Normal (?)

Newsworthy, I have just been declared normal. For all you skeptics, please note that I was so declared by a licensed doctor and a certified nurse. Okay, an explanation. A few weeks ago, I was experiencing some tightening and dull ache in my left chest area. My primary doctor did a EKG and noted a slight abnormality. Off to the specialist. Last Friday, I was subjected to a battery of tests including: a stress, echo, and ultrasound. Yesterday I was called with the results of the tests and advised that I was normal, or more accurately - the test results were normal. Well, to say the less, it was good news in consideration of my other ailments and age. Now as to my on-going behavior, rest assured - not normal.

Still Scared !

WASHINGTON (Feb. 14) - Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop pristine,might be the lament of today's Ancient Mariner. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the planet, and every single spot has been affected by people in some way. Scientists revealed a new map on Thursday that shows marine ecosystems around the world that have been affected by human activities. High impact areas are shown in red, followed by dark orange, light orange,yellow, green and blue, which signals low impact. Researchers studying 17 different activities ranging from fishing to pollution compiled a new map showing how and where people have impacted the seas. The map was released at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston and published in Friday's edition of the journal Science. "Our results show that when these and other individual impacts are summed up, the big picture looks much worse than I imagine most people expected. It was certainly a surprise to me," said lead author Ben Halpern, an assistant research scientist at the National Center forEcological Analysis and Synthesis at the University of California.

Am I the only one scared & a little nervous?

"The Senate voted yesterday to give the U.S. government more unconstrained power to

spy on its citizens as it granted telecom companies immunity from lawsuits related to such surveillance. On a 68 to 29 vote, the Senate approved the reauthorization of a law that would

give the government greater powers to eavesdrop interrorism and intelligence cases without obtaining warrants from a secret court. The Senate's action, days before a temporary surveillance law expires Friday, sets up a clash with House Democrats, who have previously approved legislation that does not contain immunity for the telecommunications industry. The chambers have been locked in a standoff over the immunity provision since the House vote Nov. 15, with President Bush demanding the protection for the industry."

This recalls to mind a poem by Pastor Martin Niemiller

First they came for the Jew

and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me.

Desire

Saw this on an MTA Poetry in Motion subway placard this morning.
Struck me as one of life's truisms.

If there is something to desire,
there will be something to regret.
If there is something to regret,
there will be something to recall.
If there is something to recall,
there was nothing to regret.
If there was nothing to regret,
there was nothing to desire.

By Vera Pavlova

Confucius on Utopia

"When the perfect order pervails, the world is like a home shared by all. Virtuous and worthy men are elected to public office, and capable men hold posts of gainful employment in society: peace and trust among all men are the maxims of living. All men love and respect their own parents and children, as well as the parents and children of others. There is caring for the old: there are jobs for the adults: there are nourishment and education for the children. There is a means of support for the widows and widowers: for all who find themselves alone in the world: and for the disabled. Every man and woman has an appropriate role to play in the family and society. A sense of sharing displaces the effects of selfishness and materialism. A devotion to public duty leaves no room for idleness. Intrigues and conniving for ill gain are unknown. Villians such as thieves and robbers do not exist. The door to every home need never be locked and bolted by day or night. These are the characteristics of an ideal world, the commonwealth state."

I thought this appropriate in consideration of the current political climate and state of the world. With due respect to Confucius, the word person should be substituted for man and men.