Song in my Head:
It's a conspiracy of silence

And it's holding us down

In a conspiracy of silence

The truth can't be found........John Kasper

In Season: river surfing (Brrrr.), Christmas blues


Janklow Cries While Testifying on Crash


Rep. Bill Janklow took the stand as the final defense witness at his manslaughter trial Saturday, crying as he talked about the motorcyclist who died in the traffic accident he is accused of causing.

The former governor and state attorney general said he remembers nothing about the crash at a rural crossroads on Aug. 16. He admitted speeding, but responded "I don't know" or "I don't recall" to many of his lawyer's questions about events before and after the accident.

Janklow, 64, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, running a stop sign, reckless driving and speeding in the crash that killed Randy Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minn., when Janklow's Cadillac crossed the path of Scott's motorcycle. (link)


I just have to blurt this story out, because an old employer of mine,H, was diabetic. He encountered legal problems as a driver of his automobile.

H was driving home from a tennis match one morning to be pulled over by the Albany, Oregon police Department for erratic driving. H was low in blood sugar. H ended up in a fist fight with 2 cops, while entering diabetic shock. He was acting incoherent and making no sense, so the cops assumed he was drunk. H had his collar bone broken during this traffic stop. H sued the police department and won. However, H wasnt satisfied with just winning. He changed the process by initioating special license plates for diabetics. Have you ever seen a license plate with a big D on it? D for diabetic.

So, where I can truly empathize with Janklow having a medical condition which negatively affected his driving, it's still no excuse for killing a person. Chances are, he can afford all his diabetic medication, and a taxi or bus pass to get to work. Just one more thought, many diabetics have eye problems...but that still doesnt excuse him from killing someone.


Alter-Abled News


Health care quandaries await

As if the rite of passage that is Medicare wasn't confusing enough for the 40 million Americans enrolled in it, the government health insurance program will be even harder to fathom now that Congress has made sweeping changes in a bill President Bush is expected to sign this week. (link)


New Parenthood

Parents of newborns and toddlers:

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You will sleep again. Just don't expect it to happen while parenting teenagers. Waiting up for your teen's midnite curfew is inevitable. However, once in a while they will come home earlier

Raising kids is a long haul and can be summed up thusly:

Newborn baby- sweet, no teeth
teething baby- cranky, drooly
biting toddler- no more tittie
young child- teeth fall out, toothfairy years
child- teeth coming in crooked
young teen- braces
teen- braces off, cavities
young adult-responsible for dental bill

Love, Annie