So there he was, “in the country only a couple of weeks” having emigrated from another English-speaking country to our own, walking down the somewhat rural road, but in a developed area, and there lay a turtle.

Not unusual, I awakened to a scorching pain in my back.  One of those that makes you wonder if you yelled in your sleep just before waking up.  It’s not really an unusual thing — part of what is not  post-surgical lifestyle that is apparently going to last.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Associatd Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. —  Former Air Force reservist Gale Reid received a letter from the Veterans Affairs Department that told her she had Lou Gehrig’s disease, and she immediately put herself through a battery of painful, expensive tests. Five days later, the VA said its “diagnosis” was a mistake.

Well that was peachy.  2 hours of fitful “sleep” and I awake to find this.

One might remember that the VA’s primary mission is health care. 
Or one might do better to forget.

It is said that the reason the penalties for assaulting or killing a law enforcement officer are so stiff is because if a criminal will commit such a crime against someone who is known to be trained and armed, that criminal can logically be expected to do even worse, or the same more quickly, to a more vulnerable civilian.

 Heck of an idea!  Certainly would be hard for the recipients to claim harrassment.  

Well, the bad news is that cardio doc said today I have to keep up that damned handful of pills I take every morning and evening.  Been taking them for so long by the handful, if I didn’t have to refill every 90 days I wouldn’t know what they are.  Only the Treo knows and the various docs are glad I carry it with me.  I am, too.

I was born a few months before the end of World War II, so Rosie the Riveter wasn’t a part of my daily life.  I was familiar with the general idea, how women had taken over many production jobs that had previously been held only by men so those men could “go off to war,” but the familiarity was in concept only.  

Quote from a friend of mine, an Eastern European emigree,  yesterday regarding the current health care reform:

I lived under Communism for almost forty years.  This is the same thing to me.

Treasure Coast man blames cat for downloaded child pornography

MARTIN COUNTY - Martin County Sheriff’s detectives didn’t buy it when a 48-year-old Jensen Beach man claimed that his cat was downloading child pornography on his computer.

Swine flu hotline run by 16-year-olds: NHS pays GCSE pupils to give advice and hand out drugs

By Christian Gysin
Last updated at 1:00 AM on 08th August 2009

An NHS call centre is employing 16-year-olds to assess suspected cases of swine flu.

They earn up to £16.40 an hour reading out a prepared script of questions.
It is their responsibility to hand out powerful anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu - known to have violent side-effects.

1.

Carry nonrefundable return tickets, Umrah pilgrims told
Muhammad Humaidan | Arab News
 
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Haj has ordered that Umrah pilgrims carry nonrefundable return tickets with them when they come for the lesser pilgrimage.

Just in case you didn’t get the form I filled out on your site, here’s what I sent you, along with my membership information:

You may save money by not sending me anything through the mail.  NOTHING.

You no longer represent my interests.  I’ve had that suspicion for some time now, but now I’m sure.

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez to Resign

Sen. Mel Martinez, who announced last year that he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2010, said Friday that will not return to the Senate after the August recess. 

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez said Friday he is resigning to return to Florida and his family.

Indian Chief “Two Eagles” was asked by a white government official, “You have observed the white man for 90 years.  You’ve seen his wars and his technical advances.  You’ve seen his progress and the damage he’s done.”

The Chief nodded in agreement.

I call them ladybugs, but apparently the same insect is a ladybird in the UK.  In any case, it looks like a real mess is on.  See article here and be sure to enlarge/select the pic on the right.

My friend Jean sent me a link to a project I’d not heard of and for an issue I’d never even thought about.  The brochure is here and the project’s home page is here.

I’ve been in that heat and sand and it is not pleasant most of the time.  I can’t imagine being there with no eye protection, no shoes, and a coat of fur.

Had tree roots push down the irrigation PVC in the front yard and push down one sprinkler unit.  The thing ended up 3 inches below ground, and that’s DIRT, level, farther than that below clear-the-grass-to-spray level.

Got out the SawsAll (great tool — my second one) and cut roots from above, around, and below the sprinkler.  Had to replace the sprinkler unit though.