Good Morning!
On this day in 1782 the U.S. Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States.
In 1793 Eli Whitney applied for a cotton gin patent.
In 1863 West Virginia became the 35th state.
In 1941 the U.S. Army Air Force was established, replacing the Army Air Corps.
In 1950 Willie Mays graduated from high school and immediately signed with the New York Giants.
In 1967 Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted. The conviction was later overturned by the Supreme Court.
And in 1983 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers must treat male and female workers equally in providing health benefits for their spouses.
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Quote of the Day
“Lead from the front.”
Audie Murphy
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Today is Chet Atkins’ birthday.
And here he is with Les Paul.
And Brian Wilson’s as well.
And it’s also Lionel Richie’s.
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Anyone have a QoD?
Wandering Views 
I know I am completely out of touch and live in the past, but do the rest of you think this could be true:
http://endtimeheadlines.wordpress.com/2013/06/19/70-of-americans-on-prescription-drugs/
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I didn’t know the Army Air Corps became the US Air Force so early. I thought it was after the war.
I see where James Gandolfini is dead. I heard on the radio that he was a cultural icon. That means that I’m the only person in America who never heard of him.
We’re going to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte today.
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Chet is one of my favorites. I have several of his albums. (LP’s that is.) The best one is Chet and Hank Snow playing together. I also have Chet and Merle Travis doing their thing.
It’s hard to believe that 70% of Americans are on prescription drugs. I do know that lots of old people are. Neither Elvera nor I are on prescription drugs. But we both take vitamin pills, “Centrum, Pervision, etc. on the recommendation of the Dr.
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Yes, Ricky, I do believe it is true. Just off the top of my head I am the only person I can quickly think of that I know in my most immediate circle that is not on a prescription drug. You also would believe the number of people I can think of who have had or do have a prescription drug “problem”.
People go to different doctors for different things. The doctors write the prescription and then people “shop” different pharmacies for special pricing. Sometimes the pharmacist is the only person in a position to know what all drugs a person is on and can “flag” an interaction, but now if you get your prescription at several different pharmacies then they can’t know.
It is especially bad in older people because so many of the drugs effect memory.
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As someone who has never taken an illegal drug and has been fortunate never to have taken a perscription drug for more than a few days, I find it extremely ironic that our government spends hundreds of billions for a War on Drugs and also spends hundreds of billions to pay for the majority of its citizens to take drugs.
I know some drugs can be helpful or even necessary. I don’t really have a problem with adults paying for drugs when they find a doc who will prescribe them. I do have a huge problem with people failing to discipline their children and then putting them on drugs to modify their behavior.
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It seems to me that a statistic that 70% of Americans are on prescription drugs is pretty meaningless without breaking it down by drug. I don’t doubt that there is abuse – my own mother was a prescription drug abuser and was on Prozac AND Valium for years (probably from two diff docs and two diff pharms). But my DIL is on pre-natal vitamins, my grandchildren have daily Rx floride pills because we have are on a well, and I am on insulin due to diabetes. None of that seems abusive to me.
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My sister posted this on FB this morning – thought I’d share it:
Yesterday Ben Bernanke made me $70 (we groomed his dog “Tinker”) and cost me several thousand (my IRA). Maybe the fact that we raised our prices $5/dog since the last time we groomed Tinker convinced him that inflation was rearing its ugly head.
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I’ve seen a couple of prognostications on the price of Gold in the past few weeks.
One analysis using statistical tracking charts submits that when the spot price of Gold closed below $1,380/oz. that Gold would drop on down to $1,000/oz.
Another analysis using supply and demand statistics stated that since the demand for physical gold far outweighed the amount actually coming out of the ground, that the paper price and the physical price of gold would diverge drastically. They called this the Zero Hour, and said that the price of Gold would exceed $2,000/oz.
We’ll see pretty soon whether the first prediction is correct. The price of Gold closed below $1,380 on the 18th. This morning it’s still south of $1,300, and looks to be headed down.
What do you think? Or do you?
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Chas, thanks for admitting that you’ve never heard of Gandolfini. I thought that I was the only one, but I know that I am out of it culturally.
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Chas- I had never heard of James Gandolfini either until yesterday. I had heard of the Sopranos before, but the first time I heard of it I thought it was about a female choir or something. I guess you can tell the people who have cable or satellite TV from those of us who don’t based on which TV shows we know about. Even then, I get ABC and FOX over digital broadcast, but don’t watch them much, so I couldn’t tell you what shows are on them.
As for prescription drugs, I don’t have any. We only use them when OTC don’t work for our few ailments.
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The actor means nothing to me. Why was he important?
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Fascinating book review about men dropping out of society: http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/06/19/why-men-are-going-galt-a-review-of-men-on-strike/
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The actor means nothing to me. Why was he important?
Because he was the star of a very popular HBO series! Oh, I see your point. I wish the MSM would too and stop reporting on every celebrity event that comes along to fill time they could be reporting real news.
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Sadly, Gandolfini’s death has been the lead story every half hour newscast since my drive home last night. Very frustrating that it is sooo important.
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And every time a minor sports figure announces he’s gay, it’s more important news than the trial of a child and mother murdering abortionist too.
It’s not just frustrating, it’s outrageous.
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I’m not sure what to make of this: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2013/06/exodus-international-alan-chambers-apologies-to-gays.html
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I know lots of people on prescription drugs. Since my whole family is riddled with allergy problems, there are lots of prescriptions for that. Many of those don’t need prescriptions anymore, but are still being used. It was when a doctor finally diagnosed my allergies and gave me a prescription for them, that I could quit taking the aspirin that was a constant from the head-aches I had for years. I thank God for those drugs. I can breathe! I can quit wiping my eyes constantly! I am no longer weak and shaky or too tired to move.
I have another medical condition that needs drugs, as does my husband. My folks, in their eighties, also need and take many drugs. We wish none of them were necessary. None of us were quick to go to doctors or easily took prescriptions. As the population ages, more prescription drugs will be used.
Years ago ,there was no treatment with drugs for one of my grandchildren’s eye problems. He was on a prescription drug to minimize that problem and is now off those drugs.
Thank God for those developments that help us be able to live better lives. I agree with Linda.
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Michelle,
Confusing to say the least. This ReduceFear.org group that they are “transforming” into is the most troubling. It sounds as if they are doing a complete 180.
“And then there is the trauma that I have caused. There were several years that I conveniently omitted my ongoing same-sex attractions. I was afraid to share them as readily and easily as I do today. They brought me tremendous shame and I hid them in the hopes they would go away. Looking back, it seems so odd that I thought I could do something to make them stop. Today, however, I accept these feelings as parts of my life that will likely always be there. The days of feeling shame over being human in that way are long over, and I feel free simply accepting myself as my wife and family does. As my friends do. As God does.”
“Moving forward, we will serve in our pluralistic culture by hosting thoughtful and safe conversations about gender and sexuality, while partnering with others to reduce fear, inspire hope, and cultivate human flourishing.”
It seems to me, and this is just my opinion, that he has caved, to his own desires, and to the culture and worldview where homosexuality is good and acceptable. That’s not what the Bible says. Perhaps further clarification will come later.
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I haven’t read the full link, but AJ’s excerpts support my notion that when society begins to normalize behaviors considered Scripturally wrong, that in itself sends a very powerful message and can then serve to lead some, especially the young, astray. And that’s why same-sex “marriage” does really affect us all.
Linda and Kathaleena both make good points with regard to prescription medications. They’re not to be abused or trifled with or taken when not needed. But I thank God for the medical advances that have given us ways to control chronic conditions and, yes, to ease pain and suffering when necessary.
Antibiotics alone are simply a marvel. Diseases or injuries that once killed people are now rather quickly eradicated and cured. Amazing.
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As for the actor who died at 51, I didn’t know the name either but I had certainly heard a lot about “The Sopranos” over the years. Many colleagues were big fans.
I never saw the show (it was on HBO, which is a premium ‘extra’ pay channel not included on the more basic cable packages). But it was pretty highly rated, widely watched and quite the phenomenon in its time.
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OK, I’ve read the link now.
I’ve never known much about Exodus International, but do you think the idea that one can switch their desires from homosexual to heterosexual may have been oversimplified by the group in its early, more gung-ho days?
I suspect changing is not something that is “easy;” it is perhaps not even ultimately possible for many, try as they might.
Biblically speaking for them, the battle then becomes one for lifelong celibacy. Not an easy prospect, either. (And I wonder how many young men sincerely fighting those kinds of desires find their way into the Catholic priesthood, thinking it to be an answer to their inner struggle.)
So in that sense, compassion needs to dominate our attitudes for those who struggle biblically and personally with the issue.
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Amen to that Donna. There is no simple “out” for any kind of addiction short of a work of the Holy Spirit. Only a change of heart can change the behaviors.
Oh, and I read your =description of the 70-ish woman at the vet that you posted last night. My first thought was of Victoria, but I don’t think she was that old.
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Donna,
Yes, to all 4 of your paragraphs.
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World now has an article up: http://www.worldmag.com/2013/06/the_exodus_of_exodus_international
Loving the people, not condoning the behavior. I appreciate the apology about being harsh and judgmental. I think that’s done a lot to harm folks, not to mention the notion the church is a hospital for sinners–which is why you find me there.
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michelle beat me to it, I was just going to post the World mag link. 🙂 She’s fast.
They sum up the problem well in the last couple graphs.
As for the church being a hospital for sinners … someone has recently launched a “secular” fb page (basically an anti-religion page) in our area and I was reading through some of the posts (weak, cheap quick-hit type stuff, frankly not very thoughtful, but that’s not altogether surprising).
One of the posts: “If the only thing keeping you from being a horrible person is your religion, you are already a horrible person.”
Exchange “religion” for God’s grace, and they’ve inadvertently spoken some truth (if twisted a bit) in that statement. 😉
Most Christians, at any rate, are all-too-familiar with their own sin and the continual struggle with it. We are not basically (by our own nature) “good” or “nice” people.
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here’s another good piece from the Baptists:
http://baptistpress.com/BPnews.asp?ID=40574
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Re – Prescription Drugs: I am on two prescription drugs, both of which have serious side effects and can be abused. But I am thankful for them – I am an asthmatic, and my medications have made the difference between breathing and suffocation. I see here how asthmatics suffer without access to inhalers, which are too expensive for them to purchase. I have a hard time paying for them at home (medications are paid for out-of-pocket in Canada), and it is always a miracle that the Lord provides the money when I need it.
There is overuse of medications and the biggest culprits are the manufactures of those medications. Pharmaceuticals have a vested interest in increasing drug use. There is a shortage of new antibiotics, because pharmaceuticals don’t want to invest in producing a medicine for an acute infection that will only be used for a few days until the infection clears up. They prefer to produce drugs that those with chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes or clinical depression will depend on for the rest of their lives. Their marketing is highly effective at influencing medical decisions. Oxycodone is an infamous example – touted by its producers as less addictive than other traditional opioids, it actually is far more addictive. As doctors, trusting the claims, placed their pain patients on it, it caused huge increase in addiction and all the ills that brings (theft, street selling, overdose, suicide, etc.). People discovered that the pills could be dissolved and injected for an even better high, and theft, selling on the street Canada eventually banned the sal
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It self-posted – and before I was finished! Crazy internet…
Well, as I was saying, it was banned in Canada and a form of the drug that cannot be dissolved is now used; but not before huge numbers of people became addicted to what was supposed to be a safe drug. “He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house” (Proverbs)
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I didnt’ mean my earlier comment to mean I was against all drugs. My daughter takes thyroid medication. I am glad it is available. Prozac once saved my life. I am just lucky enough right now not to be on any medication. I have to admit to occassionally taking benydril for my itchy yucky skin.
I also know of people in my own family who are abusing prescription drugs. An aunt got highly upset with my stepmother for pouring out the liquid valium the doctor had prescribed for my father. She “needed” it and it was selfish of my stepmother to pour it out instead of giving it to her. She has also self diagnosed herself with neuropothy and takes lortab so that her feet will stop itching and she can go to sleep. Funny-when I took lortab for pain after having a staph infection lanced, dug out, and packed, it MADE me itch. I went to the doctor the next day and told him to put a big yellow sticky note in my file not to ever give me that stuff again.
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From Donna’s Baptist Press link:
‘”Evangelical Christianity increasingly addresses sexual issues more in line with the older Christian tradition of sin and temptation and triumph than with the language of therapy,” Moore told Baptist Press. “We can’t have a utopian view of overcoming temptation of any sort.”
Jesus never promises any Christian freedom from temptation, Moore said, but He does promise the power of the Spirit to fight against the pull to temptation, whatever the temptation may be.
“Increasingly churches are addressing persons with same-sex attractions the same way they address everyone else: in terms of the Gospel and a lifelong call to take up one’s cross and follow Christ,” Moore said. “This means the Christian grappling with same-sex attractions needs to hear that the Gospel addresses him or her, and that this person needs the whole body of Christ, in community, not just an accountability group of those who are defined by the same temptations.”‘
That pretty much sums up what I have thought for a while about therapy and the Church. I know there are those who have been helped by Christian therapists, but they should have received that same help from those in their church, if the church was functioning as it ought. It is the Church, as the body of Christ, who has the responsibility of teaching, encouraging, helping, healing, and disciplining. Exodus Int’l has crashed and burned – and perhaps it is better that way, as I recall there was a scandal about a former director a couple of years ago – in a way that a local church would not, as members would help each other in their varied strengths and weaknesses.
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We had a very nice trip to the Billy Graham Library.
Chas is very tired. He may comment more tomorrow.
I don’t have anything to add about addiction. I have been very blessed.
I’m more aware of it every day.
I once had chest pains. That was circa 1965. I went to a doctor. He didn’t tell me what was wrong, but he prescribed for me some Librium. It stopped the pains. I slept well, but I discovered that I didn’t care about anything, and it was beginning to hurt my career. You need to care.
So, I stopped it, I found another doctor.
I have a hiatial hernia. It doesn’t bother me significantly. I don’t treat it.
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Prescription drugs: I think we’re going to see that 70% figure increase in the coming years as the population ages (lower birth rates, higher numbers of elderly people living in this country).
Certainly there have been many benefits of certain medications, but also drawbacks. We’ve got meds now for a variety of ailments we couldn’t effectively treat before, but I’m amazed at the number of people who not only need to take medicine for various issues, but also have to take other medicine to combat side effects of the original medicines. So much of it is a vicious cycle of managing symptoms and side effects, and isn’t always doing much to actually address the root causes of the patients’ ailments.
And the potential drug interactions and confusing array of schedules about when to take meds (and how much to take) can lead to some very serious consequences, especially for the elderly who may not have daily assistance with their med schedules.
The mother-in-law of a dear friend of mine had had heart trouble and various other health problems for at least 20 years and was recently prescribed something new to add to her already vast arsenal of prescription meds she was taking. Unfortunately, she misunderstood the dosing schedule, and instead of taking the medicine three times a week as directed, she took it three times a day. By the time her mistake was discovered, it was too late to help her; she had suffered irreparable damage to, I believe, her kidneys and liver. Her body shut down and she died about a week later. 😦
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Phos makes a good point about “Big Pharma” being part of the prob;em. I see way too many ads for various drugs, most of which sound more dangerous than the condition they claim to heal. And some, like the testosterone enhancers, are totally unnecessary for 90% of users, IMHO.
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James Gandolfini not only was in The Sopranos, he was also in many movies. What strikes me about his death is that he was only 51.
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Peter, I have no idea whether the testoterone enhancers are “usually” necessary. But I do know of women who complain that their husbands don’t have any energy, are gaining weight, and have no sex drive (as in they are OK with never having sex, or just once or twice a month), and testosterone makes a big difference. And when you consider that modern society basically has lots of extra estrogen-mimickers around (if some of what I have read is accurate), it would make sense that some men, as they age, might need some chemical help.
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Testosterone is one dangerous chemical. Nobody should be considering using it to merely enhance their drive – there are a lot of other options, like reducing stress, losing weight, exercising regularly and eliminating negative psychological pressure to perform (a note to complaining wives – you might be the problem). Besides, it is more likely that athletic types are using the enhancers to build muscle mass and increase red blood cell levels – testosterone is a standard performance enhancing drug.
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