That's my opinion, and it's very true.
No. 32, May-December 2005 ••••••• ©Don Harthcock, Editor
That's my opinion, and it's very true.
No. 32, May-December 2005 ••••••• ©Don Harthcock, Editor
OpinionSoup may contain language and topics unsuitable for children.
 "I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church." ~Thomas
Paine, Freethinker |
IN THIS
ISSUE: Saddam's
Revenge -
by Joe Klein Stoning
the President
- Mick Speaks Out More
Pinko Commie Fag
Links -
Donny, Tracy, Hope Funny
Stuff -
from Broomrider and others Tips
From Dr. Weil
- the Hippy From Harvard Buddy
Can You Spare A
Dime? -
St. Labre Indian School See
Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal
Me - or
I'll sue. This is a real problem for
everybody. Coyote,
Loki, Hermes,
Mercury -
Tricksters, they say |
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any information contained in it.
Saddam's RevengeThe secret history of U.S. mistakes, misjudgments and intelligence failures that let the Iraqi dictator and his allies launch an insurgency now ripping Iraq apart
By JOE KLEIN
Q&A With Joe Klein: Where Did the U.S. Go Wrong in Iraq?
The 45-minute meeting was pieced together months later by U.S. military intelligence. It represents a rare moment of clarity in the dust storm of violence that swirls through central Iraq. The insurgency has grown well beyond its initial Baathist core to include religious extremist and Iraqi nationalist organizations, and plain old civilians who are angry at the American occupation. But Saddam's message of "rebuilding your networks" remains the central organizing principle.
More than two years into the war, U.S. intelligence sources concede that they still don't know enough about the nearly impenetrable web of what Iraqis call ahl al-thiqa (trust networks), which are at the heart of the insurgency. It's an inchoate movement without a single inspirational leader like Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh--a movement whose primary goal is perhaps even more improbable than the U.S. dream of creating an Iraqi democracy: restoring Sunni control in a country where Sunnis represent just 20% of the population. Intelligence experts can't credibly estimate the rebels' numbers but say most are Iraqis. Foreigners account for perhaps 2% of the suspected guerrillas who have been captured or killed, although they represent the vast majority of suicide bombers. ("They are ordnance," a U.S. intelligence official says.) The level of violence has been growing steadily. There have been roughly 80 attacks a day in recent weeks. Suicide bombs killed more than 200 people, mostly in Baghdad, during four days of carnage last week, among the deadliest since Saddam's fall.
More than a dozen current and former intelligence officers knowledgeable about Iraq spoke with TIME in recent weeks to share details about the conflict. They voiced their growing frustration with a war that they feel was not properly anticipated by the Bush Administration, a war fought with insufficient resources, a war that almost all of them now believe is not winnable militarily. "We're good at fighting armies, but we don't know how to do this," says a recently retired four-star general with Middle East experience. "We don't have enough intelligence analysts working on this problem. The Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] puts most of its emphasis and its assets on Iran, North Korea and China. The Iraqi insurgency is simply not top priority, and that's a damn shame."
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"Sweet Neo Con" nails the Bush administration
Jagger has told friends that the song is not about Bush specifically but is a stab at the neo-con worldview and policies.
Jagger says he wrote the song quickly, and the subject matter surprised the band. "I have my opinions, which I've stated in the tune," Jagger told USA Today. "Maureen Dowd is no more qualified to have opinions than I am."
"Sweet Neo Con," which is not one of the new album's first three singles, has caused trickles of controversy -- Fox News' Brian Kilmeade argued that the song makes the band unfit to partner with the NFL, which will air Stones concert footage all season on Monday Night Football. Even Keith Richards had misgivings about the song at first. "I didn't want this to be a diversionary storm," he told USA Today. "I thought potentially it would detract attention from the rest of the album and be seen as cheap publicity. We don't need that. But I told Mick, 'If you really feel like you want to say that, I'll back you all the way.'"
~ reprinted without permission from Rolling Stone magazine online (they sent it to me; I'm sending it to you)
SWEET NEO CON (M. Jagger/K. Richards)
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say you are a patriot
I think that you're a crock of shitAnd listen, I love gasoline
I drink it every day
But it's getting very pricey
And who is going to payHow come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con.... YeahIt's liberty for all
'Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trialBut one thing that is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown & Root.... YeahHow come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
If you turn out right
I'll eat my hat tonightYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah....
It's getting very scary
Yes, I'm frightened out of my wits
There's bombers in my bedroom
Yeah and it's giving me the shits
To protect us from our foes
Who needs these foolish friendships
We're going it aloneHow come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
Where's the money gone
In the PentagonYeah ha ha ha
Yeah, well, wellYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...Neo con
Sweet Neo ConYou ride around your white castle,
On your little white horse
You lie to your people,
and blame it on your war of courseYou call yourself a Christian,
I call you a hypocrite
You call yourself a patriot,
well I think you're full of shitOh, sweet Neo Con,
What path have you led them on?
Oh, sweet Neo Con,
Is it time for the atom bomb?
Expecting to be believed
But as the body bags stack up,
We believe we've been deceivedThe horror you've unleashed,
Will backfire with more grief
When will you ever learn,
Sweet Neo Con,
as the world burns?Oh, sweet Neo Con,
What path have you led them on?
Oh, sweet Neo Con,
Is it time for the atom bomb?Oh, sweet Neo Con,
What path have you led them on?
Oh, sweet Neo Con,
Is it time to drop the bomb?How come you're so wrong?
My sweet neo-con,
where's the money gone,
in the Pentagon.It's liberty for all,
democracy's our style,
unless you are against us,
then it's prison without trial.The Rolling Stones contributed $1M from the U.S. Tour to Katrina Relief efforts. Dr Donny says "Hail Mick Jagger, who has picked up the sceptre of John Lennon. It's way past time for all musicians to speak up in righteous anger against the Bush Administration et al who are promoting the downfall of our nation. Bob Dylan once accused the Beatles, particularly Paul McCartney, of wasting time and their lives writing silly love songs. I accuse the current generation of rockers of the same crime. There is nothing more important than de-stupidizing America, and this is the job of Folk Music, including Rock & Roll."
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from Donny, Tracy and Hope
Gay Weddings Become Law in UK (civil partnerships, actually)
This Isn't the Real America by Jimmy Carter
"The Paul Revere and Thomas Paine Of Our Time" ~Bill Moyer
TomPaine.common sense
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from emails, etc. - thanks to Broomrider and others who would be appalled if I used their real names
New Drugs For Women
D A M N I T O L
Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.
ST. M O M M A'S W O R T
Plant extract that treats Mom's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days
E M P T Y N E S T R O G E N
Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out
P E P T O B I M B O
Liquid silicone drink for single women - Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception.
D U M B E R O L
When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.
F L I P I T O R
Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.
M E N I C I L L I N
Potent anti-boy-otic for older women - Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, "You make me want to be a better person ..Can we get naked now?.
B U Y A G R A
Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping - Increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree.
J A C K A S S P I R I N
Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat.
A N T I-T A L K S I D E N T
A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators
N A G A M E T
When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him.
The Gold Toilet
>George Bush, before the 2001 inauguration, was invited to a Get-Acquainted tour of the White House. After drinking several glasses of iced tea, Bush asked Bill Clinton if he could use his personal bathroom.
>When he entered Clinton's private toilet, Bush was astonished to see that President Clinton had a solid gold urinal.
>That afternoon, George told his wife, Laura, about the urinal. "Just think," he said, "when I am President, I could have a gold urinal too, but I wouldn't do something that self-ineligible!"
>Later, when Laura had lunch with Hillary at her tour of the White House, she told Hillary how impressed George had been at his discovery of the fact that, in the President's private bathroom, the President had a gold urinal.
>That evening, when Bill and Hillary were getting ready for bed, Hillary smiled and said to Bill, "I found out who pissed in your saxophone."
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NOTE: Click on linked words to go to previous OpinionSoup articles on the same subject.
TIPS FROM DR. ANDREW WEIL: Hippy from Harvard
- the only MD I know with an Extensive Education in Botany
Turmeric and Alzheimer's Disease
Chronic low-grade inflammation has been linked to the development of many age-related health conditions, including Alzheimer's. Although this process may be barely noticeable, there are things you can do to prevent or delay health issues related to inflammation. In the case of Alzheimer's, making good choices in diet, exercise and lifestyle can all reduce risk. Taking natural anti-inflammatories is a good move, especially turmeric and ginger.
Turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, and is a component of the recommended anti-inflammatory diet, a focus of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging. The principal ingredient in mild yellow prepared mustard and in some exotic curries, turmeric may have a specific preventive effect against Alzheimer's disease (it has been shown to prevent amyloid plaque formation in animals) and may reduce the risk of many types of cancer as well. You can find turmeric products in health food stores, but many are preparations of curcumin, which is only one of the active components. Instead, take a whole extract of turmeric, and look for those prepared by the process of "supercritical extraction" - which uses liquefied carbon dioxide to extract the natural components of turmeric, rather than chemicals such as hexane, which can leave a residue.
Reducing Stress Naturally
Stress is often a matter of how we frame a situation, rather than the situation itself, and how we react to potential stressors is greatly influenced by our internal reaction to external situations. Although the components that make up stress can be complex, simple steps can help reduce stress.
Try avoiding the following common stressors and see how you feel after a week or two:
* Caffeine and other stimulant drugs. Often these make us more jumpy, anxious and fearful, and interfere with relaxation, rest and sleep.
* Sound. With a penetrating influence on the nervous system, it is no surprise that some kinds of sound increase our level of arousal and make us tense and anxious.
* News. News reports can profoundly affect your mental state, increasing anxiety and possibilities for worry.
* Agitated minds. Being around others who are agitated can easily affect your level of agitation. Whenever possible, stick to interacting with those who are centered and calm.
Taking Tonics
Tonic herbs are plant-based remedies that tone the body and immune system, to help strengthen the body's natural defenses in a way that most conventional medicines do not. Most are non-toxic, and can be taken long-term to restore energy, increase resistance to disease, and boost immunity. Try the following, which are some of my favorites:
* Ashwaganda. Good for increasing physical endurance and overall energy, its slightly sedative properties may be helpful for those with anxiety, sleep problems, or irritability.
* Eleuthro. Its general restorative effects may help those who feel exhausted, have a heavy work schedule, or need more energy.
* Ginseng. The adaptogenic effects of this tonic may benefit those with a chronic illness, low vitality, or those who are older.
* Reishi. The immune-enhancing properties of this mushroom may help those with cancer, HIV or AIDS, compromised immunity, or chronic infection.
* Rhodiola. This energy booster can help those experiencing acute stress, as well as those with mild depression.
Acupuncture 101
Acupuncture is a wonderful way to correct imbalances and help restore health. Traditionally performed by placing very fine needles into specific points of energy flow called meridians, acupuncture unblocks the movement of energy (Qi or Chi) throughout the body. If healing in this manner seems, well, unlikely, consider that the practice of acupuncture has been around for at least 2,500 years and has proven to be an effective method of promoting healing and addressing illness. If you've never experienced acupuncture, the following can help you to know what to expect during a visit to an acupuncturist:
* The practitioner will ask you questions to get to know more about you and your health concern.
* He or she may take pulses from around your body to determine the imbalances in energy flow.
* The experience of being "needled" varies tremendously, but it's nothing to be afraid of. Some people don't feel the needles at all, while others have a sensation like a very small electric charge upon insertion.
* Adverse side effects are rare and usually resolve quickly.
Using Food as Medicine
Did you know that using, or avoiding, certain foods can help ward off illness and disease, lessen symptoms of some common health conditions, and even improve your memory? Check out the following:
* Fiber (found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains) works wonders throughout the body, from alleviating constipation to reducing headaches.
* Omega-3 fatty acids (found in walnuts, flaxseed and cold water, oily fish such as wild Alaskan salmon and sardines) can lessen symptoms of arthritis and may improve memory function.
* Garlic, as well as shiitake and oyster mushrooms, can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
* Ginger and turmeric often help decrease the severity of symptoms associated with joint inflammation.
* Dairy products can aggravate allergy and sinus problems. Eliminate them from your diet, and see if your symptoms improve.
* Caffeine may increase the incidence of body odor - try cutting back on sodas, coffee and other sources of caffeine, then see (and smell) what happens.
Natural Diuretics
Fluid retention (due to hormones, sodium intake or sometimes heat and humidity) can be uncomfortable. To help minimize fluid retention, avoid high-sodium foods, make a point to get regular exercise, and drink plenty of water. If you are considering diuretics, use only the natural forms - over-the-counter or prescribed diuretic drugs are likely to be harder on the system than fluid retention, and should be avoided (unless prescribed by your physician). Some natural diuretics include:
* Regular black tea - switch out your coffee for this brew and see how it affects you.
* Celery, onion, eggplant, asparagus, and watermelon are said to have a diuretic effect.
* Corn silk tea is mild and nontoxic. You can get corn silk tea in health-food stores or make it yourself if you have access to fresh corn by steeping the silks in boiling water for ten minutes. Drink one cup, two to four times a day.
* Freeze-dried dandelion leaf is also nontoxic and safe. The dose for freeze-dried dandelion is one or two capsules two, to four times a day.
If you have a medical condition for which diuretics are prescribed, you would be much better off following your physician's recommendation than trying to treat yourself with alternative remedies. Prolonged use of any diuretic without medical supervision can lead to dehydration, which can cause kidney damage, and an imbalance in normal levels of electrolytes (e.g., sodium and potassium) which are vital to heart, kidney and liver function.
~Dr. Weil
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From: StLabreIndianSchool@stlabre.org
Subject: Message from Curtis Yarlott
To: donny@opinionsoup.com
I-iwachee-nalaxapdeetkaatak. Away in a manger no crib for his bed.
Dear Don,
Growing up, I remember hearing many familiar Christmas carols sung in my family's native Crow language. "Away in a Manger" is a personal favorite and reminds me of you, Don.
Without your loving prayers and support, there could be no place for the many precious little ones here at St. Labre. Over 90% of the children here come from households with incomes so low they qualify for free or reduced meals! Add this to the social ills and problems that plague many Native Americans today and you can see the need for a safe, stable environment like St. Labre is critical.
Thank you for making such a difference!
I realize it's not always easy to support the many organizations who ask for your help. This is why I am so very thankful and blessed to count you among St. Labre's most loving and compassionate friends.
If only we had many more friends like you, Don -- because the need is so great. Consider asking others to join you in supporting the hundreds of deserving boys and girls here at St. Labre. It's as easy as going to this link to donate. Thank you, again.
Gratefully yours,
Isalúutshíile - "Yellow Arrows"
Executive Director, St. Labre Indian School
"Spiritual matters are difficult to explain, because you must live with them in order to fully understand them." ~ Thomas Yellowtail, CROWBACK TO TOP
Internet Malpractice Database Shuts Down
These are not "drugs"! This is medicine that my doctor gives me!
HOUSTON (AP) - An Internet database that had purported to list patients who sued doctors for malpractice has shut down.
Sponsors of www.DoctorsKnow.Us posted a farewell message this week, saying "controversy this site has ignited was unanticipated" but that they hoped it had sparked discussion that would result in changes to malpractice litigation.
The database was billed as the first to profile plaintiffs, their lawyers and expert witnesses in malpractice lawsuits in Texas and other states.
A statewide consumer research and advocacy organization contended the site was at odds with the ethical and moral goals and obligations of medical professionals.
"It was an immoral Web site that was arbitrarily blacklisting innocent patients, many in Texas," said Dan Lambe, director of Texas Watch, a statewide consumer research and advocacy organization.
Before it was pulled down, the Web site's slogan was, "They can sue but they can't hide." Members could perform up to 250 name searches for $4.95 per month.
Dr. John Shannon Jones, a Terrell radiologist, began the organization as a Texas limited liability company in January 2003.
Bohn Allen, the Texas Medical Association president-elect, had initially declined to denounce the Web site, saying he wanted to wait to see if it generated any complaints with TMA.
"This Web site is the wrong approach. It interferes with the patient physician relationship," Allen said in a statement.
Donny Says: These people are dorks and dips who thought they'd intimidate folks with their dorky and dippy approach to a real problem. No easy fix, here. Doctors ought to be sued, sometimes. But lawyers and other crooks who view litigation as their private slot machines need to have their jaws slapped.
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There is much the Indian has learned from old Coyote -
He is an actor-
A magician -
A survivor -
And a powerful singer.
He always wants it both ways."
People often ask me why I talk so much about God, since I am a self proclaimed Humanist.
Well, for me it's like this: if you want to get people to listen to you, it's best to speak a language that they understand. That's it.
OpinionSoup is published by Don Harthcock. OS #32 © Don Harthcock, OpinionSoup.com, December, 2005. Portions of OpinionSoup may be reproduced on your site with proper credit and a link. This instruction supercedes all previous prohibitions. Taping OS to refrigerators, posting on bulletin boards & emailing to friends is waycool, highly-recommended, and much appreciated.
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