Elder Care link to agingcare.com

I found this to be a pretty good read. I have  first hand experience with someone with number 4. Almost had to deal with number 5. All in all, if you are a caregiver you understand all of these points. If you have never had to care for a Senior then not to sound rude but you really don't have a clue.

http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/things-not-to-say-to-a-caregiver-152083.htm?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20-%20December%2031,%202014

Washington Post article on police

I found this to be a fascinating read. I have longed for this but the approach to the police issue is not completely accurate. It seems like people are focusing more on the racism factor. Personally, I feel the problem is the god complex police officers in this country have. Yes, there is racism factor. But to attack the issue we need to attack this god complex on a federal level. We need standards and nationwide standards for police behavior. You cannot control racism but you can control general behavior and have a standard of behavior. For now, one of the only solutions I see would be to have cameras on every police officer. I don't care if the cops don't like the idea. For me the ones who are against cameras all the ones with something to hide. It has nothing to do with their ability to do their jobs. If the camera goes off and a controversial issue occurs then we should go with the citizen's version of the story. You see, part of the problem is we automatically take an officer's point of view as law. Police men and women are human beings who occasionally make mistakes and yes, occasionally lie. They should not be held to that high of a standard over the average citizen. I participated in a Facebook post not too long ago and the friend of my friend essentially told called people who live in Flatbush Brooklyn filth. I have always been one to allow people to say what they feel so I tried not to be offended. However, you can clearly see how people are viewed in ethnic neighborhoods. You cannot stop the police from working there. However, if you create on nationwide standard of behavior you may prevent more deaths.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/06/i-was-a-st-louis-cop-my-peers-were-racist-and-violent-and-theres-only-one-fix/

Journal entry number 49... Christmas in Florida (delayed posting)

It's never easy coming down to Florida. I do it now at least three times a year and each time is just as difficult. Most of it is made up in my mind. I always worry that this particular visit to mom maybe the last. At age 87 I never really know when it's the last time I will see her. You thank God each time you see her healthy and definitely praise him for the fact she is still there to greet me. Like I said, most of this I do to myself. So far  everything is fair. Mom is gradually declining health wise. Not alarmingly, but definitely steady. Her memory is going.  She has asked me questions regarding Christmas dinner over a dozen times. I know this is her favorite time of the year. It has been ever since we lived in Brooklyn. Christmas comes a little more than a week after her birthday. The two of us used to spend her birthday, mine and Christmas together. Personally, I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world. This particular Christmas I am cooking in the house by myself. Mom is with her sister around the corner. As I cook, I reflect on holidays past. And I think back to Dad. I guess when you get to be my age you do a lot of that. Sometimes you reflect more than you appreciate what is going on now. I have been blessed. I have never had a bad Christmas. My parents made sure of that. I spent most of my Christmas is with my mother. I would listen to Christmas music as she cooked multiple dishes. Today she can't cook anymore. My cousin and I handle that. My mother and her sister just sit back and hopefully enjoy what the two of us cook and bake.

Elder issues

http://www.agingcare.com/News/test-distinguishes-alzheimers-from-aging-168962.htm

Nursing home questions

An interesting question:

http://www.agingcare.com/Questions/what-questions-ask-a-nursing-home-175352.htm?utm_source=Daily+Questions&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Questions%20-%20December%2018,%202014

When Dad was alive I was faced with that question as well. Unfortunately he passed away just before I would have had to make a decision. Because we did not qualify for Medicaid Dad probably was coming home.
So I saw that question in a forum that I am a part of and I figured I would add the link to it. There is no easy way to select a nursing home. Having to choose a nursing home to start off with is hard.

Journal entry number 48... A small start...

I still think a better start would be addressing the attitude.  This godlike attitude some officers have that you cannot look at them or question them needs to be dealt with.

http://m.mic.com/articles/106392/congress-just-passed-a-bill-addressing-police-killings-while-no-one-was-looking

Journal entry number 47... About the name change

The hardest part about writing this is coming up with an appropriate title.  The blog is supposed to be mainly about eldercare and homeless issues but I jump into a few other ideas.  A friend  whom I thought knew me loves calling me a liberal but I have middle of the road views.  I thought I was a centrist but after reading up on them I don't think I fall into that category.  I am really Independent but there is no party in New York called Independent.  Since most of my views are about having some middle ground why not name the blog that?  For now.

The Eric Garner case

                                   

Eric Garner did not deserve to die.

I was not surprised by the grand jury outcome.  This is Staten Island.  I never felt comfortable going out there.  I have a Puerto Rican friend who told me about growing up there with white kids throwing rocks at his window.  I never felt safe when I would visit friends out there.

When I read reports that the grand jury consisted on 14 whites I wasn't surprised.  Personally I didn't think rallying out there before the grand jury was selected was a wise move because you ran the risk of offending potential jurors .  It's not supposed to matter but then again.


http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/experts_garner_cops_testimony.html


Whether or not Garner was selling loosies and if you thought he was resisting arrest, he was unarmed and not acting violent and did not deserve to die.


http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2014/12/live_coverage_as_eric_garner_g.html#incart_most-comments

Journal entry number 46... www.4middleground.blogspot.com

I changed the name of the blog once again. 

Joe Scarborough: ‘I’ve Had It With B.S. on This Network, Other Networks’ Over Ferguson - TVNewser

I woke up early this morning to this rant on MSNBC:



Joe Scarborough: ‘I’ve Had It With B.S. on This Network, Other Networks’ Over Ferguson - TVNewser



I am not angry at him.  In fact I fully understand him.  I don't necessarily agree with his statements but I do understand him.  I even commend Scarborough for having a say much different to those making statements.  Problem is nobody really knows what happened that day in Ferguson when Mike Brown lost his life.  I am hearing that  Brown was running from the officer, running towards the officer, had his hands up and was in the car reaching for the cop's gun (which I find hard to believe)  No matter how you slice it though I don't think Brown should be dead today.



If Brown was in fact doing something wrong then I can understand Scarborough's comments about him and anybody in that situation being dead.  And you wouldn't want to make him a hero. But without knowing the facts we will never know.  But Brown shouldn't be dead today.  And it was wrong for his body to be laying on the street like it was for all those hours.  So even if you don't want Brown as a hero for his alleged actions you must bring to the light his treatment even after death.



Believe it or not I don't think Scarborough is racist for admitting this, even though he attempted to balance his statement by calling George Zimmerman (Trayvon Martin's shooter and killer) a thug when making a comparison. 



I just think feel that a lot more people feel like Scarborough and like he said in his rant, folks don't have the courage to speak how they truly feel.  I have a problem with that.  At least Scarborough is saying how he really feels instead of joining the crowd.  I respect that.