Happy Birthday

Today marks another year of life for me. It's hard to believe that I am turning 26 again! I haven't got any plans really. It will be marked like most other days with work. I'm happy to have the opportunity to work and contribute to society. I'm attempting to stay positive, because I am one year closer to the Grim Reaper.

Talk News Shows

Why do people call into news broadcasts and think they can talk for as long as they want? It always amuses me!

Libya

After revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Libya has turned out to be a much more bloody revolt against the government of Colonel Muammar Ghadaffi, who has held power for 42 years.

This northern African country, that was once a colony of Italy, has been in upheaval for almost two weeks. With the fall of Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, to anti-Ghadaffi forces, the future of Ghadaffi and his hold on the some of Africa's largest oil reserves, seems rather precarious. Rebel forces are waging an assault on Tripoli, which is Libya's capital. Ghadaffi is stating that the revolution is the result of al-Qaeda and other international forces. He has called in armed mercenaries to help maintain his hold on the government.

Many of Ghadaffi's major political supporters have defected and now support the revolution. In addition, military forces are also reversing their support of Ghaddafi and supporting the rebels.

Some see civil war on the horizon, as the United Nations imposes financial sanctions against Ghadaffi's regime.

Muammar Ghadaffi's days are numbered.

Accutane & Acne (Days 12-16)

Starting my third full week of treatment, I am still seeing results, even though they are a bit slow. Acne is still rearing its ugly head, but it is much less intense. It is not painful, nor does it create hyperpigmentation. It seems that the hyperpigmentation that did exist has begun to lighten. My face is less red and irritated, which is always a good thing!

Accutane & Acne (Days 7-11)

It's hard to believe it has been more than ten days since I started taking isotretinoin for my acne. Now on day eleven, I am still chugging along with many of the same symptoms I discussed in my previous blog.

I am still experiencing acne; although, in a milder form. I have developed acne on my lower and upper lips, but it isn't too bad. I didn't have acne there before. The areas that were formerly inhabited by cystic acne are still in retreat with no sign of return. I just wish the hyperpigmentation would fade more quickly, though.

In other news, I took two pills on Friday. I thought I would see how I reacted. I did not notice any difference in physical side-effects to the 80mg of isotretinoin. I debated on whether or not to take a double dose tonight, but I decided not to do it, since I am feeling a bit sickly. Maybe tomorrow.

Accutane & Acne (Days 4, 5 & 6)

I am still marching forward in my combat against acne! I have taken almost seven doses of isotretinoin, since last Friday.

Over these three days, I have experienced what I consider to be typical side-effects from this drug. I have noticed my face has a reddish color to it (like when you're in the sun for 10 minutes in noon sun during summer), my shoulders and upper arms feel achy and weak, and tiredness (but that could just be work).

On day 3, I was excited because I woke up with any new acne. During these last three days, however, I have broken out slightly. On the bright side, though, this acne reminds me of those small little pimples I used to get. I haven't experienced anything remotely like the cystic acne of recent months.

It's still a good thing. After my fourteenth dose--or so--I am thinking about trying a double dose day.

Baby steps!

Accutane & Acne (Day 3)

Today marks the third dose of isotretinoin I have taken. It is still in the early days, but I am starting to get into it. Again, I am seeing results this early from taking the medication.

• I woke after a few hours of sleep and felt restless for a while, but went back to sleep. I did not experience any anxiety, like last night, though.
• I woke up with another mild headache.
• This morning I noticed that my face is not as oily as it usually is.
• It's too weird to explain, but my face smells different (take my word on it, I know).
• The taste that was in my mouth on days 1 & 2 has become almost non-existent.
• My hands and feet no longer have the bruised feeling, but I do still feel some muscle rigidity and discomfort; however, it has become less annoying and noticeable.
• My lips have begun to flake slightly.
• And for the first time in a very long time, I woke up with NO NEW outbreaks on my face! YES!!

Accutane and Acne (Days 1 & 2)

Yesterday, I received my first prescription of Amnesteem (isotretinoin), which I will refer to as isotretinoin or Accutane, because that is how I know it best. Isotretinoin is a treatment for severe acne. Over the last 4-6 months, I have developed eruptions of antibiotic-resistant cystic acne along my jawline and forehead, that any teenager would be proud to call his/her own; however, I haven't been a teenager in over 12 years.

First of all, I had to sign a document, called iPledge, stating that I understand there are copious amounts of risks involved in this systemic treatment. I can have anything from a stroke to a child born with severe mental and/or physical deformities (more on that later), even though, I am a guy. In addition, I am to be subjected to monthly lab work to measure my cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

This particular brand of isotretinoin comes in a cute little pack of ten pills with a silhouette of a pregnant woman and a big red circle with a slash through it on the back of each individual pill container. It includes a warning, in case the picture was too ambiguous, that states in bright red, capital type: "WARNING TO FEMALE PATIENTS: DO NOT GET PREGNANT." That is really charming to say the least. Of course, the effects to an unborn child are anything but cute. In a side note, my mother was looking at the packaging, which shows crude graphics of what can happen to an unborn child if the mother takes isotretinoin during her pregnancy. Mom thought those were things that could happen to my head and organs while taking the medicine. I had to laugh out loud over that. I'm a bit bigger than a zygote.

Five p.m. yesterday marks the anniversary of my first dose of 40mg. Since I am not a teenager, I am starting out by taking one pill a day, instead of the usual two pills per day.

So, what have I experienced thus far?

Day 1

1. In mere hours after my first dose, I noticed a curious taste in my mouth. I can't describe it really, other than to say it is a combination of bitter, sweet, and sour. It is like my taste buds are tasting things that aren't present. It got better as the I got closer to my next dose. I haven't really noticed it interfering with how I taste my food as I eat. It is just poignantly present between meals.
2. During the night, I was subjected to a period of intense fear and paranoia. I woke up feeling like I was being crushed by the world and that maybe my acne wasn't so bad. Perhaps, that was me in a semi-sleeping state of delusion.
3. I had some wildly vivid dreams that I do not care to share, after I settled down from my state of panic.

Day 2

This morning, call me a liar if you must, I noticed that many of the cysts on my face had shrunk and were no longer painful to touch. It is as if the swelling has reduced. Of course, the hyperpigmentation is still obvious, but hopefully that will fade, too. If not, thank the gods for concealer.

I took my second dose of isotretinoin around noon today, in an attempt to get it into my breakfast/lunch schedule. (It is best taken with food.)

1. I woke up with a nagging headache, which is unusual for me.
2. As the day has gone on, I have noticed that my muscles feel a bit more stiff. The palms of my hands and the soles of my feet feel bruised and are slightly sensitive to touch. Of course, they look perfectly normal to the naked eye.
3. I have noticed my sinuses, via my nose, are starting to feel dry and irritated.

Hopefully, I can continue the treatment. My dermatologist told me to experiment with how often I take the pills, not to exceed two a day. She recommended that I may take one a day, skip a day or two, and eventually try two per day, once I feel more confident. Of course, I need to see what the long-term side-effects of this treatment may be.

Hosni Mubarak & Egypt

In a follow-up to an earlier post today, it had been announced--through an unofficial capacity--that President Hosni Mubarak would resign his position in a nationally televised address. Instead, he offered six amendments to the constitution of Egypt.

He further stated that he would remain the country's president until September, when a new election can be conducted, in which a new president will be elected by the people. I admire him for such courage. The people of Egypt have lived with him for over thirty years. Why can't they stand him for six more months? (He states that he has served Egypt for over sixty years, both as a soldier and politician.)

I think Egyptians believed President Mubarak would flee for his life, like the former president of Tunisia did in earlier weeks. There is no blueprint for such sweeping change. Now, the people will look to the Egyptian military to see where it stands.

Egypt

In its third week of open revolt, the press is speculating that President Hosni Mubarak will resign as president of Egypt at any moment.

The protesters, who have been in Egypt's Tahrir Square for the duration, have seemingly broken the will of the 30-year-old, pro-Western regime. They want reform and freedom. Those are all noble sentiments, but we have found that those sentiments do not play well in the Middle East. (I didn't write their story.) Let's think of Iraq and Afghanistan; even though, those are cases of forced democratic reforms, I concede.

On this auspicious occasion, I am reminded of a line from the movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka tells Charlie, "Don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted." In the case of Egypt, instead of living happily ever after, it may have to make do with Islamic sharia law and an Ayatollah.

Good luck Egypt!

Republican House

I thought the past was the past. I was wrong, so it would seem. Republicans in the House of Representative want to rehash the past by attempting to overturn what they have to endearingly called "Obamacare."

Do Republicans really think they have a chance? Sure, they have the majority in the House, but they don't have a prayer in the Democratic-controlled Senate, nor with the President.

So why waste time?

Gates tells troops "don't ask, don't tell" is still in effect

Mr. Secretary, the last time I checked our country is not a military dictatorship. The Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws and the president the power to enforce them. It does not say anything about gaining the approval of the military before a law can be enacted.

No, I haven't read the law. Yes, there probably is a clause in the law that provides for the military (i.e., Pentagon) to phase in the changes over a period of time. The Secretary of Defense, however, is behaving as if he is the little dictator. I'm surprised he didn't shake his fists into the air during his news conference.

Get over yourself.

Male Breast Cancer

I went for a visit to the dermatologist today. Pretty routine stuff. The face that is forever 15 and acne-prone, and now an old person dousing of eczema for my hands, upper arms, and back. (My body doesn't know if it is young or aging.)

Anyhow, the little old lady nurse was asking me some questions from a list she had. It was pretty routine stuff, such as, "Do you smoke?" "Only for my glaucoma." "How about drink?" "Yes, I'd like a cup of coffee with a shot of Knob Creek in it, please. Thank you." And so on. She then shattered my world by asking me when I had my last breast exam. First of all, I was visibly taken aback by this question. You know, I've been mistaken for a woman in many regards, but never in looks. (In other words, my boobs aren't that big, or so I had thought up to this moment.)

I used my arms and hands to unconsciously cover my upper chest as I sort of laughed it off. She said it turns out that six men had discovered they had breast cancer, since they started asking that question. Yes, I know that men can develop breast cancer, but I had never really thought about it in terms of myself. The really disturbing part was when she began to demonstrate how to do it on herself. If I wasn't emotionally scarred enough before, I am now. She went further to tell me the doctor would perform one on me. (By the way, I thought this was the dermatologist!) In the end, the exam did not take place. I got off into a sob story about my poor blotchy skin and how no one can ever love me because of it.

I dashed out!

Her words, however, did not fall on deaf ears. My personal nature is to be paranoid, which is to act on every compulsively obsessive neurotic thought that crosses my brain. I added a new thought: breast cancer. Yes, I felt myself. Thankfully, I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. Even though, my lymph nodes did feel a little sensitive. What's that all about?

Jon Kyl is a bigot

After the Senate voted to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) declared the repealing of the law would "cost lives."

I wonder exactly how being homosexual would cost heterosexuals their lives. Is that what he meant? He went further to qualify his comments by saying the discrimination found in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was not characteristic of the racial integration of the armed forces over fifty years ago. His attitude was that all lawmakers were 100% behind racial integration of the armed forces.

Let's face it, there were lawmakers who felt that anything that brough the races together was a catastrophe waiting to happen. This is similiar to what Senator Kyl is expressing through is comments now. Senator, it is 2010, not 1960! I wonder if fifty years from now, someone will look back and wonder how anyone could say such comments about a group of people? You would never hear a lawmaker today say that the racial integration of yesteryear was a bad policy. The same will be said about allowing gays to serve openly in the United States military.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

With a vote by the United States Senate, which followed an earlier vote by the House, Congress has repealed another area of discrimination, which was the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the 1990s.

It now lacks only the President's signature to become a law.

John Boehner

Is it just me or does anyone else pronounce John Boehner's (R-OH), who will be the next Speaker of the House, last name as "BONER"?

I don't see how you get BAY-ner out of that. I think it is a made-up pronunciation. After all, who would want to hear the infamous words, "Hey BONER!"?

Healthcare Reform

George W. Bush appointed Henry Hudson, who is a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, declared the individual mandate of Obama's healthcare reform bill, as passed by Congress, to be unconstitutional.

It is no surprise that a Republican-appointed judge would find in favor of the Republican agenda. (I'm certainly not shocked!)

G. Thomas Porteous: Impeached & Removed

The United States Senate found G. Thomas Porteous, who was a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, guilty on four articles of impeachment.

This makes Porteous only the eighth federal judge to be impeached and removed by the Congress in our nation's history.

I watched some of his trial in the Senate. I had mixed feelings about what the House had done, when it impeached Porteous, but after I learned more about the charges, I felt they were justified. Porteous was a corrupt judge who had his hand out for pay-offs and kick-backs. While the U.S. Constitution shielded Porteous from crimes he may have committed before being confirmed to the court in 1994 by the Senate, it did not shield him, however, from crimes he committed as a sitting federal judge.

To wit:

Judge Porteous, and his wife, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in 2000. As a condition of their relief, the Porteouses were barred from incurring future debt for a period of one year, without consent of the Bankruptcy Court. Porteous, who was a habitual gambler, secured lines of credit from various casinos and other gambling establishments over the course of the year, which was a direct and flagrant violation of the court's order. In addition, Judge Porteous concealed a personal checking account from the Bankruptcy Court, which he used to pay off his incurred gambling debts. He further used the checking account to shield money from the court.

Although the House Managers argued that Porteous, who was a Louisiana state judge, committed perjury during his testimony to the Senate regarding his confirmation hearing in 1994, I do not find that constitutes an impeachable offense. It was the duty of the Senate to investigate and then either reject or confirm the President's nominee. In this case, the Senate confirmed the nominee (warts and all). The Constitution, though, could not provide protection for Porteous, as he did knowingly violate a court order on numerous occasions during his time in office.

Although, Porteous' defense declared he would retire from the federal bench in 2011, it did little to curtail the vote of guilt by the Senate. In addition, the Senate did more than simply remove him from office. It barred him forever from holding any other office of honor or profit in the United States.

Now that's harsh!

Sarah Palin supports North Korea

In an interview, former Alaska governor and vice president candidate Sarah Palin declared her support of America's ally, North Korea.

She really should check her facts before she writes them on her palms.

Lead by Example

With all the talk about sexual molestation at the nation's airports, by TSA agents, in recent days, it is convenient for the country's leaders to say that such invasive techniques are required to secure the nation's airways from potential acts of terrorism, while at the same time enjoying the freedom to travel around the world molestation-free on the taxpayers' dollar.

It's kind of a kick in the balls. (Pardon the pun.)

I think it would go a long way to diffuse this unfortunate situation we find ourselves in tonight. The TSA should make a video showing the President of the United States undergoing the same invasive pat-down that American fliers are currently being subjected to in airports across the country. It is not a way to degrade the office of the president, but it is a way to show that we sometimes have to lead by example rather than hollow words.

In addition to the president, perhaps the Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can get in on the action, too. They can demonstrate to the nation exactly what the pat downs entail and what its ultimate function is.

Although many people object, personally, I would elect to go through the body imaging equipment. While it is completely invasive, the person who is viewing the image of my naked body is not even at the airport; thus, he/she cannot see what I look like off of the body imaging software. I think this is a less invasive method of getting through airport security and onto your flight!

I'm just saying!

US Postal Service delivers debt

The United States Postal Service has delivered well on its debt for the fiscal year ending on September 30. The USPS lost more than $8 billion dollars, which is grossly more than it did last year during the same time.

The USPS credits lower volumes in mail as one reason it is losing money. I credit its own self-importance as another reason.

Recently, I mailed a package to an address in California. I told the postal guy I wanted to send it as cheap as it would go. I was in no hurry. He told me it would be $16.70! I almost laid down and died right there on the floor. I know that California is 2,000 miles from where I live, but let's get real.

I declined the USPS service and selected UPS. UPS can deliver the same package in two days, instead of seven days, for half the cost. Why does the USPS think it is so invincible and needed? It better face that fact before it is too late.

Morons in Kentucky

Who in their right mind would vote for Rand Paul?

He has already been declared the winner of Kentucky's Senate seat by the major networks. I'll just go ahead and say it, "What the fuck!"

United States Postal Service (USPS)

The United States Postal Service is the only self-sustaining government agency (well, sort of). It delivers untold pieces of mail each year.

So why can't it deliver mine?

I had a package sent to me on Monday, which was the 18th, via First Class mail. Today is the 23rd, and its still undelivered. The package originated in Pennsylvania, which is not that far from here. (It has a tracking number on it, so I can see clearly when it was sent by tracking it online.) It left from its pick-up point in Pennsylvania, where it stayed in limbo for two days. Then magically it turned up in Cincinnati, which is less than 100 miles from here and that is where it has been ever since the 21st.

I just knew I would get it today. I went to the mailbox to check and no package. I just checked online to see where it is. Guess what? It's in Cincinnati, Ohio!

If the USPS really wants to compete with FedEx and UPS then it better step up its customer service. They have commercials equating their services with the companies I just mentioned. In my experience they are not even close. They can deliver a letter quickly, but never a package.

In the future, I will request that my packages be shipped via FedEx or UPS!

Barack Obama: a homophobe?

Yesterday, the Pentagon issued orders allowing military recruiters to accept openly homosexual recruits for the first time in the history of the nation's armed forces. In a step backward, however, Barack Obama's administration applied for a stay from the same San Francisco federal court that declared "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional.

I find this completely unacceptable. The government should be working to enforce the court's ruling that lifted the stigma of hate and exclusion against the gay community. Instead, they cite that the ruling may compromise the armed services in some way.

That is bogus!

President Obama, you do not know your ass from a hole in the ground! Although, you are a Democrat, like me, I never supported your rise to power! Hillary would never have petitioned the court to reverse its ruling.

Flu Shot

Yesterday, I voluntarily agreed to get a flu shot. I was visiting the doctor for some routine stuff, and he suggested I get a flu shot. Usually, I protest and turn down his offer. But this time, after some mild coxing, I relented and received my first-ever flu shot!

Now, I have heard horror stories of people getting the actual flu from the shot, but after getting my shot, I did some research and found out that the the viruses they use are utterly dead; therefore, there is no chance of becoming infected via the injection. Although, it is my first flu shot, I am glad that I accepted it. I do work in a setting where I am exposed to countless viruses and bacteria on a daily basis. Lord knows I should have caught it by now, but I haven't yet! Perhaps, this year will be a chance for a new yearly event.

Even though I detest needles, I detest being sick even more!

Don't ask, but feel free to tell

The Pentagon issued orders allowing recruiters of the armed forces to accept gay and lesbian enlistees. While the recruiter may not ask about candidates' sexual orientation, the candidate may declare if he or she is homosexual without being disqualified.

Wow! People can actually be honest about who they are and die for their country in the process!

Too Sad: Christine O'Donnell

Republican fiasco-Tea-Party-loving candidate Christine O'Donnell, who is up for Delaware's seat in the United States Senate, seemed to have murky knowledge about the First Amendment. She was shocked to find out, during a debate, that the First Amendment does guarantee separation of church and state.

Way to go Delaware!

Red State Update: Rand Paul

In an attempt to get Rand Paul elected as the Kentucky's next senator, the RINO Hunters of Central Kentucky hired Red State Update to create a political advertisement.

Aqua Buddha lover Rand Paul declares Bible is a hoax

If we didn't get the memo in 2008, anyone whose last name is "Paul" is probably a moron with radical ideas about our country. If Ron Paul wasn't enough, now Kentucky--for some odd reason--has Rand Paul, who is running for the state's seat in the United States Senate.

Like his father, Ron Paul, Rand Paul is an extreme radical whose ideas are completely out of the mainstream. Only in the Republican Party could you have dabbled in witchcraft, like Delaware's Christine O'Donnell did, or declare the "Bible a hoax" and state that your god is "Aqua Buddha," like Rand Paul. Of course, these candidates have the full backing of the (Tea Party) Republican Party.

In the past, Republicans tried to say it was Democrats who had whacky notions, but this year's pool of Republican nominees has blown that notion out of the water!

Christine O'Donnell (aka, the Witch)

Republican Christine O'Donnell, who is running to fill Vice President Joe Biden's old Senate seat has come under some scrutiny since she discussed her affinity for different religious beliefs and practices. (Even if it was a few years ago. You know what they say about skeletons in the closet at election time!)

In her own political ad, she declares, "I'm not a witch! I'm you." She is just an average American, who never went to Yale University, nor did she inherit millions from her family. That does sound typically American, but she is fighting the fact that she tried, or at least thought about, witchcraft in the past. Now, that past is catching up with her, and you know Republicans feel about any religion that isn't there own (i.e., full-on, dogmatic Christianity)!

Here's O'Donnell's honest-to-goodness ad:




Then, here's Saturday Night Live's spoof of her ad:

10/10/10

I like uniform dates. I remember most of them. I think the world was supposed to end on 6/6/6. Then, something was supposed to happen on 9/9/99, too. But what I can't remember.

It's just fun!

Stephen Colbert & his Brazilian

I watched the opening statement of Stephen Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report," before the House's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Security on YouTube, regarding immigrant workers.

I couldn't stop from laughing as he went over how Americans cannot abide by the thoughts of a Mexican picking their tomatoes. They require an American to do that job, while the tomato then goes through a litany of Latin American hands before reaching the American palate. He also submitted a video of his colonoscopy into the Congressional record, regarding the diet's need of fiber.

Colbert stated: "I want a tomato picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan, and served by a Venezuelan in a spa, where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

Barbara Boxer is a millionaire. Et tu, Carly?

In another "Carly for California" ad for Senate, Carly Fiorina declares that Barbara Boxer is a millionaire while Californians are suffering with high unemployment.

I just wonder if that is a bit of the kettle calling the pot black! After all, as the former C.E.O. of HP, Fiorina received a multi-million dollar severance package, after driving that company into the ground.

Now, who is best for California, and the United States Senate?

Carly Fiorina & Barbara Boxer

This morning I saw an advertisement for Republican Carly Fiorina's bid to unseat Barbara Boxer, the Democratic senator from California.

The advertisement itself was a bit odd. It shows Senator Boxer asking a general in the United States armed forces to address her as "senator," during a Senate hearing, rather than as "ma'am." Fiorina's ad asserts that Boxer, who has been in the United States Senate for 28 years, really doesn't deserve the title of senator. Is it because she is a woman or a Democrat?

I personally do not see the disparage in requesting to be addressed by one's title. Yes, if you are a member of the Senate, then you ought to be called "senator," whether you are a Democrat or Republican.

Doctors

When I was younger I had never heard of a physicians assistant or advanced nurse practitioner.

As a consumer in the medical field, I expect to get what I pay for. I am quite verbal about this issue, in and out of the doctor's office. A few years ago I had an experience with an advanced nurse practitioner. I went to the doctor with a bladder infection. It burned when I urinated, yes it was embarrassing, but I was okay with it since I was going to my doctor for treatment.

I waited in the waiting room, then I waited longer in the exam room. The door opened and someone I had never seen came in to talk to me about my bladder, and how it is uncommon for men to get bladder infections. Yes, I am quite uncommon. I was very nice as I asked the million dollar question, "When is the doctor going to come in and see me?" After all, I was paying to see a physician, not a less trained professional. She told me that she would be taking care of me. Then I got a bit brutal.

It hurt to piss, after all.

I said, "I think I'll wait and see the doctor." I was quite sure of my position. "He won't be able to see you today, because he is with other patients," she said. First of all, I called and made an appointment with the doctor, not a prescription-pad-toting Nurse Ratchet. Second, I don't like people telling me what I will do.

By this time, I had my little plastic cup in hand for the urine sample. I calmly explained that I would expect to see the doctor after I filled-up the cup to the line--no less--with my liquid waste. She was pretty certain she would be doing the post-piss diagnosis. By that time I was using words like "insurance fraud." I did, yes, ask if I got a discount by seeing her. The cost was the same. That just didn't set right with me.

(I am a teacher. I am required by law to perform my duties in and out of the classroom, not my teacher's aide. Naturally, it seemed to me that the doctor should be performing his duty to his patients, not his assistant. I don't care how gifted she is with a stethoscope.)

To make a painful story short, the doctor was the one who gave me my diagnosis and wrote the prescription. My self-advocacy as a consumer had won the day! I'm sure, however, my bitchy attitude played a small part in my victory.

As a result, I no longer see that doctor. I feel it is the height of poor manners to expect your patients to accept a substitute when they seek medical care. I now have a doctor who does not even employ physician's assistants or advanced nurse practitioners.

Good for me!

Iraq War Over

A war that should never have been has finally ended after seven bloody years! President Obama declared the war in Iraq essentially ending today at 5pm EST.

This war cost us the lives of Americans, our integrity and respect among the international community. Now it is time to end the disgraceful war in Afghanistan. Both wars have come at a high price. The greatest casualty of all is our dignity as a nation.

Birthers

Birthers say that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Personally, I believe he was born in Hawaii, on August 4, 1961, which is clearly after the state's statehood of 1959.

Even though it isn't anything new, there are those who say he wasn't born in the United States. I have heard everything from Indonesia, where he did live for a short time as a young boy; Kenya, where his father was born. I've even heard Iraq.

Let me say, I am not a "birther." I do not buy into the whole conspiracy theory that Barack Obama is an Islamic fundamentalist, who has been planted into the highest echelon of our nation's government to destroy us from within; however, I do not see any reason why a presidential candidate would not produce his/her birth certificate for public scrutiny. It is a constitutional requirement to be a natural born citizen of the United States, after all. It should be on file, for every candidate, with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

If running for president, would I show you my birth certificate? Yes, without reservation. It shows that I was born in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was admitted into statehood in 1792, as the 15th state. (I've got facts.) I do not see the problem with showing the document to quash any question about my constitutional qualifications.

It may not dispel all rumors and innuendo, but it would prove to the intelligent among the electorate that I am who I say I am. The same holds true for Barack Obama.

Proposition 8 declared unconstitutional

California's ban on same-sex marriage was declared unconstitutional by a United States District Court.

Laws that deny equal rights to gays are certainly unconstitutional!

Struttin' that ass!

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I watched a healthy dose of soccer. I decided since it was the World Cup, I would donate some of my time to seeing what soccer is all about. I was influenced by a few factors, such as all the advertising on the television and Internet, and a video from "Red State Update." It was about "socialist soccer, players running around in their little shorts, and struttin' that ass!" So, naturally, I had to tune in and see what it was all about.

Backasswards

That word is quite amusing and folky, which is why I am not shocked by who said it. Sarah Palin, who is a Republican stooge, that was John McCain's vice president pick in 2008, stated that Obama was going about the economic issue "backasswards."

Now, I am from Kentucky, and not Alaska, so we may say things here a smidge differently than other places. I have said, "Ass-backwards." There is a unique way, of course, we say it in Kentucky, and I am not going to try to sound it out here.

But I digress.

It is a dumb euphemism, and I wouldn't say it in front of a group of people, if I were a politician. But, again, I'm no Sarah Palin.

General David Patraeus

God, I'd fake a fainting spell, too, if I had to listen to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) drone on and on.

It's 3am...

It's 3am and a phone is ringing in the White House to tell the president that an assload of oil is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico, which will destroy ecosystems and cost billions of dollars in local revenues. Are you glad it is Barack Obama who is taking the call?

I didn't think so.

You could have had Hillary Clinton, you losers! Instead, we have President Obama, who is stuck in the headlights like a deer. I bet Hillary would have kicked someone's ass right there on the Gulf coast! I would rather have a president who was doing something about one of the worst natural distasters in our country's history, rather than on television making speeches about it, because he's too buddy-buddy with British Petroleum (BP).

Lexapro...somewhere in the deep, black sea (not the Gulf of Mexico)

Well, I tried to wean myself off of what I once termed "the good stuff," but I have been having some problems. I dropped my dosage to 5mg per day of Lexapro, but I have sense upped my dose to 10mg per day. The reason behind this increase is simple: I felt like crap!

The 10mg level seems to be comfortable to me. Perhaps, if I plateau there, I can decrease my dose again. I will probably wait and bring it up to my doctor, but I am afraid he may decide to take me off it cold turkey!

(That's why God invented the drawer where I keep my reinforcements!)

Open Mic

Anytime I am around a mic, I realize that it may be on, which means anyone may hear what I am saying.

Let's keep that in mind Carly Fiorina (and Joe Biden) for next time. I wouldn't trust anyone who works in the media to not have a mic on if I am about to do an interview, even if they are doing my hair and make-up, and everyone seems really relaxed!

It just makes sense.

Fiorina, who is a Republican, is up against Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for her seat in the United States Senate.

Day 13 on Lexapro Withdrawal

Today is lucky number 13. It was two weeks ago tomorrow that I decided to step down my dosage of the mind numbing drug I had come to rely on so heavily. I haven't consulted with my doctor about my decision yet. I figure it is my body; therefore, my choice. (Thanks Roe v. Wade.)

Right now I am taking 5mg a day. That is a big step down from 20mg a day I was taking a little over two weeks ago. I can't say that my decision hasn't been without consequences. Today, for example, I am light-headed. I know it is from the lack of Lexapro, because I have encountered these feelings in the past, like when I missed a dose completely.

The gradual step-down method is the best way to go when it comes to getting off of Lexapro (or probably any drug for that matter). I haven't decided how I am going to proceed in the next week. I don't know if I should keep taking 5mg each day or figure out how to cut a 10mg tablet into fourths. That could be a bit tricky. I don't think or feel, however, that it is time to fly solo.

I have noticed some of my nasty little habits returning, though, which reminds me of why I started Lexapro in the first place. I have become more moody. I yell one minute and then I comfort the next. It is like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex. (Just like old times.) Also, I find myself turning to the old bottle to wind the day down. I don't drink every day, but I think about it each day. Alcohol has a calming effect on me. It does what Zyprexa couldn't do for me; it smooths out the manic wrinkles from my personality.

Despite my addictive personality, I do take Xanax occasionally. It helps me sleep after a long, hectic day. I know it is not a sleeping pill, but it is when I usually take it. I suppose I should go in and talk to my doctor about alternatives to Lexapro, because I can't really do it on my own. I don't want to become a full blown alcoholic. In my family, that is hardly original!

Hillary Clinton, The Reprise

After Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's foray into domestic policy yesterday has gotten everyone's attention (including mine), I came across this little tid-bit on the Internet. It is called, "Vice President Hillary Clinton."

(Perfect.)

If Hillary were the Democratic candidate for Vice President in 2012, how would that translate into votes for Democrats? Also, how about 2016? (I don't want to hear any Republicans say she is too old! For Christ's sake, Ronald Reagan was three day's older than God, when he ran for president in 1980 and 1984. She'll only be a scant over 70 on Election Day, November 8, 2016.)

(Hopeful.)

Day 6 on 10mg of Lexapro

Last weekend, I stepped down my dose of Lexapro from 20mg a day to 10mg. At first, I felt a sense of euphoria and increased energy. As the days have come and gone that sense of energy and euphoria is turning into a cloud of despair.

I could ball my eyes out right now. I have no good reason to do so. I just feel hollow on the inside. It is as if my whole life has fallen apart, and I am so completely alone. I can live with the mania, but not the depression. It's like the lights are on, but I am sitting in absolute darkness.

Oddly, I find myself thinking about people and minor things they have done to upset me. Yes, they are minor things, but right now they feel like betrayals on an enormous scale. Things that ordinarily I wouldn't think twice about, but they are weighing heavily on my mind tonight.

UGH!

My Story about Lexapro

About two years ago, I began my love affair with Lexapro. I started out on 10mg per day, but soon I had my dosage upped to 20mg per day, because I was still feeling the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

I have taken it religiously since then. I never miss a day, or I feel it deep in my brain. It is like a lion trying to escape. It feels like pressure building inside of my skull. That is a signal that I have missed a single day's dose. Over the past week, I have been thinking about some of the turns my life has taken. I have become more than fat. I have gained a lot of weight, which I'm told takes quite a bit to notice on my 6'3" frame. But it is easily noticeable now. Also, my annoying inability to remember words or phrases that I've used all of my life, called dyspashia, may be attributed to my use of Lexapro. (It only affects the use of nouns. My use of verbs is still above par.) In addition to speech difficulties, I was experiencing the inability to remember short term memories. I could easily remember things that happened months or years ago, but I had a problem telling you about yesterday, or even this morning, in some cases! It felt as if dementia was setting in, but I think I am too young for such things. Another problem I had is the depression had returned with greater intensity. I did not feel things anymore. I had felt withdrawn from life. The joy of writing, listening to music, reading, talking, or even going on my afternoon walk, was gone. In fact, it has been gone for a while now.

Yesterday, I stepped down from 20mg per day to 10mg per day. It seems that you can easily snap those pills in half. They are scored down the middle after all. I woke up this morning with a feeling of exuberance! That is a feeling I haven't felt in a long time. What makes it even more odd is that it occurred on a rainy day, which can usually bring me down on my best day. I'm not complaining, though!

My brain feels like it is waking up from a long sleep. My recent memories feel like dreams, fittingly. My thoughts felt like a car stalled on the side of the road while watching other cars go by at a snail's pace.

I am going to keep taking 10mg a day until next Saturday, and then I am going to step down to 5mg for a week. Then I am going to try and fly without them for a week. I am not sure what will happen, but I think I can live with the feelings of anxiety, if I can just live life again.

Right now my brain has a thousand different thoughts running through it. I want to stand up and scream at the top of my lungs, "I'm alive, again, bitches!"

Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

White House sources are saying that President Barack Obama will make an announcement tomorrow nominating United States Solicitor General Elena Kagan as an associate justice of the Supreme Court.

(Or so I read on HuffPost...we'll wait and see what happens.)

Betty White was Beautiful

Last night marked the first time I have tuned into NBC's Saturday Night Live program in what is surely years. And, I only tuned in to see the much talked about former Golden Girl herself, Betty White.

While she publicized the fact she is 88-and-half years old throughout the program, she was witty and devilishly delicious with her running grandmother-inappropriate banter and gags. She made fun of her generation, by saying if she wanted to connect with her friends, she'd have more luck with a Ouija board than Facebook.

It was truly an honor to see Betty White doing what she does best, which is making people laugh. She has a way about her that makes her appear quite benevolent, but what you find is a moist and decadently malevolent muffin. (Yet, another reference to a joke from the program.)

So, to Betty White, thank you for being a friend. I've been down that road with you many times in the past, as a loyal Golden Girls fan (I've only seen every episode a hundred times and each time they get better).

Kentucky Derby

This rainy first Saturday in May brings us the 136th Run for the Roses (and $2 million).

Supreme Court Vacancy

Associate Justice John Paul Jones, who has been a liberal fixture of the nation's highest court, since 1975, is stepping down. Although, one of the oldest members to serve on the Supreme Court, he is still bested by former Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., who retired at the ripe old age of 90.

President Obama, if you need someone to fill that vacancy, I am still available for a lifetime appointment!

(I wish!)

Coming to terms with my lack of religion

Since I was a young boy, I was always resistant to the idea that someone else--especially an invisible someone else--could dictate my fate. I found the notion that an absentee father was anything less than enchanting. (I can speak from both reality and make-believe on that issue.)

Sigmund Freud called God a construct of the adult psyche. Humanity could not be thought capable of existing in a world without having someone more sage to whom they could atone. When we flew from our nests, so-to-speak, we had to have someone to be proud of us. We had to have someone bigger to fear when temptation was ripe. There is where we find God.

It is true that more people have died in the name of their deities, whether they be Brahman, Jesus, Allah, or Confucius (among a host of thousands of others). Think of all the lives that could have been saved if religion did not exist. Even with that said, surely we would have found something else to kill each other over on a daily basis, but at least it may have been more tactile.

I think of myths and fables when someone mentions religion. I think of Greek and Roman gods riding bolts of lighting across a wicked sky and smiting mortals with a mere thought. We smile at such childish stories, but at the same time we believe in the same stories, which are told in a slightly different way.

Who can honestly look at the story of the crucifixion and resurrection, with an educated mind, and accept that as gospel (pardon the pun)? I find it more than ironic that an omnipotent god would have to stoop to such mortal levels to get us to believe in him (or her or it). Medical science brings people back from death each day. People who have lived in a state of death (we call it coma today) are returned to awareness. Does that mean they are resurrected, too?

I also wonder why God doesn't perform such obvious miracles as he did once before. How come water can no longer be turned into wine by a single touch? How come cities are no longer destroyed in a hail of fire and brimstone at the biding of a spiteful sky spirit?

It is also fitting that Christians celebrate their holiest of holies on a great pagan holiday, Easter. Easter, or Eoaster, as it was called by Germanic peoples, celebrates the return of life and fertility to the land and womb after the desolation of winter. What better symbol than a beautifully decorated egg to symbolize an unfertilized womb. Youth are turned loose upon fertile fields and meadows to capture as many of the best of these hidden treasures. Their task is to find the most desirable to call their own. It's quite sexual, if you think about it. Also, it employs the first Sunday after the first full moon to follow the vernal equinox in its calculation, which is why Easter does not occur on a regular day.

Next year, Easter will be on April 24. How many Christians think of it that way, though? (Better yet, how many even know?)

Religion is a surrogate for a person's conscience. With that in mind, I have grown beyond the need for a make-believe friend who lives inside of me. I make decisions for my own benefit. I can take care of myself. I am independent and proud of it. I can live my entire life free of the restraints of religious dogma. It will not make me less of a person. I think more-and-more Western cultures are growing out of an infancy that has plagued us for so many centuries. It has bred hate and separated us along invisible boundaries. We are simply products of our environment. We are genetic mutations that have evolved into a subset of the species. One of millions to have inhabited this round, blue orb we call home.

Healthcare Reform

To be or not to be....

Today is the BIG day!

Healthcare

So, I'm watching the House debate on C-SPAN about healthcare.

A Republican representative from Iowa, who thinks that the tax money that will be used to give 30,000,000+ Americans a right to healthcare is his, is acting like a real know-it-all prick.

I love how he is rambling off BIG business names that probably finance his campaign, as a way to divert attention away from the real issues surrounding healthcare. He says that the TARP funds used to bail out Wall Street was a bad idea. I wonder how we got to that point? Did George W. Bush have anything to do with that?

But, will America be better if it helps out American families gain access to the right to health? I think so.

Let me ask him, how has America benefited from 7 years of Bush's war in Iraq?

Poor Jim

Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) is coming to the end of his political career. He was too afraid to run for another term, because he knows he is finished. He decided to show the average American that life really is "tough shit."

As the lone senator, he decided to hold up the unemployment insurance benefits (along with other things), which will cease at the end of today, by objecting repeatedly to its adoption on Friday. The United States Senate will take up the issue again this coming week. It is surely to pass once it is put to a vote.

It is shameful that this occurred. It is even more shameful that he had to represent Kentucky.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods held a well-constructed, well-planned media circus today. He is very sorry for what he did to the world of golf, his fans, and his family.

Let me break it down for you. He is really saying he is sorry he crashed his Cadillac Escalade that night and the world finally found out about his extra-marital affairs.

He's going back to therapy now (for his sex addiction?). Why is it that celebrities can simply go to therapy/rehab to get off the hook for their actions?

It is bizarre to me! (And more than ridiculous.)

Robotic Surgery

For as long as I can remember, I have been mesmerized by the human body and its inner-workings. That is why I like to watch health education shows; especially, those that show real-life surgical procedures.

Gruesome? Maybe, but it makes me happy on a cloudy day.

Recently, I have stumbled on a new and growing technology that is going to revolutionize the way we experience surgery. This device is called the da Vinci Surgical System (created by Intuitive Surgical). It is a robotic system that allows for very small incisions, in order to perform very delicate procedures.

In the area of cardiothoracic surgery, the benefits are infinite. The sternum of a patient is cut open and the rib cage is forced apart, during a traditional heart operation. The use of the da Vinci robot requires only a low number of very small incisions, which allow access through the ribs' natural spaces and below and beneath the rib cage. This allows the surgeon to operate the robot in a very tight space, without opening the chest. This minimally invasive procedure also has another added benefit; it doesn't require the heart to be stopped and the patient placed on a heart-lung by-pass machine. Many patients are able to resume normal activities within 1 to 2 weeks; whereas, patients who undergo traditional thoracic procedures require 1 to 2 months to recover!

I am glad to live in an age when medicine is growing by leaps. Perhaps, the actual act of surgery no longer has to be as debilitating to individuals as the disease it treats. The idea of heart surgery has always been fearful to me. I hope that I never require it, but if I do, I feel better knowing that there are more options available to me than being semi-butchered on the operating table to save my life!

Sexual Ideation

I made my annual trip to visit my eye doctor, recently. I found out that the astigmatism in my right eye is getting worse (thanks aging!), and my left eye is staying pretty much the same.

There is something to be said, too, about the exam. I hadn't really thought about it before, but the process of an eye exam is quite up-close and personal. The doctor is your face for most of the exam, asking questions like, "Which is better? 1 or 2? 3 or 4?" Then there is that bright light they shine in your eyes, in order to see the retina at the back of the eye.

I suppose I am chronically in need of a relationship. During the exam, my doctor was right up against both sides of my head. The whole time I was thinking, "Oh my God! How long has it been since another human being has dared to get this close to me?" She was also talking to me during the exam and she was practically in my ear.

OH MY GOD!

I feel like such a dog, but I suppose that is a symptom of my chronic loneliness. Just to clear a few things up, I wasn't sexually aroused by it, it simply put the ideas into my head (or was I?).

Hell!

Oh Lord, Sarah Palin

What does it take for former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, to give a speech to a Constitutional Democracy-hatin' Tea Party?

Notes written on the palm of her hand, duh! I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Usually, a piece of paper--or TelePrompTer--with some remarks will suffice, but not for Palin. She has to temporarily tattoo it to her body.

You betcha, Gaylord!

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

The disaster in Haiti is slowly leaving the public's view, as the days and weeks accumulate. But I am left with a nagging question.

Barack Obama enlisted former presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, to head a disaster relief fund, called Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Since its announcement, at a White House press conference, I haven't seen George W. Bush anywhere near the organization, besides being at the White House and in a television commercial asking for the generosity of Americans.

News coverage hinges around President Clinton's frequent trips to the devastated island country. Each time American cameras are on in Port-au-Prince, it is only Clinton who debarks from the plane.

Where is Dubya? He is MIA...just like during his Vietnam service!

Senator-Elect Scott Brown (R-MA)

The United States is currently in-session and on its calendar is the swearing in of the body's 41st Republican member, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, which should take place momentarily.

Government Waste

I had heard that our money isn't worth as much as it used to be. Today, it really hit home how true that statement is.

According to government estimates the United States Treasury loses approximately $150,000,000 a year by minting pennies and nickles! Why? The metal in those coins is worth more than the face value of the coin.

It costs 1.8-cents to mint a penny and 9-cents to mint a nickel! That is outrageous. In an effort to curb this obscenity, the government is permitting the mints across the United States to use other metals in the fabrication of these coins, which will bring the cost of minting each respective coin to its actual face value.

In other words, the government has been flushing our tax money down the toilet. But, what else is new?

Obama, Massachusetts & the One Term Presidency

In a seemingly impossibility, Massachusetts elected a conservative Republican as its next United States Senator, Scott Brown. What is even more shocking is that it is the same seat held by long time Senator Ted Kennedy, who was a member of the Kennedy dynasty of American leaders. 

If you had told me the outcome of this election a month ago I would never have believed it! Massachusetts, or so I believed, is the bastion of liberal politics. It was as if all the progressive ideas and policies of our great land were born and nurtured first in this state's womb (sick analogy, I know). 

President Barack Obama visited the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to campaign for the Democratic candidate Martha Coakley before last week's special election, but was unable to sway the state's electorate that she was the right individual for the job. What does that say for Obama's presidency?

Barack Obama made the pledge to close Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by January 20, 2010, but that date has come and gone and the illegal W. Bush-era prison is still going strong. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also seem to be without end. Those are three BIG promises made by the administration during campaign times. If I had been president, I would have ensured at least one of my goals had been accomplished by now!

My friends, including you, get tired of me harping about Hillary Clinton. But let's face it, Hillary Clinton was railroaded out of the presidency. Instead of a lion in the White House, we have a lamb. We have the former junior senator from Illinois, who gave the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention (which is his only claim to national fame), as president! I said it many times during the 2008 presidential election, and it bears repeating, but America did not need a president who had to be trained on the job. That is exactly what we have with Barack Obama. Americans are starting to see through his thin veneer of simpleton ideas and promises. 

 Now we are doomed to have a Republican become president in 2012, as I do not see Obama being re-elected for a second term. He is simply too timid for the job of president. Perhaps, the Republican Party will nominate the hot new senator from Massachusetts to represent it in the upcoming presidential election. It would fall into the mainstream of what happened in 2008, when Barack Obama was nominated by the Democratic Party for president. 

I'm thinking Hillary Clinton will be only 69 years young in November 2016!

Massachusetts

The voters of Massachusetts are going to the polls on Tuesday, January 19 to elect a senator to replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy (D). The race between the two contenders, Martha Coakley (D) and Scott Brown (R), are coming down to the wire.

In a state that is traditionally hardcore Democrat, the two candidates are running neck to neck in a state where Ted Kennedy had ruled supreme since being first elected in 1962. For crying out loud, the current senior United States senator for the state, John Kerry, is a Democrat and the  2004 Democratic presidential candidate! 

Democrats must maintain Massachusetts' seat in the Senate or they will lose their super majority of sixty votes, which is crucial when it comes to voting on important national issues such as healthcare reform. 

I find it hard to believe that Massachusetts will vote for a Republican to represent them in Congress, but who knows. President Barack Obama is heading to the state on Sunday to campaign for Coakley, who is the current Attorney General for the state. It remains to be seen, however, if Obama has what it takes to get a fellow Democrat elected.

Haiti

 (President) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is off to Haiti tomorrow to assess the situation there firsthand. It has been more than three days since a 7.0 earthquake devastated the national capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince.

Financial aid, rescue personnel, and heavy equipment, from all over the world, is slowly trickling into Haiti. Much of the country's primitive infrastructure has been destroyed as a consequence of the earthquake. The main airport is congested and is currently being operated by the United States. Ships carrying aid and personnel cannot be offloaded, because the docks are in shambles in conjunction with bays full of dangerous debris. Helicopters will be used to transport personnel and supplies to the island nation. 

Medical resources and personnel are in dire supply. The Haitian government has waived licensing requirement for physicians arriving from the United States (and probably other countries as well), which means they can go straight work without any red-tape.

Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, this will certainly work against Haiti's future. The people of this small country have been wrought with social and nature calamities since its inception as a Spanish colony in the 15th century. 

John McCain, Welcome to America!

United States Senator John McCain (AZ), who we all know is a Republican, blah, blah, thinks President Obama made a mistake by not classifying Santa bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, as a military combatant, so he would be tried in a military court, instead of a civil court.

With all due respect, Senator, but isn't that whole point of terrorism? I mean, isn't it the very notion that terrorists want to destroy American institutions by instilling fear into our minds and causing us to throw off our day-to-day lives to conform to them? If we put Abdulmutallab on trial before a military tribunal for an act that occurred on American soil, then the terrorists are defying American justice, and we are complacent. 

The Constitution applies here, Senator McCain.

I sincerely hope that the terrorists--whomever they are--see that in America we live by a set of equitable laws and a solid code of justice that cannot be defied by their bombs, kamikaze-wanna-bes, or rhetoric. If you commit a crime in the United States, then you will be tried in an American civil court of justice, protected by liberties guaranteed by our nation's constitution, defended by an attorney, set before a jury of peers. If appropriate, the guilty will be punished according to our laws.

The Constitution cannot simply be railroaded when you feel compelled, Senator McCain. This is not Nazi Germany. And the age of George W. Bush is in the past. We do not have secret courts, where civil rights and liberties can be ignored, when a few desire it. From the lowest to the highest criminal, each stands before the same framework of justice. 

That is our America!

Dear President Obama

If I had been elected president of the United States in 2008, I would have done things a lot differently. As presidents go, Barack Obama had a staggering cult following and phenomenal ratings in the polls. How else could he have defeated Hillary Clinton? But, now, I digress.

January 20, 2009, is a day that will go into the history books. American voters threw off the yoke of racial divides and set forth a political revolution, of sorts, in national government. We elected a man that wasn't quite as pale as the ones who came before him. Obama will be remembered for that, surely. 

But I want to remember the promises that got him elected in the first place. Democrats put all of their eggs into a very limited basket. They were going up against a Republican machine that was limping and running out of steam. Democrats had the upper-hand and they won the United States Congress and the presidency. It was truly a remarkable election that opened the doors to true social progress.

The war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan were, and are, unpopular. George W. Bush left an enormous mess for the Obama administration to clean up. But has Obama done that? In a word: no. As a result. Democrats are starting to suffer in the polls. The 2010 election is less than a year away and Democrats in the House and Senate are feeling the effects of promises unfilled. It's not just the wars, though. Obama promised to work with the Congress to get Americans a healthcare system that they deserved. Healthcare is a civil right, after all. It is now January 2010 and Congress is meandering toward a watered down version of the promised reform, even though they hold a stark majority in Congress.

Weird.

January 20, 2009, would have been a much different day had I  been president, for sure. After being sworn in and delivering my inauguration speech to the world, I would have high-tailed it from the steps of the Capitol to the Rotunda where I would have signed two Executive Orders. 

The first order would have required all American military involvement in Iraq to cease on July 20, 2010. The order would have further stipulated that American forces currently in the country would be withdrawn in equal three six month phases. The second order would have required all American military involvement in Afghanistan to cease by January 20, 2011. As in Iraq, American forces would be withdrawn in an equal four six month phases. With my plan, the war in Iraq would be over and the war in Afghanistan would be three-fourths over before the 2010 mid-term election, which would ease the minds of American voters and demonstrate to them that, yes, wars can be ended in an orderly and responsible way. People say, "That can't be done." Yes, it can. I just made it happen. 

Also, in the afternoon of January 20, 2009, my administration would have presented to Congress a healthcare bill providing each and every American with access to appropriate healthcare. Would I have expected it to pass on the same day? Of course, not! But the whole idea needed to be in the minds of Americans from day one. In my administration, there would have been no time for late night parties. Parties are for when the job is done.  

I would have been on Capitol Hill frequently to see how progress was going on my healthcare bill. There would be no need for phone calls, I'd be there. Strong-arm tactics often work and are necessary when you believe in something deeply. As a teacher, I have a fool-proof method of getting something done. When all other options of compromise and cajoling have failed I reach deep into myself and let loose a psychopath. Between a yell and a hushed voice, and two inches from their face, I start saying over-and-over, "Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!," while looking in their startled eyes and pounding my index finger onto the table. I love the look on the person's face as I do it. It is complete and utter fear and confusion. In their mind they are thinking, "This guy is completely nuts, I better do what he says or who knows what terrible things are going to happen!" I have a 100% success rate using that method. I would be happy to use that same method in the office of a senator or congressman/woman. There is no shame in winning.

I realize there are many, many other issues that cannot be solved in a single term as president, including the economic meltdown. But the whole point of being president is consistently running for office. After all, the next general election is less than four years away when you take the oath of office as president.

My Mother: Facebook Stalker

My mother, who has recently become one of Facebook's newest users, is using the social networking site not only to keep up with family and friends, but also as a way to stalk people. 

Mother has made friends with people who she hasn't talked to in years. Isn't that one of the great benefits of Facebook? Yes, it is, but not simply to go through a person's online life to find things to gossip about with other family. I try to tell her that Facebook is a way to reconnect with people in a more direct way, rather than becoming an online voyeur. 

But that is just my mother, a Facebook stalker!

Happy New Years 2010

Before I get all liquored up on two bottles of champagne and multiple gin & tonics, I want to wish everyone a happy and drunk 2010!

God, it doesn't seem that long ago we were celebrating Y2K by waiting for planes to fall out of sky, nuclear missiles to lift-off, and the world to end. 

Gosh! Times certainly have changed. 

University of the Cumberlands

As I sit here getting my pre-New Year's celebration going with a very nice bottle of champagne, I am reminded of why I hardly ever go to my undergraduate alma mater, which is now called the University of the Cumberlands (formerly known as Cumberland College).

Although it is a Southern Baptist institution by association, I couldn't help but notice that the campus has "churched" itself up tremendously since I enrolled there over a decade ago. Church was an important part of the college's activities, but it was not so loudly broadcasted throughout the campus. Now, there are giant Moses-esque tombstone-like plaques reminding students of the infamous "Ten Commandments." 

I suppose this occurred after they expelled the poor gay boy for being, well, gay! Ironically, because of that silly business, the school lost its state funding for a pharmacy school. It was more than fitting justice that a Republican governor of Kentucky had to side with the liberals on the fact that taxpayers' dollars could not be used to fund an institution that discriminates against anyone. Amen!

I also noticed the "First Family" of the college is growing in power and influence. Before, there was simply the James H. Taylor II Stadium, which is named in honor of the president's eighteen year old son who was killed in an automobile accident in 1991. There is some scandal surrounding his death. The official report says that he was driving on a wet road and ran through a pole as his car left the roadway. The unofficial report says that he was liquored up while driving on a wet road and ran through a pole as his car left the roadway. (See how few details make an account make even more sense?) Either way, he is memorialized with a college building named in his honor. 

Today, while I was passing through, I couldn't help but notice that part of the O. Wayne Rollins Center has been renamed in honor of the president's wife. Part of the Rollins Center is now called the Dinah Taylor Aquatics Center. I'm sure the now dead millionaire, who donated the money to have the athletics complex built, doesn't mind sharing his glory with the First Lady of the University of the Cumberlands. (I thought naming buildings came from generously sharing your wealth with a school, not sleeping with its president.) 

Moving on...

Most of all I was disappointed to see the bust of one of the college's presidents, J.M. Boswell, moved to a new location on campus. Before, he sat on a major thoroughfare of student foot traffic, where he was often the subject of late night pranks, such as wearing a pink bra with red lipstick and being dressed up for a Hawaiian luau. He is now in a less traveled part of campus. It appears as if they have filled up the water fountain, which was occasionally filled with dish soap, with dirt. Boswell's bust now sits in the middle of the landscaping of the former water fountain.

As with all things, time has a way of changing landscapes and ideas. On a lighter note, I noticed that my old campus mailbox has the same combination. Oops! I will remember that number until the day I die. I may be ravaged by the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's, in the future, but I will remember the combination to my mailbox! Oh, those were the days.

Double Standard

Something unusual happened today. I was at the Post Office, more appropriately I was in the parking lot. Before I got out of my car, I noticed a student that I had had before in class. I decided to wait in the car until she came out to avoid an uncomfortable meet-and-greet. As this student was exiting the Post Office, a car pulled up next to mine. Through a sheer act of serendipity, the person who got out of the car was one of my elementary school teachers!

In that second, three generations of education were converging into a single point. I did exactly what I didn't want my student to do. I rolled down my window and started hollering at my former teacher. It didn't seem hypocritical to me. I wanted to speak to someone I hadn't seen or heard from in ages. I wanted her to know that I was still out there and remembered her. Most of all, I wanted to thank her dedication and wish her well.

Upon reflection, perhaps that is all any of my former students want from me when they see me out in public. I was excited to see someone with whom I had spent nine months of my life. In the future, I will be more sensitive to that need from my students. The only problem with that is I can never remember their names. I can remember faces, but seldom can I remember their names. I'm not sure if my teacher remembered me or not. That was not the point, right?

Fred Flintstone gets an "erocktion"

This excerpt from Family Guy was too funny not to share. It makes me laugh out loud each time I see it!

Terror in Detroit

What's going on in Schiphol? 

A U.S. bound plane from Amsterdam to Detroit is the focus of an attempted terrorist's act. If it hadn't been for the quick action of some passengers the scenario may have played out quite differently. 

To answer my own question, though, why would a world class facility, such as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, allow someone with an incendiary device through its security? Let me paint a picture for you using a personal experience.

While returning home from one of my trips to Paris, I encountered a lapse in security at Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Now, you'd imagine that Charles de Gaulle, or as the French call it, Roissy, being one of the top airports in Europe, would have impeccable security. Well, it does, if you use it consistently. 

I was boarding a trans-Atlantic flight from Paris to Cincinnati. International airports serving airports in the U.S. are required by the TSA to conduct the same security protocols as implemented in the United States for domestic and international flights.  In the United States, they do everything but Roto-Rooter your ass (and even then some people get that privilege). 

But back to Roissy. 

As we approached the metal detectors, a sign clearly stated--in French and English--we had to remove our shoes and place them in a plastic bin for extra screening; however, most people were not removing their shoes. Security officers simply allowed those people who had kept their shoes on to pass quietly through security, my party included! (Let's face it, taking your shoes off in public is not a very appealing thing to do.)

Am I saying that x-raying our shoes would have stopped a terrorist attack? No. But I am saying that basic security protocols were not enforced; therefore, who can say if all the basic security protocols in Schiphol were enforced? Europe is a lot less anal about these sorts of things. They think Americans have a stick up their ass for being so hard-nosed about invading people's privacy.

Come to think of it, they might be right!

How to unfriend during the holidays

The top word of 2009 was "unfriend." It is something that you do on social networking websites, such as Facebook, which I use religiously (pardon the pun). It is when you dump a friend from your network of friends.

I have never unfriended someone before. Well, not until last night, at least. It was in the spirit of the holidays that I set this lone, confused parasite of a person free. You see, she is what I call a hypocritical bigot. I can tolerate many things from my friends, such as ignorance, stupidity, cluelessness, shamelessness, hot-headedness, even incest, but never bigotry!

First, it started with insulting my love of Halloween. Apparently, for some people, it is a time to use Christian fanaticism to crush other people's spirit of fun and laughter, because, let's face it, with an attitude like that, they aren't having any fun at home. Then it progressed into the materialism of Thanksgiving. Blah, blah! (It's pretty bad when you can find fault with Puritans. What a prude!)

The final straw was last night, when she said teaching kids about Santa, which by the way is an anagram for SATAN, is telling your children it is okay to lie. Obviously, if someone asks your kids, "What is Santa bringing you this year for Christmas?" They might as well have cocked a gun against the kid's head and said, "Give me all of your candy canes." 

It's preposterous! 

After last night's unsolicited anecdote, I decided it was time to unfriend this person. To set her free, if you will. I certainly could not listen to her harping on drunkenness in the New Year. My gin-soaked heart really would be broken!

So, Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa!  And Happy Boxing Day, too! Onward, Eid-al-Fitr, and any other Muslim high holy day I may have forgotten. This is to you, the intolerant, the bigoted stew of America's undercurrent of hate and hypocrisy. 

Happy Holidays! (Yes, I do say that, too.) And FYI: when I see your Friend Request on my Facebook page again, I have a new friend, his name is IGNORE.

Fox News (if you can call it news)

As if we need another reason to know Fox News is insane, here is their assault against the White House Christmas tree decorations.

Click here to see the ornaments that are causing such a whirlwind among right-wing conservatives. Enjoy!

90 days in the helium chamber

The parents of a Colorado boy, who was reported to have hitched a ride to Oz in his dad's makeshift Reynold's wrap balloon, were sentenced to jail, community service, and financial restitution, for defrauding law enforcement agencies.

The poor kids will be scarred more by this incident than the media, law enforcement or their father and mother. I think it is a fitting end, however, to such a desperate attempt for publicity. If only they had coached Junior to lie better before they went on Larry King Live. Maybe, he'll do better next time.

'Tis the time to give

The holiday season is finally upon us. People are maxing out what credit they have left on their credit cards, before they default on their debt in January. Ah, to be an American at Christmas-time. This season I am reminded of that it is better to receive than give. When I go shopping for someone else (hint, hint), I always end up buying an assload of crap for myself, and forgetting who it was I intended to shop for in the first place. (I blame it on the ADHD I diagnosed myself as having.)

It's the season about me!

My family doesn't really do gifts. We eat and spend some time together. I don't really know why, other than it is part of our twisted holiday celebration. I just accept it, and go on with my life. It's not that major.

As a teacher, I am prone to receive gifts from my students. Some of them are sweet and well-planned, while others are spontaneous and tacky. But, in the end, it is the thought that counts, and I love everything I get. This year, I have to share a particular gift I received.

It came in a shiny, red box. It was wrapped in tissue and faux cotton. At first, I thought it was a hat, but then I realized the box was much too small. Then, I thought it may be jewelry. (Yikes.) I was eager to open up the box and feast my eyes upon something well-planned out and thoughtful. My pupils dilated with bated anticipation, no doubt.

Wow! I held my breath for a prolonged time, because I had to engineer a response to what was swaddled there in the green tissue. "Wow!" was all I could think of in that moment. I was overwhelmed by confusion and that nagging voice in the back of my mind asking repeatedly, "What the eff?"

I can fake compliment you all day long. One day, I will be recognized by the Academy for my genuine, heartfelt performances. But, I digress. There in the green tissue was something most unexpected. At first, I felt a bit insulted. But I said, "Thank you." The other students were shocked with curiously confused questions, such as, "What the heck is that?"

Yes, nestled there in the warmth of my then sweating palm was a tube of Chapstick. It wasn't even the flavored kind either. It was the original. I put it back in the box, which cost more than the item it concealed, and set it aside. Today, I came to the realization that this simple tube of 89¢ Chapstick, in its $3.00 box, was the perfect gift. I just put some on (after I carefully inspected to make sure it was indeed fresh and unused). It is the gift that will last far beyond December 25. It is the gift of happy lips.

The moral of the story? Be happy with what you get. But most of all, be prepared for the gift that you never anticipated, because it is coming, and it will blow your mind!

Whine, Whine, Whine

The United States Senate is dragging its feet deep into the ground as it entrenches itself for what will shape up to be a real let down for the American people. 

I am a bit puzzled when the Democrats hold a majority and they cannot get anything accomplished. I remember that the Republicans did whatever they wanted when they had a majority. They certainly never built any bridges of consensus with the Democratic minority. Now, Democrats are having to water down the healthcare overhaul plan, which really will end up being a screwed up version of what we have always had, which is essentially the middle class and upper class being able to afford healthcare, while the lower class has to do without healthcare or depend on public assistance, such as Medicaid. 

As we all know, Barack Obama was never fully behind universal healthcare. His words before the 2008 presidential election were merely face time with those who wanted equity in our health system. Hillary Clinton was adamant that every single American be insured, either privately or publicly. Another disturbing piece to this ugly puzzle is the fact President Obama is unwilling to fight for his own bill. He went to Congress once. If I were him, and it was truly important to me, I'd be on Capitol Hill every single day until the members of Congress did what was right for the American people. 

Now let's move on to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Barack Obama promised that these wars would be ended within 18 months of him becoming president. Instead, we see escalation of the conflict in Afghanistan by sending an additional 30,000 American troops into that lost country. What is the point, really? Will these additional troops benefit the people of Afghanistan? I do not believe they will. It is merely a way to appease those people who say Obama is too weak to be Commander-in-Chief. It takes more courage to do what is right, such as withdrawing our troops, rather than giving into to the policies of George W. Bush's two terms as president. 

In the end, isn't that who Barack Obama is? He is merely a newer, more eloquent, dolled up version of George W. Bush. I hate to say it, but it is true. He didn't really accomplish anything that he set out to do. Healthcare reform is a joke, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan press on, and the economy is still reeling. It may have only been 11 months, but I really believe that more could have been accomplished. He should have hit the floor running on January 20, 2009 at 12:01pm, but instead he dilly-dallied around and let the special interests dig in a bit deeper, so they can do what they do best: run the country from the inside.

I may sound bitter. That's because I am. In our greatest time of need, we needed a doer rather than a dreamer. We needed someone who can get the job done, without having to learn on the fly.

Faux Pas

If you have had open heart surgery, or any surgery with a massive scar for that matter, please do not wear a shirt with a plunging neckline!

Today, a co-worker wore a shirt that exposed a fibrous scar screaming to everyone, "I've had my chest cracked open!" It may sound trivial, but I kept staring at her chest. No, no, I wasn't looking at her boobs; I'm gay!

Senator Robert Byrd

Today, Robert C. Byrd (D), who is the senior senator from the state of West Virginia, became the longest serving member in the history of the United States Congress!

He has served in both the United States House of Representatives and Senate for 56 years, 320 days (20,774 days). He surpassed the service of former Arizona Democratic Senator Carl Trumbull Hayden as the longest serving member of Congress.

Term Limits in Congress

Some Republicans in Congress think that its members should be constitutionally limited to terms. One proposal is to amend the Constitution to limit members of the Senate to two terms and members of the House to three terms.

Is this going to happen? It is unlikely! However, the Republican members of the United States Congress may feel completely free to limit themselves unofficially! That would be perfectly fine with me.

Walt Whitman & Levi's

I wonder what American writer Walt Whitman would think of Levi's Jeans using excerpts of his poetry to peddle their wares?

I'm a little confused by it, personally.

Whatever happened to civil rights in America?

Some people are going to say I am a sex offender, but I am not; I am an American, who believes in the Constitution and the rights of everyone, even those who have been in trouble with the law. Yes, felons, big and small.

I read a very disturbing article on CNN.com related to people who have been convicted of and served time for various sex crimes. Police are making it their personal mission to stake out the residences of sex felons tonight, who have paid their debt to society, and threaten them. As a tax payer, I believe they should be watching murderers and thieves, too. No matter their status with the legal system.

Let's face it, not only could I be raped out on the streets, I could be bound, tortured and killed by a psycho, or have my Halloween candy robbed at gun point by a thief. There are so many potential dangers out on the streets on a night like tonight--for adults and children alike.

So, while the cops are staking out the homes of rapists and child molesters, every other criminal element will have free reign tonight. That sure does make me feel great!

Oh, I forgot to mention those kids who are going to be out egging everyone's cars and homes. But that's okay. It's just kids!

Public Health Option

Republican members of the United States are asking whether or not Americans are ready to shoulder the burden of a tax hike.

Hmmmm. Where were these senators when George W. Bush was flushing our economy down the toilet by taking us into two wars we will never win? Now, they have the audacity to criticize Democrats for putting forth a plan to help Americans in America. Instead of working to make this plan possible, they are going to strike more fear into the hearts of Americans. How does fear help the 40 million Americans who have no healthcare coverage? Let's end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and funnel those monies into taking care of people by paying for their healthcare.

There is a simple way to solve this entire problem. The United States should nationalize healthcare. That will put big business out of business when it comes to healthcare options. All Americans will receive the same free care. But, as we know, health insurance lobbyists are working overtime on Capitol Hill.

Senator Mitch McConnell put that in your crack pipe and smoke it.

Balloon Boy Hoax

Yes, just as I suspected, balloon boy is a hoax. That family looks creepy. I'm not sure what they wanted out of setting a large homemade balloon free and then claiming their young son was aboard it, while he was actually hanging out in the home's attic.

Not everyone is for Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

Some say Barack Obama doesn't deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, because he lacks accomplishment and distinction, but I disagree.

The United States is finally coming out of a long, bleak period of history under the regime of George W. Bush. The countries of the world see President Obama as the antithesis of Bush's xenophobic and backward international policy. The world can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Let's allow the wounds of yesterday to be healed by the promise of tomorrow. If anyone deserves the distinction for progressive ideas and policies it is Barack Obama.

Death Penalty in Ohio

The governor of Ohio, who granted a temporary reprieve for a man sentenced to die by lethal injection, has made me think of my own first actions as future governor of Kentucky. I would enter an order ending all capital punishment in the state.

***

I, Jackson Leslie Ingersoll, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, extend greetings;

Whereas, pursuant to Section 77 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky do hereby enact the following order;

Whereas, as Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, acting pursuant to aforementioned, declare all persons previously sentenced to capital punishment by a Court of the Commonwealth of Kentucky have said sentence commuted to life imprisonment;

Further, all persons convicted and sentenced for a capital offense by a Court of Law, during the course of the term of this order, shall have their sentence commuted to life imprisonment;

Whereas, I cause my name and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to be affixed on this fifth day of October, 2009.

/s/

###

Rio gets the 2016 Olympic Games

I think it is great that Rio de Janiero, Brazil, was selected to host the 2016 Olympics. Chicago suffered a defeat in the first round of voting, but that is okay. It was about time that a country/city in South America was selected to host the Games.

Africa is next!

(Europe and North America have dominated the Olympics since their resurrection in the 19th century.)