A nation's character can sometimes be reflected in the leaders it elects. Usually, the electorate concentrates on the politics of the candidate, but there are those times when the persona of the office seeker lifts the candidate as much or more as his stands on the issues.
Enter Donald Trump. There are few with such a strong personality.
Part of what he is, is a person who lashes back at anyone who questions him. He responds to opposition with hatred. He matches criticism with belittlement. He berates any who dare speak against him. He serves up personal attacks for those with challenging questions.
Donald Trump, the viper of American politics. If America values zingers, here is the king of them. If America's people value zingers more than being respectful of each other, here is their king.
His contentious. spiteful personality is not seen as a fault, but is embraced by many, maybe even by enough that he shall be elected the next president of our country. If we are a nation that loves to hate, we have found our leader.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
For Health's Sake, not all Laughing is Created Equal
Skip the gym. Head straight to the comedy club -- for your health's sake.With the thought that laughing reduces stress and benefits health, it could be argued watching television sitcoms and taking in other forms of comedy is a health benefit, same as going to the gym.
My feeling, though, is that not all laughing is created equal. There is certainly a difference between the laughing that comes from a truly funny joke and the laughing that comes with enjoying the unfortunate plight of others. I suppose I picture in my mind a wicked witch laughing as she rides away on her broomstick. She laughs not at a joke, but at the damage she causes to others.
That type of laughing, it is my guess, is not beneficial. It is my guess that mean-spirited humor is not a tonic like more strict forms of humor.
My feeling, though, is that not all laughing is created equal. There is certainly a difference between the laughing that comes from a truly funny joke and the laughing that comes with enjoying the unfortunate plight of others. I suppose I picture in my mind a wicked witch laughing as she rides away on her broomstick. She laughs not at a joke, but at the damage she causes to others.
That type of laughing, it is my guess, is not beneficial. It is my guess that mean-spirited humor is not a tonic like more strict forms of humor.
E-cigarretes and the Lungs
Maybe it's not the water, but the flavor of the water. There is little regulation on what goes into e-cigarettes, and different companies use different flavorings, many of which irritate the lungs.
Perhaps more significantly, nicotine, itself, has been determined to cause inflammation in the lungs.
Perhaps more significantly, nicotine, itself, has been determined to cause inflammation in the lungs.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Let Salt Lake City Boast One of the Funniest Places on Earth
Everybody likes a good laugh. And, some say it is medicinally beneficial and therapeutic. Let me phrase this another way: If nothing is more enjoyable than a good laugh, then, if you want to provide the best entertainment available, you better have a House of Humor.
But, the distinction is, not just any humor.
I google, and find clean humor is not an unknown commodity. Listings come up titled, "10 Funniest Christian Stand up Comedians," and "Clean Comedy Shows." No, clean comedy is not something that needs to be invented> It's out there.
I just want to polish the product. I just think Salt Lake could develop a House of Humor (I use uppercase, because I like that name for the venue) that would be worthy of national acclaim. Now, sometimes the difference between nationally acclaimed and not nationally acclaimed lies in the marketing, One place can be no better than any other, except that it is advertised and billed as the best. So, I suggest once you get a good House of Humor in place, start chanting its glories and hype it as one of the funniest places on earth.
But, the distinction is, not just any humor.
I google, and find clean humor is not an unknown commodity. Listings come up titled, "10 Funniest Christian Stand up Comedians," and "Clean Comedy Shows." No, clean comedy is not something that needs to be invented> It's out there.
I just want to polish the product. I just think Salt Lake could develop a House of Humor (I use uppercase, because I like that name for the venue) that would be worthy of national acclaim. Now, sometimes the difference between nationally acclaimed and not nationally acclaimed lies in the marketing, One place can be no better than any other, except that it is advertised and billed as the best. So, I suggest once you get a good House of Humor in place, start chanting its glories and hype it as one of the funniest places on earth.
Do E-cigs Fill Your Lungs Too Full of Water?
It's in the water. One of the dangers of e-cigarettes might be in the water they use. Speaking to a health technician the other day, asking him what he thought of e-cigarettes, he told me of how when he was working at hospitals in Las Vegas, he and other workers noticed a connection between many admitted with respiratory problems and the e-cigarette.
Michel Gomes, to give the technician credit. Michael Gomes, a critical care certified registered nurse.
He suggested the vapor from the e-cigs goes to the lungs, and it is more moisture than those lungs can safely take.
Although water on the lungs is new to me, as a rap against e-cigs, I google to find many have wondered about vapor on the lungs. One site echoed my thought, that the e-cig just doesn't deliver all that much water to the lungs.
Still, I wonder.
Michel Gomes, to give the technician credit. Michael Gomes, a critical care certified registered nurse.
He suggested the vapor from the e-cigs goes to the lungs, and it is more moisture than those lungs can safely take.
Although water on the lungs is new to me, as a rap against e-cigs, I google to find many have wondered about vapor on the lungs. One site echoed my thought, that the e-cig just doesn't deliver all that much water to the lungs.
Still, I wonder.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
When it Comes to Marijuana, Utah Values Cry for a Utah Solution
The term "Utah solution," has been used to address immigration, Medicaid expansion, and other things. Now, I wish we would come up with a Utah solution for medicinal marijuana, one that allows having it to those who benefit from the drug.
But, not to those who seek it just for recreational purposes.
It so seems there are abuses. The drug becomes so easy to obtain, those who do not need it medically slip right in and get it along with those who do. We've seen what happens in other states. Why not -- if we are to approve medicinal marijuana in Utah -- learn from what is going wrong in other states?
There is a danger in a doctor's deriving too much income from marijuana patients. If he becomes dependent on the marijuana clientele for his income, he will have incentive to grant the prescriptions whether the patient really needs them or not. His thought will be: The more patients I have, and the more I can sell, the more money I will make.
Calling him a pusher would be a little much, because he is not going out and soliciting the business. But, calling him a supplier is in order. If he were to be a supplier simply of medicinal marijuana, that would be fine.
But, he has incentive to become a supplier not just of medicinal, but of recreational Mary Jane. Now, the word "supplier" takes on much the same meaning that it has on the streets when the drug is being obtained.
Another problem? Consider on this: If a patient says he has pain, there is no disputing it. There is no such thing as a pain-o-meter. The doctor cannot place a meter on your chest and get a reading as to whether you are in pain. There's no such device. He takes the patient's word. At least, many doctors do.
So, it becomes that anyone can feign pain, go to the doctor, and say, "Give me some marijuana," and the doctor obliges.
So, it becomes that . . .
If you legalize medical marijuana, you legalize marijuana.
I have a problem with that. I hope the rest of Utah does, also. I would like to think we would want to correct the problem, if we can, to any extent. I wish we would come up with a Utah solution. I wish we would remove the danger (or try to) of doctors becoming reliant on their marijuana trade. I wish we would remove the danger (or try to) of people getting marijuana under the guise of being in pain.
I suggest a few things, and imagine others could come up with yet other ideas.
(1.) Require those dispensing the drug to meet the same educational and professional standards as pharmacists. I get it, that pharmacies would lose their license if they distributed marijuana, so that is why we have dispensaries. But, if we cannot use pharmacies, at least duplicate them as best we can.
(2.) Make it unlawful for a doctor to derive more than, say, 20 percent of his business from marijuana prescriptions.
(3.) Make it a crime to prescribe marijuana if you know the patient will just be using it for recreation. Yes, this would be hard to enforce, but at least you are making it illegal, and that will have some effect.
(4.) Make it unlawful for a patient to obtain marijuana under false pretenses, to feign a malady or to pretend pain in order to win a prescription.
(5.) Make it unlawful to fill a prescription without diagnosing a malady. And, that malady must be one that typically brings enough pain to justify a pain prescription such as marijuana.
(6.) No one-year cards, as are offered in other states. Prohibit the doctor from prescribing more medicine (marijuana) than needed for the time frame that the malady normally lasts. And, require the doctor to reevaluate the malady each time he does a refill.
If we can see things are going wrong in the other states, we shouldn't just copy their laws and make them our own. We should see the problems, and attempt to correct them. Any legislation that fails to do this, falls short of being responsible. We have values in this state, and I maintain that recreational use of marijuana is not one of them. Utah values deserve something that can be stamped as a Utah solution.
So let's provide a Utah solution.
But, not to those who seek it just for recreational purposes.
It so seems there are abuses. The drug becomes so easy to obtain, those who do not need it medically slip right in and get it along with those who do. We've seen what happens in other states. Why not -- if we are to approve medicinal marijuana in Utah -- learn from what is going wrong in other states?
There is a danger in a doctor's deriving too much income from marijuana patients. If he becomes dependent on the marijuana clientele for his income, he will have incentive to grant the prescriptions whether the patient really needs them or not. His thought will be: The more patients I have, and the more I can sell, the more money I will make.
Calling him a pusher would be a little much, because he is not going out and soliciting the business. But, calling him a supplier is in order. If he were to be a supplier simply of medicinal marijuana, that would be fine.
But, he has incentive to become a supplier not just of medicinal, but of recreational Mary Jane. Now, the word "supplier" takes on much the same meaning that it has on the streets when the drug is being obtained.
Another problem? Consider on this: If a patient says he has pain, there is no disputing it. There is no such thing as a pain-o-meter. The doctor cannot place a meter on your chest and get a reading as to whether you are in pain. There's no such device. He takes the patient's word. At least, many doctors do.
So, it becomes that anyone can feign pain, go to the doctor, and say, "Give me some marijuana," and the doctor obliges.
So, it becomes that . . .
If you legalize medical marijuana, you legalize marijuana.
I have a problem with that. I hope the rest of Utah does, also. I would like to think we would want to correct the problem, if we can, to any extent. I wish we would come up with a Utah solution. I wish we would remove the danger (or try to) of doctors becoming reliant on their marijuana trade. I wish we would remove the danger (or try to) of people getting marijuana under the guise of being in pain.
I suggest a few things, and imagine others could come up with yet other ideas.
(1.) Require those dispensing the drug to meet the same educational and professional standards as pharmacists. I get it, that pharmacies would lose their license if they distributed marijuana, so that is why we have dispensaries. But, if we cannot use pharmacies, at least duplicate them as best we can.
(2.) Make it unlawful for a doctor to derive more than, say, 20 percent of his business from marijuana prescriptions.
(3.) Make it a crime to prescribe marijuana if you know the patient will just be using it for recreation. Yes, this would be hard to enforce, but at least you are making it illegal, and that will have some effect.
(4.) Make it unlawful for a patient to obtain marijuana under false pretenses, to feign a malady or to pretend pain in order to win a prescription.
(5.) Make it unlawful to fill a prescription without diagnosing a malady. And, that malady must be one that typically brings enough pain to justify a pain prescription such as marijuana.
(6.) No one-year cards, as are offered in other states. Prohibit the doctor from prescribing more medicine (marijuana) than needed for the time frame that the malady normally lasts. And, require the doctor to reevaluate the malady each time he does a refill.
If we can see things are going wrong in the other states, we shouldn't just copy their laws and make them our own. We should see the problems, and attempt to correct them. Any legislation that fails to do this, falls short of being responsible. We have values in this state, and I maintain that recreational use of marijuana is not one of them. Utah values deserve something that can be stamped as a Utah solution.
So let's provide a Utah solution.
Friday, February 26, 2016
A Rambling Blog Calling for Utah Solutions with Medical Marijuana
Tell me -- not again, but for the first time -- why it is dispensaries are created to distribute medical marijuana? Why cannot marijuana be distributed through pharmacies, same as any other prescription?
The Utah Senate has approved a medical marijuana bill. And, I read how it calls for the creation of dispensaries. (The Utah House now takes up the bill.)
Is it to hold the cost down? Is the thought, that if pharmaceutical companies are involved, they will raise the cost? My reply to that, is that just because pharmacies are used, doesn't mean the product cannot come from the same source as it would if dispensaries are used.
Actually, in theory, it would seem pharmacies might result in less expense. There is less overhead. The same pharmacist that gives you all your other prescriptions, gives you your marijuana. There is no need for adding new middle men.
Then, is the need for dispensaries one of convenience? Do we want dispensaries just so medical marijuana will be easier to obtain? I cannot imagine there being more dispensaries than there are pharmacies, so that would seem to be questionable reasoning.
Unless the dispensaries were located right next to doctors who commonly prescribed marijuana. And, that brings up another question: In states where marijuana is approved for medical use, is the business scattered evenly among all doctors, or do some doctors cater to the marijuana business, specializing in it?
I see danger in that. If a doctor's living is dependent on how many marijuana prescriptions he/she can issue, he/she is going to have incentive to "supply" marijuana to people.
Another potential problem:Since marijuana is a pain medication, and since it is hard to dispute whether someone is in pain, it becomes that anyone can walk into the doctor's office, say they have pain, and walk out with a prescription for marijuana.
These are problems other states might be facing. I do not know. I only know, if Utah is to allow medical marijuana, it should find a Utah solution. We should not simply rubber stamp what is being done in other states. We should take measures to ensure that doctors do not become dependent on the marijuana segment of their business. We should take steps to ensure people cannot simply walk in, say they are in pain, and walk out with a prescription when their real aim is to use the marijuana for recreation.
So, I would suggest a few things:
(1.) Use pharmacies, not dispensaries.
(2.) Make it unlawful for a doctor to derive more than, say, 20 percent of his/ her business from marijuana prescriptions.
(3.) Make is a crime to prescribe marijuana if you know the patient will just be using it for recreation. Yes, this would be hard to enforce, but at least you are curbing the danger by making it illegal.
(4.) Make it unlawful for a patient to obtain marijuana under false pretenses, to feign a malady or to feign pain in order to win a prescription.
(5.) Make it unlawful to fill a prescription without diagnosing a malady. And, that malady must be one that typically brings enough pain to justify a pain prescription such as marijuana.
(6.) Prohibit the doctor from prescribing more medicine (marijuana) than needed for the time frame the malady normally lasts. And, require the doctor to reevaluate the malady each time he/she does a refill.
These solutions will not totally cover the problems. But, at least they are partial safeguards. If you can see the danger of abuses, at least make those abuses illegal. These things will not stop the person needing medical marijuana from getting it, but they might stop others from getting it when they shouldn't.
(Edited Feb. 27)
The Utah Senate has approved a medical marijuana bill. And, I read how it calls for the creation of dispensaries. (The Utah House now takes up the bill.)
Is it to hold the cost down? Is the thought, that if pharmaceutical companies are involved, they will raise the cost? My reply to that, is that just because pharmacies are used, doesn't mean the product cannot come from the same source as it would if dispensaries are used.
Actually, in theory, it would seem pharmacies might result in less expense. There is less overhead. The same pharmacist that gives you all your other prescriptions, gives you your marijuana. There is no need for adding new middle men.
Then, is the need for dispensaries one of convenience? Do we want dispensaries just so medical marijuana will be easier to obtain? I cannot imagine there being more dispensaries than there are pharmacies, so that would seem to be questionable reasoning.
Unless the dispensaries were located right next to doctors who commonly prescribed marijuana. And, that brings up another question: In states where marijuana is approved for medical use, is the business scattered evenly among all doctors, or do some doctors cater to the marijuana business, specializing in it?
I see danger in that. If a doctor's living is dependent on how many marijuana prescriptions he/she can issue, he/she is going to have incentive to "supply" marijuana to people.
Another potential problem:Since marijuana is a pain medication, and since it is hard to dispute whether someone is in pain, it becomes that anyone can walk into the doctor's office, say they have pain, and walk out with a prescription for marijuana.
These are problems other states might be facing. I do not know. I only know, if Utah is to allow medical marijuana, it should find a Utah solution. We should not simply rubber stamp what is being done in other states. We should take measures to ensure that doctors do not become dependent on the marijuana segment of their business. We should take steps to ensure people cannot simply walk in, say they are in pain, and walk out with a prescription when their real aim is to use the marijuana for recreation.
So, I would suggest a few things:
(1.) Use pharmacies, not dispensaries.
(2.) Make it unlawful for a doctor to derive more than, say, 20 percent of his/ her business from marijuana prescriptions.
(3.) Make is a crime to prescribe marijuana if you know the patient will just be using it for recreation. Yes, this would be hard to enforce, but at least you are curbing the danger by making it illegal.
(4.) Make it unlawful for a patient to obtain marijuana under false pretenses, to feign a malady or to feign pain in order to win a prescription.
(5.) Make it unlawful to fill a prescription without diagnosing a malady. And, that malady must be one that typically brings enough pain to justify a pain prescription such as marijuana.
(6.) Prohibit the doctor from prescribing more medicine (marijuana) than needed for the time frame the malady normally lasts. And, require the doctor to reevaluate the malady each time he/she does a refill.
These solutions will not totally cover the problems. But, at least they are partial safeguards. If you can see the danger of abuses, at least make those abuses illegal. These things will not stop the person needing medical marijuana from getting it, but they might stop others from getting it when they shouldn't.
(Edited Feb. 27)
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