I NEED A KEY FOR THIS

First let me say that I work in a hospital, so keep that in mind. When I started working here, I had to get a key for the bathroom in our area. I was thinking, "a key, wow, must be some bathroom". My first couple of visits to the little boys' room were uneventful, but as time went along I saw what the normal conditions of the "john" are. On a regular basis I walk up to the urinal and feel the need to hold my pants legs up so they don't make contact with the pissy floor covered with "used" tissue. The bathroom stall suffers from the same thing. There is plenty of hand soap, but there are the weeks that go by without any handtowels, so after you wash your hands you have to infect them by touching a wet doorknob (WTF?!?!?). Or you could just use your shirt sleeve or prop the door open with the always full trash can beforehand and then swing your arms like a lunatic to airdry them. And the bad part is that the housekeeping office is on the same floor, they should be in there straightening sh*t up every other day, at least.
One good thing is that the odors are rarely offensive, that's because they keep the urinal full of those cute pink urinal cakes. Seriously, I think I counted like twenty in there one day. The shamefully scary part about all of this is that along with the engineering department, we share the bathroom with the kitchen staff. I let you the reader think about that for a minute, and think about this also, if conditions are like this in a healthcare facility, what are they like in other industries? We might as well go back to the outhouse days and convert the bathroom into an office, we could definitely use the space.

Disrespectful Mets Fan

I work with a several Mets fans. One in particular gets on my last nerve. And it has nothing to do with the Yankees being out. We have many, many Championships and I am quite comfortable. But seriously CJ (crazed Mets fan) tells me that Corey Lidle couldnt pitch and he couldnt fly planes either. And then he proceeds to laugh like he was at a taping of Def Jam Comedy. I had to walk away. This just happened AND its not funny. C'mon show some respect for the recently departed. I dont want to say all, but this Mets fan definitely has no grace.

RIP--Corey Lidle!
My Condolences go out to the Lidle family and the family of the other person on the plane.

Gentrification

gen‧tri‧fi‧ca‧tion  /ˌdʒɛntrəfɪˈkeɪʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[jen-truh-fi-key-shuhn]
–noun
1.
the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses.
2.
an instance of gentrifying; the condition of being gentrified.


What disturbs me most about gentrification?

Gentrification is NOT a black/white thing. Although thats what a lot of people I believe. Its definitely a have/have not thing. You know as in those who have money and those who dont. I guess people think of it as being a black/white thing because gentrification does bring diversity into the neighborhoods. I am all for diversity in the neighborhoods. After all, I am a foodie and I love different types of food.
I grew up in neighborhoods that were mostly hispanic and african american, partly working and partly on welfare. You can consider it segregated. Although, hardly anybody uses that word anymore. But, it is what is. Its stifling growing up in a neighborhood where the only time you encounter different cultures and different status' of wealth is when you leave the neighborhood or when you go to school. It put me at disadvantage because I had developed prejudice.
Gentrification is a poor/rich thing. It doesnt matter if you are black or white if you can afford the higher rent then that is the bottom line with the landlords.
Rent is high enough as it is. I could barely afford my rent. If I had to move, I dont know where I would go because rent is high all over the city. I would most likely have to move out of state. I am all for neighborhood improvement and I know this costs money but with salaries staying the same, how can any person with a budget afford more.
Time Out NY put out a list of the 50 best blocks in the 5 boroughs. I would like to thank them for only listing 2 in the Bronx.
#14 Arthur Avenue btwn 184th & 185th St in the Belmont Section of the Bronx
#22 Horton St btwn City Island Ave & Eastchester Bay in City Island (what they dont say is that traffic is a nightmare in the summer here)
Ironically, both of these areas have high concentrations of caucasians. Hmmmmmm
I am okay with that. I dont need anybody to think that I should be paying more than I pay now.
No Gentrification over here.

As if 9/11 isnt enough, Now we have 10/11

Today is October 11. And today a plane crashed into a bldg.

For awhile there, I was taken back to 9/11. Except this time I was in Manhattan.
My brother calls to tell me that he just heard that a plane crashed into a building. Moments before he called, my son called to tell me he was on his way home. My first thought was if my son was safe. There was no way I was leaving Manhattan without knowing if he got to the Bronx. My son and partner were already home so I wasnt worried about them. As soon as I got word that my son was home, I felt such a relief. Thank God the trains were not affected. He had no idea of the news around him. When I got home, the news reported that this crash was not related to terrorism. Thank God for that. But you know the government always lies. The news then reported that a Yankees pitcher, Cory Lidle, was in the plane that crashed. He and an unknown person were in the plane. Both perished. No one in the building was hurt. Thank God that no one else was hurt. But my condolences go out to the families of Lidle and the unknown person. What a relief to know that this really had nothing to do with terrorism.

Death is a funny thing. You never know when you are gonna go. It can happen at any time.

Lets Say Thanks

http://www.letssaythanks.com/AllDesigns.html

If you visit the above website, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

Whether or not you agree with the war is not the point. What is important is that the mistakes of the Vietnam War are not repeated. The troops should feel appreciated for their service. Send a card, show them you care.

and the Moral of the Story is.....

Two Survivors

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.
The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food.
The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the Land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman Who swam to his side of the island.
On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food.The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him; however, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could Leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island.
The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.
He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven Booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered.
"His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."
"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him.
"He had only one prayer, which I answered.
If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"
"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.

This is too good not to share. With obedience come blessings. My prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be blessed! "What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself"

If you dont get this, I feel sorry for you!
Its not all about you!!!

Who Cares?

Is what he said really important?
Is it really important what he said?

Isnt it more important that he was the first to set foot on the moon?
And is this how money is being spent? There are much more important things that money should be invested in. I dont care what he said or why he said it. Had he not said a word, it wouldnt change the fact that he was the first on the moon.


Software revises Armstrong's moon quote

Sun Oct 1, 2:13 AM ET

That's one small word for astronaut Neil Armstrong, one giant revision for grammar sticklers everywhere.
An Australian computer programmer says he found the missing "a" from Armstrong's famous first words from the moon in 1969, when the world heard the phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
The story was reported in Saturday's editions of the Houston Chronicle.
Some historians and critics have dogged Armstrong for not saying the more dramatic and grammatically correct, "One small step for a man ..." in the version he transmitted to NASA's Mission Control. Without the missing "a," Armstrong essentially said, "One small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind."
The famous astronaut has maintained he intended to say it properly and believes he did. Thanks to some high-tech sound-editing software, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford might have proved Armstrong right.
Ford said he downloaded the audio recording of Armstrong's words from a NASA Web site and analyzed the statement with software that allows disabled people to communicate through computers using their nerve impulses.
In a graphical representation of the famous phrase, Ford said he found evidence that the missing "a" was spoken and transmitted to NASA.
"I have reviewed the data and Peter Ford's analysis of it, and I find the technology interesting and useful," Armstrong said in a statement. "I also find his conclusion persuasive. Persuasive is the appropriate word."

Still FABULOUS at 62.

I had the pleasure of seeing Patti LaBelle perform and I must say she is fabulous. She is 62 and still doing her thing. Her voice is so amazing. She brought tears to my eyes. I thought I was in church. She sang, she danced, and she gave a marvelous performance. If you have never seen Patti LaBelle live, you should go check her out. She was blessed with the gift of song, but we are just as blessed to be able to hear her beautiful voice.

Thank you God for Patti!

Give me my Trans Fat.

I want to be healthy. I want to live a long full life. I also want to be able to make my own choices. I like my trans fat. I understand its not good for you, but so are a lot of other things. ex: alcohol, tobacco, not exercising, etc. etc.
I recently discovered that my entemann's cake, cheese-nips, potato chips, and pepperidge farms were missing trans fat. I dont know how long this has been going on but I didnt like the way my entemann's doughnut tasted. I am sure it was missing the trans fat. I have to admit that everything else tastes the same. If taste is going to be compromised then take it, but if not leave my trans fat alone.

Trans fatty acids (commonly termed trans fats) are a type of unsaturated fat (and may be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated).

Trans fats occur naturally in small quantities in meat and dairy products from ruminants. Most trans fats consumed today, however, are industrially created through partial hydrogenation of plant oils and animal fats — a chemical process developed in the early 1900s and first commercialized as Crisco in 1909.

Unlike other fats, trans fats are neither required nor beneficial for health.[1] Eating trans fat increases the risk of coronary heart disease.[2] For these reasons, health authorities worldwide recommend that consumption of trans fat be reduced to trace amounts. Trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils are generally considered to be worse than those occurring naturally.[3]

Trans fats are increasingly being linked to chronic health conditions (see below), are tightly regulated in a few countries, are mandatory on product labels in many others, and are the central issue in several ongoing lawsuits (particularly against fast food outlets). Many companies are voluntarily removing trans fats from their products, or establishing trans-free product lines.

NYC Trans Fat Ban: Food Fight Over Safety

French Fries, Fried Chicken, Doughnuts Among Items That Could Be Affected

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK A city plan to ban restaurants from selling meals containing an unhealthy artificial fat could open a new front in a national fight over the safety of America's food supply, legal experts said. In recent years, states and a few cities interested in ridding kitchens of suspected toxins have become increasingly bold about mandating warning labels about potential hazards like lead in candy, mercury in fish or pesticides in vegetables. Some of those measures have prompted fierce opposition from the food industry and members of Congress who say the states are exceeding their authority. Experts said New York City would take the boldest step yet if its Board of Health approves a proposal to ban restaurants from preparing foods containing more than trace amounts of artificial trans fatty acids. Announced Tuesday, the ban on trans fats would bar chefs at thousands of restaurants from using partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, an indisputably unhealthy ingredient, but one that has been in some types of shortening and frying oil for decades. Doctors don't like trans fat because of the havoc it wreaks with human cholesterol levels and some studies have blamed it for an epidemic of heart disease deaths. Yet, federal regulation has been light and public health law experts said they were stunned that New York would ban a substance the Food and Drug Administration only began listing on food labels this year. Lawrence O. Gostin, an associate dean at Georgetown University's law school and director of the Center for Law and the Public's Health, called the city's action "breathtaking. He said it is sure to prompt a lawsuit challenging the city's authority to enact such a measure. Big fast food companies that use artificial trans fats to prepare french fries, muffins and doughnuts might also sue over the potential impact of the rules on interstate commerce, he said. "Certainly if there is a local deli in New York that is regulated by the local health department, it is clearly for the city to decide what is safe and what isn't," Gostin said, "But if you're talking about large chains like McDonald's or Burger King … then there are powerful questions of federalism at stake." "On the other hand," he added. "When the federal government refuses to act or neglects to act in the face of a major health crisis, then sometimes you need cities and states to step in to the vacuum and protect the public. And this might be one of those cases." Anthony M. DiLeo, a professor of health care law at Tulane Law School who also teaches at Tulane Medical School, said public health agencies have a well-established right to ban items that are inherently dangerous, like spoiled food or lead in paint. But the limits of a city's authority when it comes to something like trans fat are less clear, he said. "You get to something here that is not a bacteria, it is not a virus, it is not an immediate danger ... One meal containing a trans-fat is not dangerous, per se," DiLeo said. "If you have the authority to ban that, you would have to assume you have the authority to ban all sorts of things that, in small amounts, can't be harmful, but in large amounts could be." The commissioner of New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Thomas Frieden, said he is confident the ban could survive any legal challenge. The Supreme Court has held that health departments have the authority to prohibit the sale of foods that are impure, unfit for use or which spread disease -- and Frieden said there is ample evidence indicating that artificial trans fats cause heart disease. The substance, invented as a substitute for natural animal fats like butter or lard, has more in common with cancer-causing agents, Frieden said, than with other foodstuffs that can be unhealthy if consumed in gluttonous amounts, like saturated fats or salt. "If these were cancer deaths, people would react very differently," Frieden said. Members of the public may weigh in on the proposed ban over the next few months. It is not expected to come before the Board of Health for a vote until at least December. Yet to be seen is whether the proposal will attract the attention of Congress, which has frowned lately on attempts by the states to aggressively regulate food safety. One bill, passed in the House and now under consideration in the Senate, would prevent states from requiring food labels tougher than those already approved by the federal government. The National Uniformity of Food Act has been most strongly opposed in California, which has moved to require warning labels on a list of commonly consumed foods, but Frieden has also been an outspoken critic.

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)