The Inventor

According to the filmmaker, Benjamin Gibson, - earlier this year I proposed an idea to my 92 year-old neighbor and life-long inventor to shoot a short film documenting many of the inventions he's created throughout his life.

Nervous at the idea that many of his un-patented inventions may be compromised, Carl opened up to me in a much different way than I had originally intended, sharing his inspirations and the philosophy behind his life-long passion of creating - to help his fellow man.

The "Old School" generation, you've got to love them. They know what's important in life.


The Inventor from bzgibson on Vimeo.

Fitness Over Fifty

I worked out at the downtown YMCA (across the street from ASU) the other day, and while it's never my intention to compete with anyone else but myself, there's always that one dumbass in his early twenties that gets upset that I can lift more than him, and hatefully views me as "the competition".

Foolish jealousy is a loser's game my young friends. If you only knew that it's exactly the opposite of what you're thinking. I want you to embrace weightlifting, and be like me once you reach my age. If you can outperform me in any weightlifting category, I'm happy for you and your accomplishment.

Don't be jealous of us older guys. Reaching fifty-years of age doesn't mean a death sentence, or that I should be expected to "give up" and act (what you consider) my age. As long as anyone stays off the "juice", a little persistence in the weight room can go a long way in leading a healthy life, living longer, and looking more youthful in middle-age. If I outperform you, don't blame me, it's your fault.


Fitness Over Fifty with Steve of Club Fitness New York from Mighty Productive on Vimeo.

The Difficulty Of Early Retirement

The longer you're out of pharmacy, the faster you lose your skills, and the sooner you're a has-been.

I've been out of pharmacy long enough now that I no longer receive the daily emails and phone calls from the temporary services and headhunters trying to exploit me in order to line their own pockets.

Either they've figured out that I'm not going to work for them, or they think I'm too old to keep up with all of the increasing demands placed upon pharmacists. Regardless, there is a point in time in which older pharmacists must accept the fact that they can't perform as well as their younger colleagues.

Although it's nice to be wanted, or to be in demand, I think my time has come to fully retire.


I'm Retired from Peter Atencio on Vimeo.

The Middle-Aged Pharmacist Conundrum

I read a comment in a forgotten pharmacy forum a while back in which a frightened young commenter said that she couldn't think of anything worse than to be a middle-aged pharmacist out there trying to find a job. She said that she would put up with anything in her present position in order to not lose her job and become one of "those" pharmacists.

That comment stuck with me. Not only because of the fear behind it, but because that middle-aged pharmacist, and that same scenario, could easily apply to me.

Now, I'd be lying if I said that there wasn't a little fear behind my decision to quit working in pharmacy, especially since I've been doing it so long and didn't have something else lined up beforehand. There's always that fear of the unknown.

But as time has passed, I've realized that my fear is really unfounded. There's no actual basis for it, it's only in my mind. There's nothing to be afraid of, I've planned and prepared for this time in my life. No matter what happens, I will survive. I've come to learn that fear is no justification for my actions.

So then, why would such a young commenter be so afraid of something 25-years into her future?

Working as a pharmacist, she would be generating a very comfortable income. If she lived below her means, avoided accumulating debt, saved a significant portion of her income and invested it wisely, upon reaching middle-aged she would be in such a safe financial position that fear shouldn't factor into her decision-making. Not being able to find a job at that age would be the least of her worries.

But on the other hand, I've worked with some older pharmacists who lived high on the hog their entire career, thinking that the gravy train would never come to an end. They hadn't prepared themselves for the worst case scenario, and now they're stuck working, not because they want to, but because they think that they have no other choice. Fear guides their actions.

If you haven't noticed, most of the pharmacist crimes that I've reported in my blog or on Twitter, were perpetrated by middle-aged pharmacists, people old enough to know better, but probably willing to do just about anything because they were desperate for money.

It seems to me that those pharmacists' fear of losing the lifestyle they grew accustomed to became greater than the fear of the consequences of crossing over that ethical line.

Perhaps it's one "those" middle-aged pharmacists that the young commenter is afraid of becoming?

But, on the other hand, perhaps "putting up with anything" out of fear could lead a young pharmacist into becoming one of those pharmacists upon reaching middle-age? Something to think about.

But, don't just take my word for it. Watch this hidden video of a middle-aged pharmacist interviewing for a position with a less-than-reputable independent pharmacy owner, and choosing to compromise his ethics during the fifth decade of his life in order to become employed.

Retired Pharmacists Get No Respect

Did you ever notice that no one ever speaks on behalf of the retired pharmacists?

Just like old soldiers, old pharmacists don't die - they just fade away. Decades of helping people live healthier lives, and no one remembers their efforts. It's almost like they never existed.

But these pharmacists aren't dead. Although they're retired, and may view younger pharmacists as their kryptonite, they still have what it takes to contribute back to their community.

So, at this year's national AARPh convention, a group of young and confident pharmacists decided to recognize those older pharmacists' contributions, and show a little appreciation to their mentors.

The Sound Healer

Whatever happened to those wacky hippies that we knew from the 1960s? Nothing much. They just grew older, and became a little bit more peculiar particular.


The City Exposed: The Sound Healer from San Francisco Chronicle on Vimeo.

Big Dreams | A Short Film

You've worked hard your entire career, but you never were able to envision the big picture about where you're were headed. It's only after years of experience that you're finally able to see the writing on the wall. And like many professionals who thought the good times would last forever, it's starting to cause you more than a little anxiety.

Tony is one of those professionals. He foolishly bought into the bullshit he was handed by some of the leaders in his profession, and now he has nightmares about his current circumstances.

Unfortunately, a man who doesn't plan ahead and isn't prepared to address his problems, often goes to extreme measures to stop them. For many like Tony, there's no pill that will cure this type of ill.

[Original full video link removed by source]


Big Dreams (2012) - Teaser [ By F.C.Rabbath ] from F.C.Rabbath Creations on Vimeo.

They're Old, Not Dead

Thanks to many factors - from online dating sites, to modern medicine, new and improved vitamins, and even because of a poor economy - more senior citizens today have active sex lives. That means they are also more likely to get sexually transmitted diseases.

In the past 5 years, the rate of STDs among active seniors has risen over 70%. The rates of STIs among older adults, including syphilis and gonorrhea, have doubled in the past decade, and HIV infections have almost doubled as well.

So, if you've got to do the nasty with grandma or grandpa, then make sure to do it safely.


Source: Safer Sex for Seniors

There's Always Room For Cello

There's no one I admire more than creative people, artists, and inventors. They are the geniuses who really contribute the most towards a progressive society. I guess David Friedman feels the same way.


Inventor Portrait: Ernest Nussbaum from David Friedman on Vimeo.

You're Never Too Old For Vaccination

It's a crime to catch a life-threatening disease when it can be so easily prevented.

Source: CDC: Vaccines for Adults