Bardavon January 20, 2009 – Viewing Obama’s Inauguration
I could barely sleep – I was up at 4:43AM. I am excited today, I feel like it’s my birthday, like my water broke, like I won a huge lottery jackpot, I feel like I am in love. Today I am experiencing something like never before. I am going to watch the first black President of the United States of America be sworn in. I made it to the Bardavon an hour early and I gave away my extra tickets immediately to three women who gushed repeatedly of their luck in being on line near me. One of those women was Margaret from Wappingers Falls, NY. Margaret is a white, petite elderly woman with a bright smile. She is dressed to the hilt: silk pumps with rhinestones, stockings, a beautiful dress hat and a dress coat.
Margaret’s attire reflected my attitude – this is a special moment that I am a part of and I want to look and be at my best. My presence to witness Barak Obama’s inauguration is necessary and warranted. Margaret’s attire touched me; this white woman showed her enthusiasm for this black man who is about to become president of this nation. Margaret’s presence (standing on line in the cold) and attire signifies her respect and acceptance of such a significant event.
I did not want to watch this historic event alone at home – The Bardavon was the perfect choice: a very historic theatre – the Bardavon Theatre is the oldest theatre in the nation, built in 1869. This beautiful building with remarkable architecture and great seats is unforgettable. I had the additional good fortune of sitting with a woman whom I admire and call a friend; Leola Ruffin-McPhee. Leola and I talked about many things, but mostly about our sons and their future with a black president.
The crowd at the Bardavon was electric with smiles, laughter and hugs. Everyone was happy to bear witness to such a historic event. Attendees brought food donations for the local food pantry. This was a feel good event. I loved the fact that there were so many young people whom also attended the Bardavon. I have never seen such participation by both the young and elderly in a political event like the response for Obama.
Watching history being made, I was reminded of tradition. This inauguration was bigger than choosing the last Pope and bigger than a royal wedding. America had the opportunity to show tradition in a very diverse style with the new 44th President of the United States being a black man. What was not avoided, omitted nor forgotten was the fact that black slaves built and cared for the very capital that Barak Obama now presides over. At one time blacks were considered 3/5th of a man as Solidad O’Brien reiterated numerous times during the broadcast, to my joy.
Americans needed this inauguration and this black president as an infusion of hope and change. This nation is experiencing a sapping of confidence. I witnessed so many people today be energized with hope and sentiment of inclusion of all to do the hard work to make change that will benefit the nation. President Obama stated: “Greatness is never given, it is earned.” I applaud President Obama and his family for standing up and out at the cost of personal risk and great scrutiny to give hope and lead change.
I feel validated: for every time I was called the n-word while growing up as one of the few blacks in an Irish-Catholic neighborhood in NYC. For every time I faced racism and discrimination at my job and community right here in Dutchess County where I vote, pay taxes and contribute my time and efforts. I did cry today, my tears are of joy and hope that blacks will be embraced ending the hatred/ignorance. Racism and discrimination will not be eradicated with Obama as president. I am looking forward to the change his leadership will bring and the impact on our youth who hold the future.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Borders or Barnes & Noble: Where to Shop For the Avid Reader
Borders or Barnes & Noble: Where to Shop For the Avid Reader...
I read a lot - I would rather read than watch television. I only have television for my cartoons and a very few choice shows: CNN, The History Channel, etc. Reading is my serious hobby and as a single parent, I also like to get a bargain with it as well! I do enjoy visiting my library but I also enjoy owning books and then selling them. Both Barnes & Noble and Borders are in the area where I live, Poughkeepsie NY.
I shop for books quite frequently so I thought up an experiment for myself: Shop at both of these stores for twelve months (1 year) and see just how much I save. Borders has a free Rewards program that I am a member of. I am also a Barnes & Noble Reader’s Advantage that I pay a membership fee of $25.00 annually to join. Both Borders and Barnes & Noble have their receipts to indicate the savings on the purchases made. Neither store shows a cumulative computation of what has been saved. Borders receipts does not indicate to the member how much more needs to spent to $150.00 to get the reward.
In 12 months I visited both stores frequently. Borders provides members with emails of coupons for up to 40% discounts on merchandise, sometimes a minimum purchase has to be made but for the most part the savings is off of any regular priced item. I received these coupons about every 6-7 days with a standard 20% coupon found on the Borders web site these coupons can also be sent to your cell phone as well. Barnes & Noble sent me both coupons via email and postal mail, I would get these quarterly. Here is a quick breakdown of both stores:
Barnes & Noble Borders
*Reader’s Advantage Membership *Rewards Membership - Free.
$25.00 annually. Rewards Perks Membership is $29.95 annually.
*Coupons are given out sporadically with *Coupons given out quite
emphasis on Members with Master Cards. frequently up to 40% savings.
*Offers Members 40% off on hardcover *Offers members 30% off best
best sellers, 20 % off adult hardcover, sellers - no coupon needed.
10% off everything else.
*No reward for shopping frequently. *Borders Rewards Members
get $5.00 off every $150.00 spent with
rollover of amount spent.
*Free shipping with online order of $25.00. * Free shipping with online elitist of $25.00.
*Additional savings offered on featured authors. *Additional savings offered on featured authors.
*Return Policy - 14 days with store receipt. *Return Policy - 30 days with store receipt.
*WiFi Available as well as café services. *Wifi Available as well as café services.
Both stores offer online services. Reserving merchandise can be done with both stores via phone or on line. Borders offers kiosks so customers can do searches themselves, Barnes & Noble does not have this feature.
Drawbacks: Barnes & Noble requires a $25.00 membership fee paid up front in order to get savings for one year (12 months from date of sign up). The B&N customer has to spend in order to get back that $25.00 membership fee. Coupons came too infrequently and endorsed Master Card - I have Visa. Barnes & Noble stays open until 11PM, Borders is open until 9PM. Borders does not carry a large inventory, so pre-ordering helps besides placing orders via internet or phone with a 5-7 day wait time for book to arrive. Barnes & Noble gets books in faster 3-4 business days. Borders has a smaller magazine selection than Barnes & Noble. Borders does not have as many places to sit and lounge in their store as Barnes & Noble does. Neither store carries a positive selection of African American book selection, I have stated this obvious exclusion to the managers of both stores with no improvement noted. No Kwaanza merchandise but tons of Hannuakh merchandise. The African American books are blended in making them hard if not impossible to find, book selection for African Americans is very stereotypical with Barak Obama being the representation for all African Americans in all aspects of black life. I found Barnes & Noble to be a bit snobby or even elitist in their attitude; I guess being a big chain promotes this behavior. Borders is more customer friendly: I had an incident where I could not print my coupon, I called Borders and I was instructed to copy down the promotion code and bring it to the store so I could still get the savings. I feel as though Borders wants to hear what I have to say as a customer.
Attractions: Borders has kiosks throughout store so the customer can do look ups themselves.
Borders does get new releases faster and puts them on the shelves when allowed. Barnes & Noble is slow to shelf new merchandise. B& N staff is not ready to offer to go in the back and get a book for you; you are asked to come back later. Both stores participate in community activities that are diverse to a point. Both stores have café’s with coupon offers. Barnes & Noble has the customer make a purchase in order to get free offer. Borders does offer a customer satisfaction survey when completed the customer gets a 15% off coupon.
Staffing: For the few rude and obnoxious staff I have encountered at BOTH stores, the helpful and courteous ones diminish the negative ones. I cannot understand why B&N hires introverted people; this job requires some people skills and lots on people interaction. Some B&N staff would rather stick a pen in their own eye rather than talk with you. Both stores need staff that are knowledgeable on the merchandise being sold. Waldenbooks in the Galleria was great before it closed because of a staff person - Natalie had the African American section up to date with positive books and when talking with her, she knew tons about the subject because she is an avid reader as well. It was a sad day when the bookstore had to leave the mall.
Borders does have better savings in coupons and promotions for the avid reader. In a 12 month period I saved $279.10 at Borders with a free membership and I earned $20.00 in Reward Bucks. I saved $96.32 at Barnes & Noble with a membership fee of $25.00 making my actual savings total $71.32. I made 40 purchases at Barnes & Noble in 12 months and I made 34 purchases at Borders in the same time.
I saved more at Borders than I did at Barnes & Noble. I must admit that the other merchant I frequent is Amazon.com. I enjoy the availability of merchandise and the everyday savings of 20% or more. Amazon also offers free shipping on orders of $25.00 or more and I can also sell my books as well. I believe Barnes & Noble offers a way for merchants to sell their books through their web also. Borders want to hear - but what is done with communication is something else. Hope this little experiment is helpful to others as it was to myself!
Denise Bolds, MSW
I read a lot - I would rather read than watch television. I only have television for my cartoons and a very few choice shows: CNN, The History Channel, etc. Reading is my serious hobby and as a single parent, I also like to get a bargain with it as well! I do enjoy visiting my library but I also enjoy owning books and then selling them. Both Barnes & Noble and Borders are in the area where I live, Poughkeepsie NY.
I shop for books quite frequently so I thought up an experiment for myself: Shop at both of these stores for twelve months (1 year) and see just how much I save. Borders has a free Rewards program that I am a member of. I am also a Barnes & Noble Reader’s Advantage that I pay a membership fee of $25.00 annually to join. Both Borders and Barnes & Noble have their receipts to indicate the savings on the purchases made. Neither store shows a cumulative computation of what has been saved. Borders receipts does not indicate to the member how much more needs to spent to $150.00 to get the reward.
In 12 months I visited both stores frequently. Borders provides members with emails of coupons for up to 40% discounts on merchandise, sometimes a minimum purchase has to be made but for the most part the savings is off of any regular priced item. I received these coupons about every 6-7 days with a standard 20% coupon found on the Borders web site these coupons can also be sent to your cell phone as well. Barnes & Noble sent me both coupons via email and postal mail, I would get these quarterly. Here is a quick breakdown of both stores:
Barnes & Noble Borders
*Reader’s Advantage Membership *Rewards Membership - Free.
$25.00 annually. Rewards Perks Membership is $29.95 annually.
*Coupons are given out sporadically with *Coupons given out quite
emphasis on Members with Master Cards. frequently up to 40% savings.
*Offers Members 40% off on hardcover *Offers members 30% off best
best sellers, 20 % off adult hardcover, sellers - no coupon needed.
10% off everything else.
*No reward for shopping frequently. *Borders Rewards Members
get $5.00 off every $150.00 spent with
rollover of amount spent.
*Free shipping with online order of $25.00. * Free shipping with online elitist of $25.00.
*Additional savings offered on featured authors. *Additional savings offered on featured authors.
*Return Policy - 14 days with store receipt. *Return Policy - 30 days with store receipt.
*WiFi Available as well as café services. *Wifi Available as well as café services.
Both stores offer online services. Reserving merchandise can be done with both stores via phone or on line. Borders offers kiosks so customers can do searches themselves, Barnes & Noble does not have this feature.
Drawbacks: Barnes & Noble requires a $25.00 membership fee paid up front in order to get savings for one year (12 months from date of sign up). The B&N customer has to spend in order to get back that $25.00 membership fee. Coupons came too infrequently and endorsed Master Card - I have Visa. Barnes & Noble stays open until 11PM, Borders is open until 9PM. Borders does not carry a large inventory, so pre-ordering helps besides placing orders via internet or phone with a 5-7 day wait time for book to arrive. Barnes & Noble gets books in faster 3-4 business days. Borders has a smaller magazine selection than Barnes & Noble. Borders does not have as many places to sit and lounge in their store as Barnes & Noble does. Neither store carries a positive selection of African American book selection, I have stated this obvious exclusion to the managers of both stores with no improvement noted. No Kwaanza merchandise but tons of Hannuakh merchandise. The African American books are blended in making them hard if not impossible to find, book selection for African Americans is very stereotypical with Barak Obama being the representation for all African Americans in all aspects of black life. I found Barnes & Noble to be a bit snobby or even elitist in their attitude; I guess being a big chain promotes this behavior. Borders is more customer friendly: I had an incident where I could not print my coupon, I called Borders and I was instructed to copy down the promotion code and bring it to the store so I could still get the savings. I feel as though Borders wants to hear what I have to say as a customer.
Attractions: Borders has kiosks throughout store so the customer can do look ups themselves.
Borders does get new releases faster and puts them on the shelves when allowed. Barnes & Noble is slow to shelf new merchandise. B& N staff is not ready to offer to go in the back and get a book for you; you are asked to come back later. Both stores participate in community activities that are diverse to a point. Both stores have café’s with coupon offers. Barnes & Noble has the customer make a purchase in order to get free offer. Borders does offer a customer satisfaction survey when completed the customer gets a 15% off coupon.
Staffing: For the few rude and obnoxious staff I have encountered at BOTH stores, the helpful and courteous ones diminish the negative ones. I cannot understand why B&N hires introverted people; this job requires some people skills and lots on people interaction. Some B&N staff would rather stick a pen in their own eye rather than talk with you. Both stores need staff that are knowledgeable on the merchandise being sold. Waldenbooks in the Galleria was great before it closed because of a staff person - Natalie had the African American section up to date with positive books and when talking with her, she knew tons about the subject because she is an avid reader as well. It was a sad day when the bookstore had to leave the mall.
Borders does have better savings in coupons and promotions for the avid reader. In a 12 month period I saved $279.10 at Borders with a free membership and I earned $20.00 in Reward Bucks. I saved $96.32 at Barnes & Noble with a membership fee of $25.00 making my actual savings total $71.32. I made 40 purchases at Barnes & Noble in 12 months and I made 34 purchases at Borders in the same time.
I saved more at Borders than I did at Barnes & Noble. I must admit that the other merchant I frequent is Amazon.com. I enjoy the availability of merchandise and the everyday savings of 20% or more. Amazon also offers free shipping on orders of $25.00 or more and I can also sell my books as well. I believe Barnes & Noble offers a way for merchants to sell their books through their web also. Borders want to hear - but what is done with communication is something else. Hope this little experiment is helpful to others as it was to myself!
Denise Bolds, MSW
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dr. Plasker's 100 Year Lifestyle
Dr. Plasker Gold’s Gym Poughkeepsie NY January 7, 2009
I was invited to hear a Chiropractor speak on aging health hosted at Gold’s Gym because I am a Medical Social Worker. Gold’s Gym on Titusville Road is a monolith of health and fitness, a city complete with a health bar! Dr. Plasker is an ordinary looking man, who appears friendly and energetic. Plasker starts his discussion giving the audience a very vivid description of a scenario that occurred in his office involving a 96 year old patient named Max. Max was the typical elderly person in America: Medically afflicted, broke financially and alone. Dr. Plasker works with Max and in time, Max responds to the healing of human touch. I won’t go further into the story as I do not want to give it all away.
What I will say is Dr. Plasker uses Max as a springboard to dive into his lecture. As I was listening I wondered what nationality Max was and as I looked around the room of my fellow attendees, there was not very much diversity present - once again I could count the number of persons of color on one hand. Let me continue...
Dr. Plasker goes onto provide statistics on the elderly: There are 85,000 century centurarians (those who are over 100 years old) in the United States - this age group is the fastest growing. Why? Technology and advances in medical science: very few people work in hard manual labor as our ancestors did and the advances of medical technology produced education/awareness of what can keep a person healthy - this knowledge was not available twenty years ago. The United States is 45th in the world of being healthy! This ranking is outrageous!
Dr. Plasker goes onto to rant that genetics has nothing to do with getting to be 100 years old, it is a person’s quality of life and lifestyle that promotes longevity (30% genetics - 70% lifestyle) Whoa! Tell that to my grandmother’s both maternal and paternal who never smoke nor drank, and both of these women were quite vigorous in active lifestyles; both of these women died of diseases that did not reflect a non-caring lifestyle. My grandmother’s died of stress triggered diseases that was culturally induced. There are very health conscious people that I have encountered in my profession that have done all the right things and STILL got that cancer, heart attack and even AIDS diagnosis. Dr. Plasker says we rely upon genetics as a method of explanation for health outcomes and what should be focused upon is fitness, eating healthy and having good relationships in all areas of life. Well, lets tell that to the 20 year old who has to undergo a double masctectomy because she is genetically disposed to the most virulent form of breast cancer there is. My ire was up!
While I already had my disagreements with Dr. Plasker - I tried my best to remain optimistic and hear the rest of what he had to say: True, the concept of aging has been acted upon as a person being sedentary and removed from society. The most successful elders I have encountered are still employed, part time or full, volunteer in their community and they are their own health managers: they watch what they eat and exercise regularly- these people take care of themselves. Only in America are the elderly discarded in the fashion they are - I could not agree with him more. Dr. Plasker also recommends that everyone visit a nursing home to get the picture of the elderly in America. Is it a blessing or a curse to possess this knowledge to extend life when Americans do not value nor address the elderly population adequately?
Dr. Plasker so far STILL did not include the diversity factor in his discussion - I listened on: Crisis Motivation was the next discussion - Dr. Plasker recommends that we should not get to that point in order to realize and embrace health living. True - but today most people live in crisis and unfortunately, our health care system is a reactive one - not a proactive one. Dr. Plasker asked the audience if they would like it if their physicians embraced this model of practice and of course everyone agreed. I am not sure if anyone else in the audience remembers medical history: how - Chiropractors were greatly ostracized and discredited by Medical Physicians. Also, there is the profit concept: there isn’t any money in healthy people: imagine if the world were healthy - where would all the doctors and nurses go? The pharmaculticals? (Drugs)
How would hospitals and care centers survive? If life is extended how will morticians stay in business? How will any of these entities I have mentioned make a profit? The entire model would have to shift in order to make a profit.
Speaking of profit - Dr. Plasker gave quite a bit of his talk pitching Gold’s Gym, energy drinks and work out machines - I am sure some of these have endorsed his book. Even Jack LaLane was also pitched as he endorses Dr. Plasker’s book. All pitching aside , Dr. Plasker had more to say: "Take your head out of the sand when it comes to your health, your life! Change is easy - thinking about change is hard - draw a line in the sand. Change comes one choice at a time - Think progress, not perfection - do not compromise. Quality starts with you making changes so make changes compelling. Approach change with ideal in mind to live to be 100 years old!"
Dr. Plasker also states: "We are blessed with a inherited amount of energy and we misdirect this energy." I fully agree and unfortunately the media and societal norms contribute to this misdirection. Yes, we must direct our energy to be positive and productive. Dr. Plasker believes we can direct our energy expression of our genes. To do this, take a sheet of paper and fold it in the middle on the left make the title Energy Drainers on the right side make the title Energy Enchanters - make this list for a full day. Start to substitute the energy drainers with the energy enchanters - in other words, replace the positive with the negative.
Dr. Plasker believes we are killing ourselves with food and a sedentary attitude. I agree but, I also think Americans have an attitude of not being satisfied. Go to Sam’s , BJ’s or Costcos and you will see people with multiple cartloads of food. We don’t need that much. We also don’t need the huge houses or automobiles either. The newest addiction - flat screen televisions: you have a 46 inch that is working great, but you still want the bigger one. We are sedentary, not just because of age but because of national apathy and desensitization.
Dr. Plasker states: "Making changes in lifestyle, one can change genetics." I still have my reservations on that idea. I would be more impressed with Dr. Plasker if he took his pitch to the other fastest growing age group for disease - young people. School age children are the highest in the nation for depression, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The future generation is coming out of the start gates sick. We need to heal your youth if we are going to heal the future and have sound contributors to society, not burdens.
Dr. Plasker has definitely upset with some of his discussion - I just do not know how aware he is. I am very much in agreement with Dr. Plasker on the following: We are a drug culture and we solve everything with a pill. As a Medical Social Worker I see addictions supported by an MD script and paid for with government funds. Americans are addicted. Medical School Students are URGED to stay away from drug companies. I have said this a million times: go and sit in a doctor’s waiting room fora few hours and you will see numerous drug reps in and out of that office all day long.
The FDA CANNOT fulfill its mission, scientific organization is weak - yes, its no secret when the very drugs taken to alleviate one thing, triggers another more severe. Dr. Plasker’s discussion also included:
Health Care Hierarchy of the 100 Year Life Style - Which is described as:
Self: You do this and no one else i.e sweating
Health: Dental cleaning, Chiropractor care
Crisis Care: Diseases.
The value system for nursing home generation is flipped: Do nothing, wait for crisis and then manage the crisis. The mantra is : "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
The core message of Dr. Plasker’s talk is: We simply cannot afford to get sick! As a Medical Social Worker - that is the absolute truth. Try getting sick and see how much your illness with costs between hospitalization, specialist and rehabilitation fees. The profit, protection and professionalism is simply not affordable for most Americans.
Another part of Dr. Plasker’s pitch is a Gold’s Gym slogan: "Get your ESS in shape!" ESS stands for: Endurance, Strength and Structure.
In conclusion, Dr. Plasker talks a good talk, but his model is NOT diverse and should encompass every person. As with science, there will always be exclusions - the most healthiest person will contract a disease. There are factors that simply cannot be controlled. The exclusion being the unfortunate accident - which Dr. Plasker agrees does not relate to his model. Dr. Plasker does raise some poignant issues of aging: The elderly will need more money because they are living longer. Historically, the life span for our ancestors was much less (about 60) because of hard labor, and the lack of medical advances. In the past Medicare worked because the life span was shorter - now its longer and the elderly are using up the funds resulting in future generations not having any money for their turn on Medicare. I think about Dr. Plasker every time I see my 80 year old neighbor outside clearing the snow in his driveway - AND mine.
The lack of diversity in Dr. Plasker’s model disturbs me. There has always been a separation of quality of lifestyle and environment due to race and culture. Do people of color have the time and ability to change their environment? To prime, prep and then play as Dr. Plasker suggests to that there is quality time in aging versus the attitude of retirement? Has mental health been included in Dr. Plasker’s model? True, depression is alleviated with exercise and diet, the challenge is in getting that depressed person to engage. Hollistic health care involves the entire sphere of the patient’s lifestyle as well as the avenues of health care that also include Massage Therapists, Reiki Therapist, Chiropractors, Nutritionists and Acupuncturists. Dr. Plakser’s model does not address socio-economics or diversity. His model could have the potential to go so much further if he would incorporate Medical Social Workers into his knowledge base! (Now there’s a pitch!)
I was invited to hear a Chiropractor speak on aging health hosted at Gold’s Gym because I am a Medical Social Worker. Gold’s Gym on Titusville Road is a monolith of health and fitness, a city complete with a health bar! Dr. Plasker is an ordinary looking man, who appears friendly and energetic. Plasker starts his discussion giving the audience a very vivid description of a scenario that occurred in his office involving a 96 year old patient named Max. Max was the typical elderly person in America: Medically afflicted, broke financially and alone. Dr. Plasker works with Max and in time, Max responds to the healing of human touch. I won’t go further into the story as I do not want to give it all away.
What I will say is Dr. Plasker uses Max as a springboard to dive into his lecture. As I was listening I wondered what nationality Max was and as I looked around the room of my fellow attendees, there was not very much diversity present - once again I could count the number of persons of color on one hand. Let me continue...
Dr. Plasker goes onto provide statistics on the elderly: There are 85,000 century centurarians (those who are over 100 years old) in the United States - this age group is the fastest growing. Why? Technology and advances in medical science: very few people work in hard manual labor as our ancestors did and the advances of medical technology produced education/awareness of what can keep a person healthy - this knowledge was not available twenty years ago. The United States is 45th in the world of being healthy! This ranking is outrageous!
Dr. Plasker goes onto to rant that genetics has nothing to do with getting to be 100 years old, it is a person’s quality of life and lifestyle that promotes longevity (30% genetics - 70% lifestyle) Whoa! Tell that to my grandmother’s both maternal and paternal who never smoke nor drank, and both of these women were quite vigorous in active lifestyles; both of these women died of diseases that did not reflect a non-caring lifestyle. My grandmother’s died of stress triggered diseases that was culturally induced. There are very health conscious people that I have encountered in my profession that have done all the right things and STILL got that cancer, heart attack and even AIDS diagnosis. Dr. Plasker says we rely upon genetics as a method of explanation for health outcomes and what should be focused upon is fitness, eating healthy and having good relationships in all areas of life. Well, lets tell that to the 20 year old who has to undergo a double masctectomy because she is genetically disposed to the most virulent form of breast cancer there is. My ire was up!
While I already had my disagreements with Dr. Plasker - I tried my best to remain optimistic and hear the rest of what he had to say: True, the concept of aging has been acted upon as a person being sedentary and removed from society. The most successful elders I have encountered are still employed, part time or full, volunteer in their community and they are their own health managers: they watch what they eat and exercise regularly- these people take care of themselves. Only in America are the elderly discarded in the fashion they are - I could not agree with him more. Dr. Plasker also recommends that everyone visit a nursing home to get the picture of the elderly in America. Is it a blessing or a curse to possess this knowledge to extend life when Americans do not value nor address the elderly population adequately?
Dr. Plasker so far STILL did not include the diversity factor in his discussion - I listened on: Crisis Motivation was the next discussion - Dr. Plasker recommends that we should not get to that point in order to realize and embrace health living. True - but today most people live in crisis and unfortunately, our health care system is a reactive one - not a proactive one. Dr. Plasker asked the audience if they would like it if their physicians embraced this model of practice and of course everyone agreed. I am not sure if anyone else in the audience remembers medical history: how - Chiropractors were greatly ostracized and discredited by Medical Physicians. Also, there is the profit concept: there isn’t any money in healthy people: imagine if the world were healthy - where would all the doctors and nurses go? The pharmaculticals? (Drugs)
How would hospitals and care centers survive? If life is extended how will morticians stay in business? How will any of these entities I have mentioned make a profit? The entire model would have to shift in order to make a profit.
Speaking of profit - Dr. Plasker gave quite a bit of his talk pitching Gold’s Gym, energy drinks and work out machines - I am sure some of these have endorsed his book. Even Jack LaLane was also pitched as he endorses Dr. Plasker’s book. All pitching aside , Dr. Plasker had more to say: "Take your head out of the sand when it comes to your health, your life! Change is easy - thinking about change is hard - draw a line in the sand. Change comes one choice at a time - Think progress, not perfection - do not compromise. Quality starts with you making changes so make changes compelling. Approach change with ideal in mind to live to be 100 years old!"
Dr. Plasker also states: "We are blessed with a inherited amount of energy and we misdirect this energy." I fully agree and unfortunately the media and societal norms contribute to this misdirection. Yes, we must direct our energy to be positive and productive. Dr. Plasker believes we can direct our energy expression of our genes. To do this, take a sheet of paper and fold it in the middle on the left make the title Energy Drainers on the right side make the title Energy Enchanters - make this list for a full day. Start to substitute the energy drainers with the energy enchanters - in other words, replace the positive with the negative.
Dr. Plasker believes we are killing ourselves with food and a sedentary attitude. I agree but, I also think Americans have an attitude of not being satisfied. Go to Sam’s , BJ’s or Costcos and you will see people with multiple cartloads of food. We don’t need that much. We also don’t need the huge houses or automobiles either. The newest addiction - flat screen televisions: you have a 46 inch that is working great, but you still want the bigger one. We are sedentary, not just because of age but because of national apathy and desensitization.
Dr. Plasker states: "Making changes in lifestyle, one can change genetics." I still have my reservations on that idea. I would be more impressed with Dr. Plasker if he took his pitch to the other fastest growing age group for disease - young people. School age children are the highest in the nation for depression, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The future generation is coming out of the start gates sick. We need to heal your youth if we are going to heal the future and have sound contributors to society, not burdens.
Dr. Plasker has definitely upset with some of his discussion - I just do not know how aware he is. I am very much in agreement with Dr. Plasker on the following: We are a drug culture and we solve everything with a pill. As a Medical Social Worker I see addictions supported by an MD script and paid for with government funds. Americans are addicted. Medical School Students are URGED to stay away from drug companies. I have said this a million times: go and sit in a doctor’s waiting room fora few hours and you will see numerous drug reps in and out of that office all day long.
The FDA CANNOT fulfill its mission, scientific organization is weak - yes, its no secret when the very drugs taken to alleviate one thing, triggers another more severe. Dr. Plasker’s discussion also included:
Health Care Hierarchy of the 100 Year Life Style - Which is described as:
Self: You do this and no one else i.e sweating
Health: Dental cleaning, Chiropractor care
Crisis Care: Diseases.
The value system for nursing home generation is flipped: Do nothing, wait for crisis and then manage the crisis. The mantra is : "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
The core message of Dr. Plasker’s talk is: We simply cannot afford to get sick! As a Medical Social Worker - that is the absolute truth. Try getting sick and see how much your illness with costs between hospitalization, specialist and rehabilitation fees. The profit, protection and professionalism is simply not affordable for most Americans.
Another part of Dr. Plasker’s pitch is a Gold’s Gym slogan: "Get your ESS in shape!" ESS stands for: Endurance, Strength and Structure.
In conclusion, Dr. Plasker talks a good talk, but his model is NOT diverse and should encompass every person. As with science, there will always be exclusions - the most healthiest person will contract a disease. There are factors that simply cannot be controlled. The exclusion being the unfortunate accident - which Dr. Plasker agrees does not relate to his model. Dr. Plasker does raise some poignant issues of aging: The elderly will need more money because they are living longer. Historically, the life span for our ancestors was much less (about 60) because of hard labor, and the lack of medical advances. In the past Medicare worked because the life span was shorter - now its longer and the elderly are using up the funds resulting in future generations not having any money for their turn on Medicare. I think about Dr. Plasker every time I see my 80 year old neighbor outside clearing the snow in his driveway - AND mine.
The lack of diversity in Dr. Plasker’s model disturbs me. There has always been a separation of quality of lifestyle and environment due to race and culture. Do people of color have the time and ability to change their environment? To prime, prep and then play as Dr. Plasker suggests to that there is quality time in aging versus the attitude of retirement? Has mental health been included in Dr. Plasker’s model? True, depression is alleviated with exercise and diet, the challenge is in getting that depressed person to engage. Hollistic health care involves the entire sphere of the patient’s lifestyle as well as the avenues of health care that also include Massage Therapists, Reiki Therapist, Chiropractors, Nutritionists and Acupuncturists. Dr. Plakser’s model does not address socio-economics or diversity. His model could have the potential to go so much further if he would incorporate Medical Social Workers into his knowledge base! (Now there’s a pitch!)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
First Steps...Of A Wonderful Journey
I have had this blog spot for awhile - but being a child of the 60's it has taken me awhile to actually do something with it! It is always amazing just how much resources we possess and never utilize fully...I have saved quite a bit of my writings...and my book is to be published very soon: "Raising Princes to Be Kings: A Black Sinle Mother's Guide to Raising Her Black Son." I LOVE to write AND read!
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