Obama and "Cramnesty"

Today we find out that Obama will act alone, likely outside of the Constitution, and foist an amnesty deal on the US.  It is a deal that all but a scant minority want, and it is a deal that basically dares Obama's political foes to do something about it.  Will it boil over into a full blown constitutional crisis, lead to calls for impeachment, or just act as a distraction until the Furgason announcement?  Nobody knows for sure.

What we do know is that it has coined a new phrase - "cramnesty" - and that you heard it here first.

I also take dibs on "shamnesty."

In the meantime, God help us all.

American Jews Butchered, Obama Calls for Calm

Yesterday in Jerusalem, Palestinian terrorists burst into a synagogue and brutally murdered four rabbis, three of whom were American.  Their murder was of the most graphic in nature, as knives and meat cleavers were among the weapons used.  The photos from the scene looked like a slaughterhouse.  

And what does our fearless leader do?  He asks for calm - that both sides "work together to lower tensions and prevent violence."

What?

American citizens were butchered like animals, not unlike our other citizens that have been beheaded by ISIS, and the call is for both sides to be calm?

It is clear now more than ever: nobody cares when Jews die.  In fact, in Palestine, they dance in the streets and celebrate.  

Nobody cares.  Especially our president.  

Age as a Mind Set

I know I've been writing a lot about age lately, and I'm not sure what that says about my current state.  In that vein, I'd like to cover a fascinating study that was recently profiled by the New York Times which showed the importance that our mental framework plays in our "age."

In the study, older men we put in an isolated environment that reminded them of their youth, and were encouraged to think of themselves as being 20 years younger.  The results reported were downright astonishing.

There were other studies profiled as well, and the bottom line was clear - aging is as much mental as it is physical.  

There is a great lesson in there for all of us. 

Saturday Song Share: Moby - Natural Blues

One of Moby's best:

Obamacare Architect Thinks You're All Stupid

Odds are that you've seen this video elsewhere, as it has been everywhere these past couple of days.  I don't care.  Watch it again.  And again:



To liberals, the ends will always justify the means.  So if innocents need to be killed so a gun running operation can lead to stricter gun laws, if political opponents need to be silenced by intimidation by the IRS, if the world needs to swallow a lie about a YouTube video to cover up incompetence in Libya, and on and on, then so be it.

Whatever it takes to push the agenda.  Because they just know better than you do...

Gaining Weight During Cancer

Throughout my wife's cancer episode, there has been a lot of discussion about her weight.  Via the treatments and surgery, she was told she'd gain some, then she'd lose some (and the impact of losing an entire breast needs to factor in as well).

Nobody said anything about what would happen to me.

Me?  I'm up about 12 pounds from our diagnosis of two months ago.  So what happened?  A lot, gentle reader:

• Too much schedule interruption due to doctors' appointments, surgeries, work obligations,and other running around
• Way too little sleep due to stress
• Way too much food, especially all of the incredible food that so many have delivered to us.  All of it was so delicious, and everyone was so kind.  Nothing was better at the end of a long day to know that we'd have a great meal ready for us.  
• Way too much alcohol, trying to address the stress and lack of sleep mentioned above

It is simple math: cutting back on working out + more calories via food and booze = pants not fitting that well anymore.  

Am I whining?  Perhaps a little.  But please know that I recognize that in the grand scheme of things, my woes are basically irrelevant compared on what my wife, and so many others, had and have to endure.  I know that for sure.  It still doesn't mean I have to be happy about what I see in the mirror.

Via our meeting with the oncologist two days ago, all of the cancer is gone.  Now we need to work on my gut.

No Smoking With CVS. Drinking? OK!

CVS is trying to take a lot of credit for their new health orientation by removing tobacco from their store shelves.  And good on them - as a health provider, it is the right thing for them to do.  

So imagine my surprise in seeing a recent ad for them in our local paper:

Check out the offer in the lower left.  Not only is it for tequila, but at a wow! price as well.

This so much reminded me of the routine that Kent Hrbek used to perform at every Twins home game.  Back then, PA announcer Bob Casey used to go through a pre-game admonishment that there was "no smoking in the Metrodome," (click on the link to hear a sample).

As Casey read through the script, Hrbek would stand at first base and pantomime the following:

Casey:  "No smoking in the Metrodome!  No smoking!"

Hrbek: Puffs an imaginary cigarette, then shakes his head and waives his hand "no."  Then hoists a massive imaginary beer to his lips and chugs deeply, while giving the thumbs up signal.  

If CVS needs some help in taking credit for their new health stance while still selling massive amounts of alcohol, I think #14 has some time on his hands and would be happy to help them out.

Stress and Age

In the past two months, the news of and dealing with Mrs. YDP's breast cancer has been pretty much all-consuming.  As happens when these events hit, the sole objective is getting through the crisis; all other responsibilities, distractions, and pursuits either take a big back seat, or are forgotten entirely.  Even work, with its massive stress in and of itself, is moved back to allow management of the crisis at hand.

That stress, well it comes with a toll.  For me, that toll is physical.  I'm shocked at how my looks have changed in just two months.  My eyes are beset with bags, regardless of how much sleep I get.  Wrinkles are more prevalent and more pronounced.  What little hair that is left is turning grey at a record pace.

Three months ago I wrote about the uneven aging I'm seeing with my age cohorts.  

I just caught up.