Alright, I just have not had it in me to talk about much about the market - obviously I am getting killed. Art Cashin and I had coffee the other day and shared our misery. (Just Kidding)
No really, while I am waiting for the market to correct I thought I'd talk a bit about parenting.
Why do people have so many issues around sick kids? Both of my kids had H1N1 this month. It was NOT fun. It was anxiety producing and terrible. Just so you know, the last stage of the virus for many children is hives that cover their entire face, torso and arms. Apparently, many children are having an immune reaction to the virus even after they are feeling better.
Zyrtec works. After two full weeks at home, both of my children should be happily back at school tomorrow, where they got it in the first place. How comforting.
The really interesting thing is I have picked up on some serious societal stigma for admitting that my kids had H1N1. (and not just pumping them full of cold medicine and ibuprofen and sending them off to infect everyone else)
Here are some of the fearful comments I had to endure:
"Really? Are you sure that was it?"
"I heard it's not that bad."
"Wow, my kids have never been sick for that long."
"Are they healthy eaters?"
"Don't they take vitamins?"
"Wow, your kid is always sick!"
My dear friends and family responded in a much more loving way:
"How can we help?"
"Are they ok?"
"Are you ok?"
"Do what you need to do."
"Don't send them back until they are ready."
I thank you loving people!
It really does illustrate the contrast between fear and love. Fear attacks, Love supports.
I had the guts to ignore the conventional advice out there and actually brought my son in to get tested.
Please, do NOT pretend like this is no big deal. I really wanted to, but the illness hit my family very hard, and showed me otherwise.
Telling your kids to wash their hands all day won't work. They will just get coughed on at school.
So please people, KEEP YOUR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK!!!!!!!!
I know it is hard. JUST DO IT!
And if you decide not to, don't give the rest of us crap for doing the right thing!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Lone Survivor
I am reading a book called "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell. I believe every so-called Liberal should read it. It's definitely not Hemingway.
I am often torn between two ideas:
First, I believe that violence begets violence. Therefore, in my spiritual and personal life I consider myself a pacifist.
Second, I passionately believe Einstein was right when he said, : "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
It is implied in Einsteins quote that when we see evil, we should at least identify it.
I believe on 9/11, evil paid us (the USA) a visit. I also believe that the only true path to world peace is the inner journey of eradicating evil from within ones own soul.
How do we fight evil without becoming evil? Is it morally acceptable to defend oneself on the physical level? On the collective level, is it moral to defend one's nation against what we perceive as evil?
Is there even such a thing as a collective physical level?
These are very tough philosophical questions. I mean, Hitler percieved the Jews as evil, and look what transpired. He thought himself righteous and took action to back up his views.
I do believe that the ideology of the Taliban and Al Qaeda are evil. Why? Because they are anti-life. They worship death, the ego, and the collective as opposed to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Does this mean the people who believe in anti-life ideologies are evil? Not necessarily. They may have been brainwashed. They may be completely unconscious on a spiritual level and living in the complete grip of their ego. But they do perform evil acts, and these we must identify, as Einstein requests.
On the physical level, we must protect ourselves against this evil. In the long run, it stands no chance against the evolution of consciousness toward Love. But in this temporal realm, in this physical world that we find ourselves in, we have a moral obligation to protect the innocent. By physical force if necessary.
So that ends the confusion for me. And that is why I cannot be anti-war in any circumstance. That is why I think that many of the men who now fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda deserve our utmost support and outright admiration.
In Marcus Luttrell's words from "Lone Survivor": (a brave Navy SEAL-thank you for my freedom Marcus)
"I promise you, every insurgent, freedom fighter, and stray gunman in Iraq who we arrested knew the ropes, knew that the way out was to announce he had been tortured by the Americans, ill treated, or prevented from reading the Koran or eating his breakfast or watching the television. They all knew Al-Jazeera, the Arab broadcasters, would pick it up, and it would be relayed to the U.S.A., where the liberal media would joyfully accuse all of us of being murderers or barbarians or something. Those terrorist organizations laugh at the U.S. media, and they know exactly how to use the system against us."
A few paragraphs later:
"And I know one thing for certain. If I ever rounded a mountainside in Afganistan and came face to face with Osama bin Laden, the man who masterminded the vicious, unprovoked attack on my country, killing 2,752 innocent American civilians in New York on 9/11, I'd shoot him dead, in cold blood.
At which point, urged on by an outraged American media, the military would probably incarcerate me under the jail, never mind in it. And then I'd be charged with murder.
Tell you what. I'd still shoot the sonofabitch."
You can call it angry, you can call it unenlightened. I call it heroism, on par with Valkrie.
I am often torn between two ideas:
First, I believe that violence begets violence. Therefore, in my spiritual and personal life I consider myself a pacifist.
Second, I passionately believe Einstein was right when he said, : "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
It is implied in Einsteins quote that when we see evil, we should at least identify it.
I believe on 9/11, evil paid us (the USA) a visit. I also believe that the only true path to world peace is the inner journey of eradicating evil from within ones own soul.
How do we fight evil without becoming evil? Is it morally acceptable to defend oneself on the physical level? On the collective level, is it moral to defend one's nation against what we perceive as evil?
Is there even such a thing as a collective physical level?
These are very tough philosophical questions. I mean, Hitler percieved the Jews as evil, and look what transpired. He thought himself righteous and took action to back up his views.
I do believe that the ideology of the Taliban and Al Qaeda are evil. Why? Because they are anti-life. They worship death, the ego, and the collective as opposed to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Does this mean the people who believe in anti-life ideologies are evil? Not necessarily. They may have been brainwashed. They may be completely unconscious on a spiritual level and living in the complete grip of their ego. But they do perform evil acts, and these we must identify, as Einstein requests.
On the physical level, we must protect ourselves against this evil. In the long run, it stands no chance against the evolution of consciousness toward Love. But in this temporal realm, in this physical world that we find ourselves in, we have a moral obligation to protect the innocent. By physical force if necessary.
So that ends the confusion for me. And that is why I cannot be anti-war in any circumstance. That is why I think that many of the men who now fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda deserve our utmost support and outright admiration.
In Marcus Luttrell's words from "Lone Survivor": (a brave Navy SEAL-thank you for my freedom Marcus)
"I promise you, every insurgent, freedom fighter, and stray gunman in Iraq who we arrested knew the ropes, knew that the way out was to announce he had been tortured by the Americans, ill treated, or prevented from reading the Koran or eating his breakfast or watching the television. They all knew Al-Jazeera, the Arab broadcasters, would pick it up, and it would be relayed to the U.S.A., where the liberal media would joyfully accuse all of us of being murderers or barbarians or something. Those terrorist organizations laugh at the U.S. media, and they know exactly how to use the system against us."
A few paragraphs later:
"And I know one thing for certain. If I ever rounded a mountainside in Afganistan and came face to face with Osama bin Laden, the man who masterminded the vicious, unprovoked attack on my country, killing 2,752 innocent American civilians in New York on 9/11, I'd shoot him dead, in cold blood.
At which point, urged on by an outraged American media, the military would probably incarcerate me under the jail, never mind in it. And then I'd be charged with murder.
Tell you what. I'd still shoot the sonofabitch."
You can call it angry, you can call it unenlightened. I call it heroism, on par with Valkrie.
Kids With H1N1 & Tamiflu
Well, the H1N1 saga continues at our house. Luckily, we have much to be thankful for as nothing horrible except two weeks straight in the house, extreme anxiety, and several co-pays transpired.
My daughter had it first, and then developed a secondary strep infection. She is still weak and tired two weeks later, but thankfully, doing very well.
My son came down with it about five days ago and I brought him to the Fairview clinic in Maple Grove where they tested him for H1N1, confirmed a positive test, checked for secondary infections and prescribed Tamiflu. He quickly improved and never developed a secondary infection. I can not say enough positive things about the Fairview system. Their compassion and professionalism shows at all levels, even the pharmacy.
As for the pediatric clinic I took my daughter to (Partners in Pediatrics, MN), well, let's just say they were horrible, at pretty much all levels, and I will never bring either one of my children there again. Their lack of compassion and absolute unwillingness to identify my daughter's illness and check for complications was an outright disgrace.
I had to tell them to run a strep test, to which they replied, "There is no strep out there." Well, her culture came back positive and she only began to improve from serious symptoms after 24 hours on amoxicillan. I guess there was no strep out there, except for my daughter.
The point of my rant is this: be your children's advocate if they get this flu. DO NOT accept substandard care. Do not submit to the arrogance of incompetent clinic staff just because they are wearing scrubs. Do your homework. Know the CDC guidelines. Absolutely DO NOT be afraid to bring your child in!
My daughter had it first, and then developed a secondary strep infection. She is still weak and tired two weeks later, but thankfully, doing very well.
My son came down with it about five days ago and I brought him to the Fairview clinic in Maple Grove where they tested him for H1N1, confirmed a positive test, checked for secondary infections and prescribed Tamiflu. He quickly improved and never developed a secondary infection. I can not say enough positive things about the Fairview system. Their compassion and professionalism shows at all levels, even the pharmacy.
As for the pediatric clinic I took my daughter to (Partners in Pediatrics, MN), well, let's just say they were horrible, at pretty much all levels, and I will never bring either one of my children there again. Their lack of compassion and absolute unwillingness to identify my daughter's illness and check for complications was an outright disgrace.
I had to tell them to run a strep test, to which they replied, "There is no strep out there." Well, her culture came back positive and she only began to improve from serious symptoms after 24 hours on amoxicillan. I guess there was no strep out there, except for my daughter.
The point of my rant is this: be your children's advocate if they get this flu. DO NOT accept substandard care. Do not submit to the arrogance of incompetent clinic staff just because they are wearing scrubs. Do your homework. Know the CDC guidelines. Absolutely DO NOT be afraid to bring your child in!
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Must Watch
You must watch this if you want to understand the last year's economic events in a historical context. It is also crucial if you want to see where we are headed.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/crash/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/crash/
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Vain Obama?
George Will says it best.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8747101
Vain - Yes, that's it. I perhaps would have said narcissistic in a very unaware sort of way. Not that I can't understand this human failing, I can. I, however, am not the President.
Can you believe that Katrina vanden Huevel? She is absolutely unbelievably unintelligent. Or at least she can't think clearly. Even Cokie Roberts thinks she is a pain in the ear - watch as she rolls her eyes at her in the Afghanistan round table.
Cokie does an absolutely fabulous job of explaining why we better think very long and hard before abandoning Afghanistan, and particularly the WOMEN of Afghanistan. This does little to soften the hard heart of that bleeding heart Katrina. We need more Cokie's on the left and the right. Real feminists that will stick up for all women, not just ones with pants suits and degrees from Princeton. Real feminists who know evil when they see it and are willing to call a spade a spade regardless of looking politically incorrect. Real feminists that are not afraid to stand up for what's right. I could care less whether Cokie is a liberal or conservative, a republican or a democrat - she said what is true, and I commend her for that.
Watch the video:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8747143
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8747101
Vain - Yes, that's it. I perhaps would have said narcissistic in a very unaware sort of way. Not that I can't understand this human failing, I can. I, however, am not the President.
Can you believe that Katrina vanden Huevel? She is absolutely unbelievably unintelligent. Or at least she can't think clearly. Even Cokie Roberts thinks she is a pain in the ear - watch as she rolls her eyes at her in the Afghanistan round table.
Cokie does an absolutely fabulous job of explaining why we better think very long and hard before abandoning Afghanistan, and particularly the WOMEN of Afghanistan. This does little to soften the hard heart of that bleeding heart Katrina. We need more Cokie's on the left and the right. Real feminists that will stick up for all women, not just ones with pants suits and degrees from Princeton. Real feminists who know evil when they see it and are willing to call a spade a spade regardless of looking politically incorrect. Real feminists that are not afraid to stand up for what's right. I could care less whether Cokie is a liberal or conservative, a republican or a democrat - she said what is true, and I commend her for that.
Watch the video:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8747143
Friday, October 2, 2009
Kids With H1N1
Boy have I been a bad blogger lately. I simply have had too little time and too little inspiration.
Not to mention a visit by what the doctor told us was probably H1N1. They are no longer testing for the virus because so many people have it.
My eldest daughter had it and then developed strep this week. Thankfully she is now on the proper anti-biotics and is doing fine.
I know that clinics are telling people not to come in unless they have a fever of 103 degrees or higher. I believe this is rotten advice and you should not follow it.
My daughter's fever never exceeded 100.3. If I had not brought her in, and demanded they do a strep test, she would have only gotten sicker and who knows how sick.
What the media and doctors are not very loud about is that most of the deaths associated with H1N1 are not caused directly from the virus itself, but by bacterial infections that set in later in the course of the illness. If you don't bring your child in, they can not test them for bacterial infection.
Clinic staff do not always know what they are talking about. As a parent, trust your gut, and insist on all of the proper testing and care for your children. Do not be afraid to speak your mind to and ask for what you need of people in the medical profession - they are just people.
So,even though the current advice ou there is: send your kid to school when their nose is running like a faucet and they are coughing up a storm (as long as they haven't had a fever in the last 24 hrs), but don't bring them to the doctor unless their fever is at least 103 for more than 48 hrs - what a load of crap.
Ignore it and do what you think is right.
Not to mention a visit by what the doctor told us was probably H1N1. They are no longer testing for the virus because so many people have it.
My eldest daughter had it and then developed strep this week. Thankfully she is now on the proper anti-biotics and is doing fine.
I know that clinics are telling people not to come in unless they have a fever of 103 degrees or higher. I believe this is rotten advice and you should not follow it.
My daughter's fever never exceeded 100.3. If I had not brought her in, and demanded they do a strep test, she would have only gotten sicker and who knows how sick.
What the media and doctors are not very loud about is that most of the deaths associated with H1N1 are not caused directly from the virus itself, but by bacterial infections that set in later in the course of the illness. If you don't bring your child in, they can not test them for bacterial infection.
Clinic staff do not always know what they are talking about. As a parent, trust your gut, and insist on all of the proper testing and care for your children. Do not be afraid to speak your mind to and ask for what you need of people in the medical profession - they are just people.
So,even though the current advice ou there is: send your kid to school when their nose is running like a faucet and they are coughing up a storm (as long as they haven't had a fever in the last 24 hrs), but don't bring them to the doctor unless their fever is at least 103 for more than 48 hrs - what a load of crap.
Ignore it and do what you think is right.
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