Welcome
- February 4, 2017
- World Cancer Day
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I once heard a lecture on DNA and RNA whereby the physician speaking made the generalization that everyone will eventually get cancer — if they live long enough.
His point being the accumulated damage which occurs secondary to free radicals, toxins, injury, and so forth will eventually cause those mechanisms of genetic and somatic repair to fail resulting in those tumors of faulty replication.
Now then, being the rank student amateur I was at that tender young stage of my career, I immediately hit medline on what was the fledgling internet of the late 70s and read up finding SOD complex, superoxide dismutase to be that enzymatic solution to longer healthy cellular division.
Toward that end, I located a vendor supplying sublingual SOD complex and started taking it continuing for several years until I returned to South Carolina and resumed my Kentucky Fried Chicken addiction.
Nowadays I take glisodin complex which is a form of SOD bound to a carrier which can survive the digestive system.
Today is World Cancer Day.
Cancer is a disease which results from uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in some body part.
These neoplasms are actually newly formed areas of abnormal tissue growth and are highly characteristic of the disease.
World Cancer Day is important because it brings to the fore that importance which is attempt at both it's control and eradication. Some of the saddest anecdotes I ever heard were pediatric onocologists relating the course of some patient's disease ... and worse; reading various death summaries during my career.
Cancer is a horrible way to die and although life has taught me that other diseases can be just as bad or even worse — the diminished "lifestyle" nature of many cancers brings it to my mind as a tragedy with which we should help it's victims to cope and better yet ... go into remission permanently.
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- February 3, 2017
- Four Chaplains Day
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al·tru·ism
/ˈaltro͞oˌizəm/
noun
Belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.
War brings out the worst in people. It also brings out the best in some.
George Lansing Fox
Alexander David Goode
Clark Vandersall Poling
John Patrick Washington
The troop ship SS Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943, during World War II as the result of being torpedoed by a German U-Boat in the North Atlantic.
As the vessel was going down four US Army Chaplains aboard placed the others aboard before themselves by helping them board lifeboats and giving them their lifejackets when there were no more to be had.
They then joined arms, prayed, and sang hymns as the SS Dorchester sank, going down with the ship.
These four men of God have been celebrated and honored for their actions which saved other civilian and military personnel with a selfless call to duty with valor uncommon in dire circumstances.
In 1988, February 3 became "Four Chaplains Day" by unanimous act of Congress.
This day is reserved as a feast day in their honor by the Episcopal Church in the United States.
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- February 2, 2017
- Groundhog Day
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(Marmot Day in Alaska) A celebration of weather prognostication based on the observance of a specific groundhog indigenous to the area.
It seems that on February second if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and the weather is cloudy then Spring will arrive early — most likely prior to the vernal equinox.
However, if the weather is sunny it is purported that the rodent will see it's shadow and go back into it's den with a six week continuation of winter.
Personally I don't place much store into this arrangement and I certainly would like for winter to be cold and spring to be cool as it should be ...
HOWEVER, we've been seeing weather a bit on the warm side and though it has been met with approval by a few of the ladies at work I view it all as a bit unnatural.
Regardless, Happy Marmot or Groundhog Day (whatever you choose to call him) to you !
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- February 1, 2017
- National Bird Feeding Month
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In my day I was quite the bird feeding fanatic, with various feeders set out and kept filled over the course of years.
My enthusiasm diminished with the squirrel populations which innundated the area and took every opportunity to relieve the feeders of their content.
I retaliated with quite a few "squirrel resistant" and "squirrel proof" models but alas; the problem seemed insurmountable and contributed to the cessation of my activities.
There was once a large cement bird bath in my yard which I kept filled with water until I noticed the cats drinking from it whereupon I removed the basin from the pedestal and placed it on the gound upside down never to be filled again. I'd like to point out that these actions were the results of years of frustration and not a knee jerk reaction.
During February we celebrate National Bird Feeding Month. It's purpose is to educate the public regarding the feeding and watching of wild birds.
I enjoy the birds in the area. I'd like to feed and water them. However, the neighbors do not take kindly to me trapping their cats and taking them to the shelter for euthanasia and the squirrels are a never ending struggle with which I enact various eradication programs only to have more come up from the nearby river.
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- January 31, 2017
- Adventures in Information
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I read over a nice piece on seeker.com regarding the notion that we who are curious about science are more open minded regarding political issues. It went on to state that such people could advance ideas if recruited for larger group discussions.
Sometimes I think my political views are rather polarized. This is the results of feeling betrayed by the second Obama administration with his intential side stepping of the law to gain various political ends.
However, just because your opinion may differ from mine I surely do not hold any intrinsic fault with it — for indeed, the dissenting view is necessary for any modicum of well rounded data amassing operations and as the French note, vive la difference ... my personal view being that if we were all alike the bulk of us would be unnecessary.
So reasoning proficiency which is also apolitical is a boon attribute because being able to set aside bias in the pursuit of new ideas HAS to result in disagreeing more agreeably.
My interest has always been in the novel approach to any set of problems and I will never be the one to cast aside a valid idea just because I may disagree. Controversy doesn't always follow me as it once did and I attribute this to an ability to set aside my preconceived notions and evaluate what another says with an open mind without automatically flying off the handle prior to getting the facts or understanding the point being made.
I engage others while attempting empathetic understanding of the person's position relative to the stance being taken. I try to be cognizant of any personal weaknesses regarding the topical data under discussion. Finally, I try to keep my emotions in check and maintain an open mind for the duration.
This results in significant questions — not those arising from some errant defensive posture that can be counterproductive and places me an a position to entertain subjects with which I may be less comfortable yet still function optimally and engage provocative interactions and subjects without personal provocation. I shoot for a reasonable level of tact and poise ... in other words, my advancing age has taught me to at least TRY to be a good listener. I lacked this early on and it plagued me a long time.
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- January 30, 2017
- 'hemorrhage' of Catholic priests and nuns
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One of those things which has been around from antiquity has been the Catholic church. Indeed, that control exerted upon the people by the church has included torture and execution ... all in the name of God, of course and the evolution of pedophile priests who were protected by the organization for far too long.
So now, there appears to be a decline in the numbers of Catholic clergy and novite nuns which has been noticed by the current papal office.
The AP had a small piece regarding Pope Francis who has concerns involving his perception of a "hemorrhage" of priests and nuns from the Catholic church. Intimating that a loss of clergy is resulting in a weaker church as evidenced by the decline in numbers of priests and nuns in developed countries.
His words came on Saturday at a Vatican religious life gathering where he construed part of the problem is life in a society that discourages lifelong commitments.
It is my unqualified observation that "what goes around comes around" and when you have a number of individuals who really weren't all that religious anyway entering the priesthood hellbent on various forms of carnal sin ...
That allure of torture and murder no longer being part and parcel of the power the church used to wield via the likes of Torquemada nor the likelihood of many continuing to be shuffled around rather than being jailed for child abuse it's more a problem with securing people who are "really" religious and not just playing religion.
The likes of the Borgias, the murder of John Paul I, the intrigue and the mismanaged and misdirected coffers of those funds of the faithful just can't compare to that simple friars life they want to project.
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- January 29, 2017
- Reflections
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As I sit here collecting my thoughts I note that today is my late daddy's birthday. Though he has been gone since December 4, 2001 I have missed him every day.
It is a difficult matter to cope with the many losses which accumulate over a lifetime and coming to terms with this is a priority — albeit a sad duty indeed.
My personal difficulties revolve around that suffering he endured during his decline and the futile attempts to save him which simply caused much more of it.
This has tempered my life in the notion that heroics are sometimes not the best avenue and regardless of how we feel consideration of what others must go through to accommodate us is much more important in the circle of life.
In retrospect I would have done things much differently to be younger and know what I know now.
Imparting this to my nephew who continues his existence as an emotional infant rapidly approaching age 40 in the presence of all those problems he creates for his parents are equally distressing. I suppose that I can't be wishing to impart experience in the activities of daily living where they are unwanted so I remain silent.
Rest in peace, daddy. I have missed you all these years.
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- January 28, 2017
- Dealing from the Burger King Drive Through
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Garrett Norris
From the "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" file we have yet another tragic story of hilarious escapades and wasted youth ...
Meagan Dearborn
Epping NH police have arrested a couple of drug dealers who were dealing marijuana from a Burger King drive through window.
20 year old Garrett Norris and Meagan Dearborn who is 19 were caught in a sting conducted by the Epping PD in conjunction with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department and the attorney for Rockingham County.
It seems that a tip called into police that the Burger King restaurant drive through was being used to deal drugs resulted in their arrest in short order.
Buyers allegedly would arrive at the BK, ask for "Nasty Boy" and request "extra crispy" fries after determining that he was working. Payment was made at the drive through window.
The drugs were kept separate from food items sold and it was determined that the franchise owners were not involved.
Mr Morris and Ms Dearborn were released on personal recognizance pending a February 28 arraignment.
Now then, inasmuch as I'm pretty particular about persons from whom food is purchased; I would never be one to buy "extra crispy" anything from a person in a restaurant who went by the moniker "Nasty Boy".
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- January 27, 2017
- Johnny H Pruett in Memoriam
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Johnny Henderson Pruett
May 30, 1933 - January 27, 2016
Retired Airforce, Decorated Viet Nam Vet, Journalist w/ Stars and Stripes, Retired SC DHEC
Gentleman, Scholar possessing multiple degrees, Writer, Chef, Gardener Extraordinaire
Husband of my Mother, my beloved Stepfather, Friend, Advisor, Attended to innumerable details
We have missed you more each day.
My stepfather passed one year ago today. There hasn't been a single day that I haven's said aloud that I miss him in the hopes that he can hear me in Heaven.
While I spent a lot more time with him than I did with my late biological father, who I also miss since he passed on January 4, 2001 — the newness of the loss of Johnny coupled with the fact that I feel I should have spent even more time with him than I did has resulted in an elevated sense sadness in my life.
This has been the subject of personal pain for me an entire year now.
Circluating with the "what ifs" and the "if onlys" are those tortuous details of Richland County EMS forcing us to go to the Richland County hospital against our wishes. Their subsequent lies to the coroner stating that Johnny had suffered an unwitnessed fall in a nursing home ... and the worse part of all, that incompetent female osteopath who failed to adequately evaluate Johnny have haunted me since he died.
We feel that he would have received much better care at Providence, but this was not afforded to us by what I feel is a corrupt Richland County EMS who appear to be directing all traffic to a county hospital manned primarily by students such as the aforementioned incompetent female osteopath.
This all has been contributory to that loss which was his death which we feel the hospital contributed to with their incompetent emergency staff.
Rest in peace.
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- January 25, 2017
- Mary Tyler Moore RIP
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There is this notion that those characters with which we identify become a part of us. Not everyone subscribes to it — but I have been known to on occasion.
In my earliest days there was The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mrs Petrie portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore.
It was an innocent time of married couples sleeping in twin beds and nothing risque or remotely outside the general audience purview was allowed.
Still it was funny and she was a large part of that humor.
Over the years she engaged in other endeavors like The Mary Tyler Moore show and even had her own production company called MTM Productions.
Alas, she has left us for the great beyond and like so many of my childhood icons, the numbers of whom grow sparse as time progresses ...
I will miss her.
Rest in peace.
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- January 24, 2017
- New Sleep Deprivation Study
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A Microsoft research organization has refinforced something of which I have been aware for two thirds of my career. This earth shattering revelation is that sleep deprivation is harmful to your performance.
I once worked for a moron educator who would have me work all weekend to give a class beginning on Monday morning.
Rather than make her support people who were responsible for the setup handle the matter she would place it upon my already overworked schedule as if I owed her every hour of both my work week and premium off time.
So I would end up working straight from Friday afternoon through the full day Monday and have to teach the remainder of the class on top of that.
When I finally got home I would be called to the telephone should it ring for even the most trivial crap — even though I hadn't slept in 64 hours at all and treated as though I was crazy when I protested.
To this day I have declined to be a slave to the phone for that reason.
Yes. Sleep deprivation is deleterious to your functioning, your comfort, your sanity, your health and well being. This is why it is frequenly utilized in instances of torture ... to break down the resistance of a person to interrogation.
Why it took Microsoft research to decide this was a relevant study escapes me. However, it is quite true and I can attest to many instances when I taught college how such frequent impositions were simply more than anyone should ever have to bear yet it was common in that place of unscrupulous immoral leadership called "the system".
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- January 23, 2017
- IM in the Workplace
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Instant Messaging. Those desktop apps providing SMS communications over internetworked assets may have found a place in the workplace.
A recent study from UC Irvine and Ohio State University found that workers using IM software reported less interruption than those in their cohort who didn't.
This contradicts a widely held belief that IM is simply a distraction and does nothing other than provide a vehicle for workplace disruption.
Now then, in my IM heyday "broadband" was just becoming a thing. Suffice it to say that I'm really not a fan of messaging and this includes email.
It is my personal belief that there is no such thing as an 'emergency email' and I certainly had an even lower tolerance for pop up apps with someone wanting to chat and I fear this has spilled over into social networking in general.
My interests are the work at hand and setting aside time for SMS modalities amounts to technodrivel and I pretty much avoid it all anymore.
HOWEVER, I am not so jaded that I cannot see the value of a little text interaction in the workplace and even offered to write such an app for the enterprise I support.
One of our self appointed charge persons scoffed at the idea and said it would use too much bandwidth. This was okay with me too because it wasn't going to be something I clung to or anything.
I do note that enterprises with assigned cellphones will have text messaging by and large and that is a full fledged implemetation.
However, this is not IM by the classical definition which includes a desktop app with scrolling and notifications in real time.
So the moral of the story is text messaging will either be a part of your operation or not and that decision appears to be more subjective than objective in it's origin.
Suffice it to say that if you get IM you'll likely be in the minority because the recurring theme I kept hearing is "subject to abuse".
If this indeed is the case than you're better off without it anyway and It's just another aspect of your existence they can monitor and record.
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- January 22, 2017
- Women's March on Washington
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My knee jerk reaction of course was initially to lambaste the march thingie and trivialize it all ...
However, I gave the matter a little thought prior and it occurs to me that though I dissent with some of what is represented by the spectacle — that dissent itself is not something with which I have ever had a problem.
In fact, I am both pro dissent and in favor of making that dissent known to those with whom a person may be in conflict.
Then you have our fine people like Madonna who thinks that her opinion, like her vagina is some treasure trove gift from God to the world ... and that idiot Michael Moore who should just go ahead and transition his metrosexual butt like his other sister Chelsea did — seeing how he probably hasn't had any since it had him. Then then there's Cher so afraid of growing old and being irrelevant ... well just what would anyone expect anyway?
The bottom line here is Trump is not the only one ever having participated in womanizing. JFK was an incredible womanizer. He had avenues of secrecy at his disposal unavailable to some of the more contemporary others. I have read accounts of Obama in a similar vein and believe those as well.
While I agree that such behavior is a sigificant issue; the underlying business of The Republic is my primary concern with the administration. If he can drag us up out of the mire which is the legacy of the Obama administration you all can protest til the cows come home and I'll simply read of your exploits, cheer some of you on, and vote for a second Trump term when the time arrives.
He got my vote for how he has handled business. He got my vote because I believe that he will pursue greatness for the United States. He got my vote for his business savvy. He got my vote because UNLIKE Obama he will place the United States first in his pursuits as Chief Executive.
All other issues are secondary to me and I could give a rip regarding the problems women have with him. I have to leave it between them and him as I have entirely too much else going on.
As far as the Woman's March went ... it was quite a shindig and I hope it left the participants simply trembling in their pussie hats with a satisfying afterglow when it ended.
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- January 21, 2017
- When Political Correctness Doesn't Cut It Anymore
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PC. Political Correctness. That realm which requires avoiding expression which may be construed as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting any group of people who may be disadvantaged from a social context or subjected to discrimination.
While subscribing to JFK's idea that "civility is not a sign of weakness" I personally have made it a point to breach those boundaries at every opportunity since the early 70s we are now approaching a group of the populace who political correctness has rendered "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore."
This is not to say that I don't tone my confrontational rhetoric down frequently in some effort to bring less attention to myself. I simply feel that this business of "preferred pronouns" and "calling things what they aren't" is folly.
Furthermore, generally creating some life of fantasy designed to accommodate the misinformed and misguided individuals who think they can specify all aspects of existence regardless of reality is likewise a hot steaming load of crap.
The notion that we are supposed to not be offensive for the sake of coddling the idiots of the world who cannot comprehend their circumstances simply has come to an abrupt end. I'm happy I declined to go there at every turn and that others like me feel the same way. Hence the advent of the Trump presidency.
We need to start dealing in terms which reflect reality not some pc euphemism that totally misses the point.
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