It's all in the numbers...

Today is Superbowl 48.  Since we've begun keeping track of this event, its been written in roman numerals.  Those numbers, should you not remember your schooling, are: I - for 1; V - for 5; X - for 10; L - for 50; C- for 100, etc.  And there is a method in which we configure the combinations in between.   Superbowl 195 should read CVC, but will we still have Superbowls that number in the hundreds?

Some Superbowl numbers were more interesting, such as number 30, or XXX.  Name your poison sort of thing.  (The teams playing that year were the Dallas Cowboys, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.   To jog your memories even further, the Cowboys won.)  The Superbowl today has an interesting mix of numbers...XLVIII.  The next two are not going to be as interesting.  Superbowl 49 should read IL, and 50 will just be L.

If you're printing t-shirts, or making other paraphernalia for the Superbowl, this might be a challenge to your creativity.  Hard to fill up a shirt, or cap with just an L, or even before that...an IL.   And the thought of an IL should bring all sorts of commentary as to the value of the game, depending upon which teams prevail.  Sure to be plenty of puns for that game!

Something to think about after today's brouhaha settles down, which should be in about a month, or just before the basketball madness starts!

Watching the game, and rooting for...I'll never tell...on Day 236!

What were they thinking...? Part 2, A and B

...and less than a day later there's another story that makes you shake your head, and say to yourself "What were they thinking?"

First, A... At a recent rape trial, the judge gave explicit orders for the jurors to not discuss the trial with others, including social media.  So what happened?  One of the jurors not only posted some comments on Facebook (although they were not about the trial itself), but also tweeted (supposedly while she was in deliberation with the other jurors) about the dull trial and something to the effect that she was tired, bored, and wanted some red wine.  Huh?

Poor baby, a two day trial, which you're being paid for, and you're SO tired, and SO bored.  So bored in fact, that you neglected to listen to the judge's instructions?  I understand that there may be charges against you, including 30 days in jail, for contempt of court, especially since it was declared a mistrial.  How nice for the rape victims, to have to undergo another trial ordeal.  NOW what are you thinking?

Then we have B...What were the lawyers thinking when they said this was an appropriate juror for this trial?  Was she young, cute, supposedly savvy enough to render a just verdict?  Now everyone has to go through the whole rigamarole again.  What fun is that?  Perhaps all cell phones should be confiscated before the deliberations begin?  Or worse yet, let's sequester all future jurors to be sure they have NO access to ANY social media outlets.  Or maybe the lawyers just wanted to pad their accounts, since it was only a 2-day trial?   Maybe they'll rethink all their needs and requirements of the next jury.

More shoes dropping than a millipede has legs...on Day 235!

What were they thinking...? Part 1

The latest, unbelievable (to me) incidence in the news was that a man was shot in a movie theater for texting.  I can understand the anger at someone texting during a movie, as usually there are sounds involved which are distracting to others, and sometime an annoying light coming from a source other than the movie screen.

The anger is to be expected...BUT the man was then shot, and killed, by a retired former police officer!  What was he thinking?  The news story said he feared for his life after the shooting victim threw popcorn on him and "lunged (?)" at him.  So he drew his gun!  He must have been thinking he was in imminent danger?  The trial will comb through the facts, and the judge (and/or jury) will have the final decision as to whether his actions were justified.  Let them try to figure out what he was thinking.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop...on Day 234!

 

My underwear is 20 years old!!!

Too much information, you say?  I agree, but it's a phenomenon I wanted to explore.

So here's the scenario.  My mother-in-law came for a visit about 20 years ago, and we went to the local outlet mall, and she decided that she wanted to buy my some bvds, female style.  They are/were made by Hanes.   She has visited since then, but no more underwear!

Anyway, fast forward to 2013, and I'm thinking about how well these have held up, and how really old they are! I don't have all of them any more as my husband has taken it upon himself to throw out the truly holy ones.  And I think I finally gave up another pair last week, as they were beyond hope.  But there are still two or three left, and I'm kinda babying them.

Oh I've got other underwear, lots of other underwear.  But its not the same.  I've tried buying the same brand, same style, and what I thought was the same size, but that's all changed.  the sizes are "smaller" even though they have the same number on the waistband.  Or lets say they have less material!  And they don't last nearly as long.  AND...of course you've figured this out...they're NOT made in the USA. 

If you're in business, and you want repeat business, you either have to change styles dramatically to make people want the newest, latest, fanciest, or it better wear out soon, so you're forced to buy something else.

Twenty year old underwear is a merchant's nightmare!

Don't need to buy me any underwear this year, especially after Day 232!

What's in a name?

Good golly, there's a group of folks who want to change the name of the Washington redskins football team, because, they think, the name reflects badly on Native Americans (in other words, Indians.)  The "mascot" is the head of an Indian with headdress.

So I have a solution.  Keep the name and can the mascot!  There are other things that have red skins.  Red skin potatoes.  Red skin frankfurters.  You could change the team's nickname to the "spuds" or the "hot doggers."  Oscar Mayer may even chip in a few freebies if they go that route!

The only thing I worry about with my favorite team is whether they'll ever have a winning season (Chicago Cubs) on Day 231!

A letter to the president...

...wow...

if you knew then what you know now, would you still run for the presidency?

I wonder...were you bombarded, right after being sworn in, with all the secrets that you could never, ever reveal?  Did you think you'd ever be in a position to have to decide about going to war, or at least think of invading another country, such as Syria, after you voted against the original Iraq war?  All the misdeeds that the government has been running, perhaps without proper justification (like the NSA controversy?)  So many unbelievable mass shootings? Did you ever think it would appear that the whole country seems to view you as a pariah?  Or as some of the media would have you believe?

Its definitely not a position I would want.  Even the money isn't that good.  Although the perks are outstanding.  Great place to live.  Good food.  Virtually unlimited, paid-for travel to all parts of the world.  Meet and greet very important people from all walks of life.  Your own rock concerts in your own home!

I am amazed that your every move seems to be scrutinized far more than your predecessors, although whomever takes over after you, might even get worse treatment.  I was amazed at a friend of mine who was ranting that you went on a trip and had 50 people in your entourage.  Or maybe it was 150?  But nonetheless, did you invite all your friends and relatives, or did the secret service just think that was the appropriate amount due to your high visibility?  But he blamed you!

If I were you, I'd be counting the days until it was all over!  Of course you can't express that out loud, and possibly someone reading this would take that line out of context, and use it to say you were thinking just that!  That's the way of the world these days.  On the bright side, you do want the best for your girls, and what a life's worth of experiences they have had already.  They may be getting more out of this than you!  All the fun, none of the worries. 

I only have 135 days to go, myself, as this is my Day 230!



 

Just what is a superstar nowadays, anyway?

While standing in line at the grocery store a magazine cover caught my eye.   The cover line was something to the effect of "Kim Kardashian Superstar."  In fact I think the entire magazine was devoted to her, although I did not pick it up, or read any of what was inside.

All I could think of was...what made her a superstar?

When I think of superstars, I think of people who have made tremendous achievements in their lives, in their particular area of endeavor.   Think any of the astronauts who first went up into space, although anyone going up in a rocket gets my vote.   Think the l972 (I believe) Miami Dolphins who had a perfect season in football.  Think any academy-award winning actor.

But Kim Kardashian?  What has been her overwhelming contribution?  Getting a "reality TV" show about a wealthy, but dysfunctional family who happen to have a name that more than a few people might still connect with the infamous OJ trial? Getting married and then divorced after a couple days or weeks?  Then getting pregnant out of wedlock, to her supposed next husband?  (At this writing they haven't headed to the alter yet.) 

Better go back under that rock where I've been lurking for the past 228 episodes of this blog.   At this rate my head just might explode before I make it to Day 229!

Bottled Water

Why do we buy bottled water? 
What did we do before bottled water? 
Would we go without if bottled water disappeared?

This is still a phenomenon that I do not understand.  I'm not much of a water drinker to begin with, but I always get it from a water fountain, or the tap in the kitchen sink, or any other place where it runs freely.  Since I have running water in my house, why would I buy it pre-bottled? 

If I go out, and think I might need some water, I use one of my travel bottles, fill it from the tap, and go on my merry way.  I do not buy some bottled water to take with me.  That's just another bottle to throw away.

Okay, you might say your water doesn't taste good.  When you live in the country, and drink from a well, that can be an issue.  It's not the water that doesn't taste good, all "pure" water tastes the same.  It's the minerals that have found their way into the water.  Or the smell,  of which a sulfur smell can be common in well water. 

So why not buy a water purifier?  Oh they may cost upwards of $30, or a bit more, and they do have to have their filters changed regularly.  But how much money would you save if you're buying a case at a minimum of $3.00 a case?  You would get approximately 10 cases, not including taxes.  If you drink three cases a week (?) then this would last you a bit over 3 weeks.  That water purifier's filter should last you a month or two or three.   And should cost way less than the cost of those 10 cases of water.   And think of all the plastic that will NOT go in to the landfill!

Think bottled water is better than tap water?  That bottled water is probably just coming out of some one else's tap.  And when is the last time you heard of an outbreak of illness linked to bad water?  Of course I'm talking within the USA, not third world countries with no sanitation standards.

You know Ozarko water does not come from the Ozarks, but from San Antonio.  Do you think the people in San Antonio, who buy Ozarko water, realize they're buying their own tap water?  That they could get from their sink?  Practically for free?

As for me, I'll keep drinking from the tap, on Day 228!

Toilet paper!

"What's the big deal with toilet paper?"  I found myself wondering this the other evening.

There are so many varieties.  There's single-ply.  Double-ply.  Quilted.  Soft.  Softer than soft.   Double rolls.  Triple rolls.  Specially made for septic systems.  RV toilet paper.  Who knew?

The bottom line, no pun intended, is that it all is used primarily for the same reason, and goes into the same place...some hole underground that we tend to ignore, forget about, or just don't care, as long as it's not backing up into our bathrooms.    So why must we have so many different varieties?

I must admit, as a child, we used the single-ply, inexpensive (cheap) stuff.  I always envied the folks who had the two-ply, softer than soft.  When I was on my own,  I bought the soft stuff.  Nice.

Now, as an older adult, and more cost conscious, I've been reading the labels, which include how many squares per roll, although I do not read the size of the squares (you can become too anal) and have been trying different ones.  Haven't had any complaints from the other person living here, so I guess no one really cares as long as the job gets done!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it, on Day 230!

 

Guns stay, NRA go away!

I just finished reading the book "Glock" by Paul M. Barrett.  The book is fairly recent (2012), the controversy is not.  Wayyyyy back in the late 80s and early 90s, the very same brouhaha was going around about the new pistol, called the Glock, that everyone wanted banned for various reasons.  Just yesterday I saw one go through an estate auction, for about $600+ dollars (more on this later.)  There was also talk of limiting assault weapons, size of clips, background checks, etc, etc.  Who knew this would all be front page news 20 years later, with pretty much the same arguments?

And you know who's making out the best during all this...the gun manufacturers and dealers!  Back during the time period mentioned above, they couldn't make guns fast enough.  Think that's the case today?  According to a statement in the book, there's probably a gun in private hands for every man, woman, and child in the U.S.  I know there are plenty of people I would rather not see EVER own a gun.  And too many of those people now have conceal/carry permits too!  Doesn't that make you feel safe?

We do have guns in our house.  I'm not a righteous person saying that you shouldn't, or can't.  I'm just saying we need a few safeguards.  The biggest one, in my mind, is background checks.  If you're not a criminal, and have never been a criminal, then why should you worry?  Okay, if you were a criminal, but have proven to society that you're "rehabilitated" (and there are people out there who have done something wrong, but now are totally responsible, yet cannot own a gun) perhaps we can adjust this issue, reasonably.

Getting back to the auction mentioned above, I was talking to another auction goer, and made mention of all the guns available at auction these days, and that the prices tended to be more than retail many times.  He said that was because there are "No background checks!"   Could we have a big enough loophole in our system? 

In defense of background checks, rather recently, there was an incident where a man rammed his car into the wall of a pawn shop because they would not sell him a gun.  Reason being he didn't pass a background check.  Is that the type of person we want owning a gun?  Not me!!! 

Then we have the NRA who now want to arm school teachers?   As if teaching weren't stressful enough, you're gonna have some smart-aleck kid backtalk a teacher, and the teacher is going to crack and...   They'd probably talk about the mental health of the teacher, and how we should now arm the children! 

Why don't they put their millions towards talking about any mental health issues; poor parenting that allows kids to have access to guns; the lack of training with guns?  They used to be a pro-hunting organization, now they're more like a private militia organization.  Their messages don't come across as sympathetic, but more a form of bullying.  Essentially,  if you don't own a gun, you're a dope.

Just shooting my mouth off on Day 229!







 

Gay Marriage makes me laugh!

I stopped writing due to the elections because I was so fed up with politicians, etc, etc.  They're still making the news (those Republicans just can't seem to GET OVER IT!)  But now I have a new cause, so to speak..gay marriage! 

This past week, the supreme court justices are hearing arguments for and against gay marriage.  Since there was audio available, one of my more favored radio programs on NPR, was airing excerpts.   To hear the justices comment on the arguments made by the Anti-gay marriage attorneys was totally laughable.  Those attorneys were so tongue-tied when questioned, I wondered how they got hired in the first place!  I was driving down the road laughing out loud myself!

Then the following day I heard another correspondent talking about how even Justice Scolia was not his usual boisterous self, but more subdued.  It would seem he too was in awe of such ridiculous controversy over a case that probably shouldn't even be looked at by the court in the first place.

Let me say that I am FOR gay marriage.  I was for civil unions too, but if the "spouse" or "partner" or whomever you want to call the second person in a committed relationship cannot get benefits, that would normally be available to heterosexual couples, that's wrong, that's not equality. 

If you're not familiar with the constitution (and I admit, it's not an easy document to digest) Article IV, section 2 of the constitution says:  The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.  The first line of the Equal Rights Amendment says:  Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Do we need any more argument on Day 228?

 

I wonder about Sandy Hook too...

Unfortunately just a few days before Christmas we had that awful school shooting known simply as Sandy Hook.  Too many children, and adults dead from a single gunman, who then took his own life, and we'll never know the motivation, although a few family friends have speculated.

The carnage was caused by an assault rifle, a legal assault rifle.  That is to say the owner of said gun purchased it legally.  But it wasn't the shooter.  It was his mother who bought the gun.  Which brings the first question.  Why did a mother, who admitted her son had mental health issues, buy an assault rifle?  Second question... why was it not put in such a secure place that he could not get his hands on it?  Same question for the other guns she had in her possession.

I'm not anti-gun, but I am anti-assault rifle.   I know the constitution gives us the right to "bear arms" but I believe the founding fathers meant to take up arms against those who would depose us from our homeland.  We use arms to protect our homes; to hunt; in war.  But only in war would an assault rifle be advised.   Are we now at war with future generations?

Therefore, a third question...why are we allowing the sale of assault rifles?  In my mind, they're hardly "sporting" rifles.  Hardly gives the game a "fair" chance.

As for Wayne LaPierre, from the NRA, saying that authorities had "blood on their hands" by not taking better care to secure schools, my blood boils at the assumption.  Does anybody really give him credence, with such amazingly thoughtless, heartless statements?

Too many questions, not enough answers on Day 227!

Goodby books!

Not so fast!  Oh sure, the new electronic readers are all interesting and handy, but I'm not sure they're going to take the place of a book, with real pages that you turn, any time soon.  Here's my argument.

If you go on a vacation, you can carry your little reader because it's easier to carry than a tote bag of books.   You can read in the dark and not bother to turn the light on and annoy others who prefer the dark (think bedtime, car drive, etc.)  You can look "up-to-date with modern technology!"

Unlike a book, the electronic instrument has to be recharged from time to time. The book you can set down, with just a bookmark in it.    Unlike a book, if you lose your place, you have to manipulate it a bit more to find where you left off.  You can trade your books on your reader with others, but if they don't have a device, then you can't give them a copy of that favorite book, unless you buy it in hard form.  If you take your books out in the environment, if they get wet, or otherwise damaged, you can get another.  If the reader gets wet, well, replacement cost would be quite a bit more, plus you've lost all the "books" and information you have stored on it.  With a book, you just lose the one item.

Lets face it, books have been around for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.  Before that we had stone tablets we wrote on.  Some of those are still around, although not practical.  But we still have the Rosetta stone. We'd like to find the 10 Commandments and they were presumably stone.   Just watch Antiques Road Show to see how much an autographed copy of an old tome, or even a newer publication, can sell for.    You're not gonna get that out of your reader.

The computer has made our lives easier, there's no question about that.  But if we didn't make "hard copies" of much of what we read or write, and someone erased those important papers from the computers, then how would we confirm what we did?   If the Declaration of Independence were on a computer, and that computer was erased, we'd never know exactly what was said. We'd be guessing.These readers are just another, less involved form, of that computer.  And if you've got a really important "book" on one, then there's probably a "hard copy" somewhere.

You can still find me, braving the crowds, at Barnes & Noble, on Day 226!
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Men behaving badly...again...

I admit I wasn't up in arms when Bill Clinton committed his faux pas with Monica.   Although my best Republican friend was.  But he wasn't up in arms when Valerie Plame was outed by Vice President Cheney (okay, he wasn't blamed, but he's extremely suspect.)   Although Cheney's goof was not sexual in nature, it still bugs me, but that's another story.    But this latest goof by a man, namely General Petraeus, has me astonished, and scratching my head.

I would have thought, after all the indiscretions that have become public knowledge, and with the  media hype that goes along with it, someone in Petraeus' position would know better.  Especially when he's head of national security for the biggest country in the world!  Guess all that power went to the wrong head!

Then I have to question his sanity when the object of his affections is so immature  as to get angry with another woman, [NOT his wife, yes I said wife,] who she assumed to be vying for his affections also.  Can you get any more teenager than that?   And what about his wife!  Was she just a simple annoyance?

I'm not that fond of social media shouting everything and anything at all times of the day.  Information overload most of the time.  Like the tabloids, only quicker, and probably just as suspect in their assumptions.  But when they're right, everyone knows about it, all over the world, in the blink of a second, or at the speed of sound?  Light?  Whatever the satellites use.    What is that saying...the powerful fall harder, faster?  In this day and age, you're NOT "too big to fail," unless you're a bank.

Waiting for the next shoe to drop...on Day 225!



 

It's over!

Yesterday was the presidential election, and the Republicans are licking their wounds.  To tell you the truth, I almost thought they'd pull it off, and get Romney elected.  I was so disgusted with the whole political brouhaha, I couldn't even write about anything else, so I decided not to write at all!

Four years ago I (wrongly) predicted that Obama would not be reelected, or if he was, it would be extremely tight, because you cannot turn around an economy as bad as our was, in four years, when it took far longer than that to get so screwed up.  That and the fact that he's "black" was surely a total recipe for a one-term presidency.  I figured the Republicans would get in, and as the economy got better (because I thought it might take 6-8 years) they'd get all the credit, even though the recovery had started under Obama. 

I heard one political pundit say today that the Republicans have been working for four straight years to get Obama out of the house.  I too have thought that from Day One of Barack's presidency, politics was mentioned on an almost daily basis, as to how bad Barack was going to be.  Personally I think that the Republicans, although they would never admit it, were totally pissed that a black man got in office!

If the Republicans want to get back in, I think they need to start working with the Democrats, and not waste the next 4 years by attempting to stop all Obama's policies.  Sure, he'll make mistakes, and if they're egregious enough, then the GOP can take a firm stand.  BUT, if they work with him, AND get a more viable, charismatic candidate that the middle class can relate to, then they'll have a much better chance.   They can say "we worked with him, and we tried", but we have our own ideas.  Rather than coming out saying "he's wrong, always has been wrong, always will be wrong, and we're the ONLY way to go." 

I'm just glad it's quiet again, on Day 223!

45, 78, 33-1/3

Mean anything to you?  Might not if you're under 25 years old, and not too worldly!  Or your parents got rid of all those numbers before you were old enough to appreciate them!

They're the sizes or speeds that phonograph records were known by, when you were purchasing them.  The 45 record usually only had one song per side.  The 78 was an older record, with several songs per side, but a slow playing speed.  The 33-1/3 was the biggest, fastest record going, with multiple songs per side, again.

A record is a plastic disc that goes around on a turntable, with a needle "reading" the grooves on the record, and transforming this to something we can hear and understand. 

I describe all this because I was talking to a friend of mine, who found some of her parents' old records, and her teenage (at the time) son had no idea what they were.  He is of the CD and DVD generation.  And even some of that technology is going by the wayside.

Our worldly possessions seem to be going out of style so fast, they're becoming "antiques" way before their time.  An antique was once defined as any article over 100 years old.  Now things seem to becoming antique within a decade.   They may not be old, but they're obsolete and more of a curiosity that a useful item.  Would you, could you, say the same thing about a human who turned 100?

Watching and wondering what's next, on Day 222!

Who is God?

Years and years ago I heard a very wise Catholic priest say that God is whomever you want to call him...Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Yahweh, etc, etc.  They are all one in the same person.  Rather controversial for a priest to say, wouldn't you think?  He was a very forward thinking priest, in my opinion.

I'd like to think that years and years ago, when there were far, far fewer people on the earth, that there was a charismatic, peaceful man who went around and tried to get his fellow man to be kind to one another.  He made friends wherever he went, but much to the dismay of the rulers at that time, he was probably more popular than them, even though he didn't ask for notoriety.  He had to be made an example, and therefore he was killed/crucified by the ruling party. 

Of course he had some very ardent followers who kept his dreams alive, and spread his good will.  Through the years his good will, and good works, became, like all stories and rumors, embellished.  He was raising people from the dead.  He was turning water into wine.  And what he preached, was reinterpreted to make the people of any particular region feel that he was speaking to them only.  This may be where the separation of religions came about.

Religion, itself, is supposed to be a good thing.  But now we have people saying their religion is better than someone else's religion.  We are presently condemning Muslims, but think back to the Crusades.  The Christians, at the time, were a rather bloodthirsty bunch!   And there are probably plenty of other examples, on all continents, where religion is used as the reason to  get rid of someone you consider your enemy.  This is not what "God" wanted, when he walked the earth thousands of years ago.  This is not what any peaceful, free person would want.

But today we were interpreting, and reinterpreting the bible, or other holy books, to serve our purposes.  It's a story book that has been told, and retold, with embellishments along the way, to fit the mood of the time.  Too many people read passages that seem to fit their agenda, and if not, they find a different interpretation that will.  They want their "God" to say what they want to hear/read.

I'm just trying to understand it all, on Day 221!







 

So what is it with gas prices?

I think I may have had a mental breakthrough on this issue, for me anyway.

This is an election year, and if you didn't know that, you're living under a rock!  And you walk everywhere you go, or use non-motorized transportation.  And that's probably a good thing; the eco-friendly transportation, not living under that rock!

But look at it this way...the president of the moment, is somewhat of an environmentalist.  He wants to explore more efficient means of producing and conserving energy.  Heavens, he wants to have cars to get up to 54 miles per gallon!  And he wants to explore alternative forms of energy, such as wind!  And this all means the oil companies won't sell as much oil!  And their astronomical profits and big salaries and bonuses may diminish, although I doubt they'd disappear entirely.  Other countries (think China) are still increasing their own consumption, and for big oil, that's a definite plus.

So they raise the price of gas at the pump, and everyone wants to blame the president, as if he has anything to do with it, except for his dream of more energy independence.   And they'd probably like to get the "other guy" voted in, who might, just might allow drilling of oil, indiscriminately, in pristine, natural, wild areas of the globe.  Drilling in itself is not a bad thing; the waste left behind (think spills, disturbed ground, displaced and disturbed people and wildlife should be considered.) 

And then there's a pipeline that some want to be built, which would go from Canada to the Gulf, and not a drop of oil in that pipeline, for the U.S.  Oh yeah...that makes all the sense in the world...if you're an oil magnate.

I'm still driving, albeit less, and looking for positive alternatives, including political candidates, on Day 220!



 

Wasting a month, for good reason...

Just as I was putting pen to paper, and making notes, while driving around on my "real job", I was struck down with an aneurysm.  Fortunately I got the best of care at the hospital I went to, on an emergencuy basis, and I came through surgery with no ill effects, or after effects.  But it did take the entire month on August, plus a couple weeks in September, to get the doctor's release, so I can go back to my job.

I did find myself reading a lot of books, as there was nothing worth while on TV, for the most part.  We can listen to the candidates on either side, and not just the presidential candidates, nitpick on what each other thinks, decides, stands for etc, etc, etc. but after a while, who cares?

A few observations on the whole "adventure."  When I went to the emergency room, it was full of people who really didn't look that sick except for the gal who was in labor.  I heard people complaining that they had been there "X" amount of hours, and were going home if they didn't get service.  Now, if they're really sick, why would they even think of leaving the emergency room?   And if not that sick, why did they choose the emergency room in the first place?

I did have the co-pay with me ($100.)  I wondered how many people just said something like "bill me"?  I'm sure if they paid their $100, they wouldn't be contemplating going home for "lack of service." 

While I was in one of the examine rooms, there was another woman in a room yelling that she wanted a cigarette.  She was told she couldn't have one, and she started throwing things.  Security was called on her.

I have received a couple bills, which say on them "this is not a bill" as the insurance companies have to hash out who is going to pay what.  The stay was definitely not cheap.  But in retrospect of what the doctors, nurses, and other staff personnel go through, they probably earn every dime they make. 

They see you at your worst, and try to help you any way they can, often with little respect.  If you doubt this, jut go sit in an emergency room and watch the action...might be better than people-watching at the mall!

Just glad to be alive on Day 219!

 

It's easier to ask forgiveness...

...than to ask permission.  Or so said a friend, recently.

Perhaps that what Glaxo-Smith-Kline was thinking when they sold drugs that were not totally approved for the total audience they were targeting.  One such drug was Paxil, an anti-depressant.  Supposedly when children of a certain age, or younger, take this drug, they can become suicidal.  Now isn't that what anti-depressants are supposed to stop?  I don't really understand the reasons for all these anti-depressants, anyway.  The second drug was Wellbutin.  I have no idea what this is good for, but according to GSK, everything from weight loss to better sex.  Uh huh...

The company, or some of its minions even bribed doctors with such perks as European pheasant hunts, and Madonna concert tickets, to push the drugs on their patients.  The first would be interesting, the second, I'd have to sell on eBay; personally don't like Madonna. 

So...those two drugs must have made them a tidy profit because they were just handed a fine, from the FDA, for between 1 and 3 billion dollars.  Yikes!  Now, that's some kind of forgiveness!  Although I do wonder how many people, especially the underage Paxil users, who may have been hurt by the drug.  There's no amount of money that could justify that!

As for me, I'll stick to aspirin...Day 218!