Overheard on the bus...egocentrism.

"Can you imagine me and Jarrett? We would be such a good couple, don't you think?"
Interesting how the "ME" comes before the intended other. It states unwittingly the relative importance of the self as opposed to her target. Most unfortunate in that the younger "me first" generation place themselves above all other things. (Except maybe their cellphone.)
(No, she was not blond. But she was under 25.)

So maybe this is what we need: "The freedom of financial markets was secondary to the priorities of social welfare and duty of care for employees". (S.Halper)
Unless of course those employees happen to be constructing CDO2's and making the company tons of money. Then they align nicely - for the chosen few. But heaven help you if you're wrong - then it's to the dogs with you. (hats off to JPMS)

Aval Care.

I find it ...somewhat ambivalently pleasing that I see many grandparents doing what I would call parenting. You know, the cooking, walking, shopping, dressing. Although I believe that aval care is one aspect of the human species that differentiates us from other species (don't actually know the research on this), the ambivalence comes from the realization that much of this care is "enforced" by economic circumstances - both (or only the one) parents needing to work to make ends meet. So the care and upbringing is left to the grandparents.
A sad comment on economic times, but possibly a good thing in terms of care.
Just sayin.

I was brought up with standards. I don't know how much of it was cultural, how much was parenting, or how much is self-initiated.
But I do not chew with my mouth open.

I find it interesting that as pharmacology gets better and better, the client-base compliance gets worse and worse.
Of course thsi relates to the "entitlement" syndrome that has become commonplace - someone else is responsible -It cannot be ME!
And although health care is pervasive, it does not counter the self-destructive tendency of many people.