Authored by BlueAngel on
Saturday, June 26, 2004
OOPS.........I DID IT AGAIN! I assumed this previous listing was the truth but evidentally it is not. It seems that someone else knew of the so-called bona fides of Hulda Clark apparently having a mail order degree and according to the author of the email on the list serve has some bizarre beliefs.
You might want to check it out for yourselves and discard whatever you do not find credible. I do not want to hold out any false hope or information to anyone,
"Marilyn Geist"
Subject: Re: [PPM] New book - virus in polio vaccine can cause cancer
To: POST-POLIO-MED@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
POST-POLIO-MED@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Hulda Clark has a mail order degree. (References are from her book,
The Cure for All Cancers.)
She has a truly bizarre belief, namely that
All cancers are alike. They are all caused by a parasite. A single parasite! It is the human intestinal fluke. And if you kill this parasite, the cancer stops immediately. The tissue becomes normal again. In order to get cancer, you must have this parasite. . . This is how you do it (or cure HIV or diabetes or Altzheimers or anything else you might have).
Three herbs, used together, can rid you of over 100 types of parasites: black walnut hulls, wormwood, and common cloves [4:11-12].
But the amino acids ornithine and arginine improve this recipe [4:15].
These five products will kill the cancer-causing fluke in the first five days and the remaining parasites in another two weeks [4:19]. It takes 5 days to be cured of cancer regardless of the type you have.
Surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy can be canceled because, after
Clark's recipe cures the cancer, it cannot come back [4:introductory
passage].
All metal (fillings, crowns, bridges, etc.) should be removed from the mouth, and all teeth with root canals should be extracted, because their presence damages the immune system [4:46-48].
To prevent recurrence, stay on a maintenance program of killing parasites and give yourself a high-dose program at least twice a year.
Also treat all family members and household pets [4:23-26].
The method is 100% effective in stopping cancer regardless of the type of cancer or how terminal it may be. It follows that this method must work for you, too, if you are able to carry out the instructions. [4:120]
No matter what kind of cancer you have (or HIV or pains or weakness), a complete program of lifting the burdens on your immune system will miraculously clear it up. [4:372]
Her Syncrometer is simply a galvanic skin response device.
Oh, right, the price.
For several years, Clark's treatment was administered at Century
Nutrition, a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, where the basic fee for two
weeks of "treatment" was $4,500 (plus 10% tax).
This figure does notnclude the cost of a motel room (approximately $210/week);
meals($250/week);
blood tests ($70 each);
standard diagnostic imaging tests($40 to $400);
dental x-rays (at least $206);
"individually tailored" supplements ($400 to $1,500 for a month supply); equipment (about $350)
tooth extractions ($80 each);
and partial or full dentures ($450).
The clinic has now been closed by the Mexicali government.
-----
The posts to Post-Polio-Med are the opinions of the authors;
SJU and the listowners make no claim to their veracity. Always
confer with your own doctor. To UNSUBSCRIBE from the list and
other PPM List commands and info please go to
http://www.skally.net/ppmed/
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Authored by BlueAngel on
Saturday, June 26, 2004
THE ESSAY COPIED BELOW IS NOT MEANT TO RUFFLE ANYONE'S FEATHERS BUT AGAIN TO PROVIDE SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA----LAND THAT I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO LOVE! THE ESSAY WAS PROVIDED BY A RETIRED NURSE FRIEND VIA THE INTERNET.
THE LAW IS THE LAW
So, if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "Under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.
And if that same Government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a Government installation, then, so be it.
And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on which they deem their authority, then so be it.
I say, "so be it," because I am a law abiding US citizen.
I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.
I would like to think that those people have the American People's best interests at heart.
BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?
Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His Commandments in Government buildings,
I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our Government is eliminating from so many facets of American life.
I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.
After all, it's just another day.
I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter as well as Sundays.
After all, it's just another day.
I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break."
After all it's just another day.
I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.
It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."
In fact.... I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshiping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day.
What do you all think?
If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions and begin once again, to represent the majority of ALL of the American people.
Steven W. Jones
"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in
politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."
~Plato~
Read Comments »
Authored by BlueAngel on
Saturday, June 26, 2004
The article shown below is a book review of the book "The Virus and The Vaccine by Debbie Bookchin written by a Polio and Breast Cancer survivor. It is not meant to be upsetting but to pose questions which you might want to investigate further.
It was reviewed on the POST-POLIO-MED@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU list serve which is monitored by www.skally.net. There is a great amount of information on this site both from the polio survivors and the scientific areas.
POST-POLIO-MED@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Forwarded to the list, with permission, from a member on my breast
cancer list. I am wondering if anyone here has read the book.
Kath
I just did a book review on "The Virus and The Vaccine" by Debbie
Bookchin and Jim Schumacher for the Dr. Hulda Clark Association
Bulletin. Horrifyingly, the little boy who died from a brain tumor that you
alluded to had the verified DNA sequenced SV 40 virus in his tumor from
the vaccine. Apparently, there was still some residual contamination
of the monkeys when he received the vaccine. The reason the family
lost (it was their only child) is that the vaccine company was not
required to use the technique of PCR to determine if even the smallest amounts
of virus were in the vaccine. Thus, being held to a lower standard
helped them get off.
Saying that, Dr. Clark sees - through Syncrometer research -
the SV 40 virus in every single cancerous tumor. Indeed, her definition
of cancer is that it is part F. buski parasite, part isopropyl alcohol,
and part SV 40 virus. The pancreatic fluke, Eurytrema pancreaticum,
hosts the SV 40 virus, which is triggered by gallic acid (propyl
gallate); gallic acid is commonly found in grains and oils.
On one point the authors of this absolutely brilliant book are
wrong. The rhesus monkeys didn't "naturally harbor " the SV 40 virus.
But one wonders why the rhesus monkeys decades ago - the polio vaccine
was grown on their kidneys - did host the SV 40 virus, while the
African green monkeys did not. Likely, it was in the rhesus monkeys' food
and/or medicines. Finally, in the year 2000 a safe substrate was found
- not filthy monkey kidneys - to grow the vaccine.
"The Virus and The Vaccine" is a wonderful book! Call your
library and put it on reserve. It describes how three times the government
could have stopped the public's exposure to the SV 40 virus in the polio
vaccine, but failed to do so.
Read Comments »
Authored by BlueAngel on
Thursday, June 24, 2004
This entry should be of interest to those of us who have respiratory problems (i.e. COPD, Asthma, etc) and are curious about how our diets help or compromise our already stressed respiratory systems.
This information is presented in an easily understood format for both the patient with respiratory problems as well as the caregivers. Rotech Company is at the forefront of providing these educational tools.
What About Food?
Food! Everyone wants to know about food. After all, we have to eat it to stay alive. However, we do much more than eat food. We celebrate with it. We get consolation from it. We use it as a way to communicate with others. And we certainly have strong feelings about which foods we like and which we do not like. No matter how you think of food, one thing is sure, you must eat food to get the nutrition needed for life. This lesson will answer some of the most common questions concerning your diet and COPD.
· Is my breathing affected by the food I eat?
· I don’t want to eat because I’m always full.
Why is that?
· If I don’t eat as much as my doctor wants me to, will it really hurt me?
· Should I stay away from too much water if I have a problem with fluid in my legs and feet?
· Should I go on the diet I read about in a magazine?
· What if I don’t have the energy to cook or much of an appetite?
· Should I use food or vitamin supplements?
· What if I’m overweight?
Is my breathing affected by the food I eat?
There are several things about your diet that can affect your breathing. Some of them might be 1) a lack of readily available energy, 2) muscle/weight loss, 3) bloating after eating, 4) too much weight 5) poor fluid management
Also, if you do not eat enough food for the energy you need every day, then that energy will come from either stores of fat or from muscle tissue. Any time muscle is lost, it affects your breathing by making your breathing muscles weaker. Weak muscles do not work as efficiently as strong muscles do, and they use more oxygen to do their job.
Finally, some foods produce a lot of gas during digestion and can cause bloating, making your breathing more difficult. Foods that cause an excessive production of gas during digestion may include broccoli, cauliflower, other cabbage related foods, and cooked beans. You should avoid foods that cause you to feel bloated and have to work harder at your breathing.
You only need to avoid foods if they cause a problem for you. Some have believed they must avoid milk products because they increase mucus production, but this is unfounded. Unless your doctor has restricted your diet for some other reason (eg, low-sodium, low-fat, ulcer), eat the foods that you like.
First of all, people who suffer from COPD often use six to ten times more energy for breathing than others use for the same job. If you do not eat enough food to supply that added need, then you may run out of energy for other activities during the day.
I don’t want to eat because I’m always full. Why is that?
As discussed earlier, moderate to severe COPD often results in lungs that grow larger with too much stale air. The diaphragm gets pushed down toward the belly, and that causes a full feeling. If you eat too much, then your stomach gets tight and it gets even harder for your diaphragm to do its work of breathing.
The solution to this problem is to increase your number of meals during the day and decrease your portion sizes.
If I don’t eat as much as my doctor wants me to eat, will it really hurt me?
As discussed earlier, if you do not eat enough, it could lead to muscle and weight loss. But it could also cause critical deficiencies in proteins (what the body uses to repair and maintain tissues), fats (essential fats are important to your body and can only be added through food), vitamins (the things that help to turn food into energy, and minerals (building blocks used by the body to maintain bodily functions and manufacture bone, blood, and teeth).
Malnutrition and weight loss have been shown to be risk factors for infection, hospitalization, and failure of your lungs. If eating a large meal causes you to feel bloated, a solution to the problem is to eat several small, well balanced meals throughout the day. Focus on eating higher calorie foods. End the day with a nice bowl of ice cream.
Should I stay away from too much water if I have a problem with fluid in my legs and feet?
Many people mistakenly reduce water intake in an effort to deal with swelling in their extremities. In fact, too much fluid in swollen extremities is often due to something other than drinking too much water. Not drinking enough water can actually make the problem worse.
Water helps you to digest food and get rid of waste. But COPD can cause you to produce too much mucous. Plenty of water in your diet will help to keep that mucous thin so it can be moved out of your lungs more easily. Mucous in your lungs traps a lot of germs, so getting it out is very important. Never underestimate the importance of drinking enough fluids.
Drinking 8-10 glasses of fluid per day is about right. Alcohol should be avoided in excess but a single drink (1 oz of liquor, 4 oz wine, or 12 oz beer) is acceptable and evidence exists that it may even be beneficial. Always discuss your entire diet with your doctor as there may be other reasons to restrict your fluid and diet (eg, salt-, alcohol-, fat-restriction).
If you haven’t already guessed, there are many ways to get more fluids into your diet—water is just one of them. Be sure to ask your doctor about drinking more fluids. Drinking fruit juice, a milkshake, or even a beer with your meal in place of water is a good way to increase your calorie intake. <(Please check with your physician about drinking any alcoholic breverages, including beer. The reason being that some of the medicines you are prescribed might not be compatible with alcohol.)
Should I go on the diet I read about in a magazine?
There are a million and one diets going around out there. You should not pay attention to any of them without showing them first to your physician. Supplements or vitamins should never be added to your diet before consulting your doctor because some supplements can cause problems with your medications. In fact, the best way to ensure a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals is to follow a well balanced diet using small meal sizes several time a day and by drinking plenty of water between meals.
What if I don’t have the energy to cook or much of an appetite?
Prepare nutritious foods that require less energy to fix. Fix a large portion and freeze some to heat up later. Convenience foods (eg, pre-cooked, ready to eat) can provide good alternatives but you do have to watch sodium levels if you are on a salt-restricted diet.
"Meals on Wheels” can be an inexpensive and nutritious option if you don’t cook. Casserole meals save energy by being an entire meal in one dish, cutting the energy needed to prepare the meal and to clean up.
Many patients have a problem with a poor appetite. Some medications can upset the stomach (eg, theophylline), but the most common cause of poor appetite is swallowing mucus. If you cough up mucus or have sinus drainage, avoid swallowing the mucus as much as possible.
Should I use food or vitamin supplements?
High calorie supplement drinks can be useful when you are unable to eat well (eg, during an illness). Special formulations for people with breathing problems are available but any quality supplement is probably fine for COPD patients at home. Eating a good meal is best but drinking a high-calorie, high-vitamin drink can substitute when necessary.
Vitamin supplements (eg, one a day) may be helpful, especially when diet is lacking in proper vitamins. There is some evidence that increased intake of Vitamin C (500-1,000 mg/day) and beta- carotene (it produces Vitamin A and E) can be helpful.
What if I’m overweight?
For other patients with COPD, their problem might be the opposite- they are overweight. Obesity (> 20% over ideal body weight) can also have a negative impact on breathing and general health. Obesity restricts the movement of the chest and decreases lung volume. It can predispose the patient to other problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. If you are overweight, a responsible weight loss program under your physician’s guidance can be helpful.
Proper nutrition is important to everyone but especially the patient with breathing problems. Find the diet that is best for you and practice it on a daily basis in order to improve your general health and breathing. Talk to your doctor when you have questions. Taking these steps can help you in your goal to breathe easy.
Study Questions About Your Diet
Circle the letter that best answers each question.
1. T or F Many people who suffer from COPD should pay close attention to eating enough food because they use much more energy to breathe than other people do.
2. Which of the following foods produce more gas and thus can cause bloating as they are digested?
a. Steak
b. Milk
c. Cabbage
d. All of the above
3. Which of the following eating patterns is best when you suffer from COPD.
a. Two big meals per day.
b. Two small meals per day.
c. Three regular meals per day.
d. Three light meals per day with three snacks between those meals.
4. T or F If you swallow mucous, that could cause you to loose your appetite.
5. Getting plenty of liquids in your diet will
a. cause your feet to swell.
b. thin out your airway mucous.
c. not make any difference.
d. mean you’ll have to drink water to get all the needed fluid.
6 .T or F A “once per day” vitamin and mineral supplements is probably a good idea for people with COPD.
http://www.rotech.com/respiratory/v2/health hyper/diet/diet2/nn4/diet2.htm
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Authored by BlueAngel on
Sunday, June 20, 2004
This entry is pertinent to many people who have "back " problems. It is planned to also have some information regarding the anatromy of the back and spinal column from brain to the so called"tail" bone. Hoping that this information will be of help to most people. This information is from the site of Back.com site.
Back.com - Treatment Options - Non-Surgical - Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an important treatment option for most back pain sufferers. A physical therapist is trained to carry out your doctor's orders to stretch, strengthen, and exercise your back in a safe and effective way. It is important that physical therapy is coupled with education, so that patients can be empowered to take charge of their own recovery.
Physical therapists are trained to give instruction on posture, educate patients about basic anatomy and physiology, and instruct patients in body mechanics, stretching, strengthening and conditioning exercises. The physical therapist also works with the physician to determine if other types of treatments including ultrasound, heat, diathermy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, massage or spinal manipulation may be indicated.
What should you expect from a visit to the physical therapist?
The physical therapist will do an evaluation and will determine if there are any joint limitations or muscle weakness as well as pinpointing the pain distribution in your back. Heat therapy and massage, as well as ultrasound may be used to ease back pain. In the past these types of treatments, which demanded little from the patient, and soothed the pain were used as the mainstay of treatment. Unfortunately, while these "modalities," as they are called by physical therapists, feel good at the time, the pain relief produced by massage and ultrasound treatments are often only temporary.
More recently physical therapists have demanded physical activity from their patients, which may cause minor pain at the beginning of the course of treatment, but has longer lasting therapeutic effects: strengthening the back and relieving pain in the long run. Physical therapists that treat patients with movement, exercise, strengthening and conditioning, encouraging gradual increase in activity, are usually the most success.
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Authored by BlueAngel on
Sunday, June 13, 2004
It is time for another few tips about some of the uses of WD_40.
When it gets hot, windows roll down, air conditioners crank up and
people take any measure necessary to stay cool. WD-40 can help keep
you comfortable during the sweltering summer heat. Try it to:
-Lubricate fan spindles and bearings
-Penetrate stuck bolts on air conditioning units when doing repairs
-Prevent rust from forming on swamp coolers
-Stop squeaks on and lubricate window cranks and locks
-Un-stick buttons on air conditioner control units
-Lubricate pop-up sprinklers
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Authored by BlueAngel on
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
ROSE AT 87 is another one of these bits of relayed stories that is at once inspirational and entertaining to the reader. It also has life's lessons presented in a form that is well worth reading and pondering about. Enjoy the read.
ROSE AT 87..... A VERY GOOD READ!
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged
us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look
around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find
a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her
entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven
years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a
chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily
made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled
in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living
it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our
football banquet.
I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up
to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped
her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing."
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and
achieving success.
You have to laugh and find humor every day.
You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it.
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our
daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had
begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to
the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to
be all you can possibly be.
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice
to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get,
We make a Life by what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to
it, He will bring you through it.
"Good friends are like stars........You don't always see them, but you
know they are always there."
Read Comments »
Authored by BlueAngel on
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
This was sent to the author by a friend and I thought that it was worth sending on for your entertainment and to be thought provoking. We all enjoyed the irrepressible Charley Brown, Lucy, Linus and the dog, Snoopy, who was forever doing battle with the Red Barron.
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the
"Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions.
Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and
actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and
special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones
that care.
Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia."
(Charles Schultz)
Read Comments »
Authored by BlueAngel on
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Hope you enjoy reading about this new E-MAIL information about the uses for WD 40:
What does WD-40 stand for? It’s a question we hear quite a bit. The
answer? Water Displacement, perfected on the 40th attempt. Displacing
water is the best way to prevent rust and corrosion, which was the first
use for WD-40. Try WD-40 to prevent rust on:
-Bicycle frames, rims and other components
-Garden, automotive and other tools
-Patio furniture
-Stainless steel
-Chrome parts on motorcycles, automobiles and off-road vehicles
-Tomato cages, bird cages and outdoor faucets
-Pipes, fittings and other plumbing accessories that are exposed to the
elements
Read Comments »
Authored by BlueAngel on
Saturday, June 05, 2004
The following article was gleaned from the AARP Magazine web site's NEWS section (www.aarpthemagazine.org). Thought that the audience for this blog would be interested in some of the different views expressed. It will be interesting to see how well the discount cards do take off in the future. It will also be interesting to see how the drug companies come forth with their own plans.
Tepid Start for Drug Card ; About a Half-MILLION on Medicare Opt for Plan in First Month
Rocky Mountain News - June 2, 2004
Of 41 million people on Medicare, about half a million voluntarily signed up for the new Medicare prescription drug card in its first month, the Bush administration said Tuesday.
The cards took effect Tuesday. About 2.87 million seniors and disabled people have the cards, including about 2.3 million who were automatically enrolled through their Medicare health maintenance organizations, officials said.
"We are hoping that a lot of folks that were window shopping during the month of May will now sign up in the month of June," said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson.
He added that "hundreds of thousands" more are in the process of signing up.
His estimates don't include low-income seniors in seven states who are automatically being enrolled through state low-income drug assistance programs. Colorado doesn't have such a program, and the government doesn't have the other states' numbers yet.
The prescription drug card program is an interim step toward a Medicare drug benefit for seniors that will start in 2006.
Until the Medicare drug-benefit program is up and running, disabled patients and those who are 65 or older can sign up for cards that entitle them to discounts of at least 10 percent on brand- name medicines at local pharmacies or through the mail.
There are 40 nationally accepted cards, and another 33 accepted in specific regions of the country.
Once enrolled, the card sponsors can change their discount structure or drop coverage, but enrollees cannot change cards until the end of the year.
The San Francisco-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights says this is unfair, because companies could bait-and-switch customers.
Thompson waved aside that criticism, saying that drug card companies want to keep customers, not alienate them.
"For those companies that want to stay in this, you want to be one of the survivors," he said. "You want to give the best service possible - the most drugs, at the cheapest price possible."
In the past, the Bush administration has said that 7.3 million of the estimated 41 million Medicare beneficiaries would sign up this year for cards.
In a news conference Tuesday, Thompson declined to reiterate that claim, and refused to define the program's success through the number of people signed up.
"We think it's successful right now," he said. "We've got 2.8 million Americans signed up who didn't have this opportunity yesterday."
In May, the government fielded 3.8 million inquiries from seniors and sent out several million customized information packs.
Still, seniors were taking their time deciding.
They're weighing the card against other forms of assistance they have cobbled together over years without a prescription drug benefit.
Those options include state patient assistance programs, drug companies, and mail order, Internet and Canadian pharmacies that offer drugs at half the price.
Applications are coming in more slowly than some card vendors had hoped, given the marketing and media blitz surrounding the program.
"We had expected, maybe the word is prepared, for more of a rush earlier last month when the word was getting out," said Carol Hively, a spokeswoman for Walgreen Co., which says it has processed "tens of thousands" of applications.
"It was more of a trickle of interest in our stores," she said.
AARP, a lobby for older Americans, said that while it had received thousands of inquiries, only 3,600 people have applied for its Medicare drug-discount card and just 975 were approved as of Tuesday.
Las Vegas-based Sierra Health and Life Insurance Co. offers the cards in five states, including Colorado, and has signed up 673 people.
(C) 2004 Rocky Mountain News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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Authored by BlueAngel on
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
The following essay was sent to me via e-mail by one of my retired nurse friends in our Polio Survivors Association. It is indeed a very thought provoking essay. It is something that you will take away with you and as she says you will never look at coffee in quite the same way again.
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
WELL worth the read...
This is very profound & you will never look at a cup of coffee the same
way again....
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how
things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to
make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and
struggling.It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen.
She filled three pots with water.
Inthe first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the
last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without
saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and
placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed
it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do
you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.
She did and noted that they got soft.
She then asked her to take an egg and break it.
After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee.
The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked. "What's the point,
mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity-boiling water-but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the
boiling water they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee
bean?"
Think of this:
Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and
adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the
heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a
financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and
stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and
tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water,
the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it
releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when
things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.
When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you
elevate to another level?
How do you handle Adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE
BEAN?
Don't tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD
is!
Read Comments »
Authored by BlueAngel on
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
This newsletter is full of information regarding the Medicare Discount Medication Cards that is presented in an easily read format. Also there are other topics that are of interest to most of us in our everyday lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eldercare Matters - June 1, 2004
>>>Last Comment About Medicare Cards (I Hope)<<<
Beginning today, Medicare participants can start using a
prescription-drug discount card designed to help save money
on medication. But, according to a recent CBS report, there
are at least 73 different cards to choose from. And finding the
best one is no easy task.
Some cards are available nationwide. Others only work in
certain states or at particular pharmacies. All offer different
discounts on different medications. To make matters worse,
the companies can change which drugs they offer and the
discounts they offer on the drugs at any time without any
warning to cardholders.
My first recommendation regarding these cards is - take your
time. Once you make a selection, you're locked in until the
middle of November.
If you haven't already made a card selection, it will pay to
do some research before you do. Be systematic:
> Make a list of all the drugs you take and how much they
cost
> Find out which cards are available in your state and basic
information on each one. The 1-800-MEDICARE phone
information line has been overwhelmed, and you will
probably get your information faster from their website at
http://www.medicare.gov
> Compare the available cards, looking for the one that
covers most of your medications, or covers your most
expensive medication. Also, make sure that you save
enough to cover the cost of the discount card.
> Call the company. Each card/company has a toll-free
number. Call this number and verify that the drugs and
discounts are actually offered by the company.
There have been numerous reports that information on the
Medicare Web site is wrong or already outdated.
> Get an enrollment application from the company you prefer.
Be careful about responding to promotional material that
comes in the mail - look for the Medicare-approved logo.
There are scams out there promoting official-looking cards
that aren't actually a part of the program.
Reminder - If you enroll, you'll be locked in until
November 15, 2004. You'll then have until Dec 31, 2004
to switch cards.
-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------
>>>Tame Your Paper Elephant<<<
Heck, paper tigers are manageable. It's when they get to
elephant size and start trashing the house that you have a
real problem.
I handle my mother's bills and all her paperwork. It's an
astounding amount of paper. The volume from Medicare alone
("this is not a bill" Medicare) must be responsible for the death
of several forests just this year. Add her stuff to what routinely
comes into my house every day and things can get out of
control pretty quickly.
If you're responsible for someone else's finances as well as your
own you can get overwhelmed really easily. Chances are that
something will disappear the moment you look for it. And
sooner or later you'll end up paying a late fee to someone.
For the last month I've made it my goal to "manage" the mail
every day. If a bill arrives, I write the check that day and I
drop the part I'm supposed to keep in a folder. I use just one
folder for our bills, and one for my mother's. Some day, if I
live long enough, I might have a folder for every creditor, but
then I'd never file them at all. This works, and I start a new
one on the first of every year.
I look through the ads and flyers, and 98% go right in the trash.
The remaining 2% go to my husband, because guaranteed
they're something related to his hobby. Model airplane flyers
get lots of catalogs. If there's a coupon I want, I tear it out and
stick it in my wallet right then.
Holiday catalogs, magazines, and such, have a basket of their
own where they can sit tidily until whenever.
My second goal is to take care of three more pieces of paper
in "the pile." Just like for the three bears, one isn't enough, and
five is too many.
The rule is, I have to actually make a decision and DO
SOMETHING with each of the three pieces of paper. I can't
pick it up, look at it, decide I'll have to do something about it,
and then put it in a "to do" pile. I actually have to DO
SOMETHING.
Now, "do something" can include throw it away - and it's
amazing how much you can throw away because it sat in the
pile so long it's no longer relevant. But you can miss some
good stuff that way.
So, "do something" might be putting the return address in the
book, so I can finally throw away the envelope. Or write the
note I've been putting off. Whatever it is, I have to do it, and
then get rid of that piece of paper by either putting it away
(and that doesn't include giving in to the temptation to put
it into another pile!) or throwing it away.
It's getting harder now, because when I started out of course
I chose to do something with the easy stuff. Now, I have the
tougher things coming to the top of the pile. I may have to
revise my number down from three to two...I don't know.
I do know that it's working (most days). It's amazing how
much calmer and in control I feel when I'm not surrounded
by paper chaos. Just being confident that nothing urgent is
being missed is a relief.
That's my organizational tip of the day - what's yours? I'd
love to know. Email me your favorite sanity-saving tips and
every now and again I'll pick one to share with everyone.
-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------
>>>Financial Help for Alzheimer's Caregivers<<<
Heads up if you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's and
you're in need of some financial assistance.
The American Health Assistance Foundation has funds for
needy Alzheimer's caregivers through its Alzheimer's Family
Relief Program. Their requirements are few: the patient must
have been diagnosed by a practicing, certified physician as
having "Alzheimer's disease," "probable Alzheimer's disease,"
or "dementia of the Alzheimer's type." The physician's statement
must have one of the above diagnoses for the patient to be eligible.
The liquid assets of the patient and caregiver cannot exceed
$10,000 (not including car and house); and the patient cannot
reside in a nursing home.
Grants up to $750 are provided for expenses such as short-
term nursing care, home health care, respite care, adult day
care, medications, medical or personal hygiene supplies,
transportation, and other expenses related to care for a patient
with Alzheimer's disease. Grants are not provided for payment
of nursing home fees.
Applications are funded based on established need and on a
first-come, first-served basis. First-time applicants will receive
priority treatment; repeat applicants are placed on a waiting
list and are considered as funding becomes available.
If you qualify or know someone who does, please contact
Jarmel Wilson at (800) 437-2423 or download an Alzheimer's
Family Relief Program application form from their website at
http://www.ahaf.org
-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------
Motivation gets you going, but habit gets you there.
Make motivation a habit and you'll get there more quickly
and have a lot more fun on the trip.
Zig Ziglar
-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------
That's it for this time. I do hope your Memorial Day was truly
memorable and you didn't get sunburned too badly. Summer is
officially here - that's a mixed blessing here in Dallas, believe
me!
All my best to you,
Molly
-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------
Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
mshomer@eldercareteam.com
Box 700291
Dallas, TX 75370
(972) 395-7823
-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------
© 2004 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to
use material from Eldercare Matters as long as you include
complete attribution, including live web site link and email
link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where
the material will appear.
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