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I would not say that I watch a lot of television. I do watch some, though. And even watching on the computer, I find that I am still subject to a fair amount of advertising. It is the ads, more than anything else, that spawns the first little germs of shame at my viewing selections.
Using the caliber of advertising to guage the demographic my viewing selection has lumped me into, I am horrified.
Given the number of “feminine products” I find advertised during the shows I have selected, I am forced to the inevitable conclusion that I am watching what my nephew would classify, with a high degree of disdain, “girl stuff”. Not only that, I am being pitched those products on the basis that they are “last thing you want on your mind”. The advertisers seem to have miscalculated, having not realized that, while I may or may not want their product on my mind, I am absolutely certain I don’t want it on my television screen.
I am frequently faced with a series of beer commercials that, rather than promoting the flavor or quality of their product, is pushing a labeling gimmick to tell me when my beer is cold or even “super cold”. I’m not sure when or how it came to be that reaching in the fridge and putting your hand on the bottle was insufficient input to determine if a beer was cold. I am also pretty sure that if a beer must be served at a temperature that numbs the taste buds to enjoy its best flavor, then it’s probably not the beer for me.
My reading choices might be not be any less shame inducing. There I am faced with advertisements for teeth whitening and weight loss, new movies and old money-making schemes.
There is a little glimmer of hope, though.
As I navigate the NYTimes online each morning, I find, on one page or another, an advertisment for Google. Google is my default search engine, already. The ads are not really selling me anything, but, were I not already a Google-user, I would be enticed by the ads.
Do these ads provide a littany of reasons for me to choose Google over another search engine?
Nope.
Am I bombarded with glowing consumer reviews?
Uh-uh.
Is there a fire-sale on info? Cheaper searches? Two-for-one specials?
Hardly.
Google, instead, offers a random, trivial, divinely obscure question; a mystery that only Google can unravel. They send me on a wild goose chase…and many days, happily, I go.
A Google-a-Day.
A friend sent me a piece this morning written by a nurse within an elder care facility. In it an elderly woman confronts the nurse in an agitated state. Holding up a picture of her very much younger self, the older woman asks “Have you seen this person?”
It’s a valid question from a woman who bears so little resemblance to the vibrant, hearty woman in the photo.
It’s a valid question from a woman who no longer recognizes family or long time friends.
It’s a valid question from a woman who requires residential treatment for a disease that has robbed her of the ability to recognize everyday dangers, to navigate her way home again or to follow the rhythm of the day from morning meds to meals to bedtime without friendly reminders from the staff; robbed even of the ability to recognize herself in the mirror.
The nurse’s response was one of those that anyone who has ever visited the sick or dying, or the frightened or grief-stricken prays will come when called upon to say something. Her response is kind I hope I found often enough to bring a little comfort. Her words have that special kind of grace.
She said “I have seen this person. She has aged gracefully and is loved by many”.
You can read the whole story, submitted by subscriber “jaelpn”, here at AllNurses.com
Yes. I know it is Wednesday…
Until Tuesday is the name of the book written by Iraq war veteran, PTSD and traumatic brain injury sufferer, author and veterans advocate, Luis Montalvan. Tuesday is the name of his service dog, and the book is the story of the road to recovery that started just at the other end of a leash.
Montalvan appeared on David Letterman last night. The story of how he sustained injuries is chilling. If you read the book you will find it both miraculous and telling that he returned to service and continued to deploy after sustaining those injuries. That is the kind of man he is; the kind that, like many service members, seems always going into places that strike fear, not because it is easy, but because it is important; to be shaking off their own injuries for the sake of their troops, their country or the mission.
It seemed to me, as I watched last night, that Montalvan struggles to keep it all together. It was clear to me that this was not an environment well-suited to his peace of mind. I suspect that he launched himself once more into the fray for the sake of so many returning veterans. This was his stage to advocate for support for those who suffer invisible injuries. It was his stand for better access to service dogs for veterans.
Once more shaking off his own injury for the sake of his fellow servicemen.
You can see the entire interview here:
Last night’s guest on the The Daily Show was Medal of Honor winner Leroy Petry. Maybe some of you caught the on air interview. Jon Stewart, known for taking on all-comers, showed unusual deference to this guest (as well he should).
If you missed the aired version you can catch the whole episode here (Sgt. Petry interview starts about minute 13).
Even you night owls probably missed the extended interview that was available on the web only, though.
The word Jon Stewart is struggling to come with around the 4:30 minute mark here in the extended interview, is “grace”.
Nope – it is not my intention to make the heart grow fonder, although a number of you continue to check back here periodically to see if I have returned to the keyboard.
The truth is that I seem to have lost my voice. Unlike many folks to whom writing comes much more naturally, I was beginning to find writing to be a chore to be dreaded rather than a pastime to be enjoyed. I hope that soon it will feel more natural to be sitting here…typing.
Some of you have voiced concern. Know that I am fine…I am just on vacation…
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