Man, That's SOME Pitcher's Mound!

After 100+ years, the Chicago Cubs decide to get with the 20th Century and are installing a new field at Wrigley.

Thankfully, though, it's still natural sod -- no Astroturf, Thank You.




At upper right you can see the old sod piled for disposal as the old dirt is loaded into dump trucks. A new drainage system and all-new dirt and sod will be laid down in the next few weeks to give the surface maximum growing time over the fall rains and spring. Note also the "Hey Hey" Banner (reversed) at left -- a tribute to former announcer Jack Brickhouse.

Makes me wanna go see a ball game at Wrigley again. Might have to do that next year.

~~JD~~

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer: Name a great website you would recommend to others.

Hmmm . . . let's see.

For news, The Drudge Report is the original and still the best.

For Space Geekiness, it's Space.Com -- lots of good space flight and astronomy stuff.

For ComicBooks, it's Comic Book Resources, an excellent series of columns and references.

For Commentary, Captain's Quarters is informed, thoughtful commentary. For a bit of caterwauling and the occasional bomb-throwing, And Rightly So! is a hoot!

And for sheer fun, Atom Smasher's Road Sign Generator is a lot of fun. make your own road signs for your blog or e-mails.

Soup: On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how often do you dream at night?

"1" -- Rarely, if ever. Since I figured out how to interactively dream and change the outcome of my dreams while I'm still asleep, I don't remember any of them lately.

Salad: Did you have a pet as a child? If so, what kind and what was its name?

My family had cats and dogs as long as I can remember. My first dog was a beagle, "Lucky Lou." My favorite cat was named 'Chipper" because of his chipmunk like markings.

Main Course: If you had the chance to star in a commercial, what would you choose to advertise?

Actually, I've had the chance to star in commercials for my business (when I had a limousine company.) It was radio, but you'd be surprised how many people listen to radio and recognize your voice.

Dessert What is your favorite kind of hard candy?


Starlight Mints are the ONLY kind of hard candy I'll eat. They hold a lot of fond memories of Christmases Past for me.

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer: If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?

Well. let's see -- I'm 6'3", and 300 pounds, and tend to dominate any room I walk into -- I'd probably be a Great Dane.

Soup: What does the color purple make you think of?

Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover -- I didn't care for the movie, though.

Salad: Approximately how long does it take you to get ready each morning?

This morning was pretty typical. I have to test my blood sugar, make the bed, shave my head, shower, and get dressed -- 25 minutes not counting toilet time.

Main Course: How many cousins do you have, and are you close to them?


For First Cousins, let's see; four Gertsmeier cousins, two Shurrs, and two Miller cousins -- that's eight. Second Cousins -- I've lost count -- roughly fifteen. Neices and nephews -- seven. I'd say about half of these I'm closer to than my own sisters, and the other half about as close as my sisters.

Dessert: Take your initials (first, middle, last) and come up with something else those letters could stand for. (Example: SFO = Sweet Funny Otter)

I've never understood the amusement of making fun of someone's name. I suppose that comes from growing up the funny looking kid that always got teased.

How depressing!

~~JD~~

Nursings's "Dirty" Little Secret, Part II

From today's Vidette Times, although I've seen this tory literally EVERYWHERE the last two days as well:

Deadly infection is real, but is it a cause for panic?
Thursday, October 18, 2007 2:10 AM CDT

BY HEATHER AUGUSTYN: Times Correspondent

In 2005, nearly 19,000 Americans died of invasive infections caused by a drug-resistant bacteria, according to a study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Even more alarming is that this bacterial infection, known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), caused more deaths than AIDS.

But local doctors and public health officials say that this study may be misleading. MRSA infection rates may be on the rise, but deaths are not. "I do not find an epidemic of death," said Dr. Daniel Smith, director of infection prevention for the Munster Community Hospitals. "MRSA is usually never the cause of death. It's misleading. Death could be from diabetes or anything else. Can MRSA cause death? Yes. Have I seen it in the 25 years I've been here? Not in the last three, four, five years. People have died who have also had MRSA."

Smith says the difference in this strain is the way in which it spreads. "We've had MRSA here for a while and I don't think it's any more resistant than it has been. It's been this way for 15 years, but this strain releases a toxin that causes more skin abscesses. We have seen MRSA cases double or quadruple over the past three years in the community, and so we're seeing an increase in MRSA patients," Smith said.

As a result, Smith says his staff has implemented methods to decrease the spread of MRSA and all infectious diseases. "We place the patient in isolation so the infection is not spread from one person to another, and we emphasize hand washing -- not just with soap and water but with an alcohol gel that kills 99.99 percent of all germs, including MRSA," Smith said.

If this sounds the least bit familiar, it's because I blogged about this six weeks ago HERE. The decrease of hand washing in Nursing is spreading this little bug everywhere in hospitals. The decline in kids showering after gym class is spreading the bug likewise in gym classes and subsequently through schools.

An interesting point I've noticed in this story; I've heard this reported variously that either MRSA "kills more people every year than AIDS" as reported above, but several more liberal news organs (like the San Antonio Express-News) report that MRSA is only "approaching the levels of deaths by AIDS."

Hmmmmmm. Protecting a constituency, are we?

Anyway, the bottom line: Soap - And - Freakin' - Water. Kills the bugs every time -- no bacteria is immune to them, or virus, for that matter. Just wash your hands, nurses -- and for God's Sake, take a shower, kids!

~~JD~~

"The Ratchet Line"

One of the nurses I was working with last week coined this phrase -- and I love it. We were talking about the point where a nurse can give a patient care and the point where a patient can refuse -- even though that action will harm or even kill the patient. Refusing dialysis; being noncompliant with their medications; continuing to drink with cirrhosis of the liver; and other equally dangerous practices are frustrating for nurses as we watch the patient literally kill themselves. Yet when the nurse insists or attempt to "do what's best for the patient," they can face assault charges.

The other nurse called this "crossing the Ratchet Line," which means they've "crossed the line between being a good nurse -- and becoming Nurse Ratchett, the fascist witch from hell.

"The Ratchet Line." I like it.

~~JD~~

Diabetes As Cultural Darwinism?

This article appeared in the Los Angeles Times the end of August, and was reprinted in the San Antonio Express News the next week. The author, Greg Critser, has written two books, "Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World" and the soon to be published "Eternity Soup: Inside the Quest to End Aging."

I've been chewing this over for about a month trying to figure out what to think about this guy's conclusions. I think he has made a very concise and cogent analysis of the threat of Diabetes, but completely misses the mark with his conclusions. To Summarize the article:

(Begin Paraphrase)

"Diabetes -- Darwinism In Our Time"

Cases of Type 2 Diabetes, the "cryptic epidemic," are rising; and now are estimated to affect 7% of California's population (although some put the figure closer to 10%.)
Pre-diabetes -- a risky level of sugar and inflammatory agents in the blood, is approaching 20% of the population. One UCLA professor this summer called these numbers "the tip of the iceberg."

When a condition that leads to disability and premature death affects up to 20% of the population, is it evolution in our own time? Critser relates Darwin's tale of the short-beaked finch, the one that couldn't crack the best nuts on the Galapagos Islands and died out. He believes that Type 2 diabetes marks the genes and challenged pancreas can't keep pace with today's "calorically unbalanced world," where sugary, fatty foods are abundant and our jobs pay us to be sedentary.

In Western Europe during the post-Renaissance period crop yields exploded, personal fortunes grew and famine became less frequent. This time also produced the first literature of public and occupational health, with an emphasis on hygiene, self-control and actual diagnosis by physicians. The growing population began
displaying widespread symptoms we now recognize as diabetic:

** unquenchable thirst
** numbness and pain in the extremities (often mis-diagnosed as gout or arthritis)
** blindness (Johan Sebastian Bach, a diabetic, died after two eye operations)

Critser believes simple steps can help fight the disease. Humans have invented relatively inexpensive tools to mitigate the ravages of diabetes:

** The handheld inexpensive glucose meter, which came into circulation in 1965

** The concept of "diabesity" -- the connection between sugary foods, obesity and diabetes -- which originated at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles through the pioneering work of Dr. Fran Kaufman.

** The pedometer is cheap and easy to understand, and it serves an important psychological role as a prompt toward exercise.

California health officials, who are on the front lines of the diabesity fight, are pressing for a smarter, earlier and more sustained focus on glucose control. Critser suggests teaching every California ninth-grader how to use a glucose meter, and use the state's "vast purchasing power" to make the devices nearly free for every family. Also show every California fifth-grader how and why to use a pedometer -- and then give them one. He also wants to include simple, glucose-control educational information in any application process for immigrants. Finally, he wants to appoint and fund a state diabetes czar.

(End Paraphrase)

Well, it doesn't take long to figure out this guy's a leftist. He bleives in evolution; he embraces the concept; and he thinks government should solve all our problems through it's "vast purchasing power." Right up to that point I was pretty much agreeing with him.

I agree he has a point about the "sugary" (i.e., carbohydrate laden) diet we westerners consume. Asians eat much more fish and vegetables than Westerners do, and have correspondingly lower rates of diabetes, not to mention less heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes.

Plus the problem with buying everyone a pedometer is that these things cost money -- about $5.00 each. With the population of California nearing 36 million people, that's approximately $180 million just for the pedometers. Now imagine glucometers at about $75.00 each -- that's $2.7 BILLION dollars just for glucometers -- almost $2.9 BILLION with the pedometers, too -- not counting the cost for the glucose-control educational information in any application process for immigrants.

Actually, I like the idea of the glucose-control educational information in any application process for immigrants; but let's take it a step further. I personally didn't know jack about nutrition until I became diabetic, even though I've been a nurse for almost 27 years. I think it's fair to say most people don't, either. So why not just make it mandatory to put Nutrition into the curriculum of all Elementary, Middle, and High Schools?

I don't think giving out the pedometers is a bad idea either; in fact, make it part of the homework for students to bring in their pedometers with greater than 10,000 steps per day -- and more will count as extra credit. Get them in th habit ot walking as exercise -- and give classes on how simple exercise (20 minutes a day, three times a week) can control blood sugar and reduce weight.

And I don't think making diabetes supplies free to diabetics without health insuarnace is a bad idea, either. (Blame my youth as a liberal.)

~~JD~~

Another Reason I Miss Chicago Sometimes . . .

From Today's Chicago Tribune, with video, too!

Reading, Writing, Recruiting?
Debate Rages as Nity's Newest Facility is Dedicated

By Stephanie Banchero and Carlos Sadovi | Tribune staff reporters -- October 15, 2007

Chicago Public Schools, which already has the largest junior military reserve program in the nation, on Monday will commission the country's first public high school run by the U.S. Marines, much to the chagrin of activists who have fought to keep the armed services out of city schools.

The dedication of the Marine Military Academy on the Near West Side comes a few days after Chicago officials announced plans to open an Air Force academy high school in 2009. If that happens, Chicago will become the only public school district in the nation to have academies dedicated to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

District officials say the military-themed schools give students more choices and provide an opportunity to enroll in schools that provide structure, discipline and a focus on leadership. They say the schools emphasize academics, not recruitment. "We have to think outside the box, and what existed before simply did not work for far too many students," said Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan. "These schools are popular and have waiting lists, so that tells me parents want more of them."

But critics argue the military academies and other district Junior ROTC programs unfairly target poor and minority teenagers for military service. "We're already the most militarized school system in the nation, and the [district] officials just keep opening more programs, as if they have no problem being a recruitment tool for the military," said Brian Roa, a member of the National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth and a science teacher at Senn High School on the North Side. Senn shares a building with Rickover Naval Academy. "Chicago Public Schools should be in the business of educating children, not finding ways to indoctrinate them into the military."

The Chicago Public Schools Website lists 34 Army JROTC programs, 4 navy JROTC programs, 2 Marine, and 1 Air Force JROTC programs -- plus the three (as of today) Military academies. As of next year, there will be military academy public schools for each branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines) in the Chicago Public School. The video notes that the Rickover Naval Academy was ranked #5 in the city in Parent Satisfaction; and that includes the Charter Schools and Advanced Prep Schools.

Good for them. Mayor Daley may get a wild hare up his butt ever now and then (like his support for suing gun shop owners), but the man genuinely cares about his city, and thinks outside the box.

~~JD~~

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer: When was the last time you were surprised?

I dunno. i startle easily, but real surprise? I think my teenage son made his bed last month without being asked.


Soup: Fill in the blanks: My eyes are ________, but I wish they were __________.

Oh, goodie -- a fill- in- the- blank. I love these.

My eyes are brown, but I wish they weren't bloodshot.
My eyes are blurry in the morning, but I wish they weren't -- period.
My eyes are farsighted, but I wish they were perfect.
My eyes are expressive, but I wish they were less revealing.
My eyes are blind to the human suffering around me, but I wish they were more sympathetic.

Salad: If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be?

Bald -- and who would buy one?

Main Course: Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits.

I can eat salads all day long, and love it. It's my pig-out food. I had a large Caesar salad for dinner at a pizza place tonight. And I walk 2 or 4 times a week, 20 minutes minimum.

Dessert: What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not?

Pretty much everything. I usually use Crest, but when they confiscated my tube of toothpaste on the airline flight last month, I started using whatever what was in the closet -- and, apparently, someone in the house has been toothpaste shopping -- we had half a dozen different (half-used) brands in there. I have no idea of the name of whatever I'm using today -- I just know it's red, white, and blue striped, and almost gone.

~~JD~~

"Alas, Poor Frisky, I Knew Him, Yorick!"

This is an actual tombstone from the Main Street Station cemetery in Moravia, Iowa. It's about 20 feet due east of where we buried my Dad last month. I just had to take this picture, with apologies to Timothy Lee Logan's survivors.

I just can't figure out if they buried the cat with Tim, or how that worked out.

~~JD~~

San Antonio Sunset

The Sun setting in downtown San Antonio last week, with the sunlight reflecting off the high-rises.

And 89 degrees, too, with a brisk breeze bubbling off the Corpus Christi Coastline. Keep all your turning leaves -- this is a painting on God's Canvas.

~~JD~~

Seventeen Years Old Today

And 6'2" tall. But I knew him when.



Happy Birthday Julian, from Dad.

~~JD~~

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?

Negative the square root of Pi. Can't stand them.

Soup: What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of?

Don't think there is one. Every word has a root origin, which is just as fascinating as a detective novel to me.

Salad: Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like?

Constantly -- keeps the eye strain to a minimum when driving -- and I drive a LOT. I have a small oval pair of serengeti drivers I'm wearing currently. The back-ups are wayfarers that make me look like the lost Blues Brother.

Main Course: If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it?

I **am** writing a book. I'll let you know on that one -- most likely my wife.

Dessert: Name a beverage that you enjoy.

Tea is the perfect beverage. It enhances everything's flavor that you drink it with, and the caffeine doesn't make you jumpy like coffee does. I worke in a British Labor Ward in Belgium when I was in the Army for four years, and they beat the taste of coffee out of me there. Tea is the only truly civilized drink, you know.

~~JD~~

Welcome to the Nursing Shortage, Part 99

I worked a double (16 hours) for the patrician Movement Drug Detox Monday, got three hours sleep, then doubled back for 8 more. Then the rat-bastards (who had reserved me for two weeks through Nursefinders) cancelled me Tuesday afternoon.

So I immediately started working full-time at the Dialysis clinic. Worked 14 hours today (Thursday), and I'll work the same Friday and Saturday.

Sunday is a double (16 hours) for an Ortho hospital for Nursefinders.

Thank God I have Monday off. I need the sleep!

I'll catch up this weekend. Must-sleep now . . . !

~~JD~~

Blog Items, for those so Interested

The Blog is three years old as of last week.

Last weekend I went over the 400 post mark. (This is post #404, for those keeping count.)

The first year I started this blog (September 25th, 2004 -- from September to December for the year) I had a total of 41 posts for the entire year. Last Month (our anniversary) I had 42 post for the entire month.

Who knew I could yap so much!

~~JD~~

Ariane's Doing Much Better Now, Thanks!

We go the results of the Biopsy back from when Ariane had her surgery the end of August. She was kind of putting off making the follow-up appointment because, well, cancer runs in her family (Runs, hell! more like a gallop!) and she was worried about those results.

Fortunately, they were good. It was cancer, but it was still localized, and they got it all. She'll need frequent checkups every four months for a while to be sure, but otherwise we're very happy with this news.

Thank you to everyone who prayed and wished us well.

~~JD~~