The Royal Baby and Mad Max

As you know, Mrs. Sedd is 60 and therefore somewhat sensitive to the vagaries of aging.  Today’s newspaper made me think about this remarkable journey we call life from both ends of the road we travel. 

How lovely that England’s new princeling is provoking waves of joy and national pride among our favorite ally, a.k.a The Brits, who, if our newspapers in the U.S. are to be believed, are feeling pretty dour these days due to the crap economy in the U.K.   That said, a bonny lad born to a beauteous, common-born duchess and the son of the woman who should have been Queen will result in a little boomlet for the British economy from alcohol sales alone, I reckon. Pubs from Knightsbridge to Dover will be busy tonight and in the days ahead as monarchists and republicans alike celebrate a new heir to the throne – a future CEO of the billion-dollar business known as Great Britain’s monarchy.

Hooray, young lad (and you too, Will ‘n Kate).  Hearty congratulations on being the face that will sell a million tea towels.  But watch out for those paparazzi. 

At the other end of my reveries on the life journey today is a Princeton University study measuring workplace age discrimination.

In this study, 3 men of different ages, 25, 45 and 75 years – and all named “Max” for headline value, I suppose -- offer the exact same description of themselves, word for word, but with one twist:  “Old Max” says he feels no obligation to share his wealth with relatives while the other two say they would share wealth with relatives.

Bottom line?  No one likes the selfish old guy.

The Princeton researchers believe this indicates a subtle bias against older men and women workers, but I disagree:  it’s about the money.  No one likes stingy Scrooge; but everyone likes the old coot who buys a big old goose for Bob Cratchit and his family.  In fact, when subjects in the study read an article about sufficient resources bring available for all generations as our population aged, the “age bias” effect essentially disappeared, according to one of Princeton’s researchers. 

I rest my case.

I’m not sure about the bigger existential questions associated with birth, death and everything in between, except to say this:  Today’s post, I guess, is really all about money. 

·         Yesterday’s Royal Birth is the gift that will keep on giving to the British economy throughout the Prince’s life, if past is prologue.

·         If older men and women want to keep working they better make a habit of letting their co-workers know that all their money is going to  relatives when they pass (if there’s any left, that is)

·         Always offer to share your lunch with younger, less fortunate colleagues who forgot theirs or don’t have money for the vending machine.
 

Time for a pint.