As a retired person: no, apart from by other retired people in the village, because we help each other out with our different skill-sets.

We still have a few friends but they are scattered; we meet mostly at funerals.

Politicians think we’re too expensive (healthcare, pensions, etc.) although they’re careful not to be too nasty, as apparently we vote more than other demographics. The fascists think we might vote for them (not a chance).

The young are busy with their own lives as they should be and so we are mostly seen as an inconvenience or, at best, a future inheritance. I’m fine with this: they’ve got it tough and we help where we can.

The AI crowd know we’re too old for that shit (we remember all the bubbles). We don’t buy much stuff either, so the capitalists and advertisers aren’t happy with us. The pub likes us but wishes we’d visit more often. The fund managers are going off us as our pension funds dwindle. I think the lady in the corner shop has a good opinion of us, although she thinks I buy too much beer.

My actions, mostly.

e.g. causing unnecessary conflict by trying to change someone’s political views when I really should just shut up.

If it were a drug, it would be banned by now.

Another excellent show we thoroughly enjoyed!

Yes, we’ve watched that; it was excellent. I do enjoy the books too.

UK: I’d recommend Slow Horses on AppleTV. Gary Oldman heads a cast of misfits from an MI5 unit of rejects. Drama and comedy in a perfect blend.

DARK. The plot, casting and soundtrack are all superb, and way ahead of most other shows. Although Season 3 will fuck you up, it also nails the ending.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Tromsø in Norway.

What’s the point of such court cases when the loser can simply appeal and appeal and appeal? It’s a stupid system.

Edit: typo.

Night Patrol and The Party Animal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Patrol_(1984_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Party_Animal

EDIT: I linked the wrong Night Patrol film.

Deep fried broad beans and chilli corn.

Let’s say I will live to age 90. Morbidity stats would suggest that the last 10 or so years would be utterly unenjoyable, perhaps even torturous. As well as chronic illnesses causing pain, I might be suffering from dementia and/or have lost my eyesight, hearing or ability to walk.

However, I might be destined to die suddenly at age 65, in reasonable health and with all my faculties in working order. So, to answer your question, one would need to know one’s expected lifespan and likely state of health. To a certain degree, this is possible given the science around heredity and genetic testing (UK insurance companies are not allowed to take genetic testing into account when underwriting policies).

Another factor is how much one is enjoying one’s current existence: if you’re hating life, you wouldn’t want to spend more time in the present especially if you believe the future will be better, and vice-versa. Of course, there’s no way to know how things will pan out until someone invents a time machine.

Personally, I wouldn’t be willing to make any decisions without a lot more data!

Please tell me this is true, and Trump doesn’t realise penguins live in the Antarctic.

He’s a fucking nutter.