unicorn

As I tried to explain previously, the Social Security numbers are very poor estimates, and intentionally designed to avoid penalizing those with good health habits, by treating all people equally from a financial standpoint. (For example, my best friend's domestic partner was a couch potato who spent his days drinking and watching TV. He was wise to start collecting social security as soon as he was able, 60, and died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 63). While we have incomplete data, I believe it's unlikely Biden will still be alive in 5 years, much less alive and able to make the least bit of sense when talking (almost certainly unable to complete his duties as POTUS). I also don't think Trump/Putin would be able to complete his term, though that would end up as a bigger mess. Alzheimer's patients lose memories like an onion that's being peeled. The oldest memories are the last to be lost. This is why Biden remembers Mitterrand, not Macron, and Kohl rather than Merkel, and also why Trump remembers Pelosi rather than Haley. It's only a matter of time before they even lose their ability to recognize even the most familiar politicians and even close family members. Yes, other people will take on the POTUS duties (as was the case for Reagan and FDR), but neither candidate is starting in a good place.

Yes, obviously. 😆

Social Security actuaries are a pretty lousy way to predict life expectancy for any given individual, especially in older age. A person's health, demographics, and habits play a huge role. Obviously, social security can't go into details, nor, probably, should it. We certainly don't want social security to say "We're going to give you a bigger monthly check because you're a smoker, boozer, and a fat couch potato, and probably don't have long to live." I don't know the details of his health history, but my guess is it's unlikely Biden would survive a 2nd term, and even less likely that he'll make it without obvious behavioral manifestations of dementia. Hearing him say that he spoke to Mitterrand in 2021 was particularly cringe, since Mitterrand died in 1996. Mistaking Angela Merkel for Helmut Kohl was even more cringe. This is not his (nor Trump's) pretty blatant evidence of overt confusion, which can be a pretty late sign of dementia. I suspect he may show signs of agitation and even worse confusion in the next 2 years. (Both candidates already show some of those signs) (I don't see the resemblance): There are online calculators which are much better predictors of life expectancy in older people: https://apps.goldensoncenter.uconn.edu/HLEC/ I think you're giving too much credit to death certificate statistics. Death certificates are often completed by physicians who might not even know the patient. Autopsies are very rarely performed. My legal (not biological) father's cause of death was listed as pneumonia, which certainly was the immediate cause, but the reason he aspirated into his lungs was advanced dementia. My mother's cause of death was listed as "Multi-infarct (hypertensive stroke) dementia," although in her 84 years, she never had high blood pressure. My sibs and I did pay for a private autopsy, and found out she died of a very rare form of cancer (angiosarcoma). Whoever put that diagnosis on her birth certificate had not only never laid eyes on my late mother, but he hadn't even bothered to look at her medical records. Unless there's an obvious cancer or drug overdose/violent death, coroners put tremendous pressure on physicians to write down an MI (heart attack), stroke, COPD, or pneumonia (obviously influenza if the patient tested + for that).

As much as I despise Trump, and think that he also probably has dementia, it seems pretty obvious at this point that Biden almost certainly does as well. One of the challenging aspects to caring for people with Alzheimer's, in particular, is that they usually don't have any insight into their own cognitive decline. So, unfortunately, since I doubt anyone would dare confront him (not that any confrontation would likely be successful), I doubt Biden will bow out. Yes, alas, it looks as though it'll be two men whose minds are slipping away battling each other. The question is who would be more dangerous. Obviously, best-case scenario, someone is able to convince Biden to let someone else run in his place. I do see that as unlikely, however. Only sure-fire way to know for sure would be to administer each a cognitive assessment test such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. Trump described it as "very hard" (it's not, if you don't have cognitive impairment) 4 years ago, and I can't imagine he'd pass it now. Nor, I don't imagine, would Biden.

Well, as for us, we're living the gay fairy tale...

I like A. Blinken

https://www.facebook.com/realdoctormike https://www.instagram.com/doctor.mike/ https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/mikhail-varshavski.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Mike

No, family practice. The first day of the conference was today. The keynote speaker was also tall, with thick dark hair. He has been described as "America's most handsome doctor." I wouldn't disagree. His name's Dr. Mike Varshavski. I don't know how your son compares in good looks... 😉

https://nypost.com/2024/02/06/lifestyle/delta-airlines-removes-reprimands-woman-for-not-wearing-a-bra/ "A frustrated female flyer is pushing back after Delta Airlines staff threatened to kick her off the plane for not wearing a bra. Lisa Archbold was traveling from Salt Lake City to San Francisco on Jan. 22 when the tit snit took off, very suddenly putting her plans in peril. The self-employed DJ, who had just attended the world-famous Sundance film festival, alleged that after “every single person” had taken their seat, she was “loudly” summoned to the front of the plane. Once there, The Independent reported, the New Zealand expat was herded out into the passenger gangway and given a stern reprimand for her “baggy” t-shirt and long pants, which Delta employees called “revealing” and “offensive attire.”.." Good for Delta. My only question would be why they waited until everyone was seated to pull her off the plane. But maybe that's when she took her jacket off. I'm not interested in seeing a Kiwi flaunt her breasts. 😉

By the way, we just had dinner at a restaurant here in Fort Lauderdale, where I'll be attending a medical conference tomorrow. We each ordered drinks and he was not carded.

Yes, she said to him "You look so young. We have to be careful about trafficking."

Note: just joking! 😁

According to Wikipedia, "While the film does not mention any QAnon conspiracy theories, critics and anti-trafficking experts have pointed out that the film embellishes the reality of child exploitation and stokes QAnon conspiracy theories, referring to a "belief that a core group of devil-worshiping elite run the world". Both Ballard and star Caviezel have been public about their belief in conspiracy theories of the QAnon movement...", to address your curiosity. As for the ER situation, there are certain injuries which should prompt questioning, especially if the mechanism of the injury described by the patient is unusual (for example, a black eye explained by running into a door). If he brought you in because you had a kidney stone stuck in your ureter, then that question would seem inappropriate. I don't know the laws for all jurisdictions, obviously, but I doubt it's against the law for a nurse not to ask about domestic violence every time a child or other family member brings a parent into the ER for any reason. Of course, the question must be asked under certain situations. I can't comment about your particular situation, since you didn't share the reason for your ER visit. My fiance did bring me into the ER several months ago for, in fact, a stone in my ureter, and I was not asked about domestic violence.

No, he does not look underage. He does use Botox, so he doesn't have wrinkles, but he definitely doesn't look under 18. He's 6' 4" (1.93 m) tall. In the 3 years we've been together, we've traveled extensively, probably in close to 100 hotels, and never previously been questioneed.

No, this was at our airport hotel in Los Angeles

I'm very used to people mistaking my fiance for my son. But we checked into a hotel yesterday, and she asked how old he was (he's 30) because she was concerned I might be trafficking in minors! Have any of you been subjected to such humiliation? 😤

Somewhat of a downer of a movie. It moved slowly for my tastes (and that of my fiance).

My step-mother and I (if I'm recalling correctly) went to a performance some 8 years ago, and were surprised to learn that the show is mostly Falun Gong propaganda. Yes, and you pay to see that. If you think that Trump's wackiness couldn't affect Australia, think again. From Wikipedia: "...Falun Gong is entirely based around the teachings of its autocratic founder and leader: China-born Li Hongzhi. According to NBC News, to his followers, Li is "a God-like figure who can levitate, walk through walls and see into the future. His ultra-conservative and controversial teachings include a rejection of modern science, art and medicine, and a denunciation of homosexuality, feminism and general worldliness." Hongzhi instructs his followers to downplay his controversial teachings, when speaking to outsiders...". Don't be fooled into thinking you're watching a Chinese cultural performance. These shows are merely set up to support Falun Gong, financially and with propaganda.

Unfortunately, part of parenting these days consists of educating one's children regarding social media, as well as limiting and monitoring access. Parental controls are a must.

I suggest posting in the appropriate forum (European Men & Destinations).

As usual, complete BS. As I'm sure you're well aware, the only major candidate to oppose the war (and to support LGBT rights) was kicked off the ballot due to "spelling errors" and "poor handwriting" in her election paperwork. At least she's still alive. There's always that. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russian-presidential-hopeful-loses-appeal-against-election-officials-refusal-to-register-her-for-the-race "A Russian politician calling for peace in Ukraine on Wednesday lost her appeal against election officials’ refusal to accept her nomination for the country’s presidential race that President Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win. Former regional legislator Yekaterina Duntsova has promoted her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.” The tight control that Putin has established during 24 years in power makes his reelection in March’s presidential vote all but assured. Prominent critics who could challenge him are either in prison or living abroad, and most independent media have been banned. Over the weekend, Russia’s Central Election Commission refused to accept Duntsova’s initial nomination by a group of supporters, citing errors in the paperwork, including spelling...". Boris Nadezhdin has since stepped in as the only candidate to oppose the war (and support LGBT rights), but I can predict he will either be disqualified, killed, or jailed. https://www.politico.eu/article/anti-war-russian-cant-beat-vladimir-putin-feel-they-won-boris-nadezhdin/ "...With days to go until the deadline, Nadezhdin said he had gathered more than double the required number of signatures, a selection of which will be submitted to Russia’s capricious election authorities on Wednesday. In the past, signatures have been discounted for supposedly being illegible or forged, or because the information provided did not match that in often outdated government databases. Ahead of the curve, Nadezhdin’s campaign has recruited people with particularly neat handwriting to fill out his paperwork and will only be handing in “ideal” submissions. But there is little doubt that the final decision will be made in the Kremlin. Whatever it does next will offer a glimpse of its own confidence levels. There are benefits to allowing an anti-war candidate to participate: It could add a veneer of legitimacy to Putin’s reelection and, by ensuring the turnout for Nadezhdin is low, further demoralize Kremlin critics. But Alexander Kynev, a Moscow-based independent political analyst, said he thought it unlikely that the long-shot candidate would be allowed to stand. “It’s too big of a risk,” he said. “It would ruin the script of the presidential campaign” of making Putin’s rule seem uncontested...". Obviously, an election is a joke if you don't allow anyone to run against you who holds different views. There are only a few days left. Any bets on whether Nadezhdin will be disqualified, jailed, or murdered?

Note: Just a Joke! 😄

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/07/russia-criminalizes-independent-war-reporting-anti-war-protests "...On March 23, 2022, Russia’s parliament adopted amendments effectively expanding the ban on criticizing the armed forces to banning criticism of all Russian government actions abroad... Russia has enacted two laws, adopted and brought into force on March 4, that criminalize independent war reporting and protesting the war, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison..." We're all wondering what will happen to Putin's opponent in the election. Will it be poisoning? Prison with hard labor? Simply taken off the ballot? Defenestration? Shot to death in front of the Kremlin? Plane blowing up?

A free society should allow the viewing of all opinions, if they're genuine opinions, no matter how distasteful. However, false statements of fact, such as vaccines containing microchips, or ivermectin or bleach to treat Covid, and so on, should not be allowed. It's OK to express one's opinion, but not to spread lies.

Your first sentence is a nonsensical oxymoron. Either they can't work because they're lazy OR because they're unemployable. It doesn't look as if you bothered to read the explanation I wrote. As I've told you twice before, Unemployment benefits generally last 1 year, not 6 months (maybe this string should be titled "Dementia Old Daddy"?). And, as was just explained to you, if a judge determines someone is unemployable, he will receive a fairly generous income. If the unemployed person simply choses not to work (laziness), he generally will not be paid. If there are children, he may receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (temporarily, as the name implies), but the recipients must look for work. I would certainly not want to encourage continued payments for lazy people who simply choose not to work. One year is certainly ample time to find a job.