Elderly & Homeless

By Felicity Blaze Noodleman

This is not an easy article to write.  There’s nothing exciting or new and there is no good outcome.  The story can’t be told with a “they all lived happily ever after”.  They all live with us in a galaxy near - near by.  They are our grandparents, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles. The generations who have gone before us.  Of all the charities I have ever encountered, it seems to me this cause for the elderly is the most noble and yet these Sr.’s seem to get the least attention of all.  They have earned our consideration and care!  This article is dedicated to exploring their dilemma and seeks to be an advocate for their cause.

As we age all kinds of infirmities begin to make their appearance.  Our bodies begin to deteriorate.  A whole field of medicine is devoted to the treatment of old age, “Geriatrics”.  The bones become more pores and brittle.  Arthritis begins setting in.  The mind becomes susceptible to Alzheimer’s.  In the latter stages a human being fully grown becomes like a helpless child who is now unable to even control their bodily functions.  A slow and sliding prelude to death. The hips and legs go. They lose their sense of balance needing canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs.

We’ve all seen the elderly all our lives.  It’s hard to imagine them as anything other than what they are – but once they were younger like us.  Vibrant, young and full of dreams but now they are on the road nearing the end of their lives.  You may meet them on the street and have many questions.  What happened to them?  Are they bums because of drink or drugs?  Have they no place to go or call their own?  The answers might surprise you.

Every generation since the beginning of time has had its elderly.  In every city of the world the picture can be the same.  The “golden years”; someone once termed that time of life when you are no longer expected or able to work and live out your days in peace and serenity.  For many reasons this state of life can change forcing it’s victims to be truly cast off and left to subsist any way they can.

Expensive medical care involved with the elderly.

I have some true and very personal stories to share with you on the subject.  I’ll keep them short but they have  unfolded over a number of years.  They are stories full of personal pain and disappointment.  As always;  the names and other information have been changed to protect the true identies and privacy of those persons. 

First is case of Benny.  He was once a millionaire many times over and was living in his dream home running a small business for the fun in it when he was stricken with cancer.  He had insurance along with his savings to battle the disease.  When I met Benny he had used every benefit his insurance health plan could afford him, sold his house and business spending almost his entire savings fighting the cancer.  A life time of saving and planning were now gone.  Benny was now seeking shelter at one of the charitable homeless shelters where he had once been a donor.  Benny had spent 11 years on chemotherapy, surgeries and hospital stays and was no longer able to afford a place to live.

Next is the story of Dorothy.  She too was very well off financially.  She contracted a debilitating spinal column disease and needed extensive medical care to save her life.  She felt her situation would be sufficient and a cure would restore her to the kind of life she was accustomed to living.  When she could no longer afford the radical treatment for this very complicated illness she was placed in a taxi and sent to an emergency shelter for the homeless and left to fend for herself.  She was just dumped by our prestigious medical system and told “thank you very much for spending your fortune with one of the best hospitals in California, but you just can’t stay here no more lady.”

There are so many stories and reasons for the elderly to become diss-enfranchised.  No matter how much we plan and save for the future things can go terribly wrong.  The biggest threat to all elderly persons is inflation.   Savings and insurance which were considered adequate at their inception can literally evaporate over night.  Living on a fixed income is no joke.  I’ve heard stories of elderly Sr.’s who were reduced to eating pet food because their shrinking income and resources – homeless pets receive more attention than the elderly it seems.  Many people spend more to care for their pets.

Now let’s turn our attention to the health care issues of the elderly.  This is where the Government has become negligent not just only for the elderly but for all Americans in general.  An organization called the AARP is supposed to lobby in Washington on behalf of Sr.s but now seem to be in the insurance business to supplement Medicare at the elderly’s expense.  Why is it so much cheaper to buy med.’s south of the border and abroad than here at home?  Medicine manufactured here in the U.S. are cheaper outside the country!  The government needs to seriously regulate all business in the health care field to make it affordable to all instead of just giving unlimited financial access charging astronomical prices to the medical field through its government health care programs.

Planning and savings for retirement sometimes can not foresee the financial needs of growing old.

Oh; and one more thing – the government on all levels needs to stop spending our tax dollars on people who come to this country illegally!  This spending is in the billions.   Even if they are expectant mothers.  This flaw in the law should have been changed decades ago.  It’s morally wrong to steal money from those who have faithfully worked and paid into the system and let the Government give it to illegal aliens.  Because of this policy and other wasteful spending such as paying billions of dollars to foreign governments just to be our friends, that the Social Security program is in real danger of becoming bankrupt!

In today’s employment environment few employers offer any kind of retirement program or pension in their compensation package for their employees.  Unions and companies, who do have pension programs, have invested and lost huge amounts of money in the “Bear” stock markets.  401K’s are also tied to the markets health.  People use their homes as a source of savings feeling secure in the knowledge property and home prices will rise and return a substantial profit when sold.  Sadly as we have seen in the housing crash, this method of saving failed miserably.  Mortgages “turned sideways” and became worth less than the home price at the time of being purchased.  This was catastrophic for many Americans. 

Many elderly become unemployed when they are no longer able to work and Social Security is their only source of support.  There is low income housing for the elderly but there are waiting lists to get in and they are usually in the poorer areas of town.  Churches and other charitable organization try to assist where ever they can but more needs to be done.

Helping the elderly can be a truly rewarding experience.  They may seem rather testy at first but will soon warm up to your love!

The Government tracks the statistics and numbers of homeless elderly through the Census Bureau, HUD and other agencies.  Studies and predictions estimate the numbers will double over the next 20 years.  You can find much more specific information on the web and thru Google search.  The subject is gravely serious.  Sometimes it seems that many smaller countries do more for their elderly than we in the United States are doing.

What we can do?  Give them a smile or a little of our time.  A few dollars out of our own pocket if they should happen to ask.  Write to your government representatives – you know; those guys who will always vote themselves a pay raise and more benefits.  Make the Government keep its commitment to Social Security and Medicare for the elderly instead of misappropriating the funds for some other government program or war and military spending.  It’s just that simple!  Washington won’t act until they hear an outcry from the voters 

Four times the Government has said no to Sr.s.  Twice Washington has pushed up the retirement age and twice Congress has voted down the cost of living increases which the elderly were entitled to receive.  We should not be having this kind of disgrace unfolding on the streets of this country.  It’s truly an outrage in every sense of the phrase.  The problems will only get worse and by the time you and I retire it may be to late!

So; the next time you should see an older person who looks like a “no account bum”, someone who should be left to their fate, stop and think for a moment.  That could be you before you know it.  The old expression is so true; “There but for the grace of God go I”.

This is Felicity writing on the behalf of the homeless elderly and the Noodleman Group is advocating on their behalf.  Next week’s article will be dedicated to Pop Music!

Images of the needy "Homeless and Elderly.

*  All Photography and art supplied through “Google Images” – Title art and compositing by

F.B. Noodleman

Why Blog

By Felicity Blaze Noodleman

Hi there again!  This week’s article will discuss what motivates me to write this blog and the work which goes into the process.  You know; the conception, where the “Noodleman Group” is now and what the future might hold.  Oh, by the way - I’ll be “splashing this article up with a little more art than usual.  Also; this could be two articles as you will soon see but I’ll leave it as is.  The topics I’ll be covering are:

·       How has Personal computing changed my life

·       Why the pen name Felicity Blaze Noodleman

·       What Inspires the articles I write

·       The research done in composing articles

·       What will the future hold for the Noodleman Group

First of all I would like to thank my “muse” Gregory Remington Seagull (he wants to remain anonymous).   He liked my stories and views so much that he suggested I write a blog!  Thanks Gregory!  He is one of the most happily adjusted and cheerful men I’ve met.  He likes helping people, loves his job and is loved by all at the office where he works.

Secondly; I would like thank Google for providing the Blog format and giving blogger’s an out let to express them on the web.  Google has done so much to make the internet such a powerful tool with their search engine and their incorporated features such as “images”, “maps”, “gmail” and “Google Earth”.  Since I’ve been computing there have been three great milestones defining the PC age.  (1)  Apple Computer releases the “Macintosh” - 1984  (2) “MS Office” released - 1989 and (3) Google incorporated 1998.

 

Since my first computer, a Macintosh IIsi, there have been other significant events enlarging the personal computing experience and now that I think about it can’t believe I had a front seat to see it all happen.  Upgrades for the motherboard –  SCSI devices, RAM & improvements, upgraded CPU’s, modems, bigger hard drives, iPod’s and iPhone’s and an endless list of new and upgraded software of which included “Web Browsers” and then”JAVA” for the web. 

Newer computer applications from digital photography to music and motion picture production it seemed like the computer was taking over my life.  This all happened between l984 and the early 2000’s.   At one point I was really wishing everything would just level off and stabilize!  Stop it!  Just stop; I can’t keep up with the million people developing newer everything.  I’m just one girl on a limited computing budget!  Who knows what will be coming in the next 20 years. 

IBM was the undisputed authority internationally in business mainframe computing in 1970 but with a new onslaught of high-tech companies specializing in every area of the computing field their business was beginning to change forever.  It was truly a revolution.  The NASDAQ stock exchange was founded in 1971 to supplement the Dow Jones Industrials, The S&P 500 and supplied these “Small Cap.” companies with the means to raise capital in the sometimes risky field of highly specialized development for the new high techs’.  It was capitalism at its finest.  Computers could never have evolved without a vehicle like the NASDAQ.  The revolution is still continuing today and will bring some truly radical changes in every area of computing and how people will use them.   

The chart below, which we can’t read or analyze, illustrates how chaotic and quickly the changes and advances came about in the early years of personal computing up into today.  These days the CPU is everywhere doing everything.  From automobiles to greeting cards the microprocessor has vastly improved the products in which they have been incorporated into.

So now that is all out of the way - on with this article.  Where did the pen name “Felicity Blaze Noodleman” comes from?  “Felicity Blaze” is based on the European cartoon strip character by Denis Bodart entitled “Chastity Blaze” whose real name is Chastity Brown.  She’s something like “Wonder Woman”.  She is also very hard to research and there is very little about her or Denis on the web.  I’ve seen two movies about her character and her name stuck with me.  She also reminds me a little of “Tank Girl”!  “Noodleman” is a concoction of names Gregory and I came up with to describe what I do – whether it’s writing or music I noodle around with things until they are just right.

Next; the inspiration for my articles is just plain ol’e everyday stuff.  Commentary of the day. Things I feel need to be spotlighted and written about.  Two of my favorite commentators in the media - news paper, radio and TV - out of the many personalities in my life have been Paul Harvey, an AM ABC radio commentator and Andy Rooney of the CBS TV program “60 Minutes”.  Both always had a lighter take on issues of the day and gave you a little chuckle while making a subtle point.  Sadly; both have passed on.  Now we have a whole new medium opening up and I am here to claim my celebrity on the internet Blog.  I may only be a Doodle but I Noodle very well!

Finally; since there are always more than one side to a story, I always try to find as much information as possible on the web.  Articles using Google, Wikipedia, and books to supplement my own personal knowledge of the subjects.  I strongly feel the articles should be able to stand up to scrutiny and not just be based on personal bias.

So just where will the Noodleman Group be going in the future?  Well I hope we will be getting bigger and somehow we will launch ourselves into the news reporting and editorial business.  By that time we will be playing the money game and needing a much bigger staff, so who can tell.  We’ll hope for the best!

Next week we will be writing about the “Homeless Elderly”.  I’m Felicity and now you know as much about the Noodleman Group as we do.

All art for this article provided by Google Images – compositing of article title blocks and word art by Felicity B. Noodleman

OBAMA VS ROMNEY

By Felicity Blaze Noodleman

I wanted to write a fun article this week – something about summer as we all make vacation plans but before I could begin to dream my mind quickly returned to reality.  The reality of affording a fun vacation for the summer.  The experts are saying the economy is improving since the housing crash of 2008 but the recovery has been very slow and things remain for all practice purposes about the same.  With the big election coming in November it will be a “Summer of Decision” for many.

I should state the purpose of this article is to be critical of both candidates running for president.  Once again I’m afraid we have two bad choices!  Republicans are yearning for another Ronald Reagan and Democrats seek another Franklin Roosevelt.  But wait a moment – maybe we will have some fun this summer.  That’s right; get out the styrofoam straw hats, balloons, banners, red white and blue bunting, party buttons and flags because political silly season is almost here!  (Special thanks to Dave Granlund for providing the wonderful cartoons through Google Images.  You can see more of his work and political satire on his web site at www.davegranlund.com.  I, however, will take credit for compositing the three images and title at the beginning of this article!)

In addition to going to the beach, picnicking in the park, playing softball, reading that new book, looking for a new car and traveling to a National Park and learning about the new computer or video game we will be able to poke fun at our political system and the people in it.  How delicious is that!  I think it’s safe to say that no one is above reproach in this year’s election.  There’s enough mud to go around for everyone!

A few things to watch for on the campaign trail will be:

·       Political scandals

·       See where the money goes

·       The Democratic and Republican National Conventions

·       What will the candidates actually be saying

·       What will the comedians be saying

·       Who is best at “putting lipstick on the pig”

·       Who will support who

·       Who can eat the most Corn Dogs

·       What will the pun-dents be saying

·       What will the “X” Presidents be saying

·       Who can sell the most “soft soap”

·       Who will spend the most for your Vote

·       Who’s the best baby kisser

·       Will “The Donald” Trump get to utter those famous words “your fired”

Stay tuned!  It’s all coming to a big screen near you.  Both conventions will try to tell us all why they are so wonderful and why the other party is so awful. 

The Democratic convention will rubberstamp the party ticket of Obama-Biden and define the party platform and “planks” (issues Democrats will be committed to for the next four).

The Republican convention will be the one to watch.  Mitt Romney, based on his total delegate count (now at some 1,191) will be nominated as the Republican Presidential candidate.  The convention delegates will nominate a VP running mate which may or may not be put forth by Gov. Romney.  I am expecting the VP nomination to be someone from the south or western US and also someone who can close the “gender gap”.  I think and excellent choice would be Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under President George W. Bush.  Dr. Rice also served as a member of the National Security Council under President George H.W. Bush as his advisor on East European and Soviet affairs.  Republicans will also define their “party planks” and platform for the next four years.   

I will limit my remarks about each of the candidates to only one comment.  If you remember; last week I wrote the two worst things you can talk about with people is Religion and Politics - and now I have broken that rule.  As a new Blog writer who is trying to build a good readership base I should be more careful about what I write.  Oh well, “poor pitiful, despicable me”.

First I’ll begin with the President, Barack Obama:  After the 2010 midterm elections both the President and his party have their work cut out for them.  The country told the Dem.’s in no uncertain terms that they were not happy with “Obama change”.   Even the President admitted he and the party had been “shellacked”.  Good luck with turning that defeat around!

Now for the former Governor, Mitt Romney:  Gov. Romney’s biggest stumbling block is his past business practices.  It’s very hard for him to act like he cares about “out of work” Americans when he has put so many out of work in the company’s he has been associated with.

There!  That’s all.  Now I’ve had my say.  Hope you will have a fabulous summer! 

I’m Felicity and this has been the Noodleman Group.

WHAT ABOUT RELIGION

By Felicity Blaze Noodleman

Two things I have always heard should not be discussed in the work place: “Politics and Religion” and it is with a great deal of reluctance and hesitation that I am writing this article.  It is only because I have heard so many people speak about their religious views to others in such a cold and callus manner that I find myself wondering if these people know anything about religion at all to begin with!  They usually identify themselves with Christianity and feel a need to condemn those around them at every opportunity with their religious views and somehow feel they are spreading their view of the gospel.

There are however many Christian denominations who are committed to charitable works providing many needed services at home and abroad  They are always receptive to the needs of their fellow men.  It also should be noted that some of the greatest strides for human kind in western civilization have come through Christianity such as the English “Magna Carta”, The United States “Bill of Rights” and The “Emancipation Proclamation” abolishing slavery in this country leading the world to do likewise.

Another interesting statistic to note:  since the development of the printing press by Johannes Gutenburg around the year 1140 which printed the first book – the Christian “Holly Bible”; more copies of this book have been printed and translated into more languages than any other book in history.

I also hear remarks such as “I’m blessed today” or “have a blessed day”.  These remarks at their core are somewhat boastful and they seem to express an attitude of “I’m better off than you” kind of thing.  Also there are those who seem to express their needs and feelings in the name of God and Jesus continually as though they are trying to show others how religious they are.

A second religious group feels they have a mandate from their God to “kill the infidels” and those who do not believe in Allah and practice the Islamic faith.  As we in the United States have been made so painfully aware, there are still countries in the world where people are persecuted and executed because of their religious beliefs.  In the history of human kind no other issue has started and sustained so many wars, atrocities and general hatred as religion.  Nations invoke the name of God and even claim “God is on their side”.

We in the United States are so fortunate to live in a country governed by a Constitution which guarantees everyone the freedom to practice the religion of their choice (and to be free of religion if they so choose) and that “Church and State” are separate.  Here in Los Angeles we are experiencing a surge in immigration from South America, Asia Minor, the Orient, the Middle and Far East who all bring their own religion and customs to this country.  This trend is extending across the United States.  Tolerance should be exercised by all in our day to day lives as we strive to live in peace and understand one another.

In the Christian world “Wikipedia” has identified some 38,000 different Christian denominations.  In the Islamic world, I am able to Identify 4 major sects with some 33 different denominations.  In modern day Judaism there are 4 distinct groups of “diversity”.  Also consider the other major religious groups in today’s world such as the Buddhists and Hindu with their own sects and denominations and we clearly begin to see how diverse religion can be.  Now; think of all the ancient religions throughout the history of mankind and the numbers are beyond comprehension.  Below; see the map illustrating religions in today’s world provided by “Google Images”.

I once heard a witticism which stated “man makes God in his own image” instead of being the other way around.  Many people seem to think they know what needs to be said about religion and make it their business to inform others of what they believe is “God’s will”.  I seem to be hearing more and more of it these days, especially from those claiming to be Christians and in a very unchristian manner!  Clearly there are Christian laymen who need to continue their Christian education, or maybe they shouldn’t speak at all until they have completed an education in “Theology or Divinity School”.

There have been occasions when I’ve been cornered by people, some identifying themselves as self appointed ministers of their religious faith who begin preaching and I have to stop them by saying, “don’t tell me about your religion – show me your religion”.  I want to explain to them somehow that reading and study the scripture will teach them that true religion is about doing.  Helping the elderly, the disabled and homeless.  Once they have studied enough then humility and conviction will show them the work that needs to be done.

When I came to Los Angeles it was exciting because I was going to see a Jewish community.  Finally; I was going to meet the descendants of those people I’d read so much about in the Old Testament.  I have heard some negative things about Jews but I have to confess that my overall experience has been good.  I also have to say that when it comes to charity they have excelled in every aspect.  Jewish charitable organizations dispense food, clothing, shelter and medical care for the elderly and needy not only in their own community but to the greater community at large.   

Another rule I’ve heard is, “If you can’t say something good than don’t say anything at all” and the old standby, just “Think before you speak”!  If you feel you could be saying something which is in so many ways controversial than just don’t do it.

This weekend we in the United States are observing “Memorial Day” honoring our military service men who have given their lives defending freedom and liberty.  Hopefully one day we all will understand that war is an ineffective tool for resolving human disputes and that peace and diplomacy are more effective concepts for the resolution of human disputes between nations.

I’m Felicity and thank you for spending some time with the Noodleman group.

YOU MIGHT BE CRAZY . . .

                                                                                                                  

By Felicity Blaze Noodleman

Have you ever wondered if you were going crazy as in losing your mind, having a meltdown, losing touch with reality or going berserk?  Is it me or just the other 99%?  “I’m OK – You’re OK” or “I’m OK and You’re not”!  It’s always good to take an inventory of your assists and mental health is no exception.

We all question ourselves at one time or another.  That’s why we are normal.  We are able to distinguish where the line between the two different states of mind are.  Society sets the parameters for what is accepted as normal and proper behavior and what is not.  In our society these parameters allow for modifications based on fashion, attitudes, ethnic behavior and just plain old change for the fun in it.  We even embrace some new kooky thing and celebrate it as brilliance and even imitate it.

However; there are many forms of behavior which indicate we are making or have made a break with reality and are becoming socially unacceptable and even becoming a danger to ourselves and to those around us.  This article is not intended to poke fun at these actions but help those who may be in trouble.  Some things to look for are:

·         Talking to yourself even when others are present

·         Talking under your breath to and about people

·         Talking loudly and aggressively on a regular basis

·         Germophobia becomes an obsession

·         Every day is a bad hair day and hats are the only solution

·         Loosing interest in things you once loved

·         You feel bipolar and don’t know it

·         Always disagreeable

·         You have the only franchise on God

·         All your meds and vitamins are no longer working

·         Sensitivativety to light and sound for prolonged periods

·         Find yourself in a catatonic daze

·         A hoarder – unable to throw anything away or must have as much of a thing as possible

·         Wearing highly unusual articles of dress every day – Such as wearing a “Tiara” for example

·         Any self destructive behavior

Alcohol and narcotics; both prescription and “street drugs” open the door where psychosis, neurosis and paranoia ect. all live.  If you think there might be a problem there are many groups you can turn to.  Whether or not you indulge with any substances, groups like “AA” and “NA” might help you decide if you need to make some adjustments in your life.  New participants are always welcome and they all practice confidentiality.  What is talked about in the group stays in the group!

I’m not a Doctor although both my stepfather and brother are practicing Psychiatrists.  There are plenty of self help professionals working in the media to help all of us and many books have been written on so many different subjects for our consideration. We can even “Google” symptoms over the net.  I will defer to them as I dispense my advice.   Things your mom told you are also a good place to start.

A few words about anger.  Most of us spend their early formative years learning how to behave socially in the home, school, and in public.  Now as an adult with your own job, home and family everyone needs to still practice tolerance where anger is concerned.  You may feel the need to “fly off the handle” or act crazy to emphasize a point but acting crazy can soon turn into being crazy.  Remember: anger feeds on itself and the more you feed it the bigger it becomes until you are no longer able to control it.

We all become “out of sorts” occasionally and the best advice is always eat a good diet from all the food groups, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water.  Simple dehydration can really harm you and so can too much of a good thing.  Good mental and physical health is your greatest asset so take care of yourself.

Now a few words about aging.  It’s no secret that as we grow older our mental faculties begin to decline.  We get a little bit older and a little bit slower.  Our minds can begin to decline beginning in our late 20’s.  The first thing most notice is a loss in short term memory.  Now that people are living longer what was once thought to be the onset of senility has been studied and termed as “Alzheimer’s” disease.  Scientists and Doctors are looking for a cure or at least treatment to relieve the painful side effects of the disease.  Also; note that as we become older less brain cells are growing at a phase in our lives when we losing more of them.

All of the afore mentioned conditions can radically alter our personality.  It only makes sense that we should take every precaution to keep ourselves mentally fit as possible! 



I’m Felicity and you’re with the Noodleman Group!