Don’t be Afraid to See What You See*

I’ve always thought that this brief sentence was profound.  So many times we are afraid to see things as they really are, whether because of fears, ideology, embarrassment,whatever.  What is really happening will go ahead and happen whether we acknowledge it or not, and sometimes the consequences of avoiding or ignoring what is happening can be pretty serious.  An example:  Well, most people who have heart attacks don’t acknowledge that they are having a heart attack.  Perhaps they are afraid of dying, or afraid that it will be embarrassing if they call an ambulance but turn out to just have gas.  I’m sure there are myriad reasons why we don’t acknowledge the reality that we are having a heart attack,but the reality is that about half of us deny that little voice inside us when it says “You’re having a heart attack.”  This advice, taken to heart and applied just to heart attacks would save thousands of lives each year.  

In a more ethereal, but no less important way, it is impossible to achieve deep personal emotional development without accepting this simple idea.  Psychologists understand that we are only able to fully develop as people, parents, artists, athletes, leaders, etc, if we are willing to look at ourselves and accept the truth of what we see.  Introspection is the essential ingredient in personal development, and in achieving our potential in most every activity or role we play in life.  Without the willingness to ‘see what we see’; to examine our actions, motivations, beliefs and desires, we simply cannot adapt them, or adapt our behaviors to achieve better results or deeper fulfillment, happiness, etc.

I believe that most of the time, we know what our failings and shortcomings are, just as we know most of the things we need to do to accomplish the things we desire.  Sometimes we choose to acknowledge these, and we are able to improve upon them and achieve, or find deeper personal fulfillment.  To a large extent the role of a therapist, coach, clergyman, etc., is to facilitate in us a greater level of introspection.  I know that they also provide information that helps in our development (dribble the ball with your fingertips, for example), but a large part of what they do is help us to face our fears and see what we see.

“Accept the things to which fate binds you… Love the people with whom fate brings you together…do so with all your heart.”   ---Marcus Aurelius

 

Technorati Tags: Philosophy,interospection,acceptance,Marcus Aurelius,Ronald Reagan quotes

*-I am only giving attribution for the quote here at the end because I wanted to avoid the extraneous prejudices and resulting sidetracking of the idea that various opinions of the person to whom this quote is attributed would have caused.  The quote is attributed to Ronald Reagan.

                                                 

Edible Dirt Cracks Me Up Again

 

http://eddirt.frozenreality.co.uk/

Technorati Tags: Comic,online comics,Edible Dirt,funny images,humor

Mariners Option Vargas, Call Up Fister

I’m looking forward to seeing Doug Fister, called up from the Rainiers today, in his first Mariners start on Tuesday.  He’s done okay at Tacoma and I think he will do better in Seattle than in AAA.  Why?  He has great control, and with friendly confines at the Safe, and the outstanding defense the Mariners field, I think he’ll benefit.  Add to it that he’s 6-8, and that it will be the first time any big-leaguers will have seen him, and I think he’ll do well the rest of the season.  Hope so, anyway.

I feel badly for Jason Vargas, but with an ERA over ten since the All-Star break, and winless since June, the M’s couldn’t give him more time to get back on track with the big club.  And, truth be told, since he relies so much on his changeup, I’m not sure he’d have done much better now that he’s been seen and scouted by most teams.  His change doesn’t come in nine flavors like Jamie Moyer’s…

And finally, I wonder if anyone but lame bloggers will actually use the naughty headline that I bet occurs to many when they see Fister has been called up…hint:  replace ‘er’ with ‘ed’.

Technorati Tags: Mariners,Seattle Mariners,Jason Vargas,Doug Fister,M's,Seattle baseball

Not All Men are Created Equal

Sergeant Seth Howard of the 3rd Battalion, Third Special Forces proves that in battle, one man can do the impossible in defense of his brothers at arms.  Don’t miss this story, whether in the more restrained Army Times article Ten Soldier Receive Silver Star, or in the perfectly awed Badass of the Week article.  Here is a real life hero, and an amazingly resourceful, personally courageous and incredibly loyal soldier.  Thank you for your service 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces. 

And thank you Sergeant Howard for making sure the men in your unit made it home. 

Technorati Tags: Special Forces,badass,Silver Star,Afghanistan war,Sergeant Howard,Green Berets,heroism

How Stuff Works: Near Death Experiences

I find the NDE research fascinating – perhaps the point at which science cannot prove that there is no consciousness independent of the brain, and at which faith cannot prove that the experiences are other than chemical and electrical phenomena: 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-life-after-death.htm

 

Technorati Tags: Near Death Experiences,NDE,Afterlife

Mariners Active at the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline

In some ways the Mariners made it easier on GM Jack Zduriencik with blowout losses to Cleveland in three straight home games, plus the first game of the Toronto series.  Now 8 games back, the team had given the GM an out if he decided to become a ‘seller’ – to trade mature talent on the team for prospects or young players with good upside, and build for the future. 

That’s not what has happened, though.  Zduriencik managed to improve the team for next year while at the same time coming very near to holding his own for this season.    First, he managed to pick up Jack Wilson from the Pirates, where he’s been an excellent fielding shortstop with respectable offensive production to boot.  Much as I like Ronnie Cedeno (his attitude and effort, but not so much the batting average that makes the Mendoza line seem lofty), the player Zduriencik traded along with three lower minor league pitchers and Jeff Clement, Wilson is a better shortstop and a career .270 hitter, and will make the M’s better when he walks on the diamond.  From the Mariners point of view, Clement has been a man without a home since he injured his knee and Adam Moore’s star has risen as the M’s catcher of the future.

He has moved Betancourt – an undisciplined player at the plate and in the field – as well as Vladimir Balentien, who has yet to become the sort of hitter the Mariners had hoped for, and certainly not the sort that justifies keeping his mediocre-at-best glove in the lineup.  And when he traded Washburn – knowing that even if Wash wanted to re-sign, with Scot Boas as his agent it is likely he’d still go on the market as a free agent – he managed to bring in both an excellent pitching prospect for the future and a good pitcher to step into the rotation and burn some innings this season.   

In every trade thus far, the Mariners new GM has managed to both improve the club for the future  AND keep the team competitive this season.  And, though I hate to pile on, beat a dead horse, etc., I am compelled to point out that the Mariners prior GM seldom managed to do either – let alone both. 

Mariners Players Traded                              Players Received

Jarrod Washburn                                        Luke French

                                                                 Mauricio Robles

 

Vladimir Balentien                                      Robert Manuel

 

Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement,                      Jack Wilson

Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin,                         Ian Snell

Nathan Adcock

Isn’t it refreshing to feel that the team is getting better for the future, and still competitive for today? 

Technorati Tags: Seattle Mariners,baseball,Mariners trades,Jack Zduriencik,Jarrod Washburn,Jack Wilson,Luke French

CDC Recommendations for antiviral treatment of people already infected with H1N1 Swine Flu

With Swine Flu cases continuing to surprise epidemiologists by spreading during the normally dormant summer months, no one is quite sure what to expect this fall.  Will the disease re-emerge from a host population in a more virulent form that lodges deeper in the respiratory tract, as the more deadly pandemic flu strains of the past century have done, or is it simply mutating in minor steps while in circulation during this abnormal summer pattern?  There is substantial debate, and some experts are definitely concerned about what the fall may bring.  With that in mind, I thought I’d offer this bit of information about treatments for people already infected with H1N1. 

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm

Technorati Tags: Swine flu,H1N1,Influenza,summer flu growth,fall swine flu re-emergence,CDC,Swine flu treatment recommendations

Why the Slippery Slope Argument is Not Always Wrong

For years we’ve heard the sneering directed at the ‘slippery slope’ argument made by the NRA that they must contend every perceived infringement of what they view as a Second Amendment guarantee of the right to keep and bear arms or the first chink in the armor would simply be a beachhead to further restrictions and ultimately to a complete elimination of the private gun ownership.  Pragmatists have often argued that the NRA could make minor concessions in situations where the perceived infringement of gun rights were in the public good and would not harm legal gun owners.  This slippery slope view was a constant source of derision by many, who saw it as a silly and inflexible argument – a revealing sign that the NRA was extreme and unwilling to be reasonable in the gun debate.

Over the last few years I have begun to wonder if the slippery slope was, after all, more prescient as an analysis than I’d thought.  When the governments at all levels began to take action against smoking to protect people who were being exposed to second-hand smoke, that seemed a good and proper thing.  It was harmful to them, in whatever degree, and it seemed appropriate to ensure that people who did not wish to be exposed to smoke would not be forced to do so in public places.  Next, however, we began to see specific taxes directed at penalizing people who smoked and I began to wonder “Who gets to decide which behaviors our society will target, and restrict the individual right to eat, drink, drive, smoke, exercise or not exercise, etc., as he or she sees fit.  Where does the public or government point of view begin to supersede the individual person’s choices for their own behavior and lifestyle?  Who gets to decide what free citizens are allowed to do with their own bodies? 

Well, the answers are beginning to seem to me to argue that the slippery slope view was more correct than I had believed.  Legislatures have begun debating financial penalties (read: new taxes), criminal penalties and product restrictions when those government elements reach a decision that those substances, behaviors or activities are ‘wrong’ or ‘harmful’. 

Should Big Macs be taxed at say, $5 a piece, because too many will promote obesity and heart disease?  How about Twinkies?  Or perhaps just the deep fried Twinkies at the fair?  Obesity?  Should we refuse to provide expensive treatment for adult-onset diabetes because a person’s behavior contributes to the contraction of the disease?  Should we ban advertising for foods or other products that some legislator or mayor or governor thinks adversely affects this amorphous ‘public good’?  Some argue that the tax would be a constant reminder to people that what they were buying wasn’t ‘good for them’.  Maybe I should be allowed three days in a county jail to re-think my choices if I don’t document that I got at least twenty minutes of aerobic exercise three times each week.  After all,  exercise is good, right?  And if I don’t do it then it would clearly be in my best interests to do whatever is needed to ‘help’ me do what is best for me.  What if, like dear old Dom Delouise, food makes one happy?  Perhaps we should amend the Declaration to say “the pursuit of happiness (if said pursuit includes only behaviors which are deemed ‘healthy’ by appropriate authorities).  Even if a person is making poor choices, is it the role of government to intervene?  Should we be made to buy food with cards that track the items we buy and refuse to allow us to go over some caloric, or fat content value that has been determined by the government?  Or maybe we should create devices to attach to the naughty bits and be required to gain approval before engaging in ‘adult behavior’ with a partner.  That way, if both partners didn’t have recent and approved STD results on file, a jolt (note that I am assuming an unpleasant and deterrent jolt) would be issued to the bits of the party not approved for whatever form of intimate congress.  In fact, when you think about it, things that were far-fetched a decade ago are actually being considered now.  Is that not a slippery slope?  Perhaps we could put controls on the car that refuse to start the vehicle if the person in the drivers seat hasn’t had a minimum of six hours of REM or deeper sleep – that would end the scourge of drowsy driving, right? 

I could go on and on, and looking up I think I have.  But I am definitely beginning to wonder if the slippery slope is in fact the best logical argument for the incredibly rapidly expanding intrusion of government into personal, private lives and choices.  What worries me more and more each day are these questions, and the variety of proposals I am reading and hearing about almost every day on the news:

• Who decides what is best for me?  When the city/county/state/federal government needs new tax revenues will they come up with a new way to ‘help’ me and all Americans by taxing me – say a 50% excise tax on processed meats, which would help me to avoid the hot dog at the baseball game, or fund the latest underfunded stimulus package item?  Isn’t it a public service when I am stupid and self-destructive with a Hebrew National in one hand and a Red Hook in the other at the ballpark?  Taxing me for that behavior, rather than putting me in the corner to “think about what I have done”…is that responsible parenting by my new parent government entities of all levels? 

“Thank you sir, may I have another?”

• What means are appropriate to ‘help’ me do what is best for me?  Taxes?  Fines? Jail time?  Public humiliation (a la prostitute patrons whose names are published)? 
• What if I am not instilling properly healthful habits in my kids?  Say junior comes in at 20 pounds overweight, should the tax deduction I get for him be withdrawn?  Or maybe we should both have to take classes on parenting and growing up appropriately?
• Am I crazy in wondering if this sort of tax-the-behavior-that- costs-money-in-health-care reasoning might one day lead to taxing people who reproduce if they have genes that increase the risk of increasing health care costs? 
• If in fact, research proves that caloric restriction over a lifespan not only extends life expectancy meaningfully, but reduces health care costs as well, would it be reasonable for government to restrict calories?  Or tax overeating even when it did not produce overweight?  Or might we want to then encourage overeating so that we wouldn’t have the costs of people living longer?

The slippery slope reasoning seems to be a slippery slope itself, and I have now officially given myself a headache.  Which makes me wonder:  might we tax blogs that cause stress, headache, anger, irritation or anxiety?  After all, those things all drive up health care costs.

As always, the problem with regulation is less about the idea of regulating, and much more about who does it, how they do it and what means are allowed.  I would once have thought these things stupid and extreme thoughts.  But then, they weren’t in the Congressional Record and every major newspaper then.  I disliked the Nanny State talk almost as much as the slippery slope argument – thinking them sort of paranoid.  The events of recent years are making me wonder whether the folks warning about both have been on to something all along.

Links:

Taxing cosmetic surgery - is it because it is vain, or because rick people don't need to be prettier than the rest of us?

Plain drinks are fine, all that flavored stuff is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Incentives for 'healthy behavior' - will your salary be tied to your weight, exercise habits, sufficient sleep, eating habits...perhaps good blood pressure or cholesterol numbers?

http://www.freemarketproject.org/articles/2009/20090527121042.aspx

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/nassau-proposes-2-percent-fast-food-tax-for-next-year-1.1258316

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=49658

(Do a couple of quick Google searches and you’ll be amazed at how many proposals there are right now.  I was.)

PS---Isn’t this the same sort of argument that was made early in the AIDS epidemic?  Didn’t we hear that money shouldn’t be wasted finding cures for a disease that people ‘brought on themselves’? 

Technorati Tags: Fat tax,behavior taxes,Nanny State,sin taxes,politics,health care tax increases,fast food tax,flavoered drink tax,punishing unhealthy behaviors

Perhaps Darwin was Wrong…

If you like, watch all the comments in this video, they are a hoot.  But please don’t miss the first speaker.  I’d be happy to send a buck to the first person who can come up with any reasonable explanation of her comments.  And all you slave-holders back east?  We’re on to you now!

Technorati Tags: Funny video,Santa Cruz Public Comments,Incredibly inane woman

A Bad Economy, Complex Problems, Plummeting Polls

President Bush only had high numbers when the nation was rallying after attack.  President Obama has managed to get less than six months into his first term before his numbers dropped below fifty percent.  I wonder if a President will ever again have high approval for more than a fraction of his term?  Why doesn’t anyone care that Congress has ratings far lower than either President?  Can anyone govern in the polarized polling environment today?  How is anyone supposed to lead when difficult responses to no-win situations are called for?  It doesn’t matter all that much what the response is, there will soon be polls showing that most of us don’t like it.  I can see why kings and emperors often justified themselves as having only one seal of approval- the Divine approval.  Having to lead our society in this time with polls thrice a day and hoards parsing every word to catch one in a faux pas…man, who would WANT to be President now? 

Technorati Tags: Polls,Presidential approval,politics,Obama approval

Friday at the Open Championship

The weather has indeed changed today, with some overnight moisture and winds picking up a bit (but not bad by Scottish standards).  This has pushed back against the driving average distances and accuracy with more fairways missed and the average drive about 15 yards shorter.  Steve Marino has moved into the lead at six under while Miguel Angel Jimenez has dropped back to –3.  Tom Watson was at one point +5 for his round today, but has since birdied numbers 9, 11 and 16 to get back to just one over for his round through 16 and one off the leader at –4 for the tournament.  Mark O’Meara blew up to a +7 score today, but may still make the cut at +4 for the tournament.  Mark Calcavecchia is –1 for the day and –4 for the tournament in a tie for second with Tom Watson.  So, some of the over 40 crowd came back to earth on Day 2, but at least a couple are still at the top of the board.  Oh, and Daly?  He’s +2 for the day, even par for the tournament so it looks like he’ll be around for the weekend. 

Technorati Tags: The Open Championship,British Open,Golf,Tom Watson,John Daly,Mark Calcavecchia

Watson Turns Back the Clock

At age 59, and some 32 years after his victory at the Turnberry course, Tom Watson shot a five under par 65 to set the pace today at the Open Championships.  With a number of players still on the course, it is possible that there will be a lower total posted for the day, but probably not a more memorable round.  Watson played nearly flawlessly in his opening round, with five birdies, thirteen pars and no bogies.  Watson hit twelve of fourteen fairways,  fifteen of eighteen greens in regulation and putted well, requiring just one putt on eight greens and two putts on ten greens.  In fact, Watson compared favorably with the field to this point (3:30 PM British Summer Time) in nearly every category:

this player                                                                                field average

driving distance (yards)
299                                                                                                  287.92

fairways hit
12 /14                                                                                            8.68 / 14

greens in regulation (gir)
15                                                                                                       1.65

putts per round
28                                                                                                      30.86

sand saves
0 / 1                                                                                              0.52 / 1.02

I do enjoy it when older players in any sport shake off the effects of age and even for a while return to the form they held in younger days: 

• Nolan Ryan throwing his seventh no-hitter - and striking out sixteen batters - on fan appreciation night at age 44 (just one year after throwing his sixth no-hitter)
• Jimmy Connors run to the US Open semifinals at the age of 39. On his birthday, he defeated 24-year-old Aaron Krickstein, coming back from a 2–5 deficit in the final set before finally bowing in a semifinal to the reigning French Open champion, Jim Courier.
• Jack Nicklaus’s sixth win at the Masters (at age 46) came with a great late charge and is symbolized by an amazing shot at the par three sixteenth.  After hitting the ball, Nicklaus quickly bent over to pick up his tee, and never did watch the ball in flight.  His son, caddying for Nicklaus, uttered an encouragement for the ball to “be good” – to which his father replied, “It is.”
• Hale Irwin wining the US Open at 45.
• John Elway finally getting that Super Bowl win at age 38
• Jamie Moyer helping the Phillies in their run to the playoffs and World Series at age 45

There are many more, and I do love it when the athletes who are past their physical prime manage to set aside the effects of age for a time and give us a memorable round, or run, or even sometimes that big win or no-hitter.  There’s something affirming in these feats that seems to say that we all might have our best within us yet, no matter our age.  And who doesn’t want to be reminder of that, now and then?

To follow the Open Championship Leaderboard go here:  2009 Open Championship Turnberry Leaderboard

Technorati Tags: Tom Watson,Nolan Ryan,Jack Nicklaus,Jamie Moyer,Jimmy Connors,John Elway,The Open Championship,British Open,the Masters,oldest players

Swine Flu Mechanism Resembles 1918 Flu

This flu attacks deep in the lungs.  Article today from Reuters

 

Technorati Tags: Influenza,Swine Flu,1918 flu

Moral Courage?

Okay, so I realize that using the phrase ”moral courage” to describe the act of a person giving the finger to another does not at first blush seem to be a very clever or deep example of moral courage.  I invite you to look again. 

Am I right or am I right?  From Punditkitchen.com

Technorati Tags: Politics,Protests,Political Protests,Iran Election Protest,Moral Courage,Courage,Funny Photos,Funny Pictures,Political Commentary

Echoes of Past Complaints

One of the many issues over which the Bush Administration was criticized heavily (and probably rightly so) for was suppressing information and opinions in the EPA whish disagreed with the administration’s policy.  That’s okay in many management settings, but I hate to see it when what is being curtailed is not merely points of view in conflict with chosen policy, but scientific discussion and debate.  In the case of the Bush Administration it seems clear that data which did  not support the administration's skepticism of global warming and human-based causes of warming.  Now it seems that the Obama Administration is doing the same thing, albeit the data being suppressed is in conflict with the administration’s view that earth is warming and human activity is driving it.  At the EPA, a 38 year veteran researcher concluded that the earth is probably not warming and may actually be cooling.  He also wrote that it is probably not necessary to regulate carbon dioxide emissions at this point.  He actually sees signs that earth is cooling recently and may be back to mid-20th century levels.  You can read more about the censoring of his report and the details of its’ content here:  http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10274412-38.html

If it is bad for one administration to suppress research that opposes its’ policies, it is bad for all administrations to do so.  Far better to consider and reply to such research than just to try and quash it – which seldom works anyway.

Technorati Tags: EPA,Global Warming,Obama CO2 Policy,Global Warming Controversy

FINALLY! M’s Washburn Gets a Little Help from His Friends

Jarrod Washburn has worked hard over the last offseason to perfect his changeup, and the results have been impressive.  He is throwing it far more often (sometimes as much as 25% of his pitch-count), and with better location (down) and movement than ever before.  His breaking ball is moving more and his fastball is a couple miles per hour faster than last year, and his control is much improved.  This translates into a drop of over 1 run per nine innings in ERA, dramatically fewer walks and homeruns given up dropping in half over last season. 

Washburn has always been a ‘hard-luck’ pitcher – a guy for which the team scores runs rarely.  Numerous times in his career he has been a league leader in fewest runs scored by his team – last year he was near the bottom all year with the M’s scoring less than 3 runs on average.  He also has routinely lead his team in save opportunities blown – that is to say, when he leaves the game with the lead his bullpen gives up the lead and the game more often for him than any other starter.  In fact, he lead the league last year with 7 blown leads.  He also has a very high number of 1-0 and 2-1 losses last season and this season.  Last year Washburn had the lowest run support in the American League and tied for the highest number of blown saves (7) in the MLB.

Hard luck?  The hardest.  in every way that a guy can get poor support from his teammates, Washburn has been the unhappy recipient of such poor support.  Poor hitting,scoring few runs, the bullpen blowing saves…Washburn has been snake bit in each way by his Mariners teammates. 

So, it was nice today to see the M’s jump all over San Diego pitching for 9 runs, beginning right away with Ichiro’s solo shot to lead off the game, followed by Rob Johnson’s two-out, three-run double scoring Beltre, Sweeney and Gutierrez.  Washburn often doesn’t see the team score 4 runs in a game he starts, let alone the first inning.  And, it doesn’t hurt his feelings to be pitching so well in a contract season, nor does it hurt the M’s feelings to see his value increase as the trade season heats up.

Box score for SD v. M's (June 25) - SD 3, M's 9

Technorati Tags: Baseball,Mariners,M's,Washburn,Seattle Pitching

Restructuring in a Tough Economy

Technorati Tags: humor,funny pictures,funny photos,top-heavy management

Tracking the Swine Flu

I have to admit that it really frosts me when people are flippant about the possibility of pandemic flu.  As I see it, either we are very fortunate and the concern raised by a new strain is not borne out and the disease does not become deadly, or hundreds of thousands – even millions die. 

I hear people calling ‘hype’ and scoffing all around us.  Why?  Because people just don’t know the pattern that these pandemics follow.  They don’t always become deadly, but there is no way to know in advance which ones will do so.  There is a pattern that they follow, and very often when the strain emerges it is not deadly.  But after the first season, when the virus mutates again, it can then become a killer.  So, we hear people say “It's all hype”, until the secondary mutations happen and the new strain emerges in more virulent form and kill tens of millions.  And then of course, if we don't have stockpiles and research in hand, we will immediately have people claiming that the government's lack of preparation and stockpiling was itself a conspiracy and/or pure negligence.

For at least the past 400 years, epidemics resembling influenza have been recorded.  In  the twentieth century alone, we have seen  the 1918 “Spanish Flu” epidemic (20 million dead),  the 1957 or 1968 influenza outbreaks 1 million dead each, and there have been others –not to mention major epidemics in 1580, 1781, 1831.

Simply put, we hear people scoff and laugh at what they see as hype, but it is only hype until that cycle where the disease happens to become virulent.  Why do people experience fear? Why do the CDC, WHO, etc., raise awareness, and why does the media join in?  Plainly put, if this new strain happens to be (or become over the summer) one that kills half the people who contract it, then it will be the biggest story, the biggest disaster, the most devastating economic blow...well, short of a nuclear event. The health authorities, the media, the planners cannot know immediately what the current form of the H1N1, or the next mutation will do, and simple common sense says 'take precautions until we have information'.   President Ford has been scoffed at and called an idiot because he stockpiled, immunized and alerted the public about a strain that proved not to be deadly.  Had it been as deadly as the 1918 flu Ford might have been called a hero for preparing as best he could. It is not intellectually honest to evaluate someone's actions only by how a factor they cannot know (is this one deadly?) later plays out.

This site is great for tracking the virus.  I hope this latest new virus does not use the summer in animal reserve hosts to mutate yet again, and perhaps to become a deadly pandemic.  If so, the least sad thing about it will be to look back at all the things written and said now about ‘hype’.  The tables will be turned then, and the consequences terrible.  But whether it is this virus, or another in the future, another deadly event is overdue, and very likely it will be greeted by many chanting ‘hype’.

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

First Washington State Influenza Death

Technorati Tags: Swine Flu,epidemic,pandemic,flu hype,CDC news,WHO

What a Great Baseball Evening

We had great seats for last night's game with Oakland. It was a sunny and warm evening, an outstanding game with three homeruns, some good defense and pitching and the game was decided with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Felix Hernandez threw the two boys a baseball each, and they had hot dogs, peanuts and a treat, too. This year the Mariners have been really fun to watch and not just because they're winning. They're also moving runners over, playing good defense, and the clubhouse seems to have an energy that's been missing for a few years. Last night I really had the feeling that they expected to win, even when they went down 6-1 early. Though he's started out slow, it is fun to have Ken Griffey Junior back - and he seems to be a big reason the dugout atmosphere has improved so much. There are few more pleasant ways to spend a warm spring evening than soaking in the atmosphere of Safeco Field.

Thought for Today

“We like people for their beauty , but we love them for their flaws.”

                                                                  --anon.

Talk amongst yourselves…

Technorati Tags: Quotes,Thought of the Day,love,beauty

Swine Flu Reaches Washington State

State Health Officials announced tonight that six cases believed to be the H1N1 Swine Flu have occurred in Washington.  The cases include three in Seattle, two in Snohomish County and one in Spokane County.  The patients are a boy who attends Madrona Elementary School, 33-year-old Seattle physician, and a man in his mid-twenties, all in Seattle;  a six-year-old boy and a woman in her early forties have been found in Snohomish County. The case in Spokane was identified only as an adult male.

School Districts are monitoring the situation and will send announcements home if any school closures occur. 

The best protective measures for people are to avoid contact with others who have the flu, and to practice good hygiene throughout the day – especially washing the hands often (sanitizers are also effective).  Swine flu is much milder than the avian flu varieties that have produced such concern in recent years.  Swine flu, however, is much easier to catch than avian flu.  It can be spread through coughs, sneezes and even infected surfaces. 

There are two drugs – both antiviral agents – that appear to be effective against swine flu.  The drugs are  Tamiflu and Relenza.  King County currently has 190,000 doses of Tamiflu  which can be used to treat people infected with or exposed to swine flu. The US Department of Health and Human Services is also sending another 260,000 courses of Tamiflu from the federal stockpile, released today.

Some links with good planning information and a more complete summary of tonight’s news conference by Washington State officials:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009148457_webflucases29.html

Planning for Your Family in a Pandemic

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/405705_waswine30.html?source=rss

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu.aspx

Technorati Tags: Swine Flu,H1N1 influenza,Tamiflu,Pandemic,Washington State swine flu,CDC news

You Little…

Technorati Tags: Funny photos. funny pictures,humor,jokes

WHO Raises Pandemic Flu Alert Level to Phase 5

“GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to the second highest level, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE”

Associated Press Breaking News

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CDC Swine Flu Press Briefing – April 28, 2009

Some excerpts from today’s CDC swine flu briefing by Dr. Richard Besser of the CDC:

“There are 64 confirmed cases in the United States in five states.  45 in New York, one in Ohio, two in Kansas, six in Texas and ten in California.  What we… have been seeing (in the U.S.)so far, has been milder, has been less severe than what has been reported out of Mexico.  There have now been five hospitalized cases.  The incubation period in the United States appears to be about two to seven days, which is typical for what you see with an influenza virus.”

(http://www.cdc.gov/media/transcripts/2009/t090428.htm)

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Expedition Grizzly

An interesting show coming up on National Geographic follows a man and his bear friend Brutus on a year-long exploration of Yellowstone Country bears.  Among the many interesting photos and comments on the website, I particularly enjoyed this one from the Q&A Section:

“What have you learned from Grizzly Bears?

Insight from Brutus: If it is physically possible, then it is done. If not, it isn't.
After weighing a boulder in at one ton, we used a tractor to lift it to place a piece of salmon under it. Soon after, Brutus caught the scent of the salmon and walked to the boulder. In one swift move, he pushed the boulder to the side and happily devoured the salmon. Then it dawned on me as I stood next to my friend.  He doesn't worry much; he is not handicapped by his mind. If his body isn't capable of doing it, then that is his only limitation. He does not sit there and contemplate, or make excuses; he just does all he can. Then goes and takes a nap in the sunshine.

How great would it be if we could all live that way?”

The National Geo website is: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/expedition-grizzly-3909/Overview1#tab-photo-albums

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When the Innocent Pay More Dearly than the Guilty

People who know me know that I am pretty much a law and order guy. Those who have chosen to take from others, or have injured or killed others must be punished for placing themselves above their victims.  Society cannot function unless the boundaries of acceptable behavior are somehow enforced, and the consequences of stepping outside the boundaries are harsh enough to give pause.

That being said, I have found myself becoming more troubled over recent years by both the appearance that personal wealth often exacts a different sort of justice than can be routinely attained by people of modest or no means.  Equally troubling is the number of innocent persons who are convicted and imprisoned (or worse) and later exonerated.  Of course, by definition, any human endeavor will entail some margin for error, but there is reason for the ordinary person to be concerned to a degree over the number of times people who did not commit a crime are found guilty.  There have been so many stories – hundreds of them, over recent years – in which people who have served years in prison, suffered ruin to reputation and finances, lost time with family and friends, and worst of all, have been exposed to the prison environment and its’ horrors, despite being completely innocent of the crimes they’ve been convicted of committing.

Recently I read about a man who not only served years in prison for a crime he did not commit, but also died there.  The story was heartbreaking and the more I read the worse it got. 

According to a story in the Lubbock, Texas Avalanche-Journal, the judge presided over hearings on Timothy Cole’s wrongful conviction case in early February, entered an order exonerating Cole, and praising the Lubbock District Attorney of today for requesting DNA testing (though I should point out that the DA fought the request initially).  In part, speaking to Cole’s family as well as to the woman a Lubbock County jury believed Cole raped more than 20 years ago Judge Charlie Baird said:

“I want to say this with absolute clarity, that I have reviewed everything possible to review in this case,” Baird said. “The evidence is crystal clear that timothy Cole died in prison an innocent man, and I find to a 100 percent moral, legal, and factual certainty that he did not commit the crime of which he was convicted.”

The story is heartbreaking enough – a woman raped, an innocent man convicted (the judge also chastised the police for an investigation that investigation that destroyed, “downplayed or deliberately ignored” evidence Cole did not abduct and rape the woman, once they’d decided he was the guilty party), the innocent man dies in prison and the guilty man is never convicted (though he is in prison for another rape).  To me, it gets worse. 

Before the trial, Tim Coles was offered a plea which would have given him probation only – no prison time.  He refused, saying that he would not plead guilty to a crime he had not committed.  Later, when he came up for parole he similarly refused to show remorse for the crime – again saying he was innocent.  This meant that he not only served many years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, but he was there only because he refused to admit to the crime he didn’t commit.  Though he was eligible for parole, his unwillingness to accept responsibility and show remorse caused his parole to be denied.  He dies in prison of asthma.

The case illustrates something I think we should all demand of our prosecutors:  TEST THE DNA.  Far too many times people have languished in prison because the state refused to test DNA.  If the person is NOT GUILTY the state should never seek to keep them in prison.  Our society demands this in pursuit of actual justice, not just conviction records.  Second, I think we should all think long and hard about this situation, where if this man had admitted to a crime had had not committed, he would not have gone to prison, and if he’d apologized for it he’d have been paroled.  His principles ensured that an innocent man would receive a punishment much worse than a guilty man. 

I believe that police do a vital and undervalued service in our society.  I believe that they regularly do their best to serve the citizenry, and often under less than ideal circumstances.  I thank them for their service and appreciate their sacrifices.  I echo this sentiment for prosecutors.  I do hope that as cases like this where testing DNA can be done that it will be done in the public interest.

Technorati Tags: Crime,false convictions,DNA testing

Author who Predicted the Current Economic Crisis Intimates Inflation is Next

From Reuters

Kevin Phillips, author of "Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism", has been quoted repeatedly as saying that the current misguided responses of the Federal government (both under President Bush and President Obama), combined with a commodities cycle that began early in the decade and is being masked by the recession will combine to return us to inflation levels last seen in the mid-seventies. 

The above article is worth reading, and Mr. Phillips is refreshingly direct in his language.  

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Free Will is Key Will in Helping Behaviors

In a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,  (Prosocial Benefits of Belief in Free Will) researchers found that when people believe in free will we are much more likely to help others, and much less likely to behave aggressively. 

Free Will is a concept that has been debated by philosophers, scientists and theologians for almost as long as we've had written works on these subjects.  In basic terms, free will refers to the concept of rational beings and whether we exercise control over our decisions and actions, and if so, to what extent.

In religious terms, free will means that an omnipotent deity allows individual actions and decisions.  In scientific terms, free will is debated:  to what degree are our thoughts and actions a product of physical processes?  In philosophy, free will involves the concept of determinism - are all events caused by physical and natural forces?  Can some events be the result of these processes as well as free choices?

Most people believe in at least some free will - we make choices and decisions that affect our lives, while at the same time physical and natural laws and causes are also affecting us.  This study shows that society benefits in several ways when people believe in free will.  First, in this study researchers found that among subjects where a disbelief in free will was induced, these subjects were less willing to help others.  Second, it showed that subjects with long-held disbelief in free will were also less willing to help others.  Finally, the study showed that subjects with an induced disbelief in free will acted with a much higher level of aggression than subjects with a belief in free will.

In psychology the concept of cognitive therapy, or the Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy approach of Albert Ellis has been very effective over the years at helping people with anxiety, fear, social inhibition and other adjustment difficulties.  This approach teaches people that their feelings are NOT caused by events, but rather by their expectations and beliefs.  This is expressed usually as an A+B=C construct.  A refers to an adverse action.  B refers to a persons belief (or philosophy or expectation) about the action.  C refers to the consequence.  So, when an adverse event occurs, it is the event itself, plus the meaning or context that our beliefs give to the action that give us the consequence or outcome. 

An example of this approach can be found in mild road rage.  Many of us, when we encounter a reckless driver in traffic, become angry and upset.  Say someone cuts you off in traffic.  At first blush, we might say "That guy cut me off!  That makes me SO angry!"  But is it the fact that the other driver cut us off that causes us to be angry?  REBT would say that we are not angry because we've been cut off, but because we believe we should never be put in danger or treated rudely.  If we give it thought, though, most of us probably believe that a lot of drivers are reckless.  So, when we are cut off in traffic if we call to memory this belief that other drivers are often reckless or inattentive, instead of becoming angry we will simply respond to the needs of driving. 

Cognitive therapies have been developed since the 1950s, and have dramatically changed the landscape.  The Albert Ellis Institute uses the phrase "Short-term therapy, long-term results", and it is a fitting summary of how this approach has changed therapy.   In the past, patients with anxiety, fear, or other adjustment issues would face long-term therapy.  Using this approach, therapists are able to help patients focus on their beliefs and expectations, and to develop an awareness and discipline to call those beliefs and expectations to mind when adverse events occur.  This approach is just one of many psychological, theological, ethical and scientific approaches to resolving the simultaneous existence of both physical and natural causation and free will.  And according to this study, it is in all of our interests for society to continue to believe in free will.

Technorati Tags: free will,agency,aggression,helping,prosocial behavior,psychology

Quantum Teleportation Over 3 Feet

According to an article in Science Daily, a team from the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) at the University of Maryland (UMD) and the University of Michigan has succeeded in teleporting a quantum state directly from one atom to another over a meter apart.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090122141137.htm

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Aerial View of Inauguration Day, 2009

from Popular Science:

Link to Popular Science

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Not the Boy Scout Meaning, Exactly...

 

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Short Version Philosophy I

Kant's Ethics: The Short Version

• How would you like it if everybody did that?
• If you do something because you're a dick, but then it works out okay anyway, you're still a dick.

 

From Ron's Philosophy Page

Professor Ron

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Check Out the Creature that Treed the Bear

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Zeitgeist du Vader

 

From the strip Deleted Scenes by Dave Graff

 

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How to Make a Bad First Impression on Earth

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Women are from Venus, Men are from Uranus ...(Rated R)

This strip is from WE THE ROBOTS, one of my favorite comics.  Check it out here.  The author, Chris Harding, is consistently funny and often makes me laugh out loud. 

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This is Precisely the Opposite of Economic Darwinism, isn't it?

Though you do have to give the CEOs some credit for adaptation.  After all, the second time they panhandled Congress they managed to get to DC without four private jets.  I wonder if the black suit plumage in the Congressional hearing rooms attracted any potential mates for the Big Three, who seem to have formed their entire strategy around a misquote of Theodore Roosevelt:  "Whine loudly and carry a big line graph showing the end of America if you don't give us the money, now.  Seriously."

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McCrime

 

Check out more of this funny comic online at: http://www.utopiatheory.com/

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Keeping up with the Joneses

Sad, but a bit too true for comfort!

By Gary Varvel             Varvel's comic in the Indy Star

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Before You Yell at the Other Guy...

I believe that when we finally come to understand the smallest building block, the very stuff of which the universe itself is made, it will turn out to be irony.  Yes, irony.  Makes sense, doesn't it?    More about that later, but moving to the second basic element of which the universe has been constructed, I think it is hypocrisy.  Then  comes indignation.  Sadly, I find that I myself am a proof that these elements are indeed fundamental materials; indeed I usually give them away more than most.  Except for this guy I saw at the coffee stand this morning.

I was at a coffee stand this morning and heard a funny exchange.  When it was his turn, a middle aged man in front of me in line, and who seemed particularly rushed while we waited our turn to order, stepped up and in a clipped manner said

"Grande drip in a tall cup."

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" said the hurried but pleasant young woman at the counter. 

"Grrraaande drip in a tall cup." He said it slowly, dragging out the syllables for emphasis.

  "Do you want a Grande drip half full?" she said hesitantly. 

Well, at this point the guy had been waiting for more than two minutes in line just to finally get to the front and find himself unable to make the person understand a perfectly simple order (of course, I don't know what he was thinking really, I am just filling in the blanks from his expression and body language. Raising his voice, the guy announced loudly,

"I JUST WANT WHAT I ASKED FOR.  A GRANDE DRIP IN A TALL CUP! "

The poor person at the counter looked flustered, and she had been so pleasant, and I think she'd been convinced all along that SHE must be misunderstanding him, so I leaned up and said, 

"Unless you are a human compressor or can suspend physical laws you can’t have that.  No one can.  I think a reasonable compromise might be for you to have a tall drip in a Grande cup.  How would that be?" 

The guy looked at me, with irritation, then I believe he realized that he'd been demanding sixteen ounces of coffee in a twelve ounce cup instead of the opposite.  He got kind of white in the face and then walked out without another word to me or the gal at the counter.

"Thank you, I couldn't figure out what he wanted.  I thought I was mixed up and he was getting mad." she said.

"You were very good about it." I said. "Now for me...may I have a grande black tea in a replica space shuttle sippy cup?"

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Another Serial Killer in Louisiana? (Updated 1/3/2009)

In just the past five years, three serial killers have been arrested in Louisiana, and yet the killing continues. 

In May of 2003 police in Baton Rouge arrested Derrick Todd Lee for the murder of seven women.  These murders had been particularly terrorizing because the victims were not otherwise high-risk victims, and they were often taken from or murdered in their own homes.  It was DNA that finally brought the police to the killer.  He was sentenced to death by lethal injection. 

Just a year later, in 2004, police arrested Sean Vincent Gillis for the murder of three women.  After his arrest Gillis confessed to killing five more women.  He was sentenced to life in the first of his trials.

In 2006, Ronald Joseph Dominique was arrested for the murder of 23 men over a ten year period.  He confessed to the killings in a deal to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to eight life terms.

Now law enforcement in Jefferson Parish have formed a task force to investigate a series of murders they believe are likely to be the work of a serial killer.  In this case, the investigation is looking into the murders of seven women since 2005.  There are nearly a score of other unsolved murders of women that could be, but have not yet been connected to this killer in neighboring parishes.  So, either there is another very prolific killer in Louisiana, or there is a prolific serial killer with possibly other serial killers or individual murderers active in the state.  Either way, it must be a very frightening time for people living high-risk lifestyles dominated by drugs and the sex trade.  For many years Washington State was the place most often associated with serial killers, but that may be changing, much to the dismay of the people of Louisiana.

UPDATE (September 1, 2009) 8th Victim found:  The most recent victim was a 26 year old woman named Necole Guillory.  Guillory was last seen getting into a car on Sunday, August 16th, near the south Main Street area Jennings.  The multi-agency task force investigating the case released the following:

The multi-agency task force comprised of Acadia, Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Offices, Jennings Police Department, 15 th & 31st District Attorney's offices, La State Police Region 2 CID investigators/ Lake Charles, La Attorney General's Office, and the FBI continue to aggressively investigate the murders of several women from the Jennings area.

The task force continues to seek information from the public, and will continue to share as much information as possible with the public about these investigations without jeopardizing the investigation or prosecution due to recent media coverage and news releases, resulting in enhanced public awareness and combined with the sustained efforts of the task force, it is likely that the offender may have altered his behavior, habits and/or practices.

The following are additional examples of such changes possibly made by the offender:

The offender may have recently left the Jennings area, possibly in an abrupt manner, with no indication of prior planning.

The offender may have recently discontinued his contact with the area of Jennings formerly frequented by the victims.

The offender may have recently altered his physical appearance.

The offender may have altered the appearance of his vehicle, e.g., having his vehicle painted.

The offender likely had sex with some, most or all of the women (decomposition doesn’t allow certain confirmation).  What makes it tougher is that many other men may have had recent encounters with the women (some , many, and though improbable, it is possible men unrelated to the murders had sex with all of the missing women).  At least five separate men have been under suspicion because they were seen with one or more victims shortly before they disappeared.  Two were arrested and then released.

In my opinion, and it isn’t worth much I know, what is raising the temperature of frustration in Jennings isn’t necessarily frustration that sprouts from police incompetence.  A very competent police force very often finds it tough to break open serial murder cases.  I can’t say with any inside information whether the Jennings officers are average, better or worse.  But I can say that anytime a series of murders go on without ending, the community can become inflamed.  I would cite examples, but it seems SOOO unnecessary in this case. 

The most remarkable element in my mind is that the frustration, and a washed pickup truck seem to have lead to the entire police force being swabbed for DNA.  Now THAT is pretty new. 

For good crime news, including reporting on the current Louisiana murder series (last link deals with DNA swabs):

The Criminal Report Daily by David Lohr

Steve Huff:  The True Crime Report

Lost in Lima Ohio

http://crimene.ws/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/us/02serial.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/19/crimesider/entry5024973.shtml

 

Technorati Tags: serial killer,crime,murder,Louisiana serial killers

Immodium Billboard

This billboard won an award from Ad Age.  The sign is in Puerto Rico

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