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Author
Thread: progressive MS
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
view
)
progressive MS
Posted:
8/30/2006 10:54:06 AM
Hey, Greg-
I was diagnosed with MS back in March, and I have a thread posted discussing it here:
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts3839348.aspx
#4307405
I suggest you take a look at the wonderful UK site 'Jooly's Joint' I link to in my discussion; it's a really terrific resource. You'll find discussion groups galore, and there's a chat room for MSers as well. It's a daily visit for me, and I've found lots of people there with many years' experience with dealing with MS who are always happy to help you with questions you have.
Good luck, take care, hope we see you there!
Glenn
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
view
)
M.S
Posted:
6/22/2006 9:36:24 PM
Well, glad to see you posted!
I have MS myself; dxed in March...I also have a thread running in this forum, if you're inclined to have a look, it's here:
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts3839348.aspx
As someone going through the diagnostic routine, I'll suggest that you too drop by the fine UK site Jooly's Joint. You'll find that not only UKers and Americans frequent it, but lots of Canadians as well, so you'll be in good company.
The link's in my thread, and not only is there a good MS chat room, but tons of forums posts, including a 'not yet diagnosed' section...I imagine you'll find all sorts of useful info there!
TC, seeya later
Glenn
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
19 (
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)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/13/2006 7:55:25 PM
this is more in line with what I'd thought... I don't believe the military took out any water treatment facilities while Clinton was president...or electrical plants... correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm pretty certain you are, I'm afraid.
I remember hearing and seeing news accounts throughout the 90s, Clinton's watch, about just this sort of thing, all the time. I imagine much of it's well documented, should one care to investigate it a bit.
But I'm not gonna turn looking up sources on how rotten Clinton, Bush, or for that matter, Alexander Hamilton behaved while in office into a second career here, sorry.
Suffice it to say that in the years I've been interested in getting a handle on some of the ways this world works, my opinion of politicians has evolved week by week to the level of distrust it's at now. I hear them spout the same hackneyed platitudes over and over again, then watch them enthusiastically attack my fellow citizens' liberty, passing new and odious laws to restrict it every month, while pushing ever harder to devolve their natural rights away from them as individuals and attributing these rights to the State instead, a truly awful usurpation, I think.
The really frustrating thing for me is that people like yourself (so it seems to me), disgusted with the criminal behavior of one politician or party, then throw their full support to the so-called 'opposition,' simply because they're
not
the first guy. Sorry, but the 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' line of thinking is a fataly flawed one, I am convinced.
I know Democrats who I'm sure would still think Bill Clinton was a swell guy even if he was caught with a dead body and smoking gun...and I know Republicans who think Their Boy, Bush Jong Il, can similarly do no wrong. Both are absolutely blind to these creatures' monstrous behavior, and seem to think that if only Their Guy had unlimited power, funding, and so on, then the world would finally be a perfect place.
This ain't a football game; it's just never that simple. One new guy or the other getting his grubby mitts on the levers of power won't fix a thing; it will, I have no doubt, always make matters worse. Every piece of information I trust, both things I've learned in the past as well as what's going on today, only confirms my view that The Fix is entirely in.
If you want to go on thinking that Clinton is a decent human being, knock yourself out. I suspect there's nothing I could say or do that'd be likely to sway your viewpoint, just as there's nothing much I can say to the people I know who think Maximum Leader Bush is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I'm just sorry that I'm getting dragged along for this sorry ride...but I assure you, it's not with my consent.
take care!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
17 (
view
)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/13/2006 5:14:48 PM
anticon:
Just did a quick search, first thing I see is the book 'Iraq Under Siege: The Deadly Impact of Sanctions and War,' available from Amazon.
An excerpt from one reviewer:
"Anthony arnove quotes a Washington post article from June 2000 that the little notice "No-fly zone" bombings were regularly killing civilians.. During the Gulf war, our "smart bombs" hit water treatment facilities, electrical plants, and other such vital civilian infrastructure leading to the indirect murder of tens of thousand of Iraqis. Under "dual use" bans imposed by the U.S. Iraq has not been able to import vital medicines, spare parts and chemicals like chlorine for water treatment, fertilizers to fight agricultural plagues. So Iraqis drink water filled with sewage and die hideous deaths in hospitals which don't have equipment or medicine."
I'm sure there's plenty more. I'll keep looking...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
16 (
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)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/13/2006 5:06:14 PM
I'd say, by taking an estimated guess that the source would Noam Chomsky; sounds like something out of Hegemony or Survival. Either way, it's potentially spin-doctoring.
Noam Chomsky, that uber left wing socialist icon, is right when he's right for the same reason Michael Moore, Michelle Malkin, or sundry other loudmouths are...just as a stopped clock is right twice a day...sometimes it's just the facts, IMO.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
15 (
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)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/13/2006 5:03:44 PM
if you have any backup url's telling us specifically that Clinton bombed water purification plants, please show it. It looks like you're just trying to spread the blame for our inhumanity away from Bush.
I thought I was communicating better than that...I'm only trying to illustrate why I believe that ALL of these politicians are creeps. I loathed Clinton, and I absolutely detest Bush and Co.
You're quite right, I don't blame Clinton for this mess...but he has blood on his hands, just as
all those
who are involved willingly in this mess do.
I could care less about partisanship...because they are ALL bad news.
Besides intentionally destroying infrastructure in Iraq, both administrations have been fully aware of the horrific effects of depleted uranium used in modern munitions on the civilian populace there. Cancer/leukemia deaths and sickness is off the scale...ever see the pics of the birth defects attributed to this stuff? Babies come out of their mothers looking like overdone hot dogs...I find any knowing participation in spreading these poisons around on a par with any atrocities committed in German, Russian, or Chinese concentration camps.
Is one guy or woman 'better' than another because he or she killed a few thousand less than the other guy or woman?
All these people do is steal, lie, and kill to satisfy their two primary urges: lust for money and power. It always comes down to that. Their flowery rhetoric carries zero weight with me.
I'll see if I can dig up some stats on the water supply attacks...I don't think it'll be too hard; I've been hearing about this from many vectors for years.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
12 (
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)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/13/2006 12:42:54 PM
rks58 sez:
Kind of makes you wonder why they called it the Department of Homeland Security instead of the "Motherhood and Apple Pie Preservation Society"
Ewww...no, actually, it doesn't. Am I the only one disturbed by the distinct Germanic ring to that name???
They
wanted
it to sound authoritarian, I have no doubt. They just realized that to get it through the door as the large incremental change it is, they couldn't get away with calling it what it actually is:
Gestapo.
Geheimestaatspolezei
, Stasi, NKVD, KGB, pick your (yech) favorite...it means secret police.
I have a goodly percentage of Russian Jew blood in me, and it runs cold every single time I hear that name...
Interestingly, most of the powers grabbed by government for both DHS and through the USA-PATRIOT Act were laid out in detail in Clinton's 1994 'Crime Bill,' it's just that they couldn't get away with such a massive power grab just then. The time wasn't ripe....
As the PNAC manifesto that Bush's neocons put forth in the 90s made clear, the US citizenry would need a new Pearl Harbor type attack to foster an environment where people would welcome the sort of military dictatorship we're pretty much into today.
We got 9/11...mighty convenient, huh?
I shudder to think what'll happen when the right wing socialist totalitarian goons in power are replaced by the left wing socialist totalitarian ones waiting in the wings. I think Bush and his pals have a whole lot of screws loose, but Hillary Clinton scares the bejabbers out of me...not that it really matters, I suppose, since it doesn't really matter what label's on a murderous, ruinous State...I just get the feeling that she's even colder and more merciless than Dick Cheney...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
10 (
view
)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/13/2006 10:03:00 AM
anticon sez:
Please show sources. I never heard this before, that I recall...
Certainly.
A bit of quick searching on my fav politics site came up with some items...from journalist John Pilger, for one:
The cost in lives was staggering. Between 1991 and 1998, reported Unicef, 500,000 Iraqi children under the age of five died. "If you include adults," said Halliday, "the figure is now almost certainly well over a million." In 1996, in an interview on the American current affairs programme 60 Minutes, Madeleine Albright, then US ambassador to the UN, was asked: "We have heard that half a million children have died . . . is the price worth it?" Albright replied, "We think the price is worth it." The television network CBS has since refused to allow the videotape of that interview to be shown again, and the reporter will not discuss it.
And from columnist John Dwyer, chair of history at Coram Deo Academy in Flower Mound, Texas:
It is about our intentional destruction of Iraq’s water and water purification facilities during the Gulf War. This, despite Article 54 of the Geneva Convention, which states: "It is prohibited to attack, destroy or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population," including "drinking water supplies and irrigation works."
And it is about the subsequent American-led United Nations embargo of Iraqi water purification supplies and equipment. In 1998, on-sight United Nations officials reported it was killing 4–5,000 children a month. In 2000, UNICEF’s director for Iraq announced that half a million children under five years of age had died during the 10 years of sanctions.
My point here is that I do not accept the American 'Republicrat' paradigm. Bill Clinton, Bush, Kerry, Hillary Clinton...they're all cut from the same cloth, IMO.
I see nearly all politicians of all cuts and stripes as venal and bloodthirsty sociopaths, too lazy or dumb to make a productive living, their money is extracted at gunpoint by hired goons. Like any good psychopaths, they crave power over others because of their own inherent weakness, and government positions are just the place to be to yank all those levers. Well-nigh every action they take decreases liberty, causes harm both domestically and overseas, and increases the reach of their precious leviathan State, so far as I can see.
They reluctantly trade majority and minority positions here in the US at least by beating their chests and hollering their rhetoric...'vote for
us
'cause we're
different
from those other guys,' knowing that this schism in 'philosophy' is what keeps their gravy train rolling, the massive power and money supply swinging back and forth over time. But look at their actions...these rarely if ever coincide with their promises.
I've said for years that if Congress introduced a bill calling for the summary execution of every left handed redheaded man with a moustache, and just called it the 'Happy-Smily-Puppies-And-Kittens-Preservation Act, it'd pass into law without so much as a hiccough. Yeah, that's a
reductio ad absurdium
example, but I'm convinced that's exactly the sort of thing that goes on every day in American politics.
On a larger scale...look up the stats yourself; it's estimated that over 180 MILLION people were killed by their own governments over the bloody course of the 20th century...APART from combatants in war. There's no Grand Conspiracy here, just a bunch of power mad thugs who've learned to lie well, using pretty words. Look at the way it's been done again and again throughout human history...the pattern is virtually identical every time...and people keep falling for it.
I expect you'll find corroboration of the Iraqi numbers if you can get into UNICEF's archives, certainly many people, myself included, have seen the infamous 60 Minutes clip of Madeleine Albright.
Scary stuff. These people are
not
our friends.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
6 (
view
)
Former president Clinton bests Bush in honesty poll. Whaaat.....
Posted:
5/12/2006 10:56:24 PM
Mossberg sez:
This is similar to asking:
"do u prefer to eat diarrhea OR solid turds?"
Both options are shit.
Wow...when it comes to politicians, I've been saying much the same for years! My metaphor is lung vs. liver cancer...but I think we're on the same page...
Buncha gangsters in suits with flags. Faugh.
Also, kempca, while Bush's war has indeed been a hellish adventure, and is looking to get worse, with more homicidal frolics in other lands in future, don't forget that Clinton vigorously pursued the embargo in Iraq during the 90s...which is conservatively estimated to have led to the deaths of 600,000 or more Iraqis, mostly kids, women, and old people. Most of these were due to disease and privation caused by the cynical destruction of the country's infrastructure. Gee, and I thought destroying a civilian population's sources of fresh water...and keeping them unusable, leading to scads of diseases...was something we thought it was okey dokey to hang Nazis for after WW II. Silly, silly me...
His flunky Madeleine Albright got herself everlasting notoriety when she said, with her bare face hanging out on 60 Minutes' video, that the US FedGov considered all of these deaths 'worth it.'
I still find that utter callousness absolutely appalling...and quite common with politicians, regardless of the label of affiliation they may apply to themselves.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
5 (
view
)
television networks
Posted:
5/12/2006 10:25:38 PM
Retract your claws people ...you are totally missing my point.
I'm not; I understand precisely what you mean.
There's a blanket double standard that applies to any special interest group that's considered 'protected' by both the FedGov and 'mainstream' thought (the 'well, of course
everybody
knows' stuff...which is often pure crap).
This serves two purposes: first, it gets the politicians re-elected by said groups so they can get a share of the resources plundered by those pols, and second, it creates a nice maelstrom of mistrust and bitterness among people who only differ in minor ways, but have far more in common with one another than they do with the powerful elites who run our mercantilist (we do NOT live under a capitalist system, more's the pity, IMO) nation.
Why? Because divided and fearful, these people (and too many corporations; don't believe that racial or gender classes are the only beneficiaries) are far too distracted, bought off, or otherwise mollified to do anything for substantive change.
Regular people of all races, classes, and so on could get rid of the tiny cabal of troublemakers immediately, expending barely more effort than giving them a dirty look...if they ever got together and quit squabbling over their perceived antagonisms like a bunch of Star Bellied Sneetches.
Protected groups? Yeah, protected as sheep are in their pens, awating a regular fleecing...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
2 (
view
)
Federal Reserve Bank
Posted:
5/12/2006 9:53:26 PM
Trying to wade through all the Dastardly Conspiracy stuff makes me dizzy, but in a nutshell the answer is yes, the Fed is just another giant crooked enterprise.
I suggest you check out the writings of the late Murray Rothbard, the very much alive Hans-Hermann Hoppe, or many other fine economists that I actually
do
trust further than I can comfortably spit a dead rat...if you'd like to look into some more worthwhile information...LOL!
The handiest source for free market economic ideas is the Ludwig Van Mises Institute (mises.org)...but then I am terribly biased and view them as some of the very few uncorrupted academics left these days.
Seriously, mainstream 'economists' are, to my mind, no more than the satraps of the powerful, endlessly spewing the same tired old Keynesian/statist claptrap that's gotten us into the sorry state we're in, to great measure...as 'court academics,' they are well compensated for thoroughly selling out.
You'll never hear it from the mainstream media, but not long ago one of the very few politicians I trust, Dr. Ron Paul, grilled former Fed honcho Alan Greenspan mercilessly on his flip flop from his original position many years ago; that fiat currency is a Bad Thing, leads to inflation and corruption at citizens' expense, and is fundamentally unsound.
Needless to say, Greenspan's only response was to fall back on bland politically correct platitudes...the academic equivalent of babbling 'hummina hummina hummina!'
To paraphrase what Norm said on Cheers many moons ago: "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and we're all wearing Milk-Bone underwear..."
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
4 (
view
)
charity organizations
Posted:
5/12/2006 7:48:47 PM
I am not at all sanguine about mega-charites like United Way or the American Red Cross...I am aware that technically they're private organizations, but by the nature of their monolithic layouts they're pretty much quasi-governmental outfits in reality; by all accounts run by career bureaucrats, people who excel at sounding compassionate whilst absorbing large incomes and enjoying lavish perquisites...which are of course supplied by well-intentioned donors.
I've heard complaints from many office workers I know that it's almost mandatory to donate to the United Way or American Red Cross if you want to work where they're employed...that smacks of 'scam' to me. Now, I've never taken the time to sit down with spreadsheets or anything, I just keep hearing an endless stream of negatives about these outfits...if I'm in error,
mea culpa.
On the other hand, I have yet to hear one bad thing about the Salvation Army. I occasionally give to them myself. While they can be a bit preachy to modern ears, they do seem to get the job done, i.e. actually
helping
people in need...efficiently and speedily. I've spoken to people who've been involved in disasters like tornadoes (the most common natural upheavals in my part of the South), and they've had only praise for the Salvation Army.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
5 (
view
)
Online Stores? Ever here of these two?
Posted:
5/12/2006 5:40:17 PM
I'd still bet strawberrynet is probably OK, just there may be some occasional difficulties due to language and distance. Setting up a web site as involved as theirs isn't an impulsive action; I imagine they do want to do business.
I've bought all kinds of nifty stuff from Hong Kong sellers...camera memory cards, readers, etc...and never had a problem.
It's the market in action...you voted with your money. If you paid a bit more it's for lack of stress and handiness of a US based seller.
Maybe some time try an inexpensive trial order with strawberrynet and see how they do, eh? You might get a happy surprise!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
view
)
Online Stores? Ever here of these two?
Posted:
5/12/2006 1:11:58 PM
One more thing I just noticed...fragrancenet appears to be US based, while strawberrynet is in Hong Kong...might be some international trade communication problems, or at least the potential for them there.
Boy, this is getting interesting...I've got a second window open, and looking at fragrancenet, I see they've closed their eBay store. Might or might not be significant...maybe e mailing them to confirm they're still kicking is in order. Could be they're doing okay with just non eBay web sales, of course...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
2 (
view
)
Online Stores? Ever here of these two?
Posted:
5/12/2006 12:53:29 PM
On a hunch, I checked 'fragrancenet' as an eBay user name, and sure enough, their 'About Me' section seems to confirm they're who you're talking about. FWIW, they haven't done any eBay business that I can see in the last couple of months, but they do have a feedback number over 3400 with 99.2% positive (imperfect but good, I'd say). Hope that's helpful in some way; if they had an item up for bidding that I wanted I'd likely bid on it...
EDIT: On eBay, 'strawberrynet01' is strawberrynet's ID, and their account doesn't have as good a feel as fragrancenet's (98.8% positive, that's actually heading into the 'questionable' zone for me, given their high volume). Cosmetics ain't my bag, but at first glance I think fragrancenet has a better feel.
That's the first thing that occurred to me to check as far as ratings or reviews, I bet some googling would yield more results!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
17 (
view
)
Rose Colored Glasses
Posted:
5/12/2006 12:32:33 PM
Thanks...and while I agree the actual percentage of awful things in the world is relatively low, they are bad enough to be a lot more visible than many quietly positive ones...and people, being sensory creatures, tend to notice the more striking stuff, IMO.
Of course, to be one of those actually AFFECTED by bad stuff, it is supremely significant. It depends on the nature of the evil, too, not much one person can do about evil murderous/destructive/theiving governments (they
all
are, to one degree or another, I am convinced), disease, or natural disasters. But we can all take on what responsibilities are needed to protect ourselves, families, etc. from the more ordinary and mundane sorts.
Now, I didn't create these problems, and I attempt to keep sane by reminding myself of this along with the fact that it's likewise not up to me to fix them...apart from the fact that it would be presumptuous as hell, it would be incredibly arrogant to think I could. I just do what I can that's within my power, and keep trying to learn new and constructive ways to deal with whatever isn't...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
15 (
view
)
Rose Colored Glasses
Posted:
5/12/2006 11:27:18 AM
Thanks! But I don't
wanna
be an inspiration! I'm just another fella, y'know?
If I can provide something constructive or helpful with any of my input, then that's a good thing, just me trying to keep my account at the karma bank (so to speak) in good standing
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
13 (
view
)
Rose Colored Glasses
Posted:
5/12/2006 10:45:29 AM
I have some suggestions, if you like.
First, if you find yourself being overwhelmed by the negative often, it's likely because you haven't really internalized just how destructive getting stuck there is can be to you. Perhaps some fresh input from reading might demonstrate the very real unpleasant effects of it.
That's just off the top of my head, being the reader I am...I absorb a lot of writing, from famous to obscure authors, and I find after a while I begin to see patterns in how different types of people deal with their lives...kinda compare-and-contrast, you know?
One example: read some of the rantings of a megalomaniac (about any politician will do, though Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' is still a leading specimen); listen to their fear, greed, and bitterness and see how they made out. Compare to the attitude of someone who's gotten a handle on things and is comfortable with them, like the writing of CS Lewis or JRR Tolkien...just one idea, comparing the workings of such vastly differing minds has been really instructive for me.
Like the cliched song title, accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative as best you can...always by using facts and real things, not fluff or wishful thinking. A sound structure is absolutely esssential with this approach! Make a list, perhaps, of all the
good
things you have in your life, even if it's just cataloguing them in your mind. I'll bet that, like me, you'll find stuff popping in there that you'd forgotten, driven out of mind by the negative garbage!
Last, and only recommended for occasional times when you're really down, think about those who have it worse off than you...not to take any pleasure from their distress (too many do just that, which is a twisted sort of comfort, IMO), but to realize that maybe you
haven't
got it so bad...and even if you do, maybe you can learn from how others dealt with their own obstacles.
Hey, can you get up and take a walk around the block? Nice and simple, right?
Well, I can't do that; I have a disorder that's given me a limp. I can walk, but rather badly, and I really can't handle uneven terrain. But I do what I CAN, and there's a lot of satisfaction there, because if I don't let my limits wreck my attitude and limit me even further, I find I can do most of the things I like...and believe me, I'm still learning to have confidence in that! Whatever I find I can't do, I then decide if it's important enough for me to put in the thought and effort required to come up with a clever workaround solution. But considering how much worse things could have gone for me under other circumstances, I'm happy that I can do so many things...which lessens the regret for those I can't. I must say that gives me a sharper perception of what is and isn't important to me...being reminded of all the things that can just happen to so many people makes me NOT want to screw around, wasting time on the unimportant.
See? I have to accept certain realities, but I refuse to be halted by any limitations; when it's important I just find the way to dodge around them...and there really is almost always a way!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
6 (
view
)
Rose Colored Glasses
Posted:
5/11/2006 11:44:58 PM
dreamer1984 sez:
I'd say it does not hurt one single bit to see the world through "Rose colored glasses" so long as you don't let it blind you from things that you NEED to see (like if you are in serious life-threatening danger or somethin it's time to run if you're bein chased by some psycho or whatever not daydreamin bout magic or rainbows lol jk ha) but ya I'd say to at LEAST be aware that there are bad intentions out there and ill willed people who are bitter, miserable and evil.
Yep, pretty much echoed by my first paragraph...a realistic appraisal of the world is just that, acknowledging the bad...but only so far as to avoid its ill effects. Dwelling on it to excess just draws you into the sickness or evil, IMO.
You speak of experience with the worst of things? Errrr...with all due respect, at 21 you've literally not had enough
time
to get all jaded and crabby...that takes years of practice and determination. I'm sure that's difficult to absorb at 21, since one's time perspective changes drastically with age, I remember, but fercryinoutloud, I have
T-shirts
older than you...you've got youth, attractiveness, and a brain as allies, powerful stuff I wish I still had! Well...my brain's still serviceable at least...
Just keep that forward, upward movement as best you can, I'd say. Hey, my own life's been quite the train wreck for better than a year and a half, but I have no doubt that the only way it'll get better is if
I
take the initiative to work through it and prosper. Once anyone gives up on living, loving, and growing, they make themselves redundant at best...and may get into that twisted and evil mindset if they're not really careful.
Ahhh...again I'm reminded of George Lucas' philosophy as voiced by Yoda: "Once down the Dark Path you start, forever will it dominate your destiny..."
I just love the way that man's mind works in his movies, crappy dialogue and acting notwithstanding...LOL!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
4 (
view
)
Rose Colored Glasses
Posted:
5/11/2006 8:38:56 PM
First, since my watchword is
balance,
I certainly believe in making a realistic appraisal of things and events; a prepared person tends not to get caught unawares as often as one who can't be bothered to put forth some energy to better understand and deal with life.
That said, I definitely believe in focusing on the positive aspects of life as best I can. I'm not talking about fluffy nonsense, either; a discerning eye can see a whole world full of genuinely worthwhile, happily satisfying things.
It puzzles me: why for goodness' sake do so many people actively seek out really negative things? Is it because they've gotten so used to ugly, grim, unhappy things that their familiarity is comforting? Have they 'learned' that things always get worse? Tell the truth, I've found that people like this generally haven't really learned a thing...they've just gotten in the habit of expecting the worst while losing the hope (and willingness to put in effort) for the best.
I think this sets up a self fulfilling prophecy scenario, where these folks look for things that can't make them happy...then when whatever it is lets them down again, they can holler 'See? I was right all along!' I could see where someone would at least find that 'satisfying,' since they always get to be 'right.' But are there points awarded for this? Redeemable coupons? Any sort of healthy emotional satisfaction?
I think not.
That sort of icy nihilistic 'comfort' I for one can do without...good for you! Accusations of seeing the world through rose colored glasses often come, I'm afraid, from desperately unhappy people, lashing out because anything other than that dreary, gray world view they hold is threatening to them.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
46 (
view
)
what would you purchase on ebay?
Posted:
5/11/2006 7:58:54 PM
RSwindol sez:
I would purchase nothing on ebay unless it's something that I really want or need and there is no other place to get it within a hundred miles.
Ebay is a rip off and will only get worse as time goes on. Don't get me wrong, there are a few good buys there, but the bad definitely outweighs the good.
Wellnow...
I have to disagree. I've been eBaying since 2000, have 400+ deals done, both as a buyer and a seller, and have had ONE deal go bad, for a $12 DVD...and the seller just happened to be going bust at the time, I
did
get the other DVD I'd won.
I consistently find that most non-food items I want or need are significantly less expensive than retail stores' prices on eBay...and why not?
With eBay, dedicated sellers can supply the same goods a store can, without having to pass along the assorted costs of running a brick-and-mortar store to the consumer. The consumer gets the goods cheaper; when it works properly everyone wins, IMO.
How can there be a ripoff when you have zillions of sellers all competing with each other...surely you don't believe they all collude to keep prices high! If a seller's price is too high, I move right on to the next one with a mouse click. If it's a scarce item, or one that's so popular the price isn't ever going to be as low as I'd like, I either pay a bit more or wait till an auction comes along that suits...but it's about always less than I'd have paid in a store.
Now, eBay is far from perfect; it's got lots of warts. But still to my mind it is definitely (for now at least) the freest marketplace in the world.
There
are
things that eBay is not a great place to shop for...for some odd reason, of the several digital cameras I've bought for myself and as gifts, eBay auction as well as Buy It Now prices were quite a bit higher than those of the vendors at CNET.
No idea why...but that's another example of why it's generally better to buy online than at a store, whether on eBay or no. I know people who 'gotta have it in my hands before I buy' and they're just
hemmorhaging
money for that. The Olympus camera I bought from the CNET vendor Buydig would have cost one of my friends $$450-600-ish last January, had they gone to Staples, or even discount stores like Best Buy.
My cost with shipping was $342...and CNET has videos of the stuff being handled, both to show its ergonomics as well as function, and that's as close to 'in my hands' as I need!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
85 (
view
)
Anime
Posted:
5/10/2006 11:15:08 AM
There are plenty of things I enjoy in anime, but my consistent favorites are all by Hayao Miyazake...great art, stories adults can relate to, and a lot of just-plain-fun stuff!
Not surprisingly, being a pilot, my very favorite is
Kurenai no buta,
or Porco Rosso, and not just because I love his gorgeous crimson seaplane. There's a
lot
going on in that story that's fascinating to me...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
17 (
view
)
Can you talk?
Posted:
5/9/2006 8:50:59 PM
Go see her at http://www.cumscrewmeandmyfriendsandwhackoffalloveryourcomputerkeyboard.com!
Kudos to you...that was one fine rant!
I doff my hat to you...I'm envious. Now
I'll
have to find a subject worthy of a fun tirade just to keep up...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
12 (
view
)
Can you talk?
Posted:
5/9/2006 5:27:56 PM
I expect those who initiate IMs out of sheer boredom make up most of the culprits in complaints I've seen here. Otherwise, if someone's interested in knowing you better, why in the world would they even start a 'conversation' with something inane?!?
I've gotten some IMs that were obviously from bored or lazy people...the 'hi how r u 2night' salutation's the warning hammer.
I always try to be as polite as I can; I'll answer with something like 'hi, I'm just fine tonight, thanks! How are YOU?'
Usually, I see the little flashing letters that indicate they're typing go on for 5 minutes after that...for me, that'd be enough to write a couple of paragraphs, but when it finally comes up 'oh, I dont no, how r u?' I know it's getting time to extract myself from THAT dead end
real
quick!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
25 (
view
)
An Absence of Eloquence
Posted:
5/9/2006 5:14:01 PM
I will agree that there are good people out there who aren't the best at expressing themselves with their writing for one reason or another. They may be ignorant of basic composition skills due to active or passive neglect, they may be products of some of the worse examples of the dumbed-down public educational system, or they may just be super busy and don't take the time to compose well.
But you know what? A few minutes' conversation, whether it be IM, forum posts, mail, or voice, will tell you if that's the case. I've had some fine conversations in all of those media with people who were never going to be prizewinning authors.
HOWEVER.
There are far too many who really
are
too lazy, don't give a rip, or whose cognitive abilities just aren't so hot. I'm occasionally contacted by this sort, and while I'll do my best to be civil and polite at those times, I really don't want to put too much energy into communicating with someone who doesn't (and likely never
will
, no matter how much I hammer away at the keyboard) Get It.
One of my real peeves is a poorly written profile here. IMs are obviously not editable, nor is mail, once you hit the 'send' button. Forum posts, hey, ya got 15 minutes, and even picky me doesn't always catch every error I make....but your profile is ALWAYS editable. When I see one that's full of mispellings, negative garbage, and trite soundbites, it's a near-perfect indicator that I'm looking at someone that doesn't care a bit about the way they present themselves, and that's someone I honestly haven't got anything worth talking about with. I'm not gonna attack them, harass them, or otherwise give them grief...but I'm not wasting my time there.
I extend to them an open invitation to The World...may they navigate it well...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
6 (
view
)
Totally original soda mixing thread!!!
Posted:
5/9/2006 2:07:45 PM
I can't say I have a lot of experience mixing sodas with sodas...but I'm sure you'll get some fun results, as long as you don't mix overly 'contrasty' flavors.
Now, I like mixing stuff
with
sodas sometimes. My favorite is some Sprite or 7-Up mixed with the Dutch liqueur Coebergh...mmmm...
Most North Americans have never heard of this great stuff, since it basically isn't exported out of Holland. I'd not heard of it, either, but I'm fortunate enough to have some Dutch friends who turned me onto it and a few other great beverages!
Coebergh, by the by, is a relatively high-proof liqueur made from wild blueberries. Useful with food too...it's too tart on its own, but mixed with some decent blueberry syrup it's just all
kinds
of yummy on waffles.
Another great mixer is the Dutch 'Safari;' this one's made from mango, papaya, marucaya (a sort of yellow passionfruit, I think), and wild lime. Most tasty even with just club soda, but it too goes well with the white sodas like Sprite. Loads of possibilities abound for its mixability with all sorts of fruit sodas, I don't doubt.
The third good Dutch treat is 'Pisang,' an emerald green liqueur made from kiwi. Haven't messed with this one much, as I only have a tiny bottle of it!
On a side note, I've never been much of a beer drinker, but whenever I go to my local pub I order a drink called 'Hummingbird Water.' Yeah, it's probably sissified compared to beer, but I love it. It's a mix of hard pear cider and Belgian framboise (raspberry) ale. Like a potable alcoholic confection...YUM!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
105 (
view
)
I need recommendations on a handgun puchase.
Posted:
5/3/2006 7:59:35 AM
Another good option for small and concealable is the Kahr series of semi autos.
When I was shopping a few years back for my sidearm, it was a near thing between the Kahrs and the SIG P-239 I selected.
The Kahr K-9 or K-40 pistols are specifically designed for concealability and ease of use. Stainless steel construction, entirely dehorned so they won't hang up on clothing, and a striker fired double action only mechanism for safety and simplicity are good features.
Note that this is a conventional DAO gun, attractive for me since while I appreciate the theory, in practice I absolutely loathe the Glock's 'safe action' trigger.
With a 13 or so pound DAO trigger pull, you could twirl a Kahr on your finger all day without discharging it, but it's right there if you need it, and you're most unlikely to have an accidental discharge if you simply stuff it in your waistband...a hazard with Glocks unless you always use a dedicated Glock holster, far as I can see.
I went with the SIG out of brand snobbery, and I haven't a single regret. It's a beautifully constructed firearm, it's been 100% reliable, and given my size and habits, carrying it is no trouble at all.
I still recommend getting the most effective caliber you're comfortable with, both the .40 and .357 SIG cartridges are significantly better in energy delivery than any of the lesser calibers including the 9mm, which is what defensive firepower's all about.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
12 (
view
)
Any recommendations for energy products?
Posted:
4/20/2006 8:51:20 PM
Thanks for the great input and those cool links, guys!
I have talked about my supplements with both my scientist friend and neurologist, no objections from either at this point, and this is their field!
I'll be watching this thread
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
9 (
view
)
Any recommendations for energy products?
Posted:
4/20/2006 12:07:34 AM
You guys are definitely talking about stuff I need!
My diet's pretty good, but as a recently diagnosed MS person, I'm easily fatigued, and that's most annoying. I've only just started meds for that and they're supposed to help...but that takes time, and I know this is gonna be a chronic problem for me, so all this input's most welcome.
I already eat lots of flax oil, along with multivitamins and extra antioxidants like C and E, and I believe I'll pick up some ginseng as well...a hundred million or so Chinese, happily using it for centuries, can't all be wrong, eh
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
37 (
view
)
Disabilities...(and the misconceptions)...what's yours?
Posted:
4/16/2006 12:43:41 AM
After a lifetime of great health, I developed a disability which features a pronounced limp.
Right there with ya! I've been limping for a year and a half due to MS myself; annoying as all get out, isn't it?!?
I just kinda shrug off inane comments, questions, and actions as best I can. There are so many fine people out there it'd be a pity to let all the foolish ones eclipse all the good I can see in the world...if I remember to look!
Later, eh
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
8 (
view
)
Night Shift....
Posted:
4/14/2006 12:25:27 AM
LOL!
Ma'amselle, I'm 44 and I STILL don't know...
Here's my thinking: There's all the world of difference between someone who's an
adult
...and one who's a
grownup
. As my profile says, balance is my priority in life, and for me, keeping a little of a child-like (NOT to be confused with child-
ish
!) view of the world is essential to being a well developed human being, both to keep one's mind open to new and unexpected good things the world offers, as well to appreciate the small but vital pleasures we have right now. Offset that with some healthy adult cynicism and realistic appraisals of what's important...not to mention the ability to discern what's
not
good for you, and I think you've got a sound recipe for good living.
I hope I never grow up 100%. I think of 'grownups' as lacking the ability to see or appreciate the things I just mentioned, and I don't wanna ever get that dead inside.
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
6 (
view
)
Night Shift....
Posted:
4/14/2006 12:03:27 AM
I couldn't imagine 17 years of nights.... I am in year two and fading fast.
So? No two people have the same needs or priorities; maybe you're just not wired for night work! Perhaps you'll find yourself something in the same line of work to do during the daylight hours...listen to that 'still, small voice' inside you that tells you the important things, I bet you'll do spiffingly!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
4 (
view
)
Night Shift....
Posted:
4/13/2006 11:47:22 PM
I've worked the vampire shift for the last 17 years...even when I'm off I've always fallen into the up-at-night schedule. Right now I'm on recuperative leave from work; depending on circumstances I may need to switch careers and start my own business...which means (shudder) being up
days!
Oughtta be interesting to see how I integrate that with my natural nocturnal tendencies, huh?
I've been fortunate, since joining the site in September I've met some mighty cool people, both men and women, including several UK folks who I regularly correspond with and count as friends.
Sure, I've encountered a few non-fun oddballs here that I'd as soon not spend a lot of time on, but just like everything else in life, I use my judgement and budget my resources appropriately. I put my efforts and energies into developing friendships with the good ones, while politely ushering the not-so-good out into the world. It's well worth making time for these great folks; ya can never have too many friends, I believe!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
6 (
view
)
Ohhh...so THAT'S why acupuncture didn't work for me!
Posted:
4/12/2006 3:19:01 PM
Take a look at this info on MS.
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=13524
Wow...fascinating! I did in fact have a bout of mono back in '85...I'll have to see if my scientist pal knows this (bet he does but I'll ask)...
Thanks for passing that along!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
5 (
view
)
Ohhh...so THAT'S why acupuncture didn't work for me!
Posted:
4/12/2006 11:06:01 AM
Appreciate the response, mysterious5, and I know my post was rather long, but you must have missed a rather critical factor: my problem is a case of MS, multiple sclerosis.
I'll be dealing with it as best I can, taking Rebif injections every 3 days, with expectations of better times to come!
Seeya later
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
view
)
Sinbad (the sailor...) Series/Movies
Posted:
4/12/2006 12:32:27 AM
Look up Ray Harryhausen...he did the animation sequences for the Sinbad movies as well as bunches of others. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms comes to mind as one of his, also he did Clash Of The Titans in 1981, which I think might've been his last big visible effort.
IMDB.com should have a trove of info on this subject if you're motivated enough to take a look!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
4 (
view
)
Greenway walkers(Nashville, TN)
Posted:
4/9/2006 11:16:53 PM
Well, I can't mail you due to restrictions so I'll just answer here!
In your inbox you should see a link, third line of links down from the POF logo, for 'Local Get Togethers, Events, and Discussions etc.' That'll take you right to the local boards. A bit more circuitously, you can use the general 'Forums' link and at the top left you'll find the USA Forums link, which takes you to discussions listed by state...kinda redundant given that you have that very link handy in the inbox.
Hope that helps, appreciate the kind thoughts. My doc tells me MS is hardly the nastiness it used to be and I should be back to (and likely stay) limp-free soon, what with the new medicines available in recent years. Suits me, I'm no couch potato and keep pretty active even now, and I'm looking forward to being back to 100%!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
2 (
view
)
Greenway walkers(Nashville, TN)
Posted:
4/9/2006 8:23:41 PM
I'm a Nashvillian but I'm not yet familiar with the greenway...
Gimme a few weeks for my new medicine to kick in (I'm limping now due to MS and can't relate to uneven terrain so hot, more's the pity) and assuming it does what it's supposed to I'll be checking it out!
BTW, you might have better luck posting this sort of thing in the TN local forum, most POFers don't look at the forums, and those that do often stick to their local boards.
Thanks, I'll be looking info up now!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
48 (
view
)
Characters - cartoon and cartoonish
Posted:
4/5/2006 10:36:31 PM
Those overly-polite chipmunks
You must mean Disney's Chip 'n' Dale...
This is turning into a fun continuation of a thread from a couple of months back here!
Actually, the Warner Brothers critters were
gophers
, and their names are Mac & Tosh...
"Shall we?"
"Indubitably, let's DO!"
You folks have already listed most of my favorites, both animated and in print, keep it up :D
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
4 (
view
)
Am I the only one still listening to Christmas music?
Posted:
4/5/2006 9:47:20 PM
Hey, I love the traditional stuff, oldies from the 40s with Bing or the 60s with Andy Williams, and occasionally listen to them throughout the year...but infrequently, as I try to save them to enjoy the actual Christmas season better.
Exceptions: the South Park Christmas album; it's so irreverent that I look on it as good 'any time' music, especially the hilarious 'Christmas Time In Hell!' Ditto for Weird Al Yankovic's 'Christmas At Ground Zero' or 'The Night Santa Claus Went Crazy...'
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
view
)
How do you remove your profile??
Posted:
4/4/2006 11:34:48 PM
I'm not sure about completely deleting it, but you can hide your profile from view. It's an option found when you click the 'edit profile' link on your page. Hope that helps!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
12 (
view
)
Crafts and hobbies
Posted:
4/3/2006 5:58:13 PM
Model airplanes, GG!
They can range from the very simple to the ridiculously complex...I spent six months converting a common junk kit into a fully functioning WW II dive bomber (its pic is on my photo lineup). It's only flown once, so far...but it was one of many I-just-HAVE-to-do-this projects. Not like I tend to obsess or anything, but once a scheme takes hold of you, it's almost impossible to dismiss it...LOL
I love having to stretch my brain around some infuriating mechanical problem that needs to be dealt with...actually, what I love is
having
done it...some interesting language has been known to come out of me during the process!
Cwtchs :)
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
45 (
view
)
Nashville people, lets all meet !!!!!!
Posted:
4/3/2006 12:20:32 AM
Sorry I never followed up on this, but I have been pretty run down and out of it the last several months.
Long story short, the issue came to a head in February and after sundry adventures it turns out that the culprit behind the limp that's bedeviled me for over a year is a 'slight' case of MS, multiple sclerosis...
I'm actually of good cheer; I'd begun to think it was something far worse...as in fatal. But MS isn't the affliction it was even just a few years ago; with the new treatments available since 2002 or so, my doc is pretty confident I'll soon be back at normal function, with the likelihood that I can keep going at normal or close to normal for many many years to come!
So...I'm hardly out of the loop, just a bit sidelined till I can get established on my new treatment regime. If anyone's interested, I did a fairly thorough (read: wordy, I'm a blab) writeup of my tale in the Health & Fitness section of the forums here:
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts3821326.aspx
I haven't changed my mind a bit about the Saucer being a great place for a meet; its central location with plenty of room for cordial hanging out makes it the best choice I could think of, especially on a quiet Sunday afternoon or evening as I mentioned earlier. If y'all start without me I won't be put out a bit, but at some point I'll for sure be wanting to get out as I reclaim my life from this silly disorder!
See ya all round the forums...and out in the world
Glenn
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
view
)
Please rate me...
Posted:
3/31/2006 9:05:20 PM
Okey dokey...you're cute, articulate, and obviously looking to communicate with people...but there's some work to do here!
Your headline 'would you like to be my friend?' strikes me as kinda weak and forlorn. Sure, I'd like to be friends with an attractive woman, but because I like her, admire her, respect and/ or lust after her, not because I feel bad that she's lonely. Besides, giving any impression of weakness tends to attract creepy sociopaths looking for flaws they can exploit in others, and who wants to waste time dealing with knuckleheads?
Your opening statement saying you're middle aged...? SAYS WHO?!? To me, 'middle aged' smacks of decline, mediocrity and resignation, which I don't think are words that'd apply to you, just going by your photos.
Lose the negative about 'a past of choosing the wrong men!' If you'd chosen the right one, you wouldn't be here...and neither would any of the rest of us. Not only is something negative an obvious downer, but again a statement like that is a magnet for the sort you
don't
want to meet; some creep looking to be another 'wrong man' in your life! None of us is perfect, we've all made bad choices in some areas. Scrap it, please.
Next, you gotta tell people MORE about yourself. Ain't a whole lot to go on...tell us what you like, who you like, and what you'd like to find...and I really do stress that keeping everything positive is important. But you're gonna have to make people interested in you for concrete reasons...and I'm betting there are plenty.
Better minds than mine have written here that one's bio is very much a note to a prospective friend, lover, mate, whatever. To connect with someone who you could get along with, like, maybe even love, you can do better than basically saying 'well here I am, who's interested?'
Suggestion: You'd profit by reading bucsgirl's sticky thread on profile editing here for tons of good advice on this subject. She's GOOD at this stuff...and was a big help to me in the (ongoing!) polishing of my own profile!
Good luck....I know we'll be seeing and hearing plenty more from you!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
1 (
view
)
Ohhh...so THAT'S why acupuncture didn't work for me! - Multiple Sclerosis
Posted:
3/31/2006 6:46:06 PM
One or two of you might recall a thread discussing acupuncture I began a few months back...now the saga continues!
To recap, I'm a courier pilot by trade, and have been loading all my own cargo lo these many years. For the last few I'd had some chronic lower back pain, but it really flared up on me in 2001, and seemed to be relieved by chiropractic adjustment until a year and change ago (about Sept./Oct. 2004) when I noticed I was decidedly favoring my left leg. By Spring of 2005 it had become a definite limp, and though it really hadn't got worse since last summer, after dragging myself through this winter my knee was aching and I was going kinda crazy with worry.
A knowledgeable friend of mine pointed out that my problem was 'foot drop,' an inability to use one's dorsiflexor muscles to raise the foot, most apparent by the gait one so afflicted adopts to keep his foot from dragging the ground and possibly stumbling...caused potentially by many things, I reasoned it likely that my years of loading heavy cargo had led to a pinched nerve somewhere.
Now I DID seek help from MDs last spring (my company cut chiropractic benefits out of our Blue Cross about 3 years ago), but it was a disaster.
The first guy, a GP (I figured hey, ya gotta start somewhere), was a nut job. On my one visit to him he was weird right from the get-go, talking in his little soft Southern Faulknerian style...to himself!
"What do you think the problem could be, Doctor?" he asked himself...then answered "Well, could be several things. Could be this or that" and those are his words, he only said 'this' or 'that!'
He went on..."well, if it's THIS, might be something you could do...but if it's THAT, well, you're F****d!"
I got right outta there. He wasn't playing with a full deck, IMO, and his vague, and HORRIBLY inappropriate comment was scary.
Next I tried an orthopedic doc...he noted my pronounced limp, and scheduled me for X rays and MRIs.
When they came back, he said "Well, I can't help you today." How nice...apparently my MRIs showed nothing out of the ordinary, no tumors, no stenosis, no bulging discs, etc.
But this guy had an agenda. He was fanatically anti-tobacco, and I was smoking at the time. Every other phrase out of him was an anti smoking lecture. Now he had an opening...
He suggested that I had some form of cancer, and wanted to schedule me for all kinds of additional tests and scans. Now, I'm a layman, but I know that cancer is voracious, consuming a body's resources at a huge rate. Me, other than the stupid limp, I felt fine.
Deciding he'd let his politics influence his diagnostic skills, I again hit the road...though there did remain some nagging doubts, since he had, after all, a white coat and diplomas on the walls.
Next I tried (at my own expense, this time) chiropractic again. Waste of time. 3 months of a little poke here and tap there. Bah. Guy was a quack, I must say.
That's when I tried acupuncture. OK, felt good, but didn't address my limp, and by now I had become paranoid I'd got ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. It's one ugly way to die. My condition wasn't worse, but seeing my left leg muscles atrophying from being dragged around was creepy in the extreme...
NOTE- this fear was PARTIALLY allayed when in October I got a stationary trainer so I could ride my bike in my living room. My leg muscles quickly started bulking back up...but I still had nagging ALS fears with my nerve slowdown.
The acupuncturist recommended a chropracter he'd worked with, and this time I found a winner; this chiropracter turned out to be a solid human being. She made it clear that I had obvious foot drop, and if a few adjustments didn't clear it up, off to the neurologist I'd go. SInce my car's finally about paid off, I figured this would happen in late spring or so once I'd built some vacation time back up instead of selling it back for bill money...sadly, my company allows no sick time, so accruing some vacation first seemed the way to go.
It didn't quite work out as smoothly as I'd have liked.
In late February, the matter came to a head. I went to see my flight physician for my routine annual physical, but when he saw me lurching around, he refused to consider reissuing my medical certificate to me till I got it checked out. No medical, no work, so I haven't flown since the last day of February.
I got my chiropracter to refer me to a local neurologist...and it still took almost 2 weeks to get in to see her on the 10th of March. Seeing my limp, she scheduled MRIs again...for almost 2 weeks LATER!
That was the fuse-blower. In desperation, I called a childhood friend of mine who's an associate professor down at LSU Shreveport. He's a cell biologist and researcher, and he'd mentioned that if I got in a bind he knew all number of doctors, including neurologists, so I let him know I was now officially yelling for help.
He called me back inside of ten minutes with his neurologist colleague's cell phone number. Thank goodness for friends!
This fine man took me on as his personal patient...I drove down to Shreveport on the 11th, and was in the doc's office on the 15th.
Oh no...I could see it in his eyes, he thought I had ALS. My goose was cooked. He scheduled me for full MRIs the very next morning, and I can honestly that was one of the worst nights of my life.
3 hours in the MRI machine, and my scientist friend drove the films over to the doc himself.
I had a phone call within a couple of hours. "Good news!" the doc says. "Your MRIs are totally inconsistent with ALS!"
Whew. Not dying horribly is good!
"However, they're also pretty conclusive that you have an early case of MS, multiple sclerosis."
ACK!
I spent the week of March 20-24 in the LSU hospital, having a bag of steroids IV'd into me each day to get my immune system to quit stripping my nerves' insulation (that's what MS does, basically). I got out Friday, and will be starting regular medication soon.
Now, I'm pretty agnostic, but I must say that I am feeling pretty blessed by how well and speedily my friend and his colleague took care of me. I hadn't realized it, but both of them spend the majority of their time in the lab researching MS! Coincidence...? Hmmm...
PLUS, the doc made me part of a university follow up study, so I won't be paying for my fancy and EXPENSIVE medication any time in the foreseeable future. I gotta go back to be examined semi-annualy at the school, but that is a tiny price to pay. How totally cool is THAT!?!?
I'm learning fast. The doc INSISTED on a minimum of 2 weeks off after the hospital, and I'm trying to use the time to bulk up my knowledge. I should confess...I am totally out of it this week; one thing nobody told me was that a week's worth of dosing on steroids makes most people just a weeeeee bit psychotic! I'm self aware enough to recognize the ugly mindset I've been in as an induced and artificial craziness that'll pass in time. I'm nutty enough as it is!
MS is not necessarily the debilitating disorder it was even a few years ago, thanks to new drugs researched by folks like my buddy. More are coming, and both my friend and my new doctor have expressed confidence that they can likely get...and keep...me at normal function or close to it.
MS is not at all automatically disqualifying for an aviation medical certificate, either. A coworker found me an official FAA aeromedical journal online discussing this issue. As of 2001, there were almost 200 of us flying safely with MS, and I plan to start bugging my flight physician next week for a reissued medical. My MS doesn't affect my vision, which means I don't have the additional hurdle of proving I can see straight!
If for any reason I have to quit flying, well, OK...I've been putting dough in my 401(k) for years and can use it as collateral for a small business loan; I'd thought for years about opening an upscale toy and hobby store here, so I have cards to play yet. Besides, I have a feeling there are all sorts of loans, grants, and other incentives available for someone who becomes disabled in their chosen career to start up a business.
From what I've read, with regular treatment I should have many many years of good function, as I've jokingly told my friends lately, I should be actively annoying people well into my eventual codger-hood!
I'm certainly not happy to've gotten smacked with the MS stick, but it sure beats dying unpleasantly from ALS. I just wanted to get my life back, and it sure looks like I'm well on my way to doing that. It doesn't have to be perfect; I can take a hit in it...but I do want my life.
Besides, thinking about the big picture, there are many people in far worse straits than me, so I plan to just forge ahead and live well. Really well. I'm just glad the limitations on me aren't near as bad as they'd be if I were a runner or gymnast...assuming I can work, fly my model airplanes, and perhaps ride my bike outside, off the trainer, I'll be perfectly content.
I thank all of the folks here who were so supportive of me while I was trying to find my way through acupuncture, as well as my buddy (my brother, he is, and I'd take a bullet for him!) who helped me out when I needed it. And of course, my profound thanks to my great new neurologist; let's all beat this stupid MS back into the Stone Age!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
3 (
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New Inventions
Posted:
3/31/2006 3:20:49 PM
Sorry, C, I was playing Tetris on my cell phone whilst making toast and watching a DVD movie...let me think on that a bit!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
14 (
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Calling all foreign film enthusiasts
Posted:
3/27/2006 5:30:18 PM
City Of Lost Children's a big favorite of mine!
When I first saw the trailer years ago I assumed it was one of Terry Gilliam's baroque creations, but t'ain't so...and the French filmmakers did a fine job. A very cool creepy/techno/fairy/SF type tale, and I got the DVD real quick.
I recommend just about anything by the Japanese animation guru Hayao Miyazake. For me, some of his films (Princess Mononoke comes right to mind) are a bit heavy handed and preachy in the eco-terrorist mindset, but stuff like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and my own top fav, Porco Rosso, hit on all cylinders. Okay, it's animated...but the stories, even in a 'kid' type movie like Totoro, definitely are geared toward adult sensibilities and are engaging and entertaining without hitting you repeatedly with the Moron Hammer that too many American flicks use.
Paul Verhoeven's 'Soldier Of Orange' is a good account of Holland under German occupation, even if I can't speak Dutch and have to use the English subtitles. One of Rutger Hauer's earlier pics, but very good.
Most of Jackie Chan's Hong Kong movies are fun if you like action, especially since they're pretty much exclusively full of real stunts; no blue screen or fakes...
What else...oh yeah, hard to go wrong with the original 'La Femme Nikita,' which is better than its pretty good Bridget Fonda remake 'Point Of No Return.'
I have been meaning to look into Kurasawa's films...'The Seven Samurai' looks like it deserves its reputation and following, I'll probably download it and eventually pick up the Criterion DVD, but his others look good too...
Ah yes...edit for forgetting one of the funniest comedies you could see: 'Johnny Stecchino,' starring Roberto Benigni. He plays a hapless clown roped into being a double for an Italian mobster, as they're identical in appearance. Roberto ROCKS!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
92 (
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best video game of all time
Posted:
3/27/2006 3:58:29 PM
ya like ff on or off????
Easy call for me...on.
Then it's a combat
sim
, not just a game. I doubt in real life you could have an HE grenade bounce off your teammate's head from a clumsy throw and explode inches away, killing the enemy while leaving him/her unscathed, eh? LOL
I like CS 'cause it really makes me pay extra attention to my bad habit of spazzing out under pressure. Standing still and sniping with open sights on an AK with single shots means you need to ice it down and keep focused on precision.
I'm still trying...
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
90 (
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best video game of all time
Posted:
3/27/2006 2:36:50 PM
Or any online shooter, there's always the one guy screaming at his team about how much they suck.
Yup. That or the 'THIS MAP SUX!' litany. I'm as guilty of that as the next person...which is why I preferred being an admin in a clan or at least frequenting, as I do now, a server with map voting so if it's dull or the map really does suck (and lots do, for sure), I can change it to something better.
Of course, in a team game it's nice to have admin as well, so if I guy is behaving really obnoxiously you can beeyatch-slap him around some till he settles down.
Of course for the really egregious offenders, big mouths and creeps and guys who team up on a straight deathmatch server (WEAK), it is a relief to use admin tools to smite the insect off your server, permanently if need be. I never felt the need to do that more than a handful of times...but like a defensive sidearm, having the 'ban his nasty butt' option was sure good to have standing by if needed.
All this CounterStrike talk's reminded me I need to get current with it again. Well, I'm on (hopefully just) 2 weeks recuperative medical rest, so maybe I'll jump in over the next few days. Haven't played T and planted the bomb in ages!
Got lEEt?
wOOt!!!!!!!!!!
mu2freighter
Joined:
9/25/2005
Msg:
5 (
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sad news....
Posted:
3/27/2006 12:43:22 PM
Oh MAN, one of my very favorite writers! He will be missed. I guess the flags are at half mast in Lvov...
I discovered Lem back in the late 70s. Yes, as we see here, everyone knows Solaris, but my favorites from him are his funny/satirical stuff. The Star Diaries, which are the memoirs of his space traveler Ijon Tichy, are hilarious, and his short robot stories in the books Mortal Engines and The Cyberiad are hysterical and are very high on my list of recommendations for people who like this sort of SF. At some points the characters in the stories can get almost like the Three Stooges (albeit dressed in metal)...but there's always some hard science behind the scenes; a very cool balance, IMO.
Example:
I'm reminded of one story from The Cyberiad where Trurl, a constructor/engineer robot, builds an immense 8 story computer. Only problem is that the machine is not only the biggest, but the stupidest machine in creation. When Trurl's colleague Klapaucious, another robot inventer, questions it, it stubbornly insists that 2+2=7, and when he tries to argue with it, it rips itself loose from its foundations and comes lumbering after him, trying to squish him for daring to disagree with it...ahhhh....good stuff. That's just one of many examples, they're varied in scope and always seem to have some interesting perspective to look at.
BTW, Lem's best translator is Michael Kandel, I think. For us poor ignorant slobs who can't read or speak Polish, he seems to capture the spirit Lem intended to put forth in his books. Any of the works translated by that fellow are fine reads, I'd say. Look for his imprint when tracking these books down and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
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