It teaches you patience to a degree you never knew you had within you or were capable of providing, that's for sure.

Aging in the US is very depressing. The caretakers get to see their future.

Aging in the US is very depressing. The caretakers get to see their future.

Posted by CLINTONISKING at 2007-10-13 09:02

Why do you only say aging the U.S.? Everybody ages everywhere in the world and the type of "future" the person needing the caretaking receives depends on their personal circumstances, who takes care of them, and in what surroundings.

The toll and/or possibility of depression with caretakers varies greatly in degree -- whether the caretaking is a full time job for them and they do it alone with no other help/reprieve from any other family members -- or whether they have others willing to step in and help to provide some respite and time off.

It also matters with regard to the toll taken on the person doing the caretaking as to whether or not caretaking is their only duty and responsibility or, if on the other hand, the caretaker is also responsible for the handling of everything else that needs to be done in addition to caring for the person they are looking after.

Other countries treat their elderly better that we do here, is what I mean.

Other countries treat their elderly better that we do here, is what I mean.

Posted by CLINTONISKING

absolutely.. I am surprised the us hasn't adopted a soylent green policy

I am surprised the us hasn't adopted a soylent green policy

Old people taste bad. It's much better when they're fresh. And tender.

Try deep frying next time ness.

Other countries treat their elderly better that we do here, is what I mean.

Posted by CLINTONISKING at 2007-10-13 10:21 PM

That's so true. In the U.S. all respect and attention seems to be geared on the basis of youth and looks -- not experience. In China and other countries people respect their elders and, more importantly, they learn from them by listening to what their elders have to say about their past experiences. Here the elderly are often brushed aside because it's looked upon as though they have nothing more to contribute to society. That's our country's loss.

Most Depressing Job: Hiding Explosives in a Cart full of Toys


Most Depressing Job 2: Giving Al Gore the Nobel Peace Prize.

Most Depressing Job 3: Iranian Gay Pride Parade Director

Most Depressing Job 4: Drudge Retort Abuse Reporter

Most Depressing Job 5: Being a subordinate to Rob the Ahole

MY SENIORITY IS 1000!

NOW IF I CAN ONLY TIME MY CAPTURE TO BE 1000 ON AMW!!!

NOW IF I CAN ONLY TIME MY CAPTURE TO BE 1000 ON AMW!!!

Posted by redwhiteandblue at 2007-10-14 04:30 AM | Reply |

Just let me know and I'll call them and turn you in -- *grin*
By the way, is there any reward money?

Hi Chris,

Talk about depressing jobs . . . how's the clean-up on that big tunnel wreck doing?

Any clues on how it happened?

TWINPAC

What a mess. Three drivers dead and they can't even get inside the tunnel to see if there are more. Temperatures got up to 2000 degrees and drove the firemen back. So far all I know is that a loaded fuel truck blew up inside the tunnel and all the trucks were caught in the inferno inside.

This was a side tunnel off the I-5 that was used only by truckers but there was a car caught - and flattened -- just at the entrance. I woke up to the news this morning and the ENTIRE 1-5 had been shut down in both directions. unreal. The traffic was blocked for miles and miles. That road leads out of L.A. over the Grapevine and up thru Central California and is a HUGE thoroughfare for traffic and especially trucks.

They don't expect to even be able to open the I-5 until Tuesday it's so bad! The CHP can't even make a guess yet as to what happened except to say it was a fuel truck that exploded. Rumors fly but they are just rumors as of now. Some were wondering if it was some inexperienced truck driver (Bush's new deal allowing trucks up from Mexico) or whether it might have been some terrorism act -- I doubt that though. If it was a terrorist act they would tried to take out more than just 15 trucks in a tunnel. But they sure managed to do a lot of damage by shutting down a MAJOR highway in both directions. NOTHING will move until Tuesday.

Did you hear any more updates? Last I heard were 3 dead and at least one unaccounted for so far.

TWINPAC

Here's the latest update I pulled just now except our local radio/tv here say it's 3 dead and at least one unaccounted for -

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) - A crash in a rain-slicked Southern California freeway tunnel quickly turned into a fiery, chain-reaction pileup that mangled 15 trucks, killed at least two people and shut down the key north-south route as the wreckage burned for hours.
The two dead were found in the tunnel after the flames abated, and authorities warned more bodies might be found. One truck driver was still unaccounted for, and 10 people were injured.

Two trucks collided about 11 p.m. Friday inside a southbound truck tunnel on Interstate 5, triggering the pileup, said Fire Inspector Jason Hurd. The accident scattered wreckage for at least half a mile.

Flames shot out of both ends of the tunnel, rising as high as 100 feet into the air, according to firefighters at the scene.

"It looked like a bomb went off," said Los Angeles County firefighter Scott Clark, who battled the blaze throughout the night.

The key route between Los Angeles and San Francisco remained blocked Saturday and was still smoldering more than 14 hours after the wreck. The highway is also a major commuter link connecting Los Angeles to its northern suburbs, and there are likely to be huge traffic jams in the area if it is still closed when people return to work Monday.

The tunnel, about an eighth of a mile long, offers trucks a more direct route on a web of canyon highways that also thread traffic on other levels.

The intense heat caused concrete to crack and melt, sending chucks falling onto a road below the tunnel throughout the night. Firefighters worried the damage could cause parts of the tunnel to collapse, particularly if they allowed many cars back onto the road that runs above it.

Most of the flames appeared to have been extinguished by Saturday afternoon, but thick columns of smoke were still curling out of the tunnel and into surrounding canyons. Firefighters poured flame retardant into one end of the tunnel to douse any hot spots.

It wasn't clear Saturday afternoon whether any of the trucks might have been carrying toxic chemicals.

The charred skeletons of at least a half-dozen big rigs could been seen peeking out of the tunnel's south end. At least one was carrying produce, and a smoldering load of cabbages lay scattered across the pavement.

Twenty people fled the fiery tunnel on foot, including the 10 injured, Hurd said. All were taken to hospitals and treated mainly for burns and neck and back injuries.

Although the tunnel is designed to carry truck traffic through a mountain pass area, passenger cars may also use it, raising concerns that some might be trapped inside, Hurd said.

Hurd couldn't say when authorities might be able to reopen the section of freeway.

"It could be another day, it could be days, it could be weeks," he told The Associated Press.

State transportation engineers were trying Saturday to determine when firefighters and rescue workers could enter to douse the remaining flames and look for anyone who might have been trapped.

Thanks Chris,

That's a lot more info than we get here in moonshine country.

When I saw that wreck on the news, I was hoping you weren't on the I-5 when it happened. Your late arrival on the DR was cause for concern.

I had to wait hand and foot on my wife for five or six weeks after her spine operation. She forced herself into the bathroom by herself in the first week or so, both of us were glad to say. I found it fulfilling, even enjoyable, over that short a period. I know I'd have been depressed after 5 or 6 months and as for 5 or 6 years.... I see that kind of thing from time to time when I volunteer for my local senior adult services center. I just marvel at people's love and resiliency.

Other countries treat their elderly better that we do here, is what I mean

THis is a very general statement. In what manner are they treated better? Their nursing homes are better? The families treat their own better? What countries are we talking about? Nigeria and Sudan treat their elderly better than we do? The USA is that bad off? I wouln't think so.

General statements like these are meaningless. Can you be more specific?

Can you be more specific?

Posted by goatman at 2007-10-14 09:15 AM


LOL

LOL

I take that for a "no"? Or is it really true that other countries treat their elderly better than the USA? If so, I wonder why everyone doesn't retire in Libya or Uzbekestan?
Or could it be that terse, smug retort actually translates to, "I don't have a fucking clue"

I'll take door number two.

"Other countries treat their elderly better that we do here, is what I mean."

Yes, when the Euros go on month long vacations during a heat wave and thousands of grannies die because they don't have AC and nobody is checking in on them, it is quite touching.

Yes, when the Euros go on month long vacations during a heat wave and thousands of grannies die because they don't have AC and nobody is checking in on them, it is quite touching.


Posted by Sully


Yeah, that's why they live longer there...You may want to go there and check for yourself. All these countries have day care / social centers for seniors but more importantly they are treated with respect by most. Medical care is better for them as well as availability and affordability of medicines. Go and volunteer in a nursing home for a few weeks as I did and see how many seniors are just dumped there.

I think Al Gore did a study about the treatment of the elderly in the world. Maybe another Nobel prize is awaiting him. Probably another documentary filled with lies will follow.

Probably another documentary filled with lies will follow.

Posted by wifenothome

Well, he hasn't made one with lies yet. Neither has Michael Moore. Sorry that the truth hurts all the reich-wing scum.

I wonder how military serving combat duty rank on the depression meter?