New Horizons For Fifty - A Different View of Things

by Eric Crow November sky in Lodi, Ohio With the money from my future earnings, I'll be able to go on a getaway weekend to places like San Francisco and not have to worry about being on a tight budget. I'll be able to take my partner to concerts and the theater (and it doesn't hurt at all that there's a nice hotel right across the street from the office). I'll be able to start saving money for big ticket items, like my first trip to Europe. Wine tastings. Pets. Etc., etc., etc... On the news the other day was an item how nobody picked the winning numbers for the $325 million dollar Mega Millions, complete with the usual pics showing lines at convenience stores and "on the street" interviews asking people what they would do with the money. Me, I always answer that question from my Higher self, with a great deal more pragmatism than I think I would if I actually chose the winning numbers. I would set up charities and fund people to fo...

"On Your Block" presents:  An Interview with Nicholas Oliver by Eric Crow For this installment of "On Your Block," I met up with Southland artist Nicholas Oliver at his home in North Hollywood for an in depth interview. Like many others, I was overjoyed to learn about recovery when his husband, Jeremy, posted about it on social media. As of April, he had successfully completed a treatment that grew his liver back completely, due to damage caused by the Hepatitis C ("Hep C") virus. I was glad for the chance to get to know Nicholas up close and glad to get the chance to discuss this chapter of his life. Nicholas was born at Long Beach Naval Hospital in 1981, to a father who was part of Special Forces in the Navy. "We lived on the base circuit in Ventura County," he recalls, "eventually settling down in Fillmore, a small, reclusive farm town in Ventura County that was very Republican and not the ideal place for a skinn...

"Holiday Wish List" by Eric Crow Cold and frosty For this week's installment of "On Your Block," I went on the  "cyber-block" and asked people a three-part question: What's at the top of your holiday wish list: a) for yourself? b) for your loved ones?  For the country/world? ( I included myself in this list, because why not?) Here's what they had to say: Gwen Kenny (white sweater) 3rd left,  (Bay Area): For myself: Continued peace and serenity, and a "Bring Your Dog To Work" day in 2019;  For my loved ones: joy and happiness; For the world: A happy and safe home for every shelter pet and “sold out” pet shelters. AJ Chase--Sacramento : For myself: "We Are Our Deeds" by Eric Wodening for a book study coming up in January; For my loved ones: That Korey wins a ribbon on the handmade quilt he worked hard on; For the ...

by Eric Crow Normally, New Horizons For Fifty serves as a sanctuary for people who need respite from the negative and deleterious effects of social media--in other words, for those who need to get away from "politics as usual" on Facebook or Twitter and get a dose of beauty or inspiration or even have an aha moment all their own. But every once in a while, an issue will galvanize me (your content director) to overlook this rule and speak on something, especially when it's an issue that's very close to my heart, or that I am connected to. This is one of those moments. At the White House, Vice President Pence addressed an audience that was stocked with people who come from various (Western) faith walks about the wonders of "faith based initiatives," as relates to combating the spread of HIV/AIDS. He was emphatic about the role of the "faith based" in combating the global pandemic of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and AIDS (Acquired Imm...