The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1475203
We deser ve this, don't we? This travel turmoil we find ourselves in circa 2022. Humankind is spoiled. We have too much, and the countr y's rash of airline woes are a natural contraction of ame- nities to correct our swollen, grumbling ways. We can simply board an air-condi- tioned tube with wings and within hours be drinking imperial ale in Costa Rica. Our predecessors would have been stuck on a tall ship called, like, "Our Westerly Queen" made from crab claws for... one... two... 463 fortnights. Do we ever stop, while gorging on Subway rotisserie chicken flatbreads and milky cisterns of Starbucks at the gate, to ponder travel at any other time in human histor y? Do we pause in gratitude for the opportunity to hurtle through the sky when the lady in the neighboring seat gets a little chatty? No. We issue a closed-mouth, Cost- co-aisle grin, then talk bad about her lat- er. Fact: Conversations with strangers on airplanes are terrible. I mean, consider the physical setup. Where else would we sit adjacent, shoulders touching, pinkies dangerously close, faces a breath apart, and say, "so, where is home? I am glad you are wearing a mask. My friend Sta- cy got COVID-19. Have you watched the new 'minions' movie? I am from Pitts- burgh." We deser ve it! We deser ve it when she says no one has common decency any- more, then proceeds to manspread into our precious floorspace. We deser ve that she is somehow still talking even as we slide in AirPods, the international sign for "This conference is unalive, mon frere." We have had this coming: the rude- ness, the crusty bare toes, the gals in bralette tops who have clearly taken sour apple edibles and are tr ying to pee during takeoff. When we desperately ask for help finding a hotel as the flight home is canceled, we deser ve a gate agent who deadpans, "the internet." We deser ve short-staffed airlines, suspended routes, slashed flights, no backups for unpredictable weather. Our greedy little bodies have cast perspective to the sea and are ready to party. The bill has come due. I am working up to telling you what happened to my family in Costa Rica, but this framing makes me feel bet- ter. I suggest you use it next time your flight schedule is imperiled. Before you cr y in front of an American Airlines employee, think of paying a farm boy to carr y an oil lamp as you lift petticoats through the mud to call on ailing Aunt Clotilde in Gretna Green. Just say thank you. What happened? OK. We enjoyed a magical five nights in Costa Rica, doing volcano-ish things involving sloths and hot springs. Our flight from capital city San Jose to Miami was delayed, then de- layed again, then canceled. No worries! We'll get another! Think of the cowhide sails! After a confusing hour spent in what can only be described as a holding cell in the basement of the airport, we were escorted through customs in groups of 30. We tried not to be Pushy Americans™ and patiently waited near the back. This was a mistake! We should have started fistfights with children and the elderly! By our turn, the good flights had flick- ered away like sickly fireflies. The only option was to live the rest of our lives in Costa Rica or take a four-hour bus ride in hopes of leaving from another airport the next day. "But our medication!" we cried, and ever yone put in AirPods. To the bus. An avuncular and friend- ly taxi driver who praised my middling Spanish turned out to be a traitor who took us to a different bus station 40 min- utes afield and demanded cash. Once on the bus, we realized we were going back toward the airport bus stop where we started. It's fine! Buggies! All those horses euthanized after tripping on a cobblestone! The bus trip was actually seven and a half hours, in- cluding a break at a glorious roadside potato chip empo- rium after 90 minutes in a traffic jam. The locals on the bus stayed so calm. It was admirable. Pushy Americans™ would have screamed at the powerless driver and organized a one-star TripAdvisor campaign. Or they would have choreo- graphed a viral TikTok dance to Doja Cat and monetized the experience. The driver gunned it like Han Solo, and we poured off the bus at 1 a.m. Somehow, we secured a taxi to take us to our new hotel, which we found on "the internet." We flew peacefully to Miami the next day and drove — four more hours — home. It was stressful, scar y and full of lying un- cles, but offered a teachable moment that there is almost always a way for ward, al- most always a way home. Just remember, though, we do deser ve it. Despite current conditions, we are liv- ing in a blessed and highly favored era. We deser ve to sit in aisle seats in the back row by the bathroom, noses inches from countless, and I do mean countless butts. Just so many strange rear ends. Do you think they had sky toilets in the Mid- dle Ages? Wine for $9? A USB port? No. They walked 30 miles in goatskin booties and probably died. Be thankful for each and ever y backside. Stephanie Hayes is a columnist at the Tampa Bay Times in Florida. Follow her at @stephhayes on Twitter or @stephrhayes on Instagram. The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 3, 2022 D-5 Letters to the Editor SIGNED LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON ON MONDAY Court Report How do I apply for my wife's spousal benefit? Social Security Matters By Rusty Gloor CRIMINAL DOCKET PIke Circuit Court Kevin Lee Catt charged with intimida- tion: threat to commit a forcible felony, a Level 6 felony. Kathleen J. Hensley charged with do- mestic batter y committed in the pres- ence of a child less than 16-year-old, a Level 6 felony; and strangulation, a level 6 felony. Kyla Cropper charged with possession of meth, less than five grams, a level 6 fel- ony and unlawful possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony. Jeremy J. Norrington charged with intimidation, threat to commit a forcible felony, a level 6 felony. CIVIL DOCKET Pike Circuit Court Credit Acceptance Corp. sues Colten Gideon for civil collection. Erica Kenley sues Levi J. King with civil tort. Kerr y D. Onyett and Patricia G. Onyett sues Estate of Saul Herrara Villegas, Es- tate of Marta Herrera for civil plenar y. In re the marriage of Mariah L. Jochim and Jeffrey t. Jochim. TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANOR Pike Circuit Court Warren K. Craig charged with driving while suspended with prior in the last 10 years, a class A misdemeanor. Jason D. Houchins charged with pos- session of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of mari- juana, a class B misdemeanor. Cody M. Eurton charged with reckless driving, a class C misdemeanor. Donnell T. Freeman charged with driv- ing while suspended with prior in the last 10 years, a class A misdemeanor. SMALL CLAIMS Pike Circuit Court Tower Construction sues David Gla- ser, Jr., on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Ser vice sues Jack C. Caldwell on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Ser vice sues Nor- man E. Braun on complaint. INFRACTIONS Pike Circuit Court Glenn M. Capozella charged with dis- tracted driving. Abdullahi M. Ahmed charged with speeding. McKala M. Veit charged with distract- ed driving. Idonna A. Fox charged with speeding in a 55 zone. Kelly Crader charged with expired plates. L ydon T. Stoll charged with expired plates. Lucas Taylor charged with failure to wear a helmet, when less than 18-years- old and operating an off-road vehicle. Akemi M. Maxwell charged with seat belt violation. Tempa C. Cavender charged with speeding in a 55 zone. Saul B. Jones charged with vehicle with contents escaping. Nicholas D. Pattinson charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Denor Pierre charged with disregard- ing a traffic control device. Jerr y D. Lane charged with seat belt violation. Michael D. Funston charged with seat belt violation. Jahongir Urolov charged with disre- garding an official traffic control device. Joel P. Meece charged with speeding. L yndon T. Stoll charged with expired plates. Duckens Derogene charged with dis- regarding an official traffic control de- vice. Antonio E. Pepper charged with speed- ing in a 70 zone. Sarah M. Martin charged with speed- ing in a 70 zone. Richard A. Miller charged with speed- ing in a 70 zone. Cosmos O. Cooper charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Marie Stroud charged with speeding. Melissa L. Watson charged with speed- ing in a 70 zone. Roger C. Gibson charged with speed- ing. Cody M. Foster charged with speed- ing. Austin J. Bell charged with speeding. Zachar y T. Neukam charged with speeding. Hope R. Blankenberger charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Justin M. Bertke charged with speed- ing. Lino R. Carreras, Jr., charged with dis- regarding a traffic control device. Audra A. Knackmus charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Oliva T. Fuchs charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Michael L. Carie charged with seat belt violation. Andrew W. Maynard charged with speeding. Jalyn N. Smith charged with speeding in a 55 zone. Amanda M. Hurst charged with false or fictitious plates. Lesnier Hernandez charged with fol- lowing too close and FMC safety regula- tion violation. Dear Rusty: I am 70 years old and just started receiving my Social Security ben- efits about four months ago and I get close to $3,700 per month. My wife is 65 years old and worked sporadically over the years so is entitled to her own bene- fits. If we applied under her account, she would get around $300 a month. If she applies under the spousal benefits, she should get a lot more, but we are not ex- actly sure how to apply for spousal bene- fits under her existing account. Can you help guide us? Signed: Uncertain How to Proceed. Dear Uncertain: Your wife can apply for both her own SS retirement benefit (from her own lifetime work record) and her spousal benefit from you, at the same time. In fact, when she applies for her own Social Security benefit, since you are now collecting your benefits she will be automatically deemed to be filing also for her spousal benefit from you. Your wife's Social Security payment will actually consist of two elements – her own earned benefit and a "spousal boost" to bring her to her spousal entitlement. So, when she applies for her own SS benefit, she will also get a spousal boost to make her payment equal to what she is entitled to as your spouse. She can apply by calling Social Security at your local office or calling the national ser vice cen- ter at 1.800.772.1213 to request an appointment. She also has the option to apply for her benefits online at www.ssa.gov which is, by far, the most efficient way. To apply online, your wife will need to first create her personal "my Social Security" online account, which is easy to do at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. When your wife fills out the application for her benefits, she will be able to identi- fy you as her spouse, and she should use the "Remarks" section of the application to emphasize that she wishes to receive her spousal benefits as well. Just for your awareness, your wife's spousal benefit will be based on your full retirement age (FRA) bene- fit amount, not your age 70 amount, and if she claims at age 65 her benefits will be re- duced because she hasn't yet reached her own full retire- ment age (which is 66 years and four months if she was born in 1956). Your wife's per- sonal benefit will be reduced by .556 percent for each month earlier than her FRA that she claims, and her spou- sal boost will be reduced by .694 percent for each month earlier than her FRA she claims. So, if your wife claims her benefit before her full retirement age, her pay- ment will be less than 50 percent of your FRA benefit amount. To submit a question, visit website (amacfoundation.or g/pr ograms/so- cial-security-advisor y) or email ssadvi- sor@amacfoundation.org. My So Called Millennial Life By Stephanie Hayes Why we deserve summer flight delay and STEMuli, a game-based learning company. School choice is good for ever ybody but unions, social- ist bureaucrats and the tired education establishment. It's one good thing accidentally created by the pandemic. John Stossel is creator of Stossel TV and author of "Give Me a Break: How I Ex- posed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media." CRIME Continued from page 4 GOOD NEWS Continued from page 4 might be tempted to con- clude that the relative de- crease in white victims and the relative increase in black victims is attributable to a spike in racial hatred. That hypothesis would suggest that the relative number of white offenders is increas- ing, and the relative number of black offenders is remain- ing constant or decreasing. In fact, the opposite is true. Again, after factoring out the cases in which the race of the perpetrator was unknown, the relative share of offenders by racial groups followed a similar trend to the share of victims. From 2011 to 2020, the percentage of total violent offenders who were white fell 3.4% to 58%. With respect to homicide specifically, the percentage fell by 0.8% to 43.1%. By contrast, over the same period, the percent- age of total violent offenders who were black rose 2.4% to 39.4%. And with respect to homicide, the percentage rose 0.3% to 54.7%. This small increase hides a more dramatic recent trend because the percentage of black offenders fell several percent from 2011 until 2019. That year, it jumped 1.0%, and in 2020 it jumped anoth- er 1.2%. Again, these are small per- centage changes, but con- sidering the surging crime numbers and the fact that African Americans make up a relatively small percentage of the total population, the implications are huge. As for Native Americans, the percentage of total vio- lent offenders in this cate- gor y increased by 0.4% to 1.3%. And as for Asians, the percentage increased by 0.3% to 1.0%. For homicide specifically, Native American offenders increase by 0.4% to 1.2% of total homicide of- fenders, and Asians fell 0.2% to a total of 0.7% of homicide offenders. OTHER EXPLANATIONS? It is possible that trendy race-essentialist rhetoric is playing a role in what we are seeing. Domestic studies are needed to establish a clear connection, but there are studies from abroad that sug- gest that race rhetoric may lead to racial violence. If race rhetoric is, in fact, playing a role, it's possible that what we're seeing today we have seen before. The increase in black of- fenders and black victims is reminiscent of the fallout from the Black Power move- ments of the 1960s. Historian C. Vann Woodward recounts that histor y in his magisteri- al book The Strange Career of Jim Crow. Woodward obser ved that radicals began to reject the approach of "the old civil rights movements," which called for peace, equality, and integration. The radicals favored "racial separatism" and "black nationalism," which gave way to "bursts of black violence, disorder, and frustration." The irony of this violence, however, was that it occurred primarily in black neighborhoods, and "the main victims" were work- ing-class black people. The trendy race-wisdom of today shares similar traits. Like the Black Power move- ment, it is more focused on calling out and rebuking the supposed omnipresent spec- ter of white supremacy than it is on peace, equality, and integration. As with the riots of the 1960s, the anti-police riots of 2020 caused significant harm to black neighborhoods and black-owned businesses. Additionally, on social media sites associated with these views, violent rhetoric is common. Ultimately, more research is needed before we can con- clude that the present-day race-essentialist rhetoric is a causal factor in the present increase in black victims and offenders. Still, the historical parallels provide some sup- port for the theor y. Regardless, whether it is caused by race rhetoric, the Minneapolis Effect, rogue prosecutors, or some com- bination of them or other things, the spike in crime is hurting a lot of people, and black communities bear the heaviest burden. Life Milestones made free CALL: 812-354-8500 Put a free photo with write up on Weddings, Anniversaries & Engagements.