Where Did All The News Stands Go?

Here's another circa 1970 photo with my trusty Minolta Autocord. This news stand was on the corner of Biscayne Blvd., alias U.S. 1, and N.E. 79th St. Head west and it it takes you to Hialeah Race Track,and horse racing enticed a lot of people to stay in the hotels along Miami Beach. Head east across the 79th Street Causeway and you were on Miami Beach.

Tourists who wanted to check out the paper from their home town could find a decent selection, at least from the major cities, and news stands could be found scattered around town. They also sold magazines and, of course, cigarettes because nobody told you not to smoke back then, although you were supposed to be 16. Nowadays the newspapers are barely hanging in there. TV pretty much did in the second paper in two newspaper cities. Now the internet is rapidly killing off the one remaining paper. Pretty soon there'll be noplace left to read the comics or find a crossword puzzle. Horse racing and dog tracks are pretty much a thing of the past also.

Good For Thirty More Years!

That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. Here's part of the office staff at my doctor's office. He's part of a group practice. Sole practioners are so passe these days. It requires a staff just to hassle with all the paperwork connected with dealing with HMO's and Medicare. I like the Medicare thing, Uncle Sam paying for my medical care. On the other hand it makes you wonder if there's any money left for the doctor after trying to pay the staff from the negotiated low rates the HMO will pay. I told my doc that as long as the magazines are new and the coffee pot full of fresh coffee (and he doesn't keep me waiting too long) I'll come in for a visit whenever he can think of an excuse to examine me. We both come out ahead and I get to flirt with these smiling young ladies. As for my health? Everything looks good! "Thirty more years" he said. I wondered what that cute young lady on the left will look like in thirty years. I wondered if I'll even still care.