Pakistan Moves Troops Amid Tension With India
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By RICHARD A. OPPEL JR. and SALMAN MASOOD
Published: December 26, 2008
"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan has begun moving some troops away from its western border with Afghanistan and has stopped soldiers from going on leave amid rising tensions with India, Pakistani officials said Friday.
Two of the officials said the troops were headed to the country’s border with India in the east.
The move is likely to frustrate the United States, which has been pressing Pakistan to battle militants in its lawless northwest territories and working hard to cool tempers in the two nuclear-armed countries, following terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, last month. Indian officials have blamed a Pakistani militant group for the attacks."
More Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men: (from BBC News)
"Zimbabwe child malnutrition rises
Zimbabwe's children and their parents pick up single corn kernels spilled on the road side by trucks ferrying maize corn. Photo: 14 December 2008
Some five million Zimbabwean rely on food aid, the aid agency says
Acute child malnutrition in parts of Zimbabwe has increased by almost two-thirds compared with last year, aid agency Save the Children says.
In a new report, the UK-based agency said "some children are wasting away from lack of food".
It said there was a shortage of 18,000 tonnes of food needed for January, and urged world donors to increase aid.
The agency said innocent Zimbabweans should not suffer because of a political crisis out of their control."
In California a man dressed as Santa invades a home and kills nine people.
Meanwhile storm alerts are out in the West.
Poverty, homelessness, sadness and depression goes on as the illusion that Christmas should offer happiness, love and hope due the 'Savior's' birth.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
THE UNEXPECTED AT CHRISTMAS TIME
Thinking as I sit here in the warmth of my home the day after Christmas, I cannot help but deal with the knowledge of the more than many people this year who did not have their usual spirit, comfort, and festivities. The jobless, the homeless, merchants and so many others are hurting and, in fact, the whole world is hurting, pushed down that economic slippery slope by a totally incompetent USA administration.
In sympathy with all others in the world, I am also thinking that Christmas in my household was one with news few would want to hear at any time, least of all Christmas Eve. My daughter's boyfriend was killed, four hours away, when someone behind him skidded, pushing him, in his truck, into a skid that brought him to a head on collision with a semi-trailer. Since he had been unwilling to be confined by a safety belt, he was thrown from the cab of his truck, assuring death.
News of this reached us during a Christmas Eve party with family and friends . Suddenly our reality shifted. That he was a caring, thoughtful, wonderful man and would be missed by so many people whose lives he touched, is only a beginning of the ramifications when someone's death is the issue. The change of life script for loved ones, friends, and those for whom he was the 'rock' of their lives will only rewrite itself gradually.
There can only be helplessness felt, as death is so final. Since my knee had been operated on only a few hours before, I was not physically able to be helpful to anyone, frustrated that I was an added burden in the complicated situation of grief needing to be accepted as a final reality. Knowing that you are never alone in grief does not change the extent of it for anyone experiencing their personal reaction to that death. The only plus in that situation was the knowledge that we are part of a loving, tight family network, while so many others suffer alone. If I were ever given a single wish, it would be that no one should ever have to feel totally alone and unloved in this world.
In sympathy with all others in the world, I am also thinking that Christmas in my household was one with news few would want to hear at any time, least of all Christmas Eve. My daughter's boyfriend was killed, four hours away, when someone behind him skidded, pushing him, in his truck, into a skid that brought him to a head on collision with a semi-trailer. Since he had been unwilling to be confined by a safety belt, he was thrown from the cab of his truck, assuring death.
News of this reached us during a Christmas Eve party with family and friends . Suddenly our reality shifted. That he was a caring, thoughtful, wonderful man and would be missed by so many people whose lives he touched, is only a beginning of the ramifications when someone's death is the issue. The change of life script for loved ones, friends, and those for whom he was the 'rock' of their lives will only rewrite itself gradually.
There can only be helplessness felt, as death is so final. Since my knee had been operated on only a few hours before, I was not physically able to be helpful to anyone, frustrated that I was an added burden in the complicated situation of grief needing to be accepted as a final reality. Knowing that you are never alone in grief does not change the extent of it for anyone experiencing their personal reaction to that death. The only plus in that situation was the knowledge that we are part of a loving, tight family network, while so many others suffer alone. If I were ever given a single wish, it would be that no one should ever have to feel totally alone and unloved in this world.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
SURGERY WAS A BREEZE and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU
As my daughter dropped me off, telling me this was a nursing home so not to expect her to pick me up, (with a chuckle) I asked if the surgery unit was on the 5th floor. The guy laughed at me and said that would be very interesting but they only had three floors. Since the door was actually on the second floor, he pointed to a thirty foot high stairway and told me I could just go up those....or take the elevator. I chose the elevator as I did not think I would force my knee to climb all those stairs one at a time.
The receptionist gave me more forms to fill out...the HIPAA, whether I was latex sensitive, and permission to have them bill my insurance. I was banded, though in no way in fear of flight. I lost count at the number of times I was asked which knee and if I was allergic to any meds. Fighting annoyance, I reasoned that they had a right to cover their legal butts and I had the task of putting up with them trying to be VERY, VERY careful to do things accurately.
Next I was stripped, handed a hospital johnny and shown to a bed. There were probably 10 nurses who stopped by, asked the same questions all over again saying "just checking" and I found myself filing away names as they wandered by. Ann Marie, Sue, Mary, Kelly, Patty, Meredith, and the others too brief to hold onto. The anesthesiologist was sweet and friendly. I told him I did not want to be knocked out. He named five long chemical names I had never heard of and said they would just be relaxing me through my IV. IVs are not painful to have inserted and was probably the highest level of pain I experienced throughout the entire procedure. The actual procedure was the shortest amount of time spent. Before I went itno surgery, my doctor came by, borrowed a pen from a nurse and marked the knee on which he was operating. I was perfectly awake and clear of mind if he had marked the wrong one, yet there were still a couple of nurse who lifted my blanket and johnny to check.
The operating room prep and surgery went quickly and I was asleep by the time he had really gotten into my knee. I saw the surgeon who told me what I did in a language of parts with which I was not familiar but I did understand that he did what he had told me he needed to do and then told me what i needed to do. The anesthesiologist dropped by later and told him (with a smile) "You gave me too much and I fell asleep. He said "Yes, I did. He was going to be hurting you really badly if I didn't." There was no argument with him, especially after the fact of a kindness.
Within five minutes of having been wheeled back I felt ready to go home. My blood pressure was back to normal but it had to be repeated at least five times. Finally I was dressed and wheeled off to the door to my waiting car.
The day is over and I have felt no pain. I have tried to keep it iced and my leg elevated but the elevation was impossible at the Christmas Eve party I chose to attend. Back home, I was able to go back to the routine I was supposed to have had. Still no pain. I was given crutches to be used as stabilizers though my leg should be considered weight bearing.
Next comes physiotherapy, and finally when the bone on bone knee gets to be more painful that I can handle (should that occur which seems most likely in the future due to the arthritis damage) I will go back to the same wonderful group. I can only hope the doctor will outlive me as it seems so many people in my life have not been
successful at that as of today.
The professionalism and kindness of the staff was wonderful and I can only be grateful that there are still so many dedicated people who still put in the little extra to make sure that patients are relaxed, informed, comfortable and well taken care of medically. I'd recommend this group anytime to anyone.
The receptionist gave me more forms to fill out...the HIPAA, whether I was latex sensitive, and permission to have them bill my insurance. I was banded, though in no way in fear of flight. I lost count at the number of times I was asked which knee and if I was allergic to any meds. Fighting annoyance, I reasoned that they had a right to cover their legal butts and I had the task of putting up with them trying to be VERY, VERY careful to do things accurately.
Next I was stripped, handed a hospital johnny and shown to a bed. There were probably 10 nurses who stopped by, asked the same questions all over again saying "just checking" and I found myself filing away names as they wandered by. Ann Marie, Sue, Mary, Kelly, Patty, Meredith, and the others too brief to hold onto. The anesthesiologist was sweet and friendly. I told him I did not want to be knocked out. He named five long chemical names I had never heard of and said they would just be relaxing me through my IV. IVs are not painful to have inserted and was probably the highest level of pain I experienced throughout the entire procedure. The actual procedure was the shortest amount of time spent. Before I went itno surgery, my doctor came by, borrowed a pen from a nurse and marked the knee on which he was operating. I was perfectly awake and clear of mind if he had marked the wrong one, yet there were still a couple of nurse who lifted my blanket and johnny to check.
The operating room prep and surgery went quickly and I was asleep by the time he had really gotten into my knee. I saw the surgeon who told me what I did in a language of parts with which I was not familiar but I did understand that he did what he had told me he needed to do and then told me what i needed to do. The anesthesiologist dropped by later and told him (with a smile) "You gave me too much and I fell asleep. He said "Yes, I did. He was going to be hurting you really badly if I didn't." There was no argument with him, especially after the fact of a kindness.
Within five minutes of having been wheeled back I felt ready to go home. My blood pressure was back to normal but it had to be repeated at least five times. Finally I was dressed and wheeled off to the door to my waiting car.
The day is over and I have felt no pain. I have tried to keep it iced and my leg elevated but the elevation was impossible at the Christmas Eve party I chose to attend. Back home, I was able to go back to the routine I was supposed to have had. Still no pain. I was given crutches to be used as stabilizers though my leg should be considered weight bearing.
Next comes physiotherapy, and finally when the bone on bone knee gets to be more painful that I can handle (should that occur which seems most likely in the future due to the arthritis damage) I will go back to the same wonderful group. I can only hope the doctor will outlive me as it seems so many people in my life have not been
successful at that as of today.
The professionalism and kindness of the staff was wonderful and I can only be grateful that there are still so many dedicated people who still put in the little extra to make sure that patients are relaxed, informed, comfortable and well taken care of medically. I'd recommend this group anytime to anyone.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
MINOR SURGERY
No, I am not talking about operating on children. On Friday it was suggested that I have arthroscopy on my left knee. On the following Wednesday I had to have obtained a pre-op physical (my physician was on vacation way beyond that date), have an EKG, and a blood test, all results to be at the surgery center the day before surgery was scheduled. Additionally, I was to register several pages of information and medical history on the Internet. This last I did, but missed the proper source (given as an unfamiliar acronym) so it lived for a few days in a totally inappropriate data base, corrected opnly on the day before surgery.
The doctor covering for my own vacationing doctor had a far more gracious and caring manner, and was about 6'3" tall, young, gentle, male and gorgeous. Much more pleasant to look at than my pint-sized female doctor who is cool (as in temperature). I slid out of having to have a chest xray since I would not be having general anesthesia. My head needs as little chemical mind bending as possible.
The lab told me I should have fasted for 10-12 hours in order for them to accurately check my Vitamin D level. The tech was annoyed that I had not fasted and I gave him my time schedule and said if it didn't show properly, I had no time to fast, get back to redo the test and get the results to surgery when they were calling for them. He softened when I told him I had known about the surgery only since Friday and today was Monday. I thought I already deserved a purple heart for getting this far in so little time.
Just to be certain that everything was in, I had the doctor's office also fax the reports to me so that I could bring a hard copy, in the event there was a snafu.
It seems all systems are go. I'm told my knee will be 'cleaned out', whatever that may be. I will be there at 9:30 AM, taken to surgery at 11, be through by 11:30AM and allowed to go home on crutches at 12:30 or 1 PM. If anyone can think of anything that makes one feel like something rolling off an assembly line, I am hard put to think of it. Nevertheless, I am happy to have a surgeon who works for a National Ball Team as well as a regular private practice, and thus, does many of these operations.
Tomorrow's blog will prepare you for all the details should you ever find yourself in a similar situation or want to fill out your trivia database.
The doctor covering for my own vacationing doctor had a far more gracious and caring manner, and was about 6'3" tall, young, gentle, male and gorgeous. Much more pleasant to look at than my pint-sized female doctor who is cool (as in temperature). I slid out of having to have a chest xray since I would not be having general anesthesia. My head needs as little chemical mind bending as possible.
The lab told me I should have fasted for 10-12 hours in order for them to accurately check my Vitamin D level. The tech was annoyed that I had not fasted and I gave him my time schedule and said if it didn't show properly, I had no time to fast, get back to redo the test and get the results to surgery when they were calling for them. He softened when I told him I had known about the surgery only since Friday and today was Monday. I thought I already deserved a purple heart for getting this far in so little time.
Just to be certain that everything was in, I had the doctor's office also fax the reports to me so that I could bring a hard copy, in the event there was a snafu.
It seems all systems are go. I'm told my knee will be 'cleaned out', whatever that may be. I will be there at 9:30 AM, taken to surgery at 11, be through by 11:30AM and allowed to go home on crutches at 12:30 or 1 PM. If anyone can think of anything that makes one feel like something rolling off an assembly line, I am hard put to think of it. Nevertheless, I am happy to have a surgeon who works for a National Ball Team as well as a regular private practice, and thus, does many of these operations.
Tomorrow's blog will prepare you for all the details should you ever find yourself in a similar situation or want to fill out your trivia database.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
WOULD YOU HAVE PREDICTED?
From BBC America: A Turkish shoe firm says it has had to take on 100 extra staff to cope with a surge in orders after an Iraqi threw shoes at US President Bush. Istanbul-based Baydan Shoes claims it made the shoes and says it now has tens of thousands of orders from around the world - including from the US and Iraq.
The shoe was called Model 271 but has been renamed Bush shoe, the firm said.
Shouldn't this give some indication of how people have hated Bush around the world? Why are so many people unable to accept the damage to the American people Bush has done in his Presidency?
Bush supporters march to their own drummer. Is it that they truly can't see what he has done to destroy this formerly great nation? Are they too proud to admit they could have been wrong? Are they just losers whose judgment is really bad? Should they never bet on MegaBucks?
FROM bbc: "{However, the brother of shoe-throwing journalist Muntader al-Zaidi says he believes the shoes were Iraqi-made.
Durgham al-Zaidi criticised people he said were trying to exploit his brother's actions for commercial gain.
"The Syrians claim the shoes were made in Syria and the Turks say they made them. Some say he bought them in Egypt. But as far as I know, he bought them in Baghdad and they were made in Iraq," he told the AFP news agency.
It is difficult to verify exactly where the shoe is from as Mr Zaidi has not been seen in public since the incident eight days ago, and the judge in the case says the shoes were destroyed during security checks." You see, everyone gets greedy. Even shoe companies get good marketing ideas, even if they have to make them up as American Admen also have to do.
Rove's defense of the low ratings is that people tire of a President after 8 years. Perhaps that is true, but why did they tire so much more of Bush than other recent Presidents? That is the poser on which the interest in the shoe thrower sheds light.
Recently the argument that it is the voter's fault because they voted him in really raises my ire. To me that is victimizing the victim. What choice do people have who are being told that Clinton dishonored the White House and Bush will bring honor back. The lies that were told, as most campaigns seem to have to do, were really whoppers and he failed in every one of his promises of which I'm aware. His failure reflects the troubled years he had in the past.
Going out on a limb, I look at Obama's past and see nothing reflected there that would suggest he is at all a man similar, in any way, to George W Bush. Only time will tell but educated guesses aren't always bad.
.
The shoe was called Model 271 but has been renamed Bush shoe, the firm said.
Shouldn't this give some indication of how people have hated Bush around the world? Why are so many people unable to accept the damage to the American people Bush has done in his Presidency?
Bush supporters march to their own drummer. Is it that they truly can't see what he has done to destroy this formerly great nation? Are they too proud to admit they could have been wrong? Are they just losers whose judgment is really bad? Should they never bet on MegaBucks?
FROM bbc: "{However, the brother of shoe-throwing journalist Muntader al-Zaidi says he believes the shoes were Iraqi-made.
Durgham al-Zaidi criticised people he said were trying to exploit his brother's actions for commercial gain.
"The Syrians claim the shoes were made in Syria and the Turks say they made them. Some say he bought them in Egypt. But as far as I know, he bought them in Baghdad and they were made in Iraq," he told the AFP news agency.
It is difficult to verify exactly where the shoe is from as Mr Zaidi has not been seen in public since the incident eight days ago, and the judge in the case says the shoes were destroyed during security checks." You see, everyone gets greedy. Even shoe companies get good marketing ideas, even if they have to make them up as American Admen also have to do.
Rove's defense of the low ratings is that people tire of a President after 8 years. Perhaps that is true, but why did they tire so much more of Bush than other recent Presidents? That is the poser on which the interest in the shoe thrower sheds light.
Recently the argument that it is the voter's fault because they voted him in really raises my ire. To me that is victimizing the victim. What choice do people have who are being told that Clinton dishonored the White House and Bush will bring honor back. The lies that were told, as most campaigns seem to have to do, were really whoppers and he failed in every one of his promises of which I'm aware. His failure reflects the troubled years he had in the past.
Going out on a limb, I look at Obama's past and see nothing reflected there that would suggest he is at all a man similar, in any way, to George W Bush. Only time will tell but educated guesses aren't always bad.
.
Monday, December 22, 2008
SEXIST AD TRENDS HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP TO TODAY
"The advertising world continues to use stereotypes and violence to prey on our most vile desires." So writes Alex Leo in the 12/16/08 Huffington Post.
If it were only Admen who are behind the times, it would be less worrisome. All through the Presidential campaign I listened to the older TV personalities. Whenever things got dull (to them) they could call on the stereotypical view of women, the double standard, ridiculing emotions expressed (especially tears) and otherwise pounded their masculine chests. Since the days of Phyllis Schlafly's hold over American women who wanted to be supported by their husbands, regardless of the financial needs of the family, many women have ridden on those coattails as well.
Equality is still lacking in opportunity, justice, respect, empowerment, vocational choice, and sense that marriage is a partnership. Too many men and women cling to what they had been led to believe is 'woman's' work. If the husband's pay is higher, though only slightly so, as it is quite often with the inequality that remains, he clings to being the major breadwinner and thinks he can expect his wife to do all the housework, raise the kids, and wait on him. Fortunately, the current under 25 generation has been brought up in a world in which many grandmothers and mothers rebelled and taught their sons to be better equipped to manage a house and family as well as their wife does.
The UN has a Commission working on Womens'/Human Rights. It certainly can't be doing a bang up job getting the media to publish results, if indeed, there are any.
Hanging out at the gym and lifting weights is not the answer, Mabel. Until men can see that women do not envy their overrated plumbing except as it is useful during sex, that power and violence are not as essential in much of today's world as reaching effective solutions without war. The manly game of pissing contest with war toys must lessen or there will be no real equality. Misunderstandings will bring about more divorces and friction in marriages. Of course, it is the offspring of these unions who will suffer the most.
If it were only Admen who are behind the times, it would be less worrisome. All through the Presidential campaign I listened to the older TV personalities. Whenever things got dull (to them) they could call on the stereotypical view of women, the double standard, ridiculing emotions expressed (especially tears) and otherwise pounded their masculine chests. Since the days of Phyllis Schlafly's hold over American women who wanted to be supported by their husbands, regardless of the financial needs of the family, many women have ridden on those coattails as well.
Equality is still lacking in opportunity, justice, respect, empowerment, vocational choice, and sense that marriage is a partnership. Too many men and women cling to what they had been led to believe is 'woman's' work. If the husband's pay is higher, though only slightly so, as it is quite often with the inequality that remains, he clings to being the major breadwinner and thinks he can expect his wife to do all the housework, raise the kids, and wait on him. Fortunately, the current under 25 generation has been brought up in a world in which many grandmothers and mothers rebelled and taught their sons to be better equipped to manage a house and family as well as their wife does.
The UN has a Commission working on Womens'/Human Rights. It certainly can't be doing a bang up job getting the media to publish results, if indeed, there are any.
Hanging out at the gym and lifting weights is not the answer, Mabel. Until men can see that women do not envy their overrated plumbing except as it is useful during sex, that power and violence are not as essential in much of today's world as reaching effective solutions without war. The manly game of pissing contest with war toys must lessen or there will be no real equality. Misunderstandings will bring about more divorces and friction in marriages. Of course, it is the offspring of these unions who will suffer the most.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
WE'VE BEEN LIED TO
...and we will be lied to again. Marketers lie to us. Religious idols lie to us. The media lies to us. The police lie to us. And most importantly , so do politicians. I fact, it seems someone, somewhere, is always lying to us. This may sour us, but what it should do is make people challenge the truth of everything they read or hear. Weigh it against everything else you know and allow people to earn your trust if they prove themselves. Use your own ability to put facts together to reach conclusions. Don't rely on any one source and question the sources from which you receive information.
Reminded of a call to report that YouTube proved that Obama was not qualified to be an American President because he had a faked Passport, a good example. The caller should have immediately considered his past history and realized that, were it so, there were many agencies that would have caught it and he would not have been running in the 'finals', so to speak. Nor would it be YouTube to report it. Neither do your friends' friends let you know about dangerous viruses before you hear about it on TV or get updated in your virus protection program. When in doubt, go to SNOPES and check it out before you forward it to everyone rationalizing that it is better to be safe than sorry!
All senses are required to be used if any of us are to survive. When buying food, none of us will know if we are truly being given organic products unless we have more proof than the label. The reputation of the store counts. Your olfactory and immune system response counts. We may not always be correct, but we will beat the law of averages if we try.
People who need a computer the most and don't have one will not be reading this advice. Sadly, they will not benefit from the world of information at their finger tips. Television may be helpful to some extent, perhaps with the weather forecasts, unless you live far away from the transmitter and a few mountains away. In Jeffersonville, VT, one rarely gets accurate weather forecasts because the news comes from Burlington or beyond Lake Champlain to New York. A couple of mountains away is all it takes to totally change a weather pattern.
Living your life on 'faith' is abandoning the use of your own intelligence and accepting much over which you have no control...as many altar boys found out. They were left with the disappointment that their parents wouldn't believe them when they cried for help, and the perverts, whom they were being told to believe and respect.
Children can be most easily conned as they have little reference base. Unfortunately, many adults keep themselves that way, too. They don't challenge doctors who say there is nothing wrong with you when they really mean there is nothing we have found wrong with you. It is a lie when they say there is nothing wrong, when you know there is but do not have the medical knowledge to prove it during the ten minutes you are allotted to see them.
Assume there is NO truth anywhere. Take all the versions you hear, try to make sense of them, and believe that which seems to get confirmed in your mind. You may not always be right, but you'll probably stay ahead of the curve of sheep.
Reminded of a call to report that YouTube proved that Obama was not qualified to be an American President because he had a faked Passport, a good example. The caller should have immediately considered his past history and realized that, were it so, there were many agencies that would have caught it and he would not have been running in the 'finals', so to speak. Nor would it be YouTube to report it. Neither do your friends' friends let you know about dangerous viruses before you hear about it on TV or get updated in your virus protection program. When in doubt, go to SNOPES and check it out before you forward it to everyone rationalizing that it is better to be safe than sorry!
All senses are required to be used if any of us are to survive. When buying food, none of us will know if we are truly being given organic products unless we have more proof than the label. The reputation of the store counts. Your olfactory and immune system response counts. We may not always be correct, but we will beat the law of averages if we try.
People who need a computer the most and don't have one will not be reading this advice. Sadly, they will not benefit from the world of information at their finger tips. Television may be helpful to some extent, perhaps with the weather forecasts, unless you live far away from the transmitter and a few mountains away. In Jeffersonville, VT, one rarely gets accurate weather forecasts because the news comes from Burlington or beyond Lake Champlain to New York. A couple of mountains away is all it takes to totally change a weather pattern.
Living your life on 'faith' is abandoning the use of your own intelligence and accepting much over which you have no control...as many altar boys found out. They were left with the disappointment that their parents wouldn't believe them when they cried for help, and the perverts, whom they were being told to believe and respect.
Children can be most easily conned as they have little reference base. Unfortunately, many adults keep themselves that way, too. They don't challenge doctors who say there is nothing wrong with you when they really mean there is nothing we have found wrong with you. It is a lie when they say there is nothing wrong, when you know there is but do not have the medical knowledge to prove it during the ten minutes you are allotted to see them.
Assume there is NO truth anywhere. Take all the versions you hear, try to make sense of them, and believe that which seems to get confirmed in your mind. You may not always be right, but you'll probably stay ahead of the curve of sheep.
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