And Here is Something Special From the United States’ Social Security Administration
Posted on March 28th, 2010
According to statistics and projections available from the United States’ Social Security Administration (an organization with a big stake in accurate predictions about longevity), I can look forward to 20.28 more years (and 243.36 monthly supplemental retirement payments) before reaching the end of the road. Of course, any number of variables could either extend or shorten that number.
Even though I would like to be optimistic and cheerful about all of this, the sobering reality of it all causes me to reflect on a wide number of issues, but one of the more light-hearted and intriguing issues is simply this: Assuming that I will read about one book a week, which is a fairly accurate assumption based on my reading speed and other factors (i.e., daily distractions and part-time teaching duties, with the latter necessary if I want to keep creditors at bay), how many more books do I have time to read? My third-grade math skills tell me that I have something like 1054.56 books left to read. (Note: Someone please tell me if my math is wrong.)
This number forces me to consider the next logical questions: Which books must I include among the 1054.56? Should I allow myself the pleasure of rereading previously read books? Or should I restrict myself to books that I have not yet read?
Going further, I recognize that some books cannot be completed in a week (e.g., Holy Bible, a book that I have not completed from cover-to-cover), and some books can be completed more quickly (e.g., Flannery O’Connor’s Wise Blood, a book that I have read more times than any other book in existence). You can see how complicated this can become.
So, even though others may scoff at my absurd preoccupation with this life-and-death dilemma, I nevertheless think it high time that I come up with a systematic reading plan. Therefore, in full recognition of the peculiarity of this request, I turn outward to others for their recommendations.
Thus, feel free to recommend either 1 or 1054.56 books that I ought to read before I reach the full measure of the Social Security Administration’s allotment of 20.28 more years. I look forward to your suggestions.
Tags: Accurate Predictions, Daily Distractions, Flannery O Connor, Grade Math Skills, High Time, Holy Bible, Intriguing Issues, Logical Questions, Peculiarity, Preoccupation, Reading Plan, Reading Speed, Retirement Payments, Scoff, Social Security Administration, Supplemental Retirement, Third Grade Math, Third Grade Math Skills, United States Social Security, Wise Blood
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