nachtwachemachtmuede

Stinks to Be You ( if you're sick and old or disabled or otherwise deemed not worth saving )

2009-11-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

Health Care and the Utilitarian Calculus

November 11, 2009

As I have said before on Breakpoint, much of the hype and even hysteria surrounding the H1N1 flu strain is unwarranted.

That’s not to say that the swine flu’s potential impact isn’t devastating—it is, but not in the way cable news would have us think.

And now the Florida Department of Health has issued a set of guidelines that instructs hospitals on what to do “if the state is overwhelmed by [H1N1] cases.”

The guidelines recommend that hospitals bar “patients with incurable cancer, end-stage multiple sclerosis and other conditions from being admitted to hospitals.” Another “recommendation” is that doctors “remove patients with poor prognoses from ventilators to treat those who have better chances of surviving.”

To facilitate this culling of the herd, the guidelines “suggest” that “intensive care unit patients and those using ventilators to be reassessed after 48 to 72 hours.” Those who have gotten sicker “would be taken off the machines or discharged from critical care” and replaced by those “who may have a better chance of survival.”

Not surprisingly, the Department of Health has not “publicized the guidelines or solicited input from the general public.” Not a bad strategy, given that Florida is packed with elderly retirees who may be less than thrilled by the news that the state proposes to make it easier to deny them emergency medical care.

Superficially, the guidelines resemble what on the battlefield is called triage. But that resemblance is just that—superficial. On a battlefield or in an emergency, medical personnel make agonizing decisions about whom they can and cannot save. No one is excluded before the actual emergency.

Here, the distinction is between those they will and will not save. It’s designating, in advance, those groups whom are regarded as expendable. And, as ethicist Wesley J. Smith pointed out, removing people from ventilators goes beyond triage principles to “indiscriminate rationing.”

Actually, there’s nothing indiscriminate about it. In a drill for a similar set of guidelines in Utah, a physician told a mother that her daughter with cerebral palsy could not be admitted to the hospital. He told her that “our list is our list.”

That’s why Smith is rightly concerned that guidelines like Florida’s could easily degenerate into judgments about the quality of life, age discrimination, and disabilities.

The triage consistent with Christian moral principles acknowledges that you try to save everyone, even if you can’t. But what Florida is proposing is a utilitarian calculation that seeks to do, in their words, “the greatest good for the greatest number,” by excluding the most vulnerable members of society. That’s the utilitarian formulation which led to the horrors of eugenics.

Christianity teaches that all life is sacred from birth to natural death. Florida, however, has already decided that some lives aren’t worth saving even if natural death is years away.

So enjoy your retirement while you can. But you really need to understand this issue. Please go to the Colson Center and click on my Two-Minute Warning for this week. It’s on the home page. And then download the free materials off it. Your life my depend on it—literally.

Learn from the Danes

2009-11-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

Susan MacAllen is a contributing editor for (FamilySecurityMatters.org)

Salute the Danish Flag - it's a Symbol of Western Freedom
By Susan MacAllen

In 1978-9 I was living and studying in Denmark .
But in 1978 - even in Copenhagen, one didn't see Muslim immigrants.

The Danish population embraced visitors, celebrated the exotic, went out of its way to protect each of its citizens. It was proud of its new brand of socialist liberalism one in development since the conservatives had lost power in 1929 - a system where no worker had to struggle to survive, where one ultimately could count upon the state as in, perhaps, no other western nation at the time.

The rest of Europe saw the Scandinavians as free-thinking, progressive and infinitely generous in their welfare policies. Denmark boasted low crime rates, devotion to the environment, a superior educational system and a history of humanitarianism.

Denmark was also most generous in its immigration policies - it offered the best welcome in Europe to the new immigrant: generous welfare payments from first arrival plus additional perks in transportation, housing and education. It was determined to set a world example for inclusiveness and multiculturalism. How could it have predicted that one day in 2005 a series of political cartoons in a newspaper would spark violence that would leave dozens dead in the streets -all because its commitment to multiculturalism would come back to bite?

By the 1990's the growing urban Muslim population was obvious - and its unwillingness to integrate into Danish society was obvious. Years of immigrants had settled into Muslim-exclusive enclaves. As the Muslim leadership became more vocal about what they considered the decadence of Denmark 's liberal way of life, the Danes - once so welcoming - began to feel slighted. Many Danes had begun to see Islam as incompatible with their long-standing values: belief in personal liberty and free speech, in equality for women, in tolerance for other ethnic groups, and a deep pride in Danish heritage and history.

An article by Daniel Pipes and Lars Hedegaard, in which they forecasted accurately that the growing immigrant problem in Denmark would explode. In the article they reported:

'Muslim immigrants constitute 5 percent of the population but consume upwards of 40 percent of the welfare spending.'
'Muslims are only 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million people but make up a majority of the country's convicted rapists, an especially combustible issue given that practically all the female victims are non-Muslim. Similar, if lesser, disproportions are found in other crimes.'

'Over time, as Muslim immigrants increase in numbers, they wish less to mix with the indigenous population. A recent survey finds that only 5 percent of young Muslim immigrants would readily marry a Dane.'

'Forced marriages - promising a newborn daughter in Denmark to a male cousin in the home country, then compelling her to marry him, sometimes on pain of death - are one problem'

'Muslim leaders openly declare their goal of introducing Islamic law once Denmark's Muslim population grows large enough - a not-that-remote prospect. If present trends persist, one sociologist estimates, every third inhabitant of Denmark in 40 years will be Muslim.'

It is easy to understand why a growing number of Danes would feel that Muslim immigrants show little respect for Danish values and laws.
An example is the phenomenon common to other European countries and Canada .: some Muslims in Denmark who opted to leave the Muslim faith have been murdered in the name of Islam, while others hide in fear for their lives. Jews are also threatened and harassed openly by Muslim leaders in Denmark, a country where once Christian citizens worked to smuggle out nearly all of their 7,000 Jews by night to Sweden - before the Nazis could invade. I think of my Danish friend Elsa - who as a teenager had dreaded crossing the street to the bakery every morning under the eyes of occupying Nazi soldiers - and I wonder what she would say today.

In 2001, Denmark elected the most conservative government in some 70 years - one that had some decidedly non-generous ideas about liberal unfettered immigration. Today Denmark has the strictest immigration policies in Europe . ( Its effort to protect itself has been met with accusations of 'racism' by liberal media across Europe - even as other governments struggle to right the social problems wrought by years of too-lax immigration.)

If you wish to become Danish, you must attend three years of language classes. You must pass a test on Denmark 's history, culture, and a Danish language test :
You must live in Denmark for 7 years before applying for citizenship.

You must demonstrate an intent to work, and have a job waiting. If you wish to bring a spouse into Denmark , you must both be over 24 years of age, and you won't find it so easy anymore to move your friends and family to Denmark with you.

You will not be allowed to build a mosque in Copenhagen . Although your children have a choice of some 30 Arabic culture and language schools in Denmark , they will be strongly encouraged to assimilate to Danish society in ways that past immigrants weren't.

In 2006, the Danish minister for employment, Claus Hjort Frederiksen, spoke publicly of the burden of Muslim immigrants on the Danish welfare system, and it was horrifying: the government's welfare committee had calculated that if immigration from Third World countries were blocked, 75 percent of the cuts needed to sustain the huge welfare system in coming decades would be unnecessary. In other words, the welfare system as it existed was being exploited by immigrants to the point of eventually bankrupting the government. 'We are simply forced to adopt a new policy on immigration'.

The calculations of the welfare committee are terrifying and show how unsuccessful the integration of immigrants has been up to now,' he said.

A large thorn in the side of Denmark 's imams is the Minister of Immigration and Integration, Rikke Hvilshoj. She makes no bones about the new policy toward immigration, 'The number of foreigners coming to the country makes a difference,' Hvilshøj says, 'There is an inverse correlation between how many come here and how well we can receive the foreigners that come.' And on Muslim immigrants needing to demonstrate a willingness to blend in, 'In my view, Denmark should be a country with room for different cultures and religions. Some values, however, are more important than others. We refuse to question democracy, equal rights, and freedom of speech.'

Hvilshoj has paid a price for her show of backbone. Perhaps to test her resolve, the leading radical imam in Denmark, Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban, demanded that the government pay blood money to the family of a Muslim who was murdered in a suburb of Copenhagen, stating that the family's thirst for revenge could be thwarted for money. When Hvilshoj dismissed his demand, he argued that in Muslim culture the payment of retribution money was common, to which Hvilshoj replied that what is done in a Muslim country is not necessarily what is done in Denmark.

The Muslim reply came soon after her house was torched while she, her husband and children slept. All managed to escape unharmed, but she and her family were moved to a secret location and she and other ministers were assigned bodyguards for the first time - in a country where such murderous violence was once so scarce.

Her government has slid to the right, and her borders have tightened. Many believe that what happens in the next decade will determine whether Denmark survives as a bastion of good living, humane thinking and social responsibility, or whether it becomes a nation at civil war with supporters of Sharia law.

And meanwhile, Canadians clamour for stricter immigration policies, and demand an end to state welfare programs that allow many immigrants to live on the public dole. As we in Canada look at the enclaves of Muslims amongst us, and see those who enter our shores too easily, dare live on our taxes, yet refuse to embrace our culture, respect our traditions, participate in our legal system, obey our laws, speak our language, appreciate our history
.. . we would do well to look to Denmark , and say a prayer for her future and for our own..

The shower is almost finished and more

2009-11-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

only about 12 years after the old shower was ( mistakenly ) demolished, we'll soon have a shower once again in our on-suite bathroom.
I was taking care of our grandson this past weekend, because both his parents were working, it's tiring to look after a busy 21 month old! Sunday we went for a little walk; every vehicle that past had to be looked at " BIIIIG twuck" .... he loves trucks and cars! We stopped at our neighbours' who also enjoy the little tyke, then headed back home. At home we sat on the carpet in his room, where most of his toys are. Lots of cars and twucks of course. I decided to keep him company and he was playing with his cars, babbling away. Some I understand, he loves to say " Biiiiig twuck ", or if he doesn't know the word, " biiiig that ". He loves sounds and roars really good to imitate a lion, he can neigh like a horse, but often says " mooohhh " for both cows and horses. He likes to look at books and loves kitties. He'd love to be able to touch our cats, but they usually get away and hide. He's pulled their tails a few times and is quite loud when he runs toward them :) Dogs he's not so sure about.
He used to like pushing the vacuum hose back and forth, but lately he's scared of the machine. I don't know if something happened at mom's.
As we sat in his room, he got up and came to me to give me a kiss. He repeated that a few times. He'd play for awhile, then decide that grandma deserved a kiss.
In church on Sunday I had to stay in the nursery with him, he'd been crying and I was called, he wanted someone he knew.
He also loves baths and of course he can say duck. The bathroom floor is usually soaked. This coming weekend I'll taking care of him again. We miss him when he's at mom's place :p
Switzerland is having some referendums to vote on. One of them is an initiative to stop the construction of Muslim towers. Mosques are less controversial, I guess. I've been reading some of the reasons and commentary and am glad to see not all of Europe has it's head stuck in the sand.
Funny that Saudi Arabia questioned the referendum, where there's no tolerance for any other religion! There it's forbidden to change your faith, hold other worship ceremonies aside from Islam, even if you're of another faith, from another country, you may not worship according to your religion. A couple of years ago, a priest from the Philippines was kicked out of the country, because at Christmas he celebrated mass at someone's home. How the authorities found out, I don't know.
I've sent in my vote.

NaBloPoMo

2009-11-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

It's NOVEMBER!! when some bloggers commit to blog every day and I'm already one day late. :P November is the month as well for hubby's birthday and our anniversary. 31 years ago, on Nov. 11th I arrived in Canada, ever since I've known the 11th as Remembrance Day. :), on the 23rd we got married, before that hubby had his birthday, I was (the) present.
Our on-suite shower stall is finally getting put in. Halfway there!
Now I'm going to sleep, worked 10 hrs. last night, another 9 tonight.

I knew it would come to this

2009-10-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

October 20, 2009
"Death With Dignity" Threatens Sanctity of Life!!!

This summer we sent you an alert on the dangers of euthanasia, physician assisted suicide and the threat they present to the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill. Now the threat is even greater as hospice care in many places is beginning to look more and more like euthanasia.

Hospice, also known as palliative care, is medical care given to terminally ill patients that limits suffering and pain in the last periods of life. Properly administered, it is a humane and necessary way to improve the quality of life of patients as they approach death.

However, due to the introduction of new formalized "pathways" for dying, hospice care in many countries is becoming more and more a way to hasten death. Under the guise of compassion, new hospice practices are enforcing the belief that a painful or burdensome life should be ended as quickly as possible. As a result, this brings us closer to the terrifying institution of involuntary euthanasia and "duty to die."

Terrifying New Trends in Hospice Care

Britain is probably the most pressing example of this subtle progression from hospice care to euthanasia. Under the guidance of the National Health System, over 300 hospitals, 130 hospice centers and 560 care homes in Britain have adopted what is called the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP). LCP is an end of life care program designed to guide medical teams in diagnosing a patient's nearness to death and assigning proper end of life treatment. The "treatment" usually includes withholding food and water, removing medication and invasive procedures, and inducing palliative sedation, which is the practice of relieving distress through high dosages of sedative drugs.

This form of treatment is what one doctor calls "a self-fulfilling prophecy." Once placed on the "death pathway," a patient is essentially assigned to die. Any medicines that might assist in recovery are abandoned, sedative drugs conceal any improvements in health that might occur, and the patient is essentially starved or dehydrated until dead.

Furthermore, the diagnosis of a patient's nearness to death is by no means an exact science and symptoms of curable problems can often be mistaken for indicating nearness to death. For example, patients on pain killing drugs such as morphine can become semi-conscious and confused if they are also dehydrated, a primary symptom used to diagnose nearness to death.

Numerous cases of elderly individuals being mistakenly placed on the pathway have already occurred across Britain. Just this month, a 76 year-old British man was mistakenly diagnosed with cancer and placed on LCP, inevitably resulting in his death. Tests after his death revealed that he was actually suffering from pneumonia and would have recovered with proper treatment. Similarly, an 80-year old grandmother was diagnosed as "near to death" by her doctors, who withdrew her medication and artificial feeding, essentially leaving her to starve. The woman's daughter claims she had to fight for weeks to have her mother taken off the plan. Nine months later, the woman is still alive.

Sanctity of life v. Quality of life

Arguments used in defense of this terrifying practice is the same as that used to defend euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide-"death with dignity." These practices indicate a general cultural movement away from valuing the sanctity of life to valuing only the quality of life. To value the sanctity of life is to believe that human lives, from conception to death, should be universally cared for, protected, and valued.

It is the quality of life view that has allowed the complete devaluation of the lives of unborn children, and threatens the lives of the elderly, disabled, depressed, and underprivileged. Once the sanctity of life is no longer the standard by which we judge the morality of our actions, the value of every human life is dictated by those in control of defining what a "quality" life actually is.

Dangers of the "Death Pathway"

The "advanced" hospice care procedures that explicitly hasten death, such as the UKs LCP, cannot be accepted. These aggressive procedures fundamentally and irreversibly change the way we view human life and the value we put on it, thus opening the door for a flood of dire and inevitable consequences.

These practices put undue power in the hands of doctors to dictate the viability, length, and value of human lives, when medical diagnoses of nearness to death are notoriously flawed. Furthermore, no matter the guidelines put in place, medical services are always practiced through the prism of social and personal biases, leaving the most vulnerable the most exposed.

Additionally, these palliative care practices enforce the dangerous and barbaric belief that when a life becomes too painful or burdensome it should be ended as quickly as possible. In the age of rising health care costs and socialized medicine, advanced palliative care practices pose the very real threat of progressing to involuntary euthanasia and "duty to die."

Conclusion

The UK is not the only country on this slippery-slope to devaluing human life and exposing its most vulnerable to involuntary and early death. Similar "death pathways" are being developed around the world and palliative sedation is already common practice in most countries. Just last year, the American Medical Association (AMA) released a statement ethically approving the practice in the U.S.

In order to stop this slow devaluation of life and reaffirm the sanctity of every life from conception to death, we need to stand now against any and all legislation that implies the quality of life supersedes the sanctity of life. It is time to make our voices heard and stand for life.
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Withholding food and liquids is down right murder.
Who do these people think they are? Judge and jury over others right to live?

no title

2009-10-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

just a medley of things
My week vacation is coming to an end, tomorrow night it's back to work. I wanted to do all kinds of things, but things happen and plans change. Junior decided to move the beds and furniture. The room he shares with Ashton is actually divided into two rooms; a wall between them and an open doorway. He moved Ashton to the window side, so he doesn't disturb him when he goes to bed. He hung a blanket in the doorway and evicted a lot of my things that were in there. Well, some of it belongs to our daughter, some to me. So the first few days I was busy rearranging and finding spots for some of it. I gave junior a couple of his boxes that I had stored for him in the storage room, to make space for my stuff. I've been helping Shanon move her mom's things out of the apartment, convincing her to give things to charity instead of throwing it into the dump. Her and hubby both love to throw things out and then buy new things.
I kept some things, gave some to charity, have more for charity, urged Shanon to sell some in a consignment store, since she's paying off her mom's bills. Her mom is in hospital waiting for a spot in a care home. Shanon asked her what she wanted to take there and is storing it. Hubby has moved some of the bigger things in our trailer.
Yesterday we did more cleaning, visited her mom, then Rick's grave. It was 2 years ago that he died. Shanon took some roses; she's handling it much better now.
She wanted to take us out for dinner because we helped a lot, but hubby woke up with pink eye and wanted to stay home, so the two of us had a late lunch together. Yesterday felt a bit like a vacation for me.
This morning I got Ashton up and fed him breakfast, we had oatmeal, an orange and toast with jam. Then I called his mom that he was ready, she came to pick him up and junior went to work for 10 am 'till 8pm.
Last Sunday we had thanksgiving dinner at hubby's parents' place and mom gave us some turkey soup this week. I brought a plate home for junior, as he worked late Sunday night. Tuesday we got our fridge back.
Did I mentioned it stopped working, less than a year old? It's still under warranty, thankfully. We bought it at Sears, who pride themselves on customer satisfaction.
First we were told on a Thursday, that a technician would come out on Sunday. Sunday hubby called and found out that the tech'-s don't work Sundays and since Mondays service calls had already been scheduled, we had to wait until Tuesday.
A few things went bad. Tues. a repairman shows up, replaces the circuit board and it blows the same way the old one did. He has no other boards and orders a pick up of the fridge and a loaner fridge for us. I think the next day we got that, put our food into the much smaller fridge. We wait to hear, get conflicting reports, one guy has no record about our fridge, someone else says parts are on order, then someone says parts are there, then again, parts are on order. Several days pass, hubby requests a different fridge. No dice, the warranty is only for repairs.
No customer satisfaction here!
Turns out, they replaced over $600 in parts, so there was a whole lot wrong with it.
But the local store absolutely refused to even consider letting us have a different fridge or our money back. Head office tried to sway them, but no way would they do it. While we still waited and had the loaner fridge, I noticed that the temperature didn't seem very cold and I set both the freezer and the fridge on the coldest setting. I hadn't put any food into the freezer, but then hubby bought fish and chicken and put them into the fridge freezer. I didn't know. When I opened the freezer, I found both defrosted. That day I cooked 8 pounds of chicken. The fish I put into our big freezer.
So the loaner was a lemon too.
Headoffice tried to make sure we'd be covered should the fridge die again.
Ashton's parents had issues again and his mom got the police and court involved, it's a mess, they're supposed to have no contact, yada,yada.., now they're wanting to work things out again, but off course now the court issues have to get sorted out. She has some issues and is in counseling. He has issues too and needs to work on them.
Ashton is doing well.
I could use more time off.

2009-10-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

First shift - doughnut holes, last night - peanut butter cookies. Last time I worked in this place, I gained weight. Just wait 'till Christmas! Party time at work :)
One hour overtime tonight and the boss will give me a ride :)

New location

2009-10-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

Aside from the distance, the new place is awesome! People are nice and do their work without trying to control others, the atmosphere is friendly, cooperative and easy going. The boss is great too. :)

2009-09-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

A woman loved is a happy, lovable woman.

I need to learn to lean on Him more

2009-09-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

Daily Encounter by
Richard (Dick) Innes of ACTS International

Monday, September 21, 2009

1. In Sorrow's Hour

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."1

A Daily Encounter reader writes: "We just found out that my mother has lung cancer that has spread to her liver. I know the Lord holds us in his arms, but how do we find the strength and courage to handle what we know is coming? I know Mom needs a rest from her pain, and that the chemo will make her sick, but I'm not ready to let her go. How do I stop being so selfish? It's very hard to 'Let go and let God.'"

I don't think it's selfish to feel the way you do. In fact, I'd say it's normal. It's always difficult when loved ones suffer and when there is a possibility of losing them, and even harder when we do lose them.

Unfortunately, loss is a part of life and all of us will experience it at some time, and it's never easy.

I don't think there are any easy answers except to daily commit and trust your life and that of your loved one to the Lord. Tell God exactly how you feel (he knows it anyhow), and tell him you choose to trust him even if you feel you can't. Do this every day or even more if necessary. In time your feelings will catch up with your choice to trust God. It is also very important not to bottle up your feelings of grief. Tears are a gift from God to help drain the pain of sorrow and loss. Pray that God will give you a friend with whom you can cry without being criticized or told you shouldn't feel that way. Remember that when Jesus was sad, he wept! We need to do the same.

I'm reminded of a song that Danny Gaither sang so marvelously before he died of cancer. The words of the chorus went like this:

Through it all,
Through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
Through it all,
I've learned to depend upon his Word.

It's only through the rough times that we truly learn to trust in God. And in the end for all who trust God and have committed their life to him, we will meet again where there will be no more sickness, sadness, sorrow or dying, and where God himself will wipe away every tear. What a glorious day that will be. In the meantime we also need understanding and caring friends on whom we can lean.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in all of life's circumstances I choose to trust in you no matter how I feel. Please help my feelings to catch up with my choice to trust you, and even if my feelings don't catch up, I choose to trust you regardless. So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

so laugh if you can

2009-09-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

From The Diary Of A Pre- School Teacher

My five-year old students are learning to read.

Yesterday one of them pointed at a picture in a zoo book and said,

“Look at this! It’s a frickin’ elephant!”

I took a deep breath, then asked...“What did you call it?”

“It’s a frickin’ elephant! It says so on the picture!”

And so it does…

” A f r i c a n Elephant “

????

2009-09-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

How is it, I come home after taking care of something to do with junior and I get greeted with:" How come you have $ for him(junior) and not me?" Huh? I didn't give him any, I had to sign a paper I missed last time.
I'm not sure if hubby realizes it, but then began a litany of accusations and complaints about what I do, shouldn't do, did, am, feel and at the end it was, "well, if you'd made yourself more lovable" and "I did it again", meaning, it's fruitless to try and talk to me.
And he says I nag and criticize. He's written junior off again. You know, I've been called every ugly name possible by our son, but it doesn't stop me from loving him as my 'child' and having a relationship with him.
There's a lot of hurt between these two guys, perceived or real, unless one works at developing a caring relationship, these things don't get resolved.
Yes, our son has lots of maturing to do.
He's making slow progress, but as long as there's some progress, I have hope.
I try to help where I can, if my husband needs a hand, I'm there if possible, I try to help our children, my friends, family, neighbours, coworkers.... really, I try to be considerate of others. Funny how those closest don't appreciate the ones they're supposed to love.
I don't sleep around, I don't shop 'till I drop. I buy practical and needed things, like food. Sometimes I buy fun stuff. But I'm not a wasteful person. I don't ride my husband to do things or tell him what to do, like some wives we know. I haven't screamed in years! I'm reasonably attractive and clean. I bring home the bacon.
I think I could be perfect and I still wouldn't be good enough.
Maybe I should have become a nun. :d Just kidding.
So I'm not lovable enough. I guess not, I'm feisty and I don't kiss a$$ or beat around the bush. Oh to be good at womanly flattery and persuasion. I wish.

Job is moving, I must follow :p

2009-09-20T03:03:00.000-07:00

So now I know, it's been in the works, the job I'm doing is getting moved to another city, everyone had to rebid for the jobs by seniority and I have to go with my job. About 3 or 4 people all together are having to start working in the new city. Actually, one might get shoved elsewhere, but not I.
I'll have to file a grievance with the union, since a new guy was put into our station, who'd had an issue at his station, so they just moved him to ours, but he never bid in and they let him bid with us on this. He shouldn't have been able to. He's a nice enough guy, it's not his fault. Management also didn't expect one person who's been off ill, to be coming back; so one more position got spoken for.
I'll be phoning a coworker who works at the new place and ask to get to ride in with her. The bus takes me about one and one half hour to get there. It's where I used to work before I got the transfer out here. No more walking home from work.
We're to far away from the big city, because we're sure that's where the jobs will get moved to eventually, but by our contract our jobs can't get moved past a certain distance. They'll move us to one city and from there to Vancouver.
It's constant change. Years ago all this work was getting done in the smaller towns, then they moved everything to Vancouver, then they moved it all out to the smaller towns again and now they're moving it all back to Vancouver.
Who cares that it's been done before, it's disruptive to people's lives.
One of the guys could retire, he just doesn't want to.
The bright side to it all is that I'll be working with nicer people and get a break from the nasties. I feel sorry for the new guy that's going to have to work with them.
I'm not happy to be relocated. I finally got close to home and now I'll have to start all over to try and get back.
Yet, things happen for a reason, you just never know what will happen.

2009-09-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

English Is So Hard And Confusing Language
The bandage was wound around the wound.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
I did not object to the object.
The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
After a number of injections my jaw got number.
Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Golden Saloon
A guy comes home completely drunk one night. He lurches through the door and is met by his scowling wife, who is most definitely not happy. “Where the hell have you been all night?” she demands.

“At this fantastic new bar,” he says. “The Golden Saloon. Everything there is golden. It’s got huge golden doors, a golden floor, the works – hell, even the urinal’s gold!”

The wife still doesn’t believe his story, and the next day checks the phone book, finding a place across town called the Golden Saloon. She calls up the place to check her husband’s story.
“Is this the Golden Saloon?” she asks when the bartender answers the phone.

“Yes it is,” bartender answers.
“Do you have huge golden doors?”
“Sure do.”
“Do you have golden floors?”
“Most certainly do.”
“What about golden urinals?”
There’s a long pause, then the woman hears the bartender yelling, “Hey, Duke, I think I got a lead on the guy that pissed in your saxophone last night!”

Americans Just Love Mexicans
Jose and Carlos are panhandling at the freeway off ramp.

Jose drives a Mercedes, lives in a mortgage free house and has a lot of money to spend.

Carlos only brings in $20 to $30 dollars a day.

Carlos asks Jose how he can bring home a suitcase full of $10 bills every day.

Jose says, "Look at your sign." It reads: "I have no work, a wife & 6 kids to support." “Now look at my sign.”

Carlos looks at Jose's sign.
It reads: "I only need another $10.00 to move back to Mexico."

Mother Of The Bride
Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement -- not even her parents' nasty divorce. Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new youngwife had bought the exact same dress! Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused. "Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it," she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, "Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day." A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress.

When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, "Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it."

Her mother just smiled and replied, "Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding!"

Drinks of the 21st Century
Absolute Zero = Absolut vodka over frozen nitrogen

Alexander the Grrreat = Gin, creme de cacao, and sweet cream over corn flakes

American in Paris = Kentucky bourbon and champagne

Black Sabbath = Kahlua and Mogen David wine

Blind Faith = Wood alcohol and sacramental wine

Blood Clot = Vodka, tomato juice, and Jell-O

Bloody Awful = Vodka and ketchup

Blue Moon = Corn whiskey and Aqua Velva

Brown Bowl = Vodka and Prune Juice

Coleman Cooler = White wine, soda, fried chicken crumbs, and sand

Fuzzy Naval Base = Peach schnapps, orange juice, and ammonia

George Bush = George Dickel bourbon and Busch beer

Gorbachev = Vodka with a splash of port wine

Honeydew the Dishes = Midori and Dawn

Marie Antoinette = Bourbon, cake mix, and flat beer

Martinizer = Gin, vermouth, and carbon tetrachloride

Mary Poppins = Vodka, tomato juice, and a spoonful of sugar

Mexican Hairless = Tequila and Minoxidil

Oil of Ole = Mazola and Sangria

Peter, Paul, and Mary = Potassium nitrate, Paul Masson wine, and tomato juice

Phillips' Screwdriver = Vodka, orange juice, and milk of magnesia

Port in a Storm = Red wine and rainwater

Quack Doctor = Cold duck and Dr. Pepper

A Rum with a View = Bacardi and Visine

Rum-Pole of the Bailey = Bacardi rum, Popov vodka, and Bailey's Irish Cream

Sake-to-me = Rice wine, punch, and nitrous oxide

Scotch Tapeworm = Dewar's and Mescal

Shipwreck = Cutty Sark on the rocks

Short Wave = Ripple in a shot glass, ginger, syrup, and pomegranate

Sinead O'Connor = Irish whiskey and Nair

Skid Roe = Muscatel and caviar

Sour Kraut = Schnapps and lemon juice

Sundae Driver = Vodka, orange juice, and ice cream

Tequila Mockingbird = Jose Cuervo and birdseed

Ferrai Vs Moped
A hip young man goes out and buys a 1997 Ferrari GTO . It is the best and most expensive car available in the world, costing about $500,000. He takes it out for a spin and while stopping for a red light, an old man on a moped (both looking about 90 years old) pulls up next to him. The old man looks over the sleek, shiny surface of the car and asks, "What kind of car ya' got there, sonny?"

The young man replies, "A 1997 Ferrari GTO. They cost about a half million dollars!"

"That's a lot of money," says the old man, shocked. "Why does it cost so much?"

"Because this car can do up to 320 miles an hour!" states the cool dude proudly.

The moped driver asks, "Can I take a look inside?"

"Sure," replies the owner. So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around.

Leaning back on his moped, the old man says, "That's a pretty nice car, all right!"

Just then the light changes so the guy decides to show the old man what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 320 mph. Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer! He slows down to see what it could be and suddenly, whhhoooossshhh! Something whips by him, going much faster!

"What on earth could be going faster than my Ferrari?!" the young man asks himself. Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming toward him. Whoooooosh! It goes by again, heading the opposite direction! And it almost looked like the old man on the moped!

"Couldn't be," thinks the guy. "How could a moped outrun a Ferrari?!" Again, he sees a dot in his rear view mirror! Whooooosh Ka-BbblaMMM! It plows into the back of his car, demolishing the rear end. The young man jumps out, and it IS the old man!!! Of course, the moped and the old man are hurting for certain. He runs up to the dying old man and says,

"You're badly hurt! Is there anything I can do for you?"

The old man moans and replies, "Yes, Unhook my suspenders from your side-view mirror!"

humour is what keeps me sane, I think :)

2009-09-15T06:43:00.001-07:00

2009-09-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

I've embedded a video below, about a guy who claims to be a psychopath. It's a documentary about him.

2009-09-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

why posts on psychopathy ?

2009-09-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

Because I live with two people that have mental disorders and both fit some of the behaviours described in articles or stories about people who are described as psychopaths.
One day ago hubby was watching a show documenting a self declared psychopath. I saw only a few parts, but some of his interactions looked familiar and since I'd long ago read a book called "Son", who's described behaviour and personality traits seemed so similar to some of my spouses traits, I asked him if he'd ever considered himself to be a psychopath. I belief his answer was:"I have no doubt."
Now I've lived with him for over 30 years and some things don't quite fit, so I decided to read up on clinical definitions of the disorder. There's some interesting research on it. Following is just one interesting description of behaviours of two different types. So it's complex and not everyone is the same.

PCL-R Factors

Early factor analysis of the PCL-R indicated it consisted of two factors.[40] Factor 1 captures traits dealing with the interpersonal and affective deficits of psychopathy (e.g. shallow affect, superficial charm, manipulativeness, lack of empathy) whereas Factor 2 dealt with symptoms relating to antisocial behaviour (e.g. criminal versatility, impulsiveness, irresponsibility, poor behaviour controls, juvenile delinquency).[40]

The two factors have been found by those following this theory to display different correlates. Factor 1 has been correlated with narcissistic personality disorder,[40] low anxiety,[40] low empathy,[41] low stress reaction[42] and low suicide risk[42] but high scores on scales of achievement[42] and well-being.[42]

In contrast, Factor 2 was found to be related to antisocial personality disorder,[40] social deviance,[40] sensation seeking,[40] low socio-economic status[40] and high risk of suicide.[42] The two factors are nonetheless highly correlated[40] and there are strong indications they do result from a single underlying disorder.[43] However, research has failed to replicate the two-factor model in female samples.

===============

It is funny, in a strange sort of way, that I've always been interested in psychology. Maybe that's why our marriage has lasted, because I try and figure out what makes someone do things and if I need to, I try to learn to change my responses to get different results. I have changed but so has my husband, for the better. Some things that are described as tendencies seem to not change though. Poor money management is one.
It explains a lot. Maybe Bi-polar disorder is related to this, since a lot of the traits are similar or the same. Manipulation, impulse buying, lying seem to be part of both disorders.
Maybe I'll get my PhD when I'm 80 :)

2009-09-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

A better definition of ‘Psychopath’
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on July 3, 2006

Are some corporate CEO’s, doctors, lawyers, politicians and scientists psychopaths? The answer could be “yes” if you use a definition which labels individuals who are often intelligent and highly charismatic, but display a chronic inability to feel guilt, remorse or anxiety about any of their actions. Tack on the use of violence and intimidation to control others and satisfy selfish needs and the label expands.

Typically the term “psychopath” evokes thoughts of violence and bloodshed - and evil of the darkest kind. But during 25 years, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has built a body of work that may help temper such deeply ingrained perceptions.

Sure, people do commit horrific, unimaginable crimes. But does that automatically mean they are psychopathic? And what is “psychopathy” anyway? With unique research access to prison inmate populations in Wisconsin, Joseph Newman has devoted his career to answering such questions.

The proper understanding of psychopathy has implications for the treatment of inmates everywhere - particularly for those who are wrongfully labeled. Newman’s work could also serve as the backbone of new behavioral interventions that target psychopathic behaviors.

“My main concern is that the label (of psychopath) is applied too liberally and without sufficient understanding of the key elements,” says Newman, who is chair of the UW-Madison psychology department. “As a result, the term is often applied to ordinary criminals and sex offenders whose behavior may reflect primarily social factors or other emotional problems that are more amenable to treatment than psychopathy.”

But trying to alter stereotypes about a reviled segment of society has been a long and uphill road. For one thing, prison studies are notoriously difficult to do, as researchers must contend with a laundry list of challenges such as issues of access and other constraints related to the protection of inmate rights. The field of psychopathy is also a contentious one, and Newman - who has put forward a provocative theory about the condition - has consistently faced opposition from his scientific peers.

The scientist has persevered, however, demonstrating in study after study the potential merit of his claims. And during the years, Newman’s patient, steady approach has earned the respect of top researchers in the field.

“In looking back, I see (Newman) as one of the preeminent research scientists in the field - his work is ingenious, meticulous, methodologically sophisticated and driven by theory,” says Robert Hare, a leading psychopathy expert at the University of British Columbia. “I really think he’s the top man in the area.”

So who are psychopaths? Broadly speaking, they are people who use manipulation, violence and intimidation to control others and satisfy selfish needs. They can be intelligent and highly charismatic, but display a chronic inability to feel guilt, remorse or anxiety about any of their actions.

Scientists estimate that 15-25 percent of men and 7-15 percent of women in U.S. prisons display psychopathic behaviors. The condition, however, is hardly restricted to the prison system. Newman estimates that up to 1 percent of the general population could be described as psychopathic. Surprisingly, many who fall into that bracket might lead perfectly conventional lives as doctors, scientists and company CEOs.

“Psychopathy appears to exist throughout the world and has probably existed throughout history,” Newman says.

Behavioral specialists now use the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised - a diagnostic questionnaire created by Hare - to detect psychopathy. But although there is finally consensus on the best way to identify the condition, there is still a lot of disagreement on why it occurs in the first place.

The dominant scientific model asserts that psychopathic individuals are incapable of fear or other emotions, which in turn makes them indifferent to other people’s feelings.

But Newman has a different idea entirely. He believes that psychopathy is essentially a type of learning disability or “informational processing deficit” that makes individuals oblivious to the implications of their actions when focused on tasks that promise instant reward. Being focused on a short-term goal, Newman suggests, makes psychopathic individuals incapable of detecting surrounding cues such as another person’s discomfort or fear.

In a study he repeated in different prison populations, for instance, Newman examined how quickly psychopathic and non-psychopathic individuals respond to a series of mislabeled images, such as a drawing of a pig with the word “dog” superimposed on it. Researchers flashed each image and then timed how long it took for subjects to name what they saw.

Over and over again, Newman found that non-psychopathic subjects subconsciously stumbled on the misleading labels and took longer to name the images. But psychopathic subjects barely noticed the discrepancy and consistently answered more quickly.

Newman says the result is one instance of how psychopathic individuals have difficulty processing peripheral cues, even when those cues are entirely obvious to everyone else. Furthermore, the study task didn’t involve any of the emotions that people commonly associate with psychopathy, such as anger or a lack of fear. So the fact that psychopathic subjects barely noticed the wrongful labels - even in the absence of emotional cues - supports the idea that a psychological deficit might be at play.

“People think (psychopaths) are just callous and without fear, but there is definitely something more going on,” Newman says. “When emotions are their primary focus, we’ve seen that psychopathic individuals show a normal (emotional) response. But when focused on something else, they become insensitive to emotions entirely.”

Such studies certainly haven’t been easy to do. Prison staff, space and financial resources are usually in short supply, and because inmate movements are restricted, Newman and his students routinely work under challenging time limitations. Still, the unwavering cooperation from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) has far outweighed any problems. Indeed, the willingness of the DOC to grant him research access was one of the main reasons why Newman, a New Jersey native, decided to join the UW-Madison faculty in 1981.

“The cooperation that exists between the Wisconsin DOC and my university project is unprecedented and enviable,” says Newman. “Over the years, the project has involved thousands of inmates, prison staff, university research assistants and correctional officials. We have never had a negative incident or breach of confidentiality and I believe everyone has benefited from this collaboration and found it to be enjoyable.”

Dale Bespalec, the psychologist supervisor at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, believes that Newman’s work is crucial at a time when correctional authorities nationwide are struggling to understand the most effective ways to work with psychopathic individuals.

“We need to know more about this population as it presents unique challenges to the prison system and our efforts at rehabilitation and treatment,” he says. ” Everything that we can learn (about psychopathy) can impact our attempts to change people’s patterns of behavior. Newman’s work is likely to impact the entire field and not just Wisconsin.”
But in order for psychopathy research to give rise to new behavioral treatment approaches, Newman says scientists need to get together, discuss ideas and continually challenge the status quo. “There has been a tendency to recycle the same intuitively appealing ideas rather than pursue critical tests of new ideas,” he says.

To help generate fresh discussion and debate, Newman and others recently founded the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. The group, which has about 100 members, held its first international meeting in Canada last year.

“In addition to attracting talent to the field, it is important for investigators to cooperate,” says Newman. “We need to listen to each other to benefit from feedback, we need to acknowledge the importance of diverse questions, and we need to cooperate in communicating the importance of this significant mental health problem.”

Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison

2009-09-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

Definition of psychopathy
noun (psychopath, ies)

1. A personality disorder indicated by a pattern of lying, exploitiveness, heedlessness, arrogance, sexual promiscuity, low self-control, and lack of empathy and remorse. Violent and criminal offenses may be indicative of this disorder.

Translations:

* French: psychopathie
* German: Psychopathie

Etymology: From psyche "soul" + pathos "suffering".

will the drama ever end???

2009-08-29T02:24:00.000-07:00

Our son had someone hit his car two days ago. This is the 3rd time in 3 years. Each time he was stopped, the first time at a red light and he got rear ended really hard, pushed him into the car ahead of him. That one really hurt his spine, because he saw the truck bearing down on him and had turned his head, looking back. Almost exactly a year later he was waiting to make a turn and got rear ended again. This time, a bit over a year more, he was stopped, waiting to turn left and got hit on the left front of the car. Each time it aggravates the initial back injury. He also had to vomit the next morning, after he got hit.
He was scheduled to return to work this weekend, which of course didn't happen. Instead, he's fighting with Ashton's mom. They're on again, off again. She's met someone else, but just a week ago our son stayed at her place. They each tell me their version, not exactly everything. I know that our son has issues and even though he says he's done with her, he's jealous, angry, hurt and can't let it go. Tonight I guess he was texting her, I've been told, not nice things. He says that she was texting back. But he's much more tight lipped and she told me that she only wrote 'leave me alone', several times. Hmmm, both need to change, but she called the police and he got arrested at home at 1:30 in the morning. The banging on the door woke me up. I didn't expect he'd get arrested, just talked to, but they took him to jail.
He acts out of his mind when he gets upset and needs a shrink. It seems to me that each generation the men seem to have escalating issues. How much that is from learning things while watching dad and how much is mental problems I don't know.
There's no going back and undoing things, only forward and trying to deal with what life throws our way.
I'd like to see some positive changes in my family. I can't change anyone but myself and so each person has to do changes for themselves. It would sure be nice because my heart keeps breaking the way things are.
My mother in law told me once, that every so often she has a good cry and then she's fine again. I don't think I'm that strong.
You can divorce a spouse and make a new life, but you can't divorce a child. You can disown one. Do I want to do that to stop my heart ache? I doubt that would stop it, it would still hurt, different, but hurt.
I really, really want our son to get help for his mental issues, his tortured soul, his bleeding heart. He'll take my hugs, but not my counsel.

Life :d a carousel you can't get off

2009-08-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday I was up in the middle of the night and everyone else was sleeping.
I think my husband is getting crazier as he gets older. I'm fairly certain he's bipolar, our doc is treating him for it, but no shrink has actually diagnosed him. He shows typical behaviour of the disease, up and down moods, terrible with money, addictive personality, will lie to get what he wants.... during the day I did a lot of work while he mowed the lawn, weed wacked and puttered in the yard. I wondered why he didn't do some of the yard work through the week, since he has no job at the moment. I used to cut the lawn on weekends most of the time. I'm having less energy now but I still strip the bed and make it up, wash the bedding and do most of the cleaning .....
so I sat down, our son sat beside me watching TV while I caught up on fb and the games, fighting with myself to stay awake when hubby, who'd been having his beer while working outside came and asked if I'd fed the dog, I said no, he said could you do it and I asked if he could since he was up, so he yelled for me to get off my f'ng fat, lazy ass...
he's never said that before, he's said other nasty things, but this was a first. I fed the dog and went outside to tell him that it was unacceptable for him to talk to me that way and he owed me an apology. I didn't get one. I asked why he was so angry. He'd been in a lousy mood all day and he said he didn't know.
Probably stress, money, job search etc., seeing his dad call his mom stupid and be nasty to him and mom all the time didn't teach him good skills either.
I talked to Nicole soon after; she called me. She made me promise to talk to someone. It's easier to write down. Words are hard to find for this. I find emotions make words get stuck in my throat. I'm thinking of going to see a counselor for myself. Really, what does one do with a mentally sick person?? He's not crazy enough to be committed. Here pretty much anyone has to give consent for treatment anyway. And what is illness and what's just plain misdirected anger? Or do the lines blur? Could behaviour therapy help change this pattern? Certainly he's not happy and makes the rest of us unhappy too.
Last night he was in a rage again, about what he perceives as a big mess our son has beside the hedge, where our son's car is parked. He wrote a sarcastic letter to junior and taped it to the door. When I got up he told me about the letter, which wasn't sealed in anything. I read it and hubby asked what I thought. I was getting ready for work, eating dinner as we talked. I said that I understood from the letter, that he put some things away in the crawl space and some things he took to the dump. I also said that junior had cleaned some of it up, it was tidier than it had been, also because I'm not as bothered by some things sitting beside the hedge, hubby figured I was taking our son's side against him and started to go into a rage. I could see it escalate, he works himself into this blind rage. He even said that if he had a gun he'd shoot him (our son), or maybe put the gun into his own mouth. Too me, about a few kids outdoor toys and some car parts, that's over the top, I don't find that worth such anger. He also once again repeated that he'd leave if he had the money....You know, it was nice to go to work.
I'll be alright, (I think) been at this for over 30 years, it's wearing though :P It's just hard to talk to anyone about it.
Ashton is cute as always and even makes grumpa smile. I wish he'd find it in himself to love his son and not look at it as a rivalry for my love between him and our son. I feel like he's rejecting our son and as a mother, that's hurtful and brings out a protective instinct.
So we go round and round on the carousel, repeating the same old mistakes. Me too.
Junior and the momma of his boy are in a similar rut. No wonder the world can't get along, if two people can't manage to life together in peace.

UN Health Data Show Liberal Abortion Laws Lead to Greater Maternal Death

2009-08-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

August 13, 2009

By Aracely Ornelas

(NEW YORK – C-FAM) The world's largest abortion provider, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), has recently acknowledged an alarming "surge" in maternal deaths in South Africa, challenging the pro-abortion mantra that liberal abortion laws decrease maternal mortality. Maternal deaths increased by twenty per cent in the period 2005-2007 in South Africa, a country that since 1996 has had one of the most permissive abortion laws on the African continent.

While deaths attributable to HIV/AIDS account for the biggest portion of maternal deaths in South Africa, IPPF acknowledges that a portion of deaths are "due to complications of abortion" in a country where the procedure is legal and widely available.

Developing countries have been badgered in recent years by various United Nations agencies and pro-abortion civil society organizations, including IPPF, to decriminalize abortion as a measure to reduce maternal mortality rates. However, the latest IPPF revelation is the latest fact in a growing body of evidence showing the opposite relationship in which legal abortion and high maternal deaths coincide.

To illustrate, the nation with the lowest African maternal mortality rate is Mauritius, according to a 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) report. Mauritius' laws are among the continent's most protective of the unborn. The report further shows how countries that have decriminalized abortion in recent years in response to pressure, such as Ethiopia, have failed to lower dramatic maternal death rates. Ethiopia's maternal death rate is 48 times higher than in Mauritius.

According to WHO, the country with the lowest maternal mortality rate in South America is Chile, which protects unborn life in its constitution. The country with the highest is Guyana, with a maternal mortality rate 30 times higher than in Chile. Guyana has allowed abortion without almost any restriction since in 1995. Ironically, one of two main justifications used in liberalizing Guyana’s law was to enhance the "attainment of safe motherhood" by eliminating deaths and complications associated with unsafe abortion.

Nicaragua has been in the crosshairs of the international pro-abortion lobby since it amended its law three years ago to grant full protection to prenatal life. Sweden, for example, reportedly cut over $20 million in foreign aid as a result. More recently, Amnesty International issued a report claiming maternal death rates increased following Nicaragua's law going into effect. Media critics, however, have contested the veracity of Amnesty's claims , and Nicaraguan government statistics show a decline in maternal deaths since 2006.

Similarly, WHO statistics for the South East Asia region show Nepal, where there is no restriction on the procedure, has the region's highest rate of maternal mortality. The lowest in the region is Sri Lanka, with a rate fourteen times lower than that of Nepal. According to the pro-abortion public interest law firm Center for Reproductive Rights, Sri Lanka has among the most restrictive abortion laws in the world.

Worldwide, the country with the lowest maternal death rate is Ireland, a nation that prohibits abortion and whose constitution explicitly protects the rights of the unborn.

going to gather some apples and other stuff

2009-08-13T02:11:00.002-07:00

I already picked some up last week, I took one of the small wagons, set Ashton in it and gave him a ride to the apple tree, which he enjoyed, picking up apples didn't seem to appeal to him however. Everyday there are more to pick up, so yesterday I grabbed a basket and headed out the gate along our little path, and right beside the path lay a dead, black rat. SCREAM. I always do that. I hate rats but I can't abide dead animals, any dead ones make me shudder. I don't enjoy cooking meat and I don't eat a lot of it either.
I headed back since hubby didn't seem to hear me call him as I stood frozen on the spot. I could get abducted and he'd never hear me. I've decided his hearing is worse than mine. I'll have to ask him to acknowledge it if he hears me, so I'll know that I don't need to repeat myself. That's the word I couldn't think of last time, harping, he said that I must not have harped enough that he didn't hear me. Yea, nice. Not. That sort of stuff is just hurtful, not funny.
He hadn't heard me and said I should pick it up with the pooper-scooper. No thanks, I don't want to go anywhere near the thing. I went through the house and out the front door instead to get the apples.
Now I'll have to seriously get busy making the apple sauce. I'll eat some raw too, but with worms they don't last long. Maybe we should spray a bit. It doesn't bother me to cut out the wormy parts though.
Our cherry tomatoes are ripening and taste so sweet, hubby started this cleanse, along with it he has to eat really healthy, so our homegrown green peppers and chives are perfect. He's been cooking, which means more cleaning for me, but at least I'm not doing both. He tried Quinoa, one of the ancient grains that are getting popular again, and he likes it.
Yesterday my mom's parcel arrived already! That was quick. Now I can regain any weight I lost during my 'cleanse' :) I gave junior some, it makes him happy. He wasn't very happy with me after I gave him a talking to about how he talks to Ashton's mom. His dad, hubby, was there too, so junior stayed cool. I started with saying to hubby, that it's about time that his Dad's legacy is stopped, where he learned disrespect and abusive talk towards women, junior from him and that Ashton didn't need to learn that. I said to junior that he needed to end it and the best way to love a child as a dad is to love their mother. I said that it wasn't OK for him to talk to her the way he does when he's mad at her.
I guess he's angry because she's decided to stay away from him and just have contact because of Ashton. Why do guys (or gals) think they'll win a person back with verbal attacks? I know it's from hurt feelings and hurt pride, but it only makes everything worse.
I believe in grabbing the bull by the horns, so to speak. Deal with the problem, not avoid it.
My mom's parcel also contained some of her beautiful woven creations. She wove some towels with new material, more the bath towel type and she loved it. That's her exercise, working on the loom, at 83. She always includes newspaper clippings of news she thinks might interest me. Usually a couple of obits, this time another relative, but also several shots of my cousin's daughter, who won a beauty contest. :)
What can I say, it runs in the family. Haha. But good for her. I found her on facebook and sent a message congratulating her. I also asked her to say hi to her dad from me and get him on fb. :)
Our sweet daughter called too and we talked for awhile. She had some pangs of home sickness. Not enough to make her want to come home though and she's taking a course in medical terminology, those stressed out engineers are making her think she'll not want to work there forever.
I'll spend some time tomorrow with Ashton and his momma, Friday S. and I are going to see a movie. Her mom agreed to be moved to a home where she'll receive more care.

How true

2009-08-13T02:11:00.001-07:00

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.