Tuesday, October 7, 2008

On the McCover of the Rolling Stone

MAKE-BELIEVE MAVERICK

"We got all the friends
that money can buy
So we never have to be alone
And we keep gettin' richer

but we can't get our picture
On the cover of the Rolling Stone"


Well now they've really gone and done it, putting McCain on the Oct 16th cover of Rolling Stone! But in this case, the cover is followed by a very good article. If you thought you knew most of McCain's history, you might be surprised. Click here to read online, Make Believe Maverick: a closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty. Or do like me and print it out to read at your leisure. It's 10-pages long, but every page is worth the reading time.

If I felt better (more about that below), I'd post some snips here. But look, if you want to read it, you will ... and if you don't, you won't. I can only say the more I learn about McCain, the more I realize the man is an unworthy flat-ass crazy lying corrupt warhawk and actually has the potential to be worse than Baby Bush (something I did not think possible)!

And now for my own cry-baby story: (warning, this may be TMI for the some) ... I want to apologize to my blog friends for my blog absence. I'm currently in the middle of a protracted Shingles outbreak, my 3rd this year. I wish I was still as ignorant about Shingles as I was a year ago. Ahhh, those were the days!

It turns out the Shingles virus is the chicken pox virus you probably contracted as a child. It's so vicious that even after recovering from the chicken pox, the virus never goes away. It lays dormant in your spinal fluid, for decades usually, just waiting for an opportunity to come raging back out & wreck havoc with your body.

They say Shingles is "stress-related". Gee, ya think? All I know is this particular outbreak coincides with the U.S. financial meltdown. Watching this economic train wreck has been particularly excruciating. Each piece of scary news pings my painful shingles-invaded nerves.

Just today, seeing first Ben Bernanke and then George W Bush on cable news trying to reassure us did not "talk me down" (as Rachel Maddow would say). Does Bernanke think a calm voice makes scary news more palatable? And GWB ... jeez, he starts out sounding like a bored child and ends up yelling at the audience questioners about needing a loan to buy a desk!

One shingles effect has been to sap all my energy and make computer-time all but impossible. So, that's my excuse for not blogging. As I begin to regain my strength (soon I hope), I will be trying to catch up more on the blogs. I really look forward to reading some of your posts & thoughts. I've missed you all very much!

In the meantime, I will be laying on my side (the only comfortable position) to watch tonight's debate ... and wondering why Senator McDeregulation was not mentioned by either Bernanke or Bush today in their long list of scurrilous reasons why we are in this mess.

15 comments:

Billie Greenwood said...

I hurt for you, D.K. That attack of shingles sounds horrid. Prayers for a complete recovery--speedily!

Great coverage of the Rolling Stone article. I've been meaning to read it. But then again, my mind is made up about the election. Do I really want to learn more bad news of just how bad it may be? With your encouragement, I might tackle it.

Anon-Paranoid said...

D.K. Raed...

Look at it this way. The next time there's a severe storm and your roof is damaged you will already have the Shingles to repair it. LOL...LOL...

My Grandfather had shingles as well and I know what your going through. Hope you feel better soon.

Take care and ...

God Bless.

D.K. Raed said...

B. Explorer:
I am hoping the 3rd time is the charm -- that this virus is banished back to my spine forever! (sigh) whenever I read Rolling Stone, I miss Hunter Thompson all over again.

Anony-P:
Hey, nice to see you! Ugghh, my Shingles would make a roof fit for a horror movie ... but thanks for your thoughts!

Fran said...

Well m'dear, I hope the shingles will subside & ASAP, but I fear watching the debate will not prove to be stress relieving.
Let's just hope McCain's advisors have told him not to try the wink tactic.

Dada said...

D.K. - I am so sorry to hear you are suffering. Mrs. Dada assures me this is a horrible affliction while it is in control. May you soon oppress it. We miss you!

D.K. Raed said...

Fran:
now, you know I couldn't NOT watch...but I'm glad I did...I think it actually helped my stress-level. we'll see tomorrow when the doc puts that BP cuff on.

Dada:
Thanks for the encouragement! I WILL beat it into submission soon, I'm sure...very sad to hear that Mrs D is familiar with how it takes control. In the case of shingles, familiarity definitely breeds contempt.

DivaJood said...

DK, I hope you recover quickly. I know it's quite painful. Hugs to you.

eProf2 said...

Second the motion to all the sentiments expressed above. I hope the third time is a "charm" and that this is it. My mother had the shingles, mostly on her back, and she was not without pain for some time but they did go away, at least on the outside. So, I wish for you a quick remission time. And, thanks for stopping by. Today is my day to get caught up and respond to those who have left comments.

enigma4ever said...

Hey there....I miss you terribly...and am so sad that you are still battling this horrible thing...I hope that soon it is better...and under better control....take good care of yourself...

many hugs...

D.K. Raed said...

EProf:
"at least on the outside" ... that is the part that scares me!

DIVA and
ENIGMA:
You two are the best huggers! I'm starting to feel better already!

Dave Dubya said...

I had my turn with those little beasts last year. At first, I didn't know what hit me. There's light at the end of the tunnel.

Turn off the TV until after the election, if need be.

You'll make it through.

Mauigirl said...

DK, Hope you are feeling much better now...missed you! I'm so sorry to hear that your blog absence was caused by such a nasty thing. My mother-in-law had shingles and I know it is very painful.

Ingrid said...

Dearest DK..I've been cleared of my staph infection but still cover that incision wound and it's healing slowly but surely. At least I've been off the antibiotics for a week since I had to take them for more than two weeks..now I'm getting back in the swing of gardening..
I hope your shingles will come to an end although I'm very unfamiliar with the duration of these outbreaks.. I had chicken pox too as a kid (I think, in Dutch these things have all kinds of different names, I don't know what it translates to)

but feeling sapped like that sounds like mono and since I've had that, I can relate to the feeling of inertia and inability to do things..

hang in there and I'm sure you'll have your way of lifting your spirits in the face of this stress AND shingles..

hugs

Ingrid

D.K. Raed said...

Dave Dub:
shingles ARE like little beasts, thank you for that image!

MauiGirl:
"happy" to report I'm past the gross flare-up & into the residual inflammation stage.

Ingrid:
Awww, thanks for the encouragement. I thought EVERYONE had had chicken pox as kids, but not everyone gets shingles later in life, so go figure. I found out that during an active outbreak, I can't give anyone shingles, but I could give chicken pox to someone who's never had it!

I'm so glad to hear your ordeal is clearing up. I think we BOTH need to do some gardening, the sooner the better, it's good for the soul!

Today I decided I won't allow myself to be sick any longer & I already feel much better! Let's see how long I can psych myself out.

Utah Savage said...

We've talked about this before, so I know you know I feel your pain. Hope it gets better soon. We do miss you.