senior, old age, second childhood, sickness and death, ain't we got fun.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

THE END OF MUSIC

yes, it was the end of music on feb. 3, 1959. buddy holly and ritchie valens died in an airplane crash. we've been going down hill ever since.

from single stringed instruments to the so called classics, opera, and other decadent and boring types of music we ascended to the heights with great music rising up from the turn of the 20th century until the end in 1959. our culture and our music has been going down the toilet ever since.

of course there is always country and western music which hasn't changed as long as i've been alive. gene autry and roy rogers could very well be modern songsters of this era. boring and depressing from start to finish. still back in the saddle.

*********************************************************************************************

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

TALIBAN DETAINEES NOT GIVEN JOBS

when wwii ended large numbers of nazis were given good jobs in the united states. why were these obviously talented taliban detainees sent out of the country. it appears that the united states does not have an even handed policy. wernher von braun was responsible for the indiscriminate bombing of london with his rockets. if that wasn't terrorism i dont know what is.

**********************************************************************************************

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

WHAT I LEARNED FROM REPUBLICANS

healthcare makes people sick.

oil spills improve the environment. the strongest of the creatures survive.

cheesecake is a vegetable.

giving out free school lunches destroys ambition.

lowering taxes on the rich enhaces yacht production and creates jobs.

praying several times a day relieves hunger pangs.




"It is only a paper moon Sailing over a cardboard sea But it wouldn't be make believe If you
believed in me......"

******************************************************************************************

Friday, May 30, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXVIII



reached another b'day. its so great. the older i get the more excuses i accumulate not to attend social functions with my cntemporary anthropoids.

my excuse list includes:

may catch cold/flu/virus/ebola/cough
from people/pets/food/drink/draft/plants/soil.
i may forget/wander off/fall down/overdose/lose address/lose my glasses/hearing aid
or have relapse/pain/nausea/headache/foot ache/sickness
because i couldn't sleep/drive/walk/see
whatever.

**********************************************************************************************
john kenny and, "truth in advertising".

i humbly have borrowed the, "truth in .." thing from john kenny's book, "truth in advertising". this has to be the most interesting and well crafted novel of all time. i have listened to the audio book over a period of time three times and i am entertained each and every time.

"mill on the floss", or "bleak house" may be ok but are not at the entertainment level of kenny's writing. sorry george eliot and charles dickens.

only shakespeare can compete with kenny except i can't follow elizabethan english.

*******************************************************************

Thursday, May 29, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXVII

more epilogue

recommended diet for post transplant and elderly

as you know caloric intake is broken down by food and drink components: carbohydrates, protein, fat, and alcohol. the recommended diet is low protein, low fat, low carbohydrate and little or no alcoholic products. so that leaves what? water! large amounts of water is good - they say. of course you might starve to death but you will at least have avoided a more painful death. i'm glad i have cheered you up today.

think i'll have a pizza and beer for lunch. that's healthy. isn't it?

**********************************************************************************************

as i recover at home the circumstances and attitudes change:


" did you take out the garbage?"
"not yet"
"well walk the dog?"
"we don't have a dog."
"well take a walk anyway."
"groan - bye."
"THE GARBAGE!!!"
"okie dokie."

*************************************************************************************************

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXVI

epilogue v


erectile dysfunction cures and commercials - clearly they are not working in this ad.

y'know the men in e d med commercials are not the best sales reps for the pharma industry. after taking those little blue pills the pretty boy lovers smile a lot, their women smile back, the men move over to their presumed lover, put an arm around her, give her a peck on the cheek, and a modest hug, besides the smile she does not flush or have any increased breathing or pulse rate. these reactions are not exactly what i expected from these powerful drugs. not exactly showing the strong magnetic natural forces unleashed. if thats the best they can do don't waste your money on the meds or perhaps the men are just not interested in women or will not be helped by drugs. the visuals bring to mind christmas time at grandma's or a pillsbury biscuit commercial. "there's nothing better than pillsbury's biscuits to bring families together."

he's probably waiting for his golfing appointment and she's going to meet her date at the officer's club who doesn't need any pills.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

on another note

kevin smith movies on nertflix

self-promoting ken smith thinks he's steven spielberg when he's a lot more like edward wood except smith is not as talented. being a new jersey boy, smith's heroes and heroines underneath their nonconformist veneer usually wind up wanting a house, lawn to mow, and the usual boring stuff of a new jersey life. two movies watched include, " chasing amy", and "zack and miri make a porno". both wind up with the usual dream of a stable and boring future life.

so that is your new jersey choice either a life of emotional turmoil or total boredom taking care of your lawn and associating with other zombies who love bruce springsteen. yea, its NEW JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, May 23, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXV

epilogue iii

mental health

i forgot to mention rudy giuliani among crazy cross dressing republicans. bizarrely the rat pack that calls itself the republican party thinks it is cool to be perverse provided you are one of them. being perverse and not of really white lineage makes you a thug. what is it with these guys pretending to be sophisticated but are just plain crazy. they're the ones promoting perverse behavior. why am i the only one who sees that?

**************************************************************************************************

my brain and the speed of light

as you know (no you don't!) the speed of light is constant regardless of whether you are moving toward the light source or moving away from the light source. for most other phenomena such as a moving train you will notice that relative to the ground your speed is slower when walking to the rear of the moving train and faster as you walk to the front of the train. one side of my brain accepts this.

the other side of my brain says while lol that this is stupid and can't happen. next thing you know they'll be saying we evolved from monkeys. thats funny.

****************************************************************************************************

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXIV

epilogue ii

mental health:

carl rove being a prime example of brain damage has brought up the subject of mental health. he is a patholological liar and exhibits bizarre behavior. in some deviant abnormal way republicans think it is sophisticated to be unashamedly mentally ill and stupid. i guess this speaks to their culture.

the world has been subjected to a variety of psychopathic leaders and advisors from nero, and rasputin to nancy reagan's astrology sessions.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

rich people never get sick.

somehow rich people (two types: billionaires and/or delusional personalities) seem to think their food and air and water supply and judgements are superior to their presumed poorer next door neighbors'. otherwise they might be upset with an oil pipeline across the landscape and a nuclear plant down the road or a toxic waste dump on the mountain. and they are probably convinced that they are not vulnerable to the " .. thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to." it may devoutly be wished but only republicans believe it.

"we're rich. nothing bad can happen to us because we are so smart, and strong, out of my way!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

all is vanity

although having lost about 10 pounds from pre-transplant four months ago i find that my pant's waist size has increased by about three inches mainly because i don't want anything touching my abdomenal waistal midsectional area. i just can't stand anything rubbing on my still raw skin surface. i have given up being vain. no sense to it any longer. i only shave once a week, have given up trying to look good, slouching around with my cliven bundy rancher hat as ordered by my doctor because sunlight causes cancer and with my old man's suspender held pants.

many local people who know me by sight take a second more scrutinizing look now probably thinking, "what the hell happenned to him?".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sunday, May 18, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXIII

epilogue i

just a few post scripts and followups:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

checking with my dentist for a prescription for pre appt. anti-biotics he said i should check with my local doctor. i thought my dentist was a local doctor. dentists love to be called doctor but bail out when the rubber meets the road. they're just dentists.

i'm going to call my garage mechanic and shoemaker doctor. just give them a piece of paper to put on the wall.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

must comment on the rancher cliven bundy from bunkerville nv. how can anyone possibly make these names up? impossible.... even a hollywood writer or casting studio would find it difficult to think of more descriptive names. you know exactly who he is and where he's from. i'm thinking movie script, background music, jack palance, and james coburn, russell crowe, gene hackman, in their prime. good guys include gary cooper as the sheriff and spencer tracy as the head of the local blm.

"bad day in bunkerville" starts with spencer tracey getting off a train and trying to get acquainted with the locals --- ooops i think that's another movie.

yes i know this has nothing to do with healthcare.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

according to the experts i'll be perfectly well in about six weeks when i will have survived six months. the medical community has sliced up the recovery period into easily handled parts. one size fits all. a 20 year old has the same schedule as i do even if its obvious that we are so different physically. well, they know what they're doing.

can hardly wait for my full health day. maybe i'll go on safari or sign up for a triathlon. we'll see. right now i still don't feel that great even though i'm only 80 something and in my prime.

in early july i'm scheduled to stop taking three of the remaining eight meds i'm on. will feel really good. i think.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

y'know that magic moment at the hospital when you are about to be wheeled away for your surgery and someone comes into your room and says, "your surgeon doctor frankenburger is the best. he performed procedures on almost all members of my family and they now feel great. you are so lucky to have dr. stanislaw frankenburger working on you." well sorry folks they say that about all their doctors before surgery. it has been found that the success rate is much higher when the patient has confidence in his doctor. you never hear anyone say they had the worst surgeon. everyone i've heard about always has the best surgeon.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Wednesday, May 7, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXII

discharged on friday. three days after the transplant. was feelin' really good. was anything in the drinking water?

spent the next 10 weeks recuperating. i was requested to have a biopsy but became i became very ill and was readmitted to the hospital. the expert biopsy doctor seemed to love his work. he was always smiling and talkd up his procedure and said there would be no problem. he told that to all the guys and girls. i'm sure he had no problem with it. i was saved from the biopsy because i was too sick. the doctor showed up occasionally just to make sure he couldn't stick me yet. i bet his patients had a different point of view. the outpatient nephrologist set a creatinine limit i had to beat or the biopsy would be required for sure. creatinine was good and i was saved temporarily.

THE END

LOOP BACK TO HEALTHCARE II TO CONTINUE.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XXI

"just relax", the voice said.
"okie dukie".

the next thing i knew i was trying to pull off an oxygen (sorta) snorkel mask which was just one of the annoyances. another voice from above said, "don't touch the mask". it was a nurse.

i was in a large recovery room. initially i was only aware of pain and discomfort. i kept thinking it'll get better as time passes and after about five years it did although the clock seemerd to indicate only a few hours had passed from start to now.

curtains separated many beds in a circle. i think. someone was crying out. "poor devil", i thought. my condition was clearly much better than his. my wife and son were present shortly. they had been by my side previously they said.

all i can recall of my recovery was that i was peeing real good. i found out that peeing is one of the most important things you can ever do during your life time. my various doctors have said:
1. regardless of medical tests, if you're walking around, you're walking around.
2. getting out of bed is a significant medical indication of your improving health.
3. when a woman starts putting on lipstick she is getting better.

insomnia was the most annoying of my various complaints. separated by a curtain, my roommate also couldn't sleep although i heard occasional snoring from his side. he claimed to have watched half a dozen basketball games and reruns overnight. i sorta' liked the patty duke show, and that girl. anyway we both survived the night. during the day he was busy doing his work as budget director on his laptop. i'm still a bit worried about him. he was sicker than i. in passing i note that he was a hard working black man while my roommate at rehab was an entitled white a'hole.

the transplant was on tuesday. by thursday i was having coffee in the hospital cafeteria tethered to a plastic urinal container. i don't recall any women screaming or men fainting as i trudged the hospital hallways or being on their elevators. i'm still trying to figure out who put into my record tyat the kidney functioned late. the staff, nurses, doctors try to cover their butt in case something goes wrong, "its not my fault, its the patient".

TO BE CONTINUED. I THINK.

*****************************************************************************

Monday, May 5, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XX

just rehashing the past four months - from transplant to costco.

i'm more convinced than ever that whatever occurs in anyone's life is just a function of almost random dumb luck. of course you may have to push a little on the dumb luck part. if you remain totally on the sidelines the world will totally pass you by.

in a few days my kidney transplant will have been installed four months. in late evening on the day before the procedure i was called into the hospital. i did not think this was really going to happen having been offered kidneys about a dozen times before and been turned away or not called back at all. things were looking bad in other respects too. in a few days i would need a reevaluation for the procedure; my blood tests indicated my condition was deteriorating; and my nephrologist told me to hold off any dialysis the only option remaining with davita a profit making, business oriented, payoff making, new york stock exchange company. a death sentence for sure. a 20% first year mortality rate across all age groups. probably >50% at my age.

my stars, murphy, and lady luck aligned. strangely the kidney was given up by another hospital for an unknown reason. it was sent in, examined, and given to me.

i had waited only 18 months. i know its much less time than other patients. the main reason i think is that my blood type is ab. an ab blood type can accept any blood type but all other blood types cannot accept an ab blood type. only about 4% of americans have an ab type. when i was in the army only two others of about 200 in my company had an ab blood type.

the only thing that kept my feelings of anxiety from overwhelming me and possibly run screaming from the room as my body was being prepared for anesthetic and surgery was the certainty that there was no other logical option. i may have even mentioned previously to the surgeon that if there was any problem in surgery it was ok with me for him to finish me off. i'm not real good with pain and suffering.

TO BE CONTINUED. WILL THE SURGERY BE SUCCESSFUL? FIND OUT NEXT TIME.

*******************************************************************************************

Sunday, May 4, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XIX

ON GRADUATING FROM REHAB

of course there was an element of envy and anger by the people at my dining table when i left. the individual being stuck in a mode of dependence upon a not always responsive beaurocracy could feel a lot of hostility and anger. most of the other persons at my mealtime table were going to escape within a few days but they were still in wheelchairs while i was able to walk off sorta' like a toddler.

walked out of the rehab building without incident. i had my documents in hand in case the rehab, nursing home cartel police tried to stop me. i expected, "hey you. do you have your papers?". you know many of their organizations are on the stock exchanges meaning they are profit making and prefer strongly not to lose a customer.

my wife drove me home without incident. murphy and lady luck must have been elsewhere.

now having been released about two weeks ago i have in the last few days been to the mall, costco, got a haircut after about 6 months (two months usual wait plus 4 months with transplant, illness, and rehab). bought stuff at teeter, giant, and shoppers, went to library, home depot, and did some flower planting and driving to the detriment of other drivers ( nah, kidding). actually my physical condition is fair. i still feel (after the transplant) like someone cut me open, pulled out all my innards, put it all back, and sewed me up. i wonder why i feel this way? oh, because that's what happenned.). it would be easy to just go to bed and not get out but it is clear that continual activity improves me even at XX years of age.

many of the worst events that occurred are fading as is childbirth as i've been told by my wufe. in a playoff of the pain and suffering olymics my wife always wins.

WILL THIS CONTINUE? I HAVE NO IDEA.
******************************************************************************************************

Saturday, May 3, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XVIII

more odds and ends

the doctor approved my pardon and dismissal. in about another hour i received my documents and discharge papers. i expected a suit and some spending money like james cagney used to get when he was released from prison. was murphy going to screw this up? y'know he and lady luck only take good care of winners. the weak are more prone to their whims.

the thought of leaving most these people who will actually live out their lives in confinement relying on the kindness of strangers was sobering. eventually not too distant it will be my fate. maybe i'll be lucky and have one massive heart attack. perhaps it will be on a friday so i don't ruin the workweek or schoolweek for anyone. when you're dead you're dead.

i'm always stunned when rich people like billionaires actually die. how good is a health system when the richest of the rich are subject to human mortality.

the medical people have me on the same schedule as a young person. one size fits all. i'm still going along with little energy and stamina and the extenal scars are taking their time returning to normal. i know i'm only in my 80s and in my prime. so i shouldn't complain. i did drive (by myself -yea) to the mall last week and bought a few (actually a lot) of things at costco and other places. anyway if i have enough energy to go out about twice a week i should be happy.

my big adventure will be visiting my dentist. my instructions are not to have any dental work done 'til july. i've made two appts. on consecutive days because clearly i have a lot of catching up to do. in july i will not have seen my dentist in almost a year. he's the best and charges accordingly. thanks, to my children's money. on many days while in the hospital and rehab, rolled up in a ball of discomfort and pain i confess that i did not always attend to the principles of dental hygiene.

TO BE CONTINUED. ADDITIONAL ODDS AND ENDS OR DISCHARGE?? IT'LL BE A SURPRISE TO ME. I CAN'T WAIT.

***********************************************************************************************

Friday, May 2, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XVII

odds and ends

my deep religious belief in murphy and non-virginal lady luck may have pulled me through so far. so beautiful when she smiles on you.

from the frank sinatra version of luck be a lady tonight from guys and dolls:

"Luck Be A Lady"
They call you lady luck
But there is room for doubt
At times you have a very un-lady-like way
Of running out


then there is murphy a god that promotes randomness, much like your god.

finally on tuesday, two weeks ago, i finished my last therapy session at the workout center. in my room by mid-morning i realized that i may as well go home as stay another sleepless night in my dr. mengele bed watching gilligan reruns at 3 in the morning. at home i could get a few ounces of scotch to knock me out. btw i have taste tested red label, black label, and single malt scotch. they all have one common problem. they taste like scotch. of course adding water cuts the ugh taste.

went to my nurse and requested to be released promising to be good. she said she would tell the doctor of my request. must give my wife credit too before i get recorrected and reprimanded. she too made a similar request after she arrived.

marital bliss, we had lunch together with my sorta'gang. it was the worst entree ever. would you believe salty, chemically poisoned frankfurters but the overly salty mushroom soup saved the day. please, lord murphy and lady luck may i go home to have perhaps some canned tuna with lemon juice. a marked improvement in diet.

they had me scheduled for next day dischargge. i figure they could calculate the weekly rate but not the daily rate since the next day made it an even two weeks in hell ... ooops ..scratch that. i was wrong they can calculate a daily rate.

at about mid-afternoon the doctor who had the power to spring me arrived.

TO BE CONTINUED. DON'T MISS IT. NEXT: more odds and ends
**************************************************************************************

Thursday, May 1, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XVI

DOCTORS and assorted revisionist records and history

i notice from my own medical history that it slightly changes from month to month and from doctor to doctor. its the old game called "telephone"" where the message changes as it is told from person to person. doctors do not appear to be different from ... human beings. every story changes upon retelling, a word here, a period there, a shortening of a sentence or series of words, a nicer presentation, a slightly different perception, or understanding, or an attempt to not bore you to death, or the doctor was looking at the wrong person's record, or covering themselves, etc. this is written into your record as fact and would probably hold up in court.

no, you didn't have syphilis as the doctor said you had poison ivy. this actually happened to me although i was a virgin at the time. i'm sure i would have been stoned by my neighbors at the time if they knew what the doctor said. i wonder how much of this disease he saw in my neighborhood in the 1940s. my grandmother used this doctor and said in his defense that his waiting room was always full.

i noticed some changes in my medical record yesterday. one item stated that the transplanted kidney started up late. i don't know what that means. i was discharged from the hospital on the friday after the procedure which occurred on tuesday feelin' pretty good. my system was totally functioning properly as i recall right from the start. someone may be covering their butt because i was prescribed too much medication degrading my immune system and became very sick about 10 weeks later. feeling great ... ummm .. pretty good right now on minimal meds.

saw my regular, local nephrologist for the first time yesterday since december. he commented on my minimal med regimen and may have said, "thats a minimal med regimen" or something like that. when i commented on the record he said nothing.

y'know, the record is the record. those are the facts. who you gonna believe your eyes or the record?

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT: ODDS AND ENDS.

**************************************************************************************************

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XV

passover

fortunately for me i escaped the passover service which was supposed to last a half hour before dinnertime.

this night was different from other nights because i ate in another section of the dining room that did not disturb those attending the service. i sat down, ate, and left before the leader got through describing about half the plagues.

there are several questions that i have of this annual service, which should not be of any comfort to any other religion considering their defects which i will not discuss here.

1. the plague descriptions are horrendous and should not be embraced by a civilized and peace loving religion.
2. where was god when the religion really needed him/her (whatever) in mid 20th century?

currently the service is sorta' designed to be a didactic (hate that word. only phonies use it) and fun experience. in the old days it was a long drawn out ritual and dinner was not served for many hours. after one passover dinner my father and uncle in their mid-teens ran away from home and started working in detroit

on the otherhand many families overlooking the nonsensical religious part find that the holiday is a unifying event. many people can recall fondly dinners involving many, many friends and relatives seated and eating together at long tables sometimes stretching into the next room. underneath all the pretense is a celebration of freedom. freedom in this case from slavery.

anyway at the rehab center i was told that i did the right thing. i ate, heard a few words of the service, and left the area.

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT: DOCTORS.

********************************************************************************************

Sunday, April 27, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XIV

MURPHY'S LAW PLUS

this is my faith based religion. anyone with another faith based religion - good luck with it.

my take on murphy's law is anything that can go wrong will go wrong and anything that can go right will go right except they occur at random probably inappropriate times.

how does this relate to healthcare? well its like this. while at the hospital no one could define what was wrong with me. every few minutes it seemed blood samples were taken and a variety of drugs, medicines, whatever were injected into me, and i think some needles were stuck into me for the entertainment of the staff or not. i'm sure some made me worse and some made me better. my faith and belief in murphy's law plus decided like in a crap shoot to allow a recovery.

the simplest example of murphy's law in action is the plastic container i used for urination. some of the things that can go wrong with what appears to be the simplest of devices especially at 3 am:
1. failure to remove plastic cap.
2. tipping the container accidentally and emptying it into your bed.
3. thinking you are aiming into the container but you are outside the container.
4. aiming at the side and spraying the area.
5. failure to hold while searching for the device which has disappeared.
i'm sure there are other failure modes that i have not discovered.

my desription and experience with murphy's law plus can also explain what other people claim is impossible. awhile back my ipod earphone cord through absolutely no help from myself became intricately knotted. so knotted that it is not comprehensible to me how it occurred naturally which it did.

now isaac bashevis singer related his belief that life could not have started by itself because the right chemicals were present and they accidentally combined into a life form. his example (my interpretation) was that if you dump all the parts of a clock on a table they will never assemble themselves into a clock thus clearly disproving the scientific explanation of the beginnings of life on earth. using murphy's law plus and my experience with my ipod earphone cord, and my hospital and rehab experience i can positively say that all the pieces of the clock will eventually assemble themselves into a working clock. no doubt about it.

then there is the sorta' murphy's law description of a thousand monkeys at a thousand typewriters eventually typing out the complete works of shakespeare. of course this is ridiculous. some dorky phd who got it from some other dorky phd probably thinks he is so smart explaining the laws of probability - snore -zzzz. 200 college credits sitting on your butt will not make you smart only delusional. its just stupid and would never happen. just give it up. actually murphy's law plus does not apply here. i just wanted to say this.

TO BE CONTINUED. PASSOXER DINNER AND STUFF

********************************************************************************************

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XIII


the BATTLE OF THE BULGE war hero, the perfessor, sophie (ginger and mary ann rolled into one)and jor-el superman's father and mr. unknown.

the greatest person i have ever met was among those at my mealtime table, ed, a purple heart paratrooper of wwii. while i was in elementary school he was killing bastard germans during their last counterattack during wwii, the battle of the bulge. he saved my life and yours. the battle was, " ... the costliest battle in terms of casualties for the United States ... ". i mentioned ed's contribution in wwii to one of the teenage volunteers helping out at our table. it drew a blank as she fixed her hair. i suspect she thought being injured in the battle of the bulge was some sort of gym accident. I SALUTE YOU, ED.

sophie was our resident mealtime 93 year old female interest who rarely spoke. we did have one discussion the night i had my first shower in three weeeks and wore a fresh shirt.
"you're all dressed up. do you have a date?
"don't tell my wife".
"that's kind of fresh".
her daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter showed up occasionally.

the perfessor who i suspect misrepresented me and stole my private room. this would be the conclusion using occam's razor (why do academic's make simple things so complicated) or my grandma's principle. the evidence is all circumstantial but he's the only beneficiary of the private room. on the other hand this facility is basically a stepping stone to the nursing facility so almost anything could have happennd. he has a great reputation as an intellect and religious person. what the hell do i know? as they say, "can sixty million frenchmen be wrong?". ummm .. maybe.

joel, obviously a nom de plume of jor-el, superman's father. even superman and his father can get old. as you recall the planet krypton exploded but there is no definitive proof that jor-el and lara perished. i'm sure he managed to save himself and his wife before the terrible event. joel the person at our table is a highly intelligent person who must have had great strength before infirmity and age caught up with him. he did not deny that he actually was jor-el. his wife going under a different name now was also strong and intelligent.

i suspect that when jor-el and lara landed on earth they had no idea where his son's craft had landed. later they were afraid that superman would hold a grudge because of his abandonment. so sad.

mr. unknown in the second week attended our table for awhile. seemed like he wanted to prove something. forget it, at this point your life is over. any residuals you may receive are just lucky breaks. ed's wife mentioned that last year almost 70 years after the battle of the bulge the french government awarded ed a medal for his service. a residual well deserved.

my only dialogue i had with mr. nobody was while i was talking to jor-el,
me: i was lucky that no one expected much of me while growing up.
mr. nobody: and they weren't disappointed.
me: absolutely correct.

that was the last time he talked to me. where did his anger and hostility come from? do i care? no.

can't get angry at these people knowing first hand the pain and suffering they're going through.

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT: MURPHY'S LAW PLUS.

***************************************************************************************

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XII

LAYMAN ECONOMICS


most of the rehab people i came in contact with didn't seem concerned about the actual costs they were running up. they were concerned about medicare, their supplemental insurance, perhaps even medicaid and other tax payer funded benefits, and the number of days of rehab eligibility. when i mentioned that the full retail value of the goods and services i received over the past 3 months must have amounted to half million dollars i was met more or less by blank stares. no wonder old people become entitled republicans without any empathy for anyone else when they blind themselves to the expenses they incur.

there is no understanding that their life is over. unless they are dick cheney they no longer hold any power that they imagined they had when competitive in the world.

as an example of the disconnect between their peresent condition and reality: i was trying to assemble a 300 piece jigsaw puzzle for my amusement and the dissipation of my boredom. reruns of gilligan's island on the tv were starting to get boring. anyway one of the residents looked over my shoulder and said, "even idiots can do jigsaw puzzles". in the competitive world which this is not it would be sorta' insulting. in this world of elderly cripples it is funny. whatever position or strata this guy is from it is over. he no longer has any power or relevance. a house cat has more relevance. amazingly he does not realize that he is pathetic and just about everyone will just walk away from him.

paul ryan please note that i was in the hospital a week and in rehab two weeks. never once did i have to reach for my wallet or credit card. it was a bit annoying that i could not buy a coke or snack since i had no money.

thanks, paul.

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT:the war hero, the perfessor, ginger and mary ann and jor-el superman's father

**********************************************************************************************

Saturday, April 26, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE XI

THEY'RE CALLED MEALS

"meals" is the nom de plume of the three eating periods allocated in a dining area. my sympathies and congratulations to the dining staff who managed to perform their duties under severe pressures from not having menu items to just being overworked. for a wait staff that got few or no tips (i suspect the better meals went to the tippers) they had to put up with wheelchairs, walkers, cranky people and people who needed assistance in eating.

at any rate i settled in to a table of competent eaters and talkers. by the time i was discharged it was apparent that we could write each other's bio. additional benefits included visiting relatives from spouses to great grandchildren showing up.

although tis facility is well rated the actual food served was not quite up to the caliber of mcdonald's but it was sorta' ok for my peasant tastes. at breakfast some juice, hot cereal and two hard boiled eggs was good. i'm a simple guy with simple tastes not a sophisticated gourmet like you.

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT: LAYMAN ECONOMICS

**************************************************************************************

Friday, April 25, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE X

THERAPY

much to my surpise i had to learn to walk again. how could i become so weak and helpless in just one week of hospitalization? i don't know and i don't want to appear really stupid by asking.

usually a therapist would call on me and escort me to the workout area. i was in great condition compared to most at this facility as i was only using a walker not a wheel chair. yes, super-geezer - thats me. lindsay lohan, or justin bieber were not at this rehab center. i'm sure lindsay would have speeded up my recovery significantly especially since i was one of the younger looking and healthier than most here. everything is relative. i think they triaged the residents here. one third went home; one third went to assisted living; and one third went to a nursing home - poor souls.

btw - you can't tell a person's mental clarity by their appearance. i've known energetic engineers that cannot compare with many people here who appear totally wiped out but have all their faculties while the young engineer is a total moron. his getting through college is a mystery.

how the physical therapy coincided with my lowest energy level of the day i do not know? they must have scientifically determined that. i stupidly said i'll be ready to go home in two days. ten days later i was walking pretty good (like a 3 year old) without a walker and three days after that managed to get my release to the real world.

at present i have progressed to the point where the other day i was driving, got a haircut after four months looking like hagar's grandfather, went to teeter, shoppers, and giant and bought stuff. that was a good workout but i can see that it was at the limit of my ability. kinda sad. since i'm only an octogenarian and in my prime.

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT: THEY'RE CALLED MEALS.

*****************************************************************************************************

Thursday, April 24, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE IX

MY ROOM OR RATHER OUR ROOM

had to share a room. early on i decided i'm not sharing a toilet and bathroom with some old incontinent, geezer person. i'm carrying enough deadly germs with me. other people here are carrying other deadly germs ffrom other facilities. stay away from them.

my first roommate teaches at georgetown and so was entitled to the best of everything. you can't deny anyone anything who appers so ill unless you are a republican or nazi. i was scheduled for a private room. admissions told me the next day i had turned it down. the only suspect who had any interest in a private room was the georgetown teacher. of course admissions didn't believe me when i denied turning it down because many people here have hearing, comprehension, and other problems so their responses vary from one hour to the next. nevermind. he got the private room and i didn't.

another entitled, very sick, deaf, incontinent, 93 year old person was moved in. in additionto recovering from pneumonia (the old man's friend - they say) he had a broken collar bone. sorta' noisy between his pain, coughing and arguing with the staff because he didn't hear them. i apologize for occasionally laughing at the misunderstandings.

there were three toilets that i was aware of in the hallway on my floor. i would use these. the second week of my luxurious stay at the facility i discovered the cleanest toilet tucked away on the first floor. the problem with this one was that a notice told the user to lock the door. not a good idea and safety hazard at this time for me. i left the walker i was using at the time outside the door to indicate it was in use. i suspect no one but me was using it anyway. during the last few days of my stay i did lock the door at great risk maybe. who would hear or find me?????????

the dr. mengele furniture company (since 1946) must have manufactured the bed. the bed was designed with machinery that could give you an infinite number of positions. every one of them exquisitely designed to maximize discomfort in a unique way. the staff madeup the bed with extra padding and protective sheet probably to make it easier to cleanup if the patient soiled it. this of course made it even more uncomfortable. the first thing i would do was pull out the extra stuff and toss it on the floor. during the first week i was getting at most 3-4 hours a night sleep.

the truth is that you never want to be in a situation where other people rule your life but this is america. they only put down cats and dogs and shoot horses. you gotta live 'til you blissfully die no matter what the cost to you or the taxpayer.

TO BE CONTINUED. THERAPY.

*******************************************************************************************

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE VIII

THE FANTASTIC AMBULANCE RIDE TO THE OLD AGE HOME - OOPS - I MEAN REHAB CENTER..

waiting, waiting , waiting - get used to it. no matter what your condition you must wait until other people you are dependent on show up and do their thing. do not pretend that you are in charge. just wait even if you are in a fetal position waiting for the relief of death. sorry.

at about 8 pm the ambulance people arrived. "yes, soon, soon". there were two people who were straight out of hollywood casting for a zany, funny movie about ambulance escapades. one was a very energetic and robust young woman who also drove the vehicle. the other was a very large, young, and strong guy who you want to be agreeable with at all times for fear he will lose it.

strapped onto a litter on a hospital cart i was whisked away - yea - finally installed into the small cubicle of the ambulance. the rehab facility was about 40 miles away. we hit every pothole on the road. the driver was a solid republican bigot. her choice. she would say such things as, "the black man in the white house", "the bumpy ride was not due to the old shock absorbers on the ambulance it was due to the potholes in the road". i mentioned that if some money was allocated for infrastructure the potholes would be fixed. at which point i was lucky i was a patient so she wouldn't hit me. another republican in denial.

finally arriving at the rehab facility i was quickly admitted and wheeled on a cart to my room.

the facility is run by a jewish organization. the two ambulance staff seemed to be surprised that it appeared so well maintained. "golly gee, these jews are well off. it is so well maintained and it doesn't smell at all. i don't see anyone with horns. how can that be?.

unloading my body at about 10 pm in a room i was asked if i needed any thing?
"a beer".
she, "that sounds good".
the guy, "let's go to a bar {maybe i can get some}".
she unenthusiastically, "sorry i have to get up at 5 am {you'll never get any}".
me, "thank you {get the hell outof here}".

attention hollywood casting people, "you are missing out on a great movie by letting these people go".

TO BE CONTINUED. MY ROOM.

********************************************************************************************

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE VII

DISCHARGE DAY

i was moved out of icu believing that i didn't belong there in the first place (ho, ho). starting to feel pretty good (relative to my admission day). almost wanting to live again (sorta') and thinking it will be only a few days before i'll be able to join the marines if i wanted to. i know you're thinking men always over estimate their competence and ability by at least 200% unless they are engineers when the over estmate is 300%.other reality based people seemed to think a one year old was stronger than i was. what do they know? who you gonna believe me or a million witnesses?

amazingly i was able to eat, drink, and breathe normally after huge doses of antibiotics, and assorted poisons. my discharge papers sorta' said they didn't know what i had but they cured me of it.

in the afternoon i was informed that i had to go to a rehab facility for awhile before i could reclaim my freedom. sure, sure, i thought. i'll break out in a few days. after all i am so strong nothing could restrain my bursting health since its restoration.

three rehab facilities reasonably close to my home were selected for contact for admission. the first was full up. the second associated with assisted care and a nursing home was available. i went for it.

they said an ambulance would transport me to the facility.

TO BE CONTINUED: THE FANTASTIC AMBULANCE RIDE TO THE OLD AGE HOME.

*************************************************************************************************

Monday, April 21, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE VI

DEATH IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

they told me that they're transferring me to the icu only because a bed was available there. do they tell that to everyone? i believed it. asking one of the doctor's to just shoot me he responded that it wasn't on his treatment list and he walked off.


maintenance cleaned the area in the next bay. the space was now available for the next person.

the next person in the adjoining bay who been admitted was in an accident. relatives were present and one of them was inconsolable. later i heard one of the staff talk about the blood that was present. i checked myself of course to make sure they weren't talking about me. nope - no blood - i think. over the next two days there was a constant stream of visitors to the next bay ending in more visitors, a private service and more tears.

maintenance cleaned the area. the space was now available for the next person.


the hospital is full up and only the lucky or dying can get a bed. in my case i believe that the kidney transplant of almost three months earlier gave me a leg up. they had a major interest in the procedure being successful as the total retail value of the kidney, medical staff, and services must be at least $200,000. too big to fail. like the banks and gm there was too much to lose and it would screw up their statistics. they are proud of their outstanding record. he cannot die!!!!!!!!

i must live for other octogenarians. don't worry folks us old geezers get second tier kidneys. they are called expanded criteria donor kidneys which means the organs are from cadavers and are not top notch. the medical people remove the organ from the deceased donor, put it in an iced container (i think), ship it to the transplant site, clean it up, check blood type and other blood factors, other stuff, roll the selected recipient into the operating room, and (simplifying) do the deed.

so far the one i got is working - i think.

TO BE CONTINUED. DISCHARGE DAY, YEA.

************************************************************************************************

Sunday, April 20, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE V

ESCAPE

in the middle of the night i planned my escape from the hospital. teleportation -- of course. it would be easy to just teleport myself to my hometown and make my way to my house and so it was done. yes, i did it with my bed and all the accoutrements.

my only problem was to release all the bonds holding me to the bed from my iv tube to the plastic shackles that bound my feet. hunt and peck monkey style i released all my bonds. now i could make my way home. when i pulled the foot shackles free the bed sounded an alarm. a nurse came in. apparently something went wrong with the teleportation and my overall plan. must rethink. what could have gone wrong with the teleportation?

now that i was caught i became obsessed thinking only of the huge trouble i was in now. escaping from a hospital is close to a capitol offense. i said to the nurse, "how much did she want not to say anything about this". she responded that she was obligated to report this incident. fearing the worst possible consequeces i tried talking to the next two staff members that visited me. much to my surprise no one knew what i was talking about and knew nothing about my major crime. looking around i saw that through all my anguish and turmoil my bed and i had not moved an inch. slowly i realized that it was a dream and no one cared. probably happens all the time.

i guess there are a lot of crazy people at the hospital. at the time i had no idea that it was mostly a dream but it was such a good plan.

TO BE CONTINUED. NEXT ADVENTURE: DEATH IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

**********************************************************************************************

Saturday, April 19, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE IV

GETTING BETTER?????????????

after about (i know not exactly when) four days i started to improve and actually communicated with the world around me. up to that time i lay there in a pile not even willing or able to move my lips to say something. if i had something to say it would have been, "get the hell out of here and let me die you bastards" or something similar. actually i hadn't the energy or inclination to even think or say that.

i was continually visited by staff: doctors, nurses, assistants, social workers, bookkeepers, maintenance workers, and lost visitors. it seemed that everyone wanted to know my name and where i thought i was? at one point i said, "i'm abraham lincoln and this is ford's theater". i'm sure some of the people actually didn't know who i was or where they were.

the most annoying aspect of my stay was all the wiring and tubes on me, under me, over me. at least one intravenous (IV) medication thingum attached, a device attached to my ear, a litlle lighted device attachd to a finger appwearing to be an extraterrestrial communication device, plastic cables attached to me and my bed making escape at least difficult and serving a faux purpose of massaging my legs. these devices seemed to have the sole purpose that kathy bates had imprisoning james caan in the movie misery.

TO BE CONTINUED. DON'T MISS EPISODE V, "ESCAPE"

**********************************************************************************************

Friday, April 18, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE III

after about three days with my throat closed w/o food or drink except for the slow drip of poisonous substances going into my arm they managed to decrease the swelling so that i could eat and drink again. a very important essential characteristic for the maintenance of human life. its in a book.

every five minutes some nurse comes in and wants you to drop your pants. i have no idea as to why? to see my transplant scar; to squeeze my transplant; my personal attractiveness; to check my you-know-what; size matters; i'm adorable; to check the tube running into a urinal (since i couldn't move); whatever?

finally after about a week the horde of doctors, nurses, and king's men declared me cured even though it was not known what was wrong with me in the first place. unfortunately the cure although not killing me left me as weak as a one year old.

completely unaware as to how weak i had become i thought (heh, heh) i would bouce back in a day or two. of course this was a typical male overestimate of ability. a total mismatch of reality to actuality. having worked with engineers i know that many of them can't put a plug into an electrical outlet but are great authorities on the physical universe. yes, i'm guilty too except i can put a plug into an outlet most of the time.

TO BE CONTINUED.

***************************************************************************************************

Thursday, April 17, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE II

crumpled up in a ball of pain and illness i entered the hospital as best i could. the first words you hear tell you they'll be right with you and you should have a seat. sitting there for an eternity of suffering someone calls your name. the processing interrogation gives you hope that help will be on the way. soon you wil hear the bugle of the cavalry riding in to save you.

eventually you wind up in a bed in a gown with your butt end visible to all. not too bad considering that i was present when a theatre group in the dc area mooned the audience. i never want to see another show by that stupid group again. i guess that was art. my butt is not art.

somehow i know not how i got through that day but the next day i was on oxycodone, rush limbaugh's favorite med, all day.

the highlight of my stay was when my throat closed up. i could still breathe - fortunate or unfortunate depending on your point of view. no food or fluid could be swallowed. somehow the procedure for entering my stomach was easy for the medical staff but not so easy for the patient. anyway all they had to do (a piece of cake) was run a tube up my nose, have it bend down into my throat and eventually into my stomach. nothing to it. unfortunately the remaining space in my throat was not large enough to accomodate the tube. i can assure you that jesus, mohammed, buddha, and moses together were totally useless. you can imagine whatever you want but the spirits are of no use to me. yup, my fault.

three fun attempts at placing the life saving death tube failed which only made the nurses angry at me. eventually an eent doctor ran a tube with light and viewer into my throat and proclaimed the remaining space was not large enough to run the tube. yea, the staff was exonerated. they did their job. not their fault. the good news was that the part of my throat which was swollen was the best part of any that could swell. yea - i may live - or boo - depending.

TO BE CONTINUED. I KNOW YOU ARE EXCITED OVER THIS.

******************************************************************************************

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

TRUTH IN HEALTHCARE I

doing literally undercover investigative reporting work concerning tghe healthcare system over the past month.

these are just a few of the things i have observed:

1. there are absolutely no life altering events: if you are a bastard going into an experience, you will come out a bastard at the end of the experience. perhaps for some wishful thinking if you think that in dickens' christmas carol, scrooge has changed after his dream experiences you are very (har, har, har) sadly mistaken. from what i saw people become even more self centered and selfish than they were before.

2. a person next door to me at the hospital died. some relatives and friends took it badly. others did not. they had a brief service at the person's bedside. the room was cleaned and the next ill person was moved in. the world goes on.

3. at a rehab facility: a person and his relatives who make the most noise and demand the best service can get the best attention and perks. there's nothing better than having a feeling of entitlement. a patients' visitors seemed to think nothing of helping themselves to some of my (trivial) stuff like bottled water when i wasn't around. trivial but very annoying. the patient obviously pained one night told the staff they'll be fired in the morning. most of the staff present seemed to think that was a good idea. the next day the event appeared to be totally forgotten.

4. i salute most of the brave healthcare workers who put up with all the crap that many sick and helpless people can deliver. if the patients weren't so pathetic there would be a bounty on their heads.

5. bizzarely most of these sick old people sponging on the tax payer don't want any one else to have healthcare. no wonder they are republicans and believe all the made up gossip on fox news. they want the truth on benghazi!!!

5. while in the hospital and feeling really terrible i asked the doctor to just have a gun loaded and put one shot in the right spot on my head. he replied that that treatment was not on his list of possible treatmens so he could not comply with my request. its interesting that we shoot horses and put cats and dogs away but people must suffer outrageous demeaning and painful procedures, "we saved your remaining meaningless and useless life at incredible cost.

TO BE CONTINUED IN A MORE LIGHT HEARTED VEIN.

*********************************************************************************************


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

THE PLANE -- THE PLANE

everyone is trying to explain the maylasian planes disappearance in the context of a flight taking off from let's say jfk or lax. this cannot be further from reality. having flown aeroflot in a civilized (sorry for the racism) area where a dog was allowed aboard and a piece of equipment was stored against an exit door. another time i was sharing a taxi ride in mexico with chickens and people carrying stuff. my point is that southeast asian airlines could be carrying anything and overlooking any basic safety rules. you cannot know that the plane had an 800 pound gorilla in the cabin or poisonous snakes in a suitcase or lethal chemicals innocently wrapped in a package or some passenger deciding to innocenly test and light up some hazardous material (as what happenned with a chinese-american engineer while i worked at the ... umm ... DEFENSE DEPT. funny that guy disappeared a few days later. i don't recall anyone ever asking about him.)

anyway any speculation at this time especially from the likes of john mccain or other delusional hawkish politicians is pure bs. you just can't make this stuff up.

**********************************************************************************************

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

ODDS AND ENDS

so sad that john mccain on jimmy fallon last night said the lost malaysia plane was the work of jihadists. a totally tunnel vision view. i thought he is supposed to be intelligent. there are many possible scenarios. earlier a media person said who would want to blow up a plane with chinese people? sorta' racist but may be correct.

*********************************************************************

the news that the cia has spied on our congress people sounds outrageous but having worked for the govt. in the defense dept. i know that every minor twit thinks he is the center of the universe and controls it. my advice to these people is to go back to the officer's club and stay alcoholic.

******************************************************************

bridgegate seems to be entering another stage of ho-hum b. s. as bridget kelly goes to court (yawn).

we gotta check her blue dress.
**********************************************************************

i can only feel irritated having heard some of the outrageous, anti-democracy, bizarre statements from cpac speakers. the wealthy backers of these people obviously have no life and wish to ruin yours also. the best moment was nitch mcconnell raising a long gun above his head. funny..... i also loved the performance of sarah palin. i didn't know she was such a talented actress.

***********************************************************************

i see marijuana is the new industry republicans have waited for: much taxes, many jobs and so far not outsourced.

**************************************************************************

no comment on climate change or pipeline malfunctions. i'm sure the exhausts from factories and vehicles is really good for you and the atmosphere. i guess wealthy people have their own sources of air and water.

*************************************************************************

Saturday, March 8, 2014

THE ANGELICA MOVIE THEATER IN NYC

i was elated to read in kevin smith's book that he too was thrilled when he first visited the angelica in nyc in 1991 at which time he began his film career. he wanted to become a film maker. his sister told him you are a film maker but just haven't made a film yet.

i am going on record here to proclaim that the angelica is my favorite movie house in all the world. while you're down on houston street you might as well get a real deli sandwich at katz's. better bring at least a few 20s with you.

other interesting theater's i like are the lincoln center movie theater, and two on b'way within a few streets away. i think the movie house in the basement around the corner from the plaza hotel on central park south is no longer open. sorry about that one.

i confess that i haven't been in nyc in many years ................
***************************************************************************************

Saturday, February 22, 2014

COLLEGE DELUSION REVISITED

once upon a time over 61 years ago i was dating a young woman. lets call her betty co-ed. now betty co-ed had a friend who married a cinder block manufscturer and distributor and had to live in a big house in a great neighborhood with this person. betty co-ed thought this was an awful settling her friend made. she was really happy that she was dating me.

i could see her point. actually my position was a little different. i had no skills. i had no money. i did hold a part time job while an undergaraduate paying one dollar an hour. i could look forward to being drafted to be sent to the meat grinder in korea. i slept on a day bed in my parents living room and ate their food. on the upside i was young and good looking. who could ask for anything more.

now lets enter my time machine to 2014.........................

WOW, HOW GREAT IT WOULD BE TO MANUFACTURE CINDERBLOCK AND DISTRIBUTE IT. THIS GUY WOULD BE THE RICHEST AND MOST REVERED PERSON IN MY NEW JERSEY TOWN. AFTER ALL THE RICHEST MAN IN TOWN NOW MOWS LAWNS AND SELLS LAWN MOWERS, THE PREVIOUS RICHESTMAN IN TOWN HAD AN AUTOMATED FACTORY WHICH PLACED SCREWS IN PLASTIC PACKAGES. I WOULD BE SO PROUD TO BE IN THE CINDERBLOCK BUSINESS.

NOW I'M SURE BETTY CO-ED WHEREEVER SHE IS IF SHE EVER THINKS OF THIS CONVERSATION WOULD NOW SAY, "HOW FOOLISH".

**************************************************************************************



****************************************************************************************

Friday, February 21, 2014

179TH AND VYSE, BRONX, NY (PART LX): LIFE BEFORE DEATH IN (ugh) NEW JERSEY --- BRONX DREAMIN'

the older i get the more i reminisce and replay the old days on 179th st. from 1940 to the day i finished college when my life ended in 1953. from the jap bastards bombing pearl harbor 'til the bastard north koreans and the bastard harry truman sent me off to war.

overall i have obfuscated the boring and bad teenager times but have enhanced my memories of good times. sledding on the empty lot on bryant ave (now city housing); touch football in the churchyard behind the lot; roasting mickies in the wall separating the churchyard from the lot; basketball at p. s. 6 schoolyard; basketball at p. s. 67 schoolyard and in their 1st floor gym with the low ceiling so only a line drive shot would go in and on their rooftop gym; the young pretty and overrated girls in my elementary school classes; clinton h. s. winning the city championship on a last minute scoring spree; clinton football games at rall's island stadium; the boy-girl parties on saturday night after a full day; marcia i's sweet sixteen party; marcia ii's sweet sixteen party; esther's sweet sixteen party (she was 2 years older than me at that time but when she got married 10 years later she was the same age as me, hmmmm..); cousin rita's sweet sixteen party; taking the ccny entrance exam; being awed and amazed at the adult looking college students on campus; entering the greatest college ccny and being amazed at my own ignorance. struggling through classes without doing any readings(i still have to complete my 1st week's history i reading); college parties - girls, girls, girls - unfortunately in the old days i had no idea what they were for.

just scratching the surface of this period. finally walking out of school on my last day and realizing the vacation is over. what the hell do i do now?

anyway the next 60 years are a blur. nevermind.

i am not editing this. it is what it is.

***************************************************************************

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

YES, THERE ARE MANY GREAT SPIRITS

there are many unexplained events that we see and ignore every day proving that there are unseen spirits around us.

my proof today is my earphone cable to my ipod. clearly no knots of such intricacy could possibly have occurred naturally. not one, not two but three bizarre knots now showing on the cable have either naturally occurred or certain spirits have created them. it is so obvious that spirits must have been involved. just putting aside my ipod w/cable could not have twisted, knotted, and pulled the cable in this manner. if this were true then darwin's theory of evolution can be accepted (har, har). the cable evolved (har, har) into this condition. do you think i'm stupid or something?

another intesting mystery is the internet. don't tell me that supposedly coded instructions with only zeros and ones called binary code can evolve into the internet and amazon shopping. something is doing all this. its a mystery.

i'm sure there are many great spirits in the universe. just having one goes against the natural universe as we know it.

*********************************************************************************************

Friday, February 14, 2014

THE REAL DEAL: EXPLAINING NTV (NITWIT TELEVISION)


today i will explain ntv programming as described yesterday:

1. creationism -- darwin was a total fraud, atheist, communist to expect us to believe his bizarre theory of (ugh) evolution. the beauty and simplicity of god's work is undeniable. ntv cannot abide by bizarre and convoluted theories from the big bang (har, har) to so called evolution.

2. tinkerbell exists -- just recently tinkerbell and elvis were seen together at friendly's at the mall in dover, nj proving how unreliable hollywood's so called fictional movies are. a panel discussion will give many eyewitness reports from a local officer's club.

3. santa claus' workshop -- this episode will incorporate an actual trip to the north pole with interviews with elves and mr. and mrs, claus at their workshop.

4. the easter bunny -- this episode will illuminate how the easter bunny collects chicken eggs, cooks them, stores them, and distributes them to desrving non-homosexual people.

5. the virgin mary revisited -- new information discovered in a cave written by authorities from ancient times who were wandering in the desert without water or food for many days with mary and joseph claim no one had enough energy to approach mary at the appropriate time. obviously it was a virgin birth that only god could explain.


6. flat earth -- clearly everthing around us is flat. the bermuda triangle is the edge of the earth. things disappear there. don't they? do you think we're stupid or something?


7. our circling universe -- this is mainly a panel discussion with video clips of the universe circling our lands.



DON'T LET THEM WEAR YOU DOWN. YOUR GUT KNOWS IT ALL.

*****************************************************************************************

Thursday, February 13, 2014

CREATIONISM

ntv (nitwit television network) is promoting their series concerning favorite beliefs of american people. this week is the undeniable creationism documentary. it will be followed weekly with tinkerbell facts; santa claus episode; the easter bunny strikes back; the virgin mary who has no idea what happened; flat earth cannot be denied; and the sun really revolves around the earth.

college credit may be obtained by writing to adult education, morris college, new jersey. then again maybe not.

********************************************************************************************

Sunday, February 9, 2014

SARDINE FLU?

eating a lot of sardines lately. think that sardines might be a healthier breakfast protein than eggs. maybe?

anyway, i'm thinkin' that fisherman scoop up millions of sardines. they are cooked, sauced and canned. many if not all probably have some sardine disease or parasite. after all they're swimming around in cold water all day. how healthy is that?

you're eating sick or old - at death's door - sardines. meat is inspected- sorta' but sardines are not. it would be hygienic and healthy if every sardine were given a physical exam prior to canning.

***************************************************************************************

Thursday, February 6, 2014

LONGEVITY

every time i see my age on some piece of paper i jump. how did that happen and how long will my life continue???

then i recall that some of my ancestors lived in transylvania for awhile. i am usually restless at night and nap during the day. i crave rare, bloody meat ... mmmm....

you never know .... heh, heh, heh, heh ....

*****************************************************************************************

Monday, February 3, 2014

SUPERBOWL 2015

sorry seattle the new york giants are waiting in the wings for next year. giants in 2015. GO GIANTS.


steve kornacki of msnbc had the closest predictive score when he said it would be 40 - love.

***************************************************************************************

Sunday, February 2, 2014

ITS NOT GERRYMANDERING

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES PUT UP AGAINST REPUBLICANS IN SO CALLED GERYMANDERED DISTRICTS ARE EXTREMELY WEAK. IN MY DISTRICT IN NEW JERSEY FOR EXAMPLE A FRESH, WET BEHIND THE EARS COLLEGE GRAD WAS PUT UP FOR OFFICE. NO EXPERIENCE, COULDN'T GET A JOB, LIVED WITH PARENTS AND PROBABLY PLAYED A LOT OF COMPUTER GAMES. OF COURSE HE FELL ON HIS FACE. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY OR SUPPORT COULD MAKE THIS PERSON A COMPETITIVE CANDIDATE FOR AN OFFICE. EVEN DOG-CATCHER NEEDS ENERGY AND INTEREST IN THE JOB.

OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WITH SOME EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THIS DISTRICT ARE BASICALLY SHALL WE SAY SELF-SERVING AND FULL-A-CRAP.

ITS NOT THE GERRYMANDERING OR YOUR STARS BUT YOURSELVES.

******************************************************************************************

Saturday, February 1, 2014

CHRISTIE: RICH ENOUGH

by now gov. christie may have - i guess - siphoned off sufficient public money to never work again. it might be his best choice at this time to move to some caribbean/atlantic island paradise and just enjoy the rest of his life. just sayin'.

***********************************************************************

Thursday, January 30, 2014

METLIFE STADIUM

NOT--------------

its the meadowlands stadium not metlife. it is new jersey not new york. apparently money can buy anything.

and don't let artsy-fartsy new yorkers tell you that the statue of liberty and ellis island is theirs. they are mostly in new jersey.

plenty to see in new jersey. gated white alcoholic communities where you have to be whiter than a used kleenex. hessians who won't go home since the revolutionary war. people in the woods who jumped ship from axis nations in wwii. and still home to the german-american (nazi) bund. they still think they won the war.

and people like me who can't afford new york city pretending we like to mow lawns and fix our cars.

what a country!!!!!

*****************************************************************************************

Sunday, January 26, 2014

COLUMBIA, MD: THE PERFECT COMMUNITY

seems that aside from all the hype columbia, md is just another suburban community. besides the shootings yesterday they have had other problems. so much for paradise.

at least in new jersey from which i escaped the gun toters only shoot out store windows and frogs.

*************************************************************************************

Saturday, January 25, 2014

HUCKABEE

i'm sure huckabee's experience with women is unique. he must be irresistably attractive to southern women. the rest of us guys i can assure you do not have his problem.

*********************************************************************************************

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

J. D. SALINGER

WATCHED THE INTERESTING DOCUMENTARY, SALIGER, ON NETFLIX. AN INTERESTING PERSON BUT ALL MESSED UP. IN MYTH HIS, CATCHER IN THE RYE, CHANGES PEOPLE'S LIVES. ACTUALLY BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE READ IT PROBABLY ABOUT 60 YEARS AGO. I DO NOT RECALL HAVING BEEN CHANGED IN ANY WAY. IT WAS OK.

HIS MAIN WEAKNESS WAS YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL, INTELLECTUAL WOMEN. I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS BUT I AM NOT REALLY CLEAR AS TO HOW HIS WOMEN DIFFER FROM THE AVERAGE BAR SKANK. BUT OK, YOU CAN DISAGREE. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SMARTS AND MOST PEOPLE AVERAGE OUT TO NORMAL.

***********************************************************************************************

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

DITCHING CHRIS CHRISTIE

after a thorough review of christies' eventful political career i have decided to remove any support and condemn his self serving republican insanity. although he presents a different image from other obviously meaner republicans he is much too anxious to destroy traditional america and promote greed and profit - the devil's work.

he just doesn't get it. his soul is deeply flawed. goodbye CC.

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Monday, January 20, 2014

CHRIS CHRISTIE STEPS IN IT

superbowl, superbowl, superbowl.... it doesn't get any better than that. the freaky olympics in .. sochi .. wherever .. cannot compete with new jersey sights. you're not in kansas anymore.

from the hudson river to the delaware you can feel the fecundity of america. it is america. from the gated, white alcoholic communities in the northwest (christie himself would not be allowed to own a home there) to the slums in camden; from the delaware watergap to the fabulous amusements on the jersey shore; from the great swamp to the morris canal; from atlantic city to cape may; from george washington's headquarters in morristown to the crossing of the delaware where he captured the hessians (and we haven.t gotten rid of them yet); from the oil tanks off the jersey turnpike to the presumptive gravesite of jimmy hoffa in the end zone of met life stadium. chris christie will be fuehrer of the world on feb. 2.

if you can't take all the excitement in new jersey you can get ripped off by a broadway show ticket seller. your choice.

*****************************************************************************************

Friday, January 17, 2014

IN DEFENSE OF CHRIS CHRISTIE

all of a sudden thinking for yourself in america has become a bad thing. of course if you overstep the bounds you'll have trouble. the pundits are now complaining i guess that christie does not kiss enough ass and he actually dealt with obama. what else do these morons want to complain about. they said that romney and the koch brothers were upset over christie's independence. pardon me. just get lost.

*******************************************************************************************

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

NEW JERSEY, NEW JERSEY, NEW JERSEY

why are they doing this to new jersey? what about the blue dress and paula jones? what about really important stuff like - corporations are people and that ketchup is a vegetable.

us republicans know what's important. stay on subject america.

*****************************************************************************************************

Sunday, January 12, 2014

SUBWAY DREAMIN'

at grand central station in nyc.

going home.

heading towards the subway entrance.

where is it.

must be downstairs.

over there by that small tunnel

walking the narrow tiled staircase.

entering a large underground area with token booths, gates and a variety of entrances and exits.

getting token at a booth.

which entrance?

over there.

go through a small tunnel to the platform.

there's a long triangular platform.

trains stop and go on both sides and both ends both ways of this platform.

the screeching of the converging trains at the station is loud.

there are flashes and arcing of the electrified rails and trains.

must go to the end of the platform.

get on train.

yea traveling toward bronx.

i'm on the wrong train.

train becomes elevated in bronx.

train travels on tracks running parallel to 3rd ave. L.

not my subway line.

it rattles along and makes a stop north of 149th street.

i don't know this line.

it should make a stop at fordham road.




i'll never know as sunshine strams into my bedroom.

*************************************************************************

Saturday, January 11, 2014

HOME AGAIN

just sayin'

this week proved once again that a little luck never hurts - bye.

****************************************************************************************************

Sunday, January 5, 2014

WASINGTON HEIGHTS DREAMIN'

entering the movie house in washington heights.

that was a good movie - i think.

its very dark out.

the movie crowd disperses and disappears.

sort of confusing walking in the narrow crooked streets between the tall apartment buildings.

think i'll cut through this building to get to the next street.

in the hallway i see an exit on the otherside.

it leads into a garden courtyard area.

there is a door on the other side.

another hallway.

no outlet here.

many apartment doors here.

finally an exit door to the other dark street.

which way to the bronx?

over the bridge of course.

i can walk this.

this is a hilly area.

many terraced steps.

some buildings are L shaped.

i get turned around.

which way to go.

that way - i think.

really lost.

think that way is east.

keep going in the lamplit streets.

more hills.




where's my coffee?

*************************************************************************************

Saturday, January 4, 2014

NSA: THEY CAN BE USED FOR SOMETHING!!!!

its time to put the nsa to work doing something useful. since they obviously have access to everyone in the country, something like our next door neighbor, they are a perfect vehicle for sending important messages to everyone. they can help with your appointment schedule; wedding invitations; doctor's appointments; garbage pickup dates; etc.

************************************************************************************

Friday, January 3, 2014

UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE: THE PERFECT EXPLOITATIVE SYSTEM

in the 19th century british traders exported opium to china which resulted in widespread addiction. this was one way to keep a population under your thumb and exploit them.

another way is to give them healthcare 24/7. you can camouflage and obscure your sleazy activities by insuring they are perpetually busy.

they can be kept fully occupied with: internet glitches; specialty doctors - cardiologist, urologist, psychologist, gynocologist, proctologist, eye, ear, nose, throat, podiatrist, etc., etc.; testing - assorted blood tests, tissue samples, bodily fluid samples, biopsies, stress tests, allergy tests, etc., etc.; probing every aperture in their bodies; prescribing a myriad of drugs to make them high, low, comatose, and useless; implanting catheters and other devices for control; keep their minds and bodies busy with diversions such as special diets and exercise regimens and timing of medications and a myriad of cures that will make them sick or sicker.

after all is said and done the system will be using all their time and they will be enslaved. a perfect capitalist ploy.

with a universal healthcare system it is easy having the public running from one medical person to another. you don't have to give them opium like the brits did.

*****************************************************************************************************

Thursday, January 2, 2014

ON STUBBORNESS AND PRINCIPLES

someone said my father was stupid not to take unemployment benefits way back about 60 years ago. for him it was a matter of principle. people have principles.

y'know there were some very smart kamikaze pilots. they had principles.

y'know there are some very smart martyrs and fanatics. they have principles.

y'know there are some very smart atheists. they have principles.

republicans and democrats may have principles.

nevermind.

************************************************************************

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

SUPER BOWL: WHATS THAT??

it was a great football year. both giants and jets won their last two games. yea! it doesn't get any better than that.

********************************************************************************************