it. I can't think of anything they've missed.
Next time you're in LA, make Eataly one of your stops. I would plan at least two hours, one hour to shop and one hour to eat. If you're a foodie like me you will be in a happy place. If you're not, you're still going to like it. It's quite something.
Friday, July 20, 2018
What RBG Taught Me About The Right's Of Women
Ron and I went to see the movie RBG, a documentary on the extraordinary life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I learned so much I did not know. First, the story of she and her husband Martin Ginsberg, a tax attorney, was a real love story. They met when she was 17, he 18, and were together until his death in 2010. He was a man unafraid of a women who was smart and ambitious, and he supported Ruth's work and career always. She's a small, quiet woman who never raises her voice, but never the less, gets things done. Prior to being appointed Supreme Court Justice by Barack Obama, Ginsberg appeared before the court six times, winning five. Her cases are mostly regarding women's rights. She is a true champion for women!
Prior to 1970, women were truly second class citizens. Except for the right to vote, which took decades to get, women were treated as less than equal. For example, married women could not be prescribed birth control until 1965. Imagine that. It wasn't until Roe Vs. Wade that women were allowed the right to choose what happened to their own bodies. Women could not serve on juries in some states until late in the 20th century. When I got married in 1967 women could not have a credit card in their own name. Their husband had to co sign. Women were not allowed to serve in any of the military academies. Women couldn't report a rape by their husband either. In the senate, an unwritten law was finally lifted in 1993. Until then, women were not allowed to wear pants on the senate floor. In many states, women were not allowed to own property or stocks without their husband's consent.
How things have changed, and quiet, diminutive Ruth Bader Ginsberg was responsible for some of these changes. We always want change to occur rapidly, but it doesn't. It took years to get women the right to vote. I can think of something that has changed rapidly, and that is this: attitudes on same sex marriage have changed, to a point where over half the population agrees that he or she should marry who he/she chooses. Women and minorities have a long way to go, but we're going in the right direction. Young people today are more open minded, and will hopefully strive for equality for all.
Prior to 1970, women were truly second class citizens. Except for the right to vote, which took decades to get, women were treated as less than equal. For example, married women could not be prescribed birth control until 1965. Imagine that. It wasn't until Roe Vs. Wade that women were allowed the right to choose what happened to their own bodies. Women could not serve on juries in some states until late in the 20th century. When I got married in 1967 women could not have a credit card in their own name. Their husband had to co sign. Women were not allowed to serve in any of the military academies. Women couldn't report a rape by their husband either. In the senate, an unwritten law was finally lifted in 1993. Until then, women were not allowed to wear pants on the senate floor. In many states, women were not allowed to own property or stocks without their husband's consent.
How things have changed, and quiet, diminutive Ruth Bader Ginsberg was responsible for some of these changes. We always want change to occur rapidly, but it doesn't. It took years to get women the right to vote. I can think of something that has changed rapidly, and that is this: attitudes on same sex marriage have changed, to a point where over half the population agrees that he or she should marry who he/she chooses. Women and minorities have a long way to go, but we're going in the right direction. Young people today are more open minded, and will hopefully strive for equality for all.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
The President Sang Amazing Grace
https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/556574/joan-baez-amazing-grace/
Thank you Karen, for introducing me to this amazing song, "The President Sang Amazing Grace," performed by Joan Baez. She did not write it, but when she first heard it on the radio, she knew she had to record it. It was written after the church massacre in Charlottesville in 2015, and it so very powerful. The video that goes with it adds to its power.
I was a fan of Joan Baez back in the 1960's, when she was an activist, doing what she could to create a more peaceful world. She had the voice of an angel, and that hasn't changed. In the 1960's she knew everyone in politics, music, science, you name it. She had many lovers through the years, among them Steve Jobs and Bob Dylan. She thought Vaclav Havel from the Czech Republic to me the leader she most admired.
Through the years she has mellowed somewhat, but has retained her incredible beauty. She has silver/grey hair cut short, and looks incredible. Please play the above song. I hope you are moved by it the way I was. It's a modern day folk song, and reminded me of why I loved (and still do) folk music so much. A simple melody, simple words, simple message.
Thank you Karen, for introducing me to this amazing song, "The President Sang Amazing Grace," performed by Joan Baez. She did not write it, but when she first heard it on the radio, she knew she had to record it. It was written after the church massacre in Charlottesville in 2015, and it so very powerful. The video that goes with it adds to its power.
I was a fan of Joan Baez back in the 1960's, when she was an activist, doing what she could to create a more peaceful world. She had the voice of an angel, and that hasn't changed. In the 1960's she knew everyone in politics, music, science, you name it. She had many lovers through the years, among them Steve Jobs and Bob Dylan. She thought Vaclav Havel from the Czech Republic to me the leader she most admired.
Through the years she has mellowed somewhat, but has retained her incredible beauty. She has silver/grey hair cut short, and looks incredible. Please play the above song. I hope you are moved by it the way I was. It's a modern day folk song, and reminded me of why I loved (and still do) folk music so much. A simple melody, simple words, simple message.
Monday, July 16, 2018
How Do Honeybees Choose A Home?
As I was walking one day in my neighborhood, I noticed that a bee keeper's car was parked at the end of my street. The bee keeper was on the roof (a tile roof), tearing it up, trying to find the home of the swarm of honeybees buzzing around the roof. Why did the bees choose this particular roof to put down their roots? I did a bit of investigating, and here's what I found.
Every year, honeybees must find a new home. Honeybees use inhibitory signals when house hunting, paralleling the human brain's decision-making process. It's another example of the sophistication of the honeybee population. Every spring, about two-thirds of the honeybee colony split off from the group to form a new swarm. After canvassing one potential home site, each scout returns to the group to report on the quality of the prospective home by doing a waggie dance on the swarm surface, literally dancing on a platform of bees. Each scout visits only one site and instinctively know the difference between a so so spot and an excellent location. The better the site, the longer and more vivaciously they dance. The scout who recruits a certain threshold number of bees wins, and the swarm heads to that scout's location.
If two nests are equally desirable, the bees risk a deadly stalemate. The swarm has only one queen, so they can't split up. Scouts dance to win worker bees to their site, but might also head butt other bees emitting a high-pitched beep. These inhibitory signals allow bees to break a deadlock and decide on a home faster.
So, next time you find that bees have made a home in your tree or outside your house, think of how hard the scout bee had to work to win the other bees over to his choice. Your house or yard must be very special!
Every year, honeybees must find a new home. Honeybees use inhibitory signals when house hunting, paralleling the human brain's decision-making process. It's another example of the sophistication of the honeybee population. Every spring, about two-thirds of the honeybee colony split off from the group to form a new swarm. After canvassing one potential home site, each scout returns to the group to report on the quality of the prospective home by doing a waggie dance on the swarm surface, literally dancing on a platform of bees. Each scout visits only one site and instinctively know the difference between a so so spot and an excellent location. The better the site, the longer and more vivaciously they dance. The scout who recruits a certain threshold number of bees wins, and the swarm heads to that scout's location.
If two nests are equally desirable, the bees risk a deadly stalemate. The swarm has only one queen, so they can't split up. Scouts dance to win worker bees to their site, but might also head butt other bees emitting a high-pitched beep. These inhibitory signals allow bees to break a deadlock and decide on a home faster.
So, next time you find that bees have made a home in your tree or outside your house, think of how hard the scout bee had to work to win the other bees over to his choice. Your house or yard must be very special!
Friday, July 13, 2018
New Shopping Mall Sells Only Recycled Goods
Leave it to the Swedes to establish the first shopping mall selling only repaired or upcycled products. The mall is called Retuna Aterbruksgalleria. It is located in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The facilities contain both a recycling center and a shopping mall. Customers can relieve themselves of items they no longer need, then shop for something new, all in one stop. Dropped off goods are sorted into various workshops where they are refurbished. Products are then sorted into 14 specialty shops: furniture, audio, clothes, toys bikes and gardening and building materials. The mall includes a cafe and restaurant, with emphasis on organic products. Finally, there is a conference and exhibition facility complete with a specialty school for studying recycling.
The center is operated by the local municipality, and has benefited the local economy by creating 50 new repair and restoration jobs and providing space for private start ups and local artisans. The biggest bonus is that the center relieves the local government from the burden of disposing of unwanted goods, while turning potential waste into profit.
Recycling and repurposing items is a great way to products away from landfills. This Swedish town has created a win/win situation. Products are recycled and restored and live to be enjoyed by someone new, and entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to create a new business. Look for more businesses like this in the future.
The center is operated by the local municipality, and has benefited the local economy by creating 50 new repair and restoration jobs and providing space for private start ups and local artisans. The biggest bonus is that the center relieves the local government from the burden of disposing of unwanted goods, while turning potential waste into profit.
Recycling and repurposing items is a great way to products away from landfills. This Swedish town has created a win/win situation. Products are recycled and restored and live to be enjoyed by someone new, and entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to create a new business. Look for more businesses like this in the future.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Zucchini Sticks
It's difficult to find tasty ways to get children to eat veggies. It's hard to get some adults to eat them too, but even my husband Ron will eat these delicious zucchini sticks. They're easy to make, and good to serve as a side dish with dinner, or as an hors d'oeuvre with a dipping sauce, like ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Easy Zucchini Sticks
2-3 zucchini, cut into sticks (not too thin)
1 cup panko bread crumbs
salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten
Cut zucchini in fat sticks. If they're too thin, they will fall apart when cooked. Mix dry ingredients, then whip up eggs and put in a separate bowl. Dry zucchini, then dip in egg mixture, then roll and cover completely with dry mixture. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Cook at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Your guests, or your family, will gobble these up.
Easy Zucchini Sticks
2-3 zucchini, cut into sticks (not too thin)
1 cup panko bread crumbs
salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten
Cut zucchini in fat sticks. If they're too thin, they will fall apart when cooked. Mix dry ingredients, then whip up eggs and put in a separate bowl. Dry zucchini, then dip in egg mixture, then roll and cover completely with dry mixture. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Cook at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Your guests, or your family, will gobble these up.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Mendocino Farms Del Mar: Good, Healthy Food
Their slogan is "We sell happy," and you will definitely leave Mendocino Farms happy and healthy. They've been in business in L.A. for several years now, but I just haven't had a chance to get to one of their seven L.A. locations. Luckily they are expanding, and have opened in Del Mar Highlands. Meena and I had lunch there, and I was so "happy" to have found this restaurant.
It's a sandwich and salad restaurant, each menu item made from fresh, local ingredients, and loaded with flavor. I couldn't decide what to get, so Meena and I ordered the vegan banh mi sandwich and a delicious salad, loaded with beets, goat cheese, nuts, apples and a great dressing. We shared, and were stuffed and satisfied when we left. We also had a chance to sample some of their side salads. I tried the quinoa and beet salad, Meena tried the "world's healthiest salad." Both were excellent. Other menu items include lots of sandwiches, so typical, like a turkey club, but some like the vegan banh mi and Peruvian steak, a bit unusual. Salads were outstanding too. Cobb, Asian spring roll salad, and Chinese chicken salad were just a few of the options.
Did I mention how friendly the employees were? They made you feel welcome and made ordering easy. You order at the counter, then the food is brought to your table. I can't wait to go back to Mendocino Farms again. I just wish it was closer to me. Hopefully they will open in Carlsbad, Oceanside or Encinitas sometime soon. This is one restaurant where the calories listed on each menu item won't deter you from ordering. You're going to love Mendocino Farms.
It's a sandwich and salad restaurant, each menu item made from fresh, local ingredients, and loaded with flavor. I couldn't decide what to get, so Meena and I ordered the vegan banh mi sandwich and a delicious salad, loaded with beets, goat cheese, nuts, apples and a great dressing. We shared, and were stuffed and satisfied when we left. We also had a chance to sample some of their side salads. I tried the quinoa and beet salad, Meena tried the "world's healthiest salad." Both were excellent. Other menu items include lots of sandwiches, so typical, like a turkey club, but some like the vegan banh mi and Peruvian steak, a bit unusual. Salads were outstanding too. Cobb, Asian spring roll salad, and Chinese chicken salad were just a few of the options.
Did I mention how friendly the employees were? They made you feel welcome and made ordering easy. You order at the counter, then the food is brought to your table. I can't wait to go back to Mendocino Farms again. I just wish it was closer to me. Hopefully they will open in Carlsbad, Oceanside or Encinitas sometime soon. This is one restaurant where the calories listed on each menu item won't deter you from ordering. You're going to love Mendocino Farms.
Friday, July 6, 2018
Happy Birthday, Mom
On Saturday, July 7, 1923, my mom Dorothy was born. Her 95th birthday is tomorrow. I thought it would be fun to take a look back at what was happening in the world then. Of course none of us will remember any of these things! This is just for fun.
Some of the famous people born in 1923 were Alan Shepard, Bob Dole, Charlton Heston and Norman Mailer, and of course, Dorothy Gertz.
Mount Etna Erupted in Italy, leaving 60,000 people homeless. The Great Kanto earthquake in Tokyo took place, with 100,000 fatalities. In Florida, the Rosewood Florida Massacre, where the town of Rosewood was burned to the ground by the KKK, took place.
The following inventions occurred in 1923, changing lives forever. Insulin was first introduced in Canada, then brought to market by Eli Lilly. The first domestic refrigerator was sold in Sweden. The first portable radio was developed in the U.S. TV was invented in Scotland, but not developed until many years later. The hearing aid was invented in England.
On the world stage, Warren Harding was president of the U.S. until August, then Calvin Coolidge became president. Lenin ruled Russia, Mussolini ruled Italy.
In the area of pop culture, there was an explosion in recordings of African American musicians, including Louis Armstrong. At the movies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the 10 Commandments were released. Time magazine was launched. Construction started on the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the first baseball game was played at Yankee Stadium.
I personally think that the invention of insulin was the most dramatic scientific event of the year. But wait, both the domestic refrigerator and portable radio have changed so many lives too. It's hard to say. Anyway, it was an eventful year, as they all are. Happy birthday mom!
Some of the famous people born in 1923 were Alan Shepard, Bob Dole, Charlton Heston and Norman Mailer, and of course, Dorothy Gertz.
Mount Etna Erupted in Italy, leaving 60,000 people homeless. The Great Kanto earthquake in Tokyo took place, with 100,000 fatalities. In Florida, the Rosewood Florida Massacre, where the town of Rosewood was burned to the ground by the KKK, took place.
The following inventions occurred in 1923, changing lives forever. Insulin was first introduced in Canada, then brought to market by Eli Lilly. The first domestic refrigerator was sold in Sweden. The first portable radio was developed in the U.S. TV was invented in Scotland, but not developed until many years later. The hearing aid was invented in England.
On the world stage, Warren Harding was president of the U.S. until August, then Calvin Coolidge became president. Lenin ruled Russia, Mussolini ruled Italy.
In the area of pop culture, there was an explosion in recordings of African American musicians, including Louis Armstrong. At the movies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the 10 Commandments were released. Time magazine was launched. Construction started on the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the first baseball game was played at Yankee Stadium.
I personally think that the invention of insulin was the most dramatic scientific event of the year. But wait, both the domestic refrigerator and portable radio have changed so many lives too. It's hard to say. Anyway, it was an eventful year, as they all are. Happy birthday mom!
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Are You Getting Your Money's Worth With For Profit Law Schools?
I just finished reading The Rooster Bar, by John Grisham. He can really tell a story.
After reading it, my interest was peaked on for profit law schools. Grisham himself got the idea for the novel from an article he had read in a 2014edition of The Atlantic, that chronicled the inferiority of for profit law schools. What I found out was similar to what he describes in his novel.
For profit law schools generally attract students with low LSAT scores. Most of tuition is paid by the federal government, which leaves students in debt. It is not unusual for students to owe up to $200,000 at the end of school. They may not even be able to pass the bar, as their passing rate is significantly lower than that of other schools. Finding a good job is often difficult too, as new attorneys from higher ranked law schools are sought out first. The student is finished with law school, $200,000 in debt, unable to pass the bar and find a good job. The aggressive loan officers who are trying to set up repayment of the money owed are relentless. It's a bad situation.
Many for profit schools have been investigated in the past decade, a number of them have even closed. Trump University, although not a law school, is gone. Under Obama, the justice department set about investigating for profit schools (undergraduate, graduate and law schools), with the intention of closing down schools that did not deliver what they advertised. Now, under the Trump administration, and Betsy DeVoss in particular, those investigations have ceased. In fact, some of the principals in schools under investigation have now been hired by the Department of Education. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house! This is NOT an example of Trump's proclamation to hire the best people for the job. It's the opposite, and unfortunately many for profit schools will continue. Their owners will continue to make millions, while their students, for the most part, will wallow in debt for the next 20 years, never having gotten what they were promised.
After reading it, my interest was peaked on for profit law schools. Grisham himself got the idea for the novel from an article he had read in a 2014edition of The Atlantic, that chronicled the inferiority of for profit law schools. What I found out was similar to what he describes in his novel.
For profit law schools generally attract students with low LSAT scores. Most of tuition is paid by the federal government, which leaves students in debt. It is not unusual for students to owe up to $200,000 at the end of school. They may not even be able to pass the bar, as their passing rate is significantly lower than that of other schools. Finding a good job is often difficult too, as new attorneys from higher ranked law schools are sought out first. The student is finished with law school, $200,000 in debt, unable to pass the bar and find a good job. The aggressive loan officers who are trying to set up repayment of the money owed are relentless. It's a bad situation.
Many for profit schools have been investigated in the past decade, a number of them have even closed. Trump University, although not a law school, is gone. Under Obama, the justice department set about investigating for profit schools (undergraduate, graduate and law schools), with the intention of closing down schools that did not deliver what they advertised. Now, under the Trump administration, and Betsy DeVoss in particular, those investigations have ceased. In fact, some of the principals in schools under investigation have now been hired by the Department of Education. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house! This is NOT an example of Trump's proclamation to hire the best people for the job. It's the opposite, and unfortunately many for profit schools will continue. Their owners will continue to make millions, while their students, for the most part, will wallow in debt for the next 20 years, never having gotten what they were promised.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Do You Know Of Robert R. Hall, Physicist?
Robert R. Hall died on November 7, 2016, but it isn't until years later that we are hearing of him and about his life and death. There's hardly anything you do at the supermarket or department store for which he isn't partially responsible. Hall was a physicist extrodinaire.
Robert Hall was a physicist who worked most of his life at a research lab run by General Electric. Hall invented the first solid state laser in 1962, probably his greatest achievements, as the laser is used in so many other products. He is also credited with inventing the red blinking laser scanner that reads bar codes on products. He invented the price tags dangling from products in department stores, and he invented the microwave.
It seems to me he was a pretty important physicist that nobody ever heard about. How his death was overlooked by the scientific community, is beyond me. He is credited with many other scientific achievements, most of which I don't understand. Thank you Robert R. Hall for making our lives easier.
Robert Hall was a physicist who worked most of his life at a research lab run by General Electric. Hall invented the first solid state laser in 1962, probably his greatest achievements, as the laser is used in so many other products. He is also credited with inventing the red blinking laser scanner that reads bar codes on products. He invented the price tags dangling from products in department stores, and he invented the microwave.
It seems to me he was a pretty important physicist that nobody ever heard about. How his death was overlooked by the scientific community, is beyond me. He is credited with many other scientific achievements, most of which I don't understand. Thank you Robert R. Hall for making our lives easier.
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