The Fastest-Growing Job Category

OMG--and I almost never use that kind of expression--one of the fastest-growing job categories in California is "wealth work," which is described as "catering to the whims, desires and appetites of wealthy people."  I am of two minds on this one--it's a really twisted thing to have this named on California's list of job categories, and, secondly, is the country ahead of California for a change as many people and politicians carter to a certain character in the White House who is known to be quite wealthy?

First things first--when China's booming economy surpasses ours, will most of the world's wealthiest people be Chinese?  So we really might become the slaves of the Chinese?  Over the top in the imagination, I know, and probably not PC.  So let me back away from that one and take another road.  What ever happened to "giving back?" That doesn't seem to square with the notion of "wealth work." You can't claim that "creating" these jobs to cater to your whims and appetites is in any way charitable.  It would almost mean that having a butler or a chambermaid was the "charitable" thing to do.  To me, one of the obligations of wealth is to share, and it also implies some sacrifice on the part of the giver.  Let's try sharing instead of creating a class of "wealth workers."

Or, maybe I'm just becoming a curmudgeon.

Memory Not So Sharp?

I suppose this is a shared experience for those of us hanging around third base.  We are experiencing a slowing of memory, or even the total disappearance of certain memories (I'm not referring to denial here, that's another subject).  We are told this is normal for our age, but then you run across someone with an excellent memory, and...  I have found on occasion, that if I give it a few minutes the name, or the place or whatever will drift back into my conscious mind.

Still, I get concerned about this memory stuff, so I thought I might try something.  I guess I could have chosen a medium to explore and bring forth my unconscious mind, but that sounds kind of personal to me.  I mean, what is back there being denied tat i would want to see again?  Psychotherapy?  Nah, too expensive and, once again, too personal.

So now  I have settled on a new avenue to attempt.  I have picked up one of Harry Lorayne's books entitled "Memory Mastery." It's held my interest for five chapters, so i guess it was worth Barnes and Noble's $5.00 sale price (and that was before my ten percent coupon!).  It's worked for me in a couple of trials, but I haven't figured out how to use it to recall thing is already knew.  I mean, you can use one of Harry's systems to remember and recite a series of unrelated words, or a string of numbers, but how do I remember the name of the 34th President of the U.S.?

At the same time I've been tinkering with another avenue--trivia events (usually held on an otherwise slow night at some bar.), but we are randomly winning or coming in last, so that has to be hit or miss. The one thing that sticks in my mind is the hosts repeating this mantra--have another drink because it always makes you smarter.  I'd say "I'll drink to that," but that sounds a bit obvious.

P. S., I had to grab Harry's book from the other room to remember his entire last name, I knew it started with an "L," but...