Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Why do people vote

Apparently it is not tv shows, books or celebrity endorsements

Poverty, healthcare, jobs, wages, education; these are the issues the public agrees overwhelmingly with democratic platform position. Reasons why we always whine we should be elected.

In the real world people vote for candidates based on values, connection, authenticity, trust. All these etherial qualities are the reasons we fail to get elected.

Imagine if we had both.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Becoming Religious about Barack -- or more aptly titled

Why I might not talk to you if you vote for anybody but Barack in the Democratic Primary.

Barack Obama on his favorite TV show
Sen. Barack Obama has previously said that HBO’s "The Wire" is his favorite show. But now Obama's revealed another tidbit. In a story from Monday's Las Vegas Sun, the presidential candidate said that Omar is his favorite character on "The Wire."

“That’s not an endorsement. He’s not my favorite person, but he’s a fascinating character,” Obama said, who noted in an audio clip on the site that Omar, who is gay, is also “the toughest, baddest guy on the show.” My Tribune colleague Jeremy Manier, who sent me the link from the Las Vegas Sun, also noted that Sen. Hillary Clinton’s favorite show, according to this Essence magazine piece, is “Grey’s Anatomy.” So where does Clinton come down on the whole George and Izzie relationship? No word on that yet.



I really apprecriate your friendship, or whatever reason i had for talking with you previously.... it has just become apparent to me that if you are a registered democrat and you do not vote for him in the primary we have nothing in common.



On the Mend..

After some complications during surgery, and an extended recovery, I am finally on the mend. I will get more into that later...

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Not Returning From Costa Rica

I had to cancel my trip to costa rica at the last minute. I was feeling horrible, with sinus pain, a cough, and a fever. I probably would have sucked it up, put on a ski mask and got on the plane. But the trip was way too active. Hiking, Biking, Trekking, Surfing, I dont know how i would have recovered. The main good reason not to go was that I wanted to be healthy enough to have my planned surgery for my deviated septum and clogged sinuses. It looks like its on for this wednesday.

Canceling was a huge disappointment. It was going to be the first trip for me and msmcdizzell. We had been planning this trip for months and it seems like everytime i saw her on the computer she was looking at another kooky rustic lodge in puerto Viejo. She has informed me that she is disappointed that i wont be able to see what a wonderful enjoyable travel partner she is -- so its doubly good i didnt go i because my attitude would have probably made me the worst travel partner ever.

As far as what type of other surgeries I am having they include Septoplasy, Frontal Sinusotomy, Ethmoidectomy, Maxillary Antrostomy.
Here are a couple quotes about the different surgeries from Sinus Relief Now by Jordan S Josephson.

Ethmoidectomy
The ethmoid sinuses are shaped like a beehive and composed of up to 22 smaller cavities or cells. When the anterior sinuses are obstructed the frontal and maxillary sinuses will not drain properly because these two sinuses drain into the anterior ethmoid. This area is known as the ostiomeatal complex.
Frontal Sinusotomy: This surgery opens up the frontal sinus in your forehead. This procedure is done through the nose in most instances. The passageway is difficult and technically challenging to open for most surgeons...
Maxillary Middle Meatal Anstronomy
... the natural ostim of the maxillary sinus is opened

I have learned about my possible problems Here is a little video from a doctor in singapore.I hope my doctor has better training than just watching these classical music themed videos.



Here is a nice full length video of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery



Friday, January 04, 2008

Two Jokes about Ambition

Original Press Release from Clinton Campaign

Sen. Obama Rewrites History, Claims He Hasn’t Been Planning White House Run

12/3/2007 4:40:37 PM

“Senator Obama’s comment today is fundamentally at odds with what his teachers, family, classmates and staff have said about his plans to run for president. Senator Obama’s campaign rhetoric is getting in the way of his reality.” —Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer

Today in Iowa, Senator Barack Obama said: "I have not been planning to run for president for however number of years some of the other candidates have been planning for.”

However, the facts don't back up Sen. Obama’s claim......

In third grade, Sen. Obama wrote an essay titled 'I Want To Be a President':

Sen. Obama’s third grade teacher, Fermina Katarina Sinaga, "asked her class to write an essay titled 'My dream: What I want to be in the future.' Obama wrote 'I want to be a president,' she said." [The Los Angeles Times, 3/15/07]


In kindergarten, Sen. Obama wrote an essay titled 'I Want to Become President':

"Iis Darmawan, 63, Obama's kindergarten teacher, remembers him as an exceptionally tall and curly haired child who quickly picked up the local language and had sharp math skills. He wrote an essay titled, 'I Want To Become President,' the teacher said." [AP, 1/25/07]


Now Clinton has gotten a ribbing for that press release, and deservedly so, but I am most with the pushback.... So, I ask, which is funnier?

a)


b) Obama Makes a Clinton-Campaign Joke


Inside an old airplane hangar at what used to be Pease Airforce Base in Portsmouth, Barack Obama made his first New Hampshire appearance since his Iowa victory.

He recited his standard stump speech, but there was a confident, almost giddy, spirit in his voice and among the crowd of a few hundred supporters.

Obama did work a new joke into his speech. Referring to his new status as the Democratic front-runner, he said: "This feels good. It's just like I imagined it when I was talking to my Kindergarten teacher."