Fall here. Most of us have a yard-full of leaves that have fallen much earlier than usual. 29 and 66 are lined with leaf watchers, many headed to the skyline drive to observe Mother Nature at her very best.
Its time to plant bulbs. Iris, daffodils and tulips all get planted in the fall. In spring we are always surprised and treated to the joy of our efforts.
Where are you leaf-watching? What are you planting?
I am outraged at reports that I have been seeing that the Dallas hospital that treated Thomas Duncan is trying to throw the nurse under the bus who documented that he had just returned from Liberia. The medical staff is trying to blame the nurse for their being unaware of that fact. The arrogant twits didn’t bother to read the medical record, made the clinical decisions that resulted in Mr. Duncan initially being sent home, and now they’re in full CYA mode.
Just for the record, and for the education of the public:
Nurses gather information and document it
Doctors review said information, examine the patient and develop a diagnosis and course of treatment.
Registered Nurses who are not Nurse Practitioners do not make medical diagnoses. If they do, they are operating outside of their scope of practice and would be risking their licensure.
Nurses do not make treatment decisions, and they are not authorized to decide to send patients home rather than admit them to the hospital.
The docs didn’t read the chart, and they likely didn’t lay a hand on the patient, and now they want to blame the nurse for their lazy incompetence.
In the meantime, one of Mr. Duncan’s treating nurses has developed Ebola despite using personal protective equipment. If her family members also develop symptoms, then someone’s been lying to us.
US Marine Corps General John F. Kelly, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, stated at the National Defense University last week that, during a visit to Costa Rica about a week or so ago, he talked to a US Embassy officer who had recently encountered a handful of Liberians who were preparing to be smuggled through Mexico into the US. According to Gen. Kelly: “If Ebola breaks out in Haiti or Central America, I think it is literally ‘Katie bar the door’ in terms of the mass migration of Central Americans into the United States.” Washington Times 10-9-2014.
So why did they want to be smuggled through Mexico?
The General didn’t say, or that wasn’t reported. Ostensibly for the same reasons all the rest of the Mexican coyote customers have. However, given the Ebola rampage in Monrovia and other parts of Liberia, it could also be that they are determined to escape to “higher ground.” I do not imagine that the US Consular Section in Monrovia is very quick to hand out visas these days. I can imagine Liberians with funds trying to get their kids out of there any way they can.
Wow! WaPo reports that the FBI is investigating allegations that Senator Mark Warner tried to get former State Senator Puckett to stay on in the Senate by suggesting the possibility of a federal judgeship or a high corporate position for Puckett’s daughter. Allegations made by Puckett’s son, who told the FBI that he was the one with whom Sen. Warner talked. The Pucketts turned the “offers” down. Warner’s staff is arguing the nuances of the conversation.
I saw that. I think the entire Puckett family should be run out of the state, starting with the father Puckett and working its way down to the son and daughter. As far as I am concerned, the father sold his soul. What does that make him.
Who knows. re Warner. How is it different than what the rest of them have done? How about the Kilgores who lured Puckett away for political gain.
I don’t particularly care what Warner did. There are so many bad dogs in this one, Warner seems like a mere pup.
That “mere pup” may start squealing in pain this close to the election.
He already is howling. However, my guess is that those of us who like and support Mark Warner really won’t care that he talked around Puckett not defecting like the greedy coward did. How many people do you think will switch their votes over this? 2?
The educators seem to still support Warner.
http://bristowbeat.com/news/sen-warner-holds-town-hall-meeting-for-educators-in-pwc/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Bristowbeat+%28Bristow+Beat+Updates%29
Seems as though some City democratic yard signs got pinched over the past few days. You’d hope that it was juvenile pranksters but apparently only demo sign were taken not GOP ones. Are we headed to a new low in local politics? Who could benefit from such activity? Hmmm, the Shadow wants to know.
Shadow, welcome. What an interesting turn of events.
It sounds like the same mischievous sign disturbers from last city council election might have returned, just to cast more spells over a perceived fiefdom.
I suppose the torches and pitchforks crowd is fairly scared at this point. Sheryl Bass is running a classy campaign as usual. The hot pink signs are glowing from many a City yard. Ms. Bass has lots of friends and supporters.
The Democrats are making a strong presence in ye ole City. Ken Elston and Patricia Richie-Folks both appear unbeatable.
Could it be that someone is taking “out out damned spot” just a little too personally?
“My God, its full of stars!”
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/10/12/milky_way_photo_the_galactic_center_by_robert_gendler.html
True story.
Recent High School conversation over the Hong Kong demonstrations.
Student 1 – I have an article here on the demonstration that we can annotate and present to class.
Student 2 – What is the source of this article (while circling source)
1 – CNN, I got it off the web last night.
2 – Don’t you know that CNN is an unreliable new source?
1- No, I did not know that.
2 – You should be getting all your news source’s from Fox News.
1 – Really?
2 – Yes, they are the only reliable news source.
Really?? Are we brain washing our youth so much that a 15 year old thinks the only reliable news source out there is Fox?? Really?
How horribly scary. A bumper crop of dumb asses on the rise.
@Moon-howler
All politics are local, and this local run is getting interesting. I have noticed more combination of Sheryl + Ken + Patricia signs in many yards; and when you see one for Marc Aveni, it is most often a stand-alone sign. And I have also noticed with several active Republicans, they only have Sheryl’s sign. Yet to see a “complete” Republican canditates set in a yard.
In some circles, the talk is this may be another election where we have the “revenge vote”. That was the nickname given to when Mark Wolfe won two years ago with the most votes of all the canditates.
I am looking forward to this election mainly as the outcome will bring more diversity back to Council. And hopefully better direction and action. Andy Harrover detailed all the issues with the existing Council on his blog, so if folks wanted to understand City politics, read his blog entry on why he choose not to run.
Thanks, Ray. Yes, I noticed the solo Republican signs. That, to me, speaks volumes.
We have always been big fans of Sheryl Bass. She seems to have a lot of support this election.
@Pat.Herve
The problem is that the kid thinks that any broadcast news is a reliable source.
Depending upon the subject.
So what would you consider a reliable news source? Please don’t tell me worldnet news or whatever that is called.
The NIH director said there would probably be an Ebola vaccine by now if it wasn’t for budget cuts.
” Stocks suffer steepest drop of 2014″
” Hazmat suit maker’s stock up 50 percent on Ebola fears”
CNN Money 10-13-2014
This past month has been killing me.
I think Ebola and ISIS might be contributing to the stock jitters. Who knows. All I know is, I want the drop to stop.
@Moon-howler
Relying only on broadcast news is the problem. The sources should be confirmed by other sources on the web.
See the typical reporting by broadcast news on any shooting/plane crash/cop shooting/ etc.
They seek to be first…not the most accurate.
I am not so sure the follow up is the most accurate either. However, I am not as jaundiced about news channels as some folks are. I try to back up with other sources but that is no guarantee.
@Moon-howler
http://reason.com/blog/2014/10/13/can-you-blame-ebola-outbreak-on-republic
Excerpt: The report notes that “Pandemic Preparedness funding through the GHP account totaled $50 million, a decrease of $22.5 million (-31%) below FY14.” Let’s stipulate two things. First, $50 million is both a lot of money and not a lot of money in terms of federal spending. I doubt anyone seriously thinks that spending more in the year to come would have stopped Ebola outbreaks that began in fiscal 2014.
Second, the requested decrease is in President Obama’s budget. Is he a Republican now?
———————–
The NIH director is trying to cover his butt. The problem with the CDC is mission creep.
From the Instapundit link: http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/196584/#respond
Indeed. But if I were a House budgeteer, I’d take the CDC/NIH folks at their — conveniently coordinated with Democratic groups — word and shift funding from all the nanny-state diet/obesity/smoking programs over into infectious diseases. And dare them to complain.
And, finally:
If we were living on such thin ice that the difference between sequestration (the president’s idea, just saying) and non-sequestration is the difference between life and death or Ebola and health, we’re screwed anyway.
I can understand why Democrats are trying to turn the Ebola outbreak here and abroad into a campaign issue. But that sort of gambit is more likely to draw attention to the failure and incompetency of public health bureaucrats here and abroad. That’s probably not good for Democrats, given that they run the White House and the agencies in question.
Yeah, its funny that the GOP controls one half of one third of the government, but somehow everything bad is their fault.
______________________
Read the comments. example:
One problem is that the World Health Org cut its veteran outbreak staff and cut funding. But are now in Moscow worrying about a world cigarette tax.
Don’t try to hang sequestration on Obama. That is simply politically dishonest.
One indication of likely unreliability of information is if a news report focuses on statements from the Obama White House.
Or, in the case of Faux News, they lie.
Or Jen Psaki.
Hmmm…My liberal interlocutors always tell me that the “bumper crop of dumb asses” is in their camp now.
And now a word from our Surgeon General on the emerging Ebola outbreak…….oops, the position is vacant because the R’s are holding up his confirmation due to his stance on guns. They have not given him a hearing yet, just holding him up. Meanwhile there are several Republican Senators griping that there is no Ebola Czar….go figure.
How enraging. Who cares how the Surgeon General feels about guns. He has no vote on anything.
Surely there must be an acting Surgeon General who can speak with some knowledge.
Talk to the Republicans.
@Pat.Herve
And now a word from that Surgeon General candidate on the emerging threat…..
“I don’t know anything about ebola. But if you want an unqualified anti-gun shill as Surgeon General…. I’m your man.”
@Cargosquid
give him a hearing and a yay or nay – not this crap of not bringing it to a vote or discussion.
I think that is the very cry being raised against Harry Reid for refusing to bring a large number of House-passed measures up for debates and votes in the Senate.
Not sure I see how those two situations are equal. It all sounds childish to me.
Wolve – how many times is the Minority party in the Senate stopping legislation from coming to the floor – it is actually a two way street. And I am not trying to defend Reid here – he needs to go too.
Warmest September on record. But I am not a scientist.
NIH director: Ebola vaccine could be ready by now if not for budget austerity
NIH Director Francis Collins said last week that budget cuts have hindered his agency’s ability to develop Ebola vaccines.(Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post)
Federal budget austerity slowed the development of vaccines and therapies for the deadly Ebola virus that has ravaged West Africa, killed one man in Dallas and infected a health-care worker in Texas, according to the top National Institutes of Health official.
NIH Director Francis Collins told the Huffington Post on Friday that the agency has been working on Ebola vaccines for more than a decade. But the NIH budget has shrunk by about $5 billion over the same period, after adjusting for inflation.
“Frankly, if we had not gone through our 10-year slide in research support, we probably would have had a vaccine in time for this that would’ve gone through clinical trials and would have been ready,” Collins said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/10/13/nih-director-ebola-vaccine-could-be-ready-if-not-for-budget-austerity/?wpisrc=nl_fed&wpmm=1
Nice job, repugs
@Moon-howler
The Surgeon General may not vote on anything but does carry a big stick-think about the late SG Everett Koop.
@Starry flights
A) Collins is lying. There are already vaccines being developed. Ten year slide in research support? That would be 2004. In 2006, the Democrats took over the budget battle. Their budgets were passed.
And really? 5 billion over TEN years….so that’s 500 million per year…..out of an almost 1 trillion dollar yearly budget.
Maybe if they weren’t wasting money on studying things like the impact of TV and generators on villages in Vietnam…..
B) The GOP is not in charge and has not cut a thing. They are in charge of one-half of one third of the government. How is this the GOP’s fault again? Oh..that’s right… its an election year.
C) here’s the real story.
http://thefederalist.com/2014/10/14/president-obama-already-has-an-ebola-czar-where-is-she/#.VD00GzVpH9w.facebook
The CDC regular appropriations, as well as the NIH (to fund
development of vaccine) were reduced significantly by the Repub forced
sequestration….a hatchet across the board rather than specifically
cutting waste.
You only need 40% to filibuster. I think a single senators can anonymously put a hold on a nomination, too.
@Starry flights
Not true. Vaccines have been in development for years now, and so far the only real success has been with primates (non-human). Collins is a political appointee, and it is an election year. Although it is interesting that you are such a fan of a born-again, creationist, pro-life Christian.
The Supreme Court allows Texas abortion clinics to stay open!
Talk to the Democrats. The acting Surgeon General works for the White House.
I believe that sequestration was Obama’s idea. And it was a drop in the fiscal bucket — a political farce on both sides — compared to the deficit and debt. Moreover, much of it was aimed by Obama at the military.
No soup for you!
I see that Senator Warner regurgitated the BS from Collins during the most recent debate.
Ever hear of the grant NIH gave GWU not too long ago to work on changing the voices of transgenders to match their chosen sex? Lacking the funds for vaccine research, my eye.
You’re right. The Reid case is much worse.
@Starry flights
Repub forced sequestration…THAT is what you are calling Obama’s idea now?
typical.
The 6 Republican representatives had taken a pledge not to increase any taxes. How do you blame Obama for that?
Sequestration was a result of Tea Party influence. It all came out of the debt ceiling stonewall.
Which reminds me — Why the heck are we playing the blame game over Ebola? We have a serious and unfamilar problem to resolve at home and abroad. Ebola pays no attention to political parties or partisanship. About time we all decided to hitch ourselves to the same wagon and pull together without arguing.
Totally agree with you. Blame game not needed.
This situation is scary as Hell.
@Wolve
About time we all decided to hitch ourselves to the same wagon and pull together without arguing.
Yes Wolve, Yes! And shouldn’t a President be permitted to have his own staff in charge of positions, instead of leaderless organizations. Time to get rid of partisan bickering on both sides and move this country forward. Imagine where our economy would be now if Congress worked towards a future instead of the House just trying to repeal Obamacare with every vote they take.
Another excellent point.
We need to get that Surgeon General in place. I don’t give a rat’s ass if he likes guns or doesn’t. Short of walking around with an AK-47 slung over his back, I simply don’t care. We have a rudderless ship at the moment.
@Moon-howler
Sequestration was Obama’s idea.
The impasse happened because NEITHER side blinked….AND the sequestration was an easy out.
@Pat.Herve
No… a President should NOT be permitted to just have his own staff is said staff is subject to Senate approval.
And this is why he shouldn’t be approved. Instead of a powerful medical authority, Obama picked an Obama activist.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/12/03/obama-health-care-surgeon-general-murthy-column/3863603/
Furthermore, the Surgeon General has nothing to do with Ebola. There already is an Ebola “czar” and an entire organization to work with this.
@Moon-howler
The Surgeon General is a figurehead. The CDC is NOT rudderless. If that organization is that fragile, we are doomed.
If the President wants a Surgeon General, then he should appoint a QUALIFIED one, similar to past ones.
It wasn’t his idea as in wow, look what I just thought up. It was a plan to move the country ahead when the debt ceiling needed to be lifted.
Furthermore, who cares who came up with the plan. No one wanted it. The Re[publican representatives should have been willing to compromise. Sequestration was a form of compromise that was worse than anything the Democratic representatives put on the table. the Republicans should have wanted to avoid it. They were too stubborn and had taken the pledge.
Let’s at least have some honesty about it rather than spin.
Yes, the Surgeon General is a figure head who can suggest policy. Nothing more. However, great things have happened when a strong figurehead is in place.
The CDC has very little power. That is part of the problem.
The Surgeon General suggested is very qualified in my opinion. Its still all over guns, isn’t it? Ask me sometimes why I back off from my former strong 2nd amendment stance….attitudes like that…would be my answer.
Must have used a forbidden word or something….moderation.
I think it was the number of @
Not sure. At any rate, it wasn’t a forbidden word.
The game just changed in Brentsville District, according to fellow blogger Al Alborn.
Eric Young is running as a Democrat in the special election being held Dec. 23 to fill the board seat vacated by former Supervisor Wally Covington.
Eric has pledged to take no developer money which is something new and different. He is not opposed to growth, however. He just doesn’t want the county bought and paid for by developer money.
Now this race is getting interesting.
http://www.ericyoungpwc.com/
@Moon-howler
With that stance, I think that I’d vote for him.
@Cargosquid
No… a President should NOT be permitted to just have his own staff is said staff is subject to Senate approval.
Again, have a vote yay or nay and then move on. This is not new (not voting on appointments) – since day one of the Obama administration, the Senate has refused to move forward with more appointees than any other President. I do not care if they vote him done, just vote on the nominee – there should be a time limit on how long a nominee can languish. This same childish nonsense is why Obama made the recess appointments.
Wow – twilight zone….the Foxies are now complaining that the government should take over the care and treatment of the Ebola patients – taking them out of private organizations hands….. what about the mantra – private is better. And in another note, the hospital in Texas is to blame for much of this mishandling of the first patient. Allowing him to sit in the ER (over a nurse supervisors objections) while they were deciding what to do with him. I do wonder if he has insurance. And then not having proper isolation procedures in place – as if they did not know about Ebola. Staff were permitted to move in and out of the room without changing garments and being decontaminated. Poor planning on the hospitals part.
I guess we don’t want government interference unless you are a Foxie. They just can’t make up their minds, can they?
In fairness to hospitals, we aren’t the Ebola capital of the world. I guess they were flying by the seat of their pants.
I hope it isn’t too late to get it right.
@Pat.Herve
All Obama has to do to remove the Hold is to nominate a worthy candidate instead of a political supporter.
The hold is just one part of the tools of the Senate. Which they can change….I notice no one is doing that.
Obama made the recess appointments because he’s a failure at negotiation. He wants to have it his way or the high way. So, he made illegal appointments. The Constitution is for the little people.
@Cargosquid
All Obama has to do to remove the Hold is to nominate a worthy candidate instead of a political supporter.
I will be polite and assume you are being sarcastic.
@Pat.Herve
Nope. I’m completely serious.
What was Obama thinking in nominating a part time doctor whose real business is in networks? He’s only been practicing for 8 years.
The only two reasons that he was nominated were his vocal anti gun positions and his active support in forming Doctors for Obama.
@Cargosquid
43 Ambassadorial positions. 11 State department employees – waiting for a vote in the Senate. Vote on em – Yay or Nay.
@Pat.Herve
I don’t have a problem with those, mainly because I know nothing about them.. Nor have I seen anything about holds on them. Just on the Surgeon General.
FYI:
Manassas City Council Candidates Forum
October 17th at 7pm
Manassas City Hall
9027 Center Street
Very good. Maybe I need to send a rep???