Once upon a time I worked as medic on the ambulance and, late in the shift, got a low priority call for a mid-30's man who told 911 that he had abdominal pain and wanted an ambulance with no lights or siren. We meandered over there to check him out. Forty-five minutes later he was in the ER being evaluated for obvious heart issues.
At his home the man told me that his pain had subsided somewhat after he called the ambulance, and that he might not have called for help had he waited a bit longer. This is called "denial" - we know there's a problem but we are afraid to have it confirmed, so we downplay it. It's usually a bad decision.
This post is written to encourage you to deny "denial". If you ever get an unusual pain in your head, chest, back,or abdomen, and it surprises you because you've never experienced anything like it before, call 911 right away. It's a good decision.
Caveat: I'm not a doctor...just a lowly EMT. But I've had plenty of experience seeing how many "denials" were, unfortunately, life-changing. You're probably not a doc, either. So, if you hurt, let a doc make the decision about whether it's something to worry about or not. Thanks for listening!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Six Time Loser
I'm a good driver. I've had one ticket in my life, in 1978 for 62 in a 55 zone (speed trap), and one minor accident in 1965. I drive the ambulance a lot, sometimes for 10 fast miles through dense traffic with lights and sirens, and my partners are comfortable. But when it comes to reverse gear in my minivan, I'm a six time loser. I've hit six different cars while backing up in driveways, the last time being last night.
Minivans have great forward visibility, but visibility to the rear stinks. The tinted glass windows and large rear quarter panels, together with the height of the metal rear door, make backing up an adventure. If something is there, it's easy not to see it, especially at night. Perhaps all minivans should come standard with back-up alarm devices that signal when you are close to something.
I've twice hit my daughter-in-law's van in my own driveway, hit my best friend's car in my driveway, backed into a curved wall at a cellphone store, hit another ambulance corps member's car in the ambulance parking lot, at last night I backed into my best friend's wife's car in another friend's driveway. In total, I've spent about $4,000 repairing these cars. You'd think I'd learn.
Did you know that 95% of all ambulance accidents happen in reverse gear? That's because the ambulance boxes are so wide and long that rear visibility is almost non-existent. We have cameras in our ambulances now, and we're finally able to see what's behind us.
In my case, perhaps I need to set a new rule for myself - never park anywhere that will require me to back up!
Generally speaking, I'm far from being a klutz. I seldom wound myself doing repairs, I'm pretty coordinated, and I tend to think ahead. Apparently, though, I have one major gap in my mental processes - reverse gear. Could any of my readers have patterns of repetitive stupid behavior like this? I'm feeling pretty silly today.
Minivans have great forward visibility, but visibility to the rear stinks. The tinted glass windows and large rear quarter panels, together with the height of the metal rear door, make backing up an adventure. If something is there, it's easy not to see it, especially at night. Perhaps all minivans should come standard with back-up alarm devices that signal when you are close to something.
I've twice hit my daughter-in-law's van in my own driveway, hit my best friend's car in my driveway, backed into a curved wall at a cellphone store, hit another ambulance corps member's car in the ambulance parking lot, at last night I backed into my best friend's wife's car in another friend's driveway. In total, I've spent about $4,000 repairing these cars. You'd think I'd learn.
Did you know that 95% of all ambulance accidents happen in reverse gear? That's because the ambulance boxes are so wide and long that rear visibility is almost non-existent. We have cameras in our ambulances now, and we're finally able to see what's behind us.
In my case, perhaps I need to set a new rule for myself - never park anywhere that will require me to back up!
Generally speaking, I'm far from being a klutz. I seldom wound myself doing repairs, I'm pretty coordinated, and I tend to think ahead. Apparently, though, I have one major gap in my mental processes - reverse gear. Could any of my readers have patterns of repetitive stupid behavior like this? I'm feeling pretty silly today.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Winning Battles, Losing War
This morning's paper contained a letter to the editor supporting continued war in Iraq. The author, a father of a lieutenant killed in Iraq, claimed that we could win "because we have never lost a battle". That was the same claim made about the Vietnam War, which we lost while (some say) we never lost a battle. Some people just don't understand that the Iraq War is not about battles.
Unconventional warfare, for the aggressor, is all about preventing the defender from achieving its aims. It is not about winning battles. In fact, the aggressor has no interest in fighting battles which it will almost always lose due to its being significantly outgunned and out-maneuvered by the defender. The aggressor attacks in force only when it feels it has a significant local advantage and a good escape route. Mostly, however, the aggressor simply carries out tactics to keep the defender from achieving its aims.
What are these tactics in Iraq? Destroying infrastructure and "holy places". Bombing population centers to create general fear and and a belief that the defender is not capable of protecting the people. Assassinating leaders who might rally the population against them. Disrupting transportation and fuel supplies, thereby significantly hampering the economy. The various fighting factions in Iraq have been successful in carrying out all these operations, and they will continue to be successful because they have safe havens within the country. Consequently, the defender (the U.S.) will be pinned down for the forseeable future and will never "win". The lieutenant's father's hopes are quixotic.
In my view, we should leave Iraq now and let the chips fall where they may. We should not give the Iraqis a single additional weapon with which to kill their countrymen. Will this result in chaos? Of course. And it will be our fault, a blot on our nation that we created this ugly mess and had to walk away from it. In retrospect, having a despotic and sadistic Saddam in power was far better than the current situation. But relative peace in Iraq, which was the status quo under Saddam, will not return until the Iraqis have sorted themselves out and found a new strong man to rule over them.
Unconventional warfare, for the aggressor, is all about preventing the defender from achieving its aims. It is not about winning battles. In fact, the aggressor has no interest in fighting battles which it will almost always lose due to its being significantly outgunned and out-maneuvered by the defender. The aggressor attacks in force only when it feels it has a significant local advantage and a good escape route. Mostly, however, the aggressor simply carries out tactics to keep the defender from achieving its aims.
What are these tactics in Iraq? Destroying infrastructure and "holy places". Bombing population centers to create general fear and and a belief that the defender is not capable of protecting the people. Assassinating leaders who might rally the population against them. Disrupting transportation and fuel supplies, thereby significantly hampering the economy. The various fighting factions in Iraq have been successful in carrying out all these operations, and they will continue to be successful because they have safe havens within the country. Consequently, the defender (the U.S.) will be pinned down for the forseeable future and will never "win". The lieutenant's father's hopes are quixotic.
In my view, we should leave Iraq now and let the chips fall where they may. We should not give the Iraqis a single additional weapon with which to kill their countrymen. Will this result in chaos? Of course. And it will be our fault, a blot on our nation that we created this ugly mess and had to walk away from it. In retrospect, having a despotic and sadistic Saddam in power was far better than the current situation. But relative peace in Iraq, which was the status quo under Saddam, will not return until the Iraqis have sorted themselves out and found a new strong man to rule over them.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Infrastructure Panic -VS- Reality
It's not a perfect world, not even in the United States. Today I heard Ed Schultz, commenting on the Minneapolis bridge collapse, state that this was a "systemic" problem and the entire process for reviewing bridge safety needs to be overhauled. One collapse and the world needs to be re-invented. Boloney!
Per Ed, there are 900,000 bridges in the U.S., 115,000 of which have identified structural issues. Listening to him, you'd think that most of them will likely collapse this year. He's wrong by about 115,000 bridges.
Scientists are not perfect. Doctors are not perfect. My spelling is not perfect. Bridge inspectors are not perfect. Even the people who check out the fabulously expensive space shuttle are not perfect. Unfortunately, we have tragedies caused by human imperfection all the time, despite our best efforts. We need to learn to live with them and not panic over isolated incidents, Ed Shultz.
This long bridge was a very complicated structure that was subject to many physical and environmental stresses. Surely it had some corrosion after 40 years of exposure to the elements, and some of the wearing parts, like bearings, had probably deteriorated. I expect the final report on this bridge will conclude that the collapse had no single cause but was the result of a number of interrelated deficiencies and perhaps an unusual stress at the time it collapsed. This kind of "domino effect" failure is extremely hard to predict, since no individual (inspectable) feature of the bridge was deemed a failure risk at the time of its last inspection.
Am I suggesting we do nothing in response to the collapse? No. We need to continue inspecting our infrastructure and writing readable and honest engineering reports about what is found. State governments need to prioritize their infrastructure spending and increase it if necessary. But now is not the time to throw out the baby with the bathwater. If we start getting a major bridge collapse every year, maybe I'll change my mind, but for now let's just grieve for those who lost their lives in a random accident. The bridge inspectors will be on heightened alert, and that is all we need to feel safe.
Per Ed, there are 900,000 bridges in the U.S., 115,000 of which have identified structural issues. Listening to him, you'd think that most of them will likely collapse this year. He's wrong by about 115,000 bridges.
Scientists are not perfect. Doctors are not perfect. My spelling is not perfect. Bridge inspectors are not perfect. Even the people who check out the fabulously expensive space shuttle are not perfect. Unfortunately, we have tragedies caused by human imperfection all the time, despite our best efforts. We need to learn to live with them and not panic over isolated incidents, Ed Shultz.
This long bridge was a very complicated structure that was subject to many physical and environmental stresses. Surely it had some corrosion after 40 years of exposure to the elements, and some of the wearing parts, like bearings, had probably deteriorated. I expect the final report on this bridge will conclude that the collapse had no single cause but was the result of a number of interrelated deficiencies and perhaps an unusual stress at the time it collapsed. This kind of "domino effect" failure is extremely hard to predict, since no individual (inspectable) feature of the bridge was deemed a failure risk at the time of its last inspection.
Am I suggesting we do nothing in response to the collapse? No. We need to continue inspecting our infrastructure and writing readable and honest engineering reports about what is found. State governments need to prioritize their infrastructure spending and increase it if necessary. But now is not the time to throw out the baby with the bathwater. If we start getting a major bridge collapse every year, maybe I'll change my mind, but for now let's just grieve for those who lost their lives in a random accident. The bridge inspectors will be on heightened alert, and that is all we need to feel safe.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Traffic Violations and Human Nature
As you may know, I admit to being an accountant. Early in my accounting career an experienced person conveyed this "fact" to me: he said, "One of every 100 employees of a company actively looks for ways to cheat or steal from their employer, and another four will promptly take advantage of an opportunity to cheat or steal if they belive they won't be caught." I guess it's nice that 95 of 100 of us will not cheat or steal even if given the opportunity.
I was reminded of this story when I began to consider the reasons why I'm witnessing so many traffic violations on our local roads. So many more people seem to be running red lights, driving with their cell phones in their ears, or making illegal turns. It's an epidemic of traffic lawlessness, and I've seen the results of it at intersections where my ambulance stopped to pick up the people who've been hit by the latest light-runner.
Things were not always this way on the roads. Traffic law enforcement was once a much more high priority item for government, and traffic cops were everywhere, it seemed. If you were a chronic light-runner you could count on your luck running out and your wallet substantially lightened by fines and higher insurance costs. Now, however, the price of police has gone up and the number of police has declined. Moreover, police have little incentive to write tickets if they have to show up in court to defend them. Consequently, traffic law enforcement in many areas is minimal.
Back to my point, then. Perhaps there always was that one in 100 drivers who would run red lights simply because they were wired to look for opportunities to cheat. Now, though, we are faced with another four of 100 who, due to lack of enforcement, take advantage of the opportunity to cheat because they don't fear being caught. One of these four could kill you, so be wise - check both left and right before you start out after your red light turns green.
Some people believe using cameras for traffic law enforcement is an invasion of privacy. I figure that if we can't afford cops we should use cameras. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words in some situations. The risk of having 5% of drivers running red lights is just too high, and if fear is the only way to get us back to 1%, so be it.
I was reminded of this story when I began to consider the reasons why I'm witnessing so many traffic violations on our local roads. So many more people seem to be running red lights, driving with their cell phones in their ears, or making illegal turns. It's an epidemic of traffic lawlessness, and I've seen the results of it at intersections where my ambulance stopped to pick up the people who've been hit by the latest light-runner.
Things were not always this way on the roads. Traffic law enforcement was once a much more high priority item for government, and traffic cops were everywhere, it seemed. If you were a chronic light-runner you could count on your luck running out and your wallet substantially lightened by fines and higher insurance costs. Now, however, the price of police has gone up and the number of police has declined. Moreover, police have little incentive to write tickets if they have to show up in court to defend them. Consequently, traffic law enforcement in many areas is minimal.
Back to my point, then. Perhaps there always was that one in 100 drivers who would run red lights simply because they were wired to look for opportunities to cheat. Now, though, we are faced with another four of 100 who, due to lack of enforcement, take advantage of the opportunity to cheat because they don't fear being caught. One of these four could kill you, so be wise - check both left and right before you start out after your red light turns green.
Some people believe using cameras for traffic law enforcement is an invasion of privacy. I figure that if we can't afford cops we should use cameras. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words in some situations. The risk of having 5% of drivers running red lights is just too high, and if fear is the only way to get us back to 1%, so be it.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Texas Governor Appoints Creationist - What?
My friend ThomasLB (http://livingnextdoortoalice.blogspot.com/2007/08/resistance-is-futile.html ) wrote about the Texas governor recently appointing an adherent of creationism to head the Texas education department. Quotes attributed to this guy clearly demonstrate that he's a bonehead. Check out Thomas's post.
I remember being on a fishing boat in Canada with an older gentleman from Ohio. When asked, I said I believed in evolution. He laughed and said, "You believe your granddaddy was a monkey?" The man had no education, so I was not offended. But one would expect the head of a state education department to be educated. Not in Texas.
This surprising development is just one more indication of America's slow march toward mediocrity. When leaders appoint anti-intellectuals to important posts, all learning is demeaned. We are regressing toward a medieval doltishness where priests, now of the Christian fundamentalist persuasion, spout nonsense that sounds good to those who have no learning. Reducing evolution to "making spiders out of rocks" is a catchy phrase, but it's obscene to me.
America does not need foreign enemies. By making decisions like this one in Texas, our leaders are hastening our downfall without any terrorist assistance. They are killing the brains of our children.
I remember being on a fishing boat in Canada with an older gentleman from Ohio. When asked, I said I believed in evolution. He laughed and said, "You believe your granddaddy was a monkey?" The man had no education, so I was not offended. But one would expect the head of a state education department to be educated. Not in Texas.
This surprising development is just one more indication of America's slow march toward mediocrity. When leaders appoint anti-intellectuals to important posts, all learning is demeaned. We are regressing toward a medieval doltishness where priests, now of the Christian fundamentalist persuasion, spout nonsense that sounds good to those who have no learning. Reducing evolution to "making spiders out of rocks" is a catchy phrase, but it's obscene to me.
America does not need foreign enemies. By making decisions like this one in Texas, our leaders are hastening our downfall without any terrorist assistance. They are killing the brains of our children.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
"Michael Savage", a Hitlerite of the 21st Century
"Michael Savage", born Michael Alan Weiner, has 10 million listeners of his radio program, and I am one of them for 10-15 minutes most nights as I get ready for bed. The man repulses me, but I'm one of those who believe you must understand your enemies, hence I subject myself to short periods of his vitriol, which is leavened by homey little stories of his childhood and life experiences.
I must admit, Michael is a pretty good talker and a bright guy. His Wikipedia biography explains how Michael Alan Weiner was, during the 70's, a consort of some famous liberals in the San Francisco area. However, in the 80's he turned radically conservative perhaps because of some experiences with the welfare system or his failure to get a job interview due, he says, to affirmative action. He has an earned Ph.D. and, at least to me, he's conversant in many fields of study. Yet the guy comes across as bent beyond belief, so I must conclude either that the "Michael Savage" persona is a purely commercial one or he is nuts.
Two nights ago I listened to a rant where he claimed "liberals" are delighted that 75% of African-American kids are illegitimate. He said this situation was reflected their idea of "freedom". I about choked. Of course, his show consists primarily of rants against liberals, homosexuals, and immigrants, so I suppose the great majority of the 10 million listeners get just what they want to hear. In my opinion, it's a perversion of "freedom" that allows Michael Savage to even be on the air. But I don't blame him - anyone is allowed to be nuts or crassly commercial - I blame the whores who put him on the air.
But I digress. Listening to Michael Savage made me think about the recent Einstein biography that I just read. Einstein was in Germany when Hitler came to power, and Einstein saw firsthand how Hitler and his rabble vilified those who they blamed for Germany's defeat in WWI and the depression that followed - Jews, homosexuals, Gypsies, liberal democrats, and non-Germanic people. We all know what happened to these unfortunate folks. Some of the farsighted and wealthier ones, like Einstein, were lucky enough to flee Germany before they were rounded up by those who listened to the crap that the Hitlerites were putting out.
Who, today, is putting out the same kind of crap? None other than Michael Savage, son of a Jewish Russian immigrant. He's found the same kind of audience that Hitler did, and he's milking them for all they're worth. Perhaps he was born too soon...he could have become a top Nazi propagandist had he been in Germany in the 1930's, and he would have achieved the national influence he craves in these more modern days.
But what about the sweet, homey stories he loves to spin? Last night's concerned an incident where a nondescript black man came into his father's store and was treated with respect. The man subsequently bought a load of stuff. The moral? Treat everyone with respect. Great idea. Now listen to Savage talk to the callers who have a different point of view than his. Respect? Not. It's probably a good thing Savage doesn't have a gas chamber at his disposal. Like the Hitlerites, Savage gives a kind of "pat on the head" respect only to those who agree with him.
What is the national media reaction to Michael Savage? He's simply a non-person, a malignancy that nobody wants to acknowledge. Perhaps they feel that ostracizing him is more effective than taking him on and giving him even more publicity. They are wrong. Like Senator Joseph McCarthy, Michael Savage needs to be called out and put out. The 10 million listeners need to hear him get a "fair trial" in the media before those who sponsor him are ashamed enough to give him a permanent vacation on his sailboat. Germany did not need Hitler, and America does not need his intellectual successor, Michael Savage.
I must admit, Michael is a pretty good talker and a bright guy. His Wikipedia biography explains how Michael Alan Weiner was, during the 70's, a consort of some famous liberals in the San Francisco area. However, in the 80's he turned radically conservative perhaps because of some experiences with the welfare system or his failure to get a job interview due, he says, to affirmative action. He has an earned Ph.D. and, at least to me, he's conversant in many fields of study. Yet the guy comes across as bent beyond belief, so I must conclude either that the "Michael Savage" persona is a purely commercial one or he is nuts.
Two nights ago I listened to a rant where he claimed "liberals" are delighted that 75% of African-American kids are illegitimate. He said this situation was reflected their idea of "freedom". I about choked. Of course, his show consists primarily of rants against liberals, homosexuals, and immigrants, so I suppose the great majority of the 10 million listeners get just what they want to hear. In my opinion, it's a perversion of "freedom" that allows Michael Savage to even be on the air. But I don't blame him - anyone is allowed to be nuts or crassly commercial - I blame the whores who put him on the air.
But I digress. Listening to Michael Savage made me think about the recent Einstein biography that I just read. Einstein was in Germany when Hitler came to power, and Einstein saw firsthand how Hitler and his rabble vilified those who they blamed for Germany's defeat in WWI and the depression that followed - Jews, homosexuals, Gypsies, liberal democrats, and non-Germanic people. We all know what happened to these unfortunate folks. Some of the farsighted and wealthier ones, like Einstein, were lucky enough to flee Germany before they were rounded up by those who listened to the crap that the Hitlerites were putting out.
Who, today, is putting out the same kind of crap? None other than Michael Savage, son of a Jewish Russian immigrant. He's found the same kind of audience that Hitler did, and he's milking them for all they're worth. Perhaps he was born too soon...he could have become a top Nazi propagandist had he been in Germany in the 1930's, and he would have achieved the national influence he craves in these more modern days.
But what about the sweet, homey stories he loves to spin? Last night's concerned an incident where a nondescript black man came into his father's store and was treated with respect. The man subsequently bought a load of stuff. The moral? Treat everyone with respect. Great idea. Now listen to Savage talk to the callers who have a different point of view than his. Respect? Not. It's probably a good thing Savage doesn't have a gas chamber at his disposal. Like the Hitlerites, Savage gives a kind of "pat on the head" respect only to those who agree with him.
What is the national media reaction to Michael Savage? He's simply a non-person, a malignancy that nobody wants to acknowledge. Perhaps they feel that ostracizing him is more effective than taking him on and giving him even more publicity. They are wrong. Like Senator Joseph McCarthy, Michael Savage needs to be called out and put out. The 10 million listeners need to hear him get a "fair trial" in the media before those who sponsor him are ashamed enough to give him a permanent vacation on his sailboat. Germany did not need Hitler, and America does not need his intellectual successor, Michael Savage.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Don't Believe Petraeus - He's a Soldier
I don't have anything against General Petraeus. He was commanding general of my old unit, the 101st Airborne. He reportedly ran the best counter-insurgency operations of anyone in Iraq, so he was a good choice to command the force there. But, with apologies to him, I got to tell you that his "September report" is not going to let the chips fall where they may. Not because he's a bad guy, but because he's a soldier.
There are two things about good soldiers that pertain here: they live to fight, and they don't like to lose. Nothing makes a true soldier happier than a tough battle, and Iraq certainly is that. Petraeus has the job that every general dreams about - leading a war against a determined and capable foe. And he does not want to lose. He may not win, but he does not want to lose under any circumstances. Consequently, no matter how things are going he will ask for more time to fight. We can't take him seriously because he is both incented and programmed to keep the battle going.
If not Petraeus, then who should we believe and what indicators should we be sensitive to? In my view, we should believe nobody. Everyone has a point of view and a bias. The indicators, however, are real. Is the Iraqi parliament beginning to function as a true national assembly? Are the Iraqi troops and police becoming more effective, or are they becoming more associated with militias? Is the electricity staying on longer in Baghdad, and is the oil flowing? How many GI's are we losing every month, and do we have replacement divisions to go there? The facts, boss, just the facts... The facts of progress or setbacks on the ground wil tell the story better than Petraeus ever will.
So, General Petraeus, do your best. We really do want you to "win" after all the years of ugly screw-ups by your non-military, self-styled "Commander in Chief". Just don't expect me to believe what you say. The facts on the ground don't love to fight or hate to lose. They're just facts. Come September, I think we'll know how it's going over there.
There are two things about good soldiers that pertain here: they live to fight, and they don't like to lose. Nothing makes a true soldier happier than a tough battle, and Iraq certainly is that. Petraeus has the job that every general dreams about - leading a war against a determined and capable foe. And he does not want to lose. He may not win, but he does not want to lose under any circumstances. Consequently, no matter how things are going he will ask for more time to fight. We can't take him seriously because he is both incented and programmed to keep the battle going.
If not Petraeus, then who should we believe and what indicators should we be sensitive to? In my view, we should believe nobody. Everyone has a point of view and a bias. The indicators, however, are real. Is the Iraqi parliament beginning to function as a true national assembly? Are the Iraqi troops and police becoming more effective, or are they becoming more associated with militias? Is the electricity staying on longer in Baghdad, and is the oil flowing? How many GI's are we losing every month, and do we have replacement divisions to go there? The facts, boss, just the facts... The facts of progress or setbacks on the ground wil tell the story better than Petraeus ever will.
So, General Petraeus, do your best. We really do want you to "win" after all the years of ugly screw-ups by your non-military, self-styled "Commander in Chief". Just don't expect me to believe what you say. The facts on the ground don't love to fight or hate to lose. They're just facts. Come September, I think we'll know how it's going over there.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Harry Potter Rocks!
OK, I admit it, I've read all the Harry Potter books including the last one, and what a nail-biter it was! Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you.
I'd be the first to admit that compared to "Lord of the Rings" it is a minor league effort, but J.K. Rowling has done a good job with her characters and the action, especially in the last book, is non-stop.
I've learned over the years that life is not simple. There are few decisions that are cut and dried, few (or no) friends that never make a mistake about you, and there are many situations that have significant ambiguities. Harry Potter's life is no different - he has doubts, he takes chances, and he deals with joy and tragedy. The good thing about Harry is that his instincts are pure and he is never mean-spirited. All these examples are great for kids and adults alike.
So, if you've been avoiding Harry but have some spare days to kill during the summer doldrums, pick up the first book and get started! They're quick reads, and I promise you won't be disappointed by the time you turn the last page of the seventh book.
I'd be the first to admit that compared to "Lord of the Rings" it is a minor league effort, but J.K. Rowling has done a good job with her characters and the action, especially in the last book, is non-stop.
I've learned over the years that life is not simple. There are few decisions that are cut and dried, few (or no) friends that never make a mistake about you, and there are many situations that have significant ambiguities. Harry Potter's life is no different - he has doubts, he takes chances, and he deals with joy and tragedy. The good thing about Harry is that his instincts are pure and he is never mean-spirited. All these examples are great for kids and adults alike.
So, if you've been avoiding Harry but have some spare days to kill during the summer doldrums, pick up the first book and get started! They're quick reads, and I promise you won't be disappointed by the time you turn the last page of the seventh book.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
An Appointment With Death
I have a dear friend who I've known for about 30 years. We see each other at church, but seldom anywhere else. We don't live in the same towns and we have different social circles. She's a large woman, married but without children, and she's always been successful in her jobs and extremely resiliant and optimistic when her circumstances changed abruptly. Although we have little in common, I've loved her from the start because her eyes always sparkle, she has a beautiful smile that seldom leaves her face, and she has absolutely no pretenses - she's at home with herself and easy with everyone else. But, as of yesterday, she has an appointment with death.
Cancer is a fact of life in America, and perhaps it always has been. In these times, however, our increased longevity due to preventive medicine and less dangerous work and personal lives has emphasized cancer as a common and terrifying illness. My friend strugged with breast cancer a few years ago and fought it off, but it has come back with a vengeance to claim her. The doctors have tried every possible cure, as evidenced by her disfiguring radiation burns, but to no avail. Yesterday, as she lay in intensive care on a ventilator, her doctor gave her the final prognosis and recommended that she move to hospice care - her appointment with death. As we talked a few hours later, her eyes still sparkled and her smile came easily. Her joy of life and her resiliance continue to the end.
I believe in God, but I don't believe God interferes with nature on any regular basis. Our nature is that we are born and that we die, and we are subject to all the risks and benefits that life can offer. For some, even the most evil among us, life is a walk in the park. For others, even the best among us, life is filled with difficulty and sadness. There is no "justice" in this life, but my belief is that there is justice after death. Moreover, in a less religious vein, I feel that the quality of a life is much more important than its length. My friend has had a quality life which will last 59 years.
I expect to see Julia as often as possible until she leaves this world. She needs the comfort and diversion that friends can provide, and her husband needs our support. I can deal with the tubes that sprout from several places on her swollen body, and I can deal with the constant "swoosh" of the ventilator that will keep her alive a bit longer. In return for my company, Julia will shine her bright eyes on me and smile that unquenchable smile. She will continue to be my role model as the person who makes the most of life no matter what comes her way. O Lord, help me to be as courageous and loving as my friend, the soon-to-be-memorable Julia.
Cancer is a fact of life in America, and perhaps it always has been. In these times, however, our increased longevity due to preventive medicine and less dangerous work and personal lives has emphasized cancer as a common and terrifying illness. My friend strugged with breast cancer a few years ago and fought it off, but it has come back with a vengeance to claim her. The doctors have tried every possible cure, as evidenced by her disfiguring radiation burns, but to no avail. Yesterday, as she lay in intensive care on a ventilator, her doctor gave her the final prognosis and recommended that she move to hospice care - her appointment with death. As we talked a few hours later, her eyes still sparkled and her smile came easily. Her joy of life and her resiliance continue to the end.
I believe in God, but I don't believe God interferes with nature on any regular basis. Our nature is that we are born and that we die, and we are subject to all the risks and benefits that life can offer. For some, even the most evil among us, life is a walk in the park. For others, even the best among us, life is filled with difficulty and sadness. There is no "justice" in this life, but my belief is that there is justice after death. Moreover, in a less religious vein, I feel that the quality of a life is much more important than its length. My friend has had a quality life which will last 59 years.
I expect to see Julia as often as possible until she leaves this world. She needs the comfort and diversion that friends can provide, and her husband needs our support. I can deal with the tubes that sprout from several places on her swollen body, and I can deal with the constant "swoosh" of the ventilator that will keep her alive a bit longer. In return for my company, Julia will shine her bright eyes on me and smile that unquenchable smile. She will continue to be my role model as the person who makes the most of life no matter what comes her way. O Lord, help me to be as courageous and loving as my friend, the soon-to-be-memorable Julia.
Monday, July 23, 2007
More Random Thoughts
My 45th high school reunion was worth the trip. Perhaps the best part was seeing Mt. Lebanon, PA, my home town, again. It has revitalized itself and is thriving - even the home I grew up in looks better than it did then. Something in Pennsylvania government is working, it appears.
My golf game is going great, with my handicap coming down nicely (15 and falling). It's nice to know that at 63, I can play a game with 30-somethings and be competitive. I'll let you know when I get to 10.
I need diversions, since Bush is not going away just yet. I don't like him, I don't trust him, I don't like his isolation from the real world, and I worry about the additional mischief he might make before he leaves office. Events of the past six years have shown just how inept both our president and our congress can be. The U.S. government is definitely not working, and maybe ThomasLB's call for a revolution is not so far-fetched. But let's wait for one more election to see how it goes.
My wife drives a 1998 Chrysler Cirrus with 61,700 miles on it, and it's in great shape. My 2004 Chrysler Town & Country van has 40,000 or so miles. I bought Chrysler products partly to support American industry, but I'm really disappointed in all the American automakers now. Their R&D has stunk compared to the foreign makers, especially Toyota, and their glamorizing of big, heavy vehicles with large motors has been unconscionable. I won't replace either of my cars until the next generation of fuel-efficient cars is introduced - something equivalent to my cars but getting 40 mpg. Maybe the American makers will provide these vehicles, but I have my doubts.
I just picked up my desktop computer from "The Computer Doctor", who removed viruses and worms that somehow got through my security software. The machine had slowed to a crawl, but now it speeds along. As much as I value "free speech", I would love to see the spammers and the cyber-tricksters put away for a long while. My spam is so bad that I think it's time to change my email address.
Tonight I medic on the ambulance from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. I haven't had a "bad call" for quite a while, and I hope tonight is not the night.
My golf game is going great, with my handicap coming down nicely (15 and falling). It's nice to know that at 63, I can play a game with 30-somethings and be competitive. I'll let you know when I get to 10.
I need diversions, since Bush is not going away just yet. I don't like him, I don't trust him, I don't like his isolation from the real world, and I worry about the additional mischief he might make before he leaves office. Events of the past six years have shown just how inept both our president and our congress can be. The U.S. government is definitely not working, and maybe ThomasLB's call for a revolution is not so far-fetched. But let's wait for one more election to see how it goes.
My wife drives a 1998 Chrysler Cirrus with 61,700 miles on it, and it's in great shape. My 2004 Chrysler Town & Country van has 40,000 or so miles. I bought Chrysler products partly to support American industry, but I'm really disappointed in all the American automakers now. Their R&D has stunk compared to the foreign makers, especially Toyota, and their glamorizing of big, heavy vehicles with large motors has been unconscionable. I won't replace either of my cars until the next generation of fuel-efficient cars is introduced - something equivalent to my cars but getting 40 mpg. Maybe the American makers will provide these vehicles, but I have my doubts.
I just picked up my desktop computer from "The Computer Doctor", who removed viruses and worms that somehow got through my security software. The machine had slowed to a crawl, but now it speeds along. As much as I value "free speech", I would love to see the spammers and the cyber-tricksters put away for a long while. My spam is so bad that I think it's time to change my email address.
Tonight I medic on the ambulance from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. I haven't had a "bad call" for quite a while, and I hope tonight is not the night.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Random Thoughts
A woman, holding a large-headed driver, was found standing over her dead husband who had many head wounds. When the cop asked her if she had killed her husband with the golf club, she admitted the crime. He then asked how many times she had struck him, and she paused, thinking hard. Then she said, "Maybe five, six, seven times...just put me down for a five." Only a golfer can appreciate this joke.
Five reasons to impeach Bush: illegal wiretapping, ignoring congressional subpoenas, lying about Iraq, "rendition" of kidnapped individuals,no-bid contracts with companies connected to friends. Why is this not in progress?
This weekend the Good Witch and I will attend my 45th high school reunion near Pittsburgh. 500 of 505 graduates in my class went to college, five of them as sophomores in Ivy League schools. About 100 of us will gather, and tomorrow will include a "scramble" golf event at Fox Chapel Golf Club, a premier course. My game is hot right now, so I'm looking to impress the old friends - high school one-up-manship revisited! I was fortunate to grow up in a much more open society where kids could be kids.
I really believe global warming is a big, big problem. The second big problem may be bird flu. The next fifty years might be really "interesting", "interesting" being the word that EMT's use when they come across a really nasty situation.
The "Einstein" biography continues to be good reading. Anti-Semitism was rampant in his day, both in Germany and the U.S. His relativity discoveries were earth-shaking, since Newtonian physics were considered to be the last word. He did not realize for a long time that E=M x c-squared would result in the atom bomb.
"Truth" about our country's fiscal situation continues to be avoided by all presidential candidates. Ignorance is bliss, apparently.
Be extra kind to someone today. I friend of mine is dying of cancer, and she's not having any fun at all. Life can be fleeting, so make the most of it.
Five reasons to impeach Bush: illegal wiretapping, ignoring congressional subpoenas, lying about Iraq, "rendition" of kidnapped individuals,no-bid contracts with companies connected to friends. Why is this not in progress?
This weekend the Good Witch and I will attend my 45th high school reunion near Pittsburgh. 500 of 505 graduates in my class went to college, five of them as sophomores in Ivy League schools. About 100 of us will gather, and tomorrow will include a "scramble" golf event at Fox Chapel Golf Club, a premier course. My game is hot right now, so I'm looking to impress the old friends - high school one-up-manship revisited! I was fortunate to grow up in a much more open society where kids could be kids.
I really believe global warming is a big, big problem. The second big problem may be bird flu. The next fifty years might be really "interesting", "interesting" being the word that EMT's use when they come across a really nasty situation.
The "Einstein" biography continues to be good reading. Anti-Semitism was rampant in his day, both in Germany and the U.S. His relativity discoveries were earth-shaking, since Newtonian physics were considered to be the last word. He did not realize for a long time that E=M x c-squared would result in the atom bomb.
"Truth" about our country's fiscal situation continues to be avoided by all presidential candidates. Ignorance is bliss, apparently.
Be extra kind to someone today. I friend of mine is dying of cancer, and she's not having any fun at all. Life can be fleeting, so make the most of it.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Is it Bloomberg?
Someone asked who I would back for president in the 2008 election. Frankly, none of the current candidates, with the possible exception of Ron Paul, give me much to hope for. The other republicans are hopeless (the "debates" are clear on that), and the democrats aren't even talking about the real issues other than immigration and the Iraq war.
Our next president will need the independence and courage to put the true "state of the nation" on the table, and then offer some strategies to get our country financially strong again. The fact is that we are going broke, and some day in the not too distant future we will not be able to afford our military or our big entitlement programs. Bloomberg understands this better than anyone, and he's not afraid to stand up because he's got the bucks and doesn't need anyone else.
The democrats can't deal with the entitlements, and the republicans are out of touch with American culture. Maybe it's time for an independent.
Our next president will need the independence and courage to put the true "state of the nation" on the table, and then offer some strategies to get our country financially strong again. The fact is that we are going broke, and some day in the not too distant future we will not be able to afford our military or our big entitlement programs. Bloomberg understands this better than anyone, and he's not afraid to stand up because he's got the bucks and doesn't need anyone else.
The democrats can't deal with the entitlements, and the republicans are out of touch with American culture. Maybe it's time for an independent.
Friday, July 13, 2007
McCain is History - Whew!
John McCain is virtually out of money and definitely has one foot out of the race. I have mixed emotions, but in the end I have to be happy about it.
Once upon a time I felt good about McCain. Remember McCain-Feingold and McCain's outspoken comments on major topics like immigration? He seemed to have the spunk and independence to tell it like it is and get the American people and even the congress on board with reform in major areas. Then came the Iraq war.
McCain never did figure out that attacking Iraq was not part of a war on terror. However, the American people have finally concluded that was the case. McCain's initial support of that war, and his continuing call for a military victory there, has destroyed his candidacy for president.
Now I'm happy he is history. His Iraq statements tell us more than enough about his qualifications to be president. We can do much better.
Once upon a time I felt good about McCain. Remember McCain-Feingold and McCain's outspoken comments on major topics like immigration? He seemed to have the spunk and independence to tell it like it is and get the American people and even the congress on board with reform in major areas. Then came the Iraq war.
McCain never did figure out that attacking Iraq was not part of a war on terror. However, the American people have finally concluded that was the case. McCain's initial support of that war, and his continuing call for a military victory there, has destroyed his candidacy for president.
Now I'm happy he is history. His Iraq statements tell us more than enough about his qualifications to be president. We can do much better.
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