News roundup
(1) Trump turned 80 on Sunday. Whatever you may think of him, he’s doing pretty darn well physically for 80. USA Today marks the occasion with an article purporting to say “what happens to your body at 80.” Bodies age at different rates, and we can all observe that quite easily. Well, guess what? That’s what the article says, too. Fancy that.
(2) On Trump’s birthday, there was this event at the White House, although it wasn’t billed as a birthday celebration for Trump but rather one for the US:
Mixed martial arts fighters squared off on the White House South Lawn for UFC Freedom 250, culminating in a main card fight between Georgian-Spanish Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship. Gaethje defeated Topuria. The main card streamed on Paramount+, which is owned by Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News.
Despite the threat of storms, thousands turned out to watch the fights, which took place in an eight-sided cage beneath a massive canopy known as “The Claw.”
Not my cup of tea. But I heard commentary saying the matches were very exciting. The left was not happy about any of this. Trump delights in confounding snobs.
(3) Hillary Clinton blames Biden for the 2024 debacle. I have to say she’s not wrong, but it wasn’t Biden alone – he had plenty of help, and Kamala Harris was a terrible choice as his replacement:
Hillary Clinton said former President Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection in 2024 was a “terrible mistake,” arguing that Democrats could have defeated President Donald Trump had he stepped aside earlier and opened the field to a competitive primary.
Maybe Hillary thought she would have won that primary.
But the Democrats had the chance to “open the field” to a competitive nomination process; not a primary, but a convention. They chose a Kamala Harris coronation instead.
(4) Ukraine has fully autonomous killing drones.
(5)Terrible crash of B-52 Stratofortress kills 8 at Edwards Air Force Base:
This sad loss at Edwards Air Force Base stands as a heavy reminder of the risks carried by those who defend our nation.
God bless the eight crew members who were dedicated to duty.
USA Today marks the occasion with an article purporting to say “what happens to your body at 80.”
Joe Biden appears to be a “superager”, doctors say
I’ve only provided one link from January 2024, there are literally dozens that all showed up at the same time in different publications.
All else being equal I think it would make more sense for Presidents to be much younger. Clinton, Obama and W. Bush weren’t exactly head and shoulders above Trump despite their much younger ages, but there’s almost 350 million people in this country and something like 75 million of them are between 35 and 50.
Let’s put it this way: do you want to get on an airplane see that the pilot sitting in the left hand seat is young enough to be your grandchild? Didn’t think so. At the same, you don’t want him or her to be so old that they’re collecting Social Security. About the only thing that one can say about getting older is that most people have better judgment and don’t take unnecessary chances – a good trait for a pilot (or president) to have.
(OTOH, it’s said the good judgment is the result of experience, and experience comes from having bad judgment.)
My grandmother is 93 and still smart as a whip. She does the “difficult” crossword puzzles, is computer-literate, and runs a home business as a hobby. She has some physical issues (partly due to a botched medical procedure), but lives independently with a little help. I think it’s true that as a general rule, a lot of people are aging more slowly than in previous generations.
“…superager…”
Gosh, what are the chances Hunter’s inherited those incredible genes…?
Speaking of which…,
“Supreme Court Rejects Bid By 98-Year-Old Appeals Judge To Be Reinstated”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/supreme-court-rejects-bid-98-year-old-appeals-judge-be-reinstated
Revenge of the whippersnappers?
“All else being equal I think it would make more sense for Presidents to be much younger.” Niketas Choniates
What country has ever elected a succession of younger Presidents? Invariably, if one does get in, the next President is not nearly so young.
Societies where governance is elected will inevitably gravitate toward a leadership in which a preponderance are well over 50.
Whether for good or ill, things are as they are for reasons.
“Chesterton’s Fence” applies, “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.” English writer G.K. Chesterton
Two of the dead were Boeing employees.
Trump’s age doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that he allegedly never sleeps.
I read the study about the changes that occur after 80 a couple of weeks ago. There was some interesting information, and I recommended it to some folks.
As it turns out I was better at 80 than I was at 60—before sleep apnea was finally diagnosed.
Now, 90 is a different story. You definitely have to make more accommodations than you might wish; but it isn’t over.
For what it is worth, about six months ago I started a little exercise program designed for folks over 60 (only 30 years late although I have always exercised sporadically); and mixed it with some Tai Chi principles (I also tried that previously for a short time.) Those who counsel movement at any age are spot on. It has made a difference.