Grandchildren are Gods compensation for growing older

When one views the first star of the evening through the eyes of a grandchild, nothing can be more joyous. Sunday evening I had the rare opportunity of playing grandma lifeguard, while my grandchildren enjoyed a sunset swim. My youngest granddaughter had become somewhat waterlogged from an afternoon of swimming and wanted out of the pool. She immediately hoped into my lap, as I swaddled her in a warm, over sized beach towel. She snuggled into my lap and I wrapped my arms gently around her shivering frame. Suddenly, her curious little head looked heavenward and she gleefully shouted to her siblings, still swimming in the pool, that she had just seen the first star of the evening and had "dibs" on making the first wish. With a twinkle in my eye, I asked her what she would wish for. Without hesitation she reminded me that if she told her wish, it would not come true. I smiled and told her to make a silent wish. She closed her eyes tightly and wished something very profound, I am sure. Suddenly, the other grandchildren left the pool and sat next to us, wrapped in their towels, seated on cement still warm from the day's sun. For an unmeasurable time, we all sat with our heads heavenward and gazed at the unfolding array of stars appearing in the night sky. We found Saturn, Orion's belt, the big dipper, Betelgeuse and pulsars... and shared an unforgettable moment in time.

Education is power

I find it incredulous that many un-tenured teachers in Los Angeles inner-city schools are in danger of termination, due to budget constraints. The hope for the future of Los Angeles, as well as the whole of America is a well educated youth who are taught skills and knowledge that will prepare them to fill jobs of the future. In order for this to occur, the classroom size must be kept small, and the teachers in blighted or economically disadvantaged areas should receive pay incentives rather than pay cuts. This would insure teachers remain where they are sorely needed. To cut teaching funds, reduce salaries, and increase classroom size would be a travesty; not only to the dedicated teachers, but most especially tragic to our youth.

Cyber interaction offers wonderful socialization for homebound

It has come to my attention, after reading several commentaries on the wonders of the Internet, that one of the greatest advantages and opportunities the Internet offers is socialization and cohesive social networks to the mobility challenged and home bound. It appears that there are endless opportunities for such individuals to have meaningful social lives and freely interact with cyber friends around the globe, as well as those in their national, state and local communities. Indeed, the Internet is the great equalizer. May it ever be so.

Is love in cyberspace real?

Philosophers through all ages have tried to describe love. Now, in the new millennium we have an addition to the plethora of love descriptions. In this splendid new age of cyberspace, we also now have "cyber love". Match.com, e-Harmony, and countless other love connectors are making great profits in a business that perpetuates "cyber love". Web sites make their claim to fame and broadcast their commercials with real couples who have been successfully matched in "loving matrimony". My question is, are these relationships any different than love relationships that are naturally occuring in real life? Comments please.

Is String Theory valid?

String Theory advocates believe that all matter is connected; and, that all matter is constantly in motion,vibrating. Last year I was privileged to hear the nuances of string theory expounded on by the Dean of the Harvard School of Physics. She maintains that there are at least 11 dimensions, probably 24, and quite possibly an infinite number; and, that all multi verses are simply vibrations away from each dimension,and rest on thin membranes that would be analogous in the cosmos of multi verses to dimensional worlds on stacked pieces of paper, connected by thin, invisible threads, "the fibers of the universe".

Also, things that exist in one dimension are unable to perceive things that exist in two dimensions, but the things that exist in two dimensions can see and perceive full well the things that exist in the first dimension; things that live in the third dimensions can see the first two dimensions, but neither the first nor the second can perceive the third, and so on. She feels through the use of certain proton beam techniques, science will soon be able to see "shadows" of the forth dimension and even perform measurements on the "shadows" to confirm details that elude science presently, about dimensional multi verses, and beyond. Wow! What an awesome thought. Einstein said that imagination was more important than knowledge. I agree, for without imagination, we would still be eating raw food in caves. God bless the string theory physicists, they are the poets of science!

Alfred Lloyd Tennyson achieved immortality through poetry

The world was given a balm to help mend grief, in the eighteenth century.In Memoriam, by Alfred Lloyd Tennyson, transcends time. Tennyson freely shared his grief in elaborate poems as he worked through his pain, suffering and sorrow. Through his sharing of heartfelt feelings regarding the loss of his dear friend and future brother-in-law, Halum, the world has been given a guide to morning, prior to the advent of the psychiatrist’s couch and Zoloft. Truly, it is a beautiful poetic rendering of the stages of grief.

Physician Assisted Suicide is A Scam.

First and foremost, palliative care, the correct terminology for best medical practices performed by extensively trained and specialized physicians who treat the terminally ill, is very effective and efficient in controlling intractable pain in the terminally ill; and, in properly treating and helping these fragile patients face death pain-free, with dignity. A palliative physician recently shared with me that she had never personally experienced a patient who could not be managed by using a correct course of pain medication or palliative pain management. The pain medication, and pain management is state of the art in America. No terminally ill patient should ever suffer in this age of palliative expertise.

Yet, physician assisted suicide advocates; usually financially and philosophically backed by every major insurance company in America, insists that terminally ill patients suffer intractable pain tantamount to a tortuous death. Thus, should be given the right and choice to participate in a physician assisted death, with dignity and peace.

These uninformed fear monger advocates, preach a myth. Truly, there is no such thing as physician assisted suicide. In the eyes of the American Medical Association (AMA), such an act could never be carried out by a licensed, AMA physician. An assist in the taking of a life, terminal or healthy, would constitute an abomination to the practice and philosophy of medicine. The AMA issued an ironclad, strong, written statement that unequivocally proclaims that they are forever opposed to assisting terminally ill patients in life-ending suicide measures.

Yet, through cleverly termed and manipulated laws, good citizens are fooled into believing two untruths. First, that they will receive the help of a licensed physician at the time they choose to end their life; and, that the medication induced death will be a peaceful exit.

Regarding the first myth, as stated above, the AMA does not endorse, nor will it ever endorse a member physician to take a life. Regarding the second myth; if the patient is successful in finding a physician to write a prescription for a lethal dose of medication, there will be no professional administering of the medication by a licensed physician. The medication will be administered and supervised at home by an appointed friend or family member.

The sad truth, learned by many unfortunate Oregonians, is that the medication can cause sever nausea, convulsions or combative behavior. If vomited, the death can be prolonged and tragic, or unsuccessful, resulting in extend comatose ICU stays. The medicine has caused numerous side effects and resulted in unnecessary trauma for both the terminally ill patient as well as attendant family and/or friends, with many tragic outcomes. Untold numbers of emergency resuscitations, paramedic interventions, ambulance rides, emergency room lifesaving procedures and expensive and painful ICU stays have resulted for an untold number of terminal Oregonians who suffered complications from the prescribed lethal dose of medication.

The stories of these failures are suppressed in the media. Presently, Oregon has no tracking method or recording method to account and track the numerous failed suicide attempts suffered by the terminally ill. The gruesome stories surface, are told among shocked, traumatized and saddened relatives, but are suppressed only to vanish from the media. Real events, too horrific to imagine have occurred and continue to occur. The insurance companies of America keep the lid on the stories so that the practice can eventually be practiced in every state in the union, because in spite of failures, they feel they still save a huge amount on those terminally ill patients who are successful.

Stop North Korea from Launching More Missiles

North Korea must be stopped. They proved they have the capability to launch a missile. Both US and international intelligence saw the launch site and predicted they were set to launch, yet the US and the World at large did little. As predicted and feared, today, Korea launched that missile. Thankfully, this time, the missile didn’t make landfall. Korea claims to simply have launched a communications satellite. Yea, right! Take notice world; this rouge nation would love to share its technology for dollars, food, etc. with any other rouge nation who will pay. And who knows, their leader is said to boarder on lunacy; he may be unstable enough to use it on the US…as soon as he can. O.K. Mr. President, time to act. The world is watching as are the people who elected you.

Stop the Genocide in Darfur

If Darfur were located in Europe, the genocide would have been halted long ago. Because Darfur lies within the African continent, world powers do little, and the carnage continues. How many innocent lives will continue to be horrifically slaughtered? Wake up world. Send a strong, united global message; back it up with enforcable and mandated sanctions against the tyrants that thirst to spill innocent blood. Stop the mayhem.