Posted by voolavex in Terror.
Tags: burn at stake, Charlie, CharlieHebdo, Christians, French, Je suis Charlie, Jews, Mayan, Mumbai, murder, Muslims, Paris, peace, Terror, war
It is an event that struck not just at Paris, but at the hearts and minds of reasonable humans worldwide. We are all Charlie. And we should always be Charlie from this moment on because we do not seem to get it without vicious attacks like this one to remind us that we are not safe in our only home. This is the only place we can be. There is no default planet to escape to and set up life right now. And probably won’t be in any reasonable future. This is it and we are threatened – on every front. We have raped and destroyed this planet. Assaulted her and used her and do not yet seem to know we cannot just toss her away. And this is bad enough to imagine – but the events in Paris are yet another reminder that we are engaged in a conflict that is a clear and present danger – to anyone who is not in line with the agenda of terror. Why does this shock and stun us every time an attack occurs. It shouldn’t.
War is a condition of mankind. Peace on Earth is a construct and an individual desire because it has NEVER been part of history. In recorded history there has never been peace on earth. Perhaps peace for a while in some places – but the planet has been in constant turmoil since history has been recorded. As a species we like to rape, pillage, murder, enslave and terrorize others. The scriptures of almost every faith on this world are dripping in blood – perhaps Buddhism is an exception – but it too came to be in bloody times as well. Did we crucify, toss to the lions, smite, riot, plague and burn at the stake every chance we got??? We sure did! About all that changed was the effectiveness of the means.There are few tribes or clans or peoples that have not fought back against something. And usually with violence.
So why did Paris stun us to the core? Because this is what it takes to keep us awake. Lost lives and bloodshed. And because there are some places in our hearts and mind that seem sacrosanct. Paris is one. And the invasive attack on Charlie Hebdo was up close and personal. It told all of us that we could be in our work, our homes, our daily lives, in the City of Light suddenly into darkness and we could BE Charlie. Multiply each lost soul by billions and we are all Charlie – going about our daily business, at the water cooler or lunch or in the park. This is the world we live in today. Not much different than any other world except we are in the here and now. We did not see people burned at the stake or heads rolled in Mayan bowling games – we see this now as hearsay in books. Today, people are lashed in public for ideas that are not “acceptable” to the some and therefore must be punished as a warning to the many. But bowling games or caning – where is the difference?
France warns the French Jews in particular – but they might also warn the French Muslims who do not support terror as well. They might point out that cathedrals and chapels are also at risk. They are all Charlie too. This carnage in no way diminishes the carnage already visited upon the 21st century in its short life, but we should reflect long and hard on what it does accentuate. We are a planet of monsters and a species who carry this dark capability all the time. The very good are rare and precious. The Nobel Peace Prize is treasured because those to whom it is given are rare and precious. Hitler was not an anomaly – he was just single-minded and in a better position to plot his course. And the media was better. And now the media is the messenger in an instant of all that is wrong and whatever is right. They do not achieve parity. Mumbai was a siege that last for days not even 10 years ago. As we coast between slaughters expecting peace to give us a chance. Imagine.
What I think and don’t say is that – but now I will – is – in the long history of my own faith – and until the 1900’s – despite ongoing plans for annihilation – my tribe did not do this. Current history may be a charged debate by those pro-and con Israel – but that is not the issue – the issue is that my tribe did not rain terror as recourse or payback or spite in more cases of threat and murder than recorded consistently on this planet. If the Christian prophet advised turning the other cheek – we epitomized doing it. Perhaps the hideous lesson in this is to understand how people are punished for what and who they are and think and how terrifying living under those circumstances has been for millennia. And how some face it honorably and others murder instead. I would suggest that people of any faith – not just mine, be careful . This may just be the terror that all the previous terror in history has begotten.
Posted by voolavex in Social Issues.
Tags: Cosby, Deceit, Revenge., sex
Droit du seigneur is a term from the days when knights were bold and women dropped the cotton(or satin or linen). The right of the male to screw any women or girl or maiden he fancied without consequences. He was entitled to much more but sportfucking was part of it. Rape, assault, forcible sex – all of it. We just recently realized this is not exactly a right any man has and it is not a good thing at all and now we point fingers and name names of things that latter-day seigneurs thought were their droit. The following is merely a an opinion and based on my own observations. And the truth is an absolute defense against libel, so this is my opinion. I do not know Bill Cosby.
However, Mr. Cosby is just one seigneur. Believe me, there are actors, producers, directors, CEOs and various and sundry other men in dozens of other industries, who are now streak marking their drawers over Bill Cosby and the allegations made by now 20 or more women whom he has been accused of abusing sexually. Because this cannot adjudicated within the statutes of limitations he cannot be charged criminally. But it is my belief that he can be sued civilly, possibly as a class action. The basis for a suit that is not classy. And I do believe the accusations and I say this because it was the “done thing” in my short career as a wannabe MAW (model actress, whatever). It was not just Bill.
My experiences in the Industry are not sad stories by any means – but oh the big shots tried. Being casting couched was a job application requirement with no yes or no to choose. (now it’s join a shul – but I digress.). How I avoided it was simply by mentioning it as I walked in the door chuckling. It actually did happen once, but it was a woman who tried with a woman who said – forget it. And no, I never got the parts or the shoots or the jobs.
What did I learn from this in 1972? Well, I had heard that Bill was man who fooled around. I never was up for a part in his career sphere, but he was a player and he liked to it. Anyway he could. But so did many others. Promises, promises – which should show you that there is a gap in many a male mind about honor and lying to get what you want. “I am a man of my word” (except ______ ) is a lie told to get sex. A stiff penis has no brain. And the social media comments set-up the story because so many folks ask and wonder “why now”. Why do this to an old, grizzled man who is still married with grandchildren and rides on his reputation as an actor, comedian and sweet goofy guy who loves Jello pudding? Scroll on and I will tell you why.
Can you think of a better form of payback than sweet revenge by cold-blooded revelations and swept under the rug sex crimes that happened about 40 years ago. He must have thought he had gotten away with all of it. Here is man who is pushing 80, rich and more than that, beloved and respected, by people here and abroad. A cuddly, cute, goofy guy whose little twinkling eyes and silly smile – and no nasty curse words – allowed him to work any room almost anywhere. It worked on me. I loved Cosby – the various roles in which he basically played lovable, silly Bill. This man was a role model for African Americans but it didn’t stop there. He was everyman. He was commonsense, honest and outspoken about things he found the naughty and he laughed about things he thought nice. Like Santy Claus…with a hard dick who won’t take no for an answer. But patience is a virtue and revenge a dish best served cold. And this is cold – at least to me. And brilliant. None of his accusers ever made a peep for 40 years or longer. None of them advanced in their media careers due to the sexual demands and favors allegedly demanded. But they waited and I suspect the person of interest got to thinking – “heh, heh, heh – wanking water under the bridge” and he kept getting gigs and money and went on about his pontificating and stand-up and late night and never looked back.
Think about it. Forty years.
He got a nice, free ride for all that time
He made a huge amount of money.
And as it is all crumbling, cancellations, disgust, anger and outrage.
It’s still happening too. So this is a cautionary lesson for aspiring performers in any career.
And for CEO’s. Time does not heal all wounds. Watch and learn.
Posted by voolavex in Elections, Politics.
Tags: bigots, Black, Blue, Congress, GOP, hypocrisy, lame duck, Miinions, Obama, Oligarchy, pistol packing, red, voters
Words will not be minced. The vote is in. The shame is apparent for those who voted (those who actually lifted their asses off the couch and voted) and voted blue. While the GOP laughs its own ass off at the expense of an America I used to know, we need to accept that people of both parties blew it off. Some of us displayed their colors – loud and true but anyone who whines needs to shut up. The Democrats royally, bluely screwed up. But I suspect they tried hard to win. Just not hard enough.
The voting majority population of America has revealed themselves to be basically bigots over the last two terms of the Obama presidency. These folks who cling to GOP antiquated platforms and policy; who cannot seem to get their mouths around the word oligarchy (but apparently embrace it with gusto), are complicit in the worst bigotry I have witnessed in my voting life. Forget policy, decisions, progress, lack of it, programs, innovations, missteps from the Oval Office. Forget all that. We have had many worse jerks sitting there and we all know who they have been. So jerkishness is not the issue. Lack of education and integrity isn’t the issue, golf isn’t the issue, sex, drugs and rock and roll isn’t the issue. Barack Obama’s only shortcoming – right in the door, was being Black. If anyone wants to pretend it isn’t true, then go for it but it is the unvarnished truth and it has been the real issue driving the GOP since the 2008 Election. (that, and the pre-oath Nobel Prize, didn’t help either). The votes came in and they were counted and Mr. Obama won the election. Which was such a stunning blow to our aryan nation and other small-minded, pistol packing populace, they spent their holidays trying to figure out how to undo this hideous wrong. And it wasn’t just Obama, but his Black wife, two Black children and his Black mother-in-law. And oh the places they went. That toke, that mosque, that trip to Nairobi, the Hawaiian press, the Halls of Records and eventually the courts. All that effort wasted on lies and conspiracy theory because no one could say, dared say, would say: “Well, the main issue is that he’s Black”. So add in hypocrisy to the mix. Because, to my mind, that has always been the one and only issue. He wakes up in the White House Black, he gives speeches, Black, he is Commander-in-Chief, Black. (what about that stank salute?) How could this have happened and how can it be stopped? If the election of Barack Obama told Black Americans one thing, it said, loud and clear – “you do not belong in the White House”. What should have been inspirational, uplifting and encouraging to this built on slavery nation, should have been the achievement of this election. Wrong. What it said in fact was: “watch us make him dance Jim Crow.” We will screw him in the Congress, will mock him on the golf course, ruin his vacations, whisper about his daughters’ private parts; we will undermine his decisions, we will schlep repeatedly to the Supreme Court and we will have interstellar media to broadcast loud and clear. Entrance and exit polls, Silver and Gold to show the United States what a huge mistake they made. And aren’t they glad that now have a Congress that will do all they can to right this grave wrong. And watch as we acquire huge amounts of money from corporations who can only benefit from a juicy free market economy government. Occupy? They occupy. They occupy Wall Street, some of the Supreme Court and the economy. They are the minions; Kochs, the Adelsons (bad for the Jews especially), the Walmarts, the Ailes, the Murdochs, Big Tobacco, Big Pharma and so many others that lurk in plain view.
Who remembers JFK? Well, I do and I remember how the nation cringed at the idea that a Roman Catholic was going to run for the Presidency. Oh damn. Here comes the Pope, the ornate censers, the holy water fonts and we cannot allow that. Those things never happened, but by God, it was still stopped short. JFK may have died from lack of electronic media. The poor man was a physical wreck, he was heavily medicated and a skirt chaser. But it wasn’t “known or shown” due to the lack of technology. I remember seeing the picture of Lee Harvey Oswald shot by Jack Ruby on the front page, for heaven’s sake! Who ever thought of that happening. In public. Those days are gone.
So now for the last two years of this beleaguered man’s administration, the gloating GOP; drunk, sober, felonious, old, male, mostly white and misogynistic will roll like dogs in shit and howl at the moon as they are allowed by popular vote, to carry on their malfeasance. How much better can it get until 2016.*
I simply hope that when Mr. Obama leaves the White House – in these lame duck sessions of Congress, he will go out quacking loud and strong.
*(Hint to Democrats: Do not nominate anyone who absolutely cannot or will not win due to gender, age, color, creed or decent morality. Just don’t do it.).
Posted by voolavex in WORLDS AWAY AT HOME.
Tags: Assad, Ebola, Fonts, Islam, Jordan, Kurdistan, Kurds, Muslim, Syria, Terrorism
Why are we allowing Kurdistan to be captured? We all know that Kurdistan is a very important and they are very much allies. They are threatened by the Terrorist that are besieging the entire area. We must help them somehow.
Why is Assad not doing something? He is not going to win with the Terror Team.
He is not a Sunni, he is very western and you cannot tell me he is now praying 5x a day and she is wearing the veil. Is he being held and it would be worse juju to let that slip out to the rest of the world? He is a very bad guy dealing with even worse guys.
Why don’t we refer to this group as the Unauthorized Illegal Terrorist State (UITS)?
I am assuming this is a group that attracts serial killers globally. The chap who does the beheading seems to love his job. And have they no idea how predictable and unoriginal.it has become and how angry it makes us – all of us? But we are also becoming jaded. Becoming? We are, aren’t we?
Have they never heard of more bees with honey than vinegar?
And BTW – if the Sheikhs of Araby had been dispersing their oil gotten gains throughout the Middle East maybe there would be some sort of contentment.
I know quite a few Muslims. This behavior does not exactly represent a typical person of this faith. Consider how many there are who are secular. No, is it DISrespectful. I wonder if the very loud silence from that quarter is fear? These terrorists are washing an entire population with disgrace. Speak up.
What about Jordan? Where is Jordan on all this? Yes I know the king speaks Arabic
with an American accent.
Does all this scare you?
And elsewhere around the globe.
The patient with Ebola from West Africa has died. His fiancée posted a very touching and eloquent message directed to this country. Some people will not be happy and accuse you know who of creating not only the virus but the spread. Does Ebola scare you? How on earth did no one assume Ebola would spread. Why is anyone surprised.?And considering it is mutating by the nanosecond it is going to get harder and harder to try to find a fix.
Why was everyone so disinterested when it was killing West Africans?
Oh wait. I know why.
And in closing – why does WP keep changing the font type of my posts? If it annoying me, it must be annoying readers of this blog. Even AOL has type choices.
Posted by voolavex in Social Issues.
If you woke up tomorrow, and your internet looked like this, what would you do? Imagine all your favorite websites taking forever to load, while you get annoying notifications from your ISP suggesting you switch to one of their approved “Fast Lane” sites.Think about what we would lose: all the weird, alternative, interesting, and enlightening stuff that makes the Internet so much cooler than mainstream Cable TV. What if the only news sites you could reliably connect to were the ones that had deals with companies like Comcast and Verizon?On September 10th, just a few days before the FCC’s comment deadline, public interest organizations are issuing an open, international call for websites and internet users to unite for an “Internet Slowdown” to show the world what the web would be like if Team Cable gets their way and trashes net neutrality. Net neutrality is hard to explain, so our hope is that this action will help SHOW the world what’s really at stake if we lose the open Internet.If you’ve got a website, blog or tumblr, get the code to join the #InternetSlowdown here: https://battleforthenet.com/sept10thEveryone else, here’s a quick list of things you can do to help spread the word about the slowdown: http://tumblr.fightforthefuture.org/post/96020972118/be-a-part-of-the-great-internet-slowdown Get creative! Don’t let us tell you what to do. See you on the net September 10th!
via Battle For The Net.
Posted by voolavex in Economics, Social Issues.
Tags: Phones and Tablets
I do not own any mobile devices. Primarily because I don’t need any. I have a cell phone I hardly use and a nice MAC consoleI use at home. Would I like an iPad – yes, because I am lazy and like to loaf and be on the computer in bed, but I don’t need one and I am not in any need of a smartphone – although they make photos much easier. I did have a laptop I never used much either. Full disclosure.
I stood with my best friend in line for the first iPhone. They ran out and we left. I was fascinated but not compellingly so – I went to events where folks – later on – played AB on their iPads and I was really excited (indication of shallowness). I hinted and whined but got no offers so I shut up, went home and killed green pigs at the console.
This was just about the time we were all invited to “Like Us” on FB or “Follow” us on Twitter. Easy. Great way for biz to collect data but wait…..data. Collect data? What kind of data? Oh never mind. Just press Like.. So we did. Luddites didn’t but I suspect there will be a time it will happen. As a former PR person I really admired how fast a business or person could get publicity without much work. We did the work then; the “social media” does it now.
And then came the APPS. Download the app. Get the app. Use our app. In the car – try out our app. The bank app, the grocery store app, the unlock your home app, watch your kids on the sly app, watch anyone on the sly app. Read a magazine on our app. Order anything on our app. See how easy a colonoscopy is on the free app. Mobile phone, tablet/pad – wait – there’s an app for that. The catch – you gotta buy the device. Oh yea – some things can be used/had/bought for your lame old sit at the desk/console computer, but not the kind of stuff you can get with a “FREE APP”. And you can “scan” – just wave the mobile device over something and off she goes. So you get discounts and insider offers and special perks (the now tiresome and mostly data collecting “rewards points”. OMG – Pavlov was right. The catch? You gotta own some device to do all this. In order to join this mobile app extravaganza – you have to go and get the device. These cost money and there is no app for that. And once you succumb, you have to have a plan. So now you have bought the device and the case (I like Ghurka, Fendi or custom color leather) that you must have to have to flaunt your style and the free apps and wait for it…the plan. Since I don’t have a plan I have no idea what they start at but $40 sounds about right, for which you get access (use of) to the carrier and a certain amount of data space. The more space, the more apps you can get FREE but then the meter starts to tick.
Do I have to explain this? You have been offered yummy, scrumptious candy on a stick (the perks offered by the apps that are FREE) but in order to have them, you must have the device and what good is the device if it has no plan to store data? So the circle closes and you are chatting and killing pigs and taking selfies (I HATE this word) and giving money to all these vendors of devices and plans (the apps remember are FREE) agreeing to required contracts with fees to opt out and “friends who can’t get one so would you help”, who don’t pay the bill and before you are even old enough to suck back a martini – your credit is ruined and you are facing Judge Judy being called a moron.
Since it is de rigueur for any child over five to tote a cell phone and/or tablet (and in some cases required) this runs into money. Serious money. So when you see a gaggle of goslings chatting to each other on devices – tack on $40 a month a piece. The cost of living increase con can rationalize it.
For me, however, the best part is that you got all this tech because you were persuaded by the people who profit into getting it. Without the tech you cannot get the FREE apps. So the very next time you see an ad for anything at all – offering the FREE app – just remember all the steps you took to have it and buy it and pay for it monthly. Those apps are not really FREE.
Next blog. Texting and terrorism.
Posted by voolavex in LBGT, Social Issues.
Tags: Agenda, Bisexual, Florida, Gay, GOP, Lesbian, LGBT, Moron, Out, Republican, Transgender
These are what I would like to ask him and I would like reasonable, logical and substantiated answers: Describe for me the LGBT “Agenda”. How does it work? How do you “turn” kids gay? Exactly how does it happen? Is it the soft massage of their brains that do it? No? Oh you’re not sure exactly how it happens but you know that LGBT is like a “cult” that preys on kids? Why? I would ask you this – when you were a adolescent, to which gender were you attracted? It is that simple. If your first crush and every subsequent romantic or physical feeling you had was for the opposite sex – you consider that “normal” but it isn’t a question of what is “normal”. It is a matter of attraction, emotions, feelings and it is not learned. If you liked the captain of the football team a bit more than just admiration for his sporting prowess or you wanted to date him – that was “normal” too. It is pretty much a given in history that opposites do not always attract. But it’s “not normal” to you – so instead of trying to understand why you fear it so much – what about learning about same sex relationships in history, in your family and in your community (and the world). I would bet some of your biggest “role” models were LGBT. You might not know they were LGBT but that is pro forma in some political parties. The ones outed were really vehemently anti gay but oops – I guess they were framers of that “LGBT Agenda” you are so afraid of. They are now retired or in jail. Some are even registered sex offenders but not for LGBT issues. The RSO are child molesters. Members of other political parties in the US and actually worldwide seems to have made peace with their demons and the world is enjoying the minds and visions of many LBGT politicians who started their careers out by being out. No shame in their game. I look forward to a time when no LGBT human has to “come out” or use a qualifier before their name, title, job position or anything else. So moron in Florida in government – driven by fear and loathing, isn’t it about time in our history we start seeing all humans as humans and stop worrying because IT IS NOT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. And if you were really concerned about “our” children – you would work harder to create a world class educational system before we imprison our future generations with propaganda and lies that suit really nasty agendas that are non-equal, non-inclusive and bigoted.
Posted by voolavex in common sense, Economics, Health, health care, Medical, Social Issues.
Tags: cost, Cure, HCV, James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
The day after my post: The Cure. Your Liver. $84.000. The brilliant financial author James Surowiecki, wrote a piece on the Financial Page (p23) in the New Yorker. entitled “Biotech’s Hard Bargain”. I am most grateful to read a piece on the cost of HCV in such a prestigious and well read publication. He brings a much needed reinforcement to the arguments of others who find the $84,000 price tag distressing. In his piece he points out that Medicare is forbidden to bargain for better prices for drugs and that private insurers are very upset and pharmacy benefit companies are suggesting their customers wait for a cheaper “cure”. Pharma has tremendous pricing power and this is one of the lures for investors. Rather than dropping price, pharmaceuticals actually increase. Wonder leukemia drug, Gleevac, has tripled since 2001. I would strongly suggest you read Mr. Surowiecki’s piece and see for yourself. Some people want to wait until it is cheaper, but others simply can’t wait – and are on donor lists in serious need of a fix of any kind. I am grateful to have my observations reiterated in this post. Thanks James. The New Yorker is online, on newsstands and in the library – I invite you to read the Financial Page and my own post. And I wish all of you good health – at a price you can afford.
Posted by voolavex in Egypt, Health, hippies, Medical, Social Issues, solutions.
Tags: $84, 000, ACA, AIDS, Big Pharma, cancer, Egypt, felons, Gets my goat, Hepatitis C, Hippocratic Oath, HIV, insurance companies, liver transplants, medicare, oral cure, Pharma
I grew up in the age of “wonder” drugs. New discoveries for diseases that needed eradication. Dedicated researchers who had devoted decades to finding cures. Period. In the words of Jonas Salk, when asked about patents for his polio vaccine, he replied, “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun” and with those words the Salk vaccine eliminated – for the most part, polio. Albert Sabin developed the Sabin vaccine with the help of the Russians and it too was given freely – I received both while in grade school. I have never had polio. There was time when kids could not go swimming for fear of polio; couldn’t play with others for fear of polio and people whose lives were lived in a contraption called an “iron lung” that breathed for them. It was not a good thing. The moral compass and integrity of Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin pointed in a different direction and they found a cure that was made available to everyone. Polio is largely gone from the planet and with the efforts of the Gates Foundation may soon be simply extinct.
Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath which includes the words “First do no harm”. I don’t think it includes the words – do not treat those with no money. I could be wrong. I am not certain what Big Pharma swears to do – but one thing it knows how to do is make money. In my very skewed way of thinking if you are in the business of finding treatments and cures for deadly diseases, your motives should include making sure as many of those afflicted get them. My first hint of the slippery, slimy slope Big Pharma had chosen were the TV and print ads for prescription drugs – to the public. I couldn’t figure out whyBig Pharma was appealing directly to consumers for medications that had been the sole domain of the prescribing physician. And the laundry list of side effects – read by a serious voice – was a legal requirement. And scary. In print it required pages. Humans are gullible. We want quick fixes. Better, quicker fixes; an app for a cure. Sneeze? Wheeze, scratch, fidget, get the runs – watch and listen – an ad will tell you which med to “ask your doctor about”. (One appears to come with two free bathtubs but I am not sure). I have a suspicion doctors do not like to asked about these things. But Pharma spends a lot on consumer ads. Does this expand profit or eat into it. Someone should ask.
It used to be that Baby Boomers, who were usually old Hippies, had the PDR or the US Pharmacopeia stored away in their heads somewhere. I did. In the 60’s we knew who made what and the side effects, the contraindications and the uses to which these meds were put. Words like “sulfate, hydrochloride, spansules, tartrate and indole rings” flowed poetically from many of us who chose an alternative lifestyle. And FYI – the “meth” we spoke of was not the meth cooked in kitchen and garages. Ours came straight from drug companies; as my son used to say: “Back when drugs were good for you”. He was not far wrong. Such was our mindset. Bad drugs were cocaine and heroin. For me they still are.
Which takes us to 2014 and BIG Pharma – the profit stream that can mean life or death – your very own.
Recently a small “pharm” created a “cure” for Hepatitis C (for certain genotypes. and not a 100% cure – more like 95%). It made it through clinical trials, appeared and appears to be very beneficial and was approved for use by the FDA. Millions of us have this virus which didn’t even have a name before the 90’s. Millions didn’t know they had it. Millions still don’t. It is global. It is a slow progressor and can be asymptomatic for some and the virus is only interested in the liver. Unlike HIV – it does not wreak the same havoc with the immune system but many with HIV also have HCV and this is a horrid situation. Adding insult to injury. Unlike HIV (in its early days) HCV is possible to acquire by anyone who might be exposed through blood transfer. Unlike certain cancers it can afflict males or females equally. So,unlike many more publicized viral infections it can get lost in the shuffle. But if you have it – you could be facing cirrhosis, liver cancer or chronic fatigue and for many, a liver transplant. It is more complicated than this but that is a nutshell.
Voila!!! Someone finds a really effective oral treatment that can nail and rid many a body of it without the hideous side effects of previous treatments (interferon and ribaviran are two). A ORAL medication that is shown to be extremely effective, short regimen and now what? Oh, now here’s the price tag for this: $84,000 for an 84 day course. ACA, Medicare and insurance companies are not happy campers. I am not a happy camper. I have the right genotype and I have Medicare – but I am short about $84,000. Which brings me back to Big and small Pharma and their duty of care to cure if they can ,incurable diseases that will hugely reduce organ transplants, hospital care, rejection drug costs and generally better this country, both financially and medically . Do they even have a duty of care or do they first shun no profit. A drug company will tell us the costs for developing effective and important new drugs is astronomical – but who ever asks to see a breakdown of those costs? Seriously. The company I have in mind is publicly traded so showing investors a HUGE profit is, I suspect, far more important that cleaning up some sick livers. The Pharm contrasts the $84K spent to the cost of liver transplants but if this drug can reduce dramatically the need for this procedure, it makes more sense to dispense it to more people. And on the subject of liver transplants: donor organs are just that – donated. You cannot go to the doc and say – “okay let’s get me a new liver – when shall I come back” because you may never get one. So a liver transplant v. a high percentage cure is not a bet I would take to my turf accountant. I find it a specious argument.
But it gets better. Oh yes it does. It is perfectly legal for Pharma to sell pricey drugs to foreign countries at very discounted prices. Let’s say Egypt has a large load of cases of – let’s say – HCV – a pharm with a good product that can achieve maximum results can be had at a 90+% discount. Feeling edgy right about now? There’s more. Individual state Departments of Corrections can choose to give their felons and bad folks, let’s say, a certain high result drug for about a $3750 per inmate pop. So let’s say a slammer treats everyone – it could cost up to $315,000,000 to cover them all. Which takes us back to the duty to heal. The duty to cure. The duty to care? And my question is simply this: when does the humanitarian good exceed the addiction to profit. For me, right about now. It gets my goat.
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Posted by voolavex in common sense, freedom, Random thoughts, Social Issues.
Tags: app, guns, Jews, life, mother, time
In a blinding epiphany last night, I realized that I am beginning to appreciate my life Accomplishments are not appreciation. Accomplishments are simply the things you have done and they have a positive aura – but even robbing a bank can be a sort of accomplishment. It is not so much the “aha” moments – but the number of them that snowball down the side of our individual middens as we careen through the years. And we do careen – I can’t walk a straight line in bare feet anymore. Sad. True.
In my case it was like suddenly understanding string theory or hearing the music of the spheres or realizing that all the crap I think is crap IS crap. I no longer ask why we cling to our 2nd Amendment rights, nor shoot each other or serial kill each other – that’s what we watch on the screen. Big, little, on demand, anytime – click and kill. There’s an app for it. But I now appreciate that this is what is happening and I can see it and despair or see it and know I will not change my direction due to it. For example; I do not own a gun. The reason is simple. Fear that I will use it. Most people don’t actually think of this when they shy away from the gun issue. They are afraid it will get into the wrong hands, they hate guns, it won’t make a difference in the long haul. Not me. I am simply afraid I will not be afraid, I will be the wrong hands and I will use it. My feeling is that to own a gun you must be willing to use it. My fear is that I would. So no gun. But it is the appreciation of that knowledge that anchors me and lets me out of the whole argument. Guns may not kill people, but people with guns do. I am grateful I am not a bigot. I like being a Jew. I do not trust Putin. I know I am being watched. I treasure the right to vote and still get a frisson of joy when I do it. I do not miss having grandchildren (from my own kids).
As I really begin to appreciate these small things, other smaller ones follow. I hate to go to movies. Very simple. I do not like to go. And I get so many arguments (not offers) and find myself using hackneyed phrases like “it’s not my cup of tea” – and this works because everyone knows what a cup of tea is. I have no desire to own property. I have by and large always been a cliff dweller (as my mother would say) and I like apartment living. It’s not for everyone, but it is for me. And all this appreciation is not always positive. I realize that I was a very terrible mother – something two other adults know too. And in the fullness of knowing comes the reality there is nothing I can do to go back and do better. Even though I know better. But I do know it and I can say it and I know why it is true. I don’t want to have a dog. I do like the way many dogs look, but they are not an animal that lures me. For some this is character flaw – but it’s just what I know.As I know I like red meat. And these shocks of wisdom – as I personally depreciate and time becomes more scarce also allow me to let stuff go. Like movie theaters, mortgages and dusting. They allow me to read India (my preferred subject matter), mystery novels, genetics, Jewish history, and anything else whose title sounds alluring. Because I appreciate that time does flow like a river and we all sink at some point as we float.
Is there a message in all this – kinda. If you can feel the shocks of appreciation, wait for even more. You will get them and for the fortunate ones who do, they will lighten it up as you drift – the buoyancy will astonish you as it does me and you may even appreciate that our demographic may be the last who can do this and probably because there is no app for it.
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Voolavex 