The C - BOMB!

On Wednesday September 14, 2005 a C-bomb was tossed at me and the repercussions could be potentially devastating.

September 14th started off like any other day which was pretty uneventful. I sat in front of my computer late that afternoon typing away, well, actually I had just finish some online gaming with one of my favorite games called Star Craft (Brood War Expansion). Anyhow, I was sitting there looking at the monitor and then SUDDENLY the screen on the monitor became contorted and then went black as if there has been an interruption in power. The computer desk, my chair, the room began to move and shake. OH MY GOD! WE ARE HAVING AN EARTHQUAKE! As I began to realized something significant has just happened and happened over the course of 5 to 10 seconds, I immediately thought we were having an earthquake (I live in California). My adrenaline kicked in and no sooner did it kick in that I began to understand this significant event was not an earthquake, but was something that just happened, to me. As I began to recycle the events prior to and immediately after this event my worst suspicions came to light. It did in fact, happen to me. My heart rate was up and my head felt as if was battling Vertigo. One problem, the increased heart rate and feeling of Vertigo (the room moving and spinning), were not subsiding. I knew something was wrong.

I picked up the phone and called the advice nurse at the local hospital to see if there might be some immediate remedy. I was instructed to get to the emergency room immediately. Upon arrival at the emergency room and being examined by the doctor one thing that came out was the fact that over the past 2 to 3 years I began to develop headaches and an increase of occurrences over the last year and half. The past 2 weeks I would experience a headache nearly every day. Prior to 2 or 3 years ago, I did not get headaches. I attributed them to stress. BOY WAS I WRONG! Not to mention, I hate going to the hospital. Any how a CT of my head was ordered. For those that don't know, that is what we laymen call a CAT SCAN of the brain. AND this is what they found...VERBATIM.

EMERGENCY HEAD CT SCAN WITHOUT CONTRAST 09/14/2005

CLINICAL INDICATION

Headaches.

TECHNIQUE

Routine CT scan of the head was performed using standard protocol without intravenous contrast.

FINDINGS

The bony calvarium is intact. There is a large calcification along the course of the parasagittal sinus, anteriorly projecting toward the right. Although this may represent calcified meningioma, there is no definite mass effect or other abnormality is seen. The remainder of the brain is normal. The ventricular size is normal for the patient's age and there is no evidence of hemorrhage, mass or other abnormality.

IMPRESSION

No evidence of acute intracranial process. A large calcification along the falx could remotely represent meningioma and MI is suggested for further evaluation.

----------------------------

Reported By: ROZYCKI, MAREK MD

For those reading this post the significant term in the above findings is "calcified meningioma", with particular attention to meningioma.

The long and short of it is this, meningioma is a tumor. AND for all of my searches on the web it is a cancerous tumor. If you haven't figured it out, the C-BOMB I refer to in this post is cancer. Yes, I said a cancerous tumor and one on the brain no doubt.

According to the findings the possibility that I have a cancerous tumor in my brain is there and IS real. But also, as I read this piece of paper over and over again, trying to find some shred of hope, I found this to cling to for the moment. The findings are not definitive and thus far there is no evidence of a definitive mass effect, no evidence of acute intracranial process (I presume spreading). For all of my fears and hopes, I see the doctor again Wednesday September 21, 2005. I am to be scheduled for an MRI and referred to a Neurologist.

Through all of this so far, my wife is a trooper, she is being strong, even after losing her mother 13 years ago to breast cancer. Her mother died at the age of 41, the same exact day my youngest son was born. It will be 13 years next month on October 8th.

I am currently 39 and will be the big 40 in December. I am trying to be strong for my wife and 2 children the oldest is 19 and the youngest will be 13 next month, October 8th. I am trying to be strong.

Man, what an emotional roller coaster ride I have been on over the last couple of weeks with Hurricane Katrina, and now this C-BOMB! Hopefully, I can jump out of the way before this C-Bomb explodes. I find out next week if it hit its target, wish me luck.

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The Blame Game

Dear President George W. Bush,
During the recent tragedy that befell our fellow brothers and sisters of all races, creeds, colors and religions, on our Gulf Coast, I felt compelled to compose a letter to you and your administration. To compose a letter on behalf of all people that may not have a voice or one that is so soft as to be drowned out by all the "buck passing" and "Blame Gaming" as you so eloquently put it. I also see that the "scape-goating" has begun with Mike Brown's resignation today.
Mr. President, I write to you in search of answers to many questions that have been put to you numerous times by reporters since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
I know that to ask you these questions directly would solicit the same twisted response conjured up by your "spin-meisters", responses like (if I may be so bold as to paraphrase),"I am not going to get into the blame game right now", "there will be plenty of time to do that", "to take a step back and take a sober look at where the responsibility lies in tragic events such as this."

Mr. President, you also go on to say that "our efforts need to be focused on the continued relief and rebuilding of a region devastated by Hurricane Katrina, instead of focusing on the blame game." Well, what is waiting going to do other than obscure what is abundantly clear in most Americans' eyes at present? It is clear that the leaders of our great country SCREWED UP! The country IS focused Mr. President on the relief efforts to the Hurricane Katrina Survivors. But Mr. President, we too can also do more than one thing at a time. We are extremely capable of continuing strong relief and support efforts for the survivors AND simultaneously conducting an independent investigation on what went wrong. For you to think otherwise is not giving much credit to our (the American people) abilities and is down right insulting.

I have been listening very closely to your press conferences and what you have to say Mr. President, and I have to say that I STRONGLY disagree. There is no time like the present to conduct an independent investigation, afterall, it would be ludicrous for the Federal Government to investigate itself. AND, didn't you say, when questioned about having too many resources allocated to the Iraq War, that "the American Government can do more than one thing at a time?" Well, Mr. President with your (you being the American Government) self proclaimed "multi-tasking" skills, what better way to prove to the American people that you have their best interests at heart? Their interests above your own. What better way to prove to us that you CAN in fact, actually do more than one thing at a time?

Now I know that this may seem a bit unfair of us, the American people to be so critical of you and your administration, but can you blame us? I know you would like too, rather than except responsibility for the tragic events that unfolded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Oh, there's that word again..."blame". But, can you really blame us? Afterall, when we hear racist comments like (paraphrasing again) "those people were underprivileged to begin with where they're from", "so this (being relocated to a make-shift Texas shelter) is working quite well for them." This comment coming from none other than the former First Lady, Barbara Bush...YOUR MOTHER! When the American public hear comments such as this, tell me, WHAT IN THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO THINK?

No Mr. President, I think you would be well advised to put your multi-tasking skills into high gear and start giving the American people, especially the Hurricane Katrina SURVIVORS, some answers! Answers to questions like:

WHO

...is responsible for the complete break down of infrastructure when it came to evacuation before the storm hit?

...is responsible for the lack of relief aid in a timely fashion after the storm hit?

WHAT

...do you plan to do to those responsible for this human tragedy?

...do you plan to do to assure the American People that a plan is being put into effect so that a failure of this magnitude never happens again? You know "he who fails to plan, plans to fail."

WHERE

...are the hurricane survivors going to be permanently housed while their city is rebuilt?

...are the survivors going to get steady income to support them while they are displaced?

...was the National Guard before, during and after the storm?

WHEN

...are we going to "step back" as you put it, and begin to assign accountability (the "blame game") to those agencies' responsible for their egregious errors?

WHY

...should we believe you?

Sincerely,

The American People without a voice loud enough to overcome your attempts at rhetorical grandiloquence

The victims of HURRICANE KATRINA still need your help. Please visit: HERE and purchase a VitaMeal pack for donation. The packs cost just $29.95 and each contain 30 nutritional meals.

Many thanks to all whom have donated thus far. For those whom have yet to contribute, every little bit helps. Please donate today.

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Job opening available, competency REQUIRED!

I am extremely angry today. In fact this is the most angry I have been in recent memory. What am I so angry about you may ask? Well, I am angry about the HUMAN atrocities taking place in our southern states. The atrocities happening to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and most notably to those in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Let me first start by bringing sharp criticism to the Pillagers, which I think is a fitting term since it encompasses violence, rape, murder and of course looting. Straight to the point, I believe that anyone engaged in this type of illegal activity should be shot on site! With ONE exception. Those looting for mere survival are that exception. You don't need TV's and other electronics, but you do need food and clothing. Pillagers have reduced what is supposed to be a civilized society setting the example of democracy and freedom to the world. They have reduced it to its lowest, uncivilized and barbaric form.

Now, having said that, let me get to what is essentially the root cause of my anger, not withstanding the pillaging taking place. The root cause of my anger has nothing to do with whether you are a Democrat or Republican, it has to do with the lack of response by our federal government. The inability to have a plan for just such a disaster and what should transpire IMMEDIATELY following such a disaster without ALL OF THE PARTISAN "RED-TAPED" BULL---T!

Let me give you an example of what I am talking about. For days prior to Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans, they have been announcing that all residence should evacuate. Well that is all well and good, with one problem. The people being told to evacuate were primarily black and extremely poor. They had nowhere to go and no way to get there. So, what would have been part of a properly prepared disaster contingency plan would have been to BUS CARAVAN the residence out under the guidance of the National Guard. After all, is not that what the National Guard is for, to keep order and security before, during and after a disaster?

Another example is that FEMA which is supposed to head up this sort of disaster relief has been reduced to a shell of what it once was. It has now been enveloped by the Homeland Security Department. Give me a "FRIGGIN" BREAK! Also, FEMA continues to ignore consistent efforts by different organizations who are trying to implement effective and efficient relief efforts.

Consider a report by a local TV station KTAL-TV when they interviewed U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-Louisianna:

Landrieu Implores President to “Relieve Unmitigated Suffering;” End FEMA’s “Abject Failures”

KTAL-TV

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., issued the following statement this afternoon regarding her call yesterday for President Bush to appoint a cabinet-level official to oversee Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts within 24 hours.

Sen. Landrieu said:

“Yesterday, I was hoping President Bush would come away from his tour of the regional devastation triggered by Hurricane Katrina with a new understanding for the magnitude of the suffering and for the abject failures of the current Federal Emergency Management Agency. 24 hours later, the President has yet to answer my call for a cabinet-level official to lead our efforts. Meanwhile, FEMA, now a shell of what it once was, continues to be overwhelmed by the task at hand.

“I understand that the U.S. Forest Service had water-tanker aircraft available to help douse the fires raging on our riverfront, but FEMA has yet to accept the aid. When Amtrak offered trains to evacuate significant numbers of victims – far more efficiently than buses – FEMA again dragged its feet. Offers of medicine, communications equipment and other desperately needed items continue to flow in, only to be ignored by the agency.

“But perhaps the greatest disappointment stands at the breached 17th Street levee. Touring this critical site yesterday with the President, I saw what I believed to be a real and significant effort to get a handle on a major cause of this catastrophe. Flying over this critical spot again this morning, less than 24 hours later, it became apparent that yesterday we witnessed a hastily prepared stage set for a Presidential photo opportunity; and the desperately needed resources we saw were this morning reduced to a single, lonely piece of equipment. The good and decent people of southeast Louisiana and the Gulf Coast – black and white, rich and poor, young and old – deserve far better from their national government.

“Mr. President, I’m imploring you once again to get a cabinet-level official stood up as soon as possible to get this entire operation moving forward regionwide with all the resources – military and otherwise – necessary to relieve the unmitigated suffering and economic damage that is unfolding.”

Today’s aerial tour of the 17th Street levee will be featured tomorrow on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Later, Sen. Landrieu will also appear on CBS’s 60 Minutes.

Yes friends I am angry and it has nothing to do with wether your Democrat or Republican, nothing to do with politics. I am angry because of the steps we seem to be continuously taking BACKWARDS in a supposedly civilized society. I expect a great deal more from the leaders of this country starting from the local level and all the way up to the Presidency. The higher the office I believe the more accountability to that office. This passing the buck doesn't fly with me. "THE BUCK STOPS HERE!" If you are angry too, let me hear about it, give a shout out. AND no matter what political party you follow, let THEM know you are unhappy with the way this country is being run, and to SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT! Let your representatives know ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

The victims of HURRICANE KATRINA still need your help. Please visit: HERE and purchase a VitaMeal pack for donation. The packs cost just $29.95 and each contain 30 servings of nutritional meals.

Many thanks to all whom have donated thus far. For those whom have yet to contribute, every little bit helps. Please donate today.

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Hurricane Katrina Relief

In light of Hurricane Katrina, this post is going to be a bit off topic. Well, if you break it down, it IS on topic, but in an indirect sort of way.

As many of you may know, my company has a division called Nourish The Children, which is directly responsible for feeding countless starving and malnourished children from around the world with our VitaMeal package. But, what you may not know, is that our efforts are not just limited to starving children from 3rd world countries. In fact, we provide nourishment in the form of our VitaMeal package to all people regardless of age, in need of emergency relief efforts due to natural disasters or catastrophic events as well. The Tsunami that hit Southern Asia being the most recent example.

High Speed Connection video of Tsunami relief efforts

Low Speed Connection video of Tsunami relief efforts

Our nation's relief efforts are now being sought here at home from our southern states due to Hurricane Katrina's devastation. The devastation is real. The people in need are real.

So, here is my request.

All people or parties interested in helping or that wish to contribute to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, please visit my Nourish The Children website and purchase a VitaMeal package for donation. The package costs just $29.95 and provides 30 meals with over 20 vitamin and mineral nutrients per pack.

The Nourish The Children initiative will continue to provide relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina here at home and the victims of malnutrition worldwide, until there is no longer a need.

To learn more about Nourish The Children and how your donations of VitaMeal are distributed, I encourage you to watch the video from one of the links below:

High Speed Connection Video

Low Speed Connection Video

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