home

Friday Evening Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 05:58:20 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

'Tis a privilege to live in Colorado. This is the best weekend of the year to see the aspen change, and the weather is gorgeous.

I'm news deprived today, so here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

< The Success Of Occupy Wall Street | Anwar al-Awlaki Killed in Yemen >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Friday Evening Open Thread | 33 comments (33 topical)
    Been preoccupied with health and specific drug (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by the capstan on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 08:12:14 PM EST
    'carelessness' problem lately and just went to read all of jeffinalabama's diaries.  (My typing is a ton of typos these days of double vision.)  I got a call that my daughter was to have Forteo injections starting as soon as weekend was over.  I had never heard of it, so I googled and emailed entire lists (dog lists, as it happens) and called the local nursing college.  Result: that drug caused osteosarcoma in test rats; human tests canceled.  Second warning about something else to be added shortly.  

    Daughter is 54, has Downs, never any fractures, but a dr insisted on a bone scan.  Read the med lit: Forteo is for post-menopausal women who have had fractures.  there's a book out on "Over-Diagnosis."  I bought it--and, as mother, forbade the injections of Forteo for my girl.

    Went on to write a protocol for county busybodies warning them I am 'on -the-job.'  After all, not a single cell in her body is normal and NO ONE knows what effect treatments might have on her body.  Right now she is happy and healthy (as I wish Jeff were), and if a drug-happy quack makes her sick, there's a suit on the way.

    Suggest those of you dealing with health issues read the book on "Over-Diagnosis"--author is a Dr. Welch, I think.

    She is in my prayers (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by loveed on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 09:58:10 PM EST
    And so are you.

    Parent
    How frightening (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 12:56:17 AM EST
    Whatever happened to "first do no harm"?

    Is your daughter living on her own or in an institution?  I don't understand why someone who isn't really capable of informed consent could have this kind of thing done without your consent to begin with.

    Thanks for the book recommendation.  Sounds like one everybody should have and read carefully.

    I had to grapple with some similar things when I was sole caretaker for my very frail, non-mobile 90-yo mother and docs wanted to do regular tests and procedures "just in case" that made no sense to put her through at that age.  They do often get such a narrow focus on the one organ system or body part they're concerned about that they lose track of what they're really doing.  Classic "forest for the trees" syndrome, I guess.


    Parent

    Daughter lives in a very (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by the capstan on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 01:18:35 PM EST
    small group home--4 women and 2 to 3 aides on a rotating schedule (they do not sleep there).  It seems there is some state agency rule that doctors' orders must be carried out within 24 hours.  The supervising board (local) for the homes tells me no aide or manager is allowed to 'force' a resident to do (or not do) anything; my daughter could buy a crate of colas supposedly without being told 'no.'  But I found the supervisors were quite willing to try to force my daughter to have a colonoscopy, a bone density scan, and to take these injections every day for a couple of years.

    Thankfully, her house manager keeps me up to date on issues that affect my daughter.  (And she has invited me to go with them to the doctor's office from now on.)

    I am sorry you had to deal with this for your mother.  I have 54 years of experience in taking care of my daughter, even if the last 10 years has not been hands-on care.  Having cared for elderly relatives also, I know that is a different and often more difficult ball game.

    Parent

    I finally have my arrival time: (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by observed on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 03:09:04 AM EST
    2:45 AM on Tuesday, after 17 or so hours of flying (3 legs).
    Have a safe flight (5.00 / 4) (#14)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 07:37:24 AM EST
    and a soft landing.

    Hopefully, once you get settled you will be able to give us updates on your new adventure.

    Good luck.

    Parent

    Deep Thoughts (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 07:48:17 AM EST
    Deep Thought

    Nothing says 'Hope' and 'Change' more than Alan Simpson.
    by Atrios

    More food for thought:

    Things that are considered politically feasible

    Things that might actually work. by Krugman
    kdog: please check in. Were you arrested (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 06:55:33 PM EST
    today?

    9th Circuit Court of Appeals (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 07:03:51 PM EST
    unanimously [three judges]concludes Log Cabin Republicans "don't ask, don't tell" lawsuit is moot.  LAT  This is the appeal of federal district judge Virginia Phillips' decision.  

    When the repeal of DADT was announced (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Peter G on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 01:26:06 PM EST
    I publicly wondered, and couldn't find an answer, whether the military also intended to repeal the ground for administrative separation (discharge) called "homosexual conduct."  (I also wondered whether they intended to amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice (the military's criminal/penal law) to delete the crime of "sodomy" (which does not exclude purely voluntary, adult conduct, even though this is constitutionally protected for civilians, according to the Supreme Court's Lawrence decision, on privacy grounds).)  Happy to report that yesterday the DoD announced an amendment to DoD Instruction 1332.14, incorporating change 3, lengthy PDF linked at this page, which deletes "homosexual conduct" as a basis for separation. (It also deletes the related guidelines for investigation of homosexual conduct.) I can't find anything about this on any pertinent website or news source.

    Parent
    BBC radio is covering the Murray trial (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 09:17:12 PM EST
    in great detail.  Why?

    My one and only trip to London (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by ruffian on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 09:31:58 PM EST
    was the week after Jacko died. It was a huge story there. I was really surprised to see how interested people were. It was the best example I could have of the influence of American pop culture.

    Parent
    I went to Hamburg shortly after JFK, Jr's (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 09:33:33 PM EST
    death.  The Turkish cabbie was quizzing me, but he was much better informed on this particular subject than I was.

    Parent
    Michael Jackson is/was (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 12:57:03 AM EST
    absolutely huge in the U.K., even moreso than here in the U.S.


    Parent
    Oh, the poor Yankees. They just burned (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 09:49:07 PM EST
    Sabathia.  Game suspended until tomorrow night.  1-1.  

    Seems like Verlander is burned also ;) n/t (none / 0) (#8)
    by nycstray on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 10:53:59 PM EST


    Parent
    Hey, this is a Yankee fan site! (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 10:56:14 PM EST


    Parent
    Just trying to even the playing field (none / 0) (#10)
    by nycstray on Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 11:05:49 PM EST
    as a Yankee fan :D

    Parent
    Go Brew Crew! (none / 0) (#19)
    by DFLer on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 03:08:12 PM EST


    Parent
    BTD won't post this: Minnesota 0. (none / 0) (#18)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 03:01:24 PM EST
    Michigan 58!  

    thanks a lot Oc.....Coach Kill...ouch (none / 0) (#20)
    by DFLer on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 03:08:54 PM EST


    Parent
    Maybe U of M was just treating its (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 02:13:17 PM EST
    two previous opponents with excessive kindness?

    Parent
    Didn't see your reply till just now, however: (none / 0) (#33)
    by DFLer on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 02:58:26 PM EST
    Kind of a drag, and it's not even snowing yet. Twins, Gophers, Vikings...all down in smoke and ruin.

    The only MN sports team of note now is the WNBA's Lynx, in the finals for the championship....and very fun to watch.

    Parent

    I agree with Herman Cain (none / 0) (#22)
    by loveed on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 08:04:20 PM EST
    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64841.html

     Except, I think it's democrats that are brainwashed. They continue to support a failed administration,because he a democrat(in name only).
     The dems don't agree with any of his policies, no public option, continued the Bush tax cut, supported 5 rep. to the courts, Black unemployment over 16%, wasted trillions of dollars, I could go on(please fill free to add your on).
     Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton was not even allowed on the convention floor. Jesse even said he wanted to cut his nut's off.
     There are all kind of movement for a 3rd party. But the dems. hold firm.
     I will continue to support Huntsman, and hope he secure the nomination. I think he is the best qualified for the job.
      It seems to me the republican party genuine like and respect Mr.Cain. His poll numbers keep rising, being black has nothing to do with it. They like his 9/9/9 plan, respect the fact he beat cancer,he's a businessman. Is this the party,the dems keep calling racist?
     It should be country before party.

    Please don't say, (none / 0) (#23)
    by NYShooter on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 11:16:27 PM EST
    "....being black has nothing to do with it."

    Being Black ALWAYS has something to do with it; sometimes its "Pro," sometimes its, "Con."

    Other than that, I agree with you.

    But, besides his saying the things that make him appealing, his being Black doesn't hurt in neutralizing (to  some degree) the Incumbent.

    Don't think for a second that fact has escaped the strategists plotting the coming election.


    Parent

    I disagree (none / 0) (#24)
    by loveed on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 04:40:45 AM EST
    It seems color is always an issue in the democratic party. The dems.loves playing the race card (Bill Clinton).
     During the 2008 election,color was definitely an issue. If you were black and did not support Obama, it was hard living in the black community.
     I felt blacks should have stop Obama. He had no experience. Sad thing ,in 2007 black people had never heard of him.
     He had no clue,what it like to be black in america. And still don't.
     Herman Cain is respected for his business career. His tax plan.
     The repubs,see him as better candidate than Perry. And color has nothing to do with it.
     

    Parent
    One thing (none / 0) (#25)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 07:01:54 AM EST
    you have to realize is that it's highly unlikely that Cain will win the GOP nomination due simply to his skin color. The base of the GOP is largely aging evangelical Christians who still have a race problem.

    One thing Herman Cain fails to acknowledge is what the GOP has been doing for the last 40 years. They have been making a concerted effort to run off African American voters since the Southern Strategy in the days of Nixon. I would actually respect Cain if he would talk about the GOP and what they have done instead of simply blaming African American voters.

    Parent

    I disagree (none / 0) (#26)
    by loveed on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:23:31 PM EST
     Cain says blacks are not open to any alternative because they only vote democrat. They don't want to hear another side of the argument,because they will only vote democrat.
     I agree with him. With the black unemployment rate greater than 16%, blacks will still vote for Obama. The neglect of the black community as whole,is a reflection of the democratic party.Drugs overrun the community.Black men are incarcerated for petty crimes that ruin there lives. There are more black men in jail for possession of fire arms. College is out of reach.    
        Since 1960's when blacks started voting exclusively for the democrats, there community has been on the decline.
     The democratic party takes there vote for granted.
      I voted for Nixon, I thought he was a pretty good president, as far as running the country. Opening up China was mind blowing to me.
      Cain will not win the nomination because he black, it will be his lack of experience.
      It's just refreshing watching him gain support,and race has nothing to do with it.
      My mom raised me as an American. Country will always be before party.

    Parent
    And the (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 02:50:48 PM EST
    reason they don't want to listen to the GOP? The reason is that for 40 years the GOP has been calling them "welfare queens" and every other name in the book. Herman Cain needs to acknowledge what the GOP has been doing. George W. Bush thought that flying the Confederate flag, the flag of slavery, was a good thing when he went to SC. So I can understand why African Americans simply don't want to hear what the GOP has to say. I mean it's the same way I feel towards Obama? Who cares what he says. He's passed anti-woman legislation so why would he have any credibility on those kinds of issues?

    Parent
    Hey DNC Rules Committee!!! (none / 0) (#27)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:34:51 PM EST
    The FL Republican controlled assembly and Gov's office are moving the primary date up to Jan, against the ROOOOLZ of both parties. In your meeting in May 2008 I seem to remember you having many righteous opinions about how the FL Dem party was supposed to be able to thwart this when it happened in 2008. So I am sure you are coming to their aid now, right? Please share your wisdom.

    GOP rules: jump the que, lose (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:36:34 PM EST
    half your delegates.  

    Parent
    Here we go again (none / 0) (#29)
    by loveed on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:57:14 PM EST
     The rooolz committee drove me from the democratic party.
      Should be interesting to watch how the repub. handle this situation.

    Parent
    Yep - but it is one thing when the party (none / 0) (#32)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 06:11:45 AM EST
    that breaks the rules is penalized. It is another thing when the other party is penalized because the party in charge of the calandar broke the rules.

    Parent
    Friday Evening Open Thread | 33 comments (33 topical)