Tag: Health

  • Tariffs on Canada: Misplaced Blame for Fentanyl Crisis

    Tariffs on Canada: Misplaced Blame for Fentanyl Crisis

    The word out of the White House is that we must put tariffs on Canada. This is to stop the flow of Fentanyl across the Northern Border of the United States.

    Fair enough.

    Or not.

    According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Canadian Government, less than 1% of the street Fentanyl comes from Canada.

    Less than 1%.

    Here is something you should know. Canada does not allow Fentanyl into the United States. The United States does.

    Talk to any trucker that crosses the northern border. When a truck enters Canada, the U.S. does not stop to inspect the truck. The truck advances to a Canadian check point within a few miles of the border. Once at the check point, the truckers show their paperwork, their truck is weighed and inspected. Canada is responsible for checking what gets into their country.

    Continue the conversation with the trucker. The trucker will tell you that when they leave Canada, Canada does not inspect their trucks. The trucks enter the United States and advance to a United States check point. At that inspection site, it is the Americans that process the trucker’s paperwork, weigh the truck, and inspect the cargo.

    Although the illegal goods come from Canada the United States allows them into the country.

    Canada has vowed to spend $1.3 billion on border improvements and the hiring of a Fentanyl Czar. Canada is addressing the issue.

    The question remains. What is the United States doing at our borders to slow the flow of Fentanyl?

    Less than 1% of the United States’ street Fentanyl comes from Canada. The United States provides a far greater amount of the Canadian street Fentanyl.

    The United Sates accounts for 4.4% of the worlds population but consumes 80% of the world’s opioids. The United States has a drug problem.

    The United States can point fingers. They need to start looking in the mirror.

    It’s pretty simple what is happening. The United States had a drug problem. To fix it they want other countries to attend rehab.

    The White House can blame China, Canada, and Mexico for the drug issues. Fentanyl is an American problem. It needs to be solved by Americans.

    Telling someone you will not be their friend because you have no self-control is a YOU problem.

    The White House can no longer tank relationships with allies. This causes worldwide economic downfalls. It starts a global recession. This is no way for the U.S to fix a U. S. problem.

    It is time for the United States to own the problem, stop blaming others, and much needed help.




  • Why I’m Never Really Retired: A Personal Journey

    Why I’m Never Really Retired: A Personal Journey

    More times than I think it would happen I am asked if I am retired. Most times I will say something like “I own two businesses but have flexible hours, working when I want.”  It is a fair, honest answer.

    Yet it is also an incorrect answer.

    I still have my two businesses. Since Covid I have not put forth the effort into either of them I should have, especially since I moved to my current home. I am also the Board President for my self-managed community. I have been doing that for almost the full four years I have lived here.

    Being on the board, much less President was nothing I had planned. I will save that story for another post when I introduce my third business. But I will tell you that being the President of this community has been a full-time job. It should not be, but it is.

    Like most every other adult, I still have adulting to do. Another full-time job. One that pays even worse than being Board President. Cooking, cleaning, paying bills, running errands, making decisions, helping others, and making sure I walk or go to the gym. 24 x 7.

    When I am asked “are you retired” the truly honest answer should be “No. I am never NOT tired.” To re something implies that you stopped something. Being tired is something I have never stopped being.

    In my younger days I fought through it because I was going to work then going out with friends or on a date. I would get up early, stay out way to late and start the cycle all over again.

    Once you get married, have kids, get a real adult job, take on adult responsibilities, when are you not tired? Seems I have not had a good night’s sleep in over 35 years. I am tired.

    I am always tired.

    Last year the best sleep I got was when I went to a movie. Only made it to 26 movies. I had better sleep in 2023 when I got almost 70 movies.

    The problem is not falling asleep. I can fall asleep anywhere. Doctors’ waiting rooms, the gym (those stationary, recumbent bikes can make for good sleeping), my car (when in park). In front of the tv when I am trying to focus. The library. Coffee shops. Airplanes.

    The sleep is just not good sleep. The sleep is just not plentiful.

    I was tested for sleep apnea. I have it / had it. I had surgery to fix things. Was given a CPAP. The surgery did what it was supposed to. CPAP did not.

    How in the world can anyone sleep with an engine running next to your ears while wearing a mask with a long hose? Every time you move, the mask comes lose and it whistles like a rusty harmonica. (Tried that for a month. No sleep was had.)

    Yet I am writing this post today after getting up from the sofa at 11 PM to go to bed. Getting to bed around 4AM. Falling asleep about 7AM and giving up on the concept of sleeping at 8:30 AM.

    I do not drink any caffeine. I will not use any sleep aid (I take something today; I will still feel dysfunctional for the next three. Heck, so dysfunctional that I could be a GOP Congress person or Elon Musk).

    I am tired.

    I wish I was re-tired. It would mean that at some point I was not tired. If I was not tired, it means I must have gotten sleep. After sleep, I had a full day and retired.

    Oh, well maybe I just need to

    (Sorry fell asleep)

  • Remembering Emily: A Tribute to Life and Rett Syndrome Awareness

    Remembering Emily: A Tribute to Life and Rett Syndrome Awareness

    It is with a heavy heart that I write the first blog of the week.

    Yesterday, my family suffered a great loss. My cousin Emily passed away due to complications linked to Rett Syndrome. Emily was 20 years young.

    I only had the opportunity to meet Emily in person once. She was a beautiful, healthy baby. She was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome sometime around her first birthday.

    With family being spread out across the globe we stay connected via social media. Emily’s loving mother, father and brother did a wonderful job of sharing Emily with the rest of the world. . Emily’s loving mother, father and brother did a wonderful job of sharing Emily with the rest of the world. We were able to watch her grow and blossom into a beautiful young woman.

    What is Rett Syndrome?

    Rett Syndrome is an X-linked, severe neurodevelopmental disorder which almost exclusively affects girls. It is characterized by developmental delays, severe problems with learning, communication, and motor functions. In later stages, children with Rett syndrome develop breathing abnormalities, seizures, scoliosis, and sleep disturbances.

    Frequency of Rett Syndrome is ~1:8500-1:10000 live births worldwide and usually manifests at 6-8 months of age. The cause of Rett syndrome is loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked methyl-CpG binding protein (MeCP2). These mutations result in a protein that acts as a transcription regulator. This protein is highly expressed in neurons.

    In >99% of people with this disease, there is no history of the disorder in their family. Many of these cases result from de novo mutations in the MeCP2 gene.

    Currently, there are no effective treatments for Rett Syndrome and treatments are only aimed toward alleviating symptoms of the disease.

    Rett Syndrome impacts mostly girls. Girls have two X chromosomes, one with the disrupted gene and one with the healthy gene. Having some healthy MeCP2 protein allows girls to survive. However, it also results in severe impairment that comes with Rett.

    Emily stopped developing when she was about one year old. Her physical growth did not stop. I do not want to try to explain what difficulties Emily had, what she could or could not do. If you have been around a one-year-old, you can imagine the challenges Emily and her family faced.

    I also lack the insight to explain the numerous surgeries Emily underwent. She faced countless procedures. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of nights Emily spent in the hospital.

    Emily was blessed by having a mother, father, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents near by. They made sure Emily received the 24 x 7 care she required. They also ensured she felt nothing but love.

    Over time, a dedicated group of doctors, nurses, and professional caretakers formed. Teachers and support staff also joined them. They provided the care and nurturing Emily needed. This support went beyond the love Emily’s family was able to provide.

    Rett Syndrome is an orphan disease. An orphan disease lacks attention, resources, and research because it is so rare. Lack of funds creates challenges in discovering cures. It also makes it difficult to improve treatments. Moreover, it hampers efforts to better aid families with the care their family needs.

    I do not want to diminish what is being done. Good people are doing remarkable things. It is just not enough.

    During this holiday season, sit with your family. Remember how blessed you are to enjoy each other’s company. Share health and happiness.

    Then if you can, please consider donating to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

    This holiday season your family will be watched over by a new and incredibly special angel. Emily.

    http://www.rettsyndrome.org