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McSweeneys Warning: Satire Ahead

McSweeneys Warning: Satire Ahead

I LOVE McSweeneys but I must WARN YOU, there is some satire ahead. If you are a super literal person, you might not want to read further if you might be offended by someone being offended about your age, or being “older.” Disclaimer aside, I have been on the older side of youthful mocking and criticism for the crime of being older and I’ll provide some examples after this quote.

You, woman with the long grey hair, dancing right in front of the stage, don’t do that, what you’re doing there. It’s not good. And you, next to her, same thing. I know the music is good, but this is no way to respond. They are like wizards casting a spell on us. You should be mesmerized, rocking hypnotically, but you are doing some weird kind of twitch…Mcsweenys in “an open letter to the aging hippies dancing at the tinariwen concert“.

Here in Portland, Oregon there are plenty of aging dancing hippies at nearly every concert except maybe the hardcore punk scene. Even still I have experienced ageism the now politically correct term to describe prejudice and stereotyping of older adults, but it can also be reversed in essence where everyone is stereotyping everyone else based on age and a host of other traits and attributes. Wikipedia defines ageism as:

Among them were prejudicial attitudes towards older people, old age, and the aging process; discriminatory practices against older people; and institutional practices and policies that perpetuate stereotypes about elderly people.

I AM that old woman with white hair dancing like a dervish near the front of the stage. It feels great to get out with other people (I still mask, covid is still a thing) and move my body to live music. I see people of all ages when I go to a show and that helps me to not feel conscious or “out of place.” I have several friends my age or older, so older than 66 years old and they too are doing what they’ve been doing their entire lives, dancing in public. 

That includes Tinariwen (Vancouver Folk Festival 2011)

65 Or Older in 2019? You’ve got a new tax form.

65 Or Older in 2019? You’ve got a new tax form.

The Bipartisan Budget Act passed in 2018 created many changes to the existing tax reporting. One interesting form that is only available to tax payers over 65 years of age is Form 1040SR.

The 1040SR Senior Income Tax form allows for reporting of several types of income and you can use it even if you are employed or collecting unemployment.

“Taxpayers who turn 65 years of age in 2019 or are older will have the option to use a new simple tax form for seniors, known as the 1040SR, when filing their 2019 taxes during the 2020 tax filing season. The new form is provided for in section 41106 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA), a two-year budget agreement passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on February 9, 2018.”

https://nstp.org/blog/seniors-get-a-new-simplified-tax-form-for-2019/
Ram Dass on Death & Dying

Ram Dass on Death & Dying

“Their karma is their dharma,” he says. (He often speaks in pithy little nuggets of wisdom.) “We go from here, ego,” he says, tapping his head, “to here.” He pats his heart. “What I call the soul, the spiritual heart. That’s the path. Then you can view your life with a sense of detachment.” He closes his eyes and places his hand on his heart. “I am loving awareness,” he whispers.”

Ram Dass (formerly Professor Richard Alpert) is well known as America’s most famous guru, the author of “Be Here Now” first written in 1971, and in the last couple of decades, a leader in the death with dignity movement.

For many of us, as we age thoughts of illness, dependency and death may become more prevalent. It’s important to consider our deaths but not dwell on it. In The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying For myself, I want to approach

In this article from tricycle, Andréa R. Vaucher spends time in Maui with Ram Dass’ at his permanent home. Together they talk about keeping space with the dying, and how to change our own thinking to accept our own inevitable death.

Years ago, Ram Dass and Stephen Levine started a dying hotline. People on their deathbeds could call in and be supported through the process—“pillow talk,” Ram Dass calls it

Is there a middle way? Are we either holding our hands to our ears singing La La La when the subject of death arises, or does it maintain a shadowy presence in the back your thoughts. Do you feel that you must find some way to handle “the situation” before it’s here, to prepare?

Be here now ram dass

How Many People in the U.S. are over 55 Years Old ?

Every year U.S. more citizens are turning 55, 60 and 65 and every day our number continue to grow. With such a large block of people, we need to organize and consolidate our power. We can do that with our votes, our voices, and our dollars.

2015 Census U. S. Population Over 55 Years

2015 Census U. S. Population Over 55 Years [OldRockers]

Old Rockers Honors Veterans on this Armistice Day

Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day

The Armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was signed between Germany and the Allies of World War I at Compiègne, France, and took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. The date was declared a national holiday for the United States in 1919 and became a National holiday for many countries in 1938. Armistice day coincides with Remembrance Day and is now commonly known as Veterans Day in America, a day to remember not only those who fought in the Great War but for every veteran of the United States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day

On this Veteran’s Day, November, 11, 2016 we will take time to remember those who have given their lives in service to defend the ideals of democracy and freedom. Regardless of political sentiments, opinions or tightly held beliefs, Old Rockers honors all veterans who give service to their country, and sometimes their lives defending what they believe to be in the best interest of their country and all people of the planet.