Something local...

From the Chico, News and Review...a little something from my favorite columnist in this small paper. He describes the latest folly by the local police force. They claim that they need more manpower and then they do this...buy a tank for a quarter million dollars! Don't laugh; I bet it's happening in your own community as well. It's hard to keep the boys away from their toys...even deadly toys.

Ouch! Redux...

I really don't care for the fact that I know so many of the staff at the local hospital. But...they are great friends to have when you have to spend so much time there. Now, unless there is some great calamity, I won't be seeing them again. Except at the store or the library...places where I'm quite happy to see them. On Monday morning I had a neurotransmitter and paddle leads installed in my backside. This is the last step for those of us who have FBSS (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome) and are in constant pain. The installation of these items went smoothly and much faster than the back surgeries that preceded this one; only 90 minutes! Everyone was so nice! In fact, I was really enjoying my conversation with the anesthesiologist when she interrupted me, with a smile, and said 'Good night!'

I woke up, as scheduled, in the Recovery Area. Then pain ensued. And it has been pretty much a constant companion ever since. They have me on Percocet (Oxycontin) but it is doing very little for me. On a positive note, I have finally removed the dressings and taken a shower. After that, I had my wife take a photo of the creative landscape of my back. It's easier to do that than to twist my neck trying to look in the mirror. I won't post that photo, I promise. It's quite ugly, with lots of staples showing through the yellow and purple bruising. The new scars go quite well with the older ones, though I may have a tattoo artist label them with dates.

Now I have to wait for the swelling to go down and that is when the St. Jude's rep will meet with me and turn the transmitter to ON. There will be a period of programming as he determines what kind of stimulation will work best for me. After that is over, I get a card that notifies TSA that I'm a legal carrier of metal in my body. And then it's over; I don't have to see anyone again 'medical' until the internal battery fades and must be replaced. That would be in about ten years...in the meantime, I get a chance to get my life back. Walking! Lots of walking...

I'll let you know how it works, in just a few weeks.

AARP and Social Security

Why did I ever think that AARP had my interests at heart? Did I really believe that the management there at AARP headquarters was comprised of 'do good, feel good' Americans who spent their weekends volunteering at the homeless shelters while the apple pies they had just baked were cooling at home...watched over by a cute Cocker Spaniel? Argh! What traitors they turned out to be. I should have known that people in high management positions, even within AARP, have only one agenda and it's a Republican one.

Quantum-dot displays

Dotting the eyes |From The Economist

Doesn't that figure? Our television set is just two years old and with this technology on the very near horizon it might as well be 20 years old.

Party Politics

How Conservatism Lost Touch with Reality - TIME

Now, I rarely read Time news...but this headline caught my eye and I was pleasantly surprised to read an intelligent piece under the Time banner. This short article should be sent to every Congressman and Senator...

Fantastic...

Image Record from Cornell University.

Amazingly enough, this was written during the creation of the Republican Party...somehow they knew the future!

"A heavy, stupid demon, despite his dignities)....his powers are in the gluttony and the pleasure of the belly."

The Republican Agenda

From TIME GOES BY

Sure, she's angry. Why not? I have to agree with her 100%. If you haven't already read this well written post...click on the link above and get busy!

From Wired 9.12:

The Geek Syndrome

I remember reading this article when it was first published and having an 'Aha!' moment.

Here's a link to the author and more of his work...