My older son, Michael has suffered greatly from migraines since the age of eight. I’ve had a few, with only one that approached the severity my son experiences. It’s a terrible thing to watch your child in pain. It looks like this…
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i know it’s debatable as to what sports should be included in the olympic games, but i wonder who is deciding and why. recently, i heard that there’s a bid for skateboarding to be included. well, i suppose that if “beach volleyball” can be considered an olympic sport, why the hell not skateboarding? I’m sure those of us not all gaga over girls in bikinis will at least have more interesting “uniforms” to check out on the skateboarders. i mean, i really think it’s kinda cute to see kids dressed in too-baggy short pants with baseball caps on backwards.
i’m sad to hear that softball and baseball are to be de-olympicized after this year. i guess their uniforms weren’t revealing enough. or maybe they got canned because nobody cares about baseball except the americans and japanese? but no, that can’t be right. do you think there’s worldwide interest in beach volleyball? i mean, aside from the leer-factor.
odear….
i just turned on the olympics and saw what looked like a game of marco polo! i’m sorry….but that’s just too silly for me to watch. i think i’ll check back later. hopefully, i’ll catch something interesting like gymnastics, diving, or possibly a relay race?
meantime, i think i’ll read a book.
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You know, I do try to not be so cynical. I really do want to believe that somebody, somewhere, someday will speak plainly and truthfully. These little glimmers and sparks of hope are very hard to keep shiny in the face of reality. Columnist Michael Kinsley seems to feel much the same. Here’s the first bit of his Op-Ed piece in the NYTimes.
THE purpose of a party platform is pandering, but it is pandering of a particular sort. The Democratic Party’s platform committee has produced its 2008 edition, and now this draft awaits approval at the Democratic National Convention later this month. Like all platforms, it is not an outreach document. It is aimed at the faithful, under the assumption that only they will read it.
The platform is Democrats’ assurance that the party still loves them, their reward for supporting a candidate who may not have been their first choice and their consolation for betrayals yet to come. Much of it is written in code, lest it fall into the wrong hands.
Translating the document is no simple task. First, an alarmist note. Democrats favor “tough, practical and humane immigration reform.” And, “We will provide immediate relief to working people who have lost their jobs, families who have lost their homes and people who have lost their way.” It’s not clear what that third item refers to. Tax credits for G.P.S. devices? Presumably, “people who have lost their way” doesn’t mean illegal immigrants trying to find the border.
As a general rule, platforms of both parties avoid the word “people” in favor of “the American people” or “families” or “American families.” And platforms traditionally follow the rhetorical rule that there are three of everything. This year, though (in a development that will, I fear, reinforce prejudices about liberal profligacy), the Democrats have replaced the Rule of Threes with a Rule of Fours: “policies that are smart and right and fair and good for America,” or “a government as decent, candid, purposeful and compassionate as the American people themselves.” Or sometimes even Fives or Sixes (I’ll spare you).
He goes on and it’s worth the short read. The rest can be read at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/opinion/10kinsley.html?ex=1376020800&en=30470925f0e2e13c&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
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Brni and I were driving home from walking Loki at the local walking/biking path when a music reviewer for NPR came on to talk about Randy Newman’s new CD, Harps and Angels. As background, my dears, Randy Newman is my all-time, most favorite singer/songwriter/composer ever on the planet and beyond. Yes, yes, yes.
The reviewer, sharing my appreciation for Mr. Newman’s genius, made mentioned of the one song he was less than pleased with which was “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country.” Now, he wasn’t disappointed with the lyrics or sentiment of the song, but rather the version redone for the album. Apparently, Randy put out a YouTube video of the song before the album came out. The reviewer pointed out that the version on the album was reworked in a country/western style, losing much of its cutting political edge.
After we got home, Brni turned around and went out to buy the CD. We listened. It’s wonderful. I then searched out the YouTube vid and yes, the reviewer was dead on. The album is great. The song better as first presented.
so, here it is…
you can leave your hat on.
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When things change or shift or sometimes just get bumped, I like to sweep out the cobwebs and freshen things up a bit.
What prompted me to clean house this time is my sense of relief now that the financial problems my dad’s illness caused are almost resolved. The sense of being under attack is lifted and it feels wonderful to be able to breath again. I’m still very disturbed about the system that is in place and what it means for individuals and families who find themselves in a similar situation. But I will leave that for another entry….
So, with virtual broom in hand, the old look for this clunky journal is whisked out the door. Hope you like it.
(one of these days, I’ll get round to a complete customization. yes, one of these days.)
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The woman who is working on my Dad’s medical assistance case felt bad about what I’ve been going through with Dad’s landlord and the bizarre regulations imposed by the state on the children of parents in nursing homes.
So, she pleaded my case to their in-house legal council and they came up with a plan that protects me from the landlord and complies with the state’s regulations to approve Dad for Medicaid.This woman went way above and beyond all expectations. She should be canonized.
I am so relieved!
*happy happy dance*
Croneswood Art 