Playing His Supporters Like a Fine Violin

While talking with a friend of mine the other day he related how he was happy that President Trump was doing something about the reported “migrant caravan invasion“ heading for the U.S. border by deploying 5200 plus troops.  I just smiled because my friend still didn’t get it.  The troop deployment is just another Trump orchestrated P.R. stunt to promote his image and rally his supporters for the mid-term elections.  It has little to do with solving the immediate problem.

Sadly, if he stopped believing Trump’s “fantasy news” and researched the facts, he would discover that those 5200 plus active troops are barred by federal law from engaging in any type of law enforcement activity.  The troops cannot detain the immigrants, seize drugs from the so called drug smugglers that Trump claims populate the caravan, or have any direct involvement in stopping the migrant caravan.

What can they do?  They can provide supportive labor such as help install concrete barriers, barbed wire set up medical tents, provide medical assistance, and repair and maintain vehicles.  They can also provide helicopter support equipped with advanced technology to locate migrant treks at night.

So when Trump tweeted, “Our military is waiting for you,” he plays this country once again like a fine violin, for the implications of that phrase is hardly what will really occur.   Then again maybe he isn’t playing us at all, but instead, as is so often the case, he just truly doesn’t comprehend the federal restrictions and “is above” seeking any advice on the matter.

Hopefully, saner heads will prevail at the border, and no one gets trigger happy so we don’t end up with some type of Waco Siege massacre.

Additionally, if you believe President Trump can undo birthright citizenship with a stroke of his pen, I have some swampland in Florida to sell you.  You second amendment advocates should know better.  It’s a right given in the U.S. Constitution just like your right to own a gun.

Patrick Taylor's Legacy - A Two Edged Sword

While Louisiana taxpayers continue to fund TOPS which was set up to honor the legacy of oil tycoon Patrick Taylor for his generosity in starting a college tuition funding program for high achieving inner city kids, we need not forget his other not so generous legacy.  His company Taylor Energy has given Louisiana one of the worse offshore oil spills in U.S. history.

This oil spill disaster which has been kept quiet by Louisiana officials since 2004 has been dumping between 300 to 700 barrels of oil daily into the Gulf just 12 miles from the Louisiana coast.  That year an oil production platform owned by Taylor Energy sank in a mudslide triggered by Hurricane Ivan.  Many of the wells have never been capped and soon the continuing leaks from the wells will surpass the BP’s Deep Horizon Disaster as the largest ever.

From 2004 to 2010 the spill, with the aid of our state, was successfully kept secret because of the company’s desire to protect Mr. Taylor’s reputation and his company’s proprietary information about its operations.   Apparently state officials were content to let it remain a secret for Louisiana never even filled suit against Taylor Energy for the continuing damage.

However, much to their dismay, it was accidentally discovered by environmental watchdog groups when they stumbled on Taylor Energy wells’ oil slicks while monitoring the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster.

Even though the company is no longer in business they are obligated by law to plug the leaks.  Taylor Energy’s latest approach to the problem is simply to walk away from it, for the leaks continue with no planned end in sight. 

The company was ordered by the Feds to set up a $450 million dollar trust fund to fix the problem.

However, they are presently suing to get the money back claiming it’s no big deal because, according to their estimates, it’s only leaking 1 to 55 barrels a day.   A figure no one else can support by data.

Maybe a better use of all that tax payers’ money for TOPS would be to direct it towards plugging those leaks.

But then again who cares if the Gulf and Louisiana’s coastline gets more polluted as long as we can send our kids to college, tuition free.  Thanks Taylor Energy.

He Said, She Said

Without the desire of prolonging any more discussion of the deplorable actions that occurred by both political parties regarding the recent approval of the latest Supreme Court justice, Brett Kavanaugh,  I must take exception to one categorization of the entire debacle, namely, the defensive  rallying cry “that there were no collaborating witnesses.”  Why would you expect any?

What idiot would sexually assault somebody with witnesses present?  Unless you are participating in some sort of gang rape, I doubt that anyone would want numerous witnesses around to view your actions.  Now if by chance your best bud was present, I’m sure he would have your back because by his very presence he pretty much has the same predetermined mind set as the perpetrator.

One should also recall the time frame in which the allegations occurred.   Teenage women, and women in general, were ashamed and afraid to report sexual assaults for fear of the “she asked for it” or “she got what she deserved” syndrome.

You know what I mean.  If a young woman got drunk and ventured into a man’s bedroom she “got what she deserved.” The prevalent thought was, and among many today, still is, she is just a “bad girl” and the man gets a pass to do whatever he wants because in her inebriated state she should have known better.

In fact, it was totally inappropriate to be an inebriated underage female teen at all.  Big trouble if your parents found out.  Again, during those times, unless you were a fool, you kept those incidents quiet.  I’m sure you get the point.

So adopt whatever rationale suits you to legitimately accept our new Supreme Court justice, but please don’t hang it on the “there were no collaborating witnesses” paradigm.    Once again unless you’re a buffoon, they don’t exist.  It is simply a matter of “he said, she said.”  That’s all you are going to get.

My Wife's Ovarian Cancer Message for Women

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY by Liz Anderson

My mom was 40 years old when she died from breast cancer.  I was 15 that February.  I mention her first because even though at the time, I thought it was all about my grief, I now realize her loss was so much greater.  I lost my mom.  She lost everything she loved.

Females in my family from multiple generations had been diagnosed with cancer and we were all well aware it was in the DNA.  Most had died before the age of 40.  My mother and I did not share coloring, she was a brunette and I was a golden blonde.  What we did share was a common body type, straight up and down with itty bitty breasts.  While geneticists claim similar body type has nothing to do with passing on cancer, I was watchful.

When I reached adulthood, I made it my mission to be proactive.  I would take charge of my own health.  At 30 I began getting mammograms.  Some of my doctors doubted my wisdom, but I did not.  At 40 I rejoiced at the fact that I had made it so far with no signs of cancer.  I got a passport, changed jobs, and began to focus on doing more than surviving.  At 50 the celebration continued.  I looked young for my age.  I was healthy, fit, and had a positive attitude about life.  I was living it!

When I was 52 I went for my annual gynecological exam and to schedule my yearly mammogram.  Before I had always had mature graying male doctors with years of experience under their belts.  One was recognized as the Best OB-GYN in New Orleans Magazine.  This time I walked into the office and was met with someone completely different; young, recently graduated, female, Black.  Well, wasn’t this a change. 

 

After completing my examination, I followed her into the office as I had always done before.  She told me during the pelvic examination she felt a little something, and she was scheduling me for a vaginal ultrasound.  To me this was no big deal; probably just a fibroid.  I felt great.  I’d gone through menopause with absolutely no problems.  And so, on that Halloween afternoon, I went to my appointment at Ochsner Main Campus. It was an easy test with smiling radiologists. 

 

Halfway home, 20 minutes later, I received a phone call in the midst of a traffic jam in front of the Superdome.  It was Ochsner calling to tell me they had found a mass on my ovary and had scheduled me for a CA125 blood test and to see a gynecological oncologist the next day.  The next day?  That was so fast!

The female oncologist asked me questions about ovarian cancer symptoms.  Do you have any of the following?

§              Abdominal bloating, indigestion or nausea

§              Loss of appetite or feeling full sooner

§             Pressure in the pelvis or lower back

§            A more frequent or urgent need to urinate

§            Changes in bowel movements/Constipation

§            Increased abdominal girth

§           Tiredness or low energy

§           Changes in menstruation

I had none of these except for a very small belly when I fastened my seat belt.  She asked about my family history of breast/ovarian cancer.  She asked, if my doctors had ever mentioned that ovarian cancer is also on the mutated breast cancer genes and if any had recommended genetic testing.  No, they never had. 

She was visibly angry and told me that this has been a persistent problem in the OB/GYN field.  She mentioned that if I had been screened for the BRCA1 or 2 breast/ovarian cancer mutation, and tested positive, all of this could have been avoided with a prophylactic hysterectomy and bilateral mastectomy after completing my family.  Now I was angry!  Supposedly I had gone to the best doctors in the New Orleans area.  I had gone to a breast cancer specialist.  No one ever mentioned the breast/ovarian association or the possibility of genetic testing.

She told me with my family history I should have been recommended to a gynecological oncologist for my annual visits rather than simply going to an OBGYN.  She also said I should have been presented the choice of genetic testing,

On my 53^rd birthday, I received the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  I had the genetic test for BRCA1 & 2 and the results showed I had a 60% chance of developing ovarian cancer and an 89% chance of developing breast cancer.  But it was too late.  I already had received the ovarian cancer diagnosis.  After completing my first course of chemo I chose to get rid of those itty bitties. Suffering through one cancer was enough. And my replacements were bigger!

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and yet, few people even know that teal is the color of OC awareness.  Breast cancer gets all the attention when it comes to women’s cancers.  Everyone loves and wants to save the tatas. Even football players wear their pink cleats in October.  Ovarian Cancer is the ugly stepchild that no one pays attention to and pats on the head.  After all, it’s called the cancer that whispers.

 

Ladies, if you have a family history of breast cancer, be wary, be resourceful, ask questions, and Google ovarian cancer as well as genetic testing for BRCA1 & 2.  I know now that 3 of my female relatives died from ovarian cancer, but because it was a “female part” it was never discussed.  Not even in the family, and sometimes, not even with GYN patients. 

 

Breast Cancer's Stepchild - Ovarian Cancer

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Our local and national calendars are filled with events celebrating breast cancer survivors and educating women about the detection of this disease.  Even our favorite national football teams celebrate by wearing pink on their jerseys or shoes.

However, one form of cancer which gets lost in the mix is ovarian cancer, which I bet you didn’t know can be directly related to breast cancer through inherited gene mutation.  The gene mutation can cause both breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer.  It’s important for women with a known family history of breast cancer to know about the gene and to take responsible actions to help prevent its consequences.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and unless you are a survivor most people aren’t even aware of it.  Each year it sort of just quietly slips by without too much fanfare.  Teal is the color for ovarian cancer.  Not too much of that displayed nationally.

In full disclosure, if I seem a little jealous and critical of the big celebration for breast cancer awareness and bemoan the lack of the emphasis for ovarian cancer awareness, it’s because I am bias.   In August my wife’s 10 ½ year journey with ovarian cancer came to an end.

However, because of the close relationship between ovarian cancer and breast cancer, it’s important for women to understand both.   Due to my wife’s family history of breast cancer (her mother died at age 40 in addition to many other relatives) her doctors recommended that she begin the cycle of yearly mammograms and Pap smears earlier than most.  However, because of a lack of knowledge on the part of her doctors in informing her to be tested for mutation of the BRCA1&2 genes, at age 53 she developed ovarian cancer while having perfectly normal mammogram and Pap smear screenings.

She tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation.  Most likely she had inherited the gene mutation from her mother.  So while we were vigilant for breast cancer we missed the other possibility of the gene mutation, ovarian cancer.  She never developed breast cancer.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, there are some symptoms but most women just attribute them to aging.  You don’t develop an external lump which can be detected.  You have to actively look for it.  One sure sign is the BRCA1 or BRCA 2 genes mutation, for you will have on average, a 50 to 85 percent risk of developing breast cancer/ovarian cancer by age 70.

Please be aware that while Breast Cancer Awareness Month will emphasize the screenings for breast cancer, it is important to note that it has another associated form of cancer linked with it through gene mutation that needs special attention and a separate testing procedure, which is covered by most health insurance plans.  If you have a family history of breast cancer and your  OB-GYN doctor is unfamiliar with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, find a new doctor.