Best Mattress for People with Back Pain?

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Tuesday May 08, 2018 · 4:49 AM PDT

2018/05/08 · 04:49

Don’t you think Elvis looked like Ms. Liberty. I’m looking for liberty from back pain. I’ve been sleeping on futons for years, but they aren’t great for my back. Doctor said I need to get a good mattress.

Some have suggested memory foam, but others have said the foam doesn’t last or has harmful chemical smells. Others love it.

If you had back and have found a good mattress, please let me know and tell me about it. Right now I’m sleeping in a recliner,

Thank you.

Today's Trivial Trial Trivia about Mueller and the Wayback Machine.

MillieNeon

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Sunday February 18, 2018 · 7:30 AM PST

2018/02/18 · 07:30

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Don’t have much of a tale to tell, but I found this a fascinating trivia. Mueller was Patricia Hearst’s lawyer when she was on trial for bank robbery when she was held in captivity by the SLA. Have always loved the statement she made at that time: “Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the minds and lives of the people!” That the version of her statement I like best, though there are others who quote it differently.

And, I never heard THIS. That the cops and the FBI may have created SLA for their own sinister reasons.

MillieNeon

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Tuesday January 16, 2018 · 8:35 AM PST

2018/01/16 · 08:35

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Flannery O’Conner was one of my fave authors when I was in high school. I related so much to how she saw the South (I lived in a small, racist Arkansas town). And she really knew how to write. Here’s one of my favorite lines of hers: “Mrs. Hopewell had no bad qualities of her own, but she was able to use other people’s in such a constructive way, she never felt the loss.” Ha.

But I digress, as is my way. This is a short excerpt from the hilariously dark story “Revelation” where Mrs. Turpin gets all tangled up trying to figure out the social pyramid . . . You can read the whole story (pdf) here.

And here’s the excerpt from the story I’ve been think about lately:

The gospel hymn playing was, "When I looked up and He looked down," and Mrs. Turpin, who knew it, supplied the last line mentally,"And wona these days I know I'll we-eara crown.

Without appearing to, Mrs. Turpin always noticed people's feet. Thewell-dressed lady had on red and grey suede shoes to match her dress.Mrs. Turpin had on her good black patent -leather pumps. The ugly girl had on Girl Scout shoes and heavy socks. The old woman had on tennis shoes and the white-trashy mother had on what appeared to be bedroom slippers, black straw with gold braid threaded through them-exactly what you would have expected her to have on.

Sometimes at night when she couldn't go to sleep, Mrs. Turpin would occupy herself with the question of who she would have chosen to be if she couldn't have been herself. If Jesus had said to her before he made her, "There's only two places available for you. You can either be a nigger or white trash," what would she have said? "Please, Jesus,please," she would have said, "Just let me wait until there's another place available," and he would have said, "No, you have to go right now", and I have only those two places so make up your mind." She would have wiggled and squirmed and begged and pleaded but it would have been no use and finally she would have said, "All right, make me a nigger then-but that don't mean a trashy one." And he would have made her a near clean respectable Negro woman, herselfbut black.

Next to the child's mother was a redheaded youngish woman, readingone of the magazines and working a piece of chewing gum, hell for leather, as Claud would say. Mrs. Turpin could not see the woman's feet. She was not white trash, just common. Sometimes Mrs. Turpin occupied herself at night naming the classes of people. On the bottom of the heap were most colored people, not the kind she would have been if she had been one, but most of them; then next to them -- not above, just away from -- were the white-trash; then above them were the home-owners, and above them the home-and-land owners, to which she and Claud belonged, Above she and Claud were people witha lot of money and much bigger houses and much more land. But here the complexity of it would begin to bear in on her, for some of the people with a lot of money were common and ought to be below she and Claud and some of the people who had good blood had lost their money and had to rent and then there some colored people who owned their homes and land as well. There was a colored dentist in town who had two red Lincoln’s and a swimming pool and a farm with registered whiteface cattle on it. Usually by the time she had fallen asleep all the classes of people were moiling and roiling around in her head, and she would dream they were all crammed in together in a boxcar, being ridden off to be put in a gas oven.

Please tell your experience with back pain and what helped you. Thank you.

MillieNeon

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Wednesday December 27, 2017 · 6:27 AM PST

2017/12/27 · 06:27

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Usually pulling a muscle means it’s sore for a few days, then everything is fine. But now I’ve had this pain for four months. It travels. Some days it’s all lower back, then some days it’s upper back. Physical Therapy isn’t helping much, cause I can’t get down on the floor to do the main exercise.

It seems to be coming for emotional stress, as it started about the second week I was care-taking my sick bro. He passed on Dec. 1 and it was lot of emotional stress watching him slowly die in the body that had become his enemy.

Please, tell your back pain story . . . upper back? middle back? lower back? What brought you relief? What was pointless.

Should I go see an osteopath instead of my physical therapist and GP?

Do muscle relaxers help? I’ve been given a strong NSAID, non-narcotic, but it isn’t working so great.

Thanks for your input.

MillieNeon

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Tuesday June 06, 2017 · 5:03 PM PDT

2017/06/06 · 17:03

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So this image was on CNN’s front page yesterday. Note the head “Hunting for President Trump’s religious roots”. Note the words above the picture: God and The Don. Immediately posing Trump as some power guy unyielding to God. The second head in the article (same link) says: Presidents often turn to faith in times of crisis. That seems unlikely for Trump.” Drives home the point he’s not a man of faith.

The article was actually about hunting for his Christian religious roots and his non-affiliation with any church or particular Christian path. Though he calls himself Christian, he doesn’t seem to have any real faith. So why not say “Hunting for President Trump’s Christian roots”?

Now look at the picture. He sure looks like the Satan or the Anti-Christ. Doesn’t look like a man rooted in god.

Nixon, of course, was a Quaker. Not that he acted like one, but he did have a faith to associate his name with.

Now look at the next little headline: “Is this the most powerful Jewish woman in US?” Who do you suppose that might be? The most powerful Jewish woman? You know anti-Semites are going to be anxious to find that out. And it is, of course, Ivanka.

Now note the proximity of the words “Trump’s religious roots” to the word “powerful Jewish”. To me, that makes it easy to associate his lack of religious roots to his giving so much power to a Jewish woman. Because the head could just have said “Who is the most powerful woman in the White House” or something. Why is it necessary to point out her Judaism in pointing out her power? Right wing Christians often call Jews the spawn of Satan. Look at that picture of Trump.

And with Kushner taking money from the Russians to shore up his failing building, another opportunity to bring in money-grubbing Jews is born.

So not only is not man of faith or a reliable Christian, his closest power-brokers are Jews. What better way to get the alt-right and right-wing Christians to bolt on Trump? Use their anti-Semitism. Why anti-Semitism? Because they can’t make them black.

(Here’s some twitter response calling Ivanka the most powerful Jewish woman in the US.)

I’m a writer and obsessed with subtext and manipulation of images and text. Am I being paranoid? Perhaps. But it looks awfully fishy to me. Time will tell if this kind of subtext gets more play as the powers that be get closer to ditching the goose that laid the fake gold egg.

Please join this new War on Christmas (shopping)

MillieNeon

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Wednesday November 16, 2016 · 10:20 AM PST

2016/11/16 · 10:20

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In my little hometown in Arkansas that was about 52% black population at the time, the black community did a really smart thing to break segregation. They simply stopped buying in the town. Even though they were the poorest of the population, if 52% of people aren't shopping in town, it's a big economic loss. And, since there was a big KKK in town, protesting (though they did some) and marching could lead to arrest or death. But you can't arrest someone for not buying.

Forget about the War on Christmas. Let's make a war on Christmas shopping. It would be so great if Democrats refused to buy and made presents, or substituted poems or something.

OR, only buy things from small Mom and Pop Shops (online too). NO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING on Amazon, or at the big chains. Economics is one of the things they pay attention to.

CostCo, of course is an exception. Let's start supporting smaller shops and local shop owners.

How to Survive the Toxicity of Trump

MillieNeon

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Thursday November 10, 2016 · 6:07 AM PST

2016/11/10 · 06:07

Like most everyone else around here, I was sickened that Trump won. Not just pissed, sickened. Have been experiencing intense heart ache, a real ache, due to sorrow, anger and fear. Had to input something more nourishing into my heart. So I meditated after an abysmal night and mourning.

I have great friends, great family, great animals around me. Two sweet dogs are around me right now. I'm letting my heart experience the love I feel for these beautiful beings. The love I feel for family and friends. So grateful to feel love in my heart. How often are we around loved ones, but so preoccupied that we don’t take the time to feel that love physically in our hearts?

Also, I refuse to let the Republicans have my mind. I refuse to let them drive and control my thoughts. I refuse to live in that tangle of sorrow and fearful thoughts all the time now because I’m so disappointed. Nothing is worse than to have a running leakage of spirit and consciousness dripping all over my and everyone else’s shoes. But being master of my thoughts again takes effort. For me, meditation really helps me strengthen my head control. The election is bad enough, but if I let Trump and the Republicans eat my brain all the time, it’s like letting them continuously beat me up. THEY CAN’T HAVE MY HEAD! They can’t live rent-free there. So I have to make the effort to get head control back. And that can be difficult. I meditate. Not gonna spend hours talking about Trump on the internet. It’s imperative not to let Trump eat my energy and brain power. I will be the master of what goes on in my head, not Trump and the Republicans.

Trump’s victory has shaken me up for sure. Feels like a huge earthquake has torn apart the ground I was standing on. It will take some work to get back my grounding and my balance. Winter is an introspective time. I’m going to up my game of taking care of my mind and body. And I’m going to work on what’s right around me right now and not be glued to every news story on the web, not look for every horror. Not take loved ones for granted. Do conscious acts of love for them. Remember to appreciate them. Strengthen my immediate community — friends, family, dogs and cats — by acts of love and good communication. Then strengthen my larger neighborhood or group community by participation in literacy programs, or such.

Everything feels so raw right now. And it’s winter. Time to hold things close, nurture them, rebuild balance and grounding. I’m going deep local in strengthening my little corner of the world. In the spring, when I’m stronger and back in balance, I’ll be better able to know how to proceed. But I can’t do that when I feel so askew.

I will not let sadness and fear overwhelm the love I feel. Won't repress the sorrow and fear, but will not let them wipe out love. Because if I lose love, I lose everything. And I will not take love for granted. I will turn to it daily. Who do you love? Can you feel your heart open when you remember the beauty of their being? Or, if they are near, when you look upon them? Sending love to all of you who feel sorrow and fear today. We may be upon dark ages. We may find some new way because of this painful disappointment. We may have to struggle for years. We just don’t know exactly what horrors are going to rain down on us. What matters is not losing love. If we lose love, if we lose compassion, we lose everything. Love on a friend, a child (appropriately, of course), a family member, an animal today. Please don't lose love.

Illinois Voters -- Illinois Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment

MillieNeon

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Tuesday October 11, 2016 · 12:32 PM PDT

2016/10/11 · 12:32

Can you please comment on whether you’re for or against this amendment? It seems like it would be a good idea to use transportation funds for transportation. But, given our budget mess and our debt, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to have some of those funds go to schools, etc. But I really don’t know, so that’s why I’m asking others for their opinion. Thank you.

UPDATE: People Still Don't Care About Bernadette Glomski!

MillieNeon

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Friday September 30, 2016 · 5:27 AM PDT

2016/09/30 · 05:27

You probably don't care about Bernadette Glomski, you probably don't care one bit. But I care, I care about Bernadette Glomski. Because she was murdered up the street from my house. Murdered dead, I tell you. Her soul left her body like bubbles leaving a 7-Up*. And then, 16 months later, John Alexander was murdered right there up the block from me where Bernadette Glomski got the axe. But never fear. The boys and girls in blue, Chicago blue, have found the culprit that slaughtered poor Bernadette Glomski like she was flesh and blood that without breath turns to stinking cold dead meat. You'll never guess who it was! You'll never guess because you've never heard of Bernadette Glomski or John Alexander before, so surely you've never heard of John Skyblue Antone.

And now we all have to ask ourselves, how can a person with a middle name of Skyblue be a murderer? Shouldn't he be a landscaper or forest ranger or cowboy? I mean if someone named John Skyblue Antone can be a killer, well then, anybody can be a killer. Jane Grassgreen Murphy could be a killer. Hank Cloudwhite Johnson could be a killer. Margaret Sandbeige Schwartz could be a killer. Tom Puddlebrown MacSwain could be a killer. We all could be killers. All of us could be killers. But not poor Bernadette Glomski. She lost her chance to be a killer and now she's dead. Completely dead and unable to kill. Bernadette Glomski. Completely dead and almost forgotten, except by me, who never knew she existed until John Skyblue Antone killed her dead right up the block from me in cold Chicago. Such is the stuff of history. Mostly stuff we'll never hear about. Just like you never heard about poor Bernadette Glomski, who's probably rested in peace enough by now, but finds it impossible to get up.

*Thanks Father Guido

(Thanks to Duffy the dog for walking by my side each time I go by Bernadette Glomski’s used-to-be-house.)

Free TV time for HRC if Trump Won't Debate

MillieNeon

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Friday September 23, 2016 · 11:01 AM PDT

2016/09/23 · 11:01

Hillary’s debate preps surely include ways she can maintain her beautiful stoic composure while lobbing little pronouncements that will get Trump boiling so hotly he loses the control his handlers work so hard to maintain and starts becoming the Trump we know he is.

Of course, if the first debate goes badly for him, he will try and find some way of weaseling out of the other two. Let him.

However, I think Hillary should insist on keeping the debate schedule, and showing up, and letting the moderators question her. She deserves that free tv time.

The American people deserve her to have that tv time. Debates are one of the ways the people can learn more about the candidates and what they stand for and how they carrying themselves. After profiting so much from free tv time because of his antics, Trump should not be allowed to steal Hillary’s free tv time.

Call Em What They Are: Freedom Haters--They Hate Our Freedom

MillieNeon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday August 26, 2016 · 9:09 AM PDT

2016/08/26 · 09:09

My sweet dog, Duffy (above pic) is very concerned about calling fascists and racists “alt right”. He demanded that I post a little blog telling people he’s very afraid, because Trump and Bannon aren’t alternatives to the right, they are alternatives to Freedom. Why? Because they hate our freedom.

They hate that liberals and others who think not as they do have the freedom to vote. They hate that women have the freedom to choose how to deal with their own bodies when it comes to health and reproduction. They hate that the LBGT community has the right to be employed and integrate into society and enjoy all the rights and freedoms that we all are supposed to have. They hate that children have a right a free education, that seniors have a right to medicare and social security. They hate that they can’t cram their rabid version of Christianity down our throats. They hate that workers have a right to safe working conditions and a living wage.

They hate our freedom. They aren’t out to defend “white America”. They are out to steal the freedom of everyone else. So let’s call them what they are. Freedom Haters. They hate our freedom.

Kaine wants to pass TPP, deregulate banks and "do battle w/ the progressive wing of the party" WTF??

MillieNeon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday July 20, 2016 · 2:59 PM PDT

2016/07/20 · 14:59

Screen_Shot_2016-07-20_at_4.57.33_PM.png — Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine wants to deregulate banks and pass TPP. That’s what’s being reported on Huff Post.

WASHINGTON ― Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is on Hillary Clinton’s short list of potential vice presidential nominees. He’s also actively pushing bank deregulation this week as he campaigns for the job.

Kaine signed two letters on Monday urging federal regulators to go easy on banks ― one to help big banks dodge risk management rules, and another to help small banks avoid consumer protection standards.

Why would he be doing this after these long negotiations with Bernie and the Dem Platform? Unless he doesn’t want the job? Because it would be so very, very stupid to choose a VP who is going to totally diss the work Bernie’s done for the people and giving the people hope in the party.

Kaine, by contrast, is setting himself up as a figure willing to do battle with the progressive wing of the party. He has championed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that both Sanders and Warren oppose, and he is now publicly siding with bank deregulation advocates at the height of Clinton’s veepstakes.

I voted for Bernie in the prime, always intended on voting for Hillary in the general, and have never been a Hillary hater or basher (I’m from Arkansas). But if she chooses a VP who will be a huge slap in the face to progressives . . . THAT is not going to play. THAT would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

And don’t start calling me a Bernie hater or Hillary hater. I like em both. What I am is a hater of people who want bank deregulation and are for the TPP.

UPDATE: It’s been pointed out that the author of the article, Zach Carter, is a conservative rabble rouser of sorts. However, other commenters have pointed to worrying stances of Kaine on other issues. Plus, he is pro TPP.

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Best Mattress for People with Back Pain?

Today's Trivial Trial Trivia about Mueller and the Wayback Machine.

Flannery O'Conner looks at a Southern, racist mindset . . .

Please tell your experience with back pain and what helped you. Thank you.

Will Anti-Semitism Help the Alt-Right and Religious Right Quit Trump?

Please join this new War on Christmas (shopping)

How to Survive the Toxicity of Trump

Illinois Voters -- Illinois Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment

UPDATE: People Still Don't Care About Bernadette Glomski!

Free TV time for HRC if Trump Won't Debate

Call Em What They Are: Freedom Haters--They Hate Our Freedom

Kaine wants to pass TPP, deregulate banks and "do battle w/ the progressive wing of the party" WTF??