yet another reason to throw the bums out!

sunday nite i started feeling the warning signs of a summer cold.

couldn't find my zinc lozenges in time to stave it off, so the last few days have been spent in utter misery.

after finding out i had four tabs of drixoral left, i kept the massively rebelling sinuses at bay until this afternoon when the deluge started.

so, off i went at 7:30 pm to find more drixoral.

simple, right?  and what has this to do with politics?  well, join me after the fold and i'll explain (between bouts of rage and fury!)

first, i went to the festering source of the virus: walmart (yes, i sometimes have to pass those dreaded walls of inequity to buy objects no longer found in the real world...) and each time, i run into the small harbingers of deadly virus running through the aisles.  this last cold was a direct result of a mother cheerily proclaiming that someone in her near family had yet "another cold" (and tonite, the preteen who sneeZed mightily directly in front of me failed to even TRY to cover his mouth... sigh...)

but...

back to the tale of woe...

so... i check for drixoral.  nada.  left after returning the defective marine battery i bought there (which is why i had to return) and headed over to kmart.

nada.

next, to longs - none there either (except they had these nifty little cards with PICTURES of drixoral on them telling me to take them to the pharmacy - which, of course, by now was closed.)

walgreens - another nada.

safeway - more cute cards of pictures of the over the counter medicine i need to stop the massive attack of snot. (sounds yucky?  try FEELING it attacking!)

finally, i was told that in california, it is "law" that these "drugs" (over the counter, non-prescription, of course) are held behind the counter because...

are you ready for this?

really?

DRUGGIES use pseudophedrene to make METH!

uh - i just want to stop the massive amounts of mucous in my sinuses - i do NOT want to get high - i want to LIVE through the night without choking to death on gobs of goo!

sigh.  

off to drive to yet another town to the only all night pharmacy to buy a stupid sinus medication for colds.

20 more miles (so far, now, 30+ at $3.19/gal for gas?) and i'm not even half way there yet.  i get to the walgreens and YAY! they have a drive through so i don't have to get out and contaminate half the population up and about this hour (now ten pm).  i pull up, wait for the attendent who asks for my driver's license.

huh?  i'm not picking up a prescription, i'm asking for medication to stop a runny nose, for cripes sake!

then - oh, oops, they cannot FILL this at the WINDOW - i must come INTO the store because they have to... [wait for it...] ... enter my information into the computer for the federally required tracking of everyone who buys pseudophedrene.

WHAT THE F*CK???

i am NOW on a damned TRACKING list because my sinuses have decided to drown me in virus (thank you, walmart! THANK you, uninsured poor people who don't go to doctors, thank you government *sswipes who think that this will stop "drug abuse"!)

GAAAACCCCKKKK!

guess what!  THIS is a FEDERAL law! and it gets just crazier!

the reason i am now tracked for TWO YEARS is that this law was included in the reauthorization of the patriot act!

TITLE VII--COMBAT METHAMPHETAMINE EPIDEMIC ACT OF 2005

Section 701. Short title

The short title is the `Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005.' Section 701 of the conference report is a new section.

SUBTITLE A--DOMESTIC REGULATION OF PRECURSOR CHEMICALS

Section 711. Scheduled listed chemical products; restrictions on sale quantity, behind-the counter access, and other safeguards

This section of the conference report is new. Section 711 reclassifies pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, and ephedrine as Schedule Listed Chemicals; reduces the Federal pertransaction sales limit for SLCs from 9 grams to 3.6 grams (the amount recently proposed by the Administration); requires behind-the-counter storage or locked cabinet storage of SLCs; requires that regulated sellers (retail distributors and pharmacies) maintain a written log of purchases; restricts monthly sales to no more than 9.0 grams per purchaser; imposes similar requirements on Internet sellers and mobile retail vendors; and requires each regulated seller to submit a certification that it is in compliance with these requirements, that its employees have been trained as to these requirements, and that records relating to such training are maintained at the retailers location. Such certifications are to be made available by the Attorney General to State and local law enforcement.

Section 712. Regulated transactions

This section of the conference report is new and repeals the Federal `blister pack' exemption, and clarifies the law to include derivatives of each of these chemicals. It makes conforming amendments to the current law, to accommodate the new sales restrictions, and makes another technical correction to make it clear that these sales limitations apply to drug combinations containing derivatives of pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine.

[just a friendly little snippet of the law]

yep.

to protect us from terror - (of a runny nose) - i now have to present photo id, am limited to how many times my sinuses can flair in three months and my personal allotment of snot must be recorded and kept on file for two years for purchasing drixoral.

uh, isn't this a bit of overkill?

yep.  right up there with regulating data-mining, national security letters, hijacking airplanes, good ol' abu g. has to make sure i don't have easy access to an over the counter cold medicine that would regulate the flow of slime from my nostrils!

to prevent the spread of methamphetamine, i must go through massive screening lest my nose be deemed a threat to the security of this nation?

as i said in the title, yet another reason to throw the bastards out of washington.

we don't NEED another friggin' nanny-state!

so, for the first time in years, i end up with a summer cold - and a new political cause!  develop a NEW drug to keep government snots out of my nose!

hmmmm - maybe i'll just sneeze alot and go to each sponsor of the bill and shake their hands.

let's see how THEY do in the middle of the night trying to quell the virus from hell (walmart).

•  tip if you dare... cuz YOU might JUST end up

  on a list for reading this diary.  at least, maybe i'll get my mojo back after losing it during my hiatus of late.

  ahCHOOOOO!

  by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 12:51:49 AM PDT

  •  Those of us around here are already on those

    lists as subversives.  With the new Executive Order, I expect folk to begin disappearing any day now.  

    Nice seeing you back in the saddle, edrie.  Take good care of yourself.  We need you to keep us on the right track (actually the left track) around here.  Peace.

    by possum on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 04:51:16 AM PDT

•  Welcome back to the fold Edrie

  You didn't miss much..
  just the collapse of democracy as we know it.
  It's early, but as far I can tell, there have been no scandals in the last few hours.

  Thank the Cosmic Muffin that these rat bastids must sleep.
  But dawn is near....

  You were missed

  by Zwoof on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:05:09 AM PDT

  •  tanks... the peaceful kind...

    this cold kept me out cold for three days and then the floodgates opened in my head.

    i think the fury at having to drive over 75 miles for an over the counter medication due to republican micromanaging people's lives put me over the edge tonite.

    i'm STILL trying to think PEACE!  but right now, i'd settle for a "piece" of the hides of the sponsors of that addendum to the patriot act of 2005!

    missed seeing yall, too!  good to have my net back, even if it is only dialup... don't know which is worse, the nose or the slows...

    by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:13:39 AM PDT

    •  Sorry to hear about your cold!

      I have allergies - used to end up in the ER fairly regularly with hives (they'd go down my throat and choke me, as well as being everywhere else), get shot up with massive doses of diphenhydramine HCL (your basic Benedryl). They (Navy doctors) would never give me a 'scrip because they told me I'd take it to get high. As if taking enough to get high for fun wouldn't put you in a coma for a week or something. Go figure.

      So since they've had this law for pseudephedrine, I just go for the Benedryl if I have to take something. It also helps me sleep, which is also good when you're sick. Hated having to give up moth balls though... §;o)

      Welcome back!

      by Joy Busey on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 07:15:37 AM PDT

•  I was just wondering the other day

  why I hadn't seen you around lately.

  I have to do the same thing when I buy sudaphed at the pharmacy. And get this: one time I decided to buy two boxes so I wouldn't have to come back so often and they told me no, I could only buy one

  sheesh!

  Jesus of Mesopotamia

  by BentLiberal on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:12:02 AM PDT

  •  Privacy Act is really a cluster f*ck too

    I was trying to get medication for my grand daughter this spring and it involved 2 Gov agencies.  

    The girl at the pharmacy was calling both.  Neither could talk to her or each other by law. Privacy Act

    Finally, the girl said "Fuck it and just gave me the medicine."

    by Zwoof on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:20:58 AM PDT

    •  take a look at that link to the inclusions

      in the patriot act... it is a real doozy!

      after 2008, we have to go through and search out all of these insidious laws and get them repealed.

      perhaps in 2008 there should just be a blanket repealling of the previous 8 years (no, make that 17 years) of ALL legislation and then we can start fresh!

      by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:26:14 AM PDT

    •  holy COW! look what I found in the patriot act!

      TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

      Section 501. Residence of United States Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys

      Section 501 is a new section and addresses an unintentional effect of the residency requirement for United States Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys. Section 501 of the conference report provides that the Attorney General can order that residency requirements be waived when a United States Attorney or Assistant United States Attorney is assigned dual or additional responsibilities. This provision will enable activities such as participation by United States Attorneys in legal activities in Iraq.

      Section 502. Interim appointment of United States Attorneys

      Section 502 is a new section and addresses an inconsistency in the appointment process of United States Attorneys.

      Section 503. Secretary of Homeland Security in Presidential line of succession

      Section 503 of the conference report is a new section and fills a gap in the Presidential line of succession by including the Secretary of Homeland Security.

      Section 504. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to the Department of Justice

      Section 504 of the conference report is a new section. This provision modifies the appointment procedure for the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms by providing that the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the Director.

      Section 505. Qualifications of United States Marshals

      Section 505 of the conference report is a new section. This section clarifies the qualifications individuals should have before joining the United States Marshals.

      Section 506. Department of Justice intelligence matters

      Section 506 is a new section that establishes a National Security Division (NSD) within the DOJ, headed by an Assistant Attorney General for National Security (AAGNS). This section is consistent with a recommendation by the WMD Commission that the `Department of Justice's primary national security elements--the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, and the Counterterrorism and Counterespionage sections--should be placed under a new Assistant Attorney General for National Security.' A version of this section was included in S. 1803, the `Intelligence Reauthorization bill for fiscal year 2006,' which was reported favorably by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on September 29, 2005.  [WTF???]

      Section 507. Review by Attorney General

      Section 507 is a new section. It modifies the process by which States can opt in to the expedited habeas procedures for capital cases under chapter 154 of title 28 of the United States Code by shifting responsibility to the Attorney General for certifying when a State has qualified. This section also allows for de novo review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit of the Attorney General's certification. It relaxes the time constraints imposed on judges for deciding habeas cases under chapter 154. This section also clarifies when a habeas proceeding is `pending' for purposes of 28 U.S.C. 2251, which controls the circumstances under which a federal court hearing a habeas petition may stay a State court action. Overruling McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849 (1994), this section provides that a habeas proceeding is not `pending' until the habeas application itself is filed. For prisoners who have applied for counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3599(a)(2), there is a limited exception allowing the court to stay execution of a death sentence until after the attorney has been appointed or the application withdrawn or denied.

      TITLE VI--SECRET SERVICE

      Section 601. Short title

      The short title is `Secret Service Authorization and Technical Modification Act of 2005.' Section 601 of the conference report is new.

      Section 602. Interference with national special security events

      Section 602 of the conference report is a new section. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1752 authorizes the Secret Service to charge individuals who breach established security perimeters or engage in other disruptive or potentially dangerous conduct at National Special Security Events (NSSEs) if a Secret Service protectee is attending the designated event. Section 602 of the conference report expands 18 U.S.C. 1752 to criminalize such security breaches at NSSEs that occur when the Secret Service protectee is not in attendance. Additionally, it doubles the statutory penalties (from 6 months to 1 year) for violations of 1752, to make the penalty consistent with the prescribed penalty under 18 U.S.C. 3056(d) (interference with Secret Service law enforcement personnel generally). The conference report makes punishable by up to 10 years the thwarting of security procedures by individuals in possession of dangerous or deadly weapons. [like protestors?]

      Section 603. False credentials to national special security events

      Section 603 of the conference report is a new section. This section amends 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1028 to make it a Federal crime to knowingly produce, possess, or transfer a false identification document that could be used to gain unlawful and unauthorized access to any restricted area of a building or grounds in conjunction with a NSSE. Such actions were a problem during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the conference report will allow for Federal prosecution against such criminal violations at future NSSEs. [like fake or "challenged" press pass?]

      Section 604. Forensic and investigative support of missing and exploited children cases

      Section 604 of the conference report is a new section. On April 30, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Child Abduction Prevention Act (Pub. Law No. 108-21), which authorizes the Secret Service to provide, upon request, forensic and investigative assistance to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or local law enforcement agencies. The current statute states that `officers and agents' of the Secret Service may provide this assistance. Section 604 of the conference report clarifies that forensic and other civilian personnel, such as fingerprint specialists, polygraph examiners, and handwriting analysts, are authorized to provide such assistance.

      Section 605. The uniformed division, United States Secret Service

      Section 605 of the conference report is a new section. This section places all authorities of the Uniformed Division, which are currently authorized under title 3, in a newly created 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3056A, following the core authorizing statute of the Secret Service (18 U.S.C. 3056), thereby organizing the Uniformed Division under title 18 of the United States Code with other Federal law enforcement agencies.

      Section 606. Savings provisions

      Section 606 of the conference report is a new section. This section makes clear that the transfer of the Uniformed Division from title 3 of the United States Code to title 18 of the United States Code shall have no impact on the retirement benefits of current employees or annuitants and others necessary to reimburse State and local government organizations for support provided in connection with a visit of a foreign government official.

      Section 607. Maintenance as distinct entity

      Section 607 of the conference report is a new section. This section provides a clear operational and organizational framework for the Secret Service that maintains the Secret Service as a distinct component of the Department of Homeland Security while providing the Service with necessary operational latitude. It allows for the Director of the Secret Service to report directly to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Finally, the conference report provides that the assets, agents, officers, and other personnel of the Secret Service shall remain at all times under the command and control of the Director.

      Section 608. Exemptions from the Federal Advisory Committee Act

      Section 608 of the conference report is a new section. This section exempts the functions of the Secret Service's Electronic Crime Task Forces and the candidate protection committee from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which imposes a series of requirements on committees established or utilized by Federal agencies to provide advice or recommendations to any agency or Federal officer. Committees that wholly consist of full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government are not covered by the Act. If the advisory committee is subject to the Act, it must, among other requirements, open its meetings to the public, publish notice of meetings in the Federal Register, and make its minutes available to the public. There are current exemptions from these requirements, such as committees established by the CIA and the Federal Reserve. This amendment eliminates any doubt and confirms that the Act does not apply to the Electronic Crime Task Forces or the candidate protection committee.

      am i just being paranoid here or are some of these new "provisions" disturbing?

      by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:44:25 AM PDT

      •  damn, dialup is slow! just posted this

        section (revised) cuz i thought the tubes ate the first one.

        sigh.

        maybe i should feed my net connection drixoral!  it could USE some speed!

        oh, if pseudophedrene and ephenephrine are so bad, why is the miltary stuffing it down our troops throats (or an equivalent upper?)  thoughts for the middle of the night.

        by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:54:32 AM PDT

    •  take a look at THESE little goodies

      in the patriot act of 2005...

      TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

      Section 501. Residence of United States Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys

      Section 501 is a new section and addresses an unintentional effect of the residency requirement for United States Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys. Section 501 of the conference report provides that the Attorney General can order that residency requirements be waived when a United States Attorney or Assistant United States Attorney is assigned dual or additional responsibilities. This provision will enable activities such as participation by United States Attorneys in legal activities in Iraq.

      Section 502. Interim appointment of United States Attorneys

      Section 502 is a new section and addresses an inconsistency in the appointment process of United States Attorneys.

      Section 503. Secretary of Homeland Security in Presidential line of succession

      Section 503 of the conference report is a new section and fills a gap in the Presidential line of succession by including the Secretary of Homeland Security.

      Section 504. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to the Department of Justice

      Section 504 of the conference report is a new section. This provision modifies the appointment procedure for the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms by providing that the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the Director.

      Section 505. Qualifications of United States Marshals

      Section 505 of the conference report is a new section. This section clarifies the qualifications individuals should have before joining the United States Marshals.

      Section 506. Department of Justice intelligence matters

      Section 506 is a new section that establishes a National Security Division (NSD) within the DOJ, headed by an Assistant Attorney General for National Security (AAGNS). This section is consistent with a recommendation by the WMD Commission that the `Department of Justice's primary national security elements--the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, and the Counterterrorism and Counterespionage sections--should be placed under a new Assistant Attorney General for National Security.' A version of this section was included in S. 1803, the `Intelligence Reauthorization bill for fiscal year 2006,' which was reported favorably by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on September 29, 2005.  [hmmmm, interesting!]

      Section 507. Review by Attorney General

      Section 507 is a new section. It modifies the process by which States can opt in to the expedited habeas procedures for capital cases under chapter 154 of title 28 of the United States Code by shifting responsibility to the Attorney General for certifying when a State has qualified. This section also allows for de novo review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit of the Attorney General's certification. It relaxes the time constraints imposed on judges for deciding habeas cases under chapter 154. This section also clarifies when a habeas proceeding is `pending' for purposes of 28 U.S.C. 2251, which controls the circumstances under which a federal court hearing a habeas petition may stay a State court action. Overruling McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849 (1994), this section provides that a habeas proceeding is not `pending' until the habeas application itself is filed. For prisoners who have applied for counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3599(a)(2), there is a limited exception allowing the court to stay execution of a death sentence until after the attorney has been appointed or the application withdrawn or denied.

      TITLE VI--SECRET SERVICE

      Section 601. Short title

      The short title is `Secret Service Authorization and Technical Modification Act of 2005.' Section 601 of the conference report is new.

      Section 602. Interference with national special security events

      Section 602 of the conference report is a new section. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1752 authorizes the Secret Service to charge individuals who breach established security perimeters or engage in other disruptive or potentially dangerous conduct at National Special Security Events (NSSEs) if a Secret Service protectee is attending the designated event. Section 602 of the conference report expands 18 U.S.C. 1752 to criminalize such security breaches at NSSEs that occur when the Secret Service protectee is not in attendance. Additionally, it doubles the statutory penalties (from 6 months to 1 year) for violations of 1752, to make the penalty consistent with the prescribed penalty under 18 U.S.C. 3056(d) (interference with Secret Service law enforcement personnel generally). The conference report makes punishable by up to 10 years the thwarting of security procedures by individuals in possession of dangerous or deadly weapons. [now this is just scary!]

      Section 603. False credentials to national special security events

      Section 603 of the conference report is a new section. This section amends 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1028 to make it a Federal crime to knowingly produce, possess, or transfer a false identification document that could be used to gain unlawful and unauthorized access to any restricted area of a building or grounds in conjunction with a NSSE. Such actions were a problem during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the conference report will allow for Federal prosecution against such criminal violations at future NSSEs.

      Section 604. Forensic and investigative support of missing and exploited children cases

      Section 604 of the conference report is a new section. On April 30, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Child Abduction Prevention Act (Pub. Law No. 108-21), which authorizes the Secret Service to provide, upon request, forensic and investigative assistance to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or local law enforcement agencies. The current statute states that `officers and agents' of the Secret Service may provide this assistance. Section 604 of the conference report clarifies that forensic and other civilian personnel, such as fingerprint specialists, polygraph examiners, and handwriting analysts, are authorized to provide such assistance.

      Section 605. The uniformed division, United States Secret Service

      Section 605 of the conference report is a new section. This section places all authorities of the Uniformed Division, which are currently authorized under title 3, in a newly created 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3056A, following the core authorizing statute of the Secret Service (18 U.S.C. 3056), thereby organizing the Uniformed Division under title 18 of the United States Code with other Federal law enforcement agencies.

      Section 606. Savings provisions

      Section 606 of the conference report is a new section. This section makes clear that the transfer of the Uniformed Division from title 3 of the United States Code to title 18 of the United States Code shall have no impact on the retirement benefits of current employees or annuitants and others necessary to reimburse State and local government organizations for support provided in connection with a visit of a foreign government official.

      Section 607. Maintenance as distinct entity

      Section 607 of the conference report is a new section. This section provides a clear operational and organizational framework for the Secret Service that maintains the Secret Service as a distinct component of the Department of Homeland Security while providing the Service with necessary operational latitude. It allows for the Director of the Secret Service to report directly to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Finally, the conference report provides that the assets, agents, officers, and other personnel of the Secret Service shall remain at all times under the command and control of the Director.

      Section 608. Exemptions from the Federal Advisory Committee Act

      Section 608 of the conference report is a new section. This section exempts the functions of the Secret Service's Electronic Crime Task Forces and the candidate protection committee from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which imposes a series of requirements on committees established or utilized by Federal agencies to provide advice or recommendations to any agency or Federal officer. Committees that wholly consist of full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government are not covered by the Act. If the advisory committee is subject to the Act, it must, among other requirements, open its meetings to the public, publish notice of meetings in the Federal Register, and make its minutes available to the public. There are current exemptions from these requirements, such as committees established by the CIA and the Federal Reserve. This amendment eliminates any doubt and confirms that the Act does not apply to the Electronic Crime Task Forces or the candidate protection committee.  [oversight? oversight?  WHAT oversight!]

      scary how the usattys provision was subtly slipped in here along with the waiver of the requirement for residency (import a local rethug goon to a recalcitrant district!)

      sigh... so much to undo...

      by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:52:18 AM PDT

  •  was moving... and taking a well needed

    break.  was getting too "hot under the collar" at the bashing - good to see it has calmed down.

    am back in my little "nest" (cozy little rv nestled in an rv park in the middle of eucapliptus grove) - doggies are loving it.

    took time to get back in the saddle with nimble beast and will start lunging sani either tomorrow or sunday.   decided if i can ride, my hip is NOT broken! (mind over matter and my mind says that my hip is NOT cracked, chipped, broken! so THERE!)

    taking a break is a good thing... at least for me.

    i've also been working on a different perspective on what is happening now as opposed to the sixties.

    we ended a war in the sixties - but not in anger, not in fury, not in fighting.

    we ended it by being saddened, we craved PEACE, we focused on peaceful activities - peaceful resistence, non-violence, we countered violence with calm determination.

    we have forgotten that today.  we show anger, we disrupt, we fight in anger.

    those who are doing the peaceful resistence, the peace fresno group and all, are from my generation - they have not forgotten.

    it is time we all send the energy we want forward.

    we need to think of purple flowers, for those images will be seen by those who should see them.  we need to project peace and an absence of war.

    all reality is of energy - what we project is what is returned - and with a site of 500,000 people focusing on peace, we should be able to have an impact.

    the way to fight the voldemorts of the world is by not fighting... think hallows - think an absence of violence.  in the end, it isn't who is the most brutal who survives, it is who can survive the maelstrom and find a way to rebuild.

    okay... so i've been thinking quite a bit in my absence.  it is the "new" "old" me that has returned.

    we can turn this all around - not by fighting their battle (bush, fearmongers, haters) - but by living OUR world as filled with hope, love and understanding.

    we need to reshape the dialogue - we need to give people hope.

    fdr said it best when he said the only thing to fear was fear itself.  i am no longer afraid!

    by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:24:31 AM PDT

•  My sister uses drixoral all the time,

  I think she's addicted to it, actually, as happens when you use certain pseudo-ephedrine drugs for too long.  They sort of create the problem they're designed to inhibit if used regularly.  But I digress.  I've known for quite some time because of her need for drixoral that you have to go through this big song and dance to get the stuff.  It's a pain in the ass and just plain stupid.

  Now, I can cast my mind back to the days when I ran with a pretty bad crowd, and I knew one or two people who made meth.  In those days you could buy bottles, as many as you wanted, that were 750 count per bottle.  It would seem obvious that when you buy 20 bottles of something once a week that you're using it for something other than clearing your sinuses, at least in the intended way.  Not to mention the smell that emits from the premises and can be detected from a great distance or the cadaverous look you take on if you're a meth head.

  So in a few short years we've gone from a sort of pseudo-ephedrine free for all to having to have an FBI check when you by a push pack of 8 pills.  You'd think that perhaps somewhere out there someone could come up with a happy medium....

  I just love this country.

  by Got a Grip on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:20:35 AM PDT

  •  used to have wicked sinus problems...

    in the early 80's my pharmacist sighed and handed me a HUGE bottle of pseudophede and said, "THIS will be CHEAPER than those small packs".  took me years to used half... finally threw out the rest... but when i get sinus problems, absolutely nothing will check them until i use the drixoral.

    but, then, i don't feel pain (NOT a good thing, folks - believe me on this one!) so i never take ANY medicines - when i do, they still have little effect on me.  weird body chemistry or something.

    so, drixoral works - the ONLY thing that works - so when i have to drive 75+ miles and go through this nonsense for something i rarely need now, i get really really miffed!

    what ever happened to "smaller government"?   my theory is the rethugs don't want to drown the government in a bathtub, they want to drown the PEOPLE in buckets of .... well, you get the idea!

    by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:30:59 AM PDT

•  okay - gonna go to bed now... nose has

  finally settled down for the duration.

  peace out, all - see ya on the morn!

  by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:56:20 AM PDT

•  One thing puzzles me

  Why the USA seems to have such a massive drug problem compared to Europe esp Britain, millions and millions using crack and Meth, assuming the government propaganda about those drugs and their long term effects is correct.
  In Britain in the early 90s we had this hysterical gov and media blitz about how Crack was going to invade Britain and kill an entire generation, it never happened.

  by Ferrofluid on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 02:15:31 AM PDT

  •  okay... sue me, i'm still up...

    why do we have the problem?  because we make all drugs illegal to feed our highly profitable industrialized prison system (just ask babs bush how much money is to be made on investing in private prisons!)

    also, should we ever "win" the war on drugs, there are entire counties whose economies would collapse due to the removal of their underground economy.

    mexico is one such state.

    james mills wrote the fascinating book "the underground empire" years ago where he followed the money and drugs back to the fields of production in s.america and africa and followed the involvement of our own government in the process.

    the levels of money laundering that occur would decimate many national economies (not to leave out our own economy).  this isn't about recreational drug use - it is about money, pure and simple.

    if drugs were legalized and managed (through prescriptions and safe dosage), this hidden economy would vanish, taking down entire industries with it.

    we as a nation have no interest in controlling, stopping or preventing drug abuse... there is too much money to be had by those who manufacture, distribute and launder the profits.

    read mills' book - you won't be able to put it down and you'll come away with a thorough understanding of the "game" when you are through!

    by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 02:26:29 AM PDT

•  okay... REALLY going to bed now...

  honest.

  really.

  nite.

  signing off now.

  shutting down the computer.

  sigh.....

  by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 02:29:46 AM PDT

•  okay... REALLY going to bed now...

  honest.

  really.

  nite.

  signing off now.

  shutting down the computer.

  sigh.....

  by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 02:30:08 AM PDT

  •  GAAAAACCCCKKKKKKK

    "it" SAID i hadn't posted yet!  

    WHAAAAAAAAA??

    i NEED to go to bed - and the puter won't LET me!

    MAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!  microsoft's PICKING on me! (or is it dk?)

    i AM going to bed now!

    snarrrrrrrrl...

    by edrie on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 02:31:42 AM PDT

•  Find a gel type replacement

  I use generic "Dayquil/Nyquil".  If it is a gelcap you don't have to jump thru the hoops.

  Also suffering a summer cold.

  Get well soon.

  by MTmofo on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 03:52:59 AM PDT

•  The Gov. tries to shut down sudafed here all

  the while China and Japan keeps the shipments coming in from the underground. My sister also uses these drugs for her sinsus's and she has to go through the same" crackdown"

  by Owllwoman on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 04:07:27 AM PDT

•  asdf

  This has been going on for a while.  The stuff on the shelves is not as good as the stuff behind the counters.  A lot of people don't even realize that the medicine they are buying is not the same as it was a year ago.  It is very annoying.

  by BDA in VA on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:12:13 AM PDT