tune in, turn on drop out; the elderly spend their days at the Casinos / part 2

tune in, turn on, drop out; the elderly spend their days at the Casino/ part 2

fiction
Edward w Pritchard

Like the exercise gym which originated the concept that the elderly must walk always around with a colored swipe card around their neck for monitoring, the Casino with the swipe card on a string rewards the elderly patron for constantly keeping their identification card in the Machine by providing extra large tee shirts for men, and high fat foods and beverages for Women.

Using secret technology and programming techniques the Casino monitors and directs one's experience by use the Swipe Card. Different colors for different levels of wealth and vulnerability to a manipulated gambling experience. Continuous consumption of the wish for and possibility of obtaining sudden wealth is the apple of temptation that brings the elderly customer to the casinos.

First the elderly couple gets a piece of direct mail from the casino promising a fabulous gift. After standing in long lines wrapping around the climate controlled music filled Casino the customers all get a purple blanket or towel with the Name of the Indian tribe who owns the Casino. The towel is delivered in a miniature plastic bag. Taken to the elderly couple's residence the gift bag is stuffed in the top of a closet until finally deposited at the Goodwill or Mennonite charity store. The Goodwill won't accept the unopened Casino Candy because they have hundreds of such items in stock already.

To discourage elderly persons from losing the electronic swipe card a glowing bright orange string is provided that can be seen from afar. The card itself although vigilantly silent provides volumes of valuable information about the patron to the Casino marketing department. One day everyone in society will be required to wear a swipe card around their neck and the same one will be used at the gym, the grocery store and Starbucks and the Casinos.

If the elderly casino customer by chance wins money at the slot machines the swipe card is promptly voided and reissued by the Casino staff. If one gambles at a machine without a card the overhead music volume is raised to deafening levels to drive the pariah out of the establishment.