Catch-Up

While "out sick" there were a lot of things I've wanted to mention in my blog, but have missed the opportunity. Since I don't have the time to deal with each in the level of detail I'd like, here's the abbreviated synopsis:

First, I was outraged by the Saudi judge that sentenced a victim of gang rape to 100 lashes for "adultery" -- 5 men, 1 woman, and she gets the 100 lashes? There is something very, very wrong with that picture.

I'd like to drop him into an all-male maximum security prison here in the US for a few weeks, then give him 100 lashes for being a part of the depravity they inflicted on him. It's unbelievable to me that we let that nation be considered one of our "political allies" with such widespread craziness masquerading as justice.

Second, I was heartbroken to read the story of the Webster family in the UK. They believed the "soy milk is better" hype, which (unbeknownst to anyone at the time) resulted in one of their children contracting scurvy, having a weakened leg bone that fractured, and then they were accused of child abuse. Now (years later), they still haven't even seen their children, but their names are finally cleared. And here's the kicker: because the government had already put their three oldest kids up for adoption -- and let the process go thru (even after they knew the problems were caused by scurvy) -- the Websters can't have their own children back. That is downright unbelievable.

Third, in spite of the gruesomeness, I had to chuckle after reading this story about socialized dentistry in the UK. Evidently, most Americans don't realize that we will have the exact same problems afflicting other nations with socialized medicine if we enact the nonsense proposed by the current administration. I can't imagine needing to use a pair of "channel lock" pliers on my teeth because there were no dentists available to do the job right!

Fourth, in yet another sickening example of "state-sponsored health care" (or maybe just an example of the many "freedoms" enjoyed in a communist regime), we have the Chinese Execution Bus, which is everything the title of the article implies, complete with a live video feed so the head honcho can keep an eye on things as they are happening. I wonder just how far down these roads (the "state-sponsored health care" road, and the one leading to socialism) Americans are willing to travel before they wake up and vote for better candidates?

Fifth, I'm wondering why the media is still "spinning" the actual cost of the snowbama-backed "government waste program" that's so rapidly become our nation's worst-ever enema? The real cost of this bill, in today's dollars is over $6 TRILLION dollars! Where is the outcry from the left? After being lambasted by the Democrats for his "wasteful spending," during his entire 8 years in office Bush spent a grand total of $4 Trillion.

If 8 years of Bush = $4 Trillion, and 1 month of snowbama = $6.5 Trillion, then what could 4 years of snowbama equal? (Please note, this non-technical equation doesn't take into account the ramifications of our coming hyperinflation problems, caused by printing this much money.) None of the words that come to mind right now are even remotely printable.

Sixth, I could not believe that snowbama's administration is now "reviewing policy" on Myanmar (formerly Burma). One of the most oppressive regimes on the planet and he wants Hillary to go shake their hands, hand over an olive branch, and whatever else they want? They've murdered thousands of people and we're going to "help the people" by simply being all buddy-buddy with the scum that have been killing so many citizens?

Seventh, and lastly, I had to include at least one genuine "stupid human" link in this montage (in addition to the ones above that reference typical know-nothing Democrats and snowbama's policies). The stupid human is NOT Coach Micah Grimes, recently of Covenant School in Dallas. No, the unfortunate coach seems to be fairly reasonable, it's the stupid humans that run the school that irk me. They accused the coach of encouraging his girls basketball team to win a game (which I thought was the object of having a team). Since the girls won 100 to 0 and the coach wouldn't apologize for how well they did (while playing their entire bench of 3 players) -- he was fired.

If I were on any of their sports teams, if I worked at, or even just attended that school, I would have quit the team (and withdrawn from the school) unless the moronic-officials that attempted to forfeit these girls' game cap apologized. Both to the coach and to the girls. Such blind ignorance on the part of the administration is completely inexcusable for anyone in the field of education: I would never encourage my children to forfeit -- just to make someone feel good. Especially if my children had worked as hard as these girls: In four years this team went from only winning 2 games -- in the entire season -- to making the championships! I would think that was something to celebrate, but, according to the school's administrators, I would be mistaken. Instead, those hard-working girls (all eight of them) should feel guilty that they worked hard for four years and became skilled, while in the SAME FOUR YEARS their opponents hadn't won ONE SINGLE GAME!

Did I mention that stupid people really irk me?

Sick Again . . .

I've been somewhat "under the weather" for some time now (late January). Initially, a minor cough and sore throat were the extent of any difficulties, but they were being staved off quite nicely by intermittent doses of Zicam tablets. The trouble didn't begin until we ran out of Zicam. I suggested we try a generic version: Big Mistake. Let me tell you, it was well worth the $3 per bottle to buy the real McCoy; I got sick immediately while still using the fake stuff.

This past Sunday I awakened with a new malady: a swollen lymnph node. Normally, that isn't too much of a problem for me, since I tolerate pain well. This one was different; it's the one just below my right ear (and behind my jaw). It swelled so much that my jaw moved over a half an inch out of alignment. (Realizing that your teeth no longer line up and your mouth won't close is an odd sensation.) The pain was excruciating -- so much so that I (briefly) considered digging out a scalpel and finding a spot behind my jaw to slice open. (Have some individually wrapped disposable scalpels from my years repairing medical equipment -- I've used them on myself before, but don't like to.)

Instead, I Googled numerous combinations of relevant terms: lymph gland, lymph node, treatment, lance, lancing, cut, slice, etc. After much reading, it didn't appear that my problems would have long term averse effects (aside from the pain), so I resisted the urge to self-operate sans painkillers. (Mainly because I know how well that would NOT have gone over with my wife, but also because it's a pretty gruesome remedy that wasn't guaranteed to do anything for me.)

I just "lived with" the pain for the first three quarters of the day, then (after dinner) decided to try one of my handy-dandy ice packs (the ones we put in the baby's bottle carrier). The ice pack application worked wonders. I'm sitting here chewing gum. Prior to using ice packs, it was painful just to open my mouth wide enough to suck in some oatmeal; swallowing it was just as bad. Right now, I think the gland is almost better. Just before meals, or if it starts to pain me, I put another ice pack on it for a few minutes and I'm fine for a few hours.

Now if the MucinexDM will finish off the chestful of mucous, I should be doing great soon. At least I'm doing well enough to get some work done.

snowbama

Long ago (elementary school), I was the shortest kid in my class -- every class; I also remember being a little more plump than most of the other kids, too. Thankfully, I wasn't always ridiculed, harassed, or "picked on" by the bullies, but it always irked me to see the results of the inevitable "pecking order" in school. As a result of occasionally having people think of me as "different" and (very few) bad experiences, I still dislike it when others call people names, ridicule them, or attempt to wrongfully impugn the character of any weaker person, nor do I (usually) do so myself. Of course, I do have a few exceptions: if the description is spot-on truthful, the person continuously annoys me, or if the person is a friend, everyone around is a friend, and all know it's in jest.

Two of the above exceptions (annoying, and fitting) apply to a moniker I've been using for months now: snowbama (search that in your FaceBook flair). Had a few people question me on it, so thought I'd explain my reasoning behind coining and using it.

I doubt it, but just in case anyone missed it, snowbama is his life story. Several times in the last year I've blogged about his utter lack of legitimate qualifications to hold the office. If you don't want to read that huge (old) link, here are a few points (distilled and refined) from which I drew those conclusions and a few new ones to round out my convictions:

* Who, exactly moves to Chicago for it's exemplary politics?? any honest people you know ever do that? not me.

* Who believes any person could sit under that many years of Jeremiah Wright's version of Farrakhan's theology and not be affected? (I'm not impressed with Oprah's theology, but even she couldn't take the continuous stream of hate-filled hurl he has spewed from his pulpit.)

* Does anyone believe both of his books were not ghost written? (Especially when he was asked to describe his feelings about multiple passages in both, and he was clueless?)

* How many other incompetent, inexperienced politicians have ever been so highly worshiped by the media? (yet, he only reads teleprompters well -- his impromptu speaking ability stinks)

* I'm supposed to believe that it was a complete coincidence that snowbama moved to the city Ayers lived in, got himself introduced to Ayers, moved next door to the man, taught with him, served in numerous positions alongside him, and started his political career in Ayer's LIVING ROOM? ALL of that is pure happenstance?

* What other US politician has ever asked every school he attended to seal his records? and then there was no media outcry? what's he hiding from the public?

* How far will the troops trust a President that just told The Marine Band he doesn't want them to play for him anymore?

* Why is he the only politician in recent memory that's ever gotten a pass on self-contradictory statements? stupidity? admitted drug use? etc...

* Why have there been so many attempts by him to promote a whole slew of crooks to fill high level positions in the government? isn't the "normal level" of corruption in government enough? Any "regular" Americans would be doing jail time with the types of records these nominees have, yet all his guys keep getting off scott-free?

* No McCarthyism intended, but why is this the first time any U.S. politician hasn't been questioned for associating in a friendly manner with Gaddafi, multiple anti-US Muslim-terrorists, and terrorist supporters (both Hamas & PLO)? Aren't we still in a war against said terrorists? Isn't there a double-standard in "consorting with the enemy" here?

* Why does he bristle if he's asked anything but softball questions? and those at his leisure? yet still doesn't give definitive answers even to those?

* Where is the "transparency" in this administration that we heard so much about? so far (less than a month in office) "transparency" has just been a word bandied about in a failed attempt to shore up his political image and crashing poll numbers. There's only so much mileage in repeating untruths, especially if crooks are repeatedly proffered as "preferred teammates" in running the show.

* What valid reason prohibited even a few questions by the mainstream media of the caliber of snowbama when viewed in the light of the questionable and low moral character of his numerous associates? Was there, perhaps, no "valid reason" -- only collusion?

* snowbama castigated and belittled average Americans from all walks of life (often) in his previous efforts to appear most appealing (to whatever group to whom he was speaking at the time), so just how many campaign promises should we realistically expect will be kept? are TWO too many? and which ones do we choose? Oh, I forgot, he's already railroading us on the murder of our future citizens (pro-abortion) and killing our economy (with this massive government-waste plan).

In short, snowbama is a total shyster on all counts. I have yet to find one thing with which he has enough experience to make an intelligent decision about. He has snowed the world (and our nation) with his empty rhetoric, platitudes, and idol-like messiah complex.

Since he DID make it to the Oval Office, it seems to me that "Nobama" has become rather outdated -- like it or not, we're stuck with him for the next four years. Therefore, I've decided to use snowbama to refer to him... for the duration of my lifetime. (All cap-less of course, to point out his complete lack of executive experience.) Even if he muddles through the next four years without ruining our nation, he snowed the public to get this far.

Until the results of this past election cycle came in, I didn't realize "mystique" and "rhetoric" had the slightest chance at trouncing "ethics" and "administrative experience" so soundly. What a pathetic commentary on the general lack of intelligence and objectivity of the citizens of our once-great nation.

Right now, I'm kicking around a few ideas for a superhero-type logo that would complement the moniker (as well as be eternally fitting). My thoughts are (rather than copy Superman's diamond logo) to have an outer shape that's circular -- something like a zero -- with a small s inside it (preferably not a capitol S, but if it adds to the effect, oh well).

Perhaps I'll post some of my early attempts later -- complete with a preference poll.


P.S. I was just thinking, we're stuck with snowbama for four years unless, of course, some poor deluded soul kills, or attempts to kill him; then we'll have a new "National Martyr/Hero" of epic proportions -- imagine the combined worship of past heroes and idealization of the world's worst dictators. That outcome would be worse than letting him run his course -- and be the root of his own demise.