Monday, December 31, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Belated Merry Christmas to all!
Well, Christmas 2007 is finally gone. Things are going well, the American economy is going well. I got some cash, and a dvd player, and a giant food warmer to go in my back yard this summer. Today, I got the best news of all. The doctors office called me today and made an appoingtment for my consultation for my surgery. I am getting closer, step by step topwards getting approved for lap band surgery! Yayas!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Merry Christmas
I have seen these check cashing stores opening up all over the place in my city, I have seen about 10 or twelve new ones in my fair city so far this year . Ok maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but not by much. This may sound like a dumb question but why do people use these places? I have studied them and they charge exhorbitant fees. They are illegal in some states. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way arguing to get them shut down here, far from it. Don't people who use these places who are already short on cash will be shorter on cash by using them? Why not just use a credit card, a relative, or go to the bank to get a loan? Silly questions I know.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
I did it!
I finally learned how to work my camera! I am soooo proud of myself! Now I am going to get some great pictures and post them here! Pictures of myself before and after the weight loss, pictures of my pooches, pictures of everything ! yahas!Tomoww is picture days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Happy Birthday to me
I am 39 years old today. Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeee. Today-I felt a feeling that I have not felt in a long time-HUNGER. I was hungry, and I did not cave in to the hunger!I have cut way back on my food intake and my body is feeling it! My blood sugar is 127 about an hour and a half after eating..
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Weighing in
Last time I weighed in I was 6 pounds lighter! Weighing ikn this morning, I hope that I am down even more..
Friday, November 23, 2007
Gearing Up
The day before yesterday, I recieved in the mail my tax info regarding Health Coverage Tax credit from the IRS . I receieved copies of my filings for the past 5 years. Got it for free, too. Perhaps maybe this surgery is tax deductible? I am reading the information that the infernal revenue service is sending me this weekend and will have it ready on Monday, November 26(2 days before my 39th birthday! Yay) . I have the appointments set up for the psych evaluation and I am scheduled for the seminar on Dec 8! I need to post some current pics here of myself and I will. I just hate(right now anyway) getting in fron t of the camera!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
I don't have to do anything for Thanksgiving Day but show up! Personally I do not understand why some people seem to slave all day in front of ovens and wake up at 4 am to start cooking. The whole point of the holidays are to relax and have fun!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Waiting...
In a few days, I start my new lifestyle change. I am sharply reducing my caloric intake. This means very little breads, more light yogurt, more bottled water with tons of ice. I have not attended the seminar yet, and the seminar is not until December 8 of this year. I am having some tax information sent to me via USPS, and it will be here within the next one or two weeks. Apparnetly sometimes certain medical procedures can be tax deductible if they are to save someone's life. I have also ordered a form that I have to fill out and send back to the IRS. Forget what it is called, but on it you tell what kind of surgery you have and possibly send some reciepts? Anyhoo, I am impatient. Especially with myself. I am tired of having diabetes and being so overweight. I am tired of being out of breath when I go from my office out to the dog pen. Apparently there are many tests that have to be taken to be approved by a surgeon before having the surgery done. Many blood tests, and even psychiatric( or psychological) examinations to take. I cant see why I would not pass them though.I know that I have a long ways to go, but I can do it. I will do it. I promise that I will post before/after pics here, too:)
Monday, November 12, 2007
In a few days..
In a few days, I start my lifestyle change.. I am getting so psyched up for the surgery.. and I have not been approved by a surgeon. I go to seminar on Dec 8. I don't see any reason as to why I would be turned down. I have done much research on it and from what I have read I am qualified.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Sorry it has been a while
Been awhile since my last blog post I know. Didn't mean to be away for so long. A lot has happened since I last posted here, the main thing that is going on is that it looks like I am going to have the bariatric surgery after all. I have contacted a clinic here in Topeka that will do the surgery and I have a choice between two kinds. One kind of surgery is called the Gastric Bypass. This surgery involves cutting the stomach, and from there I cannot describe it because there are so many details and such. The cost is somewhere around 20 thousand or 30 thousand. The other choice is called the Lap band which is what I would choose( if given a choice LOL) because the recuperation time is shorter, does not leave as much scarring, less costly(around 14 grand) and I think would be less stress on me. I am going in for a free consultation on December 8th of this year. God, I am scared of this surgery, but I am more scared of what will happen if I don't have this surgery.I have never done anything like this before and I don't have a very high tolerance for pain. Except for having a tiny one in my finger, I have never even had an IV inserted in my life. That alone scares me. Well it helps me if I talk about it, talk to others who have had the surgery, and everyone that I have talked to has been successful with it and have had great results.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I am very much addicted to the net
***You Are 63% Addicted to the Internet***
In your opinion, life without the internet is hardly worth living.
Could be, but you probably need a bit more fresh air and sunshine to think clearly.
Are You Addicted to the Internet?
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouaddictedtotheinternetquiz/
In your opinion, life without the internet is hardly worth living.
Could be, but you probably need a bit more fresh air and sunshine to think clearly.
Are You Addicted to the Internet?
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouaddictedtotheinternetquiz/
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
News
Well here is the latest news regarding the phone call I made this morning to the Bariatric doc. I am not going to have the surgery. Seems that my insurance won't cover it. Oh well, I am terrified of surgery anyways. I checked it out on line and it is no minor deal. If I had it done, then I would have to miss out on work and then I guess that the recovery time is I don't know how long. Looks like I will have to go back to plan B. Diet and exercise. It isn't so bad anyway.I would have been extremely terrified anyway.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tomorrow I speak to a Bariatric doctor
Tomorro I am going to call a bariatric surgeon to set up an appointment to come and see him for some advice. Should i go for this ? I mean, I am morbidly obese. I am also deathly afraid of surgery and I have type 2 diabetes. I am a big chicken. I see others going through this surgery, yes, and I think they are so barve and I am the biggest chicken. I have never been through that kind of surgery in my life! Even IVs scare me. I want to be fully informed.I have tried the diet exercise route( ok I could have done much better on the exercise route) and I gained back the weight I lost. What do you think? I am scared. I don't want to die young.I have seen the lap band and gastric by pass and they look to be pretty invasive. I see them on the internet. Then I get even more scared. Then I see the positive results that others have had and I think 'I want that'! Wierd. I get horny sometimes,(ok all the time) and then I get sad because I don't have a boyfriend or husband and that no guy want sto go out with me. Except for Jeff, and he is kinda insane anyway. I think that a dramatic weight loss would help me feel more confident and better about myself. Oh well, enough with this self pity kick! I will log off and get some sleep right now. Sleep is very important too. Will post here and let you know how the call went tomorrow.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Baby Bond Bust
Hillary Clinton proposes $5,000 'baby bonds'
Hillary Clinton wants the government to give each child born in the United States a $5,000 "baby bond."
Sen. Hillary Clinton said today the government should give every child born in the United States a $5,000 "baby bond" to help pay for college.
"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time, so that when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to make that downpayment on their first home," the Democratic presidential hopeful told a Washington forum hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.
Clinton did not say how much her proposal would cost or how it would be paid for.
About 4 million children are born each year in the United States.
The New York senator said these "baby bonds" would help Americans struggling to save enough money to cover rising education and housing costs.
Wealthy people "get all kinds of tax incentives to save, but most people can't afford to do that," she said.ORK writes:I have a lot of questions about this. How much money would have to be paid for the initial bond to grow to 5 thousand dollars? How would it be possible to find out who to send the bonds to? Is there some sort of register that parents would have to fill out ? How could one be sure that the bond actually went to the children's account and not some other person's account for nefarious reasons? Is it tax exempt? Is it retroactive? I mean, will I get a bond , simply for being born in 1968?Who will pay for the initial cost of the bonds? Will they be counted as income? Will illegals be able to have access to these bonds. I mean, if an illegal pregnant woman comes over to this country and gives birth, will the kid that is born be given a bond?Will American citizens born overseas have access to these bonds?Do you have to be over a certain income to obtain a bond? Under a certain income?Why does Hilary Clinton seem to think that it is the governments responsibilty to do what the parents should be doing?
Hillary Clinton wants the government to give each child born in the United States a $5,000 "baby bond."
Sen. Hillary Clinton said today the government should give every child born in the United States a $5,000 "baby bond" to help pay for college.
"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time, so that when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to make that downpayment on their first home," the Democratic presidential hopeful told a Washington forum hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.
Clinton did not say how much her proposal would cost or how it would be paid for.
About 4 million children are born each year in the United States.
The New York senator said these "baby bonds" would help Americans struggling to save enough money to cover rising education and housing costs.
Wealthy people "get all kinds of tax incentives to save, but most people can't afford to do that," she said.ORK writes:I have a lot of questions about this. How much money would have to be paid for the initial bond to grow to 5 thousand dollars? How would it be possible to find out who to send the bonds to? Is there some sort of register that parents would have to fill out ? How could one be sure that the bond actually went to the children's account and not some other person's account for nefarious reasons? Is it tax exempt? Is it retroactive? I mean, will I get a bond , simply for being born in 1968?Who will pay for the initial cost of the bonds? Will they be counted as income? Will illegals be able to have access to these bonds. I mean, if an illegal pregnant woman comes over to this country and gives birth, will the kid that is born be given a bond?Will American citizens born overseas have access to these bonds?Do you have to be over a certain income to obtain a bond? Under a certain income?Why does Hilary Clinton seem to think that it is the governments responsibilty to do what the parents should be doing?
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Never Pick up hitchhikers
When I was a kid, I heard all these stories about people hitchhiking and getting raped and murdered or assaulted in some way. My parents taught me not to pick up hitchhikers and never ever go hitchiking. My mother, however did break her rule just one time. My ssister and I were were on our way home from a roller skating rink once, my mother was driving, it was late at night , and I think it was starting to rain. This was back in the day before cell phones. Well we drove past this woman walking home alone late at night, and we knew that it was not safe for her to be out there alone. We picked her up, gave her a ride home.She was a tad leery of us, but not totally scared because we were an adult woman with two little girls, so I guess that we looked harmless to her. She was very grateful and thanked us a ton when we got her to her destination safely.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEBTTTTTTTTT FREEEEEEEEEEE
I am DEBT FREE! Except of course, daily living expenses! My house was paid off long ago and the last thing I paid off on Monday was my Toyota Rav 4.I have a bit of good news! On Tuesday, I just mailed my final car payment:). Now my house and my car are paid off! I owe nothing except for daily living expenses! I am gonna hunker down and start saving more for retirement!
Monday, October 01, 2007
From the Inner Nets
You might be from Kansas if:
1. You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
2. You have never met any celebrities. (Bob Dole isn't a celebrity; he's your neighbor.)
3. You know the meaning of Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
4. Your closest neighbor is more than a mile away, and you can still see him from your front porch.
5. You can properly pronounce Salina, Basehor, Schoenchen, Kechi, Osawatomie and Olathe.
6. Going on vacation means going to Hutch to the fair, Abilene to Ike's museum or Boot Hill to see Miss Kitty.
7. You know exactly what calf fries are, and eat them anyway.
8. A traffic jam involves two cars staring each other down at a four-way stop, each determined to be the most polite and let the other go first.
9. A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol. A Ford F150 4x4 is. (Except in Johnson County)
10. You discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
11. The terms Sooners and Huskers cause the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up straight and your blood pressure to rise.
12. You have owned at least one belt buckle bigger than your fist.
13. You think that people who complain about the wind in their states are sissies.
14. You are not surprised to find movie rentals, ammunition and bait all in the same store.
15. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door but by the availability of shade.
16. You have been asked, "Where is Toto" more than once.
17. You prefer the Little Apple to the Big Apple as a place to live.
18. You had at least one summer job that was bucking bales or custom cutting.
19. You understand the difference between 3.2 and 6 point and more than once you've made a beer run to another state.
20. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.
21. Your school classes have been canceled because of the cold.
22. You know in your heart that K-State can beat Oklahoma in football.
23. Traffic congestion is ten cars waiting to pass a combine on the highway.
24. You have had to switch from heat to A/C in the same day.
25. You know everything goes better with Ranch.
26. You call that smell coming from the feed yards...Money.
27. Your school classes have been canceled because of the heat.
28. You complain that you cannot see Scott City...
29. You know that Mt. Oread is really only just a hill.
30. You have seen people wear bib overalls to funerals and weddings.
31. You have ridden the school bus for more than an hour each way.
32. Over 50% of your wardrobe is purple.
33. In August you break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7a.m.
34. You instantly know someone is from Johnson County when they call everything west of Topeka...Western Kansas.
35. A tornado-warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.
36. You know the real way to pronounce the name of Clintons state and the river... arKANSAS.
37. You think the opening day of pheasant season is a national holiday.
38. You NEVER liked Norm Stewart.
39. "Vacation" means going to Kansas City or Wichita for the weekend.
40. You measure distance in hours.
41. You know several people who have hit more than one deer.
42. You use a down comforter in the summer (because you run the A/C at 55 degrees).
43. Your grandparents drive at 65 mph through 13 feet of snow, during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
44. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.
45. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
46. You think of the major food groups as beer, beef, and beans.
47. You carry jumper cables in your car and make sure your better half knows how to use them.
48. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
49. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
50. You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and flannel pajamas.
51. You know the 4 seasons as: summer, road construction, still summer, winter.
52. It takes you 3 hours to go to the store for one item, even when you're in a rush, because you have to stop and talk to everyone in town.
53. You actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your friends from Kansas.
54. You lock the doors to your truck but leave the windows rolled down.
55. Finally, you are 100% Kansan if you have ever had this conversation:
~You wanna Coke?
~Yeah.
~What kind?
~Dr. Pepper.
BACK
1. You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
2. You have never met any celebrities. (Bob Dole isn't a celebrity; he's your neighbor.)
3. You know the meaning of Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
4. Your closest neighbor is more than a mile away, and you can still see him from your front porch.
5. You can properly pronounce Salina, Basehor, Schoenchen, Kechi, Osawatomie and Olathe.
6. Going on vacation means going to Hutch to the fair, Abilene to Ike's museum or Boot Hill to see Miss Kitty.
7. You know exactly what calf fries are, and eat them anyway.
8. A traffic jam involves two cars staring each other down at a four-way stop, each determined to be the most polite and let the other go first.
9. A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol. A Ford F150 4x4 is. (Except in Johnson County)
10. You discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
11. The terms Sooners and Huskers cause the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up straight and your blood pressure to rise.
12. You have owned at least one belt buckle bigger than your fist.
13. You think that people who complain about the wind in their states are sissies.
14. You are not surprised to find movie rentals, ammunition and bait all in the same store.
15. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door but by the availability of shade.
16. You have been asked, "Where is Toto" more than once.
17. You prefer the Little Apple to the Big Apple as a place to live.
18. You had at least one summer job that was bucking bales or custom cutting.
19. You understand the difference between 3.2 and 6 point and more than once you've made a beer run to another state.
20. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.
21. Your school classes have been canceled because of the cold.
22. You know in your heart that K-State can beat Oklahoma in football.
23. Traffic congestion is ten cars waiting to pass a combine on the highway.
24. You have had to switch from heat to A/C in the same day.
25. You know everything goes better with Ranch.
26. You call that smell coming from the feed yards...Money.
27. Your school classes have been canceled because of the heat.
28. You complain that you cannot see Scott City...
29. You know that Mt. Oread is really only just a hill.
30. You have seen people wear bib overalls to funerals and weddings.
31. You have ridden the school bus for more than an hour each way.
32. Over 50% of your wardrobe is purple.
33. In August you break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7a.m.
34. You instantly know someone is from Johnson County when they call everything west of Topeka...Western Kansas.
35. A tornado-warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.
36. You know the real way to pronounce the name of Clintons state and the river... arKANSAS.
37. You think the opening day of pheasant season is a national holiday.
38. You NEVER liked Norm Stewart.
39. "Vacation" means going to Kansas City or Wichita for the weekend.
40. You measure distance in hours.
41. You know several people who have hit more than one deer.
42. You use a down comforter in the summer (because you run the A/C at 55 degrees).
43. Your grandparents drive at 65 mph through 13 feet of snow, during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
44. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.
45. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
46. You think of the major food groups as beer, beef, and beans.
47. You carry jumper cables in your car and make sure your better half knows how to use them.
48. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
49. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
50. You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and flannel pajamas.
51. You know the 4 seasons as: summer, road construction, still summer, winter.
52. It takes you 3 hours to go to the store for one item, even when you're in a rush, because you have to stop and talk to everyone in town.
53. You actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your friends from Kansas.
54. You lock the doors to your truck but leave the windows rolled down.
55. Finally, you are 100% Kansan if you have ever had this conversation:
~You wanna Coke?
~Yeah.
~What kind?
~Dr. Pepper.
BACK
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The Dating scene
I have decided to get back into the dating scene again. I have not been out on a date in a looong time, and it is time that I returned. Dating is fun, but at first I get a little nervous, meeting the guy for the first time. Frankly, I don't see anything wrong with internet dating services, but being the tightwad that I am, I am going to try the free real world now. I am going back to church. I am thinking of getting back into life, possibly joining in some sort of extra curricular atcivies. There has to be more to life than work! Maybe looking into some classes of some sort. The free things are best
Friday, September 21, 2007
subprime stupidity
People who bought subprime mortgage loans: No bailouts. You deserve your fate. Companies who lent money to these subprimers: No bailouts.You also deserve your fate. You both deserve each other. You lose your house buy making the above listed mistakes, LIVE WITH IT. You did not do good research before and did not take care of your credit or you got too greedy and lent money to some one who was a poor risk:Too bad. You have to eat it and get no sympathy from me.You get nada from me.
My Girl
My girl is doing much better eating and more active. I love her so much. She has been my pal for twelve years. That time has gone by so fast. Her back end is giving out slowly.
Monday, September 17, 2007
My Heidi
My Heidi girl, my twelve year old baby , is not feeling well. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow. She sleeps a lot. She hardly eats anything. She tells me in her eyes that she is not feeling well. I fear the worst tomorrow.I love you my girl.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Thoughts
How do you propose that we as a country should handle Iraq? Pulling all of our troops out too soon would be a HUGE mistake, mainly because the insurgency would see this as sign of weakness and increase their attacks. Regardless of WHY we went there,the reason as to why we went to Iraq in the first place really does not matter anymore. We are there.We can argue about why we went there in the first place until we are blue in the face and it would not help our situation any.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Random thoughts
I have never been to New York City, nor have I even been to New York state, so I have never seen ground zero up close and personal. However I have been to another ground zero-Pearl Harbor in Hawaii( affectionately known as Pearl) and it was breathtaking. Made me feel sad and then proud and it was very surreall all at the same time. It is hard for me to think that there are still people buried on that SS Arizona Memorial to this day. Gave me the chills, big time.I get that feeling just a tiny bit when I see pictures of Pearl and movies made in New York City before 9-11 that show the towers still standing.
My take on Global warming
I believe that the world goes through cooling and warming cycles, and that human beings have little to do with it. Beyond that, the subject of Global warming absolutely bores the shit outta me.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
wow
Vets react to man who fraudulently obtained Purple Heart tags
The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. — Sentencing has been scheduled for next month for a 27-year-old Topeka man who pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a Purple Heart license tag for his car.
Timothy Allen DeBusk, who wasn't wounded while serving as a Marine in Iraq, entered the guilty plea Friday in Shawnee County Court while 20 veterans watched.
When the veterans, some wearing overseas caps and uniforms of the veterans' groups they represented, saw DeBusk approaching the courthouse Friday, they formed a line, became silent and eyed him as he entered.
The Purple Heart is awarded to those in the military who are wounded or killed in battle. A veteran can get the Purple Heart license tag by showing proof of his or her wounding, including discharge records, a newspaper clipping or a certificate issued by the Department of Defense.
DeBusk originally was to appear at a preliminary hearing in the case. District Judge Nancy Parrish and assistant district attorney Kim Knoll were surprised when defense attorney Don Hoffman said his client intended to plead.
DeBusk pleaded guilty to dealing in false identification documents and making false information. The felony convictions each have a potential sentence of seven to nine months in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 12.
After the hearing, DeBusk expressed remorse.
"I want to make things right by my community, my family and my God," he said. "I want my conscience clear."
Knoll said DeBusk used a certificate showing he had received the Purple Heart and showed his discharge papers to officials at the Shawnee County Treasurer's Office to get the Purple Heart tag in October 2005.
The certificate was forged, Knoll said. DeBusk surrendered the tag on Feb. 1, 2007, after he learned he was being investigated by the military, Knoll said.
As they waited for DeBusk to arrive, several veterans talked about the case.
"We are here in support of all veterans who earned the Purple Heart honestly, especially who gave their lives earning it," said Topekan Harvey Harris, state commandant for the Marine Corps League.
The Marine Corps League is seeking to flush out the "phonies" and "wannabes," Harris said. Jefferson Lawson, of Topeka, said the three core values of the Marine Corps are courage, honor and commitment.
"He stained all three," Lawson said.
———
Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal,
http://www.cjonline.com
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. — Sentencing has been scheduled for next month for a 27-year-old Topeka man who pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a Purple Heart license tag for his car.
Timothy Allen DeBusk, who wasn't wounded while serving as a Marine in Iraq, entered the guilty plea Friday in Shawnee County Court while 20 veterans watched.
When the veterans, some wearing overseas caps and uniforms of the veterans' groups they represented, saw DeBusk approaching the courthouse Friday, they formed a line, became silent and eyed him as he entered.
The Purple Heart is awarded to those in the military who are wounded or killed in battle. A veteran can get the Purple Heart license tag by showing proof of his or her wounding, including discharge records, a newspaper clipping or a certificate issued by the Department of Defense.
DeBusk originally was to appear at a preliminary hearing in the case. District Judge Nancy Parrish and assistant district attorney Kim Knoll were surprised when defense attorney Don Hoffman said his client intended to plead.
DeBusk pleaded guilty to dealing in false identification documents and making false information. The felony convictions each have a potential sentence of seven to nine months in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 12.
After the hearing, DeBusk expressed remorse.
"I want to make things right by my community, my family and my God," he said. "I want my conscience clear."
Knoll said DeBusk used a certificate showing he had received the Purple Heart and showed his discharge papers to officials at the Shawnee County Treasurer's Office to get the Purple Heart tag in October 2005.
The certificate was forged, Knoll said. DeBusk surrendered the tag on Feb. 1, 2007, after he learned he was being investigated by the military, Knoll said.
As they waited for DeBusk to arrive, several veterans talked about the case.
"We are here in support of all veterans who earned the Purple Heart honestly, especially who gave their lives earning it," said Topekan Harvey Harris, state commandant for the Marine Corps League.
The Marine Corps League is seeking to flush out the "phonies" and "wannabes," Harris said. Jefferson Lawson, of Topeka, said the three core values of the Marine Corps are courage, honor and commitment.
"He stained all three," Lawson said.
———
Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal,
http://www.cjonline.com
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Visa blew me off
Well, I for one got pissed at my credit card company and switched to another one. The first credit card company-I will say it here- VISA. Ok, waaay back in the mid of July of this year, I sent a letter disputing a charge on my card. I got a standard'we are researching this' response letter in return. Well, a month goes by, I get my new bill and the disputed charges are still on there, so I send another letter. I get the same standard blow off letter in return saying that they will neeed to investigate. Ok another 2 weeks goes by. I call the card comapny and they have the nerve to tell me that no one is working on my case and that I need to call the company that I bought the item from( the company that I bought the item from) when I told them in the first letter that I could not contact the company that I bought the item from! Apparently they have chosen to blow me off, so that is what I am doing to them. I had my balance transferred to Discover.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Dating
I am thinking of dating again. Some days I wish that I were married, other days I don't. I also feel a bit guilty. I think that my mother wishes that she were a grandmother. My brother is the only one of us three sibs that is married, and he does not want to have children. My sister is not married, and neither my sister and I are not in the best position to have kids, though we want to some day. She is 36 and I am 38.My mother's friends are all becomeing grandparents and she is so jealous. She does not harp or obsess about it though. And honestly, I do not know how to take care of a kid anyway...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Bad news
I found out today that my city will be opening some payday advance loan places here in Topeka. Seven, to be exact. I never have and never will use these places. A customer of mine and I were discussing it(he is going to work for the payday loan place) and he told me that , for example, if someone wanted to borrow five hundred dollars for two weeks until payday then they would charge seventy dollars. It saddens me to hear of people using those places . They usually have a very high interest rate.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Am I poor?
I live in middle America. I own my own home. I own my car. I bring in a steady income. That income is less than thirty five thousand a year. I live alone. I have a small house, with an attached garage, a kitchen nook, with two bedrooms, and one bath. Am I poor? I have a clothes washer and a clothes dryer. I have central air. I have a good working refridgerator and a furnace. I have a dog. I have a color television set. I have cable tv. I have a dishwasher in great working order. Am I poor? I have a great little property with nice great big trees on it. I have a microwave oven as well as a conventional oven. I have a computer with internet access. I have clothes I wear and decent pair of shoes. I have a little bit of money in savings. Am I poor?
Monday, August 20, 2007
Kansans are wise!
lawmakers willing to push for pay raise
The Associated Press
Published Monday, August 20, 2007
Even though Kansas lawmakers are among the lowest paid in the country, there is no outcry at the Statehouse for a pay raise to remedy that.
When Rep. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, sponsored a bill last year to increase legislative pay, few of his colleagues climbed on board and the measure fell flat. Afterward, Masterson vowed to never again bring up what he said was the equivalent of political suicide.
Last week, a legislative committee took up the issue and concluded that it was probably time to increase pay for lawmakers. But nobody on the panel came forward to propose such a raise.
“Whatever we do needs to be a rational approach,” said Rep. Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie. “Whatever we do is going to be scrutinized by the public.
Kansas legislators make about $17,000 a year, about half of that in pay and half for expenses such as lodging and meals in Topeka. Legislative leaders and lawmakers who serve on certain special committees receive more.
The state ranks 43rd nationally in legislative pay, according to data from across the country.
The Associated Press
Published Monday, August 20, 2007
Even though Kansas lawmakers are among the lowest paid in the country, there is no outcry at the Statehouse for a pay raise to remedy that.
When Rep. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, sponsored a bill last year to increase legislative pay, few of his colleagues climbed on board and the measure fell flat. Afterward, Masterson vowed to never again bring up what he said was the equivalent of political suicide.
Last week, a legislative committee took up the issue and concluded that it was probably time to increase pay for lawmakers. But nobody on the panel came forward to propose such a raise.
“Whatever we do needs to be a rational approach,” said Rep. Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie. “Whatever we do is going to be scrutinized by the public.
Kansas legislators make about $17,000 a year, about half of that in pay and half for expenses such as lodging and meals in Topeka. Legislative leaders and lawmakers who serve on certain special committees receive more.
The state ranks 43rd nationally in legislative pay, according to data from across the country.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Subprime lenders and subprime borrowers really piss me off
Why would you need to worry if you have a fixed rate fifteen or thirty year 5 percent(for example) mortgage loan?Yes, I know some things happen that are unforseeable, but, IMHO, the main reason that we are having so many troubles with the subprimes is because people who have bad credit, no savings, etc took out loans that they could not afford to pay back and some lenders were stupid enough to lend money to the subprimers.If you are stupid enough to lend someone money and you know that they have a poor credit history, then if you lose your ass, then it is your own fault. If you are stupid enough to borrow money at a rediculous interest rate and then you cannot pay it back, and you lose your ass, then it is also your fault. I have NO sympathy whatsoever for either of you. You both wallow in your own stupidity and you both deserve each other.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Two, too many things to do
Payroll was a breeze. Ah, it always is. I love it. I love doing bookwork. Something I love doing, absolutely. I have the baby with me. Zornfaust. He is a darling. Noisy, too. I had to take him to work with me, then I get home about 6 pm, and I have to leave him ::sniff sniff cry cry cry:: alone inside in luxury in the ac while I go out shopping for a new purse( because he chewed up that last one) and I have to buy some groceries. I hate shopping. I mean I REALLY really hate it. It is a chore to me. And when it comes to food items, I am the worlds worst at it. I dont make lists. I have a mental list. And I dont clip coupons. I tend to just throw things in the cart. I shop when I am hungry. I HAD to go shopping tonight because I put it off last night and I am down to one can of beef soup and 3 cans of sardines. LOL. I guess that I was waiting until I completely ran out of food. Well, the new purse, one that I found for a bargain at Target cost me twelve dollars. Not bad. The total for my groceries was one hundred seven dollars and some change. my personal record for the month is one hundred twenty five dollars for a month. Parting with that money really hurts. I mean, I am not poor, I am just a tightwad. Parting with a Dime hurts. Anyway, I broke down and bought some vanilla ice cream and some diet ice cream and some diet Coke. That make sense??? Nope. LOL.Then comes the final dreaded act: Unloading the groceries at home. Nobody else to help, except for the four footed greeter at the door who really isn't much help after all, I labor to unload. But all is well. I relax when it is all done:)
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Thinking about real estate
I always wondered something. My house is just under one thousand square feet, it sits on property that is maybe a quarter of an acre, two bedrooms, one bath, attached one car garage, and the neighborhood is good. The estimate worth of my house is 69 thousand dollars. What would a house like mine be worth if it were located along the coast, like say maybe New York or California?Yes, these are the things I think about every day!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Finance
I have taken a break from posting on the AOL abortion debate boards. I am still posting on other boards. AOL's message boards are the best! That is why i keep my free account with them. I post on other messageb boards besides abortion debate, and those are turning out to be fun. Oh, I saw the Simpon's movie on Sunday. Hilarious! I highly recommend it! Jeff went with me. Dutch treat.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Double Billed
Ever been double billed? I have been. I just got a bill from my podiatrist for some work that I already paid for early last month. Just got this very same bill a few days ago with a note attached saying that I am late paying this bill. I have never been later paying them, ever. What I am going to have to do(Ok well, I don't know that I HAVE to) but I am responding to their bill with a copy of their bill and a not that says I have already paid it and a copy of my cancelled check. I realize that folks do make mistakes. Still, it is a little bit aggravating , though. Ever had this happen to you? How did you handle it? Thanks for letting me vent a lil bit:)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
New Computer
Well, yesterday morning before I head off to work, I give my computer a virus scan. That takes a while to do, and I usually leave my computer on all of the time anyway. When I get home from work, I find that I cannot log on to the internet, and my monitor is completely black. So I call tech support. Then I find out that I have to pay for tech support over the phone. Joy. I call them up and the customer service rep, after going through so much testing and testing, tells me that I need a new video card. Joy again. I am told that Best Buy carries them in stock. Now I simply cannot be without my internet for even one night before I start to go insane, so I call Best Buy and confirm that they have video cards. They do, and I hurry my butt down to their store with my tower in tow. I get there and find out that my whole system is basically burnt out and that the video card was not the problem. So what do I do? I do buy a new computer. This one. A Hewlett Packard. I get home and now begins the assembly part. Not too altogether difficult. Just had one minor issue with the monitor, so I go back to the store to get a new one. I did put the new computer on my credit card(yuck) but I know that I will have the card paid off in about a month give or take a few days. Then I had to install a new antivirus program, which was the biggest pain, but I finally worked it through.The people at Best Buy, God Bless em, they were very patient with me. They earned their paycheck last night. And thus far, Hewlett packard has been the Best computer that I have had. And I have had some good ones. My first one was a Gateway and my second was an Emachines. But there is more cool stuff on this new one. Plus the flat screen is sexy.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Anchor babies
Yes, I agree we should build a good strong secure fence. My question is this: Suppose a pregnant woman gets across the border. Lets say that she is from Mexico. She is 9 months pregnant. She gives birth across the border in Texas. Her baby is a legal person of the United States. She is not. Do we deport her? If so, then what will happen to the baby?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Surfing the web
When I get home from work, I like to relax by surfing the web(since sex is not always readily available HA) and I found this cool website. I will post some links as soon I get it figured out. I simply could not live with out sex, internet or cable tv.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Scary as Hell
By KATHERINE SHRADER and MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writers
1 hour, 53 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press has learned.
ADVERTISEMENT
The conclusion suggests that the network that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to regroup along the Afghan-Pakistani border despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.
Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil.
A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the new government threat assessment called it a stark appraisal to be discussed at the White House on Thursday as part of a broader meeting on an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate.
The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the secret report remains classified.
Counterterrorism analysts produced the document, titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West." The document focuses on the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said.
Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."
The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.
At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks.
John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."
The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.
Kringen and aides to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell would not comment on the details of that analysis. "Preparation of the estimate is not a response to any specific threat," McConnell's spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that it would probably be ready for distribution this summer.
Counterterrorism officials have been increasingly concerned about al-Qaida's recent operations. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer.
Kringen said he wouldn't attach a summer time frame to the concern. In studying the threat, he said he begins with the premise that al-Qaida would consider attacking the U.S. a "home run hit" and that the easiest way to get into the United States would be through Europe.
The new threat assessment puts particular focus on Pakistan, as did Kringen.
"Sooner or later you have to quit permitting them to have a safe haven" along the Afghan-Pakistani border, he told the House committee. "At the end of the day, when we have had success, it is when you've been able to get them worried about who was informing on them, get them worried about who was coming after them."
Several European countries — among them Britain, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands — are also highlighted in the threat assessment partly because they have arrangements with the Pakistani government that allow their citizens easier access to Pakistan than others, according to the counterterrorism official.
This is more troubling because all four are part of the U.S. visa waiver program, and their citizens can enter the United States without additional security scrutiny, the official said.
The report also notes that al-Qaida has increased its public statements, although analysts stressed that those video and audio messages aren't reliable indicators of the actions the group may take.
The Bush administration has repeatedly cited al-Qaida as a key justification for continuing the fight in Iraq.
"The No. 1 enemy in Iraq is al-Qaida," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday. "Al-Qaida continues to be the chief organizer of mayhem within Iraq, the chief organization for killing innocent Iraqis."
The findings could bolster the president's hand at a moment when support on Capitol Hill for the war is eroding and the administration is struggling to defend its decision for a military buildup in Iraq. A progress report that the White House is releasing to Congress this week is expected to indicate scant progress on the political and military benchmarks set for Iraq.
The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan.
The agreement allows Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to move across the border with impunity and establish and run training centers, the report says, according to the official.
It also says that al-Qaida is particularly interested in building up the numbers in its middle ranks, or operational positions, so there is not as great a lag in attacks when such people are killed.
"Being No. 3 in al-Qaida is a bad job. We regularly get to the No. 3 person," Tom Fingar, the top U.S. intelligence analyst, told the House panel.
The counterterror official said the report does not focus on al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, his whereabouts or his role in the terrorist network. Officials say al-Qaida has become more like a "family-oriented" mob organization with leadership roles in cells and other groups being handed from father to son, or cousin to uncle.
Yet bin Laden's whereabouts are still of great interest to intelligence agencies. Although he has not been heard from for some time, Kringen said officials believe he is still alive and living under the protection of tribal leaders in the border area.
Armed Services Committee members expressed frustration that more was not being done to get bin Laden and tamp down activity in the tribal areas. The senior intelligence analysts tried to portray the difficulty of operating in the area despite a $25 million bounty on the head of bin Laden and his top deputy.
"They are in an environment that is more hostile to us than it is to al-Qaida," Fingar said.
___
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
___
On the Net:
1 hour, 53 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press has learned.
ADVERTISEMENT
The conclusion suggests that the network that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to regroup along the Afghan-Pakistani border despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.
Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil.
A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the new government threat assessment called it a stark appraisal to be discussed at the White House on Thursday as part of a broader meeting on an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate.
The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the secret report remains classified.
Counterterrorism analysts produced the document, titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West." The document focuses on the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said.
Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."
The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.
At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks.
John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."
The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.
Kringen and aides to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell would not comment on the details of that analysis. "Preparation of the estimate is not a response to any specific threat," McConnell's spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that it would probably be ready for distribution this summer.
Counterterrorism officials have been increasingly concerned about al-Qaida's recent operations. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer.
Kringen said he wouldn't attach a summer time frame to the concern. In studying the threat, he said he begins with the premise that al-Qaida would consider attacking the U.S. a "home run hit" and that the easiest way to get into the United States would be through Europe.
The new threat assessment puts particular focus on Pakistan, as did Kringen.
"Sooner or later you have to quit permitting them to have a safe haven" along the Afghan-Pakistani border, he told the House committee. "At the end of the day, when we have had success, it is when you've been able to get them worried about who was informing on them, get them worried about who was coming after them."
Several European countries — among them Britain, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands — are also highlighted in the threat assessment partly because they have arrangements with the Pakistani government that allow their citizens easier access to Pakistan than others, according to the counterterrorism official.
This is more troubling because all four are part of the U.S. visa waiver program, and their citizens can enter the United States without additional security scrutiny, the official said.
The report also notes that al-Qaida has increased its public statements, although analysts stressed that those video and audio messages aren't reliable indicators of the actions the group may take.
The Bush administration has repeatedly cited al-Qaida as a key justification for continuing the fight in Iraq.
"The No. 1 enemy in Iraq is al-Qaida," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday. "Al-Qaida continues to be the chief organizer of mayhem within Iraq, the chief organization for killing innocent Iraqis."
The findings could bolster the president's hand at a moment when support on Capitol Hill for the war is eroding and the administration is struggling to defend its decision for a military buildup in Iraq. A progress report that the White House is releasing to Congress this week is expected to indicate scant progress on the political and military benchmarks set for Iraq.
The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan.
The agreement allows Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to move across the border with impunity and establish and run training centers, the report says, according to the official.
It also says that al-Qaida is particularly interested in building up the numbers in its middle ranks, or operational positions, so there is not as great a lag in attacks when such people are killed.
"Being No. 3 in al-Qaida is a bad job. We regularly get to the No. 3 person," Tom Fingar, the top U.S. intelligence analyst, told the House panel.
The counterterror official said the report does not focus on al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, his whereabouts or his role in the terrorist network. Officials say al-Qaida has become more like a "family-oriented" mob organization with leadership roles in cells and other groups being handed from father to son, or cousin to uncle.
Yet bin Laden's whereabouts are still of great interest to intelligence agencies. Although he has not been heard from for some time, Kringen said officials believe he is still alive and living under the protection of tribal leaders in the border area.
Armed Services Committee members expressed frustration that more was not being done to get bin Laden and tamp down activity in the tribal areas. The senior intelligence analysts tried to portray the difficulty of operating in the area despite a $25 million bounty on the head of bin Laden and his top deputy.
"They are in an environment that is more hostile to us than it is to al-Qaida," Fingar said.
___
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
___
On the Net:
Scary as Hell
By KATHERINE SHRADER and MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writers
1 hour, 53 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press has learned.
ADVERTISEMENT
The conclusion suggests that the network that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to regroup along the Afghan-Pakistani border despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.
Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil.
A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the new government threat assessment called it a stark appraisal to be discussed at the White House on Thursday as part of a broader meeting on an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate.
The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the secret report remains classified.
Counterterrorism analysts produced the document, titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West." The document focuses on the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said.
Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."
The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.
At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks.
John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."
The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.
Kringen and aides to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell would not comment on the details of that analysis. "Preparation of the estimate is not a response to any specific threat," McConnell's spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that it would probably be ready for distribution this summer.
Counterterrorism officials have been increasingly concerned about al-Qaida's recent operations. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer.
Kringen said he wouldn't attach a summer time frame to the concern. In studying the threat, he said he begins with the premise that al-Qaida would consider attacking the U.S. a "home run hit" and that the easiest way to get into the United States would be through Europe.
The new threat assessment puts particular focus on Pakistan, as did Kringen.
"Sooner or later you have to quit permitting them to have a safe haven" along the Afghan-Pakistani border, he told the House committee. "At the end of the day, when we have had success, it is when you've been able to get them worried about who was informing on them, get them worried about who was coming after them."
Several European countries — among them Britain, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands — are also highlighted in the threat assessment partly because they have arrangements with the Pakistani government that allow their citizens easier access to Pakistan than others, according to the counterterrorism official.
This is more troubling because all four are part of the U.S. visa waiver program, and their citizens can enter the United States without additional security scrutiny, the official said.
The report also notes that al-Qaida has increased its public statements, although analysts stressed that those video and audio messages aren't reliable indicators of the actions the group may take.
The Bush administration has repeatedly cited al-Qaida as a key justification for continuing the fight in Iraq.
"The No. 1 enemy in Iraq is al-Qaida," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday. "Al-Qaida continues to be the chief organizer of mayhem within Iraq, the chief organization for killing innocent Iraqis."
The findings could bolster the president's hand at a moment when support on Capitol Hill for the war is eroding and the administration is struggling to defend its decision for a military buildup in Iraq. A progress report that the White House is releasing to Congress this week is expected to indicate scant progress on the political and military benchmarks set for Iraq.
The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan.
The agreement allows Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to move across the border with impunity and establish and run training centers, the report says, according to the official.
It also says that al-Qaida is particularly interested in building up the numbers in its middle ranks, or operational positions, so there is not as great a lag in attacks when such people are killed.
"Being No. 3 in al-Qaida is a bad job. We regularly get to the No. 3 person," Tom Fingar, the top U.S. intelligence analyst, told the House panel.
The counterterror official said the report does not focus on al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, his whereabouts or his role in the terrorist network. Officials say al-Qaida has become more like a "family-oriented" mob organization with leadership roles in cells and other groups being handed from father to son, or cousin to uncle.
Yet bin Laden's whereabouts are still of great interest to intelligence agencies. Although he has not been heard from for some time, Kringen said officials believe he is still alive and living under the protection of tribal leaders in the border area.
Armed Services Committee members expressed frustration that more was not being done to get bin Laden and tamp down activity in the tribal areas. The senior intelligence analysts tried to portray the difficulty of operating in the area despite a $25 million bounty on the head of bin Laden and his top deputy.
"They are in an environment that is more hostile to us than it is to al-Qaida," Fingar said.
___
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
___
On the Net:
1 hour, 53 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press has learned.
ADVERTISEMENT
The conclusion suggests that the network that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to regroup along the Afghan-Pakistani border despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.
Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil.
A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the new government threat assessment called it a stark appraisal to be discussed at the White House on Thursday as part of a broader meeting on an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate.
The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the secret report remains classified.
Counterterrorism analysts produced the document, titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West." The document focuses on the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said.
Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."
The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.
At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks.
John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."
The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.
Kringen and aides to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell would not comment on the details of that analysis. "Preparation of the estimate is not a response to any specific threat," McConnell's spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that it would probably be ready for distribution this summer.
Counterterrorism officials have been increasingly concerned about al-Qaida's recent operations. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer.
Kringen said he wouldn't attach a summer time frame to the concern. In studying the threat, he said he begins with the premise that al-Qaida would consider attacking the U.S. a "home run hit" and that the easiest way to get into the United States would be through Europe.
The new threat assessment puts particular focus on Pakistan, as did Kringen.
"Sooner or later you have to quit permitting them to have a safe haven" along the Afghan-Pakistani border, he told the House committee. "At the end of the day, when we have had success, it is when you've been able to get them worried about who was informing on them, get them worried about who was coming after them."
Several European countries — among them Britain, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands — are also highlighted in the threat assessment partly because they have arrangements with the Pakistani government that allow their citizens easier access to Pakistan than others, according to the counterterrorism official.
This is more troubling because all four are part of the U.S. visa waiver program, and their citizens can enter the United States without additional security scrutiny, the official said.
The report also notes that al-Qaida has increased its public statements, although analysts stressed that those video and audio messages aren't reliable indicators of the actions the group may take.
The Bush administration has repeatedly cited al-Qaida as a key justification for continuing the fight in Iraq.
"The No. 1 enemy in Iraq is al-Qaida," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday. "Al-Qaida continues to be the chief organizer of mayhem within Iraq, the chief organization for killing innocent Iraqis."
The findings could bolster the president's hand at a moment when support on Capitol Hill for the war is eroding and the administration is struggling to defend its decision for a military buildup in Iraq. A progress report that the White House is releasing to Congress this week is expected to indicate scant progress on the political and military benchmarks set for Iraq.
The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan.
The agreement allows Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to move across the border with impunity and establish and run training centers, the report says, according to the official.
It also says that al-Qaida is particularly interested in building up the numbers in its middle ranks, or operational positions, so there is not as great a lag in attacks when such people are killed.
"Being No. 3 in al-Qaida is a bad job. We regularly get to the No. 3 person," Tom Fingar, the top U.S. intelligence analyst, told the House panel.
The counterterror official said the report does not focus on al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, his whereabouts or his role in the terrorist network. Officials say al-Qaida has become more like a "family-oriented" mob organization with leadership roles in cells and other groups being handed from father to son, or cousin to uncle.
Yet bin Laden's whereabouts are still of great interest to intelligence agencies. Although he has not been heard from for some time, Kringen said officials believe he is still alive and living under the protection of tribal leaders in the border area.
Armed Services Committee members expressed frustration that more was not being done to get bin Laden and tamp down activity in the tribal areas. The senior intelligence analysts tried to portray the difficulty of operating in the area despite a $25 million bounty on the head of bin Laden and his top deputy.
"They are in an environment that is more hostile to us than it is to al-Qaida," Fingar said.
___
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
___
On the Net:
Monday, July 09, 2007
Been kinda
Been kinda sick lately. I have this stupid head cold and it makes me miserable. On Thursday, I went to see my doctor, this one a specialist in endocrinology. My numbers, bloodsugars and what not were much better and I am down by 11 pounds since last month. The Byetta seems to be working. I go to diabetes classes tomorrow night. I am actually looking forward to it. Maybe I will make some new friends:)
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Interesting...
Baby Born from Frozen Egg Jeanna Bryner
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Mon Jul 2, 12:05 PM ET
The first baby created from an egg that had been matured in the laboratory, frozen, thawed and then fertilized, was born in Canada, scientists announced today.
ADVERTISEMENT
The baby girl marks the first in what the scientists hope will be a viable option for women who become infertile due to certain types of cancer or polycystic ovary conditions in which liquid-filled sacs called cysts accumulate on the ovaries.
“It has the potential to become one of the main options for fertility preservation,” said study team leader Hananel Holzer of the McGill Reproductive Center in Montreal, Canada.
The breakthrough was presented at an annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in France.
Growing eggs
Three other women are pregnant by the same laboratory technique. All are part of a clinical trial at the McGill Reproductive Center of 20 patients with an average age of 30 who were infertile due to polycystic ovaries.
The scientists collected nearly 300 oocytes (eggs before they have matured) from the patients and grew them in the lab for up to 48 hours before freezing them. It takes days for the same maturation to occur in a woman’s body, Holzer said. The eggs remained frozen for no longer than a few months before they were thawed.
Of these, 148 eggs survived the thawing process and were fertilized with a type of sperm-injection technique. Then, 64 embryos were transferred to the patients. Since in-vitro maturation is known to have low rates of implantation, the scientists transferred more than one egg to each patient.
With the exception of one pregnancy, the resulting pregnancies were for single maturing embryos. The scientists attribute their success to some tweaks they made to the medium in which the immature oocytes were matured in the laboratory.
Lab hope
Under some circumstances, women don’t have time to undergo so-called ovarian stimulation in which hormones trigger egg maturation. Also, for certain types of cancer, such as oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, hormone stimulation can aggravate the disease. This freezing technique would allow the preservation of immature eggs.
“Freezing a woman’s eggs (or oocytes) has become an important and integral part of fertility treatment,” Holzer said. But until now, scientists didn’t know if immature eggs could be collected from unstimulated ovaries, successfully matured, frozen, thawed, fertilized and transferred into a woman’s body for a viable pregnancy.
Holzer warns the research is still in its early stages and it hasn’t been proven to work in cancer patients.
“As for all methods for fertility preservation, they should be looked at as preliminary and experimental,” Holzer said. “We need to inform the patients about the early stage of these treatments without giving any false hopes.”
Top 10 Mysterious Diseases
Couples Prefer Embryo Donation vs. Destruction
A Brief History of Human Sex
Original Story: Baby Born from Frozen Egg
Visit LiveScience.com for more daily news, views and scientific inquiry with an original, provocative point of view. LiveScience reports amazing, real world breakthroughs, made simple and stimulating for people on the go. Check out our collection of Science, Animal and Dinosaur Pictures, Science Videos, Hot Topics, Trivia, Top 10s, Voting, Amazing Images, Reader Favorites, and more. Get cool gadgets at the new LiveScience Store, sign up for our free daily email newsletter and check out our RSS feeds today!
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Mon Jul 2, 12:05 PM ET
The first baby created from an egg that had been matured in the laboratory, frozen, thawed and then fertilized, was born in Canada, scientists announced today.
ADVERTISEMENT
The baby girl marks the first in what the scientists hope will be a viable option for women who become infertile due to certain types of cancer or polycystic ovary conditions in which liquid-filled sacs called cysts accumulate on the ovaries.
“It has the potential to become one of the main options for fertility preservation,” said study team leader Hananel Holzer of the McGill Reproductive Center in Montreal, Canada.
The breakthrough was presented at an annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in France.
Growing eggs
Three other women are pregnant by the same laboratory technique. All are part of a clinical trial at the McGill Reproductive Center of 20 patients with an average age of 30 who were infertile due to polycystic ovaries.
The scientists collected nearly 300 oocytes (eggs before they have matured) from the patients and grew them in the lab for up to 48 hours before freezing them. It takes days for the same maturation to occur in a woman’s body, Holzer said. The eggs remained frozen for no longer than a few months before they were thawed.
Of these, 148 eggs survived the thawing process and were fertilized with a type of sperm-injection technique. Then, 64 embryos were transferred to the patients. Since in-vitro maturation is known to have low rates of implantation, the scientists transferred more than one egg to each patient.
With the exception of one pregnancy, the resulting pregnancies were for single maturing embryos. The scientists attribute their success to some tweaks they made to the medium in which the immature oocytes were matured in the laboratory.
Lab hope
Under some circumstances, women don’t have time to undergo so-called ovarian stimulation in which hormones trigger egg maturation. Also, for certain types of cancer, such as oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, hormone stimulation can aggravate the disease. This freezing technique would allow the preservation of immature eggs.
“Freezing a woman’s eggs (or oocytes) has become an important and integral part of fertility treatment,” Holzer said. But until now, scientists didn’t know if immature eggs could be collected from unstimulated ovaries, successfully matured, frozen, thawed, fertilized and transferred into a woman’s body for a viable pregnancy.
Holzer warns the research is still in its early stages and it hasn’t been proven to work in cancer patients.
“As for all methods for fertility preservation, they should be looked at as preliminary and experimental,” Holzer said. “We need to inform the patients about the early stage of these treatments without giving any false hopes.”
Top 10 Mysterious Diseases
Couples Prefer Embryo Donation vs. Destruction
A Brief History of Human Sex
Original Story: Baby Born from Frozen Egg
Visit LiveScience.com for more daily news, views and scientific inquiry with an original, provocative point of view. LiveScience reports amazing, real world breakthroughs, made simple and stimulating for people on the go. Check out our collection of Science, Animal and Dinosaur Pictures, Science Videos, Hot Topics, Trivia, Top 10s, Voting, Amazing Images, Reader Favorites, and more. Get cool gadgets at the new LiveScience Store, sign up for our free daily email newsletter and check out our RSS feeds today!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Savings
I heard on the radio that last year, Americans spent more money than they saved. This is rather depressing news. On a personal note, I am glad to say that I am starting to save more money myself. I am starting to save for retirement. I have not yet figured out how much I need, but since I am almost 40, I figured that I had better get on the ball. Speaking of savings and money, I keep hearing about this new iphone that Apple is coming out with and that it costs around six hundred dollars. I wonder what kind of person would pay SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS for that? An insane person! I refuse to pay that kind of money for that. Hell, I hate spending money , period. I wear t-shirts, sweats, and shoes until they are full of holes and with threads hanging off of them. Not because I want to wear them and not because I cannot afford new clothes. I can. I just hate spending money!I hate shopping . And I hate paying redicoulus sums of money especially on something like an iphone that is probably going to be out of date in about six months anyway.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Life goes on..
I have quit posting on the Abortion boards. Totally quit. Seems that some of the other ProChoicers and I had a disagreement. I won't go into great detail except to say that it was on the subject of the Iraq war, of all things. They said that they thought that Iraq was better off under Hussein's reign. I disagreed. I was very polite in my responses, but then I got called an idiot a few times. I just decided that at that point, I needed to leave the board. I thought that I stated my opinions fairly well and I stand by them. If they don't like it, then oh well. I am not going to change my opinion because they do not like mine. Because we agree on the subject of abortion, does not mean that we have to agree on everything else. But like I said before, Oh well. Life goes on. I have plenty of other boards I post on. Mostly they are financial boards, and I have made plenty of friends there. I think I will just post on those boards. I had the baby Zorn that I had to baby sit for the past 5 nights, and though I love him dearly, I am glad that my folks got home safely and that he is back with them! That boy is 63 pounds and he is HUGE!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Memo from the cave
I found this at snopes.com. It is HILARIOUS!:A memo from Osama bin Laden to his cavemates decries the theft of a box of Cheez-Its.
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2001]
From: Bin Laden, Osama [mailto:osama@taliban.com]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 8:17 AM
To: Cavemates
Subject: The Cave
Hi guys. We've all been putting in long hours but we've really come together as a group and I love that. Big thanks to Omar for putting up the poster that says "There is no I in team" as well as the one that says "Hang In There, Baby." That cat is hilarious. However, while we are fighting a jihad, we can't forget to take care of the cave. And frankly I have a few concerns.
First of all, while it's good to be concerned about cruise missiles, we should be even more concerned about the scorpions in our cave. Hey, you don't want to be stung and neither do I, so we need to sweep the cave daily. I've posted a sign-up sheet near the main cave opening.
Second, it's not often I make a video address but when I do, I'm trying to scare the most powerful country on earth, okay? That means that while we're taping, please do not ride your razor scooter in the background. Just while we're taping. Thanks.
Third point, and this is a touchy one. As you know, by edict, we're not supposed to shave our beards. But I need everyone to just think hygiene, especially after mealtime. We're all in this together.
Fourth: food. I bought a box of Cheez-Its recently, clearly wrote "Osama" on the front, and put it on the top shelf. Today, my Cheez-Its were gone. Consideration. That's all I'm saying.
Finally, we've heard that there may be American soldiers in disguise trying to infiltrate our ranks. I want to set up patrols to look for them. First patrol will be Omar, Muhammed, Abdul, Akbar, and Richard.
Love you lots.
Osama
Origins: We
know of no one who is taking the "memo" at face value, but it is a fine example of the use of humor to defuse anxiety about a menacing foe by transforming him into a figure of fun, so we feel honor-bound to include it in our round-up of "Attack on America" rumors. It's difficult to continue to fear a dread enemy when we picture him waxing poetic about the "Hang in there, baby!" poster or meaningfully pointing out to his terrorist cronies, "There is no 'I' in 'team.'" Likewise, the thought of bearded al-Qaeda members whizzing through the background of bin Laden's televised interviews on their razor scooters charms us, just as imagining The Contractor fretting over a missing box of Cheez-Its makes him over into someone we feel we can handle. Trivialisation is a powerful tool to employ during times of conflict, so it's small wonder bin Laden is the butt of it.
We've the nationally syndicated news-satire National Public Radio show Rewind to thank for this humorous offering. John Moe, one of the writers for the show, is the author of the piece, which was performed on-air on 12 October. Mr. Moe is also responsible for "Taliban Pizza," another lampoon of the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces, which aired on Rewind on 5 October:
[Phone rings]
Man with middle eastern accent: Hello. Taliban Pizza.
Customer: Uh, yeah. Hi. I ordered a large mushroom and green pepper, like, two hours ago.
Middle eastern accent: Yes, we are proud to say we made the pizza. We will honor and defend the pizza.
Customer: Yeah, that's great. Um, where is it?
Middle eastern accent: To find you, our driver went down the big road, the one that goes by the Rec Center. He took that down about a mile and a half, past the market, until he got to the Circle K.
Customer: Okay, so he went past the Rec Center?
Middle eastern accent: No, he went nowhere near the Rec Center! Why are you talking about a Rec Center?
Customer: I thought you said he went by the Rec Center.
Middle eastern accent: No; you said that. I didn't say that. We're not even sure there is a Rec Center.
Customer: Okay; fine. Let's start over — I just want the pizza.
Middle eastern accent: It is our policy that you did not order any pizza.
Customer: What? Yes, I did!
Middle eastern accent: We demand proof. You can't intimidate us with your pizza talk.
Customer: Oh, man! Come on! What do I got to do to get my pizza? I'm hungry!
Middle eastern accent: Please hold.
Customer: Now I'm on hold. Man! I can't believe this! Should have ordered from Pakistan.
Middle eastern accent: This is not Taliban Pizza. You have the wrong number. [Falsetto voice] This is Judy's Beauty Shop. In Pasedena. [return to middle eastern accent] Also, there is no such thing as pizza.
Customer: Come on, man! When am I going to get my pizza!
Middle eastern accent: We have placed the pizza in a neutral location.
Customer: Okay.
Middle eastern accent: Go down the dirt path by the Rec Center. Turn left at the goat and look for the new condos. Someone who is certainly not named Omar may be there and give you the pizza, but he may not be. Please bring Jesse Jackson with you. There are no condos there. You never ordered mushrooms so there will be plenty of mushrooms. We do not recognize mushrooms... [fade out]
_________________
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2001]
From: Bin Laden, Osama [mailto:osama@taliban.com]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 8:17 AM
To: Cavemates
Subject: The Cave
Hi guys. We've all been putting in long hours but we've really come together as a group and I love that. Big thanks to Omar for putting up the poster that says "There is no I in team" as well as the one that says "Hang In There, Baby." That cat is hilarious. However, while we are fighting a jihad, we can't forget to take care of the cave. And frankly I have a few concerns.
First of all, while it's good to be concerned about cruise missiles, we should be even more concerned about the scorpions in our cave. Hey, you don't want to be stung and neither do I, so we need to sweep the cave daily. I've posted a sign-up sheet near the main cave opening.
Second, it's not often I make a video address but when I do, I'm trying to scare the most powerful country on earth, okay? That means that while we're taping, please do not ride your razor scooter in the background. Just while we're taping. Thanks.
Third point, and this is a touchy one. As you know, by edict, we're not supposed to shave our beards. But I need everyone to just think hygiene, especially after mealtime. We're all in this together.
Fourth: food. I bought a box of Cheez-Its recently, clearly wrote "Osama" on the front, and put it on the top shelf. Today, my Cheez-Its were gone. Consideration. That's all I'm saying.
Finally, we've heard that there may be American soldiers in disguise trying to infiltrate our ranks. I want to set up patrols to look for them. First patrol will be Omar, Muhammed, Abdul, Akbar, and Richard.
Love you lots.
Osama
Origins: We
know of no one who is taking the "memo" at face value, but it is a fine example of the use of humor to defuse anxiety about a menacing foe by transforming him into a figure of fun, so we feel honor-bound to include it in our round-up of "Attack on America" rumors. It's difficult to continue to fear a dread enemy when we picture him waxing poetic about the "Hang in there, baby!" poster or meaningfully pointing out to his terrorist cronies, "There is no 'I' in 'team.'" Likewise, the thought of bearded al-Qaeda members whizzing through the background of bin Laden's televised interviews on their razor scooters charms us, just as imagining The Contractor fretting over a missing box of Cheez-Its makes him over into someone we feel we can handle. Trivialisation is a powerful tool to employ during times of conflict, so it's small wonder bin Laden is the butt of it.
We've the nationally syndicated news-satire National Public Radio show Rewind to thank for this humorous offering. John Moe, one of the writers for the show, is the author of the piece, which was performed on-air on 12 October. Mr. Moe is also responsible for "Taliban Pizza," another lampoon of the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces, which aired on Rewind on 5 October:
[Phone rings]
Man with middle eastern accent: Hello. Taliban Pizza.
Customer: Uh, yeah. Hi. I ordered a large mushroom and green pepper, like, two hours ago.
Middle eastern accent: Yes, we are proud to say we made the pizza. We will honor and defend the pizza.
Customer: Yeah, that's great. Um, where is it?
Middle eastern accent: To find you, our driver went down the big road, the one that goes by the Rec Center. He took that down about a mile and a half, past the market, until he got to the Circle K.
Customer: Okay, so he went past the Rec Center?
Middle eastern accent: No, he went nowhere near the Rec Center! Why are you talking about a Rec Center?
Customer: I thought you said he went by the Rec Center.
Middle eastern accent: No; you said that. I didn't say that. We're not even sure there is a Rec Center.
Customer: Okay; fine. Let's start over — I just want the pizza.
Middle eastern accent: It is our policy that you did not order any pizza.
Customer: What? Yes, I did!
Middle eastern accent: We demand proof. You can't intimidate us with your pizza talk.
Customer: Oh, man! Come on! What do I got to do to get my pizza? I'm hungry!
Middle eastern accent: Please hold.
Customer: Now I'm on hold. Man! I can't believe this! Should have ordered from Pakistan.
Middle eastern accent: This is not Taliban Pizza. You have the wrong number. [Falsetto voice] This is Judy's Beauty Shop. In Pasedena. [return to middle eastern accent] Also, there is no such thing as pizza.
Customer: Come on, man! When am I going to get my pizza!
Middle eastern accent: We have placed the pizza in a neutral location.
Customer: Okay.
Middle eastern accent: Go down the dirt path by the Rec Center. Turn left at the goat and look for the new condos. Someone who is certainly not named Omar may be there and give you the pizza, but he may not be. Please bring Jesse Jackson with you. There are no condos there. You never ordered mushrooms so there will be plenty of mushrooms. We do not recognize mushrooms... [fade out]
_________________
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Diabetes news from Yahoo!
Skipping insulin for weight risky By JIM ELLIS, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jun 18, 10:00 PM ET
Like many teenage girls, Lee Ann Thill was obsessed with her appearance. A diabetic, she was already suffering from bulimia — forcing herself to throw up to lose weight. But it wasn't enough, and she'd recently put on 20 pounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then one day at a camp for diabetic teens, she heard counselors chew out two girls for practicing "diabulimia" — not taking their insulin so they could lose weight, one of the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes.
Don't you realize you could die if you skip your insulin? the counselor scolded. Don't you know you could fall into a coma or damage your kidneys or your eyes?
But that's not what registered with Thill, who has Type 1, or juvenile diabetes. Instead, she focused on this: Skipping insulin equals weight loss. For the next 17 years, diabulimia was her compulsion.
"I took just enough insulin to function," said Thill, now 34, of Magnolia, N.J.
Today, she worries about the long-term damage that may have come from her weight obsession. At 25, a blood vessel hemorrhage in her eye required surgery. At 28, doctors told her she had damaged kidneys.
"I'm fearful for the future," Thill said. "I feel very strongly that had I taken care of myself, I could have lived as long as anyone without diabetes. I don't think that's going to happen now."
Diabulimia is usually practiced by teenage girls and young women, and it may be growing more common as the secret is exchanged on Internet bulletin boards for diabetics and those with eating disorders. One expert who has studied the phenomenon estimates that 450,000 Type 1 diabetic women in the United States — one-third of the total — have skipped or shortchanged their insulin to lose weight and are risking a coma and an early death.
"People who do this behavior wind up with severe diabetic complications much earlier," said Ann Goebel-Fabbri, a clinical psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
The American Diabetes Association has long known about insulin omission as a tactic to lose weight. But "diabulimia" is a term that has only cropped up in recent years and is not a recognized medical condition, said Barbara Anderson, a pediatrics professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Type 1 diabetes is a disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with this disease produce little or no insulin, so they take shots of the hormone daily.
It differs from Type 2, the form associated with obesity and which accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes.
Insulin is vital for delivering glucose from the bloodstream to the body's cells. Without insulin, cells starve even while the bloodstream becomes burdened with too much glucose.
When Type 1 diabetics skip or reduce their insulin, they risk falling into a coma or even dying. Blindness, amputations and kidney failure are some of the long-term complications that can develop.
Warning signs for diabulimia include a change in eating habits — typically someone who eats more but still loses weight — low energy and high blood-sugar levels, Goebel-Fabbri said. Frequent urination is another signal. When sugars are high, the kidneys work overtime to filter the excess glucose from the blood.
This purging of sugar from the body through the kidneys is similar to someone with bulimia, who binges and then purges, or vomits, Anderson said.
Studies show that women with Type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder. Ironically, good diabetes management, which requires a preoccupation with food, counting carbohydrates and following a diet, may lead some to form an unhealthy association with food, Goebel-Fabbri said.
Jacq Allan, 26, of London, is a diabulimic. When recently interviewed, she said she had not taken her insulin shots for two weeks and rarely takes them regularly. She weighs 42 pounds less than she did a year ago.
Allan is stuck between two fears: taking insulin, which may lead to weight gain, and the damage her destructive compulsion is doing to her body.
"I'm terrified of insulin," Allan said. "Every morning I wake up and think maybe I should go to the hospital."
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes nearly three years ago, Allan said she can feel the constant, sky-high sugar in her blood. Her list of ailments — chest pain, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, bacterial infections and lower back pain — are not the usual health problems of a twenty-something.
"I'm constantly worried that my eyes are going to go, but they seem relatively OK for the moment," she said. "I always wonder if this will be the day that some major organ fails. I kind of want something to happen because then maybe I'll stop."
Gwen Malnassy, 21, of Santa Monica, Calif., detailed her struggle with diabulimia for three years in a diary she posted on the Internet.
"If you don't think it will happen to you, don't fool yourself," writes Malnassy, diagnosed with diabetes at 9, in her final entry 11 months ago. "I believed the same."
Doctors diagnosed Malnassy with both anorexia and bulimia at 13, she said.
"I would look at magazines and think that if I looked like the models, I would have more friends and be more popular," Malnassy said in a recent interview.
She began withholding insulin at 17 after learning of the practice during a doctor's visit and continued withholding insulin off and on until last year.
Malnassy continues in her online diary: "I will say it again. Reach out; get help. Do not fall; do not let the disorder consume you. It's a miserable way to exist."
___
On the Net:
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/12/1956
Mon Jun 18, 10:00 PM ET
Like many teenage girls, Lee Ann Thill was obsessed with her appearance. A diabetic, she was already suffering from bulimia — forcing herself to throw up to lose weight. But it wasn't enough, and she'd recently put on 20 pounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then one day at a camp for diabetic teens, she heard counselors chew out two girls for practicing "diabulimia" — not taking their insulin so they could lose weight, one of the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes.
Don't you realize you could die if you skip your insulin? the counselor scolded. Don't you know you could fall into a coma or damage your kidneys or your eyes?
But that's not what registered with Thill, who has Type 1, or juvenile diabetes. Instead, she focused on this: Skipping insulin equals weight loss. For the next 17 years, diabulimia was her compulsion.
"I took just enough insulin to function," said Thill, now 34, of Magnolia, N.J.
Today, she worries about the long-term damage that may have come from her weight obsession. At 25, a blood vessel hemorrhage in her eye required surgery. At 28, doctors told her she had damaged kidneys.
"I'm fearful for the future," Thill said. "I feel very strongly that had I taken care of myself, I could have lived as long as anyone without diabetes. I don't think that's going to happen now."
Diabulimia is usually practiced by teenage girls and young women, and it may be growing more common as the secret is exchanged on Internet bulletin boards for diabetics and those with eating disorders. One expert who has studied the phenomenon estimates that 450,000 Type 1 diabetic women in the United States — one-third of the total — have skipped or shortchanged their insulin to lose weight and are risking a coma and an early death.
"People who do this behavior wind up with severe diabetic complications much earlier," said Ann Goebel-Fabbri, a clinical psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
The American Diabetes Association has long known about insulin omission as a tactic to lose weight. But "diabulimia" is a term that has only cropped up in recent years and is not a recognized medical condition, said Barbara Anderson, a pediatrics professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Type 1 diabetes is a disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with this disease produce little or no insulin, so they take shots of the hormone daily.
It differs from Type 2, the form associated with obesity and which accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes.
Insulin is vital for delivering glucose from the bloodstream to the body's cells. Without insulin, cells starve even while the bloodstream becomes burdened with too much glucose.
When Type 1 diabetics skip or reduce their insulin, they risk falling into a coma or even dying. Blindness, amputations and kidney failure are some of the long-term complications that can develop.
Warning signs for diabulimia include a change in eating habits — typically someone who eats more but still loses weight — low energy and high blood-sugar levels, Goebel-Fabbri said. Frequent urination is another signal. When sugars are high, the kidneys work overtime to filter the excess glucose from the blood.
This purging of sugar from the body through the kidneys is similar to someone with bulimia, who binges and then purges, or vomits, Anderson said.
Studies show that women with Type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder. Ironically, good diabetes management, which requires a preoccupation with food, counting carbohydrates and following a diet, may lead some to form an unhealthy association with food, Goebel-Fabbri said.
Jacq Allan, 26, of London, is a diabulimic. When recently interviewed, she said she had not taken her insulin shots for two weeks and rarely takes them regularly. She weighs 42 pounds less than she did a year ago.
Allan is stuck between two fears: taking insulin, which may lead to weight gain, and the damage her destructive compulsion is doing to her body.
"I'm terrified of insulin," Allan said. "Every morning I wake up and think maybe I should go to the hospital."
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes nearly three years ago, Allan said she can feel the constant, sky-high sugar in her blood. Her list of ailments — chest pain, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, bacterial infections and lower back pain — are not the usual health problems of a twenty-something.
"I'm constantly worried that my eyes are going to go, but they seem relatively OK for the moment," she said. "I always wonder if this will be the day that some major organ fails. I kind of want something to happen because then maybe I'll stop."
Gwen Malnassy, 21, of Santa Monica, Calif., detailed her struggle with diabulimia for three years in a diary she posted on the Internet.
"If you don't think it will happen to you, don't fool yourself," writes Malnassy, diagnosed with diabetes at 9, in her final entry 11 months ago. "I believed the same."
Doctors diagnosed Malnassy with both anorexia and bulimia at 13, she said.
"I would look at magazines and think that if I looked like the models, I would have more friends and be more popular," Malnassy said in a recent interview.
She began withholding insulin at 17 after learning of the practice during a doctor's visit and continued withholding insulin off and on until last year.
Malnassy continues in her online diary: "I will say it again. Reach out; get help. Do not fall; do not let the disorder consume you. It's a miserable way to exist."
___
On the Net:
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/12/1956
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I love Planned Parenthood
Abortion bill could force changes at Planned Parenthood
DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press Writer
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — When lawmakers passed new regulations for some abortion providers last month, Planned Parenthood claimed the "onerous requirements" would force it to halt abortions in Kansas City and Columbia.
But that may not be the case.
Rather than quitting its Missouri abortion business, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri now is studying how it could comply with the new requirements. A preliminary review shows it would cost substantially more than $1 million to make the necessary changes at each of its abortion clinics, Chief Executive Officer Peter Brownlie told The Associated Press.
In contrast to his May 18 assertion that the legislation "will shut down abortion services," Brownlie now says "our intent is to continue offering that service, if we can."
At issue is a measure that would require any facility that performs more than five first-trimester abortions a month, or any second- or third-trimester abortions, to meet the state licensure requirements for an "ambulatory surgical center."
Republican Gov. Matt Blunt supported the bill and is expected to sign it into law, meaning the new requirements would take effect Aug. 28.
The state already requires abortion facilities to be licensed, setting forth specific standards for their staff, operations and buildings. But because of the definition of an abortion facility — requiring abortions to generate half its revenues or patients — a St. Louis Planned Parenthood clinic is the only facility in Missouri actually regulated as an abortion clinic.
The Department of Health and Senior Services said the new language about ambulatory surgical centers would cause three additional abortion facilities to fall under its licensure. The department declined to identify those facilities.
But Planned Parenthood confirms its offices in Columbia and Kansas City both would be affected.
Brownlie estimates the Columbia facility performs 600-700 abortions a year. The Kansas City office performs about 100 abortions induced only by medication; the area's surgical abortions are performed a few miles west at a Planned Parenthood facility in Overland Park, Kan.
To comply with the specifications for an ambulatory surgical center, the Columbia and Kansas City clinics likely would have to be remodeled, Brownlie said. For example, state regulations require halls to be at least 8 feet wide leading to operating and recovery rooms and at least 5 feet wide elsewhere. Doors to exits, operating rooms and recovery rooms must be at least 44 inches wide while other doors must be at least 32 inches wide.
Ambulatory surgical centers also must meet requirements for emergency equipment, infection control, medical staffing and numerous other things.
"There's no question that it imposes considerable expense and considerable difficulty in maintaining access to that service," Brownlie said.
Following the ambulatory surgical standards at the Kansas City office is particularly "ludicrous," Brownlie said.
"There is no surgery there," he said. "It's literally a matter of doing an exam and giving pills" that later induce an abortion.
While Brownlie contends abortion is generally safer for women than live birth, abortion opponents point to cases of complications with both surgical and pill-induced abortions.
Bill sponsor Rep. Therese Sander, R-Moberly, said a lot of first-trimester abortions use a "dilation and curettage" procedure similar to what's performed in hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers after miscarriages or for other women's health treatments.
"Because they're doing the same kinds of procedures, they should have to operate under the same kinds of safety standards, inspection standards, staffing standards (and) keeping adequate medical-record standards," Sander said.
She added: "We're simply taking steps that are necessary to protect the safety of the women undergoing these procedures."
Health department records show almost half of Missourians already travel out of state for abortions.
In 2005, Missouri residents had 7,340 abortions performed in-state. But the department estimates the total number of abortions performed on Missourians at 13,955, when counting those who traveled to Kansas, Illinois and a few other states. Figures for 2006 aren't expected to be available until July.
Planned Parenthood said it is still weighing whether to challenge the legislation in court, comply with the ambulatory surgical center standards or simply stop offering abortion services at its Columbia and Kansas City clinics.
Halting the service could force more women to drive out of state for abortions, or perhaps cause some to reconsider whether to actually get an abortion.
Planned Parenthood asserts the result of the bill is to make it more difficult to perform abortions in Missouri. The bill's backers might not mind that, though they insist the intent is simply to ensure safety.
———
EDITOR'S NOTE: Capitol Correspondent David A. Lieb covers Missouri government and politics for The Associated Press.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press Writer
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — When lawmakers passed new regulations for some abortion providers last month, Planned Parenthood claimed the "onerous requirements" would force it to halt abortions in Kansas City and Columbia.
But that may not be the case.
Rather than quitting its Missouri abortion business, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri now is studying how it could comply with the new requirements. A preliminary review shows it would cost substantially more than $1 million to make the necessary changes at each of its abortion clinics, Chief Executive Officer Peter Brownlie told The Associated Press.
In contrast to his May 18 assertion that the legislation "will shut down abortion services," Brownlie now says "our intent is to continue offering that service, if we can."
At issue is a measure that would require any facility that performs more than five first-trimester abortions a month, or any second- or third-trimester abortions, to meet the state licensure requirements for an "ambulatory surgical center."
Republican Gov. Matt Blunt supported the bill and is expected to sign it into law, meaning the new requirements would take effect Aug. 28.
The state already requires abortion facilities to be licensed, setting forth specific standards for their staff, operations and buildings. But because of the definition of an abortion facility — requiring abortions to generate half its revenues or patients — a St. Louis Planned Parenthood clinic is the only facility in Missouri actually regulated as an abortion clinic.
The Department of Health and Senior Services said the new language about ambulatory surgical centers would cause three additional abortion facilities to fall under its licensure. The department declined to identify those facilities.
But Planned Parenthood confirms its offices in Columbia and Kansas City both would be affected.
Brownlie estimates the Columbia facility performs 600-700 abortions a year. The Kansas City office performs about 100 abortions induced only by medication; the area's surgical abortions are performed a few miles west at a Planned Parenthood facility in Overland Park, Kan.
To comply with the specifications for an ambulatory surgical center, the Columbia and Kansas City clinics likely would have to be remodeled, Brownlie said. For example, state regulations require halls to be at least 8 feet wide leading to operating and recovery rooms and at least 5 feet wide elsewhere. Doors to exits, operating rooms and recovery rooms must be at least 44 inches wide while other doors must be at least 32 inches wide.
Ambulatory surgical centers also must meet requirements for emergency equipment, infection control, medical staffing and numerous other things.
"There's no question that it imposes considerable expense and considerable difficulty in maintaining access to that service," Brownlie said.
Following the ambulatory surgical standards at the Kansas City office is particularly "ludicrous," Brownlie said.
"There is no surgery there," he said. "It's literally a matter of doing an exam and giving pills" that later induce an abortion.
While Brownlie contends abortion is generally safer for women than live birth, abortion opponents point to cases of complications with both surgical and pill-induced abortions.
Bill sponsor Rep. Therese Sander, R-Moberly, said a lot of first-trimester abortions use a "dilation and curettage" procedure similar to what's performed in hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers after miscarriages or for other women's health treatments.
"Because they're doing the same kinds of procedures, they should have to operate under the same kinds of safety standards, inspection standards, staffing standards (and) keeping adequate medical-record standards," Sander said.
She added: "We're simply taking steps that are necessary to protect the safety of the women undergoing these procedures."
Health department records show almost half of Missourians already travel out of state for abortions.
In 2005, Missouri residents had 7,340 abortions performed in-state. But the department estimates the total number of abortions performed on Missourians at 13,955, when counting those who traveled to Kansas, Illinois and a few other states. Figures for 2006 aren't expected to be available until July.
Planned Parenthood said it is still weighing whether to challenge the legislation in court, comply with the ambulatory surgical center standards or simply stop offering abortion services at its Columbia and Kansas City clinics.
Halting the service could force more women to drive out of state for abortions, or perhaps cause some to reconsider whether to actually get an abortion.
Planned Parenthood asserts the result of the bill is to make it more difficult to perform abortions in Missouri. The bill's backers might not mind that, though they insist the intent is simply to ensure safety.
———
EDITOR'S NOTE: Capitol Correspondent David A. Lieb covers Missouri government and politics for The Associated Press.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Epiphany
This afternoon, while I was sitting at my workdesk, I had an epiphany. I was deep in thought about the documentary that I saw last night called 'Maxed out.". A very thought provoking, yet slanted film. One of the ideas that the film tried to push was that Credit Card companies are evil. While I do not agree with this, I will agree with the film in that SOME credit companies are what are known to be predatory lenders, but the credit card companies are a business. They, like Casinos, are in the business to make money.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Update
I have become addicted to watching the Discovery Channel. They are having some great true crime shows on right now, about The Whitechapel murders, aka Jack The Ripper, New York's Son of Sam killings, The BTK case in Wichita, Kansas, and one interesting story of a man, by the name of Mc Millan who is falsely accused of rape and sent to prison. That show about McMillan was by The Innocence Project. He eventually goes free after about 22 years in prison. All very interesting cases. I love true crime tv.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Paying bills.
This week, I put in 56 hours of work. The overtime is nice, but I need to work 65 hours, so I can get my bills paid off even faster. No time off until I have everything paid. Well, I have this coming Sunday off. Was supposed to have today off, but I had to work for someone who had to attend a funeral. That is the way life goes, I guess. Being in a family business, sometimes those things just happen. Not much I can do. I have no men in my life right now. I just work work work, and I get the 'gazelle like intensity ' that Dave Ramsey says, and I make extra payments when I can. My house is all paid off. The ONLY things that I owe money on are my Toyota , and just a wee bit of credit card debt. The Toyota nd the 2 credit cards total about 1,200.00 left to pay off and then I will be completely debt free. Then I start saving my money like a madwoman for retirement!In the past I have invested in Roth IRAs and I look forward to putting more money in there and more money in a regular savings account for emergencies.Yes, I know, I know, I have no life outside of work and home, but , I believe, that when it is all said and done , at the end of the day, I will be debt free!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Why oh why do idiots breed?
Mother of emaciated girls sentenced to 44 months
The Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita woman whose two stepdaughters were discovered last year in what was described as an advanced state of starvation has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
A judge Friday sentenced Jennifer Wood to three years, eight months in prison. Wood's abuse of the two girls, ages 6 and 7, was so severe that they could have died if there had not been intervention, District Judge Douglas Roth said.
On May 2, Wood pleaded guilty to two counts of felony child abuse and one count of aggravated battery. Falk and Roth noted that the guilty plea spared the two children from having to appear in court.
Wood, now 28, could be released from prison in about 27 months. Roth said she would receive credit for the 11 months she has been held in the Sedgwick County Jail, and she could receive credit for good behavior in prison.
The girls were removed in July 2006 from the south Wichita home where they lived with Wood and her husband, Alex Wood, and Jennifer Wood's two biological children, who were 4 and 8 years old.
Alex Wood, who has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse, faces sentencing Thursday.
A social worker called police after finding the emaciated girls. Temperatures at the time topped 100 degrees, but a doctor who examined the girls said it appeared they hadn't had anything to drink in three days and had not eaten in six days.
Police said the home was well-stocked with food. Jennifer Wood's two biological children were adequately fed but were also removed from the home.
Alex Wood traveled frequently for business, and his two daughters told police they ate only when he was at home.
School officials said they had reported concerns about the girls to social workers starting 10 months before the father and stepmother were arrested.
The case prompted an investigation that led to reforms in the way state workers look into reports of child abuse, and several people in the Wichita child-protection office were disciplined for their handling of the case.
———
The Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita woman whose two stepdaughters were discovered last year in what was described as an advanced state of starvation has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
A judge Friday sentenced Jennifer Wood to three years, eight months in prison. Wood's abuse of the two girls, ages 6 and 7, was so severe that they could have died if there had not been intervention, District Judge Douglas Roth said.
On May 2, Wood pleaded guilty to two counts of felony child abuse and one count of aggravated battery. Falk and Roth noted that the guilty plea spared the two children from having to appear in court.
Wood, now 28, could be released from prison in about 27 months. Roth said she would receive credit for the 11 months she has been held in the Sedgwick County Jail, and she could receive credit for good behavior in prison.
The girls were removed in July 2006 from the south Wichita home where they lived with Wood and her husband, Alex Wood, and Jennifer Wood's two biological children, who were 4 and 8 years old.
Alex Wood, who has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse, faces sentencing Thursday.
A social worker called police after finding the emaciated girls. Temperatures at the time topped 100 degrees, but a doctor who examined the girls said it appeared they hadn't had anything to drink in three days and had not eaten in six days.
Police said the home was well-stocked with food. Jennifer Wood's two biological children were adequately fed but were also removed from the home.
Alex Wood traveled frequently for business, and his two daughters told police they ate only when he was at home.
School officials said they had reported concerns about the girls to social workers starting 10 months before the father and stepmother were arrested.
The case prompted an investigation that led to reforms in the way state workers look into reports of child abuse, and several people in the Wichita child-protection office were disciplined for their handling of the case.
———
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Tattoos and piercings
I have seen some disturbing things on the net as of late. People that have their entire bodies tattooed and pierced. Why do people do this? It looks incredibly painful to me! I have no tattoos and the only piercings I have are my ears. I have see some people get their eyes, nose, lips, belly buttons and even their genitalia pierced. Why? It does not make any sense to me. And I do not thinkl that tattoos all over the body are attractive at all. Even the tattoos all over the arms do not look attractive to me. I can understand getting a tattoo as long as you can keep it covered, but all over? Nope. Not for me. I understand that others may like it, but it just is not my cup of tea. I have not nor will I ever surgically alter my body unless I need it. I feel the same way about facelifts and breast implants. I don't need them and I wont get them. My decision.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Byetta
Today I went to the DLC and learned how to use something called Byetta. It seems that Byetta is pretty simple to learn how to use. The needles are very small and I can barely feel them when I inject the Byetta.I also tested my blood sugar this morning before I had my medicine and breakfast. Too high! Will work on getting that under control and starting a light exercise program. For some strange reason when I get home from work, I am just hard to get motivated. Oh yes, I have to watch my food portions too. My food choices are excellent, though. I have cut out the diet pop almost completely altogether. These days the main things that I drink are skim milk and ice water. That is really all I need for drinks. I don't drink alcohol at all. I did get drunk a few times when in college and a few times after wards, but I never really liked the taste of it. Need to work on getting more sleep, too!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Another good gem from Yahoo!
Political Preference Is Half Genetic Melinda Wenner
Special to LiveScience
LiveScience.com
Mon May 28, 10:46 AM ET
Whether you prefer Rush Limbaugh or Keith Olbermann has to do with your genes and your psychology, according to a new study.
People who are more conscientious and prefer order, structure and closure in their lives tend to be more conservative, whereas creative people who are open to new experiences tend to be more politically liberal, says John Jost, a psychologist at New York University who conducted an overview of previous studies involving a total of more than 22,000 participants from 12 countries.
But that psychological profile only pulls half the weight when it comes to determining people's politics, his review showed. The other half is genetic, as is revealed in studies of twins and their political bent, Jost says.
Politics in America
A number of sociologists have argued that political ideology died in America after World War II because both the left and the right wing were heavily discredited at the time.
Jost says the latest research shows the opposite, that politics in America today are very much alive. His previous research has suggested, for example, that more than 90 percent of college students can identify where their political beliefs fit on a scale running from the “left” (liberal) to the “right” (conservative), and that their affiliations strongly influence how they vote in elections.
Americans also appear to enjoy being involved in politics.
For instance, 44 percent of respondents to the 2004 National Election Study reported that they regularly listen to political talk radio.
Recipe for beliefs
Given our current political appetite, Jost next wanted to know whether liberals have different psychological traits than conservatives.
His “meta-analysis” of previous studies, including his own, showed that liberals seem to be drawn to chaos and novelty—for instance, they tend to support social change—whereas conservatives prefer reassurance and structure, and thus like to maintain the status quo.
Jost’s findings, detailed in American Psychologist, suggest that environmental factors, or the types of situations people encounter in their lives, determine approximately half of their political preferences.
For example, when people fear death or terrorism, or are in a state of uncertainty, they tend to become more conservative, he said. A study of World Trade Center survivors after 9/11 reported that 38 percent grew more conservative in the 18 months following the attacks, as compared with only 13 percent who became more liberal.
The other factor that determines a person’s political beliefs is biology. Research by John Hibbing, a University of Nebraska political scientist, showed that identical twins share more political beliefs than fraternal twins. They also, of course, share more genes.
“Forty, perhaps 50 percent of our political beliefs seem to have a basis in genetics,” said Hibbing, whose studies were included in Jost’s analysis. While genetics are unlikely to “hardwire” people into being liberal or conservative, Hibbing said that genes could make people more or less likely to have certain values or react to situations in a particular way.
This knowledge could pave the way to a more tolerant society, Hibbing said.
“If you think your opponents are not just being willfully bullheaded but rather have a kind of biological predisposition toward a set of beliefs, you might not spend as much time beating your head against the wall trying to get them to change,” he said.
Republicans Happier than Democrats
Democrats and Republicans Both Adept at Ignoring Facts
Brain Scans May Unlock Candidates' Appeal
Original Story: Political Preference Is Half Genetic
ADVERTISEMENT
Visit LiveScience.com for more daily news, views and scientific inquiry with an original, provocative point of view. LiveScience reports amazing, real world breakthroughs, made simple and stimulating for people on the go. Check out our collection of Science, Animal and Dinosaur Pictures, Science Videos, Hot Topics, Trivia, Top 10s, Voting, Amazing Images, Reader Favorites, and more. Get cool gadgets at the new LiveScience Store, sign up for our free daily email newsletter and check out our RSS feeds today!
Special to LiveScience
LiveScience.com
Mon May 28, 10:46 AM ET
Whether you prefer Rush Limbaugh or Keith Olbermann has to do with your genes and your psychology, according to a new study.
People who are more conscientious and prefer order, structure and closure in their lives tend to be more conservative, whereas creative people who are open to new experiences tend to be more politically liberal, says John Jost, a psychologist at New York University who conducted an overview of previous studies involving a total of more than 22,000 participants from 12 countries.
But that psychological profile only pulls half the weight when it comes to determining people's politics, his review showed. The other half is genetic, as is revealed in studies of twins and their political bent, Jost says.
Politics in America
A number of sociologists have argued that political ideology died in America after World War II because both the left and the right wing were heavily discredited at the time.
Jost says the latest research shows the opposite, that politics in America today are very much alive. His previous research has suggested, for example, that more than 90 percent of college students can identify where their political beliefs fit on a scale running from the “left” (liberal) to the “right” (conservative), and that their affiliations strongly influence how they vote in elections.
Americans also appear to enjoy being involved in politics.
For instance, 44 percent of respondents to the 2004 National Election Study reported that they regularly listen to political talk radio.
Recipe for beliefs
Given our current political appetite, Jost next wanted to know whether liberals have different psychological traits than conservatives.
His “meta-analysis” of previous studies, including his own, showed that liberals seem to be drawn to chaos and novelty—for instance, they tend to support social change—whereas conservatives prefer reassurance and structure, and thus like to maintain the status quo.
Jost’s findings, detailed in American Psychologist, suggest that environmental factors, or the types of situations people encounter in their lives, determine approximately half of their political preferences.
For example, when people fear death or terrorism, or are in a state of uncertainty, they tend to become more conservative, he said. A study of World Trade Center survivors after 9/11 reported that 38 percent grew more conservative in the 18 months following the attacks, as compared with only 13 percent who became more liberal.
The other factor that determines a person’s political beliefs is biology. Research by John Hibbing, a University of Nebraska political scientist, showed that identical twins share more political beliefs than fraternal twins. They also, of course, share more genes.
“Forty, perhaps 50 percent of our political beliefs seem to have a basis in genetics,” said Hibbing, whose studies were included in Jost’s analysis. While genetics are unlikely to “hardwire” people into being liberal or conservative, Hibbing said that genes could make people more or less likely to have certain values or react to situations in a particular way.
This knowledge could pave the way to a more tolerant society, Hibbing said.
“If you think your opponents are not just being willfully bullheaded but rather have a kind of biological predisposition toward a set of beliefs, you might not spend as much time beating your head against the wall trying to get them to change,” he said.
Republicans Happier than Democrats
Democrats and Republicans Both Adept at Ignoring Facts
Brain Scans May Unlock Candidates' Appeal
Original Story: Political Preference Is Half Genetic
ADVERTISEMENT
Visit LiveScience.com for more daily news, views and scientific inquiry with an original, provocative point of view. LiveScience reports amazing, real world breakthroughs, made simple and stimulating for people on the go. Check out our collection of Science, Animal and Dinosaur Pictures, Science Videos, Hot Topics, Trivia, Top 10s, Voting, Amazing Images, Reader Favorites, and more. Get cool gadgets at the new LiveScience Store, sign up for our free daily email newsletter and check out our RSS feeds today!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Flim Flam people
I fell asleep last night about midnight. I am a fairly heavy sleeper.Well, I wake up at about 5 am to void, and as I am coming back to my bed the tv is still on. Well, what do you know is playing? One of those crazy as hell informercials. Not just a regular one trying to hawk some worthless kitchen crap, but this one is a tv preacher. He was trying to sell some sort of mineral water that is supposed to bring one health and wealth. Then he was trying to sell some sort of hanky. ( This gave me visions of Mr Hanky the Christmas poo dancing around in my head which made me laugh out loud and scare my dog) I laugh and think: why would anyone fall for this crap? I have subsequently found out that this preacher was brought up on charges of fraud and has filed bankruptcy. Why is this idiot still on tv? He and his wife sit there on tv with these asinine looks on their faces and the backdrop is so obviously phony. Who in their right minds would send this guy money? He and his wife are con artists. He claims to be a faith healer. If he really believed tat he could heal people, then why not have a tv show on primetime? Then again, check out his name: Peter Popoff.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
DLC
Tomorrow I am going to the Diabetes Learning Center for a class on how to use something called Byetta. I have to use this penlike needle to inject myself then I must eat within one hour of doing it. Things have been going better for me personally. I am finally starting to kick this illness! On a much sadder note, a friend of my family (more a friend of my father) died on May 14. :(. He had health problems and had just been released from the hospital for heart trouble a few days earlier.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Dissent
It appears that I have a dissenting voice on one of my blog entries. Thats ok. I do not mind. I will keep up all responses, unless of course the responses are threatening or too graphic. This is what a blog is for, isn't it? And if the responders wish to remain anonymous, then I will respect their privacy.What I should have said on that blog entry is that I get sooooo tired of the CONSTANT complaining about the current administration and it just seems like every message board has some posters that blame everything that has gone wrong in their lives on the President. I don't mind reading the occassional complaint, it is the CHRONIC and CONSTANT complainers that get on my nerves.I just have no tolerance for whiners
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
News on the Lil Guy
Hello everyone. Hows it going? Update on Zorn: He got VERY ill early last month. We are not exactly sure what caused his kidneys to fail, but he was hooked up on an IV for a while and spent about a week going between hospitals.For a while we were not sure that he was going to make it. We got his kidneys flushed out, and now he is doing MUCH better and a boundless source of love and energy! He is almost 5 months old and getting to the happy, fun , yet awkward and cute big eared, long tailed, big foot puppy stage!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Youtube
I have just discovered(lol)by far the most bizarre thing on the web: YOUTUBE. Thats why I have not been posting here so much lately. I felt kinda nostalgic for those old classic retromercials and public service announcements. Some are just downright funny! I will post some here soon.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
In my neighbor hood
There is a guy in my neighborhood that I see riding his ten speed bicycle around my city wearing nothing but a speedo.Not even a helmet. I have seen him many many times.Normally I think that speedos are goofy looking. He is not a bad looking guy. He wears next to NOTHING. I don't at all mind. I can even see that he is a rather well endowed guy. I think he may know that he gives the ladies in town a show.He has nice long brown hair and he is fairly well muscled and is pretty tanned. He disappointed me the other day while I was driving home from work the other day. He was on his bicycle as usual, but was wearing cut off shorts and a tee shirt. He was so close to me I wanted to yell 'Hey-BRING BACK THE SPEEDO'! But I didn't.I just look at him and smile really big:)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Still running on PISSED
I am still running on pissed from the last post I made here. I am sick and tired of the constant bitching by others on the AOL message boards about President Bush. I mean, I am not a huge fan of the guy either, but seems that some people want to blame Bush for every damn societal problem this country has. I just wanna reach through my computer and slap the ever lovin shit outta them and tell them,'hey if you are that miserable here in this country THEN YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE IT'!I have told them that a few times, but they still whine and bitch, so I have to put them on ignore. My iggy bin is full of these whiny , bitchy morons. I am watching 'Mind of Mencia' right now. That guy is hilarious.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Fed up
I am fed up. Fed up with BOTH major political parties. I am sick of both of the parties giving boxed, pat, stock answers to serious political questions. For instance, when the Democrats are asked what should be done about our troops in the Middle East, they usually say something along the lines of ' bring our troops home'.Well, ok, EVERYONE wants that! But it DOES NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION! What would you do to solve the problems in the Middle East? I have yet to get an answer from them. I am a registered Republican, but I am almost as fed up with them as I am with the Democrats. Republicans 'stock' response: 'stay the course'! Ugh. I feel like banging my head against the wall.Stay the course ? Ok fine. But just remember that eventually, it may take years and years and years, but we might have to 'pull out'(ugh-another stock word). I say to the people who say 'stay the course': Then after we do that, then WHAT? They usually have no answer.Don't get me wrong, I love voting and I love being an American and I support the troops, but sometimes I feel like the major political parties are something like my folks, and each side is pulling me like taffy to their side because 'they know what is best for me'. I feel that sometimes the troops are in the same position I am. I know that when they get orders, they HAVE to obey them. Completely understand. Sometimes I get sick and tired of all of the political bickering. The Democrats (it seems to me anyway) try to blame Bush for all of society's problems, call him a hate monger, stupid, etc. I am just sick of that.It is just NOT true. And I am sick of the Republicans preaching at us about 'responsibility' especially when some of them do not practice what they preach. Ok, my rant is nearly over. LOL. Bottom line is, I guess that there are jerks on all sides .
Thursday, April 19, 2007
From Yahoo.. and I could not agree more
Grieving parent: Remember our children By VICKI SMITH, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 22 minutes ago
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Peter Read wants you to make a choice.
ADVERTISEMENT
He asks that you turn away from the face of the deranged gunman glaring at the camera. Gaze instead at the face of a bright and bubbly brunette who smiled even when she was unhappy, a face always in the middle of a crowd.
It is the face of Mary Karen Read, the daughter he will now see only in scrapbooks.
Hers is just one of 32 promising lives cut short at Virginia Tech — the life of a musician, an aspiring schoolteacher, a doting big sister to five siblings. A 19-year-old freshman who had just filed her first tax return and learned, the day before she died, how to make a pumpkin pie.
When you think of the massacre that befell this quiet college town, those are the memories Peter Read wants you to remember.
"We want the world to know and celebrate our children's lives, and we believe that's the central element that brings hope in the midst of great tragedy," Read said Thursday, with his wife, Cathy, at his side. "These kids were the best that their generation has to offer."
As the Reads left Blacksburg on Thursday for their home in Annandale, they were exhausted, pale, heartbroken — and furious. On television, the overwhelming image of the tragedy was the face of Cho Seung-Hui — a killer whose name Peter Read cannot bring himself to speak.
"I want to issue a direct personal plea, to all the major media," he told The Associated Press. "For the love of God and our children, stop broadcasting those images and those words. Choose to focus on life and the love and the light that our children brought into the world and not on the darkness and the madness and the death."
Several networks have already heard Read's message loud and clear — from disgusted viewers. Fox News Channel announced it would no longer run the disturbing audio and images of the gunman. NBC, which aired the material first, and cable outlet MSNBC said they would "severely limit" their use.
Read hopes the focus will swing back to the children. Children such as Paul Turner's daughter Maxine, a 22-year-old chemical engineering major from Vienna who loved beaches, swing dancing and her close-knit circle of friends. She would have graduated soon, and she had already lined up a job in Elkton, Md.
At Virginia Tech, Maxine Turner co-founded a sorority and earned a red belt in Tae Kwon Do. She loved the German band Rammstein and signed up for a language class to understand the lyrics.
It was there that she died.
On Thursday, her body rested at a morgue in Roanoke, where state and U.S. flags were lowered and access was heavily guarded by police. A hearse will arrive sometime this week to carry her home, a scenario that will be repeated many times as parents hold funerals.
Like so many today, the Read family is blended: Peter Read, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran, married Yon Son Yi, of Palisades Park, N.J., who gave birth to Mary Read. But the couple later divorced.
Yi remarried and had a second daughter, Hannah, 4 1/2. Read remarried too, and he and his wife had four children: Stephen, 11; Patrick, 4 1/2; Brendan, 2 1/2; and Colleen, 10 months.
The Reads live in a quiet cul-de-sac in Annandale, where they moved in 2001 from Virginia Beach.
Mary Read made friends fast. She joined the French honor society, the National Honor Society and the marching band. She played lacrosse for two years and moved easily between the cliques that fill high school hallways.
She wanted to teach math and science to elementary school students, and she enrolled at Virginia Tech.
In her dorm room were scrapbooks filled with hundreds of photographs — at summer band camp, at Myrtle Beach, on the arm of her father as part of the homecoming court.
The end of her freshman year was just weeks away, and she had planned to spend the summer at home, working at a deli and helping care for her siblings.
She came home Easter weekend, staging practice egg hunts for her brothers. Then, the weekend before her death, she came home again.
She divided her time between her friends and her family those two days but was inseparable from her laptop. She sat on the stairs, where the wireless reception was best, to instant message and e-mail her friends. A brother sat nearby, toy computer on his lap.
"He wanted to be like Mary," Peter Read recalled.
On Sunday, Read's wife showed his daughter how to make her favorite dessert, a pumpkin pie. And when Read took her to the bus stop at 4:30 p.m., she had a slab of the pie and a container of Cool Whip in a plastic bag.
Mary Read never called to check in when she reached Blacksburg, but her parents know what she did that night: She had recorded her favorite TV show, "House," on DVDs and watched them on her laptop during the 4 1/2-hour ride.
The next morning, she had French class in Norris Hall, where gunman Cho Seung-Hui took her life.
When news of the shootings broke, Peter Read started calling his daughter, hoping she would pick up. Then he called her roommate. The hours wore on, without word.
When Read learned that the parents of his daughter's longtime friend Danielle Waters were driving to Blacksburg late that afternoon to find their daughter, he asked to ride along.
On the drive, Olga and John Waters learned their daughter was alive. Around 9:30 p.m., Read's cell phone rang. It was his wife, and the state police were at their door.
The Reads won't talk about their grief over these past few days. It's too painful, too personal. The time is not yet right.
But they share the photos and drawings from their daughter's dorm room, which was just as she had left it.
In a plastic bag was the empty container that had held her pie. And on her desk was a calendar Mary Read's grandmother had given her years ago, each day offering a quote from a famous woman.
On April 16, the words were from a teacher, Helen Keller:
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."
___
Associated Press writers Sue Lindsey in Roanoke and Kristen Gelineau in Blacksburg contributed to this report.
1 hour, 22 minutes ago
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Peter Read wants you to make a choice.
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He asks that you turn away from the face of the deranged gunman glaring at the camera. Gaze instead at the face of a bright and bubbly brunette who smiled even when she was unhappy, a face always in the middle of a crowd.
It is the face of Mary Karen Read, the daughter he will now see only in scrapbooks.
Hers is just one of 32 promising lives cut short at Virginia Tech — the life of a musician, an aspiring schoolteacher, a doting big sister to five siblings. A 19-year-old freshman who had just filed her first tax return and learned, the day before she died, how to make a pumpkin pie.
When you think of the massacre that befell this quiet college town, those are the memories Peter Read wants you to remember.
"We want the world to know and celebrate our children's lives, and we believe that's the central element that brings hope in the midst of great tragedy," Read said Thursday, with his wife, Cathy, at his side. "These kids were the best that their generation has to offer."
As the Reads left Blacksburg on Thursday for their home in Annandale, they were exhausted, pale, heartbroken — and furious. On television, the overwhelming image of the tragedy was the face of Cho Seung-Hui — a killer whose name Peter Read cannot bring himself to speak.
"I want to issue a direct personal plea, to all the major media," he told The Associated Press. "For the love of God and our children, stop broadcasting those images and those words. Choose to focus on life and the love and the light that our children brought into the world and not on the darkness and the madness and the death."
Several networks have already heard Read's message loud and clear — from disgusted viewers. Fox News Channel announced it would no longer run the disturbing audio and images of the gunman. NBC, which aired the material first, and cable outlet MSNBC said they would "severely limit" their use.
Read hopes the focus will swing back to the children. Children such as Paul Turner's daughter Maxine, a 22-year-old chemical engineering major from Vienna who loved beaches, swing dancing and her close-knit circle of friends. She would have graduated soon, and she had already lined up a job in Elkton, Md.
At Virginia Tech, Maxine Turner co-founded a sorority and earned a red belt in Tae Kwon Do. She loved the German band Rammstein and signed up for a language class to understand the lyrics.
It was there that she died.
On Thursday, her body rested at a morgue in Roanoke, where state and U.S. flags were lowered and access was heavily guarded by police. A hearse will arrive sometime this week to carry her home, a scenario that will be repeated many times as parents hold funerals.
Like so many today, the Read family is blended: Peter Read, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran, married Yon Son Yi, of Palisades Park, N.J., who gave birth to Mary Read. But the couple later divorced.
Yi remarried and had a second daughter, Hannah, 4 1/2. Read remarried too, and he and his wife had four children: Stephen, 11; Patrick, 4 1/2; Brendan, 2 1/2; and Colleen, 10 months.
The Reads live in a quiet cul-de-sac in Annandale, where they moved in 2001 from Virginia Beach.
Mary Read made friends fast. She joined the French honor society, the National Honor Society and the marching band. She played lacrosse for two years and moved easily between the cliques that fill high school hallways.
She wanted to teach math and science to elementary school students, and she enrolled at Virginia Tech.
In her dorm room were scrapbooks filled with hundreds of photographs — at summer band camp, at Myrtle Beach, on the arm of her father as part of the homecoming court.
The end of her freshman year was just weeks away, and she had planned to spend the summer at home, working at a deli and helping care for her siblings.
She came home Easter weekend, staging practice egg hunts for her brothers. Then, the weekend before her death, she came home again.
She divided her time between her friends and her family those two days but was inseparable from her laptop. She sat on the stairs, where the wireless reception was best, to instant message and e-mail her friends. A brother sat nearby, toy computer on his lap.
"He wanted to be like Mary," Peter Read recalled.
On Sunday, Read's wife showed his daughter how to make her favorite dessert, a pumpkin pie. And when Read took her to the bus stop at 4:30 p.m., she had a slab of the pie and a container of Cool Whip in a plastic bag.
Mary Read never called to check in when she reached Blacksburg, but her parents know what she did that night: She had recorded her favorite TV show, "House," on DVDs and watched them on her laptop during the 4 1/2-hour ride.
The next morning, she had French class in Norris Hall, where gunman Cho Seung-Hui took her life.
When news of the shootings broke, Peter Read started calling his daughter, hoping she would pick up. Then he called her roommate. The hours wore on, without word.
When Read learned that the parents of his daughter's longtime friend Danielle Waters were driving to Blacksburg late that afternoon to find their daughter, he asked to ride along.
On the drive, Olga and John Waters learned their daughter was alive. Around 9:30 p.m., Read's cell phone rang. It was his wife, and the state police were at their door.
The Reads won't talk about their grief over these past few days. It's too painful, too personal. The time is not yet right.
But they share the photos and drawings from their daughter's dorm room, which was just as she had left it.
In a plastic bag was the empty container that had held her pie. And on her desk was a calendar Mary Read's grandmother had given her years ago, each day offering a quote from a famous woman.
On April 16, the words were from a teacher, Helen Keller:
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."
___
Associated Press writers Sue Lindsey in Roanoke and Kristen Gelineau in Blacksburg contributed to this report.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Took a spill
After I had some xrays I went home for a bit then went to work. I took a pretty hard fall, scraped up my hands and hurt my knee. I cried, and two guys had to come and help me up. I was embarrassed! I cried, because of the physical pain. When my mother called later I told her what happened and we both laughed! I am going to have bruises and be sore for a few days. As far as the bloodwork and exrays go, I will know the results on Thursday. I will watch a comedy central show or shows tonight to take my mind off of being embarrassed!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Physical
I had a physical last Friday. Dr took a pap smear, pelvic exam, weighed in and such. I have to go back in for a chest x-ray on Tuesday. Glad that I got the bloodwork out of the way and should have the bloodwork tests then. The dr was nice and didnt lecture me like I was afraid he would. In a few weeks, I have to go to the dentist and then the podiatrist.
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