Why and what has distanced or removed us from loving, caring and looking after elderly parents when they’re at their end stage of life and needs us most?

Aging with an Attitude

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Bob Wilson

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Why and what has distanced or removed us from loving, caring and looking after elderly parents when they’re at their end stage of life and needs us most?

In 1930, the average life expectancy in Canada was 60, in 1960 it was 70. Today it's 82.

The earliest age of late onset dementia is 65, they are usually cared for, for 4 years, before institutionalization.

So in 1960, we were looking after parents who were unable to look after themselves, but who still knew who we were. That's often not the case today.

In 1960, we often had one stay at home partner, and they could look after an elderly parent. But, the thing was, if most people are institutionalized at 69 or later, and life expectancy was only 70, it was easier to look after parents, because they were still thinking straight.

If you could be institutionalized at 69, and live to 82, it would be much harder to care for them at home, for 13 years.

Most people aren't capable of looking after someone who has had Alzheimer's for years.

That doesn't mean that we shouldn't spend time visiting and caring for them, just like they cared for us, when we were young.

But it does mean that a loving home environment is often not possible. Which I find so sad.

The mother of a friend of mine had Alzheimer's, his wife quit her job to look after her, and then my friend took early retirement, because there was no way, that one person could supervise his mother 24 hours a day.

He was adamant, that he make his mother as happy, as she had made him, and he didn't think a memory home could do that.

In today's society it's pretty rare to be able to take that time off.

What other religious things do you think should be banned?

Jean-Marie Valheur

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knows a thing or two Tue

What other religious things do you think should be banned?

A practice called metzitzah b’peh should be outlawed. In Judaism, the “bris” or ritual removal of an infant’s foreskin is frequently done without anesthesia. The mohel, or the man making the cut, will then suck the blood of the baby’s penis away in a ritual called “metzitzha b’peh”.[1]

Now aside from the fact that it’s — in my view — rather abhorrent to cut off any part of a young child’s anatomy without consent or anesthesia, the whole “sucking away the blood” thing is particularly heinous. Not to mention, not entirely safe as infections may arise. After all, some of these mohels do this for a living. And who knows where that old man’s mouth has been? And sure, not in all cases does the “bris” include this outdated and disgusting part of the ‘tradition’… but the fact this is legal in any way, shape or form is disgusting to me.

If I was the leader of a country, any country in the world where this sort of shit happens, I’d outlaw it. Your “religious freedom” be damned. No one will operate on babies and suck the blood of the wound away orally on my watch. Gross. The look of the baby’s faces don’t lie — they’re in major pain and likely very afraid. Time to drop these 5000 year old cult requirements and move away from that desert nomad nonsense. A relic that belongs in the past.

Footnotes

[1] 

Safe Bris - NYC Health

Which billionaire would you take financial advice from, Elon Musk or Warren Buffett?

Stacy Tidwell

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Which billionaire would you take financial advice from, Elon Musk or Warren Buffett?

Elon Musk does not care about your feelings. He will do what is required.

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Warren Buffett has known for 50 years that the USA was on an unsustainable fiscal path.

We Americans consume more than we produce.

Buffett has always known that. But he did not want to irritate people—especially politicians.

Buffett waited until the week he retired to forcefully say changes are needed.

Gutless wonder!

---

His father, Congressman Howard Buffett, was one of the most straightlaced people to ever serve.

When Congress gave itself a big pay raise, Congressman Buffett was the only person who refused to accept it.

He said: I was elected at the lower salary. I will not accept any increase.

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On another occasion, Howard Buffett gave this speech to Congress:

Our Christian ideals cannot be exported to other lands by dollars and guns.

Persuasion and example are the methods taught by the Carpenter of Nazareth, and if we believe in Christianity, we should try to advance our ideals by His methods.

We cannot practice might and force abroad and retain freedom at home.

We cannot talk world cooperation and practice power politics.

Warren admired his father, but repudiated his political and religious ideals.

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Musk criticized Trump’s “big beautiful bill” — while Trump was still his Boss.

Musk said: It is disheartening to see our DOGE cuts overwhelmed by all this excess government spending in the President’s bill.

How about you? Do you have the courage to call your Boss an idiot?

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Unlike Buffett, Musk is not impressed by politicians. He knows they are hucksters.

That includes:

• Presidents and Prime Ministers
• Democrats and Republicans
• Federal and Local

Musk and Peter Thiel met at Sequoia Capital. They immediately bonded.

Both respect Capitalists. But they have little regard for politicians and bureaucrats.

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Buffett has a big brain. But he is not what he seems to be.

He has consistently failed to advise politicians about our out-of-control debt, even when those politicians asked for his advice!

What good is brilliance if you lack personal courage?

Buffett also disowned his granddaughter for her PR stunt. Read his letters. Terrible.

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Musk has a big brain and bigger balls.

No, he does not have the wisdom and experience of Buffett.

But unlike Buffett…

Musk is exactly who he appears to be.

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Musk was flying from California to Florida for a rocket launch.

He was arguing with the engineers at X. They said the server farm in Sacramento was critical. Musk said it was not.

Over Oklahoma, Musk became so irritated with his employees that he ordered the pilots to turn his jet around. They retraced their flight path, returning to Sacramento.

---

Musk’s entourage drove to the facility. He “nudged” the security guards aside.

Musk then used his pocket knife to slice all the critical cables in the server farm — like a madman in a slasher movie.

The entire facility went offline.

Musk then fired all the engineers and returned to Florida.

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Musk later admitted he acted in a rash manner. But here is the point…

Musk is focused on results — not popularity.

The following are political sideshows in Washington, DC:

• Tariffs
• Manufacturing
• Inequality
• Populism (both Right and Left)
• Making other countries pay for our military bases
• Opioid addiction and crime in the Rust Belt

Yes, these problems exist. But not one is in the Top 10.

Our politicians focus on nickels and dimes. Vox Populi!

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The existential threat to America is this: Stabilizing our national finances.

We need to:

• Reduce spending
• Chop government
• Freeze deficits and debt
• Cut entitlements
• Reduce regulation
• Force public sector employees back into the private sector
• Protect America’s future for our children and grandchildren

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Americans have seen this movie before. Several times!

Alexander Hamilton sponsored the Coinage Act of 1792.

It was written to protect America’s economy from spenders in Washington, DC.

It prescribed the death penalty for any politician who debased the U.S. dollar.

Whoops!

---

2025 is a replay of 1792.

We need to chainsaw our government and dramatically reduce spending.

Musk is the man for the job.

• Not Buffett
• Not Biden
• Not Harris
• Not Trump

Elon Musk does not care about your feelings. He will do what is required.

The “Labor Pains” of God’s Will

May 30, 2025 Friday of the Sixth Sunday of Easter Readings for Today

Image via Adobe Stock Video “When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.”  John 16:21 This truth can certainly be extended to any form of anguish we experience for a good reason. Note that the pain experienced in childbirth is pain for a good and holy reason. Therefore, the pain is forgotten, in a sense, when the mother sees and holds her newborn child. That suffering is forgotten in the sense that it is transformed into joy by the birth of a child. There is much in life that can cause anguish. In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on to say to His disciples: “So you also are now in anguish.” He says this because He had just finished speaking to them about His coming departure to the Father and about the suffering that they would all experience in the form of persecution. But then He says to them that after He departs and they no longer see Him, they will then see Him again and will rejoice. And He says, “On that day you will not question me about anything.” This is an important line to understand. Anguish, or any form of suffering, can tempt us to question our lives and even to question God. It is clear that after Jesus was killed, the disciples questioned everything. They were confused and frightened. All appeared to be lost. Then, to a lesser degree, after Jesus ascended into Heaven and prior to Him sending the Holy Spirit, the disciples would have also experienced confusion. Why did Jesus leave them? Why didn't He stay longer? Who was going to lead them now? These and many other similar questions would have arisen in their minds. So also with us, when things do not go as planned, or when things take a painful turn in our lives, we can immediately question and even doubt the perfect plan of God. If things fall apart because of our sin, then repentance is the remedy. But if things fall apart, in the sense that life becomes difficult, then we should especially listen to the words of Jesus today. When anguish in life happens because we are fulfilling God’s will, we must see that anguish as a means to a much greater good. Just as the pains of childbirth lead to the gift of a child, so the pains of bringing forth God’s will in our lives will lead to the presence of God Himself. Patient endurance is a virtue that is especially important in this case. For example, the anguish of overcoming an addiction, or of praying when we don’t feel like praying, or of forgiving someone who hurt us are all examples of anguish turning into blessings. Very often, combatting our own selfish will is difficult. But the fruit of engaging in such a battle within us is joy. There is joy found in victory over sin. Joy is found in persevering in prayer. Joy is found in every difficulty we endure for the Kingdom of God. But the joy is not always our first experience. It is only experienced when we patiently endure the situation. Reflect, today, upon any form of anguish you are currently enduring for the glory of God, or anything you are currently avoiding because it seems difficult to do. Do not shy away from these difficulties. See them as a means to a glorious end. Endure the “labor pains” of the purification and mission God is calling you to by looking beyond the difficulties you initially experience so that you will see the end result that awaits you. My glorious Lord, You endured Your passion with perfect virtue. You never wavered from fulfilling the will of the Father, and the fruit of Your perseverance was the glory of the Resurrection. Please help me to patiently endure the crosses in my life and give me hope to see that from them You will bring forth the good fruit of eternal joy. Jesus, I trust in You.

Witnessing to the Gospel —or— Deepening Your Understanding

(If you celebrate the Ascension in your diocese today, see the reflection below. Otherwise, skip to the next reflection and return to the Ascension reflection on Sunday.) Thursday, May 29, 2025 Ascension of Our Lord (Year C) Readings for Ascension

Window: workshop of Franz Borgias Mayer (1848–1926); Photo: Andreas Praefcke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Video Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:46–49 And with that, the earthly mission of Jesus was completed and He ascended into Heaven. Or was it? Was His mission completed? Yes, but only in the sense that our Lord’s work of destroying death and offering new life was accomplished by His life, death and resurrection. Human nature was now invited to share in a new life of grace. Prayerfully imagine standing on the mountain of the Ascension with our Lord. As you gaze upon Him, imagine that you were also present with Him throughout His public ministry. Imagine witnessing His many miracles, the way that He converted the hardest of hearts, the authority with which He spoke, His arrest, torture, death and then His Resurrection. Imagine seeing His hands and feet, once pierced, now radiating glory from those wounds. As you see our Lord in this way, imagine Him looking at you with love and saying to you that He has chosen to send you forth to the world to be a witness to Him and to all that you have seen and encountered. You are to go forth sharing the Good News of His life, death and resurrection with all whom you come in contact with. First, our Lord has, indeed, shared His entire life with you. By reading the Gospels, you become a firsthand witness to all that Jesus did and accomplished. His Word is alive, and it reveals His very Person to you, just as it did to His first followers. Second, Jesus does call you to go forth and to share this living Gospel with the world. Therefore, it is important to ponder how you can do such a thing. How can you give witness to the Resurrection of Christ? How can you change lives? How can you continue the mission of Jesus Himself? The promise given by our Lord to the disciples on the mountain of the Ascension is also a promise given to you. He is promising to send the Holy Spirit upon you so as to clothe you “with power from on high.” Only by receiving that power and using it fully will you be able to accomplish the mission that our Lord has given to you. Therefore, will you open yourself to the Holy Spirit and commit yourself to the continuation of Christ’s mission? If we were to fully understand the mission we have received from Jesus, it would fill us with a holy fear. But too often the realization of what God wants of us fills us with an unholy fear instead. We think about evangelizing others, sharing our faith, witnessing to the truth by our actions, loving our enemies and living for the Gospel alone, and it can appear overwhelming. If that is the case with you, then know that this form of unholy fear can be dispelled so that the gift of holy fear can take its place. Holy fear is a gift of the Holy Spirit that inspires us to sense the awesomeness of God and the mission we are given by encountering it firsthand. It motivates us, encourages us and leaves us with wonder and awe. From there, this and every other gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to fulfill the unending mission of Christ. Reflect, today, upon the particular mission that God has given to you. Prayerfully look at Jesus as He stands on the mountain of the Ascension and looks at you. As He does, let Him reveal to you not only His very Person but also your particular sharing in His ongoing mission of sharing the Good News to the ends of the earth. Receive that mission with courage, joy and holy fear. Reverence it, savor it, ponder it and accept it. Commit yourself to this glorious sharing in the life of Christ by committing yourself to become a witness to Christ until the end of your life on earth. My ascended Lord, as You entered body and soul into the full and glorious presence of Your Father, You handed on to your disciples the duty of completing Your mission on earth. I hear Your call in my life, dear Lord, and commit myself to the glorious task of continuing that mission on earth. Please use me as You will and fill me with power from on high so that I may help share Your saving Word to the ends of the earth. Jesus, I trust in You.

Who was the poorest (financially) president in the US or in another country?

Jean-Marie Valheur

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lover of history May 15

Who was the poorest (financially) president in the US or in another country?

He just died a few days ago, on May 13, 2025. José Mujica, former president of Uruguay. He was that very rarest of things — a Marxist who wasn’t just a Marxist in name only. No, Mujica actually lived a poor and humble life. His house was that of a poor farmer. So was his attire, the food he ate, the drinks he drank. Simple stuff.

He drove the same old broken down car for half a century. It was a borderline miracle it still got him to where he needed to be. Mr. Mujica was a curious character, who was in office only from 2010 to 2015 and known primarily for his personal simplicity.

José Mujica received a salary that was quite sizeable, but gave over 90% of his earnings away to charitable causes. He always showed his tax returns, he was transparant to a fault and anyone who wanted could check on his comings and goings. Not blessed with any children, Mujica had few relatives and no offspring — so no nepotism, either, or cases of state money flowing into the pockets of anyone in his inner circle…

I’m not sure about American presidents, but since Uruguay is in South America, I suppose José Mujica is good an example as any. I’ve never been a fan of self-described Marxists, many of whom live lavishly and are fabulously corrupt once elected to higher office. Not José Mujica — he was the real deal. His ideals may not have been mine, but no one could accuse the man of hypocrisy or not putting what little money he had where his mouth was.