Migraine

In the past two days, I have experienced events that are consistent with migraine headache.

First of all, let me say I have never had migraines before. Second, they are very unpleasant, frightening, and painful! Third, I want to make sure that I never have another one, or at least minimize my chances.

What are my symptoms?

Yesterday, I experienced a very unsettling episode of impaired vision. It presented very quickly, without any warning. It was around 9:30am, and I experienced what I thought of as "sunspots" in my vision. (I had been outside.) I dismissed it at first, but I noticed that instead of fading, the spots grew larger and more cumbersome to see through. In fact, I had lost part of my peripheral vision in my right eye. My next symptom was the onset of pain in my upper-left forehead region. It was very painful and localized. It responded to changes in movement, light, and sound. Fortunately, my vision began to return to normal, but the headache remained. Oh yes, the last symptom: My right arm, including fingertips, tongue and the right side of my mouth went numb. This, coupled with the vision impairment, made me believe I may be experiencing a stroke. The numbness subsided in about ten minutes, with the typical "pins-and-needles" sensation following a loss of sensation in the extremities.

Today, I experienced the same symptoms, in the same order, but the vision impairment, or aura, was much more severe. The headache has only recently subsided. I had to take Advil and lay down for a while. I feel better, but not completely well. I still have dread and confusion on my mind.

The only single event that I can think of as perhaps being a catalyst to these headaches is the sun. Both attacks presented after being outside, in direct sunlight, for a short period of time. Hopefully, this will pass with no further complications!

I feel completely sympathetic toward people who suffer from this malady on a frequent basis. It is very unnerving.

Sonia Sotomayor

From the hard streets of the Bronx to the hallow marbled halls of the nation's highest court, Sonia Sotomayor is President Barack Obama's choice to fill the vacated seat left by Justice David Souter.

I had little doubt that Obama would fill this position with a woman. It is in the court's best interests to appoint another woman to its bench. If her appointment is confirmed by the Senate, she will be the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court, and only its third woman.

Although, these may seem like important points, what will shape the future of our country is the ideology that Sotomayor brings with her to the Supreme Court, if confirmed. From the accounts I can gather about Sotomayor from the media and her judicial record, she is a moderate-liberal. This will be an important balancing point for a court that is currently top-heavy toward the conservative spectrum of constitutional interpretation. As Sotomayor points out, the U.S. Constitution is a living document that can grow and adapt to serve the needs of the people, not the government. It is not a stagnant document that does not evolve, in which the government can manipulate in times of great national crisis. In other words, the Constitution invokes expressed and implied rights, it does not take them away.

Sotomayor is currently a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She was appointed by President George H. W. Bush to the United States District Court for Southern New York. She was later elevated by President Bill Clinton to her current position in the circuit court of appeals.

Botched "Daisy"

The Republican National Committee must be running out of funding, because this botched ad, which invokes a political commercial from the 1964 presidential election, to discredit President Obama, looks as if it was put together in fifteen minutes by a high school drop-out, in his parents' basement, using iMovie.

Limbaugh rags on Roberta McCain

Rush Limbaugh is attacking John McCain's 90+ year old mother, Roberta McCain, over her statement that she is from a different Republican Party than Limbaugh.

I agree. Limbaugh's political doctrine is from another planet.

But, it could just be all the Oxycontin and Viagra talking!

Republican Senators play the blame game

Kentucky's junior senator, Jim Bunning, is blaming the senior senator and Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, of costing Republicans seats in the United States Senate.

Bunning, who is up for re-election next year, is seen by many as being vulnerable in his position. In 2007, Kentucky elected a Democratic governor to replace one-termer Ernie Fletcher. Perhaps, Bunning doesn't feel as if his old Washington buddy, Mitch, can't rake in the money his campaign needs to fend off Democrats next fall.

With words like that, I doubt Bunning will have much to worry about, when it comes to McConnell helping him raise money. I guess it just goes to show you that even politicians can't take the heat, so they blame everyone else (they wouldn't do that!).

Pepsi Throwback

Pepsi has come out with an interesting concept for the 21st century: try a recipe from the 20th century to re-brand a product.

I have to admit I was skeptical of Pepsi Throwback. I got some of it today, in order to try it for myself, and just like those soft drinks you get in Europe, which are also sweetened with natural sugar, Throwback is simply cleaner and crisper than conventional Pepsi made with high fructose corn syrup. It reminds me of the Pepsi I used to drink as a child from the glass bottles (when did they start using high fructose corn syrup anyhow?).

Normally, I prefer Coke to Pepsi, but I like this newer version of Pepsi better than Coke. You can definitely notice the difference in initial taste and aftertaste. High fructose corn syrup gives Pepsi a heavy, lingering aftertaste. It isn't as sweet as I like. It feels thick on the palate (if that makes sense).

My advice to Pepsi is keep making your product with natural sugar.

In honor of the 135th Kentucky Derby

My favorite Kentucky inspired drink, the mint julep!

Red State Update: "Swine Flu"

These guys are hilarious!

Justice David Souter to Retire

After serving eighteen years, Justice David Souter, who sits on the United States Supreme Court, will retire at the recess of the current Court's term, which is in June.

Although, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, he is a liberal leaning member of the nation's highest court. His retirement will give President Barack Obama his first opportunity to nominate a justice to the Supreme Court.

May Day

It is labor day in most parts of the world, except in the United States (still too many bad memories of all those communists).

And, yes, I took the day off!