text: Though I must confess, I am guilty of not keeping a tidy, usable blog. I suffer from widget creep, and don't post consistently. I do regularly check for broken links, only because it's a cog in our editing process at work.
  There's always room for improvement. I really enjoy spending time building writing skills. It's invigorating to clear weeds and encourage new growth. I learn a lot about good writing from you, Ronni, again, thanks.
  Small type gets me. I hate to have to adjust the type larger with my browser. Especially on blogs that target an older audience!
  The biggest irritant for me is the 'sudden' talking heads. If I want to listen to a lecture or seminar, I'll chose my own. Now every single nitwit that can open its mouth wants to put audio on their blog and website. Please, some of us still know how to read full sentences!
  Then there's the video. Some of these people have faces (and voices) only their nearest and dearest could love - but there they are, popping up saying nothing and looking as if they've just escaped from the insane asylum - drunk!
  Too bad you're never given the option of: Do you want to see what I look like or Do you want to hear my whinney voice.
  In my day job, I work in an interactive ad agency as a usability professional. (It's often referred to as user interface, information architecture, or interaction design.) Everything you've mentioned above are no-no's; examples of poor design.
  One does not need to be a crabby old lady/gentleman to know good design and to feel frustrated when encountering a poorly designed web site and/or e-mail message.
  I encourage you to write via e-mail to the site's webmaster or to the firm's VP of marketing; and clearly state your problems with the site and how it makes it difficult for you to do business with that firm. You'll get a response more often than you think. And, if you don't get a reply, you've got some useful material for a blog post.
  I'd like to add that I keep track of my favorite blogs through Bloglines. I waste enough time on the computer as it is and I find that Bloglines is a wonderful tool.
  Some bloggers choose (perhaps unknowingly) to only share part of their blog posts in Bloglines, therefore thinking that the reader will have to click to their blog to read the rest of the post.
  Not me! I usually unsubscribe from those blogs. I don't have the time to go check these blog posts out only to realize the rest of the text in the post did not interest me. If I can view an entire blog post through Bloglines and it interests/impacts me enough to want to comment, I will.
  gosh i am guilty about using all lowercase letters...i just like it...though I suppose I can make the adjustment if it is intolerable to the reader. I admit liking it though.
  The one that got my goat going the most is the "price hiders". Definitely a way for me to save money, which I suppose is a blessing in disguise except sometimes/often I really want to know. I am *old* enough to know better.
  I completely agree with every point you've made. One other thing I find difficult to cope with is when a blogger posts a mosaic of 16-24 teeny-weeny pictures where the visitor is expected to click and link repeatedly to view the information. Far better, I think to have a number of posts spread over a few days with decently-sized photos.
  I see your point on most of these. However, the paragraph one hits me in the belly. I click away and get no paragraph separation. I indent and get no indentation. Maybe it's only on blogger and only occasionally but it drives me as mad as it must the reader but I don't know html to change it. Sometimes it actually works.
  
  Full disclosure: Alex Bennett is my former husband. We met when I was 17, married when I was 25 and divorced when I was 31. He has known me longer than anyone else alive which I find comforting in some manner. Although we didn't speak for a decade or so following our divorce, these days we're friendly.
  Alex has been a radio host since his teen years, having done shows in San Rafael, Reno, Houston, Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami and New York. He is opinionated, outspoken and funny - on air and in life. I produced his show when we were married and we were better as professional colleagues than life partners.
  These days, he can be heard live on The Alex Bennett Program on Sirius Left satellite radio, channel 146 from 9AM to noon ET. He describes his show as "political discussion punctuated by tap dancing." For awhile, some years ago, he hosted a television show and has won two local Emmy Awards. Alex is a regular contributor to Hustler magazine.
  AB: These days, absolutely nothing. Years ago it at least got you a seat on the subway. Today forget even that.
  RB: A lot of older workers run into age discrimination in the workplace. Does being on radio rather than television insulate you from that?
  AB: No doubt about it. Besides that, Sirius has a lot of gray running around the place and any younger person working there can learn from the best.
  AB: They have an idea. To some, it is used as a weapon, especially those who support Obama and would like to push us to the margins of society.
  RB: John McCain is being attacked more frequently lately as being too old - 72 at inauguration if he is elected - to be president. What do you think?
  AB: Well, death or incapacity could be more of a reality at his age as it is for the rest of us, so who he chooses as his VP is crucial. Obama will no doubt use his age as a negative.
  AB: Not as badly as in some other areas of show business. There have been, however, a preponderance of ageist jokes on TV lately where McCain is concerned, but no racist ones about Obama or overtly sexist jokes about Hillary.
  AB: I think there was more respect. Prior to the rock 'n' roll revolution in the '50s, there wasn't even a youth culture to be venerated.
  AB: Basically they are selfish. It's the generation of "Me". But they were made that way by their parents who kept telling them how wonderful they were.
  AB: I think that it has to be worse for a woman. My woman friend was very lucky that she landed a good job at 55 and she is delighted. But I saw her looking for one and it was a frightening experience for her. For men, old age starts at say 55, but for women it may be as young now as 45.
  RB: We were still married when your father died at a young age - 60, I believe. He was very special to me. What do you remember most about your father?
  AB: Our old cat Shabbas. He lived to be 18 and lived by the mantra, "If there's food in the bowl, then how bad can things be?"
  AB: The usual, enlarged prostate and IBS. The prostate is back to normal due to the medicines they have today. The biggest problem with them is their effect on the libido. As for the IBS, it has become manageable. So neither, once managed, have affected my daily life.
  RB: You are 68 years old. How much longer do you want to continue working? What are you plans for the future?
  AB: Not really. Maybe a continuation of this one. But then I'd have to get into string theory and that would be long and involved.
  [At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Lia explains how she dealt with an age-old childhood fear in Bogeyman.]
  Alex, thank you for your giving us your thoughts. I think another phenomena of the over 50 generation is that many of us feel like you about our fathers. I was looking at an interview with the actor Hugh Laurie (or, Laurie Hughes) of the Dr. House fame. He said that he "revered" his father. I wonder how many of the "Me" generation will say the same about their fathers.
  Here on the west coast I start every morning at 6 by listening to Alex on the radio and reading your website.
  For the life of me though, I can't figure out why he didn't like my favorite Beatle, George Harrison. :-)
  I agree with the you and the former commentators that Alex has a delightful sense of humor. Too bad you couldn't make a go of it because I think his wit and your intelligence compliment each other.
  I know there is a lot more to marriage than any of us imagine until we're in one, so I will assume you made the right decision to opt out.
  Wow! This guy & I agree on almost everything. This interview was both humorous, yet very comforting. Does that mean that perhaps we take things too seriously? Thanks for brightening my day. Dee
  I thoroughly enjoyed this interview Ronni. Alex is so funny. I especially liked what he said about his dad. Those words could have come out of my mouth....except I lost my dad when he was 50 years old. How truly wonderful that you and Alex have a warmer relationship now....time heals a lot of things. Thank you for this post Ronni....
  What is it with men thinking they would never get old? It is a surprise to my husband, and it was to his father as well.
  How wonderful that you two could be so forthright with each other and that you are still friendly. My ex-husband is my guest blogger on Kalilily Time every Monday. Despite the fact that we couldn't make it as a couple, we still have a lot of respect -- and a different kind of acceptance -- for each other. I can see that you and Alex have a similar relationship. It's a nice free feeling as you get older, isn't it?
  Thoroughly enjoyed this interview. Especially appreciated the insight into how the age game differs gender-wise.
  I'm not sure what Alex meant by "venerated" (in this context), but according to my venerated father who grew up in the Jewish ghetto of Mattapan in Boston, there certainly was a very strong and popular youth culture who listened to jazz, wore zoot suits and had violent run-ins with kids from different neighbourhoods or different backrounds. They were reviled and feared by their elders. And by all accounts the feeling was mutual.
  Perhaps each new group of youths, no matter how old they get, imagine they were the first to embrace dissent and that elders are treated with less respect today than they were in the "good old days".
  His line about The endless procession of doctors who see you as a new yacht... still making me laugh, cry, laugh, get angry.
  At the Sirius website, you can get a free, three-day trial for online listening. How to find Alex and the time of his show is in the intro at the top of the interview.
  Reminds me of a Gracie and George routine ;-) only with reversed genders *smile* for you two. You, Ronni, are definitely the George role in this interview. Alex obviously knows you gotta have a terrific straight guy for the humor to work!
  Gracie Burns interviewing Ronald Reagan: Reagan was talking about growing up on a farm in IL and he said that they once had three cyclones (tornadoes) in one summer.
  Doing extra research today on elder care issues I came across your delightful site. Informative, entertaining and useful...I'm hooked.
  I miss you, Alex! You made my mornings throughout the early 90s educational, entertaining, and enjoyable. (And you let me crash on your couch once after a Go-Go's show at the Warfield.) If I ever sub to Sirius, it will be SOLELY to hear your show.
  Ronnie: my mom, Karen Koeble, went to Tam High with you. Not sure if you were in the same class or not-- if so, are you going to this month's reunion?
  
  How long has it been since we were last in an actual cinema? So long you would have forgotten what you saw were it not still plastered hauntingly to the side of multiple buses? Us too. But since July 4, the option of stepping into the dark and taking in a movie is back on the table – if you feel ready to do so – although the choice of films to see and cinemas to see them in will be limited for the time being.
  In short, many of London’s indie and arthouse cinemas will be staying shuttered a while longer. Here are their latest plans – and information on how to support them during this period of uncertainty.
  Kensal Rise’s much-loved community cinema is getting bigger and better, with a major extension in the pipeline. Before then, it will be opening initially for small private hires in August (a two-hour film for 15 guests will cost £325, or £275 for key workers), and then resuming regular public screenings in September.
  How to support it: join the Lexi here. Like many cinemas, existing memberships will also be extended by five months when the cinema reopens.
  Unlike its art gallery, which reopened on July 13, the Barbican’s cinema won’t be open again until the autumn. ‘Two of our three cinema spaces are currently undergoing refurbishment work and therefore won’t be able to reopen until later this year,’ says the Barbican’s Ian Cuthbert. ‘We look forward to announcing when and how we’ll be able to reopen our third cinema venue soon.’