Bill of Rights... What About Responsibility?

 Citizens' Rights and Responsibilities

Last time I was at the hospital, I saw, posted on several walls, a document entitled "Patients' Rights and Responsibilities". It was a overly-verbose way of saying you have the right to treatment coupled with the responsibility to pay your bill. I thought that was a very good way of putting something. You have a certain right, and with it go certain responsibilities.

 I started thinking about the Bill of Rights, and that it needed a "Bill of Responsibility" to compliment it. It's been circling the vortex of ideas in my head for some time. People who label themselved "Gun lovers" sparked it, but once the concept was there, I saw that it applies to all rights.

 Americans love their rights, but not all respect their responsibilities. I do NOT favor "Takin' our guns", but people who post things online against gun control are really hurting their case. People insist on taking loaded weapons in to where a public official is speaking, just 'cuz it's their right. No matter that you plead for guns to defend yourself and family, but the Secret effing Service is there! What makes you such a special person?

 People post pictures of a sign basically saying "Hey, violate my neighbors. It'll be funny 'cuz they don't have guns! I do, so don't mess with me!" That is stupidity in it's raw form, there. Burglars tend to avoid your house while you're in it. But, you did tell them to go for your guns first. Then, if you do get home, guess where your guns are? Pointed at you.

 All the same, people laugh at this callous disregard for safety and human life. Not to mention, just come off like a bunch of trigger-happy morons that should have their own island, away from society in general.

 I know people aren't like that, for the most part. Just the loudest ones. People do go to extremes if they feel their rights are threatened, even if it's imaginary. Did you know, for all of Obama's "Comprehensive plan to take your guns" - I didn't make this up, people believe it - The only gun laws he's signed actually allow more freedom, like carrying a loaded weapon into a National Park.

 I spent enough time on guns, let's just go down the list.

1.  Freedom of speech, Press, Religion and Petition - You have the right to say what you want, print what you want, believe what you want, and call for action by your elected representatives if you want something changed.

 You have the responsibility to think before you speak, really think, research before printing, Accept that if you have your right to believe what you want, so does everyone else and make sure your petition is a good thing for all, not just you wanting your own way.

2. Right to keep and bear arms - It specifically mentions the potential need of a citizen's militia, in turn, citizens will have the right to arm themselves. A government that wants too much control will try and deny these rights if it foresees a civil war, or another Revolution.

 You have the responsibility to store guns responsibly, use and care for them responsibly, to show people you're not a trigger-happy moron who wants to fire his guns just because he can.

3. Quartering Soldiers - No one can force you to house a soldier. If something awful happens, and our soldiers have to fight on home ground, be nice and let one stay with you if it's needed. This amendment really hasn't had too many issues over history.

4. Search and Seizure - No searches without good reason. You have the right to say no to a search of your property or person. You have the responsibility to let them in when they do have a warrant.

5. The Rights of Persons - You have the right to keep your yap shut if it might get you in trouble. You still have the responsibility of not being a lying douche.

6. Right to a Speedy Trial - You have the right to have your trial as quickly as possible. You have the responsibility to realize there are other people in this world, and some got in line before you.

7. Right to a trial by jury - You have the right to a trial by a jury of your peers, if you think you deserve a "Hey, guys, be bros" type of case, that isn't black and white. You have the responsibility to nut up the rest of the time, no matter how much you don't like it. Speeding? Yeah, you went fast. Pay your fine and think about amendment #6.

8. Excessive bail, cruel treatment. - Again, you will be punished, but the punishment should fit the crime, but only up to a point. You still have the right to be treated as a human, no matter what you do. You have the responsibility to just not go there. Don't be Manson.

9. Rule of Construction of Constitution - Constitutional amendments grant rights, not take them away. You have the right to propose new amendments to guarantee certain freedoms, and never to take them away. You have the responsibility to realize you can't add an amendment to take away the right to marriage for anyone. Seriously, guys, it's right there. You have the responsibility to realize that even if you don't agree with something, other people get the same rights as you under the law.

10. Rights of States - The constitution is what covers the US. Anything not there, States have the right to pass laws on. The responsibility is to do what's right, not always what's popular to a local, loud few.

 Watch this, then watch C-SPAN. You'll swear you're high.

Screw it... Happy Holidays!

 I'm getting a little sick of the "Keep the 'Christ' in Christmas" and "I Won't say 'Happy Holidays' at Christmas" along with something that makes it sound American.

Is Christmas the only holiday people are allowed to celebrate? People are not "afraid" of saying Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or New Year's, or even (C)Hauna(k)ka if people ever finally agree on how to spell it. "Happy Holidays" is intended to unify the whole season, and take into consideration the variety that makes us human. It's almost like well-wishing others, and having goodwill toward... someone. It's a good spirit that at least one of these holidays should adopt.

 No one is trying to take away your gun cabinet full of American flags. We as a country are more than "people can only celebrate what I celebrate, and only for the same reasons I do.".  How is it wrong to want to include your fellow man just because he may not get you something for "Christmas".

 Besides, how embarrassed would Jesus be? Or do you think Jesus would also be spamming facebook with "He didn't come to my birthday party, he can't have his own party."

Do you REALLY want to jump the facebook ship for Google+? Actually, you might.

   Tired of change, and lists, and the ticker that facebook threw on you at once? Ready to go to Google+? You may be, just make sure you do it the right way.


Get used to lists.

   People mention facebook taking a cue from Google+, in that lists have become more dominant. Many people's frustration with facebook is not controlling who sees what. This is more obvious now, but it has always been an issue. It's just plain responsible, when you are in a few social circles, to separate groups of people. They don't all want to see your game posts. Maybe you don't want your creepy ex looking at pictures of your kids. Learn to use lists. Take control. Google+  makes that EASY. If I try to tell you how easy, it'll sound harder than it is. Try it in facebook. Sometimes control is all you need to feel bette.r


Don't admit defeat.

    Take a little time and sample the new features given to you. You may like some of them. You may not. No matter where you go on the internet, new features are an inevitability.


Change your browser.

    You don't even have to change. Download Firefox, install it, and when it asks to make it your default browser, say "no". Use it only when you want. Get used to it. IE is notorious for bugs and security flaws. That can ruin your experience anywhere.


Drop your toolbars.

    A toolbar is one of the worst things you can do to your browser. No matter where it's from, it intercepts code, tracks your browsing history, and steals money from sites you like.  Visiting a nonprofit that relies on advertising revenue? Not from you. Toolbars will take an advertising banner, and replace it with one of their own, on the page, without your knowledge. That .02 per click going to "Save Kids from Evil Clowns" is now going to the people who made your toolbar. Not to mention, there's nothing from keeping any toolbar from storing your passwords to sites you use, and spamming your friends.


Bottom Line:

    If you're not tech savvy, sudden change in unfamiliar territory is daunting. Take a look at your TV remote. Think of going back in time 20 years, showing it to your past self, and saying "This is what we'll need to watch TV.". Then tell yourself you can do anything. If you have a complaint or suggestion, use the site's "Send Feedback" link. Try Google+, but realize change will come there, too. Having all the control you can is important online. 

But you can do anything.

The New facebook. It's not as bad as you feared, but not as good as you'd hoped.

  We all use facebook. At least, enough of us use it so I can more or less safely assume that you use it. In the name of innovation, FB has updated some features, the layout, and it's confusing as hell if you're not prepared. Most people use it for a quick game or to check on people at a distance. There's nothing wrong with that. You just need a geek pal (like me) to help you when it gets too technical for your taste, or time contraints.

Ticked by the ticker?

  This is probably the single biggest source of complaints and fear. It posts EVERYTHING! How do I keep it from telling everyone everything I do? The simple answer: If you don't want people to see it, don't put it on facebook. 
    I'm not being as hearless as I may sound. The ticker updates anything you'd normally see on a friend's page. There's nothing new or scary about what's going on in the corner, so breathe a little easier. If someone wants to see what goes on in the ticker, all they ever would have had to do is click on your name.
    That being said, how do I rid myself of this new thing?

    1.) The easiest way - shrink it.
      There is a seperator bar at the bottom of the ticker that blends in so nice, you hardly know it's there. Click it, drag it up, shrink your ticker to ALMOST nothing. It's not perfect, but it may be enough for you.

The little bar can be slid up so as to make it ALMOST go away.

    2.) Plugins are your friends.
      Go to http://www.fbpurity.com. They make their plugin for Chrome as well as Firefox. I don't think Internet Explorer will allow it, however. Yet another reason to make the plunge! As of the writing of this, the newest version of Firefox is the fastest, most stable, and most lightweight browser - not to mention secure. Anyone who reads their windows updates will be bombarded by updates for IE that says "fixes a bug which could allow an intruder remote access to your computer." - ALL THE TIME. Ditch it!

      FBPurity will (once you refresh your newsfeed) allow you to completely remove elements from your facebook view. Suggested friends, pages, even the TICKER. Ooooooh.


But it's a clutterf$@!k! (see that pun?)

    This may be the simplest, yet most involved fix. Change your browser. Google Chrome(tm) users will notice a lot more clutter in the center of the screen, the old chat thumbnails on the left in addition to the chat sidebar on the right. I was so very confused when I woke up to facebook ablaze with comments about how different, and how messy the new look was. I didn't see it. I use Firefox.


A friend of mine had an open debate with me - something other than "It's new, it sucks" that I try and drown out. I got to thinking Chrome uses a different Java(tm) engine. I checked. I almost threw up in my mouth a little.

This is what Chrome showed me:

It's safe to click if you want to see it bigger.

This is what I had been browsing, nonchalantly, in Firefox:

Click. Make it bigger. Compare.

If you make the leap from Chrome to Firefox, but don't want to sacrifice the comfort of Chrome, take a look here. A small upfront time investment, you have CONTROL over your browsing. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

By the way, if you're make the leap from Internet Explorer to Firefox, and don't want to panic, go here.


Take a tip from Santa. Make a list, check it twice.

    This may seem like a daunting task to the uninitiated. It's not that bad, and it gives you the privacy control you so greatly want, and deserve. 

    This is something you should do if you have a lot of friends in any case. You can control who sees what. Even in the ticker. If you don't already deal with lists, there is a LIST section on your left-hand column now, with some suggested, pre-made lists. Play with those later. Click the "MORE" that comes up when you move the mouse over the word LISTS. You can create a new list by clicking the button I pointed to.

A window will pop up asking you to give the list a name. Whatever you want. Then, a screen to select your friends for this list. Select, for now, the people you want updated every time you do something. That's it. you have a list. You can go back to the lists menu and change it anytime. Ooooh, power. Are you dizzy with it yet? Just wait.

NOW, on the top blue bar, by your name, and home, there's a little down arrow. Click it. Select "Privacy Options". You will be brought here:

 

Magic. It really is.

We are changing your default posting preferences here. Click the dot under "Custom", select your list, and then, unless you say otherwise, those people will be the only ones who see what you do, even on their ticker.

   You are welcome.




Change.

  Change, especially in the digital age, is inevitable. It's how we progress. We don't have to like every single change, though. We do what we can with what we have, and I'll share anything I can to make things easier on you.

    It's why I'm here. 

Copy and Paste if you agree! Use your own words if you have them!

If you read my posts on any social networking site for a certain amount of time, you are sure to get my opinions on copy-and-paste status updates. I think I should explain, so I don't just sound like a dickhead. I may still, but not "just" a dickhead.

Most any time someone writes a message to copy and paste, they don't care about a cause. They want to see people re-posting the message that they originally wrote. It makes them feel special, I guess. Copying and pasting words that aren't even your own - "Even for one hour!" - Is rubbish.

A lot of times, it's in good fun - "send me a number I'll post something I think about you" or any number of lighthearted thingies, is NOT what I'm concerned with. CAP (copy and paste) messages don't help spread cancer awareness. Who is going to read facebook after all this time and HAS NOT been affected in some way? Will someone read and say "Wow! I didn't realize cancer was actually a problem!". It doesn't happen.

We have ALL lost loved ones. Any of us with children know what it's like to love your kids with all your heart. Posting someone else's words is not only inflammatory - by implying your "true" friends will blindly copy and paste, but it's disingenuous. You love someone soooo much that died horribly from cancer, at war, you name it, and you can't even take the time to formulate your own thoughts about it before you go back to Farmville?

I've lost my mother to cancer, my grandmother to a stroke, my grandfather to smoking. I have very good friends I worry about daily because they are in the military. I have not reposted a single thought by anyone else about any of this.

Remember Jesus? I do. I read the Bible. I can't say I'm a Christian, but a lot of these facebook sites shouldn't say they are either. A true test of faith is not clicking Like because a post says "If you're a true Christian click like! Let's see how many TRUE christians are on facebook!" If you've read the New Testament and are NOT offended, re-read.

You want to be a Christian? You want others to be, too? Be a better person. Be an example.

The same applies to the messages people copy and paste. They mean well when they do, but It's hard to take you seriously when from post to post you go from "Kill our black leader because he said the same stuff I said before he was elected!" to "I'm eating sushi" to a message that isn't even heartfelt, but copied, and pretty much calls everyone else a dink.

You want to do something to help cancer? Volunteer. Donate. Join a group. Put something IN. You have a kid with autism? Awareness is needed, but everyone who knows you on facebook probably knows something about autism. You want to help put awareness on facebook? Put up something unique. Something from the heart. Something that makes your story personal.

Paste.

Facebook is (gasp!) a social networking site. Be social. Enjoy the friends you have. Share what you need to, read and learn about what your friends might be going through. If you just want to [CTRL+C], [CTRL+V] so you can act like you care and get back to asking people for imaginary nails, just go to the imaginary nails.

No one will think less of you for enjoying your time.

Some of my All-time Favorite Apocalypses.

  "Where's the 'kaboom'? There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering 'Kaboom!'!" -Marvin the Martian, Looney Tunes.

  The "End of the World" has come and gone many many more times than I want to count, according to prophecies. Some people get upset at each one, but no one seems to believe them all. Then there's a part of us that wants to believe outwardly, because it's exciting and we get to see it. Inwardly, we know it's not happening. That's why people can live their daily lives when they think everything's coming to an end.

  Once in a while, mass hysteria becomes mass stupidity.

Y2k

  If you know me at all, even if you didn't then, you expected this on my list. The theory was that computer clocks had a two-digit year, and no room to go after 99. People (none of whom understood how electronics worked) further speculated that if the clock's calendar were off, the device would fail to even power up. They went FURTHER to put forth all types of scenarios: power grid goes off line, nuclear reactors shut down and fail, and planes fall out of the effing sky. 

  I can't even begin to overstate the absurdity of the scenarios. Anyone who has seen any kind of two-digit counter knows that the digits start over. Anyone who thinks about it should understand that the calendar is not even a part of the computer's power-up process. Electronics don't care what the date says. They don't compare to yesterday and say "Heeey... I'm not doing anything until you explain why we're starting over!" - That kind of technology is still years away.

  I happened to be in a job involving a lot of electronics and computer repair. I was the one customers were sent to to ask questions about y2k. There was an interesting thing: people were stockpiling food and water, and making sure their devices (including one who asked about her toaster) are Y2k compliant. That became the biggest selling point of VCR's, Vacuum cleaners, lightbulbs, you name it. Which begs the question: if you think the power grid is going to fail and civilization is ending, how do you use your Y2k compliant VCR?

  Interestingly enough, people "in the know" said computers year counters would reset to "00". This was a big warning flag. The truth was, a computer's CMOS(what has the calendar/clock) had default start dates of Jan-01-1980 or Jan-01-1984. The second still makes me smile. So orwellian.

  The date came and went, people in general pretended they didn't just participate in that lunacy, and pretended they were never worried.

The Jupiter Effect


   As a very young child, I remember hearing about a day when all nine planets were aligned. People I witnessed firsthand decided this would herald the start of a new age, hence the term "New Age" that's slapped on hippie stuff.

  Whenever there's an alignment of any sort, people get all fidgety. What does it mean? In reality, nothing. In people's heads, THE END OF THE WORLD.

  I'm glad it didn't end there. The date was March 10, 1982. I would have my seventh birthday and watch the premiere of "The Greatest American Hero" 8 days later on our family's 13" Black and White TV. Provided someone wanted to go outside and turn the antenna just so.


Hale-Bopp


  The first big one that really got a kick from the Internet. Again, March. The year:1997. A comet was visible to the naked eye (Hale-Bopp comet) for 18 months. That was kinda neat. Some amateur astronomer spotted a companion object in the comet's tail. People on the internet took some surreal twist of logic to conclude it was a spaceship, and Earth was to be obliterated. The Heaven's Gate cult committed mass suicide because they thought the spaceship would take them to paradise if they left their bodies behind.


Hometown Pride!
  This one is my favorite. The town I grew up in, Farmington, Maine, was to become the "New Jerusalem". God had apparently said no one within the town lines would ever get sick again, and all ills would be healed. So glad God respects local regulations.

The original prophecy sign rented out.

  This woman, who happens to be a Quaker, claims to channel Christ through her body. She says she sleeps, and Christ takes over, giving her a prophecy, even a novel.

  Her original date of 06-06-06 came and went. The sign changed:

No caption needed.

  I really like this one, though. It's the only "End Times" prophecy that is remotely hopeful, and if you read what the woman wrote, she seems very sincere. Of course, the town will always be special to me. MY hometown.



Honerable mention:
2012


  Honerable mention? Yep. There is no "Mayan Doomsday" prophecy. People were learning about the Mayan calendar, and posed a question as to why it ended on that date. Speculation from doomsday freaks or people writing books to get some quick cash decided to answer the question.

  Meanwhile, while people who actually did research realized the Mayan calendar counts backwards, and the date given is simply "New Year's Eve" by that calendar. It is also only one of five countdown calendars the Mayans used.

  

Space Travel: Where do we go from here?

"Where do we go from here
Now that all of the children are growing up?"
                                           -Alan Parsons Project "Games People Play"




I saw the shuttle liftoff for the first time when I was 6. Little did I know that it was the first shuttle liftoff. I'm at the age in which the shuttle has always been the way to get to space, And seeing old Apollo launches with more traditional rocket-shapes brings thoughts of old, bad sci-fi movies. In July, the last-ever shuttle launch and the end of an era is upon us.

 For years I was disappointed. People walking on the effing Moon were before my time. Why are we spending our time in orbit? Then came Hubble. My dreams weren't limited to seeing people on the moon, or on Mars, or even where people go entirely. The universe, and how much we can learn, and how amazing what we learn is, were the boundaries of my dreams.

 Hubble was a miserable failure. They went back to not only fix it, they made it better. We can now see the edge of the Universe. The beginning of all existence. The images weren't as pretty as our more local Nebulae, But the beauty of what it means to be seeing the edge of the Universe. People have an innate need to know Why am I here? along with other questions people like to write nonsense that sounds good for now about. Seeing remnants of the Big Bang, the singularity from which everything came, helped me understand hippies. I felt like I was at one with everything. That goes along way toward having an understanding of our place in things.

  Technology exploded. Things got smaller and more impressive, in part from things learned from all these experiments in space no one every bothers to know about. We can see smaller. We've got subatomic things on film, breaking laws like the speed of light and time travel. At a certain size, the laws of  physics break down, and new ones take over. You can be in two places at once. You can be doing different things at the same time. Things only become "real" when observed. This lead to even more bizarre erratic behavior when you go smaller. The smallest point of existence is a quantum string. These can vibrate 6 ways in our three perceivable dimensions, plus apparently 8 others. (11 dimensions). This lead to the edge of understanding the nature of existence, and it blows my mind:

  The basis of everything is tiny strings that vibrate in certain patters. Exactly like our musical notes. The universe, time-space, everything, is an amazingly intricate Symphony of incredibly epic proportions.

  Understanding how small we are didn't make me feel insignificant. Every moment of our existence is a note in a Symphony of nearly infinite complexity, and no one note is more or less significant than any other.

  Humans have really stepped it up for one of two things: Exploration and Competition. We've advanced tons just in my own lifetime as our world and our part in it change. As a species, we like to know more, to add to our own lot in things. We find more of what there is so that we in turn have more, or we compete with others over what's there. Wars, the ultimate competitions, force us to improve and adapt. Just as much of what we take advantage of in our lives is from military research as it is the space program. Competition and Exploration, respectively.

Where am I going with this?


  The next step in space has already started. The privatization of space travel and research. People taking what's there for research, and improving on what's there for efficiency, driving the cost down to where space travel can be sold as a commodity. SpaceX winning the first ever "Space Prize" made me realize that we are on the edge of something big. There is even competition. Two companies.

  Normally, I'm not rooting for "The Corporations" any more than I am "Tha Gummyment". The government can get things done on a big scale, but they are criminally inefficient. Big companies want big bucks. This leads to bad things, but I think only when they run out of ideas. Space is so huge, there is going to be no end to improvement and new research to out-do the other guy, as much as make their own products more accessible and profitable. That's a motivation that will force at least these guys to do for the consumer for a loooong time.


  I see SpaceX and Virgin Galactic one-upping each other on what their ships can do, and NASA continuing development of the space elevator. You heard me right, at least if you read out loud.

  Graphene is a super-strong, super-light, nano-engineered form of carbon. There is to be a platform in fixed orbit around Earth, attached to the ground by a material like graphene. There will be an elevator that can ride this tether all the way into space, cutting costs from thousands of dollars per pound to about $150. Launching to space from the orbiting platform will be much easier and cost-effective.

  There's a huge amount of what we don't know out there, it's amazing just to learn some of the stuff we never even realized we didn't know.

Powerful Dream.

My middle child, Campbell, taught me what it's like to love someone so much it hurts. Her smile and laugh make me believe in magic, and one can't help but feel happy when she does.

She was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, and as of yet cannot walk, or speak. She has, over the last year and a half, started having seizures. There is nothing more painful than watching her seize... She doesn't understand what is happening, and the look of fear on her face absolutely kills me.

She loves holding my hand. If she's napping, and wakes up scared and disoriented, she'll wrap her fingers around mine, and look at me for comfort. That I can do that for her makes me feel like Superman.

Recently, There have been breakthroughs in Rett Syndrome, including reversal of Rett Syndrome in lab mice. Human clinical trials are starting as I write this, and I'm chomping at the bit.

That's what you need to understand to get why this dream was so powerful.

I dreamt she had been accepted into the first phase of the trials, where all the children get the drug to see how well it's tolerated. In the dream she had been in the trial for three months, and was showing more control of her muscles. It was my turn to inject the drug. The needle was cartoonishly huge, and I had to inject it deep in her leg. It looked like it would go all the way through.

I winced as I drove the needle into her tiny little leg, expecting her to cry out in pain - I wanted to. She apparently understood the drug was helping her, so she made a little face at the initial injection, but gave me a huge, comforting smile.

Anger and Intolerance pisses me off. I'll have none of it!

I will talk politics somewhere in this entry. I think that's a MUCH more important warning than "May contain foul motherfucking language and crude god damned subject matter"

Both are applicable, but I'm trying to prioritize this kind of shit. I'm in one of those mental place where I'm trying not only to organize this crap in my head, but to really take it to heart.

  If anyone is offended by such content: Make a fucking law against it, shit-for-brains.

  Nobody ever read my shit on MySpace, so I've gotten used to no one reading. These things work like my own internal monologue, as I'm pretty much talking to myself.

  People in masses tend to be stupid. I wanted to say sheep, but sheep are passive. People work waaay too hard at group douchebaggery to be classified as such. And I think I just invented a new concept in porn.

  I think this comes in cycles, like sunspots, but people are forwarding some way stupid shit. Be it facebook, email, text, it's on the rise again. If a message ends with "re-post this if..." or the statistician-verified "93%/99%/82%" etc. "Wont re-post this!" Or anything insisting everyone on your friends list will be sooooooo glad you did because you'll be the first person ever to forward that message to them... don't. Just don't.

  Someone, somewhere, who is probably way too old to still be living with mom, but does because she cant take care of herself after the stroke she had from the realization she was even stuck with you the first eighteen years(after dad took the easy way out; suicide), and gets a thrill out of seeing people send his shit back to him, never knowing it was him all along....

  That is how the chain-post-starting mind-frame is started. Am i the only person offended by the chain posts that try to guilt you into re-posting? That's fucking sick. Guess what? My mother died from cancer when i was 14. She was my best friend and it kills me every day to think a woman like that was taken in such a horrible way.

  You know what? I was in the 93% of people who "wouldn't re-post this" if they wanted a cure for cancer. Who on Earth wouldn't want a cure for cancer? People dedicate their lives working for a cure if it's research, funding, or even simple footwork. But a condescending forward on your facebook status for one hour is all you need to feel like you're helping? You're helping lives-with-mom talk to himself vicariously through facebook.

  There's the more recent warning about a group started by pedophiles. I feel really bad for a couple of reasons: this is really easy to think you are protecting your kids and your friends'. No one can view your photos if they're private. Even if you are a member of their group. If you want to help your friends' kids, tell them the pictures of them  acting like whores and doing drugs should be in SEPARATE folders from the kids. Grrr. Fucking grr.

  The second, when this rumor started, there was never a group with that name. Since then, who could have wanted to start a group with a name like that for no other reason than their children make them know what it feels like to wholeheartedly love another human being so much in can make you cry? And then to get hate email from hundreds calling the person a pedophile?

  All i suggest on that, is before you forward, copy and paste a single sentence of the post into the search at snopes.com

Read this:

  http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/greatestgift.asp

  Even NPR seems to see the stupidity inherent in the masses. There was a "news story" stating some people think Obama's a muslin, some people don't. For once i was impressed. NPR seems to have more facebook posts intended to start moronic "Comments" arguments. This time, a vast majority stated npr should report news and who cares. Thank (insert prophet/deity here) for that response! Unfortunately, like the rest of life, the dumbest are the fewest and so feel they must be loudest.

  People are offended by a "mosque at ground zero". Its actually a couple of blocks away. Notice the tense: is. Its there. They want to expand what they have in a building they own. And have been there waaay before there was a "Ground Zero".

  Also, at the very least, note the spelling of mosque if you insist on being dumb.

  You have the right not to like it. Its part of the "freedom the terrorists want to take away". So by trying to ban a place of worship, the people who are in opposition are taking away freedoms.

  If the mosque is not allowed or tolerated, guess what? The terrorists fucking won.

  Sure, you may argue, its radical Muslims that blew up the WTC. Guess what? Radical Christians were responsible for the Witch Trials, Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. You should start opposing churches in Massachusetts and Europe.

  Get a dictionary, Look up "radical". If that doesn't help you understand, put down the "my furst dikshunarry", get a real one, and beat yourself with it.

  In the meantime, be a vegan because you're a humanitarian, while not worrying about how many laborers, child and otherwise, endure tremendous mistreatment for little to no pay for the most basic of consumer goods you never give a second thought to. Just think enough about something to feel better about yourself.

  I'm sorry. I didn't mean _you_.

What is Rett Syndrome?

TO DONATE TO RETT SYNDROME RESEARCH ON BEHALF OF CAMPBELL, CLICK HERE

From Wikipedia:

is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting gray matter. The clinical features include small hands and feet and a deceleration of the rate of head growth (including microcephaly in some). Repetitive hand movements such as mouthing or wringing are also noted. Girls with Rett's Disorder are prone to gastrointestinal disorders and up to 80% have seizures. They typically have no verbal skills, and about 50% of females are not ambulatory. Scoliosis, growth failure, and constipation are very common and can be problematic.

The signs of this disorder are most easily confused with those of Angelman syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism.

From Mayoclinic.com:

Rett syndrome is a severe, genetic disorder that affects the way the brain develops. Occurring almost exclusively in girls, Rett syndrome produces symptoms similar to those of autism.
Most babies with Rett syndrome develop normally at first, but their progress often slows by the time they reach 18 months of age. Over time, children with Rett syndrome have increasing problems with motor function that may affect their ability to use their hands, speak, walk, chew and even breathe.

The above is all true. It gives you symptoms of Rett Syndrome. The definition, even clinical description, can't convey what Rett Syndrome is all about.

 My girl, Campbell, was born October 31st, at 11:53PM in 2007. She had problems from the start with her oxygen conversion. It was scary seeing my child have her hands lifted up, and dropped lifelessly. Then came the tubes. 11 days in the hospital, and then she was ready to come home.

She was a very content child. She was always happy, unless she needed food/drink/nap/changing. A very exuberant girl. She had quite the personality.



After a few months, we started noticing she wasn't hitting any of her developmental milestones, like rolling over, crawling, walking, socializing. For the first few months, we weren't concerned. Her overall health was good, and she was happy. Then the time came, a point of no return, when we were forced to acknowledge something was wrong. Not knowing what it might be or what it could mean puts some unpleasant thoughts in your head, let me tell you.

Her mother made an appointment with a doctor to get a genetic test done. Lo and behold, The results came back - R270X mutation: A form of Rett Syndrome. This is the exact moment the world changed forever.

All of a sudden, one gets to know one's self. There were tears, not because of anything that happened to me, I wept thinking of what it would be like for her. I've always wanted her to have every opportunity in the world. There were some selfish thoughts, too. I looked at her and she's smile, and part of me took comfort that this precious little girl would always need her daddy.

She was enrolled in physical and occupational therapies right away. After two months, she was able to hold herself up on all fours - "quadruped position". I didn't expect it, but I certainly didn't expect what happened next. This is one of those moments you wish your whole life you had a video camera handy. I had just that. Watch her - again, she had never so much been on all fours on her own before. Always sitting or laying down.


She was able to stand on her knees! reading the definitions above, knowing 50% of these girls are non-ambulatory, for her to make such progress so quickly, and to be in such good spirits throughout,  it was a ray of hope that nothing could dim. The look of delight on her face was certainly contagious that day.

Developmental and speech therapies were soon added. At home, we also were able to get in-home habilitation specialists to work on therapy goals, and keep things consistant.

Rett Syndrome is a condition in which the protein that forms around synapses in the brain to protect and solidify them isn't produced properly. This lack of MeCP-2 keeps the brain in an immature state. We know how to move our hands, feet, arms, legs and whatnot, because the use of the muscles makes a connection in the brain. The more we use the same muscles the stronger the connection gets. The MeCP-2 protein covers this connection, to keep the connection in place, so we don't have to consciously think about how to move each individual muscle any time we move. The use of the muscles is learned. In Rett Syndrome, girls do not adequately produce this protein, so rather than atrophy, the synapses in the brain remain in an immature state. Always eager to learn, but not always able to hold on to what is learned.

We read of a study, the results of which were published 3 weeks before Campbell's diagnosis, in which laboratory mice that were given the genetic code for Rett Syndrome were injected with IGF-1(Isulin-like Growth Factor) to see if the molecular chain could compensate for the lack of the MeCP-2 protein. In
laboratory models, over the course of 3 years, the symptoms of Rett Syndrome had been reversed.

 This was exciting news, yes, but there hasn't been a single neurological disorder that could be reversed in human history. But there it was - in mice.

 I checked the article, and by finding the names of certain people, we able to locate the hospital that plans on conducting these clinical trials with IGF-1 in humans. I made contact with the people, and we are currently waiting on the start of the trial. Campbell has an excellent chance of acceptance - Can go to Boston once a month, she is the right age (2-14) and her mutation ends with X. There's a reason for that.  I'm not going into it, but trust me.

We saw Dr. Omar Khwajha in Boston, he was part of the team that identified the genetic cause of Rett Syndrome. He had some street cred. The appointment was simple - driving through Boston was not - after looking at Campbell, he said she's very mild symptom-wise. Also, that she should be walking within 1-3 years, and that is her best hope to fight off scoliosis, which is typical of Rett girls.


You've gotten the abridged story so far.

But WHAT is Rett Syndrome?

  I watch Campbell playing and enjoying herself, and it makes me smile to no end. Lately, she's been more fussy than usual, and it puzzled me for a while. She had been so happy. Then it hit me like a load of bricks: Her brain is fully functional, but the muscular control is lacking. She's frustrated. She wants something and doesn't know how she can express her wishes.
  Rett Syndrome basically takes a child away from herself. She wants to say and do so much, but the motor function isn't there. It's like being in a nightmare where you can't scream, but it's real. And it's for life. This little girl with hopes and dreams she's currently unable to express. Kills me to think about, but there is hope right around the corner.


For more information on Rett Syndrome, and stories from more parents and children affected, go to http://rettsyndrome.org

TO DONATE TO RETT SYNDROME RESEARCH ON BEHALF OF CAMPBELL, CLICK HERE

Healthcare - my humble position.

"Opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got them."

Democrats saying Republicans are just being difficult. Republicans calling Democrats Nazis and Socialist for wanting to the the little guy just a bit more power with health insurance companies.

I'm stunned over the misinformation from both sides on this issue. We have the extreme right talking about coverage for "illegals", "death panels" and "rationing" of health care. We have the extreme left trying to sound like this is an instant fix for all of society's woes.

Real health care reform, if by health care, we mean health insurance, not the actual care, would need to be much bolder. Like making health insurance compete like other industries do. Health insurance companies are exempt from antitrust laws, and redlining, as well as price fixing is perfectly fine in their industry. Take those luxuries away, and those motivated by profit will have to work harder for the consumer - better pricing and benefits - to get the consumer's money.

The bill is a very small step in the right direction. It addresses some things that have to be fixed before much else gets done, and sets precedent for more citizen-favorable legislation. No pre-existing condition clause, and no cap on care. AWESOME. People won't be afraid to get preventative care and drive the expenses down, along with overall cost.

The bill specifically excludes people in this country illegally. Saying otherwise gets people angry, but it is an outright falsehood and unproductive argument.

The "penalty" of $625 a year if you don't get insurance is to offset the fact people who don't get insurance by far have more emergency room visits because they wait too long because they don't have health insurance. If one can't afford reasonable premiums, how can they afford hundreds if not thousands in unanticipated medical bills? A lot of this doesn't get paid, and goes back to the taxpayer. Not having coverage costs more tax money, so it makes sense. Guess what else? $625 is maximum. It's tiered or even waived outright for people making under $40k.

If starting the process of taking care of human beings properly is in any way what Hitler wanted to do, I really have to re-read history books.

The arguments against that make any sense are 1) cost and 2) it doesn't do enough. Cost is speculative at best, and years of research, not to mention common sense, indicates preventative medicine will lower cost and increase productive quality of life. No bill as the first healthcare change in decades could do everything at once, nor should it. It will take time and patience. The system hopefully will adapt, people can be more productive as we work towards the rest of the changes that are so badly needed.

Local news terrorism

Supposedly, we're fighting a war against "terror". Fear. A vague concept, rather than specific individuals. Of course, we know the names of people we're looking for, but if we leave it at "war on terror" we can wreak havoc on whomever we choose.

A war on terror would likely mean bomb anything that scares us. Spiders, the dark. But our media driven society is fueled on fear. Nowhere is that clearer than with the local news... "How you're going to die... tonight at 6!"

Even worse, the WEATHER reporters are trying to frighted us. A certain local TV channel now calls it's weather report "First WARNING weather." It's funny in the springtime. It's gonna be nice. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! They have this technology called "live doppler radar" which they mention every 6 seconds in their ads (I timed it). Apparently, this technology may one day be almost as effective as looking out the window. "Other stations" they go on to say, "have information that may be up to 5 MINUTES old. Why trust information that won't keep you safe?" A good point, if said information is "DUCK!". Other than that, I can wait 5 minutes.

Do we bomb meteorologists now?

Dirty nasty auto parts...

I'll bet she does....

Phunny Phone Book

I has a lousy day today, let's just leave it at that. As a result, however, I was looking through the Lewiston-Auburn phonebook(2004 smartpages if you wanna read along), and on page 62, where they have the three letters that signify what part of the alphabet you're on, was listed "Dub-Dum", only to be topped by page 63, "Dum-Dur".

The moral: Let your fingers do the walking, so long as they don't try and chew gum at the same time.

The superhero I've always wanted to be

On local TV stations, there's a commercial produced on about $20 budget, for the "Big Book". It's basically another yellow pages. Their commercials feature a potbellied man in a blue supersuit, helping out this lady who is about to have a stroke because her sink is clogged. He says "Have no fear, big book man is here! Big book is filled with listings for plumbers just waiting to wash your woes away!"

The nest scene, she's happy, the soapy water is out of her sink, and she dresses better. She says "Thank you big book man! You saved the day!"

What an awesome super hero that would be... Go into a troublesome situation, give the victim a phone book and tell them to call someone who cares.

State of the Union

The state of the union is strong, huh? I almost think I could take it in a fair fight.

Another great idea - let's focus money and resources preventing human-animal hybrids!

Singing: (to the tune of "God Bless the USA")

I'm ashamed to be an American
I can remember being free
and I won't forget the ones who died
They were tossed away lightly
Bug I'd proudly stand up, and take her back,
If progress were on it's way
But there ain't no doubt I love this land...
so God Save the USA

Stop Being Fat!!! Eat MORE?

Sorta. I found the wonders of protein shakes. I've been trying to get my body out of "storage" mode for the longest time - it's a result of eating one primary meal, usually at the end of each day.

I'd been skeptical of shakes ever since my Slim-Fast days. Those are good for nutrition, but as satisfying as a glass of NesQuik(Why did they change the name?). I've found a reasonably good-tasting shake, mostly whey and soy protein. Mix it with water in blender, and it gets the consistency of a fast-food "milk"shake. Tastes pretty OK, too.

Here's the best part. Sooooo satisfying. If I get the munchies during the day, make a shake. If I'm still hungry after one of those (one shake fills two 16 oz. tumblers and is FILLING) I'll eat whatever I'm craving. I'm getting muscles. Not like bodybuilding muscles or anything grandiose, but the odd crease and bulge where before there were none. I've had more energy. I'm clearer-headed.

By going for two of these wonderful things a day, I get lotsa vitamins, protein, aminos and good stuff, I don't eat just, and I make sure I keep my metabolism up a bit.

Love it. Picture to come when I gets me a haircut :)

New Horizons

I'm sure you've heard of the launch of the New Horizons probe. It's the first ship launched specifically to study Pluto and the outlying Kuiper Belt. I love it! Ever since I was a kid, I've looked up into the sky, and tried to imagine what it might be like on the surface of another planet or moon, looking back at the speck of light that is Earth.

Even better, Clyde Tombaugh's widow, Patsy Tombaugh, is alive to see the momentous occasion, as is Venetia Burney Phair, who, at 11 years old, had the honor of naming the "planet" after the Roman god of the underworld.

I can only imagine what it must be like for them, to see this day arrive at last. I only hope my daughter gets to see some day as important.

2005

Starting from the inauguration at the beginning of the year, 2005 was certainly a year that kept us on our toes. Starting the year with the aftermath of "the" tsunami, this has been a big year for disasters.

Of course there's nature. Tsunami, Earthquakes, big big hurricanes, and LOTS of them!

Have to mention the current president. The world frequently says of America "The second biggest mistake Americans made was electing Bush. The biggest was electing him a second time". It seems an administration based on a do-what-you-feel-like attitude. Replace the head of FEMA, who had years of experience actually managing emergency situation, with a guy with no emergency management experience, AND was asked to resign his former job as a judge of arabian horses. On June 5th, cut the budget that was intended for use to repair the damaged levee system in New Orleans. Send our armed forces overseas. What's the worst that could happen?

Once the veil is ripped away, don't apologize. Not for a while anyway, and definitely not sincerely. After that, nominate someone for the Supreme Court who has never been a judge. To heck with what people really think.

The pope died. A genuinely good man. I won't speak ill of him as I have a huge amount of respect for John Paul II.

Michael Jackson was found not guilty. Then he fled the country. It was a victory after all. I do feel bad for the guy. I don't know him, but he seems to have huge issues he should be dealing with rather than acting like a child.

Lots of republicans are corrupt. Blatantly. Who knew?

I've come to realize the error of my ways regarding religion. I've met many people who honestly believe in what they practice. Humble people, who are willing to give more of themselves than they have to give. It doesn't seem that way in the media. The more vocal religious figures are out for publicity, and money. Their views propagate their individual agendas, not spirituality.

That being said, I'm getting back to the dumbing down of society. Evolution is being debated. Not by people who understand it, mind you, that would lend validity to any arguments. People who believe the bible has to be the literal truth, sort of an all-or-nothing view. If the world and allt he creatures weren't created in 7 24-hour days, there is no God. How messed up is that? That doesn't sound like faith(I hear tell that you need it to get into heaven). Besides, evolution isn't being promoted to discourage spirituality, it's wondering at the dynamic nature of life, whatever the original source may be. It's based on the best scientific evidence we have, so it warrants teaching in science class.

Kentucky voted to teach evolution as a "flawed theory" and include intellegent design as a viable alternative. Georgia put stickers on science books, saying "evolution is a theory, not a fact" and so on. That was already being taught. You know, the theory of evolution as is listed in every danged science book. Also, in science class, they teach you what a theory is. Dumbasses.

The catholic church doesn't even want intellegent design taught in science classes. They admit it's not science, it's religion, and should be taught in such a setting. Who knew in 2005, the Catholic Church would start making sense to me?

There may be a tenth planet, which may wind up being our ninth, if Pluto's status is taken away.

Of course, there are people saying there are soooooo many signs of the end of the world. Lots of hurricanes, which happen every so many years, earthquakes, which happen all the time, war, famine, drought. All signs of being on Earth.

We have a very brief window in which eyes are open. Let's take advantage, and take steps forward as a race(humans). We are aware of suffering, we know we have to be more active in government, and we know we have to prepare. We have a chance to advance greatly, if we all work together, and I'm very hopeful humanity will take the lesson of 2005 to heart, and make things better.

STOP BEING FAT!! Vol. 2

Not a lot to post. I'm trying, slowly to make myself lighter. This week, especially, I've noticed most of the persistent pain in my body is gone. I have a little stiffness in my ankles still, as the tissue needs to be stretched. I've been noticing a pleasant warmth in my tummy - feels like my midsection is melting. If that's the case or not, it's encouraging.

That's really it. Progress is still being made, albeit slowly.