Politics as Usual

Lots of kvetching: Campaigning for the Democratic nomination he proclaimed a "new" era in politics; now that Obama has clinched the nomination he's beginning to sound as "old" as the hills. Placating religious and other groups, the big money givers and more.
How sad that politics takes away the courage to say what you really think or do what you really believe is right.
Kvell: Returned to Caramoor Music Festival (Katonah, NY) after a 50 year absence. Music is not only alive and well there - it's exciting, exhilarating and therapeutic. Heard El Amor Brujo sung by Vivica Genaux; fantastic dramatic performance. Hard to believe that this magnificent mezzo hails from Alaska - she sounded and looked like a true Spanish gypsy.

So What Else is New?

A recent scientific paper from a prestigious Medical School released figures on a large study of maternal and infant deaths in Nepal due to lack of handwashing (water and soap) by persons delivering babies or the moms. Wow - in 1847 Dr. Semmelweis suggested that obstetricians washing their hands in between deliveries could reduce puerperal fever - cut down on maternal and infant mortality.
Fast forward to the present: we're still oblivious to the benefits of washing hands - really washing - using soap and water for about 20 seconds!
And especially food handlers - love the signs in washrooms - advising workers they "Must wash hands before returning to work" - so how many follow the rules? If what I encounter in public restrooms where so many women just leave without going near the sink - not enough!

Pharma, Culture and Illegal Drugs

Kvetch: I watched the Tony Awards program on Sunday, June 15. Best way to describe the show: A couple of hours filled with ads for drugs/medications interspersed with a few song and dance routines and a spot of humor now and then courtesy of Miss Whoopee.
Kvell: Patti Lupone was the star of the show - outdoing Ethel Merman's memorable performance the first time around

How ironic that the best play (August: Osage County) was about a dysfunctional family - they obviously didn't get the opportunity to load up on the advertised drugs to cure their ills.
Kvetch: Here in El Paso - reading about the drug cartel murders every day across the bridge in Juarez - what does it take for those in charge to treat the drug problem the way we treated alcohol in the Capone days? MAKE IT LEGAL AND COLLECT TAXES on all sales.

2008 - what's in store?

A recent column in my local newspaper chided people for "whining". I didn't agree with the author; non-stop whining or kvetching can be tedious but an occasional kvetch is good.
If you keep quiet and stew - nobody will know there's stuff out there that needs fixing.
My 2008 kvetch list starts with hope:
Hope that we all recognize the value of older adults, treasure them and not make snide, supposedly funny, cracks. (Many older adults are the worst perpetrators of stereotyping.) Hope that media remembers there are many more accidents caused by drivers under 50 - yet their age is rarely mentioned in an accident report.
Hope that the level of hypocrisy in government and politics goes way down.
Hope we can get the middlemen out of health care - (like private insurance companies) and recognize that we spend more on health care than other countries and get less for our dollar!

Some kvelling for Amadeus

Just back from a river cruise on Amadeus Waterways' "Amalegro" - from Nuremberg to Budapest and want to kvell about the little things that made the trip delightful. Having sailed on almost all the European river cruise company ships in the past ten years, Amadeus, the new kid on the block, surpassed all my expectations in "caring" for its clients.
The little things:
A cabinet full of complimentary water bottles - restocked when needed to use onshore, in the cabin or wherever.
Complimentary access to the internet in EVERY cabin on a large screen - also used for TV, movies, music and more.
Excursions for "gentle walkers" so that travelers needing extra time in walking on cobblestones, up and down hills, etc. need not feel rushed or prevented from enjoying the included walking tours.
Complimentary post card mailing from the ship (smart move) so you can let your friends and relatives know about your great holiday.
Complimentary regional wines (white and red) served with all dinners - wines that you ordinarily would not sample stateside.
And lastly, a staff that seemed to enjoy their jobs with Amadeus - resulting in superb service - always with a smile!
My kind of cruise ship.
(www.amadeuswaterways.com)

Buying Luggage

I can't understand how any decent luggage store or luggage section in a department store can function without a small scale for weighing each travel bag. Going one step further - why aren't manufacturers making the bags lighter - they're to be "carried on" - right?
A carry-on roll-aboard - approximately 21 X 14 X 8 inches - can weigh from 6 to 12 pounds WITHOUT ANYTHING IN IT!
I recently visited the Macys Herald Square store - and the luggage saleswoman said: "What difference does the weight make - they all weigh the same after they're packed with stuff."
Really? Has she traveled recently? Paid extra charges in Europe for an extra pound or two?
One should be able to lift a roll-aboard bag into the overhead compartment without helping hands.
BTW: doesn't matter if the luggage is expensive or cheap - all the carry-ons weigh too much!