HeiressofBickworth
HeiressofBickworth's JournalJeremy Scahill wrote a book about JSOC
which was turned into a documentary film. I saw the film and Scahill was the speaker after the film. This post ties into all of the problems uncovered by Scahill about the lack of accountability of US war crimes.
Scahill's book published by Nation Books, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield, released on April 23, 2013. The main premise of the book is Obama's continuation of Bush's doctrine that "the world is a battlefield" and relying on missiles and drone strikes, JSOC to carry the bulk of the covert operations and targeted killings of suspected terrorists. Scahill expands on this theme by covering topics such as the assassination of U.S. citizens, namely Anwar Awlaki and his 16-year-old son Abdulrahman Anwar al-Awlaki, and the lack of accountability of U.S. special forces, such as the Gardez massacre, where U.S. special forces killed two males, including the pro-U.S. local police commander, as well as three females, two of whom were pregnant. An Afghan investigation found signs of evidence tampering, such as bullets being removed from the wall where the women were shot. Several family members of the victims alleged that the special forces subsequently used their knives to dig the bullets out of the bodies and cleaned the resultant wounds to purge any evidence of the U.S. raid.
The book was later made into a 2013 American documentary directed by Richard Rowley based on a screenplay written by Scahill and David Riker. Scahill both produces and narrates the film. Dirty Wars premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2013. It was released in four theaters on June 7, 2013. The film was nominated for the 2014 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, ultimately losing to 20 Feet from Stardom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Scahill
Another one of their plans to stop Medicare
I'm sure they would find a large percentage of people on Medicare who also take drugs (medicine). Some take drugs for pain and chronic pain, others take drugs for a variety of other health issues, any one of which can produce false-positives for illicit drugs. But you can see where this is going: a secret list of drugs and imperfect test results means NO MEDICARE FOR YOU! This is just a variation of the "pre-existing condition" game of the insurance companies to avoid paying benefits. It worked so well for them, the Pubs are looking at this as a way of chipping away at Medicare.
On the one hand, I'm somewhat impressed at the time, energy and inventiveness Republicans use to cheat. Voting rights, health care, election results, bribery, etc. On the other hand, it dismays me that the energy it takes to be such assholes isn't spent on actually doing something for the benefit of the country as a whole and not just their 1% supporters.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.... (married, one small kid)
I used a fairly large pressure cooker to make my own spaghetti meat sauce which I put up in pint jars. I could put 10 jars (2 layers of 5) in the pressure cooker. Then there was the year that an aunt, cousin and I picked 157 ears of corn, shucked them, cut the kernels off, used the pressure cooker to process and then split the resulting jars among us. It was a VERY long day.
There was something very satisfying about looking at the open shelves in the kitchen and seeing jars and jars of spag sauce, corn, green beans, tomato sauce, applesauce, apple juice, peaches, pears, plums, and various jams. Only the meat and veggies needed the pressure cooker.
But that was in a prior life. No need to go to that trouble any longer. Daughter and son-in-law live with me, but they fix their own meals. I don't eat spag any more anyway and frozen corn is just fine. I sold the cooker in a yard sale many years ago.
BUT, if you are interested in buying in bulk, making your own and don't want to use the freezer, a pressure cooker is just the thing.
Type 2 here
If I had to do it all over, I would go to an endocrinologist when first diagnosed. That type of doctor specializes in diabetes and would be the best one to evaluate and prescribe. And, more importantly, monitor kidney function to prevent kidney failure down the line. Knowing all that I know about diabetes now, I wouldn't be satisfied with the doctor's information your brother is reporting. I also would think he would be referred to a dietitian for further advice on nutrition and information on a diabetic diet.
It may not totally be the doctor's lack of informing him. It could be your brother didn't really participate in the appointment. I had a husband like that -- he never asked questions of his doctor and therefore never really knew what was going on with his own body. For example, he came home one time with a bottle of a very powerful cough medicine. I asked him what that was for as I wasn't aware that he was sick. He said he didn't know, his doctor just prescribed it. I really got upset when he came home from an appointment and said he had to have an operation. What For??? He said he wasn't sure but his doctor said he had to have it done. I went to the doctor, got the full diagnosis, had him show me in a medical book just what the problem was and what he was going to do about it (it was a hernia). Husband didn't ask any questions, just showed up when he was supposed to and submitted to whatever the doctor said. Hell, I've asked more about the surgery my CAT is having on Tuesday!!!
Whatever the situation, he should find someone who will give him a more aggressive plan for his condition.
Seattle to Sacramento and return
Left 9/3 and returned 9/9. I take this trip at least once a year and have for over 30 years.
When I was younger, I took Coach. Seats are roomy and fairly comfortable (definitely UNlike airline seats). If you take Coach, you must either bring a sandwich or buy meals in the dining car or snacks in the Lounge car. Prices aren't too bad. Food used to be quite good, but now is merely average.
For a number of years now, I take a sleeper. I'm older and need my creature comforts. I have a system: When I go to my compartment I ask that the bed be made up as soon as the car attendant has time. It's more comfortable to extend my legs for the long period of time I'm on the train. I also ask for an extra blanket and pillow to use to prop myself up during the day. And because I'm now older and don't want to try to maneuver walking the three moving cars to the dining car, I order off the dining car menu and have my meals delivered to my compartment. No extra charge, but I do tip the car attendant generously. The Coast Starlight has a Parlor Car for the sleeping car passengers. One can get coffee, hot tea or soft drinks (included in the price of the ticket). They have a wine/cheese tasting ($5 I think) event -- I went once years ago and since I don't drink wine, it wasn't very interesting for me. But many people enjoy it. The Parlor Car is a nice place to meet people. I've done that many times and now just prefer to be in my compartment with the current Vanity Fair magazine and some needlework to work on while I listen to a book or music on CD. Toilets are down the hall and are usually acceptably clean.
I always travel alone but I often see families in the sleeping car. They have three sizes of compartments, each sleeps a different number of people. I once took the train when I had a cast on my foot -- I had a handicap compartment on the lower level with its own toilet. Worked out quite well for me that trip.
It's true that the train must give way to the freight trains -- it's in the lease for use of the track owned by the freight companies. On the way home this time, it was about an hour and a half late part of the way but actually got to Seattle only about 10 minutes late.
On this last trip I met a woman who was going (by train) from Seattle to Los Angeles, then to New Orleans, then somewhere on the East Coast and back to Seattle through Chicago. A real circle of a trip. I'd love to do that sometime.
Check Amtrak's website for various travel plans and special prices. I envy you your trip!
The only way I would agree to a state income tax
is if they completely rescind the state/local sales tax.
I've seen proposals in the past where they "assured" the voters that the percentage of income for a state income tax would be low or the sales tax would be reduced. If you believe that, I've got a bridge over Lake Washington to sell you. In fact, the rate would be increased faster than you could scream STOP and we would be paying double the taxes we pay now. There have been four failures to introduce a state tax in Washington in the last 70 years; the voters just don't like the idea. We all know that any promise to have a state income tax on only upper incomes would soon change and we would ALL be required to pay more taxes.
So I say NO STATE INCOME TAX!!!!!
I've had only two encounters with the IRS
First was an audit (later figured it was triggered by my ex-husband's new wife who resented paying child support). I made a pittance at the time, no investments, no deductions. It was pretty straight-forward and I wound up being charged an extra $50 -- I wrote a check.
The second time was a bit more interesting. I already received my tax refund but the audit was triggered by a mistake I made in filing the tax return. I listed my daughter as a dependent although she was working at the time and I was not entitled to claim her. Although I listed her by name, I make the correct calculation of taxes based on her NOT being a dependent (forgot to remove her name). The IRS, seeing that the facts/figures disagreed, sent me a check for an amount calculating her as a dependent. I returned the check with a note saying that I made a mistake in listing her name, but that the amount I paid was correct. They sent the check back. I returned it. They sent it back. This time I returned it with a note outlining how I was right in returning it, listing the dates of the letters in which I attempted to return their money which was sent to me in error. I finished by saying that if they returned the amount AGAIN, I would consider it a gift and cash the check. In received a HAND-WRITTEN note from the IRS apologizing for their error and thanking me for being honest. I figure there's a gold star next to my name and I'll never be audited again. LOL
I think Sen. Sanders did the right thing.
He made a quick assessment of the situation and apparently realized that any attempt to engage the two women in conversation would have been met with even greater hostility. Therefore, his best approach was to take his sail out of their wind.
He shouldn't worry about the GOP reaction -- they were ready with condemnation no matter what course he took.
An example, in real terms
A fertilized egg implanted in my fallopian tube. Technically, I was pregnant -- a pregnancy test was even positive. The egg grew until it ruptured the tube and I was minutes away from bleeding to death. Fortunately, I was in a hospital and had a doctor who understood that the fertilized egg would die either way: either by being removed or upon my death. My life was saved by a speedy removal of the egg and the ruptured tube.
My fear has always been that a strict no abortion law or a personhood law would doom women with ectopic pregnancies to death.
Do these people have no conscience at all? Is their hatred of women so vast that withholding desperately needed medical care satisfies them? What kind of warped thinking is this? If THEIR wives, daughters, sisters were in this position, would they recommend standing by and letting them die? I fear their answer is yes.
One of my favorites
is Ikon Grill. It's on the corner of 5th & Virginia, across from the Westin Hotel. They have a variety of "comfort" foods -- fried chicken, meatloaf, and their Butternut Squash soup is excellent. For brunch, I've had (my favorite) Ikon's Joe's Special. For lunch, I've had the soup and the BLT Wedge Salad. I've also had their hamburger and it was also very good. It's also an interesting place -- lots of artwork and a collection of little lamps on shelves around the room. Overhead are nets with blown glass seashells. In 1999, I sat at a window seat having dinner and watched the WTO demonstrators marching down the street and all the police in riot gear. My other visits haven't been as eventful.
Here's their menu: http://icongrill.com/foodwine.html
Another favorite is the Georgian Room at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel (4th & University). It's absolutely gorgeous! A waiter told me once that it's painted with 13 different shades of yellow. Huge tall ceilings, detailed moldings. The lobby of the hotel is jaw-dropping. I used to work across the street and went there for lunch many times. http://www.fairmont.com/seattle/dining/thegeorgian/ The food is excellent and (at least when I used to go there) they always placed a chocolate on a small plate when they presented the bill. The chocolate had a bit of sea salt on the top.
If it's Chinese food you want, Sun Ya in the International District serves Dim Sum from 9 - 3. It's a very popular place and can be crowded. If it's cheap/cheerful you want, there's a food court at Uwajimaya in the International District.
I hope you enjoy your stay in the area.
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Gender: Do not displayCurrent location: Snohomish County, WA
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