This is an old complaint of mine but really now . . . Bush claims patriotism but Forty-six million people have no health insurance (I seem them come into my Emergency Department all the time), Bushy cuts benefits to our veterans and many of our troops (when not dying for Bush's war that he has thrust upon us) are on welfare and food stamps.
Bush is not patriotic, he is shirking his duty and is a dishonorable idiot. History will make mince meat out of this loser. Put me in the White House . . . it may not be easy but I could do a better job than 'the man'!
25.12.05
Christmas 2005
Aloha, Mele Kelikimaka, Season's Greetings and so forth,
I don't consider myself to be a 'christian' per se although I have largely grown up in a culture that is permeated through and through by Christianity . . . so I know that I have inculcated many of its precepts or at the very least, influences, into my own life. Not in itself a bad thing mind you, but interesting. I reject much of it but the part about not killing is a great idea. Then again, killing sactioned by the State seems to be an allowable exception, at least to America and much of the rest of the world.
So I sit here on a Christmas day ready to go to work but still getting over being sick myself. Imagine, a sick person going to work with the sick and dying at the hospital. Funny.
So I sit here and also think about so many of my friends all over the world that I love and would love to be with, if only for an hour. It has proven more difficult than I first imagined it would be to be alone on Christmas and the days before. Immediate family gone to visit relatives, it is pouring rain, I have been sick and so on and so forth. I hate this weather, get me back to Fiji and Hawai'i for god's sake.
I had a long conversation with a good friend last night whom I had met many years ago in Fiji. We have both had our challenges with living in America and I would daresay that part of each of us feels more comfortable with living outside of the United States that living inside. Especially now, given the current political, social and religious fervor permeating the country. I abhor and reject it.
I listened to Prarie Home Companion this morning and checked out thier web site. I once met Mr. Keilor through Nina Gerber (www.ninagerber.com) and he was very pleasent and polite. I would have enjoyed talking with him more at length (as I am sure many would) but the night was late and they were tired after a long gig and many days on the road. On his website he was asked by someone how to become a writer and do exactly what he is doing. His answer was simply to observe and write, write, write, write about every little single thing and bring meaning to it. Of course this is true and simply so, but his observation was that people simply do not do it but talk and talk about it. I am one of those much of the time and this blog is my effort (however small) to write more.
However, my principle intent today was to simply acknowledge all of my friends and family around the world, to send them my greetingsl, love and respect. John and Mili in Newcastle, Australia. Henri Julius and family in Berlin, Na and Nau in Suvavou Village, Fiji, Dean Leoni in Tokyo (at the moment on Maui, Hawai'i), Anna, Paul and Brom in San Francisco and so many more, indeed, too many to mention.
In the end, Christmas is simply a constuct and nothing less or more. What the construct represents to me is family, friends, jazz, food, friendship and a time to acknowledge our interrelatedness, commonalities and differences. That representation has meaning to me at least and I have dearly missed it this Christmas day.
I don't consider myself to be a 'christian' per se although I have largely grown up in a culture that is permeated through and through by Christianity . . . so I know that I have inculcated many of its precepts or at the very least, influences, into my own life. Not in itself a bad thing mind you, but interesting. I reject much of it but the part about not killing is a great idea. Then again, killing sactioned by the State seems to be an allowable exception, at least to America and much of the rest of the world.
So I sit here on a Christmas day ready to go to work but still getting over being sick myself. Imagine, a sick person going to work with the sick and dying at the hospital. Funny.
So I sit here and also think about so many of my friends all over the world that I love and would love to be with, if only for an hour. It has proven more difficult than I first imagined it would be to be alone on Christmas and the days before. Immediate family gone to visit relatives, it is pouring rain, I have been sick and so on and so forth. I hate this weather, get me back to Fiji and Hawai'i for god's sake.
I had a long conversation with a good friend last night whom I had met many years ago in Fiji. We have both had our challenges with living in America and I would daresay that part of each of us feels more comfortable with living outside of the United States that living inside. Especially now, given the current political, social and religious fervor permeating the country. I abhor and reject it.
I listened to Prarie Home Companion this morning and checked out thier web site. I once met Mr. Keilor through Nina Gerber (www.ninagerber.com) and he was very pleasent and polite. I would have enjoyed talking with him more at length (as I am sure many would) but the night was late and they were tired after a long gig and many days on the road. On his website he was asked by someone how to become a writer and do exactly what he is doing. His answer was simply to observe and write, write, write, write about every little single thing and bring meaning to it. Of course this is true and simply so, but his observation was that people simply do not do it but talk and talk about it. I am one of those much of the time and this blog is my effort (however small) to write more.
However, my principle intent today was to simply acknowledge all of my friends and family around the world, to send them my greetingsl, love and respect. John and Mili in Newcastle, Australia. Henri Julius and family in Berlin, Na and Nau in Suvavou Village, Fiji, Dean Leoni in Tokyo (at the moment on Maui, Hawai'i), Anna, Paul and Brom in San Francisco and so many more, indeed, too many to mention.
In the end, Christmas is simply a constuct and nothing less or more. What the construct represents to me is family, friends, jazz, food, friendship and a time to acknowledge our interrelatedness, commonalities and differences. That representation has meaning to me at least and I have dearly missed it this Christmas day.
21.12.05
Kate Moss - Drug Addled Model as Vapid as Ever
So poor little Kate Moss having lost over $9 million dollars in modeling contracts is now reduced to hawking Virgin Mobile contracts on the tele! My heart does not go out to her whatsoever. In fact, Virgin Mobile and Mr. Branson actually 'defend' Katie - imagine that, hiring a druggie model to try and convince the equally drug addled public that we should engage in a business contract. Lovely, just lovely.
No thank you Mr. Branson. Why not have a chat with the socially irredeemable Ms. Katie and work on her conscience a bit? Perhaps donating a percentage of her earnings toward drug rehabilitation centers in Britain for example? Hmmm, no chance of that at all given her history of selfishness and idiocy.
Is Ms. Katie Moss important in any way except as a sterling and wonderful example of how one has so much and screws it up beyond belief? No silly ducks, not at all. She and her pitiful stab at rehabilitation stands in contrast to the the American Public (incredible drug consumers in their own right - I am so proud!) who continually roll over for King Bush to have a go at. Really though, that is a subject for another rant and rave in my usualy inimitable style. Yeah, right, sure that is it.
No thank you Mr. Branson. Why not have a chat with the socially irredeemable Ms. Katie and work on her conscience a bit? Perhaps donating a percentage of her earnings toward drug rehabilitation centers in Britain for example? Hmmm, no chance of that at all given her history of selfishness and idiocy.
Is Ms. Katie Moss important in any way except as a sterling and wonderful example of how one has so much and screws it up beyond belief? No silly ducks, not at all. She and her pitiful stab at rehabilitation stands in contrast to the the American Public (incredible drug consumers in their own right - I am so proud!) who continually roll over for King Bush to have a go at. Really though, that is a subject for another rant and rave in my usualy inimitable style. Yeah, right, sure that is it.
17.11.05
Broadband High Speed
Finally, at last I have a high speed connection. My goal is more frequent entries, increasingly bitter and vitriolic comments about our lack of real Presidential and Congressional leadership in this country. I want to avoid ranting and raving and try to contribute at least a little bit of constructive energy and work toward extricating ourself from a neoconservative, right wing, nationalistic and evangelical nightmare. We don't need a revolution but simply to fire and lock up those bastards in the White House.
7.9.05
Since my last entry
Since my last entry, I spent a few weeks working as a Registered Nurse at the Bohemian Grove. This annual gathering is one of the more interesting experiences I have had. I met some very interesting people and many were not just Republican lap dogs but democrats, some liberal and some more conservative. I worked with a bunch of outstanding Docs and Medics and that was the best thing.
I began work at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in the Palliative Care Unit on June 20. I love the unit and the staff. It is difficult to become used to the schedule, a mix of AM and PM shifts. Once settled in, it should become easier. However, now that I have the degree completed I still think of Hawai’i, of Fiji, of all the places I have and have not been and the many places and people where there is such need.
Recently, President (ha) Bush said we would not dishonor the dead by leaving Iraq. Is it not dishonorable to be responsible for the deaths of Americans by continuing to stay? We invaded Iraq simply for access to oil and bases. There were no weapons of mass destruction and NO evidence of connection to terrorist conducting activities against the Americans. I grow ever more disenchanted and each time that I think we have reached a new low our ‘President’ utters another lie (that he sincerely believes I think), makes a stupid statement and takes another unilateral action that further weakens the position of the United States and makes us new enemies. Indeed, I am an enemy of Bush and all that he stands for. He and his minions, his puppet masters are ignorant and ruining the ideals of this nation and the possibilities of what we could accomplish.
I began work at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in the Palliative Care Unit on June 20. I love the unit and the staff. It is difficult to become used to the schedule, a mix of AM and PM shifts. Once settled in, it should become easier. However, now that I have the degree completed I still think of Hawai’i, of Fiji, of all the places I have and have not been and the many places and people where there is such need.
Recently, President (ha) Bush said we would not dishonor the dead by leaving Iraq. Is it not dishonorable to be responsible for the deaths of Americans by continuing to stay? We invaded Iraq simply for access to oil and bases. There were no weapons of mass destruction and NO evidence of connection to terrorist conducting activities against the Americans. I grow ever more disenchanted and each time that I think we have reached a new low our ‘President’ utters another lie (that he sincerely believes I think), makes a stupid statement and takes another unilateral action that further weakens the position of the United States and makes us new enemies. Indeed, I am an enemy of Bush and all that he stands for. He and his minions, his puppet masters are ignorant and ruining the ideals of this nation and the possibilities of what we could accomplish.
14.6.05
The Fate of America - Betrayed by Bush
I will trumpet an old idea . . . that America is doomed to fail, that the idea of America has already failed. Our military adventures abroad are the beginnings of the American empire’s dying gasp as we succumb to materialism and porkism.
We are becoming a footnote to history and Bush and his cruel minions actually believe we are on the right course, that our cause is just. They are a bunch of insensitive bastards and sons of bitches that I would prosecute for crimes against humanity in an instant.
All I feel of late is rage.
The New York Times did an incredible series recently on class in America. It was one of the most disturbing reads I have experienced.
It is better that America will cease to exist. I see China taking over much of the world and dominating much of this century. The only problem is that they are emulating our model. Massive reliance on oil, increasind amounts of automobiles on the road.
What it all gets down to is sustainability for the population level. The planets population continues to skyrocket. The demand for consumer materials cannot be sustained forever, the demand for water and food grows. Wars will be fought over water and water rights.
Americans are failures and should be ashamed of what PIGS we are.
Want to survive? Learn Mandarin and / or Cantonese.
We are becoming a footnote to history and Bush and his cruel minions actually believe we are on the right course, that our cause is just. They are a bunch of insensitive bastards and sons of bitches that I would prosecute for crimes against humanity in an instant.
All I feel of late is rage.
The New York Times did an incredible series recently on class in America. It was one of the most disturbing reads I have experienced.
It is better that America will cease to exist. I see China taking over much of the world and dominating much of this century. The only problem is that they are emulating our model. Massive reliance on oil, increasind amounts of automobiles on the road.
What it all gets down to is sustainability for the population level. The planets population continues to skyrocket. The demand for consumer materials cannot be sustained forever, the demand for water and food grows. Wars will be fought over water and water rights.
Americans are failures and should be ashamed of what PIGS we are.
Want to survive? Learn Mandarin and / or Cantonese.
1.6.05
Milestones
I graduated from Nursing school on May 22, 2005 and felt nothing but relief and gratefulness for having survived. It was one of the most singularly unpleasant experiences in my life thus far. To celebrate I had a luau and was honored by what someone termed 'a very diverse crowd' of medical, theater people, singers and so forth. Nothing but Hawai'ian music, wonderful people, great food and a fire to round out the evening.
Thoughts of the many patients I have taken care of and learned from crossed my mind . . . wondering how they are, who lives, who did not, the quality of existence. I think about the patients taken care of as an Emergency Room Technician also. Each day . . . a gift and the longer in this business the better I take it to heart.
Meanwhile the state of the Union continues to deteriorate with a poor excuse of a man at the helm of the Nation. Witness the folksy crap he threw around at a 50-minute press conference yesterday, full of sound and fury signifying nothing, nothing at all. I will not go on an endless and ultimately futile diatribe / rant and rave about Bush because it is too easy and it accomplishes nothing. I get tired of whinging about him and our state of the State. What would Pericles or any of the Greeks do with a 'leader' like Bush? Assassination comes to mind but even I do not advocate such a thing else the Secret Service come knocking at my door. Yet where is our mechanism to remove stupidity, incompetent and dangerous leaders? We, the American public are largely satiated with consumber items, pigged out and porky, we cannot summon the will to overthrow a dunce king and tyrant.
So I am ranting and raving - what a shock. It is just that I see much suffering and nobility in many of my patients. They, and we, deserve to be led by someone so much better. Obviously though, I am one of the minority in America. The people have spoken and loudly. Too bad the one who leads is such an ignorant, dangerous and sad person. The pendulum will swing back again someday but for me, it may just be too long in coming. Better to abandon America maybe? Abandon it to the fascist evangelicals who communicate directly to god through prayer - we usually medicate those poor idiots and put them in psychiatric wards.
Thus, too, I am full of sound and fury.
Thoughts of the many patients I have taken care of and learned from crossed my mind . . . wondering how they are, who lives, who did not, the quality of existence. I think about the patients taken care of as an Emergency Room Technician also. Each day . . . a gift and the longer in this business the better I take it to heart.
Meanwhile the state of the Union continues to deteriorate with a poor excuse of a man at the helm of the Nation. Witness the folksy crap he threw around at a 50-minute press conference yesterday, full of sound and fury signifying nothing, nothing at all. I will not go on an endless and ultimately futile diatribe / rant and rave about Bush because it is too easy and it accomplishes nothing. I get tired of whinging about him and our state of the State. What would Pericles or any of the Greeks do with a 'leader' like Bush? Assassination comes to mind but even I do not advocate such a thing else the Secret Service come knocking at my door. Yet where is our mechanism to remove stupidity, incompetent and dangerous leaders? We, the American public are largely satiated with consumber items, pigged out and porky, we cannot summon the will to overthrow a dunce king and tyrant.
So I am ranting and raving - what a shock. It is just that I see much suffering and nobility in many of my patients. They, and we, deserve to be led by someone so much better. Obviously though, I am one of the minority in America. The people have spoken and loudly. Too bad the one who leads is such an ignorant, dangerous and sad person. The pendulum will swing back again someday but for me, it may just be too long in coming. Better to abandon America maybe? Abandon it to the fascist evangelicals who communicate directly to god through prayer - we usually medicate those poor idiots and put them in psychiatric wards.
Thus, too, I am full of sound and fury.
1.5.05
What is the Value of Acting and Theater?
After seeing two plays this weekend and due to see Cabaret next weekend I have been reflecting on the whys and wherefores of theater. Of what use is theater? What does it mean to act and why is it important? At the same time I have been missing acting quite a bit - that creative fire and challenge of bringing life to a character and being able to communicate their life to others. There can be a lot of creativity in medicine but there is more science, diagnosis and problem solving than in theater in many ways. I miss acting and the theater, I miss tackling weighty social issues or a comedy that zings. I miss the feelings and power that a good show engenders, the social change that some pieces attempt to delineate.
I had the great fortune to work with Randal Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso in Honolulu at Diamond Head Theater (The Taming of the Shrew, 1995). They were two of the most inspiring actors/directors I have ever worked with. I miss them and that intensity that only comes from working with people so dedicated to their craft. They asked each actor, "Why act?" There were an amazing number of inarticulate responses that issued forth from some of us. So why do actors act? I heard Willem Dafoe interviewed by Roger Ebert once and his reply when asked about stage acting was, "I'm a whore for the stage". Besides being hilarious, his comment struck deeply at the heart of why actors ply their trade. Some of us are greater whores than others . . . meaning that many actors are only in it for the fame, popularity and money they perceive will be theirs (yet any actor knows that acting on the stage will not make one rich!). I admit that the fantasy of those things can be a seductive call to anyone of us. Yet there are millions of people in the craft with no hope of fame or fortune ever on their horizon. So why do they act? Why do they spend hours and their own money staging productions? It is the siren call of self-expression and a deep need to be heard. Is the deficit of childhood? Is it an escape from a perilous past? What need does acting fulfill?
Obviously, this is a complicated question and not easily answered. We act for many reasons. Acting is fun, difficult, heart wrenching and beautiful. It brings out the best and worst of humanity, not only in the lives we portray but also in the actors themselves. Yes, it can be a shallow experience but acting as someone's craft is anything but shallow.
Acting and theater can teach, challenge and entertain. Its purpose is not simply to amuse all the time (but perhaps much of the time) but to challenge our perceptions about how we think the world is or should be. The theater can present us with ideas heretofore not conceived of in our experience.
Let us face it; most people do not walk out of a theater with their life changed. Perhaps the most we can expect is to touch their hearts and minds in some small way, to plant a seed that may someday come to fruition. I do not think that most actors have this as their primary motivation.
I look for shows that are not only fun but also have a message or present an idea that I believe in or want to learn more about. Theater is a reflection of who we have been, are and are becoming. By examining our past as thrown up to us by playwrights we can examine our reflection, learn or discard what is being presented. Theater can be our educator, teaching us about our lives and the lives of others separated from us by distance and time.
Is all this a justification for acting? Is there a need for that? I think not. I love the theater and when I cannot contribute or partake than something is lacking in my life. For the moment I cannot take part so I bide my time and wait for the moment when once again I can participate in the creative process. So all of these things are why I act. I will be forever grateful for what Randal and Anne asked me that day and the subsequent learning they gave to us. Perhaps for the first time, I saw the love, honor and dedication that can be brought to the craft of acting and theater. I miss that and those people who have taught and shared that world with me.
I had the great fortune to work with Randal Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso in Honolulu at Diamond Head Theater (The Taming of the Shrew, 1995). They were two of the most inspiring actors/directors I have ever worked with. I miss them and that intensity that only comes from working with people so dedicated to their craft. They asked each actor, "Why act?" There were an amazing number of inarticulate responses that issued forth from some of us. So why do actors act? I heard Willem Dafoe interviewed by Roger Ebert once and his reply when asked about stage acting was, "I'm a whore for the stage". Besides being hilarious, his comment struck deeply at the heart of why actors ply their trade. Some of us are greater whores than others . . . meaning that many actors are only in it for the fame, popularity and money they perceive will be theirs (yet any actor knows that acting on the stage will not make one rich!). I admit that the fantasy of those things can be a seductive call to anyone of us. Yet there are millions of people in the craft with no hope of fame or fortune ever on their horizon. So why do they act? Why do they spend hours and their own money staging productions? It is the siren call of self-expression and a deep need to be heard. Is the deficit of childhood? Is it an escape from a perilous past? What need does acting fulfill?
Obviously, this is a complicated question and not easily answered. We act for many reasons. Acting is fun, difficult, heart wrenching and beautiful. It brings out the best and worst of humanity, not only in the lives we portray but also in the actors themselves. Yes, it can be a shallow experience but acting as someone's craft is anything but shallow.
Acting and theater can teach, challenge and entertain. Its purpose is not simply to amuse all the time (but perhaps much of the time) but to challenge our perceptions about how we think the world is or should be. The theater can present us with ideas heretofore not conceived of in our experience.
Let us face it; most people do not walk out of a theater with their life changed. Perhaps the most we can expect is to touch their hearts and minds in some small way, to plant a seed that may someday come to fruition. I do not think that most actors have this as their primary motivation.
I look for shows that are not only fun but also have a message or present an idea that I believe in or want to learn more about. Theater is a reflection of who we have been, are and are becoming. By examining our past as thrown up to us by playwrights we can examine our reflection, learn or discard what is being presented. Theater can be our educator, teaching us about our lives and the lives of others separated from us by distance and time.
Is all this a justification for acting? Is there a need for that? I think not. I love the theater and when I cannot contribute or partake than something is lacking in my life. For the moment I cannot take part so I bide my time and wait for the moment when once again I can participate in the creative process. So all of these things are why I act. I will be forever grateful for what Randal and Anne asked me that day and the subsequent learning they gave to us. Perhaps for the first time, I saw the love, honor and dedication that can be brought to the craft of acting and theater. I miss that and those people who have taught and shared that world with me.
25.4.05
Agape, Eros, Empathy or Love in Nursing
I am finishing my student nursing in the next few weeks. I was accused of being a politician by one of the nurses last night (in a friendly manner) after I told a patient's son that "I really love my patients". Names, genders and identifying information have been changed to protect privacy of those involved.
Of course, I did not mean this in the Greek sense of Eros (romantic love) but rather that of agape . . . brotherly love. I have been working in an Emergency Department (as an ED Technician) for over three years now. I have had many patients that I could not stand and that I did not love in any sense of the word. The patient I was working with this evening was literally a little old lady originally from Germany. I grew up for three years in Germany from 1965 - 1968 as an U.S. Air Force 'Brat'. I related to and felt empathy for this woman who has lost a husband, daughter and son in the last 5-10 years and is facing end of life issues.
Her son came out of the room and effusively thanked me. I replied by saying that it was part of my job, it is who I am, what I do and that I really 'love my patients'. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I empathize, that I care and that I love my job, the people I work with and that I was born to do this work. Often, I am so immensely grateful for this opportunity that I can scarce believe that at last I have found this much meaning.
At the same time, I am not so innocent and optimistic that I can believe we can save the world or every one of our patients. I love the cynicism and dark humour that allows us to survive and get through our days. I have patients that have taught me so much and others that I can hardly wait to get away from. I still endeavor to remember them as human beings, damaged or not and to treat them with respect and decency.
Of special note is that the nurse who gave me a hard time is one that I have much respect for and admire her attitude toward her patients. While she was joking with me about being a politician, I did wonder if I came across as being fake. It is so unfortunate that calling someone a politician is a slur. I believe that it should be otherwise . . . but that is a subject for another time. I have seen this nurse make patients melt with what she has done and said for them. I have seen her go the extra mile and be a very strong advocate for her patients. She is a good example in this manner and I respect her. She meets the classic definition of a tough nurse with the proverbial heart of gold.
So what is the value of this experience and what is to be learned? I am not sure of that but I will continue to advocate for my patients. I will continue to 'love' my patients (just as this nurse does!) and endeavour to make each one feel special and cared for. It may all be for naught but I think not in my heart of hearts. In the end, I remember that while I have done so much and traveled so far, I still have so much to learn about being a nurse. What is important to me is that I be professional yet retain what makes me who I am and not lose that empathy, concern, passion and respect for those we serve. I do not want to come across as shallow or unmeaning of what I say and do. I have marvelous examples of what being a nurse means and I hope to take away the very best of what each of them as taught me. For that, I will always remain grateful and honored.
Of course, I did not mean this in the Greek sense of Eros (romantic love) but rather that of agape . . . brotherly love. I have been working in an Emergency Department (as an ED Technician) for over three years now. I have had many patients that I could not stand and that I did not love in any sense of the word. The patient I was working with this evening was literally a little old lady originally from Germany. I grew up for three years in Germany from 1965 - 1968 as an U.S. Air Force 'Brat'. I related to and felt empathy for this woman who has lost a husband, daughter and son in the last 5-10 years and is facing end of life issues.
Her son came out of the room and effusively thanked me. I replied by saying that it was part of my job, it is who I am, what I do and that I really 'love my patients'. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I empathize, that I care and that I love my job, the people I work with and that I was born to do this work. Often, I am so immensely grateful for this opportunity that I can scarce believe that at last I have found this much meaning.
At the same time, I am not so innocent and optimistic that I can believe we can save the world or every one of our patients. I love the cynicism and dark humour that allows us to survive and get through our days. I have patients that have taught me so much and others that I can hardly wait to get away from. I still endeavor to remember them as human beings, damaged or not and to treat them with respect and decency.
Of special note is that the nurse who gave me a hard time is one that I have much respect for and admire her attitude toward her patients. While she was joking with me about being a politician, I did wonder if I came across as being fake. It is so unfortunate that calling someone a politician is a slur. I believe that it should be otherwise . . . but that is a subject for another time. I have seen this nurse make patients melt with what she has done and said for them. I have seen her go the extra mile and be a very strong advocate for her patients. She is a good example in this manner and I respect her. She meets the classic definition of a tough nurse with the proverbial heart of gold.
So what is the value of this experience and what is to be learned? I am not sure of that but I will continue to advocate for my patients. I will continue to 'love' my patients (just as this nurse does!) and endeavour to make each one feel special and cared for. It may all be for naught but I think not in my heart of hearts. In the end, I remember that while I have done so much and traveled so far, I still have so much to learn about being a nurse. What is important to me is that I be professional yet retain what makes me who I am and not lose that empathy, concern, passion and respect for those we serve. I do not want to come across as shallow or unmeaning of what I say and do. I have marvelous examples of what being a nurse means and I hope to take away the very best of what each of them as taught me. For that, I will always remain grateful and honored.
21.3.05
Resign Mr. Bush or be Impeached as Incompetent
The President of the United States (who spends more time on vacation than any other in history) has now used more taxpayer's money to return to Washington D.C.from Crawford, Texas. He has returned to stick his nose into the private affairs of decent and law-abiding citizens. The Terry Schaivo case is none of his or his brothers business. They should be ashamed to call themselves Christians and Americans.
I call for the impeachment of this so-called American "President". He interferes with the private lives and business of American Citizens. He accuses other world States of being "rogue" nations yet he is responsible for the invasion of Iraq and the illegal presence of Special Forces on foreign soil.
Shame on you Mr. President! Have you no decency? Have you no respect or humility? Have you no pride? I ask you to resign, I beg you to resign, I DEMAND that you resign. You have drawn America into another military quagmire, bankrupted the nation and spent us so deep in debt that we will not recover for years. You continue to slash the budget of the very veterans that you claim to 'support'. Sir, you are a liar and a coward.
The President must resign and be tried for treason. He is guilty of the deaths of over 1500 of American Soldiers and many thousands of innocent Iraqi's. American must take back what is rightfully ours . . . the Presidency of the United States.
Instead of taking the ethical and morally righteous course of action concerning the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, our sorry excuse for a "President" lies in bed with Big Oil. The Federal Government could choose the ethical and morally righteous course of demanding better gas mileage for all transportation. The American people have sacrificed in the past and I have faith they would do so again. Instead, the shortsighted Wizards of Capitol Hill and our fearless coward of a leader with no cloths on cop out. Instead, they appease the electorate by narrow minded and ignorant decisions to drill in one of the most pristine environments in the world. I was born in Alaska and this President is wrong.
This man is not a man of god. His so-called divine inspiration smacks of demagoguery and a shameless, shallow desire to be remembered for maintaining the elite in power. How else does one excuse the fact that the rich grow ever richer, the poor grow ever poorer? His tax cuts, as he is, were a joke and have done nothing for the economy much less the people they were ‘intended’ to help.
How can our President not do his duty and provide healthcare for every citizen of America? There are over 44 Million Americans that do not have health insurance. Yet this morally bankrupt and spiritually poor, sad man considers himself a Christian? I do not believe this. I accuse you of being a Liar, President Bush. I reject your claim to legitimate rule. How dare you call yourself a Christian, how dare you!
Once again, I call for the impeachment of President G.W. Bush. The Congress has no guts, no moral fiber and no backbone to resist a tyrant who sees himself as a KING. He will not have the courage or insight to resign with his cabinet of intelligent yet thoughtless fools. They have fallen prey to an easily believed myth . . . that only those in power have access to knowledge derived from intelligence apparatus around the world and that only they are entitled to make the subsequent decisions. These elite are arrogant and paternalistic, believing that God has chosen them and only them to protect America.
I am ashamed of our President and his staff. I am proud to be an American and it is my patriotic right and sacred duty to protest the shameful acts and ineptness of our leaders. President Bush must resign or be impeached. We are tired of your war, your callous indifference to suffering, your smug overbearing manner and your total conviction that only you know the righteous path. Ordering other countries around shows your true color and form as a dictator. Have you no shame, honor or conscience?
For God's sake Mr. President, leave the office of the Presidency. If not for God’s sake, than do so for the American people you purport to serve and others around the globe.
I call for the impeachment of this so-called American "President". He interferes with the private lives and business of American Citizens. He accuses other world States of being "rogue" nations yet he is responsible for the invasion of Iraq and the illegal presence of Special Forces on foreign soil.
Shame on you Mr. President! Have you no decency? Have you no respect or humility? Have you no pride? I ask you to resign, I beg you to resign, I DEMAND that you resign. You have drawn America into another military quagmire, bankrupted the nation and spent us so deep in debt that we will not recover for years. You continue to slash the budget of the very veterans that you claim to 'support'. Sir, you are a liar and a coward.
The President must resign and be tried for treason. He is guilty of the deaths of over 1500 of American Soldiers and many thousands of innocent Iraqi's. American must take back what is rightfully ours . . . the Presidency of the United States.
Instead of taking the ethical and morally righteous course of action concerning the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, our sorry excuse for a "President" lies in bed with Big Oil. The Federal Government could choose the ethical and morally righteous course of demanding better gas mileage for all transportation. The American people have sacrificed in the past and I have faith they would do so again. Instead, the shortsighted Wizards of Capitol Hill and our fearless coward of a leader with no cloths on cop out. Instead, they appease the electorate by narrow minded and ignorant decisions to drill in one of the most pristine environments in the world. I was born in Alaska and this President is wrong.
This man is not a man of god. His so-called divine inspiration smacks of demagoguery and a shameless, shallow desire to be remembered for maintaining the elite in power. How else does one excuse the fact that the rich grow ever richer, the poor grow ever poorer? His tax cuts, as he is, were a joke and have done nothing for the economy much less the people they were ‘intended’ to help.
How can our President not do his duty and provide healthcare for every citizen of America? There are over 44 Million Americans that do not have health insurance. Yet this morally bankrupt and spiritually poor, sad man considers himself a Christian? I do not believe this. I accuse you of being a Liar, President Bush. I reject your claim to legitimate rule. How dare you call yourself a Christian, how dare you!
Once again, I call for the impeachment of President G.W. Bush. The Congress has no guts, no moral fiber and no backbone to resist a tyrant who sees himself as a KING. He will not have the courage or insight to resign with his cabinet of intelligent yet thoughtless fools. They have fallen prey to an easily believed myth . . . that only those in power have access to knowledge derived from intelligence apparatus around the world and that only they are entitled to make the subsequent decisions. These elite are arrogant and paternalistic, believing that God has chosen them and only them to protect America.
I am ashamed of our President and his staff. I am proud to be an American and it is my patriotic right and sacred duty to protest the shameful acts and ineptness of our leaders. President Bush must resign or be impeached. We are tired of your war, your callous indifference to suffering, your smug overbearing manner and your total conviction that only you know the righteous path. Ordering other countries around shows your true color and form as a dictator. Have you no shame, honor or conscience?
For God's sake Mr. President, leave the office of the Presidency. If not for God’s sake, than do so for the American people you purport to serve and others around the globe.
22.2.05
The REX 3 PDA & Satori Labs
Top - The Ebel Voyager Automatic (shown mainly for size comparison) - my good friend Dean sent this to me as a gift. For those of you in the ignorant masses who do not know, the machine below is a credit card sized wonder (for it's time!). I recently had the fortunate luck to email with the CEO of www.satorilabs.com about some soft/hardware his company is developing for Electronic Medical Records (EMR). I was very impressed to learn that some of the engineers and so forth came from Starfish/Motorola to Satori. The machine below the Ebel is called a REX (REX 3 in this case) and was very dependable - a simple but robust day planner, phone book to do list that never failed (until I smashed it with my knee one time!). So kudos to the people behind the REX - I am glad to be in touch to let them know I loved it. I hope to be able to introduce Satori Labs to the small hospital I work at. As we all know though, despite our incredible leader George Bush's wonderful support for healthcare for ALL Americans, our hospital's financial condition is less then excellent. However, EMR's goal is better and safer patient care and it is my hope that we could serve as an example of what might be possible. Ow, that is so damn optimistic I can't believe it . . . can somebody give me a reality check, please!?
Post Mountain Bike crack up at Salt Point State Park at 30+ miles per hour. Underneath that smile is plenty of pain!
It is now four days later and my pain is mainly confined to my left hip and elbow. What lessons did I learn from this incident? First, don't stop riding (as if!). It felt good to be taken care of by my best friend the Zipster, also known as Splash (aka Michael Singer - an incredible architect and Chief of the Timber Cove Volunteer Fire Department). Also of great assistance was Alex Dunne, with an incredible sense of wonderful irony, humor, fun and drollness (did I forget to say wicked good cynicism?).
Another good thing to come out of the spectacular wreck (I am so sorry to have not been able to see it) is that I can be even more empathetic with my patients. I have actually taken Vicodin for the first time in my life and am grateful I could. Waking up every hour from the pain was not fun. Vicodin is my friend but I am also very grateful I can start to taper off and just stick with the ice and ibuprofen to get the massive swelling down.
I can hardly wait to get on the bike again. This time I might just watch out for the 4 cm diameter branches! Ouch!
19.1.05
President Bush vs President's Inaugurals in General
A conservative friend challenged me about my previous post, asking me if I felt that way about all inaugurals. I told him that of course I let my hatred of the present administration prejudice me but that I would go on the record as being against anyone spending seventeen million dollars on an inaugural.
It was an excellent call on his part. Was Clinton as arrogant a son of a bitch as Bush is though? Bush is just all too fired up (using his own 'Texas' vernacular that is so over being cute) as to his own rightness in the eyes of Jesus and God having a direct pipeline to what he feels is his brain.
But come to think of it, the Executioners and Prosecuters of the inquisition had that same pipeline to Jesus . . . ergo we will be alright and have nothing to fear. Damn, I am feeling better already.
It was an excellent call on his part. Was Clinton as arrogant a son of a bitch as Bush is though? Bush is just all too fired up (using his own 'Texas' vernacular that is so over being cute) as to his own rightness in the eyes of Jesus and God having a direct pipeline to what he feels is his brain.
But come to think of it, the Executioners and Prosecuters of the inquisition had that same pipeline to Jesus . . . ergo we will be alright and have nothing to fear. Damn, I am feeling better already.
More Proof of a President's Thoughtless Arrogance
The cost of tomorrow's inauguration is now reported in the press as topping Seventeen million dollars. The word obscene comes to mind as do other even less flattering adjectives. Ok, I admit it, I hate the idiot. I was going to say that maybe I could not do much better . . . but in reality, I know I could. I would not squander that money on an inauguration when Americans are dying much less the Iraqi people (over 100,000 dead now and counting?).
As for my silence in the past few months I can only claim nursing school. I hope to remedy that by writing and posting more (even if no one ever reads this, after all I imagine it is mainly for my myself). Also, I graduate in May 2005 if all goes well.
So in keeping with my commitment to publish more I will do so now and end here.
As for my silence in the past few months I can only claim nursing school. I hope to remedy that by writing and posting more (even if no one ever reads this, after all I imagine it is mainly for my myself). Also, I graduate in May 2005 if all goes well.
So in keeping with my commitment to publish more I will do so now and end here.
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