Is privacy even possible anymore? Like many senior citizens, I’m being deluged with robocalls. I didn't pick up on a call, but checked the number, finding it to be a phony police charity. Then they called back again twice. After that, it was a fake doctor selling something or other. I am seriously thinking of changing my unlisted phone number which is already way too public. Now in my later years, when tempted to let down my guard, I realize that’s just the time when fraudsters try to take advantage of us seniors. I did not answer calls from 202-897-2943 or 202-992-1236, apparently both spam robocalls, nor one either from 1-667-200-0239 from Columbia, MD, also another bogus call purporting to be from my bank. Whew!

Meanwhile, I’m still working to recover funds stolen from my bank account, a task now becoming almost a fulltime job. This recent yearlong theft has been a wake-up call for me. My social security has now been paused for 3 months, I’ve FAXed a signed statement several pages long to a bank investigation unit, listing funds already restored and the many fake charges still pending totaling several thousand dollars. These funds were stolen from my debit account without the fraudster ever actually showing the debit card, which never once left my possession. I’ve never used that card for any purchases or bills, just for bank withdrawals and deposits, though I did write some checks displaying the number. I cannot bring myself now to write another check from my new account. I was able to verify that my FAXed statement of losses had arrived at the bank’s investigation unit, but no phone or email access to investigators is allowed because of the large volume of bank fraud cases. Investigators are kept very busy and cannot be interrupted. Are banks really the safest places for keeping our money now? My sister’s family is not connected to the internet, has no cell phone, reads a daily newspaper delivered right to their front door, and keeps their money in a small neighborhood bank without other branches (but any bank, of course, is not totally independent).

Some older folks have died after experiencing a major financial shock like mine. For me, this setback means my personal focus now is not so much on acquiring new skills or earning more money as in maintaining what I already have. To better monitor my finances, I now realize the need to look beyond obvious outlays for living expenses, charities, and gifts to the debit side of my account, even though I’ve never used my debit card for any purchases. Could the fraudster who victimized me have possibly gotten that number from a check? She is Laela Janae Turner, 4400 Telfair Blvd, Apt. 3064, Suitland, MD 20746. I also just received a letter from the Ernst & Young accounting firm announcing a data breach, which may have been what first compromised my bank account information.

Every challenge or setback in our lives tends to be measured against all others. So while this recent theft from my bank account has certainly been upsetting, it’s not the worst trauma I’ve ever experienced. I’ve had some close calls while circling the world on my own, with plenty of emotional shocks as well. But my blind late ex-husband’s abrupt departure, his surprisingly punitive seizure of all our joint funds (helped by his new girlfriend and future wife), and his failure to ever speak with me again, except for a single phone call in 1984, still ranks high in terms of shock value. However, my older son’s sudden unexpected death in 1994 easily overshadows all the rest for me. Yet, even the memory of those painful events have faded somewhat over time, within the context of an entire life with its evitable and continuous ups and downs. So the bank theft now seems a minor issue that will eventually be resolved. During my years working at the occupational therapy association, I came to appreciate the importance of engaging in purposeful activity, with action undertaken to achieve a goal often more meaningful than achievement of the goal itself.

It would certainly be helpful to have a life partner by my side right now while weathering this unexpected and unwelcome bank account fiasco. But that’s something not in the cards for me anymore. Websites and ads aimed at seniors always show a man and woman together, but, at my age, it’s usually just a woman alone.

Having her husband still with her is the good fortune of a long-time friend living in rural Vermont who now tells me: “I did not know about the massive theft from your debit account! I received a bad call from someone who was trying to steal from me. Luckily, I didn’t ‘buy’ his story, but I came close because he was extremely convincing! We also got several calls telling us that we had won a sweepstakes, and that was a lie. Someone actually did even send me a cashier’s check. Yes, it’s good that you have the bank sending you monthly statements. We do that. Banks keep wanting us to do our banking ‘online', but we aren’t comfortable with that.”

My Vermont friend, whom I’ve known since childhood, just sent me a set of vintage greeting cards from her late mother’s collection. That simple gesture has certainly lifted my spirits right now, when my finances are in such disarray and I’ve been blaming myself for letting it even happen. Her mother, born in Egypt, had lived to age 104. Even after many years in this country, she’d never lost her distinctive accent. For her birthday, from age 100 onward, I would send a whole set of treats for her celebration and also call her by phone. I’d then receive a nice thank-you note written in perfect English in her own distinctive hand. She had lamented to me that her years after age 100 were not particularly enjoyable, given her many challenges in mobility and health. But she had a quick and easy death. And now I have some of her greeting cards to send out for special occasions.

My bank account thief, Laela Janae Turner of Suitland, MD, has kept her Facebook page, but all entries are blocked, indicating that she knows she's under scrutiny. Nor can I find her in any other searches, indicating that she’s well aware of being in trouble. I've never used my debit card for any purchases, only to withdraw or deposit money at the local branch, but she might have seen my account number on a check, then started ordering items by phone or email, thousands of dollars’ worth, a whole lot of stuff! But she never had the actual card in her possession, as I had it myself. Now I hesitate to write another check showing the debit account number. If she’d had my credit card number, her purchases would have shown up on my monthly statement, but I never thought to monitor my debit account because I'd never used the debit card to buy anything or pay any bills.

A brand new wrinkle in this saga has just appeared, namely a 5-page letter coming via regular postal mail from accounting firm Ernst & Young, describing a data breach possibly affecting my bank account. So maybe that was the original source of this problem? The internet has opened a whole world of opportunity for thieves and scammers. So where to keep money now, if not in a bank? Maybe under the mattress or buried out in the backyard?

Every so often, I get a surprise notification that one of my books has been sold on Kindle. I’ve done practically zero book promotion since my books first came out in 2008 and 2013, already some 10 and 15 years ago, though their titles do appear on this blog. I’m glad they're still being read.

Wash. Post, Are you smarter than a scammer? Play this game.

Scams are everywhere. Scammers are relentless.

NBC News, [P]erpetrators scour online obituaries and then call loved ones of the recently deceased claiming to be from the funeral home where arrangements have been made. The scammers tell the people they need to pay a deposit to secure their service or cremation. In some cases, the scammers mask their phone number to make it appear as if the call is coming from the funeral home, a practice known as “spoofing.”

I’m glad to still be living in Washington, DC, after more than 50 years. The city has many so conveniences and attractions for both visitors and residents, such as simple famers’ markets

and the Smithsonian museums, only blocks from my home,

as well as embassies holding open houses. The Australian Embassy, not far from my home, was sketched by local artist Michelle Turner.

Wash. Post, Republicans introduce bill to repeal D.C. Home Rule Act But now, even our limited self-government here in DC is under attack.

abc7 News, DC Councilman Trayon White calls for National Guard intervention amid rising crime rates Some weary DC residents have applauded his call.

Five recent armed robberies here in DC have been solved. On Friday, August 11, 2023, 18-year-old Delonte Mabry of Southeast, DC, a 16-year-old juvenile male of Northeast, DC, and a 17-year-old juvenile male of Hyattsville, MD, were arrested and charged.. Four firearms were recovered during their arrest.

AP, Mother pleads guilty to felony child neglect after 6-year-old son used her gun to shoot teacher This mother from suburban Virginia has acknowledged that her special needs son took her handgun to school and shot and seriously wounded a teacher. The mother has pleaded guilty to leaving the gun where her son could find it. The boy is now living with another family member.

Wash. Post., Boy, 6, dies after being shot in head by 9-year-old, Florida police say Why do parents keep a gun in the home at all? The chance that such a weapon will be needed for family protection is infinitesimally small compared to the much greater risk of death or injury to a family member. But gun manufacturers still relentlessly promote the protection myth.

Death in paradise! Fast-moving fires have raged on the island of Maui, where my son-on-law, a biologist like my daughter, often works. Many people have died in this popular tourist destination, a place I’ve often visited. Some residents have even plunged into the ocean to escape the flames. One survivor said she’d stayed in the ocean for 5 hours. Fires also have flared up on the nearby Big Island, another island that I have frequented.

AP, Maui fire deaths surge to 53 and likely to go higher, governor says. Over 1,000 structures burned The death toll has now reached over 100 with some fires still burning. Lahaina, once the capital of the traditional Hawaiian kingdom, has been totally destroyed. Three separate wildfires on the island had erupted simultaneously.

AP, A family of four, a beloved uncle and his best friend. These are some of the lives lost in Maui

My younger daughter lives on Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island and the seat of government, where no fires are burning as far as I know.

As an artist and a biologist, to commemorate a 50^th anniversary event, my daughter created this albatross piece from layered cardstock without using any glue or tape.

Another of her images, below, depicts 3 butterflies, 2 females and a male.

Donald Trump is fighting hard for his political life and his future freedom, but fighting dirty, the only way he knows how. A lot of aggrieved folks identify with him, so the more he is attacked, the more they will support him, but they are still a minority (hopefully).

For the first time, the Women’s World Cup has garnered international attention. Americans have expressed widespread disappointment at our team’s eventual loss and elimination, something not seen before regarding a women’s sporting event.

Daily Beast, Dianne Feinstein Hospitalized After Falling at Home Feinstein, age 90, was hospitalized briefly, then released. She is doggedly hanging onto her Senate position and her very life until 2024 when she has agreed to retire. As someone myself approaching her age, I do sympathize with her stance. As the saying goes, “We’re not dead yet.” However, it’s also true that we may not recognize our own diminished capacities.

USA Today, Sen. Dianne Feinstein alleges financial abuse in lawsuit over husband's estate The 90-year-old senator's daughter has filed the suit.

GMA, Woman celebrates 114th birthday with 5 generations of family by her side A Texas woman has left Dianne Feinstein in the dust. Elizabeth Francis, born in 1909, recently celebrated her 114th birthday with five generations of family members by her side. Most of us alive today will never see our 100^th birthday.

Poet and author Shane McCrae was interviewed recently on NPR’s “Fresh Air.” As a biracial child, in his telling, he was basically kidnapped from his black father and raised by white supremacist maternal grandparents now deceased. At age 16, he found his father again and reconnected with his black heritage.

NBC News, New York City cancer doctor kills herself and her baby, police say Was this a case of post-partum depression? Post-partum depression, even psychosis, is most common in women who’ve recently given birth to their first child. And it may be more prevalent in developed countries where new mothers may feel especially isolated and alone, at least that’s my speculation. In contrast, new mothers in developing counties are often celebrated, surrounded by family members who pamper and honor them in traditional rituals. While there is certainly a hormonal component to post-partum depression (I’ve felt it myself), social support could do much to mitigate its effects.

Canada’s Justin Trudeau and his wife have announced their separation after 18 years of marriage. The reasons for the split have not been made public and it’s really none of our business, though affairs on either or both sides have been rumored, supposedly taking place some time ago. An affair may be a symptom or a cause for a separation, or both. Yet, after announcing their separation to the world, the couple still went on a camping vacation together with their 3 children, probably confusing the kids as well as the public. Are they or are they not separating? If a one-time infidelity by either or both parties actually had occurred and did not result in a separation at the time, then, in my opinion, they could/should have let it go, considering it a one-time mistake to be forgiven and forgotten, then continued on with the marriage. Life is short and contuse moving on. In time, it would have faded in significance. But, of course, my opinion doesn’t count, the problem may have festered, and there may be still other issues that the rest of us have no need to even know about. Any long-term relationship, whether marriage, parent/child, or even friendship, may be hard to maintain over time. However, no personal connection can be expected to always go smoothly, so folks need to anticipate some bumps along the way. Now, a high-profile split like the Trudeaus’ will give marital separation a green light for other couples experiencing difficulties.

CBS News, U.S. nurse and daughter released more than a week after kidnap in Haiti

Wash. Post, Ecuadoran presidential candidate assassinated at campaign rally He was Fernando Villavicencio, who had highlighted links between the government and corruption. A Colombian criminal gang, Los Lobos (The Wolves), has claimed responsibility. The slain candidate’s vice-presidential running mate, Andrea González, age 36, a political newcomer, has taken his place on the ballot. A friend born in Ecuador says, “The situation in Ecuador is so sad and tragic.”

AFP, Gang boss who threatened slain Ecuador candidate transferred to max security

Ukraine seems to be undertaking an offensive as well as defensive posture in the war with Russia.

Telegraph. Children as young as seven to get NHS trans treatment Can children at age 7 drive a car? Open a personal bank account? Drink alcohol? No, but in some places, they can still decide to change their birth gender. If the option is unavailable and parents simply don’t go along, a youngster will just have to wait. Then by the time they reach 18, many will have changed their mind. However, for some kids, the notion of belonging to the other gender will persist. As gender roles become less strictly defined and expressed, perhaps the urge to change genders will become less common.

Singer Ne-Yo has expressed his own view on gender identity: “I will never be okay with allowing a child to make a decision that is detrimental to their life...I just personally come from an era where a man was a man and a woman was a woman...If one of my 7 kids were to decide that he or she wanted to be something other than what they were born as, once they’re old enough and mature enough to make that decision… so be it. Not gonna love em’ any less … But this isn’t even a discussion until they are mentally mature enough to have such a discussion.” Ne-Yo’s youngest child is four months old, while his oldest is 12. (As far as is known, none has expressed a desire to change genders.)

On NPR, I heard final snippets of a discussion speculating that the NY Times, in contrast to the Washington Post, may be anti-trans because it runs negative stories about trans people. Certainly, the choice of news features has an influence. You would not expect to even see a trans story in a newspaper in Saudi Arabia. And I myself, being more pro-life than pro-choice, note that news stories on that topic often feature cases of dangerous fetal anomalies, not the far more common cases of abortions done for personal convenience.

More than 40% of Japanese women may never have children. The figure is even higher for Japanese men, 50% of whom will probably never become fathers. That means a few men will be doing double duty. For a nation to have such a low birth rate is a huge shift. It also means that Japan’s future is on a downward trajectory, moving toward extinction, which is also what will happen to all of humankind if the trend spreads worldwide. Only in my own lifetime have we interrupted the evolutionary cycle dating back to time immemorial. Both Europe and the US are already on a falling population trajectory. Countless individual decisions may thus end up creating the end of human history. It’s hard to believe that in my own lifetime, the much-touted population bomb has now burst. In years gone by, most women partnered with men simply gave birth to children. Now there are many ways to prevent that, including “abortion as a human right.”

Bloomberg, More Than 40% of Japanese Women May Never Have Children

Neighborhood website patrons are optimists if they expect folks to actually buy their unneeded items, much less even take them away for free. We all have way too much stuff! In the Peace Corps in Honduras (2000-2003), I enjoyed living with the bare minimum.

Missing