Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Warning About Pain Killers

Have you heard about Nsaids? I have no clue what that stands for, but apparently is an umbrella term for certain types of pain killers such as Motrin and Aleve. I learned of this first a couple of years ago after taking prescribed ibuprofin to help me through a bout of sciatica. Through ordinary tests done in connection with my yearly physical I was directed to stop using it immediately. It had done damage to my kidneys which are now getting back to a normal range.

Just last week my husband who had been taking Aleve for back pain also found that product had done kidney damage and we'll be working on that problem now.

So, I feel that our experience is enough for me to tell you to be absolutely sure you don't use more than the labels direct, but also be sure that even that isn't too much for you. Please be tested if you've been using those products for any length of time.

Next, I had in mind that we might have a problem in Jackson's Special Education area of the schools. I am relieved to tell you that it was a false alarm, but it needs to be publicly clarified.

I was concerned that when Jackson Public schools announced pink slips for a number of special ed administrators and staff for a savings in the $600,000 range and a couple of days later there was a piece in the paper about the upcoming ISD millage request for Special Ed that it seemed a bit fishy. After talking with the ISD Director I learned that this is the last year of the old way of funding the programs.

Apparently the schools in the program turn their expenses in to the ISD who then distribute according to a formula making the actual funds of about $200,000 available to Jackson Public and others are something like pro rated. This is the last year for that system. Next year and after the ISD will be paying all salaries making it more efficient and looking at the big picture. ISD will be able to hold down the costs for all.

Now, if I have made any mistake in this explanation I apologize, but the article in the paper made it sound like Jackson was going to lay off people and keep the $630,000 while ISD was going to pick up the expense for the future. Sounded like a shell game to me so I asked and am glad to report that I made a mistake and hopefully the paper will clarify.

Last, I'm back on Soros again. After learning that most of the rigs that were in the Gulf are now being used off the Brazil coast so that even if Obama really meant to give the go ahead to drilling again and Gee, maybe giving back some jobs in the United States, there won't be any rigs available. Hmmm. And then I hear that Mr. Soros has authority to put in one of the largest storage facilities ever in the Gulf. If that thing ever develops a leak it would make the BP accident look minuscule.

I'm just thinking: rather than be concerned about Obama's birth certificate, shouldn't we be wondering why (I'm assuming he is a naturalized citizen) we aren't looking into how some Hungarian with some smarts has come into our country, as have so many others to make his fortune, is at the same time making investments which are devastating our job market, not to mention the political scene. This is way past coincidence cause and effect. What is the real motive?

Going off for a few days for what I hope is well deserved R&R. See you next week.

God bless...

Monday, March 21, 2011

Psssst! I've Got a Secret!!

And it's in Victoria's Secret closet... A friend sent me a note about the raunchy commercials Victoria's Secret airs on television and told me she sent them an email suggesting that they were more than suggestive, they were motivational. She then gave me the website address since I hadn't seen them.

Well, the website is enough. In light of our conversation, I could not help thinking that it wouldn't take much for this to be the next popular court room defense: the Victoria's Secret Defense which would go something like "but Judge, it's not my fault, Victoria's Secret made me do it."

Have I really passed into the old age part of my life where I just don't relate to what is going on with anyone 20 years younger than I? Or could it possibly be that there really is no working moral compass giving direction to the future generations? I just don't know, but I find it more than a little bit scary. How about you?

Gut Check Time. #1-I just have a feeling that when we think about the entire world situation and how nations relate to each other we have just come to that fork in the road that Yogi Berra did when he said "Take it." We perhaps need to face up to the fact that the Mideast countries are looking around at themselves and each other and realize that they all would like to be free rather than to have dictators directing them in all things. They must have realized that all of their neighboring countries have somewhat the same problems and it just won't do to have them as they are now - some free, some enslaved. And they see that it also includes gender. Plus, we don't get to tell them what they should be doing. And, at this point, we know that this is not the time to sit back and watch while some dictator wipes out a good share of the population in any country.

#2-Our country's friends aka allies which would include most of Europe, parts of Latin and South America, Russia, India, Japan and maybe a couple of African nations have also come to a late realization. The U.S. may still be a major power, but we made the mistake of putting an immature kid in a position of leadership before he had mastered the skills necessary to do the job. So, it's not his fault, but they should, instead of waiting for him to display leadership just live with the facts and go ahead without him. They will be kind and bring him along the path of any mentor or parent and hope for the best while he learns his lessons. Hopefully none of those missed lessons will be disastrous life experiences for him or for us.

This evening brings Lincoln Day in Jackson with Gov. Snyder. If anything new breaks, I'll check in tomorrow---

God bless...

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

MISSED OPPORTUNITY? (or Opportunities)

There are ways, I understand, to construct a no-fly zone without actually starting a shooting war - logistically and safely from ships comfortably away from the sites of interest. Especially in coastal areas which is where most of the population of Libya actually is. I realize there are no "leaders" as such in the rebel ranks, but if we allowed for them to keep the towns they have, it sounds like a good deal while they sort things out for themselves. Now that Gadhafi appears to have taken back most of towns does anyone believe that he will do other than clamp down in the most ways and all things torturous will be the order of the day?

It seems that the countries of freedom and civil rights sorta sat on their hands, did nothing and just Let things happen. Where was the leadership? Where is the outrage? So we're back at square one. It seems that we are practicing a "sit on your hands and wait to see what happens before moving forward" policy.

Next big worry--like the Jewish mother I'm not happy unless I'm worrying about something... With Japan having to build, rebuild and need all kinds of emergency funding, what if they call in all our loans? With China and Japan our two largest debt holders, where would we get the money to repay one or the other? These things have a ripple effect. If other debt holders of the U. S. want to loan funds to Japan in their current crisis they could call our debt as well to make that possible.

Last for today: So they found on the federal level 81 duplicative departments or tasks in similar departments. They found on the state level other areas where there are duplications and many wasted funds. Now I ask you,

Why in the world can't they have "key" numbers for jobs that do the same thing? And then why can't they write a program which indicates a particular job has already been done and in that event, why are those results not generating a report that will go up the chain high enough to make a determination to eliminate all but one of those departments and send the information back through the maze so everyone is operating under the same numbers?

Puh-leeze do not try to tell me this cannot be done. I only spent one semester on writing and programming and I KNOW it can be done. So let's demand that they do it!

Spring is coming! Do not despair--
God bless...

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Internal Combustion Engine is not Dead!

I believe this is good news, contrary to what Obama and the Green community would have you believe. Wisconsin may be taking it on the chin media-wise, but my retired Mechanical Engineer husband is still on certain mailing lists, among them:

University of Wisconsin's Engineering Dept. sends information on workshops, etc. It is a real pleasure to tell you that 4 events are scheduled between March 28 and May 16 with what should excite those of us who still love gasoline powered automobiles. Just in case you're interested they are working on Fundamental Considerations in New Engine Development, Cranktrain Development for Piston Engines, Friction, Lubrication and Bearing System Development for Internal Combustion Engines and Valvetrain Development Workshop for Internal Combustion Engines.

Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't be working on alternative ways of movement on the highway, just that throwing out the baby with the bathwater before its replacement is economically feasible for way over half the population is premature to say the least.

So take heart, hopefully the "apps" developed in and by academia will make our lives and even the next generation's more pleasant without catastrophic life style changes.

That being said: short notes on other hot topics:

Libya needs help. Am I totally old fashioned or just ignorant if I ask the question: Whatever happened to the French Foreign Legion or perhaps that kind of organization which may have segued to another label? They could certainly come in handy in Libya today.

Wonder what Obama's taste of crow was like when he announced reverting to the Bush policy at Guantanamo...

And Kathleen Sibelius' having to admit to double counting in the health care bill amounting to $500 billion...

And the $105 billion of spending in the health care bill which has already been spent and should be returned...

Please don't insult our intelligence by saying if our State tax was zero before that the Homestead tax credit would be equal to increased taxes and make the effective tax rate still zero even if you have to write a check for over $1500...

Last, the next time I hear Alan Simpson, (R) Wyoming retired, tell the public that retired people are being greedy because they didn't put all that much into Social Security anyway, when he is living high on the hog having been part of the Congresses who stole the so-called Trust Fund from the American workers and exempted themselves from the Social Security Retirement system among other sleight of hand maneuvers to make themselves look good, I am going to barf. The only pleasure I would get from that exercise would be if I were close enough for it to land on the shoes of one of the lying, conniving, holier-than-thou types like Mr. Simpson.

I'm having real trouble, Lord, keeping a generous heart when the very people who are supposed to represent us are the ones who sometimes make life miserable for way too many people. In the meantime,

God bless........