Coming of Age in Films: Book Review

Published April 1, 2019.

I love a book that gazes at objects from popular culture through the viewpoint of higher education. 

Garrett delivers a powerful mix of "high" and "low" culture. 

He not only gathers an impressive array of films about aging; he discusses with insight these films--individually and in various groups. 

(See the TOC below.) 

If you watch films and if you are aging (hint: we are all aging), this book will give you a broader perspective and a deeper understanding on how narratives and images on film create scripts that people often follow without question. 

Garrett convinced me to overtly ask this question about my film viewing: 

Are the depictions of aging in the film I'm watching helpful or harmful? 

BMI: Biomarker for Longevity and Health

Photo by St. Murse

Body Mass Index, also called BMI, appears to be a simple tool for determining a healthy ratio between height and weight.

Not so.

Most people will agree to the truism that a person should not be too underweight or too overweight.

People should be just the right weight.

This post is part of a series on 18 biomarkers.

Note: The function of this post is only to raise awareness. It is not offering medical advice. If you have concerns about your BMI, please see a licensed medical professional. 

The BMI categories as published by the CDC are as follows:

Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5 - 24.9
Overweight = 25 - 29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
  
But the borders between these four categories are hotly debated as is the more general idea of "ideal weight."

Finding Your Feet: Film Review

Released February 23, 2018.

The tagline for Finding Your Feet (2017) is "Sometimes you need a push in the right direction."

However, it could have been: "Life happens when you are busy making other plans."* 

Imelda Staunton plays the lead character, Sandra Abbott, who has been the dutiful politician's wife for decades, only to learn that her reward is not the one she imagined.

She expected that all those years keeping well coiffed and keeping house and keeping civil would result in her spending her "golden years" traveling in style.

Instead, she finds herself without husband, without home, and without her "posh" (as they say in the UK) friends.

Her husband's infidelity isn't really a spoiler because the crisis that pushes her into self-examination is depicted in the trailer:

This discovery drives her to reconnect with her sister Bif, played by Celia Imrie. Bif has lived a peripatetic life and flouts convention at every opportunity. Because of their different approaches to life. Sandra and Bif set each other off.

2019 Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness Preview

Click on Photo to Enlarge.

The University of Southern Indiana and SWIRCA & More  (Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging) are proud to present the 12th Mid-American Institutes on Aging and Wellness.

This two-day event will take place August 8th and 9th (2019) on USI's campus in Evansville, Indiana.

See the MAIA 2019 brochure for the presenters' photos and bios.

ETA Links to the Summaries of the 2019 MAIA Events:

MAIA 2019 Day One with Allen & Gordon

MAIA 2019 Day Two with O'Brien & Brimmer

MAIA 2019 Sponsors & Exhibitors

The keynote speakers are as follows:

* Emily Allen, BS, MS of the AARP Foundation

* Harley Gordon, JD and advocate for long-term care

* Greg O'Brien, journalist, author and Alzheimer's activist

* Tim Brimmer, music professor from Butler University

People from a wide range of ages and vocations attend. The venue will also include a number of vendors.

There is also a pre-conference workshop on dementia care, led by Teepa Snow, who is dynamic, compassionate and well informed.

If you are already registered, come early to secure your seat and to participate in some light exercise.

Add MAIA on Facebook

Thursday August 8th starting 7:45 am, Cecile Martin will demonstrate chair yoga exercises. Follow along from your seat!

Friday, August 9th starting 7:45 am, Ron Weatherford will demonstrate beginner Tai Chi moves. Follow along from your seat!

Use #MAIAROCKS to read Tweets and Facebook posts about previous MAIA presentations. This will be the fourth time that I have attended. It's invigorating to meet new people and to learn from them.