CAM - Health Care Reform - Save Money

Treatments as shown in this video will definitely result in lower health care costs. As the fools that seek cheap CAM treatments die, there will be fewer people seeking health care. I sure hope that someone doesn't market a homeopathic beer however.

The Answer to Our Healthcare Problems

We don't need government sponsored healthcare, just go to work for the Federal Government. Wait.....???

By Quitting Palin Proves She is a Fighter

Please, please.....someone explain what this woman is saying. At least she has made one person very happy....Gov. Mark Sanford. He sounds reasonable by comparison.

You can read the speech here (and we thought John McCain was erratic).

Here is my favorite quote: If I have learned one thing: life is about choices! That's right, choices. As long as they are the correct choices. Choices only conservatives that have the ear of god can proclaim are the proper choices. Good riddance Sarah Palin, I can only wish this is the last we will hear of you.

One World Order and Lizard People

There is a commentary in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise with suggestions on what "we" are looking for in future political candidates. Suggestion #7 hit a chord with me.

7. If you are interested in bringing America into a one-world-order government, stay home. You do not have the best interests of the United States of America in mind. However, as mentioned previously, there are many Third World countries where you would be temporarily welcome.

Suggestion #7 immediately reminded me of David Icke, a major "One World Order - Jews are Reptilian Shape Shifters" conspiracy monger. Icke was mentioned in an article, "Toxic to Democracy" by Chip Berlet (you can also listen to an interview of Berlet).

I never really appreciated how seriously conservatives take the "One World Order" conspiracy until I read Berlet's article and listened to the likes of David Icke. The inability of large numbers of people to think critically is what should concern the likes of David Icke and his followers whether they be politically "left" or "right".

But just to be sure....has anyone out there actually seen a person shape shift into a humanoid-reptile?

Stihl Gas Trimmer - Great Product

Last summer my Sears Craftsman trimmer wouldn't start. I had it checked out and it was dead. I replaced it with a Stihl FS45 which I obtained at Sturdy Equipment and Supply in Saranac Lake, NY. This is my second summer of using this great trimmer. It was only a few dollars more than a Craftsman, has a 2 year warranty and Sturdy is licensed repair center for Stihl equipment. I use this trimmer for trimming everything from grass to very heavy weedy plants. It starts with three or four pulls and my trimmer has the "fix-cut" head that uses pre-cut pieces of string. Nice thing is, you do not have to turn the trimmer off to replace the strings.

If I had it to do over again, I would chuck out the extra cash to purchase the FS80. The FS80 has a straight shaft and is more versatile in the types of cutting blades you can use. Unfortunately, I think my FS45 is going to last until I'm no longer fit to use it.

Grand Ole Party Hypocrisy

Here is a nice chart that ranks the "family values" states with regard to divorce rates, teenage pregnancy rates and subscription to pornographic magazines. Red is for states that voted for "family values" candidate John McCain and blue is for states that voted for Barack Obama. Notice the hypocrisy.

Guess who said this during the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal:

I think it would be much better for the country and for him personally” to resign. “I come from the business side. ... If you had a chairman or president in the business world facing these allegations, he’d be gone.

It Came from Wasilla

Todd Purdum has written a piece about Sarah Palin for Vanity Fair magazine. Most of the material in the story comes from John McCain's campaign officials.

Here is a sample:

Palin is unlike any other national figure in modern American life—neither Anna Nicole Smith nor Margaret Chase Smith but a phenomenon all her own. The clouds of tabloid conflict and controversy that swirl around her and her extended clan—the surprise pregnancies, the two-bit blood feuds, the tawdry in-laws and common-law kin caught selling drugs or poaching game—give her family a singular status in the rogues’ gallery of political relatives. By comparison, Billy Carter, Donald Nixon, and Roger Clinton seem like avatars of circumspection. Palin’s life has sometimes played out like an unholy amalgam of Desperate Housewives and Northern Exposure.

Patriotism - Right Wing Version

"The only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama Bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States --- because it's gonna take a grassroots, bottom up pressure -- because these politicians prize their offices, prize the praise of the media, and the Europeans. It's an absurd situation again, only Osama can execute an attack which will force Americans to demand that their government protect them effectively, consistently and with as much violence as necessary."

Be afraid, be very afraid. Being afraid is patriotic. Hoping for a terrorist attack on the USA is now patriotic.

Al Franken is Finally a US Senator

Norm Coleman (R-MN)has finally conceded the Senate race in Minnesota because the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Franken. It only took eight months to determine who won the seat, the third longest vacancy for a senate seat ever. This is good news for health care and energy in the USA.

The Senate isn't in session this week so it looks like Al Franken will have to wait to be seated. Democrats own the Senate now, let's see what they do with the advantage.

Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine

Hokey, but true.

He's Gone

Truth in Labeling - Clean Water & Safe Drugs

You've got to love the legal system in the USA. If you want to market an unsafe, over-the-counter drug, such as Zicam, you need only label it a "homeopathic" drug.

If you want to allow a mining company to dump mining waste into an Alaskan lake (and now probably any body of water in the USA), all you need do is to label the waste "fill".

Sen. Betty Little - Be a Leader

As the fiasco in the New York State Senate continues, I have a suggestion for resolving the "leadership" conflict. Our State senator, Betty Little, claims to be a leader in the NY State senate. She could easily prove her leadership capabilities by temporarily ending the impasse in the State Senate.

Sen. Little could temporarily "go over" to the Democratic side resolving the "leadership" question and allowing the Senate to vote on the many bills before that body. In my view, this would not hurt Sen. Little's chances of getting re-elected in her district which is primarily conservative (rather than Republican). What it would do, is show that she is more concerned about the people of her district and the state of NY than she is about her party. At the same time, this action would likely win her many Democratic votes next time she runs for re-election.

So, Sen. Little, why don't you take it upon yourself to end the "leadership impasse" in the NY State Senate by proving that you are a leader and proving that you care about your constituents more than party politics.

Another Typical Local Politican - Paul Maroun

This guy, Paul Maroun (R) wants to represent the 23rd NY district. Todays Adirondack Daily Enterprise has a story that may be telling of Mr. Maroun's governing style. Secret meetings that make secret agreements. Again, you elect this guy and we will get exactly what we deserve.

Joyce Morency - You Pay, Not Me

Typical Republican Politician: "If you think I'm going to voluntarily go down without a battle, you're wrong. I have been told I would be grandfathered in because of my years of devotion to Essex County. I'm not about to give it up."

Ms. Joyce Morency (R-St. Armand)of the Essex County Board of Supervisor believes she should not have to contribute towards the cost of her health insurance like all the other supervisors.

The amount of money Morency would have been required to pay toward her insurance so far is between $300 and $400. The deductions were not made because she would not sign the necessary form last year.

This is the kind of politician (Republican or Democrat) that we continue to re-elect in New York State. Then we go on to complain about what a poor job politicans do in NY, except of course, the politician that directly repsents me.

Ms. Morency should step off her high horse and do the right thing. Put your money where your mouth is and start saving taxpayers some money.

APA/DEC Lawn Alternatives?

How about considering something like this? It would cost a little bit up front, would take a couple of years but it sure would look good in front of your buildings. As an added benefit, maybe it would shut up the "ridiculous-crowd".

Who Invented Rock and Roll

Was it Jackie Brenston with "Rocket 88" (#2 in 1951)



or was it Roy Brown with "Good Rockin' Tonight" in 1947?



I've got to go with Brenston. Elvis does his own version of "Good Rockin' Tonight here.

Zicam, Zinc and the Common Cold

The Food and Drug Administration has recommended that consumers should stop using Zicam,(also here) an over-the-counter, anti-cold remedy. The good folks at Zicam are complying with the FDA in that they are removing Zicam nasal swabs and gels from the market. But, Zicam is also going to the FDA to "vigorously defend its scientific data, developed during more than 10 years of experience with the products, demonstrating their safety." Zicam is also offering refunds for those that have their products in their medicine cabinents. A list of other useless Zicam medications, that are not affected by the FDA warning letter can be found here.

So just what is Zicam and does it work. Zicam is basically zinc gluconate that is delivered directly into the nose using a gel or swabs. There is some evidence that zinc gluconate, taken orally, is effective in reducing common cold symptoms. There is an equal amount of evidence that zinc gluconate does nothing to alleviate cold symptoms. Papers published in scientific journals that support or do not support the efficacy of zinc gluconate in reducing common cold symptoms can be found here.

The problem with intranasally applied zinc gluconate is that zinc ions on nasal epithelium can result in the loss of capacity to smell, a condition called anosmia. Matrixx Initiatives Inc., the parent company of Zicam their products do not cause anosmia and they have evidence to prove it.

The Company believes these products are safe and do not cause anosmia. The Company's position is supported by the cumulative science and has been confirmed by a multi-disciplinary panel of scientists.

Of course, you might want to take into consideration that the company made over $100 million selling these ineffective products.

And, what about the man behind Zicam "Dr." Robert Steven Davidson? This guy has a Bachelors degree from Excelsior College, a "virtual college" located in Albany, NY (although it is accredited). He also has a PhD from "obtained from an unaccredited and now-defunct university in Spain"

A free, full text review of the efficacy of zinc in reducing cold symptoms can be found here. So decide for yourself in taking an over-the-counter medicine that may or may not reduce your common cold symptoms is worth possibly losing your sense of smell.

APA, DEC and Tall Grass

If you live in the Adirondack State Park you almost certainly have nothing good to say about the Adirondack Park Agency (APA). The APA was created in 1971, by a law enacted by the New York State legislature, to oversee land development in the Adirondacks.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was created in 1970. Their mission is "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being"

I would guess that most people living in the State of NY and elsewhere in the country would support the mission of these two agencies, although not necessarily how they go about carrying out their missions. Who, in their right mind, would be in favor of unregulated development of one our National Parks (other than maybe staunch Bush supporters).

The Adirondack Park, on the other hand, is unlike the National Parks in that people live in the Adirondack Park. A significant portion of Adirondack State Park is privately owned. This causes problems.

One of the biggest problems in the last few weeks, seems to be the tall grass growing outside the DEC and APA buildings in Raybrook, NY. Local people seem to be incensed about this, if the calls into "Talk of the Town" the last 3 weeks are any indication. That's right, one of the bigger problems facing the State of NY is that two major environmental agencies are allowing the grass in front of their building to grow wild. You would think the local world as we know it is coming to an end.

What are the grass complaints really about? Simple, locals HATE the APA. Locals do not want to be regulated, especially by "downstaters". Rather than taking the time and energy to really investigate a valid basis for their hate of the APA, it is much easier to call talk of the town and complain about unmowed grass. So two agencies whose purpose is to protect one of the last great stands of forest and wild areas in NY are allowing the area outside their buildings to grow wild. It's ironic that people are so incensed about this considering the real areas of visual pollution that exist in the local area. But then again, those areas are privately owned by people who believe they should not be regulated. That makes those dumpy properties A-OK.

Republicans Vote Against the Troops

So who is voting against the troops now that Democrats are in charge? Remember during the Bush years when Democrats voted against military spending because items they were opposed to were connected to the spending bill? Democrats were unpatriotic when they voted against military spending.

Republicans are now, unabashedly, doing exactly the same thing.

Democrats have included a $5 billion increase for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help aid nations affected by the global financial crisis. Republicans say that is reason enough to vote against the entire $106 billion spending bill and are certain voters will understand.

Maybe voters will understand. But can we call the Republicans unpatriotic?