Riley says Slow Down, Edwards Upbeat

Yesterday we learned that Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, has a reoccurrence of her breast cancer that was announced just after the last presidential election.


While they thought after her treatment that her condition was cured, her cancer has now spread to her rib, the bones being one of the most common sites for this type of cancer to spread, and once in the bone, it is considered incurable. It is treatable, however, and both John and Elizabeth stress that it will be treated and I wish both of them the best, and strength, as they go through this.



They also both affirm that the campaign should and will go on.






Last week I did my PSA on Colon health, so today I will address breast cancer. Some of this information comes from a course I am taking, and some comes from the CDC web site.

Breast cancer is the MOST common cancer in women.

It is the second most common cause of death from cancer among women (lung cancer is the first).

In 2003, 181,646 women developed breast cancer and 41,619 died from it.

Men can develop breast cancer also. In 2003 1,826 men developed breast cancer and 379 men died from it.

2003 is the most recent year for which numbers are available.

Risk factors include:

Getting older
Having your first menstrual cycle at a younger age.
Starting menopause at an older age.
Being older at the birth of your first child.
Never giving birth.
Not breastfeeding.
Personal history of breast disease.
Family history of breast cancer.
Treatment with radiation to the breast/chest.
Long term use of hormone therapy.
Having changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
Using birth control pills.
Drinking alcohol (more than one drink a day).
Not getting regular exercise.

Just as colonoscopies and eating right reduce your risk of colon cancer, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Control your weight, and exercise.
Know your family history of breast cancer.
Find out the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy, and birth control pills.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Get screened regularly. Screening includes self exams and clinical exams and mammograms. Mammograms are by far the most effective screening tool to reduce incidence and death from breast cancer.

For more information visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/, or
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/breast/patient/, or
http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm


50 miles per hour. That is the new speed limit on downtown Birmingham’s interstates, ordered by Governor Riley. Will the drivers slow down from 75, uh, I mean 60, the current speed limit. Auto drivers are having to change their behavior because trucks can not secure their loads.





Auburn News:
The previously mentioned Auburn Tiger women’s basketball team moved a step closer to the NIT title by beating Virginia Tech yesterday.

Also, a big welcome to Jay Gouge as the 18th president of Auburn University. It’s interesting to have someone whose background, including a bachelor’s and master’s from Auburn, and a PhD from Michigan State, is in horticulture! I bet it was those flower beds that decorate the corners of the football stadium that attracted him.

Garden Work Day and Episcopal Inclusion

There will be a Garden Work Day at Jonesboro Community Garden on Saturday from 8 to 2. The garden will be at the corner of Owen Avenue and Wellington Street in Bessemer. We will be planting a wealth of shrubs and flowers and plants, creating a walking trail, installing benches and more. Please bring gardening gloves, shovels, picks, post-hole diggers, wheel barrows and whatever.

Also, Bobby and I will be cooking hotdogs for everyone. Remember the fun day and good dogs we had at this site last summer. Well, no volleyball this time, but later on in the summer? Who’s in?

The site is a vacant lot today, where a school building and school yard used to be. For those of you not from around here, I will post pictures of the garden as we progress.

Thanks to Vulcan Material Company Foundation for supporting this project in a big way, and thanks to Lawson State and the Bessemer Board of Education, and the City of Bessemer. And thanks especially to the Bessemer Historical Homeowners Association and Erica Young in particular, for leading this effort.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the Episcopal Church and Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori’s predicament regarding the ultimatum put forth by the conservative Anglican bishops to cease confirming openly gay bishops and to not bless same sex unions. Episcopal Bishops rejected this ultimatum and affirmed their support for gays, and rejected a key demand that they give up some of their authority to theological conservatives outside the U.S. church.

The bishops released a message yesterday, part of which said, “Finally, we believe that the leaders of the Church must always hold basic human rights and the dignity of every human being as fundamental concerns in our witness for Christ. We were, therefore, concerned that while the Communiqué focuses on homosexuality, it ignores the pressing issues of violence against gay and lesbian people around the world, and the criminalization of homosexual behavior in many nations of the world.”

The fact that the dissenting bishops are focusing on the way people are created rather than how those people are treated bring this verse (Titus 3: 9-11) to mind:

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

My tip of the bishop’s hat today goes to the Episcopal Bishops who are standing up with integrity and strength against the bullying bishops of the minority. And who are more interested in continuing to do the work of ministering to those in need rather than judging and excluding part of the church community.

And speaking of inclusion, the Birmingham City Council is set to adopt (hopefully) a resolution next week affirming the inclusive policy of the city and celebrating its diversity. The resolution condemns racism and homophobia, and calls for swift investigation of acts against people on the basis of race and sexuality. This resolution is being introduced by Valerie Abbot and is sponsored in part by Equality Alabama and the National League of Cities and their “Partnership For Working Toward Inclusive Communities.” If you are interested in reading the entire resolution email me and I will forward it to you.

To support this effort show up at 9:30 am on March 27 at the City of Birmingham City Council chambers, third floor of city hall, 710 North 20th Street.

Would this type of initiative fly in Bessemer? Let's find out.

Now it really IS Spring

It is hard to get agreement on anything. The weather channel reported all day yesterday that it was the first day of spring. I guess today is the first full day of spring. anyway, Happy Spring!

Did you know the United States Postal Service is trying to change the way we receive our mail. Well, probably not most of us, but they are making an effort for change in new subdivisions, proposing that mailboxes be confined to one side of the road. This would mean that half the residents would have to cross the street to retrieve their mail from a box in a neighbor’s yard. And some people might have two or three or more mailboxes in front of their house. Is this what they want?

The USPS argues that this would streamline postal delivery and cut down on costs. But many, me included, think that the change poses a safety risk, especially for children who may be sent to get the mail. In addition, aesthetically it is bad. Visit www.savemymailbox.com for more information, and to sign an online petition.

While on the subject, postal rates are going up in May to 41 cents. And now they will be selling “forever stamps.” These stamps will always be valid not matter how much rates increase. So do we buy a zillion of them before the next increase? Or do we sit down and figure how many stamps we will use over what period of time versus the likely periodic increases to see at what point it ceases to be to our advantage to stock up on stamps? Or just pay more bills on line, send more emails and faxes instead of letters, and hardly use any stamps at all?

Our state legislators voted themselves a 62% raise yesterday, overriding Governor Riley’s veto earlier in the day. Newly elected representative Patricia Todd of Birmingham voted against the raise, after considering it, saying “A lot of people in my district live in poverty. I could not in good conscience vote for myself a pay raise.” Bessemer representative Priscilla Dunn voted for the raise. I guess she has a different view of her constituents and poverty in her district. Our senator E. B. McClain also voted for the raise.

And speaking of the governor, he invited 100 company executives to Alabama to go turkey hunting in an effort to promote Alabama. The hunters were paired with Alabama landowners (at least Dick Cheney wasn’t invited…watch out!) in an effort to, as Riley indicated, help dispel whatever myths people might hold about Alabama and its people.
Now really, stop laughing. Doesn’t this just reinforce the image people have about our state? And for those who have been holding their breath waiting for work to begin on the library expansion in Bessemer, exhale. One of the first votes I cast in Bessemer was to increase property taxes to help bail our schools out (5 mills) and for library expansion (3-1/2 mills). I hope they have saved all the money generated; the low bid was 4.6 million. The Birmingham News reports the tax generates at least half a million a year, so they can almost pay cash for it. I mean, what’s a million dollars? The library board could never reach an agreement with First Baptist Church about parking (no surprise there) but now that the Foundry owns the former church that has been worked out. Ground breaking may be this month!

Finally, why can’t Karl Rove testify under oath? Do “they” think its OK to lie, when not under oath? Do we think Rove would tell the truth even if he were under oath? We went through this before during the Valerie Plame investigation. Republicans just don’t like taking an oath to tell the truth, do they?


















These horses are made out of driftwood, by artist Heather Jansch of the Westcountry of England. Her website is http://www.jansch.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

Has Spring Sprung?

Tomorrow is the first day of spring, according to the calendar.

But we don’t need a calendar to tell us spring is almost here. All we need to see are the redbud trees blooming. Driving along highways or residential streets, or looking in one’s own yard, the distinct pink color of the redbud flowers is unmistakable.
.

This young tree was about three feet tall when I moved here in 2000. Three years ago it produced its first blooms, and now, about 15 feet tall, you can see it is covered in blooms. And it just happens to be in the perfect spot in our yard.

Nearby is my little Japanese Garden, there is a hint of spring there, as these miniature irises are sprouting up around the pagoda.











Another indicator of spring, and of the roses that will soon be blooming, is the Lady Banks Rose, which is the earliest rose to bloom, at least in my yard. This one is the yellow variety, and in a couple of weeks I will be posting a picture of the entire plant in bloom, I hope. But for now, there are just a couple of early birds already opening. Here’s a close-up.

If you want to see a big and beautiful Lady Banks Rose go to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in about 2 weeks. I guess that when mine is blooming, that will be the time to go, and I will let you know.

There are also azaleas beginning to bloom, and dogwoods with little blooms that soon will be full sized, but their pictures will come later.

As you drive through your neighborhoods, look for these early signs of spring. Each day will bring more color, and new life, to our yards and parks. It just makes you want to get outside and dig in the dirt, doesn’t it.

Here is a question for those who live on or near Dartmouth Avenue:

Why can’t the city designate a “truck route” coming from Lipscomb on Dartmouth Avenue, at Carolina Terrace, to Carolina Avenue, all the way to 14th Street or Highway 150?

On this map, where the star is, is the intersection of Carolina Terrace and Dartmouth. (Don’t follow the “brown” line…that was on there when I copied the map).

Doing this would keep those noisy and dangerous trucks off of the residential street Dartmouth Avenue, and send them down the mainly commercial street Carolina. Bus routes would not have to change, and of course emergency vehicles and fire trucks would still use Dartmouth. Earl, are you listening? This is your street.

Tired of War (and posts about war)?

Well I am. I was tired of this war before it started. But today marks a milestone, the 4th anniverary of the invasion of Iraq. Nothiing more needs to be said if you have checked out Ava Lowery's site, www.peacetakescourage.com.


But just in case you didn't look, here is a video created by 16 year old Ava, called "California Dreaming." Remember Ann Coulter talking about Iraq? "Basically, um, it is like California with Bagdad as LA..." Every time she opens her mouth, she loses credibility. Good thing we have freedom of speech here, Ann. http://www.peacetakescourage.com/index2.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1171045569&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&page=blog



And for those who really can't get enough, here are the death threats that Ava received when she was just 15 years old, for expressing her opinion. http://www.progressive.org/mag_mc042406


Ava contacted me yesterday and thanked me. I should be thanking her. Her site got over a million hits a month during recent months.


I want to apologize. I neglected to mention the AUBURN TIGERS women's basketball team when I said no teams from the state made the NCAA tournament. Well, they didn't make the NCAA but they are in the NIT, and beat UAB yesterday. They play Virginia Tech on Tuesday.

And how about the Auburn Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Teams. National Champions (again). Five in a row for the men. And two in a row, and five out of the last six for the women!

Cesar Cileo was named NCAA

division 1 men's swimmer of

the year.

Steven Segerlin was named NCAA

divison 1 men's diver of the year.

War Eagle!!! That is an acceptable type of "war."

Tomorrow, I promise (unless something noteworthy happens) I will not write of war or scoundrels in Washington. Spring is approaching.

March Madness, and WWJD

There is no excuse for Xavier losing an 11 point lead with just a few minutes to go, and allowing Ohio State to come back and win in overtime. March Madness. And NCAA tournament with no Alabama teams. No Auburn. No Alabama. No UAB. No USA. No any other college. March Madness.

And there is no sense in going to war 4 years ago in March 2003. March Madness. Being hoodwinked by Bush and his faulty intelligence now known as manipulated intelligence. If I were running for president I could truthfully claim that I was against this war from the beginning. It was unjust. It was un-biblical. It was unprecedented. It was unnecessary. It was March Madness.

We call ourselves a civilized society, but does a truly civilized society go to war without cause? In fact, do they go to war at all? If a society is truly civilized, would they not use every means necessary to AVOID war? Apparently we are NOT a civilized society.

Monday is the 4th Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Alabamians killed in Iraq: 52. Mostly young men. Dead in Iraq by State They left behind spouses, young children, and parents.

U.S. Dead in Iraq (confirmed by DOD): 3204 (on 3-17-07) Department of Defense List There are 12 more pending, maybe more by the time you read this.

Total wounded in Iraq: 23,417, or 32,544, depending on how you count. Iraq casualties Unfortunately, many, if not most of these, have had their life altered in ways we can not imagine. Some unbelievably were treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, with substandard care and under inhumane conditions. This is how we treat those who are serving their country.

(Remember, others serve their country in clandestine ways, as operatives for the CIA. And how do we honor them? By outing them? Valerie Plame could not believe that she was identified as a covert agent by her own government. But I digress.)

Peace Takes Courage

Ava Lowery is a 16 year old high school student from Mobile, AL whose web site, Peace Takes Courage, gives clear insight in to the war in Iraq and the Bush administration. Amy has been featured on CNN and her piece "WWJD" garnered death threats from Bush supporters. How ironic that those who supposedly support an effort to guarantee free speech in a foreign land by forcing democracy on a nation, would threaten to silence free speech in their own country. But one only has to recall Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks, who also received death threats after expressing their views. What kind of democracy do these people really want?

Ava’s site has received over 1 million hits a month for several of the last few months. Add a few more. She is a patriot.

Watch Ava’s montage: “WWJD”

Please visit her site and explore. Really, if you can stand it, watch some of the video’s she has produced. Read the blogs. And they want to kill a 16 year old girl who wants peace. Click on “About” to read about Ava. Click on the videos to the left, under “Updates.”
Ava’s web site: http://www.peacetakescourage.com/page-home.htm


Remember, there is a candlelight vigil Monday at 5:30 at 5 Points South in Birmingham. The service members who have been lost will be honored. Options for the future will be discussed. Disclaimer: I have a midterm at 5:30 on Monday and will not be able to attend.

We can support our troops by bringing them home!


And for later:
Check out the Dixie Chicks Movie here:

http://www.dixiechicks.com/06_dcmovie.asp

St. Patrick (Fitzgerald)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

No green beer here, but we might enjoy some steak and biscuits. Remember how good those were at Ireland’s Restaurant near Brookwood Mall? Anyway, here is St. Patrick casting out the snakes. Legend says that the man who brought Christianity to Ireland also drove all the snakes from the country, although we know that post-glacial Ireland has never had snakes. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, the concept of God existing in three persons.

Maybe we should canonize our own St Patrick, U. S. Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, whose efforts are helping to drive the snakes out of Washington. George Bush, Dick Cheney, Alberto Gonzales, Karl Rove. The list goes on and on. Valerie Plame testified yesterday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about how her outing as an undercover CIA agent was “purely political”, and she showed us the harm it caused her and the danger it put many other people in. The committee is considering changes in the way the government handles information about CIA employees. Not surprisingly, Rep. Thomas Davis III of Virginia, the ranking republican on the committee, tried to label the hearing as meaningless. There are 17 republicans on the committee, and only 2 showed up for the hearing.

If there is one thing the administration might be pleased with, in their twisted way, it’s that Plame’s testimony takes our attention away from General Pace’s comments, which took our attention away from the firing of federal prosecutors, which took our attention away from the Walter Reed Hospital scandal, which….well, you get the picture. But remember, "The masses are not asses. They will figure it out."

OK I made my chocolate chip cookies yesterday, and here is proof. Anyone who calls and can come by today can have some, we don’t need to eat them all. But mmmmm, they are good.