Friday, December 5, 2008

Tilt Table Test

Well, I usually write my professional-leaning pieces here, but I figured this is a good spot for this particular post.

Many friends of mine know well, by now, that I am prone to frequent black outs... Or so I believed. I went to St. Francis Hospital on Thursday (December 5, 2008) at 6 am to get a tilt-table test. I walked in confident that they wouldn't find anything. As I walked into the back room with a very kind and caring nurse, I found myself starting to sweat. I removed my clothes and got into a gown.

After several minutes of answering preliminary questions, it was nearing 6:45. The nurse began to attach electrodes all over my body. This was no shock, as a few friends know, I have done this several times. Everything seemed peachy as I lied on the table.

At about 7 am, it was time for what I was terrified of... The IV. While I have received countless IVs in the past, for some reason or another, I was particularly horrified of this one. In fact, when I passed out this past fall, I received 5 total (four failed attempts by the paramedics, one successful by a St. Francis nurse). So, it began, I felt the needle enter the back of my hand. I lied there, wincing in fear, though... there was no real pain, nothing more than a small bee sting. I had noticed that my heart rate went from a comfortable 54, and peaked at 104 when the needle was lying next to me. Anyway, the first attempt failed because of my nerves. So, we had to try one more time. It was equally horrific to me, but even less pain this time. I knew it didn't hurt, but for some reason my nerves just escalated and I began shaking violently. The nurse talked me down, and my heart rate dropped back to about 68.

Five to seven minutes had passed since the IV experience. I know this because I was wearing a blood pressure band on my arm that inflated and measured me every five minutes automatically. For some reason, unknown to me, things began to get very strange. The room seemed to dim, and the lights started flickering.

Then next thing I know, I'm experiencing the most surreal thing I can fathom. In fact, I still cannot fathom it. If you have ever had a dream that you were murdered violently, and that everyone you've ever cared about was being slowly slaughtered and tortured before your eyes, then multiply it by 10. While I can't say I saw those things, I did interpret them from what I did see. It was extremely similar to the images you see when you play a song on iTunes or Windows Media Player visualizations. I could feel colors, I could taste sounds, and pain was everything. The next thing I know is that I hear my own gasping scream and then I see the ceiling of the room.

"JKDHFkjhdf;lksjdL:Kds;lkjgsklaLKJ"

That is what my thought process was for several minutes. I didn't know what I was, or what anything was for that matter. I didn't know what being alive was, what human life was. Try to imagine being born, but having the brain function of a 20 year old male. Eventually, I remembered I was a person, but whether I was a boy, girl, baby, or adult, was an entirely different story. I tried to speak, but it was gibberish. Minutes passed as I continued to cry and yell. Next thing I remembered was my name, and now my thought process became, "Where the hell am I? Who are you!? Why am I strapped to a table, and why am I naked with electrodes strapped to my body?" It was much less calm than that. I wondered if all the visions had been real, and had I been subject to experimentation? Eventually, everything came back to me, I knew exactly where I was and why. The nurse then informed me I had suffered a grand mal seizure. She told me my body had become stiff and I arched my back so far as to lift my body from the table. This was followed by convulsions. I would have never been the wiser.

The only remnant from this seizure was extreme nausea unlike any I've ever known... well, except for the other times I had "passed out" (I now know were small seizures).

An hour later, it happened again, and the only environmental or physical changed was that I had been moved upright on the table. I was at a 70 degree angle from the ground, almost standing straight up, but hanging slightly. My legs had never felt so weak or useless, but I was trying to make it. Seconds felt like hours, and the test required me to be in that position for 30 minutes. I started to cry again, but didn't know why. I yelled at the nurse and the doctor, telling them I was about to vomit. As soon as the bucket was up to my face, I was gone.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on the table, but the table was upside down. It was another seizure, not quite as scary, but I had emptied my bowels. Talk about embarrassing.

The reason I wrote this is not for "poor me" attention, but for awareness. These seizures are a scary, violent, and painful experience. I don't know that I am epileptic, or what, but if you yourself suffer from them, I am so sorry, because mine are so minute and insignificant compared to most.

Thank you.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Thank God for over achievers.

One of the things I have noticed over the past few years is that an overwhelming amount of people make comments about the lackluster state of original television programming. If it isn't a lame idea shoved into production with either nameless rookie actors, writers and directors, then it is a television series based on either a classic movie, book, comic, or even a crap movie. Once in a while networks find the most washed up child star or industry has-been to try to spice up the marketing of the film. Actually, now that I think of it, the same thing was even happening to the movie industry a few years ago. There were a few shining stars within the past five years, but most of the films have been less than, well, watchable. We have been overrun by films like Boogieman, The Messengers, Date Movie, and a now pointless Saw series. (8 is enough?) It has only brrn in the last few months that this trend has died. It's the end of the Paul W.S. Anderson/Brett Ratner era, and the beginning of the new Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and JJ Abrams era. Epic, Artistic, and hardworking talent has made a comeback. It's no longer about a quick box office paycheck.

My original point, though, that TV has been notoriously written off as, well....crap, has all started to shift. The majority of people I have discussed this issue with were once wildly skeptical, if not just plain against watching original TV. It seems like the major networks have finally given the money to the talent people, rather than the money people. I see it suiting to now recognize the saviors of our once again breathing industry.

House M.D.
24
Chuck
Dexter
Weeds
The Wire
The Shield
Lost
My Own Worst Enemy
Worst Week
The Big Bang Theory
Two and a Half Men
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Lie to Me (coming soon)
Fringe
Scrubs
Prison Break
Heroes (Villains)
The Office
My Name is Earl
30 Rock
How I Met Your Mother
Raising the Bar

Let's hope this trend continues. I suspect a revolution is on its way in the film/television industry, and it's going to be huge... whether it is good or bad, I can't tell you, but it is on its way.

What to watch out for... Tru3D. Tru3D is going to single handedly change the face of the animated family movie. Dreamworks has pretty much gone all out on this. the first film in Tru3D we will see is 2009's star studded Monsters vs. Aliens, featuring the voices of Stephen Colbert, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Keifer Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, and the always hilarious, under appreciated Will Arnett.

James Cameron. James Cameron has always gone above and beyond in whatever he takes on. While I have always found the writing in his films to be, well, not for me (Terminator, True Lies) He has always done an amazing job with keeping movies awesome. (Terminator, True Lies!).
KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED for James Cameron's IMAX revolution called Avatar. Thirteen years in the making, it should hit theatres in 2009. (Here's hoping!) It utilizes an abundance of methods to achieve 3-D in a way you have never seen it before. Cameron says this will push movies from entertainment to a full blown experience. Apparently, rumor has it that the Image Motion Captured CGI characters are 100 percent 3-D and photo realistic, therefore passing Uncanny Valley. Uncanny Valley states that the more life-like a synthetic life form (robotics) become, the more apparent its flaws become. To cross this valley was thought to be impossible (with the exception of cloning of course... on which the jury is STILL out). We'll see what happens.

Stay tuned.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

We Persevere

Barack Obama, Mr. President-Elect, Leader of the Free World,

America has given you a gift. I ask of you to respect the individual freedoms, personal liberties, and well-being of the citizens of your country. Respect the American monetary system, do not inflate and destroy our American dollar.

That being said, I respect the impact you have on America. I am literally excited to see the history you have made. I like it. However, I hope you make the correct choices as our future President. Godspeed, Mr. Obama.

(Bi-partisan enough for you?)

Anyway, as to my conservatism, I am desperately upset not to see a President McCain. I would give anything to give four years in the oval office to that man. As I said, we persevere, and so will Johnny Mac.

I am definitely hopeful for 2012. Let's go Palin/Jindal 2012! If not that, then Romney/Paul! Two men who KNOW how to save the US Dollar.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Democrat blaming game.

The Democrats have done it! They are absolutely stellar experts. I know of no other distinguishable unified group that has succeeded the way they have in the past 8 years. I honestly believe a prize should be awarded to them.

The Liberal Democrat strategy and game plan has always been blame the Republicans. We've seen it time after time, and the media perpetuates it. Take a look back at history and it is absolutely no different. The record of votes on the civil rights issues were passed in congress by Republicans, but today, we are tagged as the prejudiced party? As if the Democrats are the understanding ones... Yeah... Hardly. I can tell you why, because of JFK. Kennedy supported the civil rights movement and the final stamping out of segregation and Jim Crow attitudes across America. What people don't talk about anymore is that it was a huge ordeal within the Democrat party. JFK was not the norm for them. George Wallace and the militant leftist segregationists were the root of the whole issue. So, just because the President at the time happened to support the movement, and happened to be a Democrat, the Democrats have built this facade of being the civil rights party.

Back to my original point, it continues today. Democrats have had regulatory authority in Fannie and Freddie since the Clinton Administration. Franklin Rains, an Obama adviser, has wrapped his financial career around a tree. It is no secret that Fannie and Freddie have gone south, and Rains still took in $92 million. Hello? He was CEO of Fannie and they are garbage now. Still want to blame the Free Market?

So what does this have to do with success? Well, the Democrats and their bitches, the media, has turned all of this issue against the Bush Administration and the Free Market. I'm sorry, but the Free Market is NOT responsible for this. Don't stick your hands in it, give loans that could never possibly be paid back, and you won't have this happen! Though, devoted Rush Limbaugh listeners, like myself, know that they WANT this to happen. If constituents and citizens of all types are miserable, then they think they need the Government to save them. This is the epitome of the Liberal lie. I have absolutely had my fill of hearing of the "George Bush failed Economic Policies"... Yeah, right! I can honestly say I believe his policies are what have kept this mess from being even worse. I'm tired of the Liberal big-talkers like Bill Clinton. I recall a Hillary rally he spoke at during the primary last winter, he said something along the lines of, "At the end of my term, we had a record surplus and a balanced budget! Now, we have record deficits and an $8 trillion debt! Why? Because of the same failed Republican policies we've seen fail every time!"...

Where do I begin... Honestly where? There are so many angle to start. First, President Clinton, raising taxes to pay more does not really equal a healthy, balanced budget. You did not raise efficiency in spending. Your "surplus" is a sham. There has always been a giant debt, but we know you are cliche enough to blame Bush for that too, and if not him, his father, Reagan, and Ford. NEVER Carter though... pfff. Secondly, Do you really want to trash the policies that have caused this astronomical deficit? I don't think you do, I really don't. It wasn't this way, at least not this extreme, until Democrats took control of Congress. So, either the new majority had a big say in what passed, or they did nothing, either way, they were wrong. I go with the former. On top of that, if they have such big numbers, enough to outvote a veto, why are we still at war? Oh, because they are LIARS.

Deceit has masked the hidden agenda of the Liberal movement for far too long. Rather than being pushed into eternity with Obama, he has exposed it. The Media and the Liberal Elites can keep trying to cover their tracks, but it will not work.

Senator Obama, I would like to know why in America, on TV, and in front of voters, you are ready for the troops to come home. According to you, we should have never been in this war, the surge wasn't going to succeed, and we need to focus military pressure in other places. Well then, Barry, why did you negotiate with Arab officials to keep troops in their countries until YOUR Presidency? Is this really about the troops and the country? Or is it about you being the one in the history text books getting credited with not only the withdrawal of forces, but victory in what will most definitely be called an "War with an Honorable Cause"... at least it will if you get the credit.

This all roots back years. Rush Limbaugh exposed a memo from the Clinton Administration that was passed in Washing only amongst Liberal Democrats. It totally exposed the Democrat strategy to undermine the trust of the Voter and take credit for successful Republican actions. It was a battle plan to frame and tarnish the success of the conservative side. So, then and now, there is no change in plans... Obama, when is the change going to happen? What have you changed in Chicago, or your own town, or your own community? Why haven't we seen footage of ANYONE from your past that has had a positive effect on your campaign? I mean, Bill Ayres, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Resco, Saul Alinsky, and Moammar Khadafi? This on top of pictures of you with traditional Arab garb? You, my friend, are not building a very good portfolio or track record. There are too many missing segments of your life. It's suspicious, and if you are legitimate, I suggest you fix it.

Navy pilot, prisoner of war, torture victim with lifelong injuries. If that were anyone else, they would return home bitter and broken. I know of a man who came home with inspiration to fly and fight again. A man who, with all right, could retire to the golf course with his beautiful, wealthy wife to a life of complete ease. Instead this man stood up for what he felt was right... America. He has continued to give everyday since. This man is not a 143 day senator-turned- Presidential candidate-career politician, but he is a career servant to his country... to my country. Senator Obama, you may have class, sheen, celebrities, charisma, and a large campaign, but you will never have what John McCain and Sarah Palin have... Perseverance, altruism, self-sacrifice, and devotion to your country.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Attacks

Hello.

Let's pretend for a while that the Media and the News Networks are not corrupt, biased Democrats. How does news of Obama making deals with Iraqi leaders to keep troop withdrawal negotiations from occuring until after the election in November get a pass? What kind of person looks at the with fair and balanced judgement and says, "No, that's nothing. We really need to focus on Palin using a yahoo account rather than a government account. Oh, and don't forget to mention John McCain being out of touch because his POW injuries do not allow him to use a computer." Why doesn't the news just end every single segment with "I'm Barach Obama and I approve this message..."

Quote of the Day - "What does Marcellus Wallace look like? Say what again, say it again Mother F*cker! Does he look like a bitch? Does he... look like... a BITCH?"

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

"The Fall of an Empire"

Welcome.

The events of the past few weeks have been a completely logical and predictable progression, and in addition correctly forebode the imminent destruction of the Drive-by Media.

We've all been subjected and force fed this sorry attempt to break the image of conservatism in the US. The liberal agenda is not a difficult one to disect and expose.

The radical liberal operatives are using subtle, clever, but effective tools to harness and control the public opinion. First, the media bias is news to no one (no pun intended). With every popular TV personality, news anchor, actor, socialite, and spokesman telling you America is smarter than Conservatives, Christians, and advocates of the free market, why would you disagree? For example, everyone's favorite topic now is Sarah Palin. Every feminist in America is trying to break her. They will do whatever necessary to bring her down, even if it dooms them as well. Why? Well, the answer is quite simple.

I am a proud listener of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Dennis Miller. If you are familiar with these men or what they stand for at all, then the following will be of no surprise to you.

Feminism is one of the many appendages of the Liberal lie. Feminists are not for the advancement of the Woman in a Man's world. They are operatives of a Liberal Agenda. They stand to decay the values this country was founded upon and give control to the Government. The only higher power that liberals believe in is themselves. So why degrade Gvnr. Palin? Sarah Palin destroys the Feminism facade that these social terrorists are putting up. My friends, I cannot stress to you the gravity of this situation.

We in this country are in a battle for more than just the White House. A Democrat administration will be a step toward socialism. Forget your freedom to live as you please.

This post has, yes, been a little thin on subject matter, but it is just an introduction. Please, if you have come across this blog by accident, return, it shall grow more informative and fun. I Promise.

-Wesley