Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

Second rate reporter says what?

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

You are here: Home / Balloon Juice / Readership Capture / Various Things

Various Things

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A couple of quick things:

1.) Met with the doctor briefly today. I was supposed to have an appt. on Monday, but the ultrasound results came back and apparently I have tiny gallstones in my pancreas, so I need to get an MRI. No point going on Monday, and I was in town, so I swung by and we are in the process of getting an MRI scheduled. I have no idea what this means and I no longer google or webmd medical issues for my own sanity, so I am just going to keep on doing what I am doing, which is a low fat diet, no high fat dairy, lots of vegetables, and I have basically eliminated carbs from my diet. No bread or pasta, which I never ate much of anyway, and I don’t like rice anyway other than an occasional risotto (I like wild grain rice, but that’s a grain and not a rice), so really the only thing I am missing is ice cream and a bowl of cereal every now and then.

The good thing for me is that I like almost every type of food with the exception of liver and onions, stuffed peppers, and eggplant in any form other than baba ghanouj, so the change in diet has been no problem. I just eat smaller meals. Breakfast- a poached egg on a slice of whole wheat, some yogurt with blueberries, and some grapefruit. Snack- some carrots or broccoli. Lunch: a little cottage cheese, half an apple, a tin of kippered snacks. Snack, half an apple with some almond butter. Dinner- tonight it will be halibut steak, artichoke salad, steamed broccoli, and I think maybe some tomatoes, basil, and mozz. Late night snack, popcorn or maybe some yogurt with blueberries. The only thing is it requires planning ahead, but ehh, I’m old and have no social life so wtf is time anyway?

2.) While in town, I saw lots of teachers striking. They entire state school system is shut down, and they are all gathered near their schools with signs and what not, and I honk up a storm. Their pay is 48th or 49th in the nation, and it’s a god damned joke they haven’t been given a significant raise while frackers are basically making billions in the state and not paying their share in taxes. This is the first time they have gone on strike since 1990, and it just feels like everyone is just sick of the bullshit on every front and people are finally, slowly, starting to stand up to the rich and powerful.

3.) I got my first calendar back from a faulty address today. Congratulations Mary G., you are our lucky winner. If you have not received your calendar by now, please email [email protected]

That’s it for now.

Reader Interactions

73Comments

  5. 5.

    The Red Pen

    Edit the email address so it can’t be read by screenscrapers or you’ll turn that inbox into a pit of spam. Just sayin’

  6. 6.

    Elizabelle

    What will they do about the tiny gallstones? And can you stave off more purely with changes to diet?

    Moar baba ghanouj.

  7. 7.

    Walker

    It means you probably need to have your gallbladder removed. This is what I had. It is very minor surgery.

  8. 8.

    Mary G

    Oh noes! Do I need to email you again? I will do it anyway, but from a different email than the one I use here, because Cox changed the SMTP & whatever else codes and I changed the incoming one, but I can’t find in my discontinues Windows Live Mail out to change the outgoing one.

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a good email program for when I set up my new computer?

  9. 9.

    p.a.

    12 hour rule. If you start breakfast at 6am, try not to eat after 6pm. This rule suggestion is also a great incentive to get 7-8 hours sleep at night: “I won’t be so fucking hungry once I’m asleep. Might as well turn in early.” (Of course, I don’t have pets.)

  12. 12.

    khead

    This is the first time they have gone on strike since 1990, and it just feels like everyone is just sick of the bullshit on every front and people are finally, slowly, starting to stand up to the rich and powerful.

    Seeing an amazing amount of this too via news updates, FB posts and contact with the hometown folks back in southern WV.

  14. 14.

    Baud

    it just feels like everyone is just sick of the bullshit on every front and people are finally, slowly, starting to stand up to the rich and powerful.

    I’m surprised the $1.50 tax cut they got didn’t mollify them.

  15. 15.

    Gravenstone

    @Mary G: I think the problem was your calendar was physically returned because there was a problem with your r/l address, as received/read by Cole.

  16. 16.

    VeniceRiley

    I lived on DIY Soylent keto recipe (and a salad every other day) for 6 months. Dropped 50 lBs and felt great. I think I’ll go back to it … right after I finish this pizza.

  18. 18.

    Gelfling 545

    My understanding regarding gallstones is item # 1 is lose weight. Working out n it now myself. I still need the gallbladder yanked out, though. Sigh.

  21. 21.

    sk

    I had my gall bladder removed in my 30s in an emergency, because I was a stupid person who ignored symptoms for 7 years and did not even have a primary doctor. My gallbladder would have burst if left untreated any longer. It had no affect on my life except made me feel better. That said, what on earth is gallstones in the pancreas? Is that even a thing?

  22. 22.

    Elizabelle

    @Gravenstone: Wow, I hope Mr. Cunningham turns up safe and sound. Very worrying.

    A Harvard public health masters (and doctoral work too??). We need him.

  24. 24.

    daize

    and Steve? (apologies if I missed the update)

    And Cole, thank you for letting us know about your health situation.

  26. 26.

    WaterGirl

    @Raoul: With as many times as we go HOURS without a new post, I cannot understand why anybody criticizes any new thread, regardless of timing. Am I thinly person with 5 or 7 BJ threads open at once?

  27. 27.

    lamh36

    I’m gonna be going on a diet soon as well Cole. I’ve gotta get this blood pressure under control, and just get healthier.

    I know it needs to be low carb, but unlike you, I love RICE…hell I’m from NOLA…we eat rice with everything…funny enough, it’d be easier for me to give up breads and pasta, than it would be to give up rice…I mean I’ve gon only as far as brown rice..

    Can I do eliminate carbs and KEEP ONLY rice?

    Anyway…keep up the good work John.

    My crutch is a late night sweet tooth…if I could give up ALL sweets, it’d be sooo much better for me…but it’s hard…

    I’m a choco-holic

  28. 28.

    dexwood

    @Yarrow:
    I’m of that age where health issues are often the first things discussed among friends who get together. Gallbladders are frequently the topic. Fuckin’ gallbladders, tick tock, motherfuckers. Thanks for the phrase that fits so many situations.

  29. 29.

    Josie

    @lamh36: Google resistant starch. There seems to be some research that suggests if you cook the rice (or potatoes or pasta) ahead of time and cool it in the fridge, it lowers the calorie and carb count. Don’t know how true it is, but it is an interesting proposition if you are a carb lover.

  31. 31.

    lamh36

    I def need to be healthier, but some good news on the career advancement front for me. I finally paid off the LAST debt I had at one of my previous universities that was not allowing me to be able to request my transcript for this online graduation program at one of the LSUs, but with a little assist from my sis in Texas (some speed driving to the college campus to pay direct CASH to school instead of via online debit or snail mail), the debt is cleared, and the holds are GONE! Just 30 min after sis dropped off payment, I was able to request that FINAL transcript to be send to LSU. Once they receive it they can process my Grad App for the Master of Health Care Administration 100% online program.

    Luckily, both schools are a part of the same transcript request network, so an official transcript in PDF form is sent via email, so the transcript has been sent to LSU (after business hours), but on Monday when admissions gets back the transcript will be waiting in the admissions office email box for review (I’m going to shoot them an email about the submission early Monday to make sure they received it).

    I’m going this route for bigger starting pay and maybe private lab supervisor in Micro…I’m tired of hospital labs ya’ll…too much catering to different doctors for unrealistic reasons…and not enough firmness when it comes to advising doctors on the limitations of what the lab should do and shouldn’t be doing, instead doing WHATEVER they want, even if it defies…WRITTEN PROTOCOL… Although I won’t rule out a SMALL niche hospital type lab…but I’d prefer reference lab over hosptial…and not for nothing but…the reason I was told I didn’t wasn’t going to get the first CDC job I was offered (they told me they wanted me for the job, offered it to me after, then they told me…sorry, HR says no..)because they were looking for someone with a masters.

    Of course, it ended up being a blessing in disguise with Chump in office, but it still sticks in my craw. Besides I have one more year in the current hospital contract…and then Dec 2019 before the entire lab contracts end with this hospital (contract employees aren’t GURANTEED jobs after the new acquisition) and I want more options I aiming for a summer admission because I have a prerequisite or two to take…but if it all come to plan…I should be done by next Dec??

    First though, let’s see if I get accepted…

    http://media.giphy.com/media/alM9kd8pj3i5a/giphy.gif

  32. 32.

    Yarrow

    @lamh36:

    Can I do eliminate carbs and KEEP ONLY rice?

    In some of the low carb type diets rice is considered a “safe starch” so depending on how you do it, yes, you can give up everything else and keep rice.

    Late night sugar binges can affect and/or be a sign of blood sugar issues, so keep that in mind. Maybe limit to once or twice a week only.

  33. 33.

    namekarB

    Yogurt, cottage cheese, mozzarella. Perhaps think about getting away from cow’s milk. There are some great goat yogurts and cheeses. Then also is the entire soy category of cheeses, yogurts and tofu. Some of it tastes pretty good. Whole wheat is normally just unbleached flour. Maybe consider whole grain breads that have less wheat. Just stuff to reflect upon

  34. 34.

    Yarrow

    @Josie: Resistant starch is digested in the colon and feeds “good” bacteria as well as makes SCFAs. It doesn’t really have fewer calories; it’s just digested differently so you end up taking in fewer calories. Cooked and cooled potatoes, beans, grains and so forth all have some resistant starch. Interestingly, you can reheat and then cool the potatoes again and gain even more resistant starch. Resistant starch appears to be important for good health and a lot of low carb diets are missing it. How that will affect gut health, and in turn our overall health, seems a bit unclear as of yet.

  37. 37.

    lamh36

    @namekarB: funny enough, I started driking Skim Milk as part of a diet I started decades ago…and now even when I’m not “dieting”, when it comes to milk, anything more than Skim milk, taste to “heavy” for me now…

    I’ve tired some of the soy milk and stuff like that, but I just don’t like them…so I stick to skim

  42. 42.

    Brachiator

    While in town, I saw lots of teachers striking.

    I wonder how the following might affect WV finances and money available for teachers.

    West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed legislation that updates the IRC conformity tie-date for determining:

    * corporation net income tax liability; and

    * personal income tax liability.

    The update means that West Virginia incorporates federal income tax changes enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

    I think that it is crazy for states to blindly follow Trump’s tax boondoggle. But some fools are determined to be as foolish as possible.

  43. 43.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Ohio Mom: everybody warned me about the claustrophobia, which wasn’t too much of a problem for me, no one told me about that noise like when the submarine is about to make an emergency dive. that was by far the worst part

  45. 45.

    Aleta

    @germy: I had to take a 3 wk course of anti-inflammatories around the clock. I always avoid them to protect my stomach. So I thought I’d try drinking some keefir a few times a day. Had no stomach effect from the a-i at all. Mentioned it to the dr. and his opinion was yes, probiotics help stomach problems. He also said, when you’re taking medication, probiotics are good to take too. Fwiw.

  46. 46.

    Ruckus

    @lamh36:
    I’ve had to give up almost all chocolate because of migraines. So at least I have an almost immediate reminder as to why.
    Carbs are difficult because we get used to eating them. I’ve had to cut back quite a bit over the last couple of years and it’s taken me that long to stop at least the ones that do nothing except taste good and add weight. My health issues do make it a bit easier to scare myself into compliance. Really though it’s age and just needing to feel as good as possible which is driving me now. Too many issues which bad eating just makes worse. Some days you just have to face the music and change.

  47. 47.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Aleta: I drank kefir one time. If I ever have to have my lower digestive tract completely empty and don’t have much time, I’ll know what to reach for.

  48. 48.

    Ruckus

    @lamh36:
    Sounds Great! Finding a job you like is tough. Even finding one you don’t like that pays well is tough. Finding a decent one that you like and which pays well is worth it though.

  49. 49.

    Ruckus

    @Brachiator:

    But some fools are determined to be as foolish as possible.

    I’d think that if one is trying to be a fool that trying to be good at it would be the way to go. It seems like conservative politicians agree with that because they try to be as big of fools as could possibly be imagined.

  50. 50.

    chris

    @lamh36:

    and KEEP ONLY rice?

    I like rice too but I’m on a diet so imagine my surprise when I found out that a quarter cup of long grain rice has 160 calories. I haz a sad but I have a half cup every week anyway usually with fish. Half a pound of haddock has only 170 calories so yay. It can be done.

    The big shock came when I stopped putting sugar in my coffee and tea. I gave up 10 teaspoons a day and lost six pounds (!) in 10 days.

  52. 52.

    Mnemosyne

    @p.a.:

    Okay, this “12 hour rule” makes more sense than people saying “don’t eat after 6 pm” to people lIke me who don’t get off work until 6 pm. I generally don’t have breakfast until 8:30 or 9 am.

  53. 53.

    HinTN

    You’re not old, Cole. Old is when those gnoshes after lunch, and I mean supper too, become superfluous and you go to the gym to maintain muscle mass. That’s old. You’re just posing.

  54. 54.

    WhatsMyNym

    @Mary G: If you’re using Windows, Thunderbird from the mozilla org is great. Multiple security features and easy to setup. You can leave email on the servers or store on your PC.
    It’s available on other platforms but I haven’t tried it.

  56. 56.

    Mnemosyne

    @lamh36:

    If G had not decided on library science for his master’s degree, I would have told him to go for public administration. MBAs are a dime a dozen now and they’re useless for healthcare work. Good luck — it takes a lot of organization and telling people “sorry, I have to study tonight,” but you can do it.

  57. 57.

    Steve in the ATL

    @lamh36: when you get there, please explain to them that “geaux tigers” is stupid because it’s a noun ending on a verb. Thanks in advance!

  62. 62.

    raven

    @Ruckus: My old man had awful migraines and chocolate seemed to be one culprit. He was also a real salt, coincidink? I don’t think so!

  63. 63.

    Mnemosyne

    All right, jackals, I saw Black Panther last night and I feel totally confident making the following three predictions for next year’s Oscars: Best Supporting Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture.

    There’s no way it wins Best Picture, but it has a good chance at Screenplay, IMO. That’s how the Academy likes to reward promising young writer/directors.

  64. 64.

    namekarB

    @germy: The bacteria in Kefir actually colonize the intestinal tract. Yogurt bacteria merely provide food for the good bacteria in your intestinal tract. I put goat milk kefir on my oatmeal every morning. Yeah I know, old man’s food. It is what one is faced with when the doctor tells you there are no “large” old men.

  67. 67.

    CapnMubbers

    @chris: you might check whether that calorie count is for uncooked or cooked rice. Most calculators suggest around 200 calories for one cup of cooked long grain rice.

  68. 68.

    BAtFFP

    Technically, if the stones are in the pancreas they would be pancreatic stones. If they are in the common bile duct and slowing the flow of enzymes out of the pancreas, they are bile duct stones.

    If the docs ever decide you need an endoscopic procedure (an ercp) to remove the stones, for the love of all that is holy go to a doctor that does ercps all the time. I mean multiple ercps per day. Because few things can fuck with an already fragile pancreas (such as yours) more than a clumsy, botched pancreatic ercp.

    /therapeutic GI RN and pedantic asshole

  69. 69.

    Geeno

    I’m sure you think little of your dietary discipline, John, but I am envious of it. I wish I could make any kind of dietary declaration and stick to it, but it never seems to work out. I just keep choosing the unhealthy flavors over the healthy even when the healthy flavors are still pretty good. Just no discipline,

  70. 70.

    Vicki Delany

    If you’re having gallstones, just get the gall bladder out. YOu don’t need it. I had mine out last spring, and it was an almost-nothing procedure (went home after a few hours) and had no complications what so ever. I also was on the ultra-low fat diet before the op and I continued loosing weight after. BTW, just in case anyone out there (as if) follows Republican talking points, I’m Canadian, and I had the best medical care – including pre-op tests, diagnostics, pre-op visit with doctor, post op visit with doc, pain meds to take home (which I didn’ t need) – and timely too. Total bill came to :$0.00.

  72. 72.

    Ohio Mom

    @BAtFFP: Very good advice, particularly since Cole hardly lives next to a world class teaching hospital.

    But I don’t think he reads this far down in the comments. He only sometimes reads the first few. Your best bet is to wait until Cole asks a question (who wants a calendar? who wants a pet?) and be early in the thread.

  73. 73.

    BAtFFP

    @Ohio Mom: good reminder. I will try to track him down in a more current thread.

    It’s probably not any of my business, but since complex GI procedures are literally my specialty (and I see the after effects of ones that go wrong all the time) I figure it might be worth butting in for once.

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