1/30/06

Well, here we are January 30 2006, and the last year has flown by. Today Congress will be voting on the confirmation of Judge Alito, which I believe, will go through. He should be a fair judge; he seems to respect prior rulings, which is all I could ask from a judge, regardless of their party affiliation. Though it seems there are enough votes to kill a filibuster, should it arise. Sen. Kerry and Sen. Kennedy are trying to rally up a good ‘ole filibuster, I believe they will just be out voted… anywho you can’t blame them for trying, at least they state what they believe and stand behind their beliefs.

Today will be Alan Greenspans last Federal Reserve meeting, then Ben Bernanke will officially be in that position. Mr. Greenspan has had a nice 20 + year run as fed. chairman and will retire at 79 years old. I think it is safe to say he won’t have much time to enjoy his retirement. I don’t mean that as a sick joke, just a fact. Though it is among the trend that people are working longer than ever before, and retirement age is creeping up there.

On the subject of hobbies, my time has been limited as of late with my side business, my full time job and with my wife getting her masters degree, I am having to pick up our child at school 3 days out of the week, which means my work schedule is 6-2 so I can get to the school by 2:45. Needless to say, I am burning the candle at both ends, though oddly I am reading more books now than I ever have. I have completed 3 books in just 2 months. I am not sure why, but I am enjoying reading more now than ever. It helps me with my anxiety, but it also is stimulating and entertaining; though the subjects I read are not necessarily fiction. Usually I read Autobiographies or biographies. Right now I am reading Jimmy Carter’s latest book, and it is interesting to get an inside perspective on not only his ideals, but his thought process also.

So I haven’t had the time for magic that I would like, but am still holding cards daily, and trying to manipulate coins. The card manipulating has led me to the poker craze that has reared its ugly head. I am not a gambler, so that part doesn’t appeal to me, but the strategy and competition is neat to learn. I have taken to no limit hold ‘em, limit hold ‘em, stud, stud hi/lo, and limit Omaha hi/lo. I am weakest at Omaha, and strongest at stud, though hold’em I am above average. I started by reading a few books, so I didn’t take a lot of lumps right off the bat. I figure if I get decent at all of the forms, I will do ok as an average. Tournament poker is more enticing to me than cash games. The strategy is a lot more complex hand for hand, than in cash games, plus chip value fluctuates. As of yet I have done well in the sit and go's I have played and the couple of tourneys, I have done better than I expected, though I will never do it for a living, at least I don’t imagine I will reach that level.

I really want to get back into the magic, and am considering shutting down my business for that reason, the design business isn’t that big, though it makes o.k. money (it turns a profit), it isn’t going to really grow unless I dedicate more time to it than I am willing, right now.

I finally shipped a package to my online buddy in Iowa the other day. I had procrastinated due to anxiety and depression, which is a total bitch, but got off of my ass and did it. I met him on a message board, and found him very interesting. He and I are about the same age with young families. The kind of person I would want to be neighbors with. Anywho, he and I are collaborating on a magic board, and we are about to get it sparked back up, after my hiatus.

That’s it for now.

Snappy

Oregon has won for now.....

The Supreme Court rules in favor of Oregon's physician-assisted-suicidelaw in a 6-to-3 decision. The justices find the state has the right toallow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of drugs for terminally ill,mentally sound patients. The court also finds that the Bushadministration, through the actions of the U.S. attorney general, hadin effect criminalized the practice without the authorization ofCongress.

Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court, inwhich Stevens, O’Connor, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer joined. Scaliafiled the dissenting opinion, in which Roberts and Thomas joined.

Thisruling puts this issue in the states hands, and that is a great victoryon this issue, at least in my opinion. In the last seven years, 208people died by doctor assisted suicide. This is an unremarkable numberconsidering in 2004, 40 doctors wrote a total of 60 prescriptions forlethal doses of barbiturates. The prescription total fell from 68 theyear before -- the first decrease since doctor-assisted suicide becamelegal in Oregon.

Of the 60 Oregonians who received aprescription for a lethal dose last year, 35 died after taking thedrug. Two other patients died in 2004 after taking a drug prescribedfor them the year before. Of the 25 who did not ingest the medication,13 died from their illnesses, and the other 12 remained alive by theend of the year.

In Oregon, it is legal for a doctor toprescribe a lethal dose to a terminally ill patient of sound mind whorequests it orally and in writing, with two witnesses. Another doctormust confirm that the patient has a life expectancy of less than sixmonths. By law, the patient must swallow the drug; it cannot beadministered by a doctor.

Most patients who choose assistedsuicide have terminal cancer. A few are dying of AIDS or amyotrophiclateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

College graduates are eight times as likely as those without a high school diploma to die by doctor-assisted suicide.

Of the 37 Oregonians who died by assisted suicide last year, only one lived east of the Cascades.

Allbut one patient died at home -- the exception dying in anassisted-living center. All used a quick-acting barbiturate, and noneregained consciousness after taking the drug.

Three patients vomited part of the medication, but all three died within 31 hours.

Halfthe patients became unconscious within five minutes, and all within 30minutes. Half died within 25 minutes, and all within 31 hours.

It’s not about suicide as much as it is end of life comfort.