Our neighbor, Elaine, whom I wrote of a couple days ago passed away quietly late Sunday night with her husband and children there to guide her sweet soul. She is off to be young again.
I will miss her, though, in this life.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Short Week Review
It's late Saturday night. Nothing of real importance to blog about so I will blog about the couple things on my mind before I hit the sack. More than enough anyway.
Kelly and I and the baby went to visit friends earlier this evening. While there I picked up a copy of Masters of Orion 2, one of the best computer games ever made in my opinion. My copy had become too scratched to load some time ago and I did not feel like doing a digital download for $9.99 until I explored all options. Greg had a copy, now if only I can figure out why I cannot load the version 1.31 patch. Can't wait to tackle those Antarans again, plus it's a great multi-player online game.
Thursday morning, Kelly alerted me to an ambulance and fire engine parked across the street at our neighbors. I later learned that Elaine, the block grandma for virtually every kid in the area had suffered a stroke. She is one of the kindest women I've ever known. Her husband, Don, is quite special too. Kelly and I took the baby there early this afternoon to see how Don was holding up. There is not much hope, but was told no one is giving up. Don told me they have lowered her temperature to just above freezing, however he was not sure what that was intended to do. He did say that he was told that just five years ago this kind of stroke would likely have been considered lethal. Our thoughts are with Elaine, Don and their family.
Oddly enough, later that day about 1:00 pm I began feeling uncomfortable. I checked my heart rate and it felt irregular, and I was beginning to feel pressure in my chest and neck. After about twenty minutes I decided I should call my wife. I got up and nearly fell. Fortunately she was by the phone and left immediately, but not until after getting a promise I would dial 911 if I felt any worse.
She took me to Froedert where it was determined I was suffering from the same ailment as back in Sept. 2006 ... my heartbeat continued to be irregular, but more ominously, it had sped to 170 beats a minute. They considered dosing me with a drug that actually stops the heart momentarily. I was not in favor of this. They injected me with this drug in Sept. 2006 and it was extremely unpleasant. Imagine that all blood circulation has ceased. Beginning at the extremities, a feeling of approaching blackness occurs ... then it's gone. Back to normal. I imagine this is what death might feel like ... blackness overwhelms, a shudder, then you're gone.
Anyway, the idea is to restart the heart, kind of like pressing restart on a computer. Fortunately this time, my heart went back into rhythm after about an hour. I was allowed to go home, but now must contact a cardiologist. A younger brother has this and now has a pacemaker. Don't want that.
So, now it is time to sleep. Sleep well readers one and two.
I hope to get to my ideas on the meaning of racism and why the right doesn't seem to get it later this week.
Kelly and I and the baby went to visit friends earlier this evening. While there I picked up a copy of Masters of Orion 2, one of the best computer games ever made in my opinion. My copy had become too scratched to load some time ago and I did not feel like doing a digital download for $9.99 until I explored all options. Greg had a copy, now if only I can figure out why I cannot load the version 1.31 patch. Can't wait to tackle those Antarans again, plus it's a great multi-player online game.
Thursday morning, Kelly alerted me to an ambulance and fire engine parked across the street at our neighbors. I later learned that Elaine, the block grandma for virtually every kid in the area had suffered a stroke. She is one of the kindest women I've ever known. Her husband, Don, is quite special too. Kelly and I took the baby there early this afternoon to see how Don was holding up. There is not much hope, but was told no one is giving up. Don told me they have lowered her temperature to just above freezing, however he was not sure what that was intended to do. He did say that he was told that just five years ago this kind of stroke would likely have been considered lethal. Our thoughts are with Elaine, Don and their family.
Oddly enough, later that day about 1:00 pm I began feeling uncomfortable. I checked my heart rate and it felt irregular, and I was beginning to feel pressure in my chest and neck. After about twenty minutes I decided I should call my wife. I got up and nearly fell. Fortunately she was by the phone and left immediately, but not until after getting a promise I would dial 911 if I felt any worse.
She took me to Froedert where it was determined I was suffering from the same ailment as back in Sept. 2006 ... my heartbeat continued to be irregular, but more ominously, it had sped to 170 beats a minute. They considered dosing me with a drug that actually stops the heart momentarily. I was not in favor of this. They injected me with this drug in Sept. 2006 and it was extremely unpleasant. Imagine that all blood circulation has ceased. Beginning at the extremities, a feeling of approaching blackness occurs ... then it's gone. Back to normal. I imagine this is what death might feel like ... blackness overwhelms, a shudder, then you're gone.
Anyway, the idea is to restart the heart, kind of like pressing restart on a computer. Fortunately this time, my heart went back into rhythm after about an hour. I was allowed to go home, but now must contact a cardiologist. A younger brother has this and now has a pacemaker. Don't want that.
So, now it is time to sleep. Sleep well readers one and two.
I hope to get to my ideas on the meaning of racism and why the right doesn't seem to get it later this week.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
I saw saw a post at Pundit Nation regarding the failing career of Tom Cruise and his most recent endeavor playing the role of Colonel Claus Phillipp Maria Schenck Graf von Stauffenberg, one of the leaders of the failed July 20, 1944 plot to kill Hitler.While I can appreciate Michael's thoughts that Cruise dressing up in Nazi regalia might have a detrimental effect on his career, I would like to see this movie, if it ever makes it to the silver screen.
It was Stauffenberg who accepted the task to deliver the bomb to Hitler's headquarters deep in East Prussia, leave it and make his escape by plane and assist in Operation Valkyrie, which involved the subsequent take over of the German government and sueing for peace with the Western Allies.
It has been determined that the explosion did not kill Hitler because the meeting Stauffenberg was attending was moved from Hitler's underground bunker to a briefing hut, one that contained windows. If the bomb had detonated underground, it is likely Hitler would have perished because the blast would have been contained. As it was, the blast was directed out the windows. Additionally, the bomb was placed on the opposite side of a large and thick table leg, thereby shielding Hitler further from the blast.
Read more here at Wikipedia. I also recommend William Shirer's “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” and John Toland's biography of Adolf Hitler.
Back Again
Well, that was a weird vacation. Blogger thought that this blog was a spam blog and stopped access to it for about a week while they researched. I could have assured them it was not true, but what the hey. I had other things to do.
But I'm back again. It would have been nice to have received an email that the block had been reoved, though.
But I'm back again. It would have been nice to have received an email that the block had been reoved, though.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Explanation for Two Ambitious Men
I didn't have to wait long. Even Xoff was put off by the juxtapositioning of the pictures of Scott Walker and Adolph Hitler. Unsettling, huh?
Of course I was not really comparing the two. For as much as I dislike Scott Walker's politics, I suspect down deep he is a decent person, loves his family, etc. But the reaction was interesting. Nothing was said. I merely stated that both men were ambitious. What is not true about that statement?
And yet, the contrast of the two pictures elicited in a very short time visceral reactions. Tell me that the Gableman campaign did not know exactly what they were doing when they juxtaposed a picture of Justice Butler next to that of a sex offender who also happened to be the same race as Butler?
Apologies to anyone offended. However, apologies from every single conservative blogger, lawmakers and quasi-journalists who ignored the real fact that race did play a role in that ad should be forthcoming as well.
Ongoing discussion at Whallah where this post and the previous one were cross=posted.
Of course I was not really comparing the two. For as much as I dislike Scott Walker's politics, I suspect down deep he is a decent person, loves his family, etc. But the reaction was interesting. Nothing was said. I merely stated that both men were ambitious. What is not true about that statement?
And yet, the contrast of the two pictures elicited in a very short time visceral reactions. Tell me that the Gableman campaign did not know exactly what they were doing when they juxtaposed a picture of Justice Butler next to that of a sex offender who also happened to be the same race as Butler?
Apologies to anyone offended. However, apologies from every single conservative blogger, lawmakers and quasi-journalists who ignored the real fact that race did play a role in that ad should be forthcoming as well.
Ongoing discussion at Whallah where this post and the previous one were cross=posted.
Supreme Injustice
Comment from Mike Gableman in today's JournalSentinel regarding his victory on the Supreme Court race:
"I recognize this is not a moment of individual victory . . . it's a victory for all the people across this state, all the good people who are dedicated to seeing justice done," Gableman said.
Ah yes. And then there are the rest of us, those not as good who constantly yearn for injustice. What an ass.
"I recognize this is not a moment of individual victory . . . it's a victory for all the people across this state, all the good people who are dedicated to seeing justice done," Gableman said.
Ah yes. And then there are the rest of us, those not as good who constantly yearn for injustice. What an ass.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Address Flipflopping
For those who are interested ... you will need to change link information. The BRASS League blog, which formerly used the address of my old blog (The Other Side of My Mouth), has a new address. It is http://brassleague.blogspot.com.
The Other Side of My Mouth address has been reinstated for this blog.
The Other Side of My Mouth address has been reinstated for this blog.
I'm Back
Yes indeed, I am back. This site is under construction and it might take a while. Still, I'm glad to have re-entered the bloggysphere. More later.
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