Health: To Be Under the Senates Thumb or Not to be

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....10.02.06.........
Missouri Senator Jim Talent and challenger Claire McCaskill have similar views on importing prescription drugs, but Talent seems to favor government scrutiny also (which is, in other words, more government intervention on it..which is clearly the problem we have already). He says, "I’ve always supported permitting reimportation through a process that guaranteed safety. Many of these drugs are manufactured in third world countries, and I want to make sure our consumers are protected. I support a provision in the Homeland Security funding bill that would allow U.S. citizens to bring a 90-day supply of prescription drugs for personal use back from Canada." So, every 90 days people have to run back to Canada? McCaskill, on the other hand, gets right to the point: "If Congress is going to remain under the thumb of the pharmaceutical industry, Americans ought to have the choice to import prescription drugs from other countries that haven’t been put under its spell." Apparently, the number of sick people in America without insurance and affordable prescriptions wouldn't be a big deal to Talent as long as Congress, or Homeland security can scrutinize it (which is a nice way of saying "dissecting" or even "destroying" the ideas.

Watching Where Not to Go

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.27.06.........The Weather Channel is now showing a traffic report. It will show the location and status of traffic accidents around the Kansas City area. I am waiting for it to show one saying there was an accident involving two vehicles at 69 Highway and 435 because someone was watching the weather channel on TV.

Lenexa's Fear of Storage

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.26.06.........

Lenexa City Council proves, once again, that fear makes for new policy. The council approved a resolution that would require managers of rental storage units to keep lists of all information (drivers licenses, social security, etc) of all renters and the police can have access to upon request. The associated press reported that David Daniel Lewis(a Lenexa police officer) said "We're looking at the people who have been arrested several times in the recent past and obviously have ongoing criminal enterprises....If you're talking about a 40-year-old who made a mistake when he was 18 and has been a good guy ever since -- we're not interested, and the last thing we intend to do is bother law-abiding citizens." Instead, it appears, they plan on running backgrounds on people and deciding who might be a potential criminal enterprise. Why don't they just get out a phone book, or go door to door, and just run a background check on everyone in the city? That is, after all, where this appears to be heading.

Popeye? Where Are You?

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.21.06.........

I guess it's no secret now why we havent heard from Popeye lately. I am not making light of the dangers of E. Coli, which apparently can be deadly, as one death has come from the latest out break. It has now been traced back to California and narrowed down to a few counties. (According to the Food and Drug Administration). Ironically, though, the FDA warning came five days after the Lenexa Spinach Festival. I, personally, have never cared for spinach, so it has never affected me.
Some restauraunts are substituting variuous kinds of lettuce or cabbage. I'd rather have one of Wimpie's hamburgers.

Something to Not Think About

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.20.06.........
The Kansas City Star has overhauled itself because of its new printing presses. It looks different, and a bit smaller than before (maybe ontin content, but in actual size). One thing I noted was on the editorial page they have placed a "Thought for the Day" and a "Religious verse." I guess it can be interpreted different ways, but it it suggesting that the scripture verse is not something one thinks about? Some of the deepest thinkers I know would be labeled "religious".....or even that other word......oh yeah, "Christian."

The Pope Gives Himself Some Rope

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.19.06.........

If they aren't stirred by a cartoon, then they are motivated by words from the Pope. "We aren't violent," scream some Muslims as they violently react to the comments and then suggest the Pope should die. (Pope Benedict didn't actually say "violent," just "evil and inhuman.") That is not an indictment on all Muslims, but isn't it interesting that the only way they know how to say they are offended by being considered violent terrorists is to act as violent terrorists?

Heeeey, Cab Driver!!!

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.19.06.........
Kudos to the city of Olathe for it's "Taxi voucher program." The program, which was started in 2004, offers vouchers to low-income Olathe residents for free taxi rides to and from work on weekdays. And if you have ever ridden in a cab recently, you know that if someone is low income, that one taxi ride costs about a weeks wages.

Beware of the American Terrorists!

.......[c]2006 by
Richard L Zorek....9.19.06.........

"Terrorism" is a much used word today. Moreso after 911 then ever. Terrorism takes many forms, however. The poor, the hard pressed, those in financial binds, etc, need to stand up to the terrorists which run American financial institutions, control credit bureaus, hospitals, insurance companies and a host of others things. They threaten and destroy peoples lives on a daily basis through acts which detroy credit....which, as of late, can affect people ability to even work. This is America!!! We no longer ask for the downtrodden to come to our shores.....we have institutions that will destroy those who are already here........unless you have a lot of money and a good lawyer....and you dont get a good lawyer without a lot of money. There's little justice for the poor anymore. We...and I mean everyone who is in this category: being run down by the system....needs to just quit worrying about the threats and actions that might or maye will be taken..................it's not giving up: it's just saying "NO!!!". Let's not take it anymore.