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Grex > Enigma > #379: Lynne's "I aint got no baby" Diary. | |
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| 25 new of 160 responses total. |
mary
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response 27 of 160:
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Oct 23 20:15 UTC 2003 |
Michigan's response to the precident setting Nancy Cruzan case was
to offer it's citizens a free legal document that would give
individuals a way to control end of life medical care. If you want
to have someone else make those decisions should you be unable to
do so, then you need a living will designating a medical power of
attorney. If you want to be specific about what you want and don't
want, then you need a living will advance directive. Either will
do. Both are free, can be obtained and filed at your doctor's
office, clinic or hospital. They are simple to complete and you
don't need an attorney. Michigan did good here.
There are two compelling reasons to take the time to fill one out.
First off, if you're dying on a ventilator with flat brain waves,
your family isn't going to have much trouble at all convincing the
medical community that you should be allowed to die. But it gets a
little cloudy when you're breathing on your own, without oxygen,
and managing with a feeding tube, but your brain is in a vegetative
state. Either of those documents could allow food and water to be
withheld until you die. But without those documents, you could be
laying there, lights off, a very very long time, and there is
nothing your family could do about.
The second reason to plan ahead is the same reason some folks
arrange their funeral, having financial wills, etc., - to spare
their family from having to deal with it. Or not. Afterall, you
won't be around to see them struggle with the lingering issues.
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mary
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response 28 of 160:
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Oct 23 20:16 UTC 2003 |
s /precedent/precident
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slynne
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response 29 of 160:
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Oct 23 21:12 UTC 2003 |
Hmm. Well, it cant hurt to fill out the form. I will see if I can
download one. One thing I wouldnt want would be for some stranger to
force my body to stay alive if my family didnt want that. Thanks for
the comments.
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slynne
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response 30 of 160:
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Oct 23 21:24 UTC 2003 |
UofM has one:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umlegal04.htm
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mary
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response 31 of 160:
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Oct 23 22:50 UTC 2003 |
You are welcome.
I still need to fill one out too. Your
comments gave me a push to get it done.
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slynne
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response 32 of 160:
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Oct 24 13:53 UTC 2003 |
Some of my cousins were in town last night for a funeral of their aunt
(who I am not related to). Since they are all from out of town, they
stayed at my folks' house. So, I went up there and got to hang out with
the cousins. One cousin and his wife are from a suburb of Cincinnati
(Florence, KY). The other cousin is from Rochester, NY. Anyhow, it was
a nice dinner with nice wine and nice conversation. I now know the
history of the "Florence Yall" water tower ;) I know a bit about
playing tuba in a Rochester orchestra. BTW, that cousin says that even
though it would have been fun to dot the i, it wouldnt have ever been
worth going to OSU ;) It is kind of cool to have interesting relatives.
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slynne
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response 33 of 160:
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Oct 24 13:54 UTC 2003 |
I am really tired. I woke up at 5:30a because that is the time my cat
decided she wanted to wake up.
A few years ago, in my last apartment, my downstairs neighbor started a
fire in his kitchen. He came home from the bar drunk, started cooking
something and then went and passed out in his bed. My smoke detector
never went off. But *before* my apartment filled with smoke too badly,
the cat jumped onto my pillow and meowed and meowed until I woke up.
She may have saved my life. The apartment totally filled with smoke and
FAST. I mean I remember waking up and being able to just kind of smell
smoke and not see it. By the time I had my pants and shoes on, the
whole apartment was filled and I had to feel my way out. I was only
barely able to grab the bird cage and the cat and run outside. I puked
all over the place because of the smoke and I could barely breathe.
(Luckily, the dogs were at my parents house).
Ever since then, whenever the cat tries to wake me up, I JUMP out of
bed. She has figured this out and often wakes me up if something in her
world isnt quite right. You know how it is with cats. She will wake me
up if she doesnt have enough food in her dish or if she is bored or if
she wants to sleep in the dog bed and the dog isnt responding to her
demands or *whatever*.
I am happy that she saved my life and all but I also would like to
sleep through the night a little more often.
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slynne
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response 34 of 160:
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Oct 26 02:30 UTC 2003 |
These are the ways I have abused my cat today:
1) When she went outside this morning, it rained on her. In her mind, I
did this and she isnt happy that I made it rain on her.
2) I fed her dry food instead of the mushy food. I have cans of mushy
food and she knows it. I withhold them as a form of torture.
3) I wouldnt let her sleep on the computer keyboard even though, since
she is a cat, she was born with a right to sleep anyplace she wants
4) I spoke to her in baby talk which insults her dignity.
5) I showed her that picture of a cat with a lion cut and told her that
is what happens to cats who annoy me.
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jaklumen
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response 35 of 160:
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Oct 26 20:50 UTC 2003 |
This is why I want a dog.
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slynne
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response 36 of 160:
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Oct 27 14:37 UTC 2003 |
I went to my friend Gary's annual Halloween costume party which he
always throws on the Sunday before Halloween. It is a photographic
scavenger hunt so I have lots of pictures.
We did pretty well with our clues. First we went to Coner O'neil's
Irish Pub and took a picture of our whole group crammed into a bathroom
stall. Then it was off to the Real Seafood Company where we took a
photo of the stopped clock in their bar. Then, we had to take a photo
of "Arthur" the crocodile that is behind the bar at Louisiana Zydaco.
We paused to drink a hurricane there. Whew.
Our group did really well. We found even some of the more obscure clues
like "the wall of gum" and some very small graffiti that possibly made
reference to our host, Gary.
We made up some things though. We were supposed to go to the cube and
take a picture of us doing cartwheels but we decided to just draw a
picture of a cube in chalk on the sidewalk and also of cartwheels. :)
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slynne
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response 37 of 160:
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Oct 27 21:21 UTC 2003 |
Aaron knows that I have been discussing the Terri Shiavo case and also
partial birth abortion online here so he sent me a link to an editorial
in the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/articles/A21857-2003Oct26.html.
Obviously, I agree with this editorial for the most part. However, I
have to admit that I am particularly aware of what the legislature is
doing in this case because I happen to disagree with it. I probably
would be more forgiving of them if they were doing things I do agree
with. However, it seems to be a commmon thing these days for the
legislative bodies to pass laws they *know* will be struck down by the
courts and that feels kind of wrong to me. For one thing, it is a waste
of everyone's time and energy. For another thing, it is an easy way out
for them and that bothers me. They get to pass laws that make it look
like they are doing something but they dont have to actually deal with
the repercussions of the act.
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slynne
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response 38 of 160:
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Oct 27 21:22 UTC 2003 |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21857-2003Oct26.html
Oops, that link didnt post too well.
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jaklumen
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response 39 of 160:
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Oct 28 03:08 UTC 2003 |
*chuckles*
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slynne
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response 40 of 160:
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Oct 29 16:24 UTC 2003 |
I have always had a bit of a problem with seasonal depression. Once
again, it looks like this is going to be an issue for me this year. I
am trying to decide if I want to get medication or light therapy. UGH.
I just hate all this darkness. I feel like someone has come and made me
a lead suit or something. All I want to do all day is sit around and
watch movies and stuff. By myself. That is so dangerous because I am
always in danger of isolating myself too much from people. I turned
down a dinner invitation last night. I think that is a bad sign.
I have made plans with a co-worker for tonight though. We are going to
drive out to the country to see if we can see the Northern Lights.
Hopefully the sky will clear by tonight. It is cloudy now.
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jaklumen
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response 41 of 160:
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Oct 29 18:15 UTC 2003 |
My sister had problems with the SAD thing... she really hated where I
am working now, and I don't blame her too much as the building is kinda
dark.
Which is cheaper, meds or light therapy... and which would you think
would be more effective?
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slynne
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response 42 of 160:
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Oct 29 18:51 UTC 2003 |
I think the light therapy is cheaper except that my insurance doesnt
cover it. The meds cost more overall but they wouldnt cost *me* more
because I have insurance. But there are side effects to the medication
albeit minor ones. On the other hand, I dont think the light therapy
has been studied as much as medication.
Of course, one thing I know about depression is that if it is mild (and
mine is, thank goodness) even if you just take small steps to get rid
of it, it helps. I think the placebo effect is greater for things like
depression. So if I go buy the special light and I believe it will
work, it will work.
Anyhow, I am leaning towards the light therapy now. Which might not be
a good thing. I have developed Doctor anxiety lately and never want to
go even for a check up.
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jaklumen
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response 43 of 160:
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Oct 30 00:13 UTC 2003 |
*confuzzled* Well, if you get it figured out...
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slynne
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response 44 of 160:
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Nov 2 16:51 UTC 2003 |
I went to go see Michael Moore speak Friday night at EMU. I was
supposed to go with Aaron but he stood me up (although with good
reason). It was awesome even though it was weird going to an event like
that all by myself.
One thing you can say about Michael Moore is that he is one funny guy.
I also found myself agreeing with him a lot. He had a lot of good
things to say. Like that it is important to stand up for what you
believe in even if what you believe in is pretty much not centrist.
Anyhow, it was a very good talk and I was glad I went even though I had
to go all by myself. I cant wait to buy his new book but I have to wait
two weeks because then I will have an opportunity to buy it at a pretty
good discount. Oh well, two weeks isnt that long.
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slynne
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response 45 of 160:
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Nov 4 16:26 UTC 2003 |
Aaron has started a blog called The Stopped Clock
http://www.thestoppedclock.blogspot.com/ . It is pretty good. I think
it is interesting how different my blog is from his blog. His is much
better written than mine. Certainly his grammar and spelling are better
than mine ;) His reads like a newspaper column. Mine is a little more
informal. He doesnt talk about his life at all. Just his opinions on
things. Weird
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jaklumen
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response 46 of 160:
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Nov 5 04:05 UTC 2003 |
I dunno, take your pick... whichever you choose to hold up to
scrutiny. Opinions or life.
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slynne
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response 47 of 160:
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Nov 13 18:54 UTC 2003 |
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/walterwilliams/ww20031112.shtml
I agree with Mr. Williams on some of his points. For instance I believe
that an international minimum wage that is set high enough for American
workers to not have to compete with foreign sweat shops would be really
bad for foreign workers.
It would take a pretty high wage to motivate companies to move out of
those really cheap labor markets. Consider too that workers in those
markets are generally *really* unskilled when compared to even the most
stupid of American workers. Even the most stupid people I know can read
and follow very very basic written instructions. Because they are so
unskilled, they dont have a lot of choices about what to do with their
labor that means that, as a group, they probably have a very inelastic
supply.
Demand for labor in those areas, by contrast is very elastic. Firms
havent invested a lot in capital so it doesnt cost them much to leave.
If the wage floor were high enough, they would be very motivated to
move to more industrialized areas where they would need fewer workers.
This would be very bad for those workers in developing countries.
This doesnt mean that I am against an international minimum wage. It
just shouldnt be set too high. I have a hunch that because labor supply
is so inelastic in those areas, a wage could be set that effectively
transfers "economic rent" from the firm's profits to the worker's
paychecks without causing any difference in the output or the consumer
price of the item. It would cause stock prices in those firms to fall a
bit but I believe that a wage increase that would mean a LOT to workers
who are earning pennies per hour of labor might not result in huge per
share decrease in stock prices here.
FWIW, I agree with William's ideas that minimum wages can increase
discrimination in an industry. There is actually some evidence of this
happening. We dont see this too much in the United States these days
because our minimum wage is much lower than the market wage in most
labor markets. But, it is possible that an international minimum wage
could result in increased discrimination against various groups of
people.
There are probably all kinds of other effects an international minimum
wage would have that arent so positive. The higher the wage is set, the
more one would see those things cropping up. I am not sure saving
American manufacturing jobs is worth all the potential problems. Now
saving American Tech Support jobs is another issue entirely ;)
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slynne
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response 48 of 160:
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Nov 20 02:33 UTC 2003 |
I dont have anything particular to write about right now. Sometimes it
is ok just to let one's thoughts ramble around the page. Still, I know
this doesnt necessarily lead to good writing. Too bad for you, gentle
readers ;)
I bought a new Sherman Alexie book yesterday. I think that after I walk
the dogs tonight, I am going to curl up and read it. I love doing that.
I am a real couch potato as I am sure some of you may have realized. I
love my couch and I love lighting candles and curling up under a
blankie with something to read. I had to get dogs because if I didnt
have them and our nightly walks, I wouldnt get any exercise.
I havent been taking any pictures lately. I dont know why. Laziness I
guess. I still "see" pictures but I dont have my camera with me. I
guess I need to get back in the habit of carrying it.
Last night I was really kicking myself for not having it since the
train came through just as my dogs and I were walking down by Depot
Town which is a very cute area of town. It was raining and the lights
from the crossing were reflected on the street and the train woooshed
through with all this blurry cozy yellow light from the windows of the
train. The store fronts all have that same cozy yellow light coming
from the windows. It makes me warm every time I see that. Knowing that
just inside there is some good beer and good music and warmth. Soup
too. There is something about the people on train *going somewhere* but
totally missing such an inviting place on a rainy evening as this place
is. Would I have been able to put all that into a photograph? Probably
not but it would have been worth trying. :)
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remmers
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response 49 of 160:
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Nov 20 11:31 UTC 2003 |
Ah, Depot Town. Nice place. We like to have dinner at the Sidetrack
Restaurant and feel the floor rumble as a train speeds by.
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slynne
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response 50 of 160:
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Nov 20 16:30 UTC 2003 |
Heh. The trains make the floor of my house rumble too. I like Sidetrack
for the fried pickles mostly. :)
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remmers
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response 51 of 160:
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Nov 20 16:46 UTC 2003 |
Never had fried pickles. Are they like fried green tomatoes?
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