Song in my Head: You'll catch on in a flash..then you can mash...then you can monster mash..........................................Bobby Pickett

In Season: jack o lanterns, flu, Oregon vortex aurora borealis


Alter-Abled News

A disabled man was not allowed on a domestic flight in Chile because the pilot thought his artificial hand could be used as a dangerous weapon. (link)

Nice.

Margaret Cho calls me a benign, harmless, tired, red-eyed stoner.....and that Cheech should get a lifetime achievement award.


Does Bush really expect us to believe his latest lie? I don't. To be honest, my gut tells me that November and December may not provide accurate and reliable numbers, being so close to Christmas. In a world full of media spin, I am surely highly skeptical of these claims. And I'm not alone. (Krugman, Emma, Angry Bear , CalPundit, Seeing the Forest , Counterspin Central, Liberal Oasis)


Did you notice that it's Protection from Pornography Week.......and........

National Primate Liberation Week....?

There's a joke there somewhere...........

Song in my Head: All we are saying....is give peace a chance.....Lennon

In Season:hazelnuts

Song in my Head: Here comes the sun.................................The Beatles

In Season: holiday bazaars, coronal mass ejections, impeaching this 'miserable failure', devastating fires in Southern CA, phallic fungi


Jobless Recovery? Um... Isn't that like a Lifeless Revival?


Jobless Recovery. It reminds me of a tasteless joke that went something like:

The doctor walks into the waiting room where a very nervous family is waiting.
“How is he doctor?”
“The operation was a complete success! We transplanted the heart, replaced the lungs, and put in a new liver.”
“So he’s going to be okay?”
“Your husband? Oh not at all. He’s stone dead, but the operation went great!”

Scott Bateman writes a great cartoon this week about rising consumer confidence. People are getting less nervous about spending money… on food. Ha ha ha ha *cough* *hack* *wheeze* he he he wooo. via Ojingo

Wampum is just as pessimistic and asks "Has the rebound peaked?"

And The Bureau of Labor Statistics report this:

Employers initiated 868 mass layoff actions in September 2003, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a sin-
gle establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 82,647.

While Emma asserts that unemployment figures are not the sole merit on which to base employment statistics, she is equally pessimistic.

For those of us living on federal disability, our checks will be raised by 2.1% in January, 2004. This article in Newsday claims the average person will get $19 a month more. BUT...............

But many recipients won't keep it for long, because much of the gain will be wiped out by a 13.5 percent boost in Medicare premiums announced the day before that will also take effect next year. The hike -- the third largest in the history of the program -- will lift Medicare premiums $7.90 to $66.60 a month.

I'm screwed.

Song in my Head: I got you Babe................................Sonny and Cher

In Season: stealth disco, silly xmas gifts


What is the most horrid, frightening, and devious halloween costume? Right here.

Song in my Head: You... ...Telling me the things you're gonna do for me.........I aint blind and I don't like what I think I see. Taking it to the streets.......................Doobie Brothers

In Season: raking leaves, Warren Miller's Journey


Alter-Abled News

Living with the Pain of Tomorrow

AT 25, Lindsay Lunney has a stunning figure, long, slim legs and remarkable blue eyes.

Yet, by the time she is 50, she knows she will probably be in a wheelchair, her eyesight could be compromised and, unless some way can be found to control the osteoporosis now afflicting her, she could have a painful old age.

Yet, she worries less for herself than for her little daughter Taylor, who will be three on Christmas Day and to whom she has passed on Nail Patella syndrome (NPS), making them the only pair in Northern Ireland so far diagnosed with this rare, debilitating condition.(link)

This is what I was born with, and yes, it hurts.


Sens. Kennedy, Kerry Support University of Massachusetts Marijuana Research Plan

Both U.S. senators from Massachusetts, Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, have asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to approve a groundbreaking proposal from the University of Massachusetts Amherst to manufacture marijuana for FDA-approved medical marijuana research.

At present, all U.S. medical marijuana researchers are required to obtain marijuana for medical studies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA's marijuana, grown on a farm in Mississippi, has been criticized for its poor quality, and many observers have complained that NIDA has made it unnecessarily difficult to obtain marijuana for research, impeding studies that could document medical benefits.(link)

No proof of its medicinal value? Lets study it.

Song in my head: Song sung blue....................................Neil Diamond

In Season: flu shots, Jail Blazers, homecoming

Song in my Head: There's 50 ways to leave your lover...................Paul Simon

In Season: chestnuts, wild tastes, cheaper gas


Trauma's of My Childhood, part II


I mentioned here, that I was baptized, and made my communion, and confirmation in a Catholic Church on Long Island, NY. This is mostly true, except for the baptized part. You see, when I was 16 years old, my Mom, while reading Newsday one afternoon screamed "Oh my God". I'm like "What?" "The priest that baptized you was a phony, a fake priest". Do you want to get re-baptized?."

"Nah," I say. "God will understand".



Alter-Abled News

I belong to an e-group, for Nail-patella syndrome patients, and received this today from The Star Telegram

Legal marijuana smoker touts 'good medicine'

And from The Sac Bee

Man who ran pot co-op gets 3-year drug sentence


Speaking of health care, my Oregon Health Plan insurance runs out of the end of December. I won't have any health insurance in January, until Medicare kicks in, in February. The Oregon Health plan is going downhill. I have tried calling their customer help line a few times, and the line was always busy. Now I know why.

Part of the problem lies with state lawmakers, who initially threatened to wipe out the entire health-care program but in the end cobbled together enough cash to keep it going. But they're not about to fork over the estimated $500,000 needed to expand and upgrade the 16-line phone center, whose customer-service representatives each handle about 400 calls a week.

And then this morning I read this:

Bush opposes health plan for National Guard

The Bush administration is formally opposing a proposal to give National Guard and Reserve members access to the Pentagon’s health-insurance system, jeopardizing the plan’s future and angering supporters.(link)

Freak.

Song in my Head: wasted away again in Margaritaville.....searching for my lost shaker of salt........Jimmy Buffet

In Season: Indian summer, part II


What I believe in.

Song in my Head: Times are a'changin......................Bob Dylan

In Season: digging potatoes, property tax bills, backstrap


Traumas of My Childhood

I get a kick out of reading blogs from moms and dads. It intrugues me how people adapt from singlehood into a full time caregiver. I read this last night from Self-Esteem for Women by Lynda Field and loved the honesty of this passage.

Motherhood is a truly amazing and miraculous experience, but it is not bliss. Being a mother can take us to the heights of love and the depths of anger and resentment. All mothers ride this rollercoaster, and when we can accept this more readily, our self esteem will no longer be on the line. You are not an unworthy mother if your feelings are less than saintly. Our children are humans too and they can relate to our humanness. Perfection is not part of the job description. because perfect mothering does not exist. The best we can do is the best we can do!

With that in mind I need to relive an early trauma I experienced. When I was a child I attended the Catholic church regularly with my family. During the late 60's women still wore dresses and hats to church. I was fully indoctrinated by Catholic priests while being baptized, making holy communion and confirmation.

While on vacation with my family we attended a strange catholic church in another town. Or shall I say my parents wanted to attend, yet I had forgotten my church hat and could not enter without properly humbling myself, and covering my head. My parents were in quite a dilemna and were very traditional, so this was a huge deal. I can recall my da pulling out his snotty handkerchief from his pocket and deciding that was too gross. So Mom, always prepared for runny noses, pulls a tissue out of her handbag and places it squarely on top of my head. Voila'. My hat for church. I hated it. Try walking with a tissue on your head.


Alter-Abled News

From today's Newsday

The public's growing unease with the current health care system has built support for a new approach that would mean care for all Americans and changes in laws governing prescription drugs, a poll suggests.

Being alter-abled this is a huge and important issue for me in regards to the 2004 upcoming election. However, I feel disouraged with the current administration and its unwillingness to change our ludicrous policies.

Living in Oregon, under the ex-governorship of John Kitzhaber, Oregon's family doc, affordable health care was made available to the poor and the working poor. His latest endeavors are admirable, too:

He is director of a new drug research center at Oregon Health and Science University, he has an endowed chair at the Foundation for Medical Excellence, and he is president of the Estes Park Institute, a health-care think tank.

Kitzhaber's main legacy to the state, the Oregon Health Plan, began the clear-eyed debate about health-care efficacy and rationing. He is now trying to take the debate to the national stage.


From today's Newsday:

U.S. Should Let Doctors Advise the Use of Marijuana


And from today's Corvallis Gazette-Times

Let fed quit fighting Oregon over marijuana

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency, at the behest of Attorney General John Ashcroft, seems bent on starting a Second Civil War against Oregonians who are trying to comply with the state's regulations regarding production of medical marijuana.

Drug WarRant has a fine collection of editorials regarding medical cannabis from the following cities: Palm Beach, Baltimore, Ste Petersburg, Detroit, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, and Chicago.

Song in my Head: Boykin, Boykin,....Pray for me like you do. ..............Democratic Veteran

In Season: planting spring bulbs

Song in my Head: Come and listen to my story 'bout a boy named Bush. His IQ was zero and his head was up his tush. He drank like a fish while he drove all about. But that didn't matter 'cuz his daddy bailed him out. DUI, that is. Criminal record. Cover-up........Elaine of Kaliliy

In Season: extreme pumpkins, Hood River Harvest Festival


Alter-Abled News

From Open Source Politics:

That all courts shall be open . . . except to the disabled.
By Lilith C. Devlin

In 1998, Mr. Lane was scheduled to appear in a Tennessee court for a pre-trial hearing on two misdemeanor traffic charges. Mr. Lane is a paraplegic. He had appeared at the courthouse previously for his arraignment on the same charges, and discovered that the courtroom was on the second floor. Of a building with no elevator.

Because Mr. Lane is an amputee, he did the only thing he could under the circumstances: He crawled up the stairs until he reached the second floor. Needless to say, the experience was humiliating. (link)

From Eschaton:

The art of an alter-abled woman, Danielle Sylvie Taylor. Beautiful work.


Change the Climate

If you'd like to "change the climate" around marijuana to keep your kids safe from hard drugs, to save thousands of your tax dollars, and to stop the senseless arrest of millions, then support Change the Climate.

Song in my head: We all live in a yellow submarine.........The Beatles

In Season: Yankees
(Being from Long Island, NY I must root for the Yankees or I would be doing a disservice to my sovereign state).

Song in my Head: I need a young, young man...to drive away my middle age blues......Saffire

In Season: knitting


Alter-Abled News

Disabilities commission honors local employers(link)

It is nice to see some Oregon employers do employ alter-abled folks


Petition would reduce priority of marijuana busts

A political action committee is circulating initiative petitions to get Lane County law enforcers and prosecutors to make prosecution of adult marijuana users their lowest priority.

The petition by Sensible Lane County also would bar both offices from spending general fund money on enforcement, arrests, prosecutions and county jail time for adult marijuana users. (link)

Song in my Head: Like Ma Bell, I got the ill communication .......Beastie Boys

In Season:Fuji apples

Man to serve two years for groping

A man who groped two women while passing by them on his bike this summer got the maximum sentence Monday on two charges of misdemeanor sexual abuse. (link)

Can we lock Arnie up for the next two years?


Alter-Abled News

Supreme Court Rejects Bush Administration Attempt To Gut Medical Marijuana Laws

In an historic victory for medical marijuana patients and doctors, the U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear Conant v. Walters, letting stand an appellate court ruling barring the federal government from punishing physicians who recommend medical marijuana to patients.(link)

Touche'


Sperm From Marijuana Smokers Move Too Fast Too Early, Impairing Fertility

Men who smoke marijuana frequently have significantly less seminal fluid, a lower total sperm count and their sperm behave abnormally, all of which may affect fertility adversely, a new study in reproductive physiology at the University at Buffalo has shown.(link)

Song in my Head: Break another little piece of my heart now, baby..........Janis Joplin

In Season: record grape harvest


The Best Looking Wal-Mart Store in Oregon

“In my opinion, this is the best looking Wal-Mart store in the state of Oregon because of the efforts that have been made to address the compatibility standard; we took that challenge to heart and created a unique ‘Hood River look’,” said Hathaway. (link)

Here is a sketch of the proposed rustic looking Wally-World (link).

Here is a "typical" store (link).

So, they will cut down a few more old growth Douglas fir, make some timbers out of them and erect a rustic looking store, full of cheap plastic crap.


Alter-Abled News


Black-Clad Ninja Warriors Found in Backyard


Travis Paulson was heading into the kitchen one recent morning to fix breakfast for himself and his 84-year-old mother, Loretta, when he noticed what appeared to be black-clad "ninja warriors" in his back yard.

It turned out to be a house call from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The agents took the marijuana plants Paulson had nurtured in a fiberglass-walled grow area to heights of 12 feet, his day planner, laptop computer, checks intended for deposit, $3,300 in cash and several firearms from underneath his mother's bed.

From The Oregonian

From Corvallis-Gazette Times


Supreme Court to Decide Tuesday Whether to Hear Crucial Medical Marijuana Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will announce on Tuesday, Oct. 14, whether it will hear Conant v. Walters, a case that could effectively decide the fate of state medical marijuana laws. Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) staffers on both the East and West Coasts will be available for comment on this historic case.

At issue in the case is the right of physicians to recommend marijuana to patients whom they believe would benefit from its use. After California voters passed its medical marijuana law, Proposition 215, in 1996, the federal government threatened to revoke the DEA registrations of physicians who recommend marijuana -- taking away their right to prescribe any controlled substance and effectively putting them out of business.

Link from Marijuana Policy Project


Boy with one kidney can play soccer....BUT............(link)

Wasn't that nice. Not.


Did My Appendix Burst or Was That Gas?

It's time we put someone in the White House who has some vision and some sense of responsibility for the health and well-being of the American people.

Hopefully my wisdom teeth and that case of appendicitis can wait until 2005.

Via Open Source Politics

Song in my Head: Teach your children well...their father's hell did slowly go by................Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young

In Season: fall mushroom picking

Song in my Head: Make these donuts with extra grease. This batch is for the chief of police........Joe Pop o'Pie

In Season: Hunter's moon, Oregon Fall beach clean-up day, delicata squash


Alter-Abled News

From the Oregonian:

An Oregon couple send requests for medicines to Canada where orders are filled with low-cost drugs and returned

I should check this out. My prescription for Vioxx hasn't been filled for months...can't afford it, and my Phosomax....and................


Isn't it ironic that Tommy Chong goes to jail for nine months today, while Rush "Get out of jail free" Limbaugh fesses up to a serious, illegal drug addiction and won't have to go? Fucked up or what? Basically, he has been stoned on his pills for years and got hooked. What gets me is his freaking hypocritical tirades and morality lessons condemn such actions. I have yet to try an oxycontin and use exercise, hot tubs, and herbs for pain, with an occasional vicaden to take the edge off.

But, it could happen that I might need a stronger pain pill. With dislocated elbows, shoulders, knees, pelvis, lower back, and hips; I don't want to suffer. So, being the conscientious, scientifically curious humanoid that I am, I shall peruse the internet on the Side Effects of Oxycontin, and see if Rush might suffer from some. Be back soon.........

From Drugs.com

• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take oxycodone and talk to your doctor if you experience
· constipation;
· dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;
· dizziness, tiredness, or lightheadedness;
· muscle twitches;
· sweating;
· itching;
· decreased urination; or
· decreased sex drive.

• Do not stop taking oxycodone suddenly if you have been taking it continuously for more than 5 to 7 days. Stopping suddenly could cause withdrawal symptoms and make you uncomfortable. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the dose.

See...scientific proof Rush is full o'shit and even makes himself nauseous.

Song in my Head: Don't want to be your monkey wrench, one more indecent accident, I'd rather leave than suffer this, I'll never be your monkey wrench......Foo Fighters

In Season: pumpkin patches, exploding cellphones, hungry Oregonians


Alter-Abled News

In a finding that backs up motherly advice to get a good night's sleep, scientists have found that peaceful slumber apparently restores memories that were lost during a hectic day
(link)

Sleep deprivation has profound effects, I'm sure. I feel as exhausted as a new mother, without the bundle of joy. Besides nail-patella syndrome, I have myofacial pain syndrome/fibromyalgia which affects my sleep. I dream too much, in other words have long periods of REM sleep. My dreams are epic, involved, and exhausting. From The American Psychoanalytic Association's Current Ideas about REM Sleep, Dreams, and Dreaming

What is REM sleep?
In 1953 neuroscientists discovered a physiological state which occurs periodically during sleep (every 90 minutes). There is a heightened brain activation during this time including a burst of rapid eye movement (REM), increased breathing and heart rate, genital engorgement, and paralysis of bodily movement (the person is highly aroused yet fast asleep).


From The Corvallis-Gazette-Times:

$5 million grant will bring about a national-first research center

Oregon State University will use a $5 million grant from the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research to create the nation's first research center focused on making transportation more accessible.

Nice.

Song in my head: Lions, tigers, and bears...Oh My!


In Season: gourds

Song in my Head: Plame's outing threats our security, It's Traitorgate, it's Traitorgate.........Mad Kane

In Season: rain, turning to showers


Alter-Abled News

From today's Newsday

Ex-Judge's Verdict: Drug Laws Unjust

It isn't that Marks, 88 and now retired, is soft on crime. It's just that he regards the Rockefeller drug laws enacted in September 1973, as the "most unjust enacted in my time." Marks says the draconian drug laws have snared the weak and the poor in its net, but few drug lords - who can afford expensive lawyers to keep them out of jail.


From Drug WarRant

Clark said he doesn't condone widespread use of marijuana but would consider allowing it for pain relief. "We need to look at that and make some allowances one way or another," the candidate said of so-called medicinal marijuana usage


From Marijuana Policy Project

Federal Appeals Court To Hear Medical Marijuana Suit

Patients, Caregivers Sue To Stop Raids
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -- On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the lawsuit brought against U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Drug Enforcement Administration by medical marijuana patients Angel McClary Raich and Diane Monson and two caregivers. The suit seeks to bar the federal government from raiding or arresting the plaintiffs for growing or possessing medical marijuana.


Prescription Pot: A Leading Advocate's Heroic Battle to Legalize Medical Marijuana
by George McMahon, Christopher Largen

Here's one review from Amazon: (link)

As of the writing of this book, McMahon was one of seven persons in the U.S. who could smoke marijuana legally. As a person with the rare genetic disorder Nail Patella Syndrome, he participates in the federal government's Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program. Under the program's auspices, he receives 300 government-grown-and-packed joints each month. (Thanks to the redoubled war on drugs, the program no longer accepts new participants.) The herb frees him from most of the pain associated with the bone and joint deformities resulting from his disease and allows him to live a more normal life. Those 300 joints replace 400 morphine pills for him, yet medical morphine is legal and medical cannabis isn't. McMahon has made campaigning for legalization of medical marijuana his life's mission, and the book documents his dialogues with legislators and law-enforcement personnel to date. It also includes heartrending testimony from other medical marijuana users, legal and not, and the transcript of a supportive scientific study. A well thought-out argument in favor of legalizing cannabis for clinical use. Donna Chavez

Nail-Patella Syndrome....that's what I was born with, too. Dislocated knees and elbows, no thumbnails, glaucoma, chronic pain, IBS....are some of the symptoms.

Song in my Head: The wonderful thing about Tigger, is Tigger's a wonderful thing......Tbogg

In Season: green tomatoes, red peppers


Arnold's Ego


Two positives for every negative. I always liked that philosophy. So before I cut Arnie a new asshole, I must say that on a positive note he is into exercise, which is a very good thing. He also married a democrat, and has four children, which, presumably, is a good thing.

However, some of his values seem a bit skewed to me. I am making these judgements from a distance and we have never met, yet, I still can't fathom his appeal to voters in California, err to anyone.

If there ever was a narcissistic sport, bodybuilding has to take the cake. What gets me is that muscles with popping arteries doesn't attract me at all. And these guys heads look so small, exception being Arnie. Man his head is so full of himself it oozes from his Austrian pores. He obviously thinks he is God's gift to women. And since he is so manly looking that gives him the right to disrespect women by grabbing their tits. Being short in stature I am sure I would be intimidated if a muscular guy did that to me. The sad part is that he has 2 daughters. I know a lot of dads that would consider taking the shotgun out if anyone did that to their daughter.

Sexual harrassment pretty much sums up his actions in my view. Why would we want a public servant that offends women to fill his ego? I think he has made it a point that he is a very sexual person. I have no problem with that. But, when a man does that repeatedly, that is pure harassment, which is illegal. Remember Bob Packwood?

And the guys not that eco- friendly. Come on, northern California is progressive and there are many eco-friendly cities. Arnie's love for status symbols, like owning Hummers, does nothing for his environmental record. Furthermore, he obviously has no conscience regarding zero population growth. He has shown little restraint in populating a crowded world. I say anyone with more than 2 kids is nuts. One for each hand works for me.

Song in my head: Ricolaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

In Season: cough, cough drops, dreadlocks


Alter-Abled News

Should a 12 year old cancer survivor, with one kidney, be denied playing soccer at his junior high school? (link)

Sounds unfair to me. Let the kid live a full and meaningful life full of soccer.

From Oregon NORML:

MARIJUANA DOES NOT CAUSE RECKLESS DRIVING

That's right, people "high" on marijuana cause fewer crashes than those who are completely sober. The findings seemed impossible to explain. It was a puzzle that made no sense.
(link)

Song in my Head: That's the sound of the men working on the Cheney Gang.................Body and Soul

In Season: apple cider, giant pumpkins



Alter-Abled News

From the NYT......

The jump in the number of Americans without health insurance is not just another bad economic statistic.
(link)

No, it's not another bad economic statistic. It's a freaking, dismal reality in the good ole US of A.

Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards
November 22, 2003


1000 Reasons to dump Bush

1001. He was a cheerleader in college.