1) YMCA Membership
2) MARTA access
Month: March 2012
Public Transit
Plinky asked, “If public transportation were available in your neighborhood, would you use it?”
I do use it! It’s much cheaper than maintaining a car, when you consider the cost of insurance, gas, upkeep, etc. For those of us who don’t care to drive (or whose health removes driving as an option at times) or who want to “go green,” public transit is a very important resource.
I only wish MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit something) were extended to cover all of metro Atlanta. Right now, it is really only a viable option for reaching a small portion of the metro area.
Fate
Plinky asked, “Do you believe in fate?”
No, I don’t believe in fate at all. Fate implies some overall power or force in charge of the universe that overrides free will and human choices, and I completely reject that notion.
People’s lives are affected by what happens to them, by the genetic lottery and the environment in which they are raised, and by how they respond to all of the above. Science is showing that more than we ever realized is predetermined by genetics and things like your grandparents’ diets and health, but if that were the whole story Barack Obama wouldn’t have grown up to be the President.
Gratitude
1) Medicare
2) My scooter
3) Amelia (my cat)
Kids Today
Plinky said, “Name three advantages that kids born these days have over older generations. What about disadvantages?
1) The internet. I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to have ready access to so much information at an early age!
2) Ubiquitous connectivity. Even for those like my daughter who don’t remember a time without the internet, being able to connect everywhere is a new thing that kids born now will take for granted.
3) Constant communication. These kids are unlikely to ever walk five miles to the nearest gas station if they run out of gas, because they’ll have cell phones so they can call for help. There are fewer and fewer places without cell coverage, too.
As for disadvantages:
1) They’ll never know a world without surveillance. They’ll be monitored constantly from cradle to grave, officially or unofficially.
2) There are fewer and fewer wild places where they can go to get away and just be kids, running around without a phone ringing or an adult monitoring them in some way. I spent many hours in the woods as a child, but it wasn’t safe for my daughter to do the same thing.
3) The same internet that brings them such marvelous information brings them into contact with more people as children than their grandparents ever knew, thus increasing the likelihood that they’ll encounter predators. Without careful monitoring, they can all too easily become victims.
Gratitude
1) Auto insurance
2) My cell phone
3) My daughter
Gratitude
Today I’m grateful for MARTA, which allows me to get around without having to own a car.
I’m also grateful for my wonderful pain specialist and incredible therapist.
On the Radio
Plinky asked, “Do you ever listen to the radio anymore?”
I only listen to the radio in the car. In fact, I don’t think I’ve got a radio at home anywhere. If I do listen, I almost always choose the local NPR affiliate to listen to. If it isn’t time for the one of the NPR broadcasts, I might skip around the dial to find music I like, but I’m more likely to listen to Spotify on my phone.
I really enjoy the radio feature on Spotify, though. You choose a song you like, then choose the radio feature, and it chooses more songs that are somehow similar to that one (basically Pandora via Spotify).
Gratitude
1) My Daddy, and his (ongoing) recovery from surgery.
2) Everything I learned about music from J.D. Mardis and all the other teachers over the years.
3) Easy access to a pool.
My Favorite Comedian
Plinky asked, “Who’s your favorite comedian? Is there anyone you can’t stand?”
George Carlin May 12 1937 — June 22 2008
George Carlin is the King of Comedians as far as I’m concerned. He’s always hilarious. I love watching old clips and reading his books. His death was a huge loss to the world and came far too early. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he shared my lack of respect for religion.
I see no reason to name comedians I can’t stand and give them attention, but purely physical comedy leaves me cold, as does anything that involves picking on members of the audience.