"News that's not known, or not known enough."
Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion.
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"News that's not known, or not known enough." Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion. |
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The good old days
And it's just as true now as then. You can have all the happy symbolism and trite slogans of "Hope and Change" but there are still a lot of very angry and resentful people out there who long for the days they remember. Where you could leave your back door open to let the breeze in and not have to worry that something else might come in as well. Where you still could live comfortably on a middle class income. Where we were the good guys and everyone believed it. When tomatoes did not make you sick. And the Republicans are very skilled at exploiting this to the max.
Right up until the end
I feel the same way. My dreams are filled with horrors. My husband is just as complacent as a pig in slop. He complains but if I say "Let's go to a protest" or send money somewhere etc. he says: "You're into that stuff, you do it." Well I'm gonna "do that stuff" Hugs, ladies and gentlemen
Soldiers' revolt in Iraq
Once the soldiers determine that they are being cynically used for purposes which have no relation to defending America, and they see their own lives being squandered in unlimited tours of duty as occupation forces and police, they re-focus their attention on "force protection missions". This, I believe, is the key to understanding the sustained drop in US casualties. The US military has been forced to use air power to win a ground war. Vietnam: The soldier's revolt
Tim Russert, broil in hell
NBC will have to search with great diligence to find an even worse host for Meet the Press. Yet I'm sure the network is up to that challenge.
Who's "goading" and "baiting" who?
In The Canadian's world view, Hamas is "goading" Israel and Hezbollah is "baiting" Israel. That's an interesting choice of words. It sounds like the same perspective that would say Iraq "taunted" the US into attacking, or Iran is "daring" the US to attack, or the Sioux had a "readiness to attack" the US Cavalry, which they did Look, I don't want to start a big argument or piss off The Canadian (who always has valuable insights) but let's not use loaded language, OK? Let's speak plain English: Hamas and Hezbollah are resisting and responding to Israel's inhumane tactics and policies. Considered fairly, Hamas' and Hezbollah's resistance and response are nowhere near equal to the provocation. Neither Hamas nor Hezbollah is capable of responding with anywhere near the strength and ruthlessness of Israel. The rebels have rocks and rage and some comparatively low-tech missiles, while Israel is armed with the power of government, a top-tier military, an arsenal of nuclear weapons (not "plans" or "aspirations"), and of course an endless supply of leaders who show no hint of what's laughably sometimes called "Judeo-Christian ethics". Seriously ask yourself, who's "goading" and "baiting" who?
Deranged
I vote for outright deranged.
Living in the moment
Wow, you are right. There is little known about adult cystic fibrosis. The only current research I could find were studies to alleviate symptoms, not so much on genetic screening or pathology for adults. If I understand what I read so far, CF is similar to Lupus in that they symptoms are a little different for each one afflicted. You just have to wait and see which way the disease wants to go. Living in the moment, one day at a time seems like the only way to cope with it. I have some more opposites for you. What about the man on TV who is going to make YOU rich by having you send HIM money? A man rapes a woman, but rape is a woman's issue? Sound like the man has the issue, she just has the bruises. Rape is a man's issue. The PATRIOT Act turns our government against its citizen, undermines fundamental rights, and did more damage to our way of life than 9/11. The terrorists collapsed the towers, but the president collapsed our country. Should have been called The Capitulation of Rights Act. A patriotic act would be to study the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, then adhere to them in the face of all challenges and temptations. The Forestry people decide which trees the loggers can have, why aren't they called De-forestry people? Why do women wear panties liners, when men have more obvious problems? If you do the laundry...you know what I mean. The same people who wanted to impeach Bill Clinton for screwing one woman, don't want to impeach Bush who screwed us all. The government takes our own money and gives it back to us as a rebate so that we can give it to the oil companies. Why not just give it to Exxon directly and save postage? We "defend" by attacking, we use love and tolerance teachings of Christ to spread hatred, intolerance, and war. Pro-life doesn't have anything to do with ensuring healthcare, justice, education, equality or defense against capital punishment. Prohibition doesn't work. Outlawing abortion only stops SAFE ABORTIONS. Should be Pro-I-want-to-tell-you-how-to-live-your-life. But what do you expect from a species that built structures that block out the sun, then created artificial light so that we could see. DUH! In comparison, my note to Nancy Pelosi was brief, but similar in content. Your Kindred Spirit,
Shafted coming and going
Actually much, much worse today. ... I am having terrible diarrhea, hardly can eat. Lot of pain. ... This is what many of the people who ate industrial tomatoes are experiencing. I was at increased risk due to the meds I am taking to keep down stomach acid to aid the healing of my esophagus because acid in the stomach is the first line of defense.
I went to the ER last night and got IV fluids and antibiotics for what is presumed to be a serious case of salmonella gastroenteritis, which is what I thought, though the ER physician was unreasonably resistant insisting that it was diverticulitis. Typical, so many US physicians are apparently insulted at the thought of a patient, especially another physician, having an opinion about what is wrong with them. US medicine has just been reduced to a smoldering ruin. I'm still pretty sick today, but with any luck I will start improving over the next few days on antibiotics (salmonella is usually not treated by the way because antibiotics can actually prolong the disease and creates the risk of inducing a carrier state). I am in the same situation as everyone else in the country. Shafted coming and going. Poisonous industrial agriculture at one end and incompetent profit-hungry medicine at the other. The saving grace being that, through my wife, I have access to insurance as part of a privileged, and captive, professional class.
Trying, but very difficult as I am being made responsible for child care for our VERY ACTIVE five year old. I am likely to survive the illness but remain at risk of succumbing to having the house burned down around me. But hell, it is as easy as falling off a log to point to folks that have it MUCH, MUCH worse. I learned, for instance, the day before yesterday that a dear friend has been diagnosed with end stage cancer (maybe six months to live) after a failure to diagnose the cancer six months ago in what sounds like gross malpractice. Now that's bad. You might want to check with a constitutional lawyer, but I am virtually certain that any officer can be impeached, much less the third in line for the presidency.
PS: thanks for the prayers.
A big middle finger
And this announcement comes two weeks after Ford said it'll be building its next generation of cars in Mexico. Ford, like so many other companies, is basically giving America a big middle finger.
Ethical standards, my arse
Immorality, incompetence, illegal activities
Shows how scared the current government is of Obama. This is probably why Rezko was busted in the first place.
The sick results of Bush's crony capitalism. Where immorality, incompetence, illegal activities are OK and are in fact the norm. Is corruption the only way to make money these days? Do they teach this at MBA business school, or do they wait until they are in the field? First they got Rove. Then Huckabee. Who's next? Bush's cabinet after they leave office? All the nutcases will be in one place. It's probably happening here, for gasoline. And around the world, the price of oil is probably fixed, not based on supply/demand. Everyone has know this for many years. What's news is that the House of Representatives is just finding this out. They're trying to shed the Bush-stink. Good luck. It comes with the blood of over 1 million people dead. Aren't we killing ourselves fast enough? Do we need this much help? Texas justice. Lying and cruelty by authority. It's the Bush legacy. Get used to it.
Impeach Pelosi
The few
THESE are our proud servicemen?
Um, America? Pay attention.
Headed for Missouri
Starting tomorrow morning I can catch the bus out at 11:50 am, that holds for through Sunday even. I will be arriving in Lebanon, Missouri at 10:20 pm a day later. specifically I day, 1 hour and 10 minutes later. There will be 2 transfers so I will have a couple of layovers it looks like because of the extra time. Wish me well in this and I want all to be well and happy! Basically, my thought is to get on that bus tomorrow and as a plan I prefer it. will have breakfast here and get my bags packed Inside I am already so out of here! Remember Stonecircle I leave at 11:50 am and will arrive 10:20 pm the next night! See you then! zen hugs,
P.S. Since they are the ones who helped me I have to tell everyone that from here on out you should read Fallen Angels Used Books (faubcomiccom) as it may well just save your life! Same goes for Broken Glass though the URL escapes me just now! Buzzed
Handshake? ZZZT handbuzzer! Just kidding. The temps in the south have been hitting 100 and I haven't been sleeping. But my sense of humor is slowly returning, so yeah... let's shrug it off and get on with electing Obama. One of the great things about living here is that we can agree to disagree and respect each other's right to say what you will. Besides, we have work to do.
US Army endorses McCain
The Pentagon's propaganda program continues ...
Incredibly stupid, or outright deranged
This article completely ignores the fact that Bush, Cheney, and Israel have all three over the past six years made it clear that they are either incredibly stupid, or outright deranged. So reason and logic might have nothing whatsoever to do with their actions. Related links: The dire fate of Israel What happens if Iran gives Bush the ground war he doesn't want?
One little thing
No mention that inflation played a significant part in the increased sale figures.
You feel it too
The shelves are not being stocked, basic things are missing every time I go to a store I notice this. Every item every four days is going up 30cents or more... Something's going to happen. I feel it more and more every day. It's like I'm in a room where the air is slowly being let out. You know what I'm talking about, don't you? You feel it too. I SEE THE TUNNEL BUT I SURE AS HELL DON'T SEE ANY LIGHT!
Out of Israel's control
Israel, I suspect, does not want to take the bait given Hez b'Allah's readiness to attack from the North thereby dividing Israel's armed forces. Tough position to be in. I do not think, however, that Israel is able to control the eventual outcome desired by its enemies. A multiple front attack against Israel during a time when the US and Israel are militarily and politically devoid of Middle East influence. As I mentioned before, Iran is an ancient civilization and they have outplayed their enemies with ease. I still firmly believe that the high prospect of a much larger Middle East war remains.
The time has already come. To possess military and political power does not mean that it is always effectively used to exact the influence that a country desires. Iraq is a cage for the US Military lion lead by a lame duck President whose neocon ideology has run its historical course. Israel has a potent military with nuclear weapons, but a conventional army, no matter how powerful, is not strong when divided on multiple fronts. Their nuclear option is a doomsday choice without clear and present conventional purpose. Israel's back is to the sea, and they are surrounded by enemies on 4 fronts: S Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, W. Bank. Arab/Persian countries contain populations that are 10X that of Israel. Israel's main ally is the US and NOT Europe. Both the US and Israel have domestic political challenges, to say the least. This century's economic superpowers have risen: China and India. The West is now facing East.
My health is not for sale
Oh, I know they will deny my claim. I've already got a lawyer, signed fee agreement and everything. Knowing me, though, just because I'm prepared, they'll probably approve it, and there goes 25% of the lump sum payment! It's when I'm not prepared that I get kicked off my keester. LOL. A very long time ago, I worked for Legal Aid. My boss was the Social Security disability "specialist" in the area. I was friends with a couple. The male had lung cancer. I urged them to come in where I work and apply for Social Security disability. They were very hesitant, and I almost had to DRAG them in. They finally caved, my boss represented them, and, of course, he was denied. By the time his benefits were approved, he had died. This man worked his entire life in what once as a thriving steel mill on our town. (It's long been gone.) LUNG CANCER??!! Didn't he deserve better? Ironically, when the SSI representative interviewed me, she shared with me that she, too, had had pancreatitis and knew how painful the disease is. Hers apparently went away. I gave her my sermon about cystic fibrosis, should it ever return, become chronic and be referred to as "idiopathic." Regardless, I know I'll be denied. I'm very sorry to hear about your friends. There definitely comes a time when we do question our own mortality, particularly if others in our age group are suffering. My mother was one of those people who was never sick. She was considered a "little goofy" when she followed advice that she had read in a book that was written DECADES ago regarding diet and its relationship to colon cancer: What to eat, what not to eat, etc. (This is the very same advice that is being given to people today, by the way.) She died at age 66 of colon cancer. I envy your swimming! LOL. When I lived in Pennsylvania, I'd often visit the Jersey shore. I adore the beach. Recently, every dream I've had involves the ocean, and sometimes I'm disappointed when I wake up. My daughter and son-in-law just bought a pool for my grandkids last week. If/when I can, I'm going to buy a bathing suit and go out there with them. It's not just that I enjoy swimming (it IS a kids' pool); my cystic fibrosis has made me vitamin D deficient. ("Insufficient" range for 25-hydroxyvitamin D is 20-29 ng/mL; "deficient" range is less than 20 ng/mL, and my score is less than 4 ng/mL.) So it would be good for me, as well, to be out in sun more. (This means I'll probably wind up with skin cancer! LOL) Although I thank you very much for your comment about my being brave, please don't think that I am. If anything, I'm extremely nosy. I don't like surprises, so in a way, I'm fortunate. I also become extremely and immediately humbled when I think of all the children and babies who have died from this disease. I'm 55 and have lived a relatively healthy life. Having said that, I could go out and get hit by a bus tomorrow. Few of us really know when/how we will reach the end (or beginning, depending on your point of view). I'm trying to learn as much as I can about cystic fibrosis, just as I did with pancreatitis. I feel somewhat of an expert regarding pancreatitis because literature regarding the disease is written in ENGLISH, but when it comes to cystic fibrosis, it's much more difficult, particularly when trying to understand genotypes, phenotypes, etc. As they say, it's all "Greek" to me. I'm trying to understand, and it's frustrating because I'm NOT a child, my disease, symptoms, mutations and "variants of the poly T tract in the CFTR gene" are a little different, and most of the literature out there is about babies and young children. Also hindering my understanding is the fact that they're still researching this disease, and finding adults diagnosed with it is a relatively new phenomenon. I can't believe for one minute that the man in charge of the air program at your company can be HELPED by his work duties! I always see a ton of ads on TV and internet for mesothelioma, apparently usually caused by work environment. This seems, as well, to be something that was relatively recently discovered. I can sooooooooooooo relate to feeling like living in an opposite world. When I found this site, I thought, "YES!!! I'm NOT the only one, and I just might NOT be living in some kind of weird parallel universe!" I had to smile at your reference to Rachel Ray. After I had already sent my "Hillary Speech" piece to Grandma and Grandpa, I "tweaked" it a little more, and one of the things I did was to add to the sentence about my liking Rachel Ray "even though she's secretly a Muslim." I also love your reference to the "White House" and "Black Water." My health is not for sale. (Who would buy it, anyway??! It's like one of those subprime mortgages.) Likewise, I don't think my healthCARE should be a commodity that is traded on the Dow. Think about it for a second. In what other area of "capitalism" are you NOT approved or denied credit without some prior evaluation of your ability to repay the loan? When you enter an emergency room, you're asked to sign here, here, and here. I realize we're dealing with a much different situation than, say, purchasing a vehicle. I'd obviously not be approved to purchase a Mercedes, but I might be able to afford a Chevy Cavalier (at least I used to be). Unfortunately, the result often winds up being hundreds of thousands of medical bills that most people couldn't pay if they worked 24/7 for the rest of their lives and turned their entire paychecks over to the multiple providers who are billing them. I may not be guaranteed to a Mercedes or Cavalier, but I AM supposed to be guaranteed "LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Where is the morality when one's very ability to live or die depends on the number of dollars in his/her wallet? The only telephone I have is a Cricket cell phone (best deal I could find). I rarely turn it on because the only people anxious to speak with me are bill collectors. Although I admit to being depressed, depression is a disease that is a common component of chronic pancreatitis (even without CF). Knowing I have these bills that I can't repay has deeply affected my self-respect. I BEGGED my auto credit company to repossess my car in mid 2007. They finally did it a few months ago. Now I owe MORE than what they were able to sell it for at auction. I received my first notice from the collection agency last month and mailed them a check for $5.00, which they cashed. I'll never be able to pay off that debt. Although there are a lot of things I need right now, I'm trying my best to hang on to $250.00 cash because I need that to rent a car for my next appointment with the cystic fibrosis physician, scheduled for June 25. My car is gone, and my daughter's car is very old and very well may not be able to make the 160-mile round trip. When I was still "insured" with my "employer-provided" health insurance, the monthly premium was over $600 a month, my largest monthly expense. However, the thousands of dollars it DIDN'T pay are the things I'm about to be sued for. My local hospital suggested I apply for their "indigent program." I did and was accepted. It has helped a lot with the hospital bills and a few of the providers. I was still sick, still breaking my back to earn enough money to feed the greedy insurance company, and I had no money left to pay the deductibles, copays and other things the "insurance" company refused to pay. I barely had enough left over to pay for internet and phone. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!! Believe me, SOMEONE is paying a TON of money for my illness, one way or the other. So they're going to sue me. At least they can't shoot me (yet). Capitalism is good for some things. Healthcare isn't one of them. I couldn't agree more with every single thing you said in your last paragraph and loved the way you expressed it. Is it you? Well, if it is, it's you AND me, and no, I don't think it's you. Instead, you may be one of the few who is paying attention. Sorry for the length of this, but your note really touched me (and/or ticked me off Well, he DID say, during debates with Gore, that he was against "nation building." Looking around America (which is resembling Iraq more and more every day with floods, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, collapsing bridges, wildfires, etc.), war-torn Iraq and every other nation bearing his "fingerprints," I'd say that was definitely one time he told a pretty significant truth. On Tuesday, I wrote the following letter to Speaker Pelosi. I would strongly urge anyone who supports impeachment to either write to the speaker or to call her office. In addition to the link for a letter to her provided by Sherri, the phone number for Pelosi's office is 202-225-0100. (I saw an MSNBC poll, indicating that 89% support impeachment. If there was ever a time to be heard, perhaps it's now.)
Kerboom again
With friends like this who needs enemies?
Century check
Oh help me, what century are we in?
Fox News race-baiting
"pro-American" or "some sort of sleeper agent" This is not a smear Fox News would use on a white person.
Everything is mislabeled
When you apply for disability, they deny all claims the first time. Only on the second or third application is it really considered. Brace yourself for a long bureaucratic nightmare. I have spent the majority of this past year at the hospital bedside of one or another friend. My best friend just left ICU after 2 and 1/2 months to go to Rehab. It seems all my friends are getting diagnosed and I keep waiting to see what my challenge will be. It's feels like one of the reality shows where they spin a wheel or pull a slip of paper out to let each contestant know what they are up against. So far, I am in great health, but I keep waiting. I eat my veggies, I swim 4 times a week, I don't smoke... But we all die of something. I hope I get something that isn't painful, but if I do... I hope I can be as brave as you. I work in the environmental department and next to the man who is in charge of the air program. He has severe allergies to airborne irritants... as in he is in charge of inspecting paint booths, etc. but is highly allergic. Again, I get the sense that I am walking around in a planet sized asylum. Sometimes it feels like I live in opposite world, everything is exactly opposite to or not related to what it says. The label says beans, but you open it up and it is peanuts, but no one around me sees the problem. Everything is mislabeled. Leaders follow the polls, healthcare is really about being sick, junk food may not be good for you but at least my chips don't have Salmonella, the soda machine sells water, I wash the plastic trash leftover from my frozen lunch so I can recycle it, gas cost per gallon is about to exceed the minimum wage per hour, and all the while these "United" states can't agree on the definition of marriage. The "air" guy can't breath, newscasters sing and dance, people watch reality shows to escape (??), and Rachel Ray can get a 1 hour show but is an international terrorist? We can fly an 80 ft. rebel flag but that barely discernable scarf has GOT TO GO! WTF! Disability "Benefits" aren't enough to live on, the moral voices are connected to those who commit immoral deeds, lawyers are crooks, cops hurt people, and somewhere along the way the "white" "house" became "black" "water" and I keep looking up the meanings of the words that are on the label... but they don't fit. Maybe if I start re-naming everything so that the words match, I won't go insane. Is it me?
Skinned autos
Finding the switch
"When a shape-shifting concept car made of neoprene turns up, you can be near-certain that flame-surfaced BMW design fuhrer Chris Bangle won't be far away." http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2936/ YouTube - BMW GINA Light Visionary Model: Premiere Keep in mind the inflatable bodied cars we've previously seen articles about would be natural platforms for skins like these.
For bloody years now
Yes. Sick to death of it. Every bloody second of every bloody day. For bloody years now. Why hasn't there been a run on the not so White House? An uprising? Mass civil unrest? Screaming and shouting from the rooftops? My guess is the general US populace is so busy watching Heroes they haven't got time to become one... Yours in sick-sodden solidarity,
Military veep
"What can you do with a general When he stops being a general? Oh, what can you do with a general who retires? Who's got a job for a general When he stops being a general? They all get a job but a general no one hires They fill his chest with medals while he's across the foam And they spread the crimson carpet when he comes marching home The next day someone hollers when he comes into view "Here comes the general" and they all say "General who?" They're delighted that he came But they can't recall his name Nobody thinks of assigning him When they stop wining and dining him It seems this country never has enjoyed So many one and two and three and four star generals Unemployed" Well, except for military contractors, PACs and maybe as a running mate, that is. This begs the question...does an old general trump McCain, an old Vietnam POW ??
Will Rogers wisdom
Sorry for the undeserved criticism, I too, tried to seek out true answers while so many others were happy with what they were told. I'm a child of the '60's and raising teenage sons alone I reminded them daily that, while they thought they had all the answers, they didn't even have half the questions yet. I taught them to be free thinkers and tried to instill the wisdom of people like Will Rogers Oh, I'm so sorry, my "soap box" slid out when I wasn't looking and I can rant on this subject for hours. Once again, my apology for the undeserved "we" and thank you for your reply.
What journalism isn't
If I owned the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, this reporter would be fired. It's not "impartial journalism", it's simply stupid to pretend that the counties' claim is plausible, and to look for some spokesperson to contradict it. It's blather, akin to saying Kern County has announced that day is night and night is day, but some experts disagree. Long sigh. Reporters are supposed to report facts, and it's a fact that the counties' announcements are bogus. A reporter who can't say that is someone who needs to be in a different line of work.
The real enemy
Smartasswhiteboy: Well said OK kids, time to put down that Nintendo. There's work to do.....
Eating itself
Ultimately, Capitalism has succeeded in destroying the very thing it thrives on, the economy which is part of the human ecology.
Take it with a chuckle
MonkeyMan, I can't tell whether you're pulling my leg or you're a walking object lesson in missing the point, but I like Helen & Harry's advice: The primaries are over. So I take it with a chuckle and tell myself you're probably kidding. You seem like a decent soul and I don't want to argue.
Can't blame 'Brownie'
Now it's the US's turn to apologize for abusing it's ethnic minorities. Prez Bush, anything intelligent to say on the matter? I thought not. Don't have to worry about this judge believing in the freedom of speech. We can't blame "Brownie" this time. All that's left to blame is Bush. Give over-stressed soldiers drugs along with their machine guns? Better get the military lawyers ready.
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