I recently noticed we've got some new hangers-on and Cause For Concern is up to a delicious 27 followers. Yay! (Sorry to anyone who thought this was a post about chubby chasers.)
Say hello to Brian Sarrasin, (parenthetical)(who was already on my roll), Hill's Country, ALPHAVILLE, Calvin's Nuggits of Wisdom (not to be confused with Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness), and Life With Dogs.
I think that's everyone, and all have been added to the Linktastica! on the right. If I missed you, please deliver proper spanking.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
In Short: Why No Jury Duty for Me?
I've been a registered voter for 14 years. Yet while my sister-in-law has been picked for jury duty 5 times in that time, I have yet to get one call or mail notice. Mrs. Shambles received one a few years ago that turned into "You don't need to show up tomorrow."
So how do we get to serve our civic duty?
So how do we get to serve our civic duty?
Friday, September 18, 2009
I Bring You Pain
From Irish Dancer to you. Enjoy the awful suck that is Asher Roth.
(might take a couple seconds to load. wait for it.)
Seriously, sometimes it's important to experience the suckiest things you can just for the fact of experiencing them. To say you've been there. And yes, it does suck.
(might take a couple seconds to load. wait for it.)
Seriously, sometimes it's important to experience the suckiest things you can just for the fact of experiencing them. To say you've been there. And yes, it does suck.
One More Not-Gout Update
After I blasted out that last post, I got a lot of advice, but no real answers as to what the hell might be wrong with my foot.
For those of you just joining us: Labs and longevity (as of today 4 1/2 weeks) says "not gout," x-ray guy says "not broken."
At this point, I still limp some because my left big toe still hurts, but only when I flex it or bump it, and it's more uncomfortable than seriously painful at this point. Wednesday I was able to deal with regular shoes, but driving with a clutch still aches.
No answers yet? As the pain at the top and side of the joint is subsiding, I'm discovering a new pain in the ball of the foot. Again, we're not talking the stabbing 9/10 pain I was originally experiencing - we're down to 0.5 - 1.0 - but a distinctive ache under the joint.
So, for the record, I'll go an suggest Sesamoiditis (goodness does the Wikipedia entry suck ass on the human version - I'm really not a horse).
And that's where it lies. Or lays. Or lied. I'm a huge grammar guy but that whole track never layed right with me.
So I have fading pain, and that's great. I've implemented some changes in my life that will be wonderful for my body and health - tomorrow on the bike perhaps?
But I'm still left with the mystery of why this happened in the first place. And why did it manifest the way it did?
Thank you for listening to the ramble of real life.
Oh, and I've got an infected eyelash duct! Boo!
For those of you just joining us: Labs and longevity (as of today 4 1/2 weeks) says "not gout," x-ray guy says "not broken."
At this point, I still limp some because my left big toe still hurts, but only when I flex it or bump it, and it's more uncomfortable than seriously painful at this point. Wednesday I was able to deal with regular shoes, but driving with a clutch still aches.
No answers yet? As the pain at the top and side of the joint is subsiding, I'm discovering a new pain in the ball of the foot. Again, we're not talking the stabbing 9/10 pain I was originally experiencing - we're down to 0.5 - 1.0 - but a distinctive ache under the joint.
So, for the record, I'll go an suggest Sesamoiditis (goodness does the Wikipedia entry suck ass on the human version - I'm really not a horse).
And that's where it lies. Or lays. Or lied. I'm a huge grammar guy but that whole track never layed right with me.
So I have fading pain, and that's great. I've implemented some changes in my life that will be wonderful for my body and health - tomorrow on the bike perhaps?
But I'm still left with the mystery of why this happened in the first place. And why did it manifest the way it did?
Thank you for listening to the ramble of real life.
Oh, and I've got an infected eyelash duct! Boo!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Shocking Short: Limbaugh Says No Racism!
In a shocking, glib bit of radio personal torture I caught on the way to the store today, Rush Limbaugh stated that what is going on in opposition to Obama is not only NOT racism but should be referred to as "Overwhelming Patriotism."
Apparently he was in a full-on Oxy coma during W's presidency.
The problem on this suggestion is that the right is discounting ANY accounts of racism by pointing to where it is not, or where it is invoked but not provable. Yesterday on Hannity's radio show, he had 2 black pundits, one calling racism, one saying the call for racism was BS. Unfortunately, the pundit calling racism did not have one solid example of a race-based attack on Obama.
Ooh! Ooh! I've got one! Barack the Magic Negro!
Young Turks hit it solidly from December. Undertone is lingering reality: Republicans do not understand what is funny.
Apparently he was in a full-on Oxy coma during W's presidency.
The problem on this suggestion is that the right is discounting ANY accounts of racism by pointing to where it is not, or where it is invoked but not provable. Yesterday on Hannity's radio show, he had 2 black pundits, one calling racism, one saying the call for racism was BS. Unfortunately, the pundit calling racism did not have one solid example of a race-based attack on Obama.
Ooh! Ooh! I've got one! Barack the Magic Negro!
Young Turks hit it solidly from December. Undertone is lingering reality: Republicans do not understand what is funny.
Another Thursday Van Mural Wednesday: Beach Bum
Doesn't get better than surfin' and butts. Except when it's surfin' and butts Down Under!
(license place says "Australia")
(license place says "Australia")
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ricky's Wisdom Today, 9/15/09
Unless there is loving-kindness in our speech, it's going to come out wrong.
- Ayyan Khema, "Be an Island"
Monday, September 14, 2009
Why Republicans / Conservatives / Teabaggers / Astroturfers / Tenthers / Birthers Suck so Hard
They are retarded.
Some might leave it at that and in that vein insult those that are genuinely, mentally handicapped.
The angry mob of boogeymen and boogeywomen that at every turn the right wing media are pushing and prodding and firing up with fear and anger with food for fuel of facts that are nothing if not false like Barnaby cracking the gates in Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland, these people wanting to believe in something that is not a black man in the white house and stand charged with ignorance and lies, those people are logistically retarded, thought-process handicapped, deaf and blind to even the raw, proven truth that is put in front of their faces for the Priests of AM Radio have directed them to shout bloody murder and call such truths witchcraft and howl and shout down the opposition with unintelligible grunts and groans.
Glenn Beck saying that his 9/12 movement had nothing to do with the 9/12 gathering in DC immediately followed by a commercial saying anyone looking for info about DC check out the 9/12 website.
Rush Limbaugh saying that Obama is an institution built to intentionally drive the market into failure and destroy America while the other side of his jowls spouts non-belief in conspiracy theories.
Rush calling Joe Wilson a hero for screaming "liar" like a mad ferret at Obama during his health care speech when any Democrat who would've done the same to GHWB's constant, provable bullshit would've been called out on the carpet and castrated by the same media.
Congress on the right claiming they really do want health care reform but not really all that much but they won't even read the bill and where's that fucking campaign check from the insurance companies...
EVERYONE on the right in congress and on the radio driving these fear-and-lies-driven mobs to town halls and claiming they are just informing normal people to take a stand but in reality driving the uninformed automaton bus.
The hypocrisy of "The Sanctity of Marriage" being torn asunder by homosexuals when affairs and divorce are ruining the construct - the construct that has only been made up and accepted (by them) in the last few decades.
Some fucking whack-a-doo on one of the Columbus religious stations talking about Obama being a man, not a god, and how he has no right to talk to the children, to impose what HE wants them to do, that he is NOT the "public master" but "public servant." Seriously. Do these people have NO idea of how language works, especially in relation to slavery connotations? [Note: Standing reference that Republicans do not understand language nuance - i.e., humor, race - or technology still stands quite solidly.]
Just about any damn thing that comes out of anyone defaming a president of 9 months who was saying about Bush "give him a chance" before 9/11 skewed everything to "He's the President and never wrong."
Rush finally saying that the fucking loss in unemployment applications refers not to those who have found jobs but those who are simply no longer applying for unemployment - like it ran out, like when it was doing so for millions of Americans (myself included) about six years ago and he was praising Bush's ability to renew the economy.
The economy is a tough fucking monster with thousands of variables that, depending on whom you listen to, has never been mastered correctly. When a president takes the reins from another and is left with a massive expanse of shit, (s)he should be given at least a year and a half to rock out some shit. And I will stand by that. And I will stand by that last I will stand by that.
The right is not just uninformed, they are incorrectly uninformed. They are stunted in their basic knowledge of reality because they do nothing but listen to - I hate to even call them - pundits who flail and wag the Reagan stick at them like it's a measure of distinction and verbally rape history and pick and choose and interpret from the Constitution like they do from the Bible and embrace every word that calls Obama a devil and socialist and communist and Hitler and loves it and wants to kiss it on the bubbies.
As Colbert said that one time, "Reality has a liberal bias."
And I'm tired of watching the myrmidons of Right Radio lap up the dribbling shit off the lips of the logorrhea coming off the mouths of manipulative, malcontent fools.
That's why I'm a little worked up today.
Some might leave it at that and in that vein insult those that are genuinely, mentally handicapped.
The angry mob of boogeymen and boogeywomen that at every turn the right wing media are pushing and prodding and firing up with fear and anger with food for fuel of facts that are nothing if not false like Barnaby cracking the gates in Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland, these people wanting to believe in something that is not a black man in the white house and stand charged with ignorance and lies, those people are logistically retarded, thought-process handicapped, deaf and blind to even the raw, proven truth that is put in front of their faces for the Priests of AM Radio have directed them to shout bloody murder and call such truths witchcraft and howl and shout down the opposition with unintelligible grunts and groans.
Glenn Beck saying that his 9/12 movement had nothing to do with the 9/12 gathering in DC immediately followed by a commercial saying anyone looking for info about DC check out the 9/12 website.
Rush Limbaugh saying that Obama is an institution built to intentionally drive the market into failure and destroy America while the other side of his jowls spouts non-belief in conspiracy theories.
Rush calling Joe Wilson a hero for screaming "liar" like a mad ferret at Obama during his health care speech when any Democrat who would've done the same to GHWB's constant, provable bullshit would've been called out on the carpet and castrated by the same media.
Congress on the right claiming they really do want health care reform but not really all that much but they won't even read the bill and where's that fucking campaign check from the insurance companies...
EVERYONE on the right in congress and on the radio driving these fear-and-lies-driven mobs to town halls and claiming they are just informing normal people to take a stand but in reality driving the uninformed automaton bus.
The hypocrisy of "The Sanctity of Marriage" being torn asunder by homosexuals when affairs and divorce are ruining the construct - the construct that has only been made up and accepted (by them) in the last few decades.
Some fucking whack-a-doo on one of the Columbus religious stations talking about Obama being a man, not a god, and how he has no right to talk to the children, to impose what HE wants them to do, that he is NOT the "public master" but "public servant." Seriously. Do these people have NO idea of how language works, especially in relation to slavery connotations? [Note: Standing reference that Republicans do not understand language nuance - i.e., humor, race - or technology still stands quite solidly.]
Just about any damn thing that comes out of anyone defaming a president of 9 months who was saying about Bush "give him a chance" before 9/11 skewed everything to "He's the President and never wrong."
Rush finally saying that the fucking loss in unemployment applications refers not to those who have found jobs but those who are simply no longer applying for unemployment - like it ran out, like when it was doing so for millions of Americans (myself included) about six years ago and he was praising Bush's ability to renew the economy.
The economy is a tough fucking monster with thousands of variables that, depending on whom you listen to, has never been mastered correctly. When a president takes the reins from another and is left with a massive expanse of shit, (s)he should be given at least a year and a half to rock out some shit. And I will stand by that. And I will stand by that last I will stand by that.
The right is not just uninformed, they are incorrectly uninformed. They are stunted in their basic knowledge of reality because they do nothing but listen to - I hate to even call them - pundits who flail and wag the Reagan stick at them like it's a measure of distinction and verbally rape history and pick and choose and interpret from the Constitution like they do from the Bible and embrace every word that calls Obama a devil and socialist and communist and Hitler and loves it and wants to kiss it on the bubbies.
As Colbert said that one time, "Reality has a liberal bias."
And I'm tired of watching the myrmidons of Right Radio lap up the dribbling shit off the lips of the logorrhea coming off the mouths of manipulative, malcontent fools.
That's why I'm a little worked up today.
Holy Shizzy, Six Days of Night?
Sorry ladies, not me: I swing a bigger wrench.
I went to post today and made special notice that I had not posted in 6 days. WTF? I wasn't even drunk all week or anything like that (no, sorry, not since my not-gout).
I've been working on my real job pretty extensively, but that's no excuse. Not for you. I skipped last week's van mural and have had no wit or swears to share - apparently absent-mindedly - since last week. And that's awful. And I'm sorry.
Mother fucking, fucking shit, shit damn I'm sorry.
I guess sometimes life just does that to you.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Health Care: We Can't Afford to Wait
I don't know exactly what President Obama is going to nail down tomorrow, but we will not fold. We will not let a public option just melt away. We will not stop talking about insurance companies reaping profit by raping hard-working Americans. Obama and the Democratic Party need to step it up, deliver what they promised when campaigning, and maybe then we'll keep up the rally cries. Otherwise, it's crickets as we stand, stunned, disillusioned, and with little faith left in our government to do what is right.
MoveOn and R.E.M. have the same message.
MoveOn and R.E.M. have the same message.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Tricky - Dear God
Just caught Tricky's cover of XTC's Dear God. Thought it appropriate for today's mood.
If you are unaware of Tricky, well, here's some more. Poems:
If you are unaware of Tricky, well, here's some more. Poems:
Thursday, September 03, 2009
A Practical Video on Why We Need Not-for-Profit Health Care
Shamelessly stolen from Liberality who shamelessly stole it from Walled-In Pond. I suggest Republicans take a careful look at a logical explanation and reevaluate their ignorance gap.
Walmart and Rape Vans
I thought I'd tie in a bonus Van Mural today:
...which isn't in any way a mural, but black spray paint. But recall that this whole thing did begin with a focus on rape vans, and this is certainly one.
But please notice in the lower right that this image belongs to the site I just discovered: People of Walmart. Yes, it is a photoblog of people who shop at Walmart. And as you' expect, it is both entertaining and sad at times. But mostly funny. A worthy distraction if ever there was one.
UPDATE: I love the internets. One of the images on the blog was of the back of a jean jacket that had a YouTube page address painted on it that led me to this video. It is 30 seconds that you will never get back.
...which isn't in any way a mural, but black spray paint. But recall that this whole thing did begin with a focus on rape vans, and this is certainly one.
But please notice in the lower right that this image belongs to the site I just discovered: People of Walmart. Yes, it is a photoblog of people who shop at Walmart. And as you' expect, it is both entertaining and sad at times. But mostly funny. A worthy distraction if ever there was one.
UPDATE: I love the internets. One of the images on the blog was of the back of a jean jacket that had a YouTube page address painted on it that led me to this video. It is 30 seconds that you will never get back.
On Race and Republicans and YouTube: Jenkins and Steele
Over at Cleveland.com I found this little gem:
And if you don't yet believe this freshman representative is an ignorant automaton towing the party line, check out this bit where she berates a single mother and her child because she (like so many other Republicans) cannot engage in dialogue when faced with how the reality of their rhetoric is harming real people and retreats into a "You're not making sense" posture.
And this brings us to Michael Steele, who also berated an audience member concerning health care. This young man talked of his mother who died of cancer because she couldn't afford her chemo meds. Steele flapped his arms and said that makes great teevee. Watch it:
And that cycles back around to race. Also reported in the above article:
Between ignoring the issue of the uninsured - even when they're standing right in front of them - and failing miserably, as they always have, at connecting with minorities - even with a minority leading your party - is there any reason to believe Republicans will be much of a threat in 2010? There are many things I'm not thrilled about with the Democratic Party right now, but I still wouldn't trust the Republicans with a potato gun, let alone Congress.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A freshman Republican congresswoman apologized today for telling a gathering in her district that the GOP was still searching for a "great white hope" to stop President Barack Obama's political agenda.Oh, shit man. Olbermann can toss some commentary on this mess better than I:
Rep. Lynn Jenkins used the phrase during an Aug. 19 forum as she discussed the Republican Party's future and tried to reassure members that the GOP has promising young leaders.
And if you don't yet believe this freshman representative is an ignorant automaton towing the party line, check out this bit where she berates a single mother and her child because she (like so many other Republicans) cannot engage in dialogue when faced with how the reality of their rhetoric is harming real people and retreats into a "You're not making sense" posture.
And this brings us to Michael Steele, who also berated an audience member concerning health care. This young man talked of his mother who died of cancer because she couldn't afford her chemo meds. Steele flapped his arms and said that makes great teevee. Watch it:
And that cycles back around to race. Also reported in the above article:
On the Huffington Post, Dave Zirin also notes that Steele’s “effort to connect with young black students got off to a rather cringe-worthy start when right before the billed ’student dialogue’ two dozen white members of area young Republicans arrived to sit in the reserved first two rows of the packed room.”
Between ignoring the issue of the uninsured - even when they're standing right in front of them - and failing miserably, as they always have, at connecting with minorities - even with a minority leading your party - is there any reason to believe Republicans will be much of a threat in 2010? There are many things I'm not thrilled about with the Democratic Party right now, but I still wouldn't trust the Republicans with a potato gun, let alone Congress.
Verizon Sponsors Coal Teat Event
Check this out from the folks over at Think Progress:
Click that link above and follow it to the action link. This is bullshit. If you use Verizon, make certain you do something. Your money is your voice in this case.
The Green movement has NOTHING to do with employees of the coal industry losing their jobs, nor is it a current threat. The single largest reason why people in the coal industry lose their jobs is the greed and increasing efficiency of the coal companies themselves. To avoid backlash they blame it on the environmental movement and ignorance reigns, especially if you're CEO of Verizon and apparently suckling at the money teat of the coal industry.
TheyTookArrrJubbs!
On Labor Day, tens of thousands of people will be gathering for the coal-powered “Friends of America Rally” in Holden, WV. The point of the gathering is to rail against the Waxman-Markey clean energy legislation. It will feature right-wing guests such as Sean Hannity and Ted Nugent (who once ranted about killing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton), and is being pushed by mountaintop-removal mining company Massey Energy. Last week, Massey CEO Don Blankenship even recorded a video inviting people to attend the rally, saying they would learn about how “environmental extremists and corporate America are both trying to destroy your jobs.”
Click that link above and follow it to the action link. This is bullshit. If you use Verizon, make certain you do something. Your money is your voice in this case.
The Green movement has NOTHING to do with employees of the coal industry losing their jobs, nor is it a current threat. The single largest reason why people in the coal industry lose their jobs is the greed and increasing efficiency of the coal companies themselves. To avoid backlash they blame it on the environmental movement and ignorance reigns, especially if you're CEO of Verizon and apparently suckling at the money teat of the coal industry.
TheyTookArrrJubbs!
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Van Mural Wednesday: Mayan Techno
It's the Maya! It's a microchip! ...and a monkey ...and a volcano? WTF?
Gout Follow-up: Blood Labs and X-Ray
For those of you following the gout story, I spent the weekend icing and living in the boot like it was a break and I'm down from a 9/10 to 1/10 on a pain indicator, though driving a manual (it's my clutch foot) sucks, even in the gimp boot.
It's not gout as gout doesn't just linger for 2 weeks, especially with my low uric acid numbers. So Monday I went in for an x-ray. And nothing's broken. I got back with the doc and they said "If it still hurts on Thursday, give us a call and we'll try to figure it out." WTF?
So quick review and if anyone has insight, I would really appreciate it:
2 weeks ago, during the course of the day on Tuesday, the joint of my big toe - where it meets the foot - went from sore to stiff to throbbing and stabby. It was red and swollen and tender to the touch. Changing foot elevation would send shooting pain through the joint for about 5 seconds. Every step was painful and the throbbing kept me up most of the night. Wednesday and Thursday the pain was at a 9 and I didn't do much moving about. Friday was better, and Saturday was down to about a 2, so I started moving again. Sunday through Tuesday returned me to a 9 on the pain meter. Research on gout was looking iffy as it usually flares and then declines and I'd been way over on water consumption.
I went to the doctor who said gout didn't really last that long and my inflammation wasn't as bad as expected. When I got home, I fished out the gimp boot (immobilization shoe from a previous foot break) and iced the joint and wore the boot whenever I moved. In 24 hours I was down to a 3 in pain and for the past 5 days it has evened out at a 1 or 2.
I still don't have full range of motion and there is still pain when I walk. Stuffing my foot into a regular shoe causes the pain to worsen. Gimp boot makes it better, but not go away. I limp, which is always attractive.
This is probably more than you - or anyone - would want to know, but since we're getting all personal here and it might give further insight, here's my labs:
What - Mine - (normal/good)
Uric - 8.3 - (2 - 8.2)
Cholesterol - 235 - (under 200)
LDL - 122 - (under 100)
HDL - 41 - (over 39)
Ratio - 3 - (0 - 3.6)
Triglycerides - 360 - (under 150)
Liver
SGOT - 91 - (0 - 40)
SGPT - 168 - (0 - 55)
Hep test negative
Kidney function normal
Thyroid TSH - 5.82 - (.45 - 4.5)
Sugar - 81 - (under 100)
I've got to lose a couple pounds, eat oatmeal and fish oil, and exercise. And knock down on the drinkin'. The pain in my foot prevents the exercise. Almost certain it's not gout and x-ray is clean.
Any thoughts?
It's not gout as gout doesn't just linger for 2 weeks, especially with my low uric acid numbers. So Monday I went in for an x-ray. And nothing's broken. I got back with the doc and they said "If it still hurts on Thursday, give us a call and we'll try to figure it out." WTF?
So quick review and if anyone has insight, I would really appreciate it:
2 weeks ago, during the course of the day on Tuesday, the joint of my big toe - where it meets the foot - went from sore to stiff to throbbing and stabby. It was red and swollen and tender to the touch. Changing foot elevation would send shooting pain through the joint for about 5 seconds. Every step was painful and the throbbing kept me up most of the night. Wednesday and Thursday the pain was at a 9 and I didn't do much moving about. Friday was better, and Saturday was down to about a 2, so I started moving again. Sunday through Tuesday returned me to a 9 on the pain meter. Research on gout was looking iffy as it usually flares and then declines and I'd been way over on water consumption.
I went to the doctor who said gout didn't really last that long and my inflammation wasn't as bad as expected. When I got home, I fished out the gimp boot (immobilization shoe from a previous foot break) and iced the joint and wore the boot whenever I moved. In 24 hours I was down to a 3 in pain and for the past 5 days it has evened out at a 1 or 2.
I still don't have full range of motion and there is still pain when I walk. Stuffing my foot into a regular shoe causes the pain to worsen. Gimp boot makes it better, but not go away. I limp, which is always attractive.
This is probably more than you - or anyone - would want to know, but since we're getting all personal here and it might give further insight, here's my labs:
What - Mine - (normal/good)
Uric - 8.3 - (2 - 8.2)
Cholesterol - 235 - (under 200)
LDL - 122 - (under 100)
HDL - 41 - (over 39)
Ratio - 3 - (0 - 3.6)
Triglycerides - 360 - (under 150)
Liver
SGOT - 91 - (0 - 40)
SGPT - 168 - (0 - 55)
Hep test negative
Kidney function normal
Thyroid TSH - 5.82 - (.45 - 4.5)
Sugar - 81 - (under 100)
I've got to lose a couple pounds, eat oatmeal and fish oil, and exercise. And knock down on the drinkin'. The pain in my foot prevents the exercise. Almost certain it's not gout and x-ray is clean.
Any thoughts?
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