July 9, 2014

The refugee children at our southern border - this generation's MS St. Louis moment?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_St._Louis

"President Obama once declared children who illegally enter the United States a “humanitarian crisis,” but officials with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) hope that the United States and Mexico will soon view these kids as refugees. The designation could potentially pressure the two countries to consider granting asylum to many of the 52,000 Central American children who have fled their countries due to criminal violence and grinding poverty. "

http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2014/07/08/3457440/un-officials-seek-refugee-status-for-kids-coming-into-america-alone/

July 9, 2014

Syracuse New York reacts to plans to place immigrant children there:

"A spokesman for Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said the city has not been contacted by federal officials about the housing effort. But Alexander Marion said the city would cooperate.

“We are happy to help children in need if there is something we can do for them,” Marion said. "

http://syracusepoststandard.ny.newsmemory.com/


We are happy to help children in need if there is something we can do for them


Go Syracuse!

Also -

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei said today he supports a federal plan that could end up sending hundreds of immigrant children to Syracuse for temporary housing while they await deportation.

But his Republican opponent, John Katko, says the growing crisis on the southwest border is the result of President Barack Obama's "failed immigration policy" and that
shipping children to Syracuse is not one of the solutions.

Maffei, D-Syracuse, and Katko made their comments after syracuse.com reported that federal officials are exploring the idea of housing children at vacant convents and related buildings owned by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities at Court Street and Grant Boulevard in Syracuse.

The effort gained an added sense of urgency Tuesday when President Barack Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion to provide better housing for the children while they are in custody, speed up deportation hearings and improve security along the southwest border.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/us_rep_dan_maffei_john_katko_clash_over_immigration_policy_deportation_of_kids.html

July 7, 2014

Will the House Republicans refill the Highway Trust Fund,

http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/211336-highway-fund-running-on-fumes

or are they so anti-Obama as to be eager to raise the unemployment rate and/or anti-spending that they will forget that there is an election in November?

July 7, 2014

Another sample of new politics: Zephyr Teachout!

"An immensely talented and creative scholar, Professor Teachout brings a rich background in laws governing political behavior, both domestically and abroad, as well as the insights of her original work on corruption and its constitutional history. "

http://law.fordham.edu/faculty/zephyrteachout.htm

Teachout - Wu for New York

My name is Zephyr Teachout, and I am a constitutional law professor and organizer. I am thrilled to announce my campaign for Governor, and the campaign of my running mate Tim Wu for Lt Governor for the great state of New York. We will be challenging Governor Cuomo and Kathy Hochul in the Democratic Primary.

The system is rigged, and Andrew Cuomo is part of the broken system. We are running to lay out a bold vision and provide a real choice for voters. New York can have an economy that works for all of us — not one which works only for the wealthy and well connected. We believe in a New York where wages are rising, small businesses are thriving and our public schools are the best in the nation.

We are not Albany insiders, but we believe Governor Cuomo and Kathy Hochul can be beat, and must be challenged. We will force Governor Cuomo to defend his record of deep education cuts, his tax cuts for banks and billionaires, his refusal to ban fracking and his failure to lead on the Dream Act. He has also failed to deliver on his core campaign promise from four years ago: cleaning up Albany.

Governor Cuomo and his corporate backers are going to come after us, and we need to know we can count on your support - can we count on you?

http://www.zephyrteachout.com/

Right now she is collecting signatures to get on the September Primary ballot. I know the state workers hate Cuomo, and I suspect the public school teachers feel the same way, so she does have an actual chance!

July 5, 2014

Acetaminophen vs NSAIDS -

I've been told to stay away from the NSAIDS such as ibuprofen due to the hazard of kidney damage. (My labs already show the first, faint signs of damage - most likely an autoimmune issue). I was afraid of taking acetaminophen out of fear of liver damage, but if what I've read is correct, I can use the maximum OTC dose routinely without any harm. I know that acetaminophen won't do anything for the inflammation, but has anyone else tried it for arthritis flares?

July 4, 2014

Reality check - does anyone have any idea how the Hobby Lobby decision

is playing out in the general public? I know we're all fired up about it here, and obviously that's the reaction across the Left. But what is the real life general reaction among women? among men? Older people? younger people? If people are upset today, will they stay upset enough long enough to get out and vote in November?

July 3, 2014

Home made ice cream - what do you do with the left over salt solution?

I hate to throw out that much salt and really I'm not sure where to put it. We're on a septic system, so if I dump it there I'll be adding salt to our leach field which is not something I want to do. Anyone ever have any luck say, in letting the salt dry out in the sun?

July 2, 2014

Can I put in a good word for Viagra?

It's gotten a bad rep and a bad rap because many perfectly healthy men use it as an aphrodisiac. But, many men also use it temporarily or always to have any sexual function at all. One example: men in their 40's and 50's who develop prostate cancer will face surgery. After surgery, Viagra makes function possible. It sounds like the start of a dirty joke, but there is actually something called "penile rehabilitation". The emerging consensus is that the sooner any function can be restored, the more likely that natural function will follow. For many men, Viagra is what enables them to resume normal relations with th eone they love.

July 1, 2014

Anyone know what kind of health insurance Hobby Lobby offered before the ACA?

My guess is that they didn't offer any, or else it was such a lousy policy none of the store clerks bought it. (Of course, I'm also guessing that the execs had a great plan!)

July 1, 2014

My discussions about Hobby Lobby on various web sites is already having an effect -

I'm getting pop-up ads for Hobby Lobby.