I Would Sue The Mess Out Of Them…

Sadly, it’s the only way to talk with ‘people’ (and I use the term incredibly loosely) like them. This poor man lost his little boy and they’re throwing ‘compensation’ (Read:’Blood’) money at him. WTF…

Iraqi father seeks Blackwater apology

Eight months after his nine-year-old son died in a shooting incident involving private security guards from the US firm Blackwater, the boy’s father has called for an official apology and admission of guilt from the company, rather than compensation. (More)

A Moment Not To Be Lost In Time

In 1999, I had the pleasure and honor of having a conversation with a man who introduced my attention to a group of heroes. In my silliness, I was going on about one of my favorite shows at the time, Total Recall 2070, and the surname of one character in particular distastefully stuck out at him to the point where he made comment.

Being educated in the savvy (BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!) public school system of Baltimore City, I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about when he mentioned My Lai. This was back in yonder days when Google was a relatively new giggle, so search was done via Yahoo and yielding very little in the way of results.

What I did find was still heart breaking enough that it burned itself in my memory for years until, one day out of the blue, I felt an inclination to search it out again. This time, there was Monster Google and more information that helped a great deal in my learning more. There were also a plethora of news articles about the incident by then, and a Frontline special transcript link on the newly updated PBS site. (More, More, and More)

I just went back and thanked the guy who intro’d me to this monumental piece of history. My main regret is not being able to shake hands with the men who did the right thing (Hugh Thompson, Jr., Lawrence Colburn, Glenn Andreotta, and also Ronald Ridenhour) when it was called for. All I can do is respectfully honor the memory of that day and hope that others learn to follow the example of the men who saved those peoples lives.

I’m not sure why this all came to the surface all of a sudden. I just felt an overwhelming urge to write it all out. If you’ve got a problem with my writing it out, then tough.

Why would he tell!?

But…No One’s Supposed To Find Out!

Yes, Citizens of the World, this is the reason you see so many people on the Infield at the Preakness Stakes. The Infield event at Pimlico is, in itself, quite a legendary event. Being that I grew up poor and, for the most part, disinterested in the spectacle that happened three blocks from the place of my birth and childhood home, I haven’t yet gone to the Infield party. Mind you, the stories I’ve heard though. It’s a good job Sinai Hospital is only three blocks away…

Preakness Craziness Gains Web Immortality

Andrew Ratner | On Blogs
May 18, 2008

For many who spent yesterday at the Preakness infield, the hangover won’t be the worst part of this morning.

It’ll be the YouTube video.

For years, the Preakness infield was described as a drunken bacchanalia with a horse race encircling it. But for those who didn’t attend, the best sense they could get of the rowdy spree came after the crowd had cleared out, as TV videos and newspaper photos showed tons of garbage being collected.

The mainstream media – produced for a family audience – couldn’t adequately describe the debauchery of the infield. And the TV network carrying the race never showed much of the revelry, which didn’t mesh well with the gilded story line about the “sport of kings” and the Triple Crown.

Once TPTB read this, I guess it’ll all go to ruins now. I hear Burning Man and the Woodstock Anniversary Events went the same way.

One Vision

1. Consider me a proud member of the study I’ve been raving about in Bethesda.
2. Consider me on the path to gaining a more healthy lifestyle.
3. Consider me a now regular rider of the MARC and WMATA systems.
4. Consider me too damn hooked on the Beatles music to be considered sane.
5. Consider me occupied for the next year in a goodly happy study of scientific importance.
6. Consider me ‘Yay’-ing as much as I superhumanly can.

As soon as I clean my room today, I’m taking the first of the “Progress Pictures” and adding categories to this blog regarding my journey through this medical study. I’ve got Bookhenge going on again and I want to be able to get a good picture from where the center horseshoe is currently residing.

Busy day. Better get to the workout and shower before breakfast. Then I’m going into blue woad painted battle mode on this room.

Tea, Shelter, and Yum Yums

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trial.”
- Confucius

Been on 43things again putting little marks of determinism around.

Don’t worry, I cleaned up after myself.

I put forth a conscious effort to become a writer on a more professional basis. I think I’ve been listening to the Beatles too much lately (if that’s possible)…but…on the face of it, writing does seem to be a good fit for my notoriously erratic sleeping periods, mood swings, etc. I can work on my own schedule, take advantage of the manic writing periods I have where I bang out a lot of really (shockingly and unrecognizably) good material, and still manage to keep myself in tea, shelter, and Yum Yums.

Growin’ Pains

As soon as I get the next two payments from medical studies, I should be able to afford at the very least a pot, some seeds, and some soil. I am gunning for an Earthbox though as it takes up signifigantly less space and is already set up to be set up. As much as I’d love to make one of my own, I’ve got neither the resources nor the hand steadiness to make everything I’d need to put it all together.

It’s going to be so great having fresh grown food again. I did peppers last year, Basil the year before and in the past have done various herbs as well as Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea). It’s always worth it to taste something you’ve had a personal hand in growing, especially when it tastes so wonderful. It makes you feel proud and validated as a gardener.

I’ve actually got a few things growing out there already. Waaaaaay back in 2004, I planted some potato eyes in soil, never thinking that they’d take or even grow potatoes. Imagine my shock when, several years later in 2007 they’re not only still going strong but are still producing cute marble sized potatoes. The only thing keeping them from acheiving their full size is a lack of space. I have them in a small hanging pot rather than in a good sized pot where they can spread out properly.

Considering how effortless this is compared with past years, I’m definitely going to be getting into this. I’m going to take advantage of my sunny patio and the formidible heat of Maryland to grow a few things that will sustain us. If I can trade it off in exchange for things from others, then all the better.