From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
Pulling the Plug Early on Grandpa Billeh
The timing was extraordinary. Michael and I are waiting in the Mercy Hospital oncologist's office to get green-lighted for my latest biweekly chemo session---#5 out of 12, my last one being sometime in---ugh---October. As we're waiting for the doc to arrive, I'm thumbing through the morning paper. And there, top of page three, was this little sidebar story…barely four paragraphs long: Much shorter chemo works for many colon cancer patients, study says. "Holy shit," I exclaimed, causing the little crucifix above the sink to fall off the wall:
Many colon cancer patients can cut their chemotherapy regimen in half, improving their quality of life and reducing their chances of having debilitating side effects, according to a major international study released Sunday. …
The study found that the shorter treatment was almost as effective as the longer treatment; the results were so close that the three-month regimen is likely to become the new standard of care, especially for patients with lower-risk malignancies, researchers said. In addition, the shorter schedule resulted in fewer side effects, such as [permanent] nerve damage.
About 400,000 new cases of Stage 3 colon cancer are diagnosed every year worldwide, Grothey said, with about 60 percent involving lower-risk tumors.
As soon as the Doctor arrived in the exam room and said, "Good morning, how are w…" I shoved the paper at her and said "Read! Read! Read!" She read it with an appropriately skeptical eye, and said she'd get back with me. And sure enough, half an hour later she came over to my chemo throne and informed me, "Based on this study---you are qualified."
Instead of seven more treatments, my next one will be my last. If you heard a chorus of "Woo-hoos!" yesterday, it was just us cancer patients going nuts over the news.
My point: this study would never have been possible without funding from the federal government's commie socialist libtard fake scientists at the National Institutes of Health. They just made life a lot more bearable for colon cancer patients, and also will save money on Big Pharma chemicals that won't be needed to such a wide degree. Of course, Republicans don't give a shit about helping people:
The National Cancer Institute would be hit with a $1 billion cut compared to its 2017 budget. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute would see a $575 million cut, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases would see a reduction of $838 million. The administration would cut the overall National Institutes of Health budget from $31.8 billion to $26 billion. The National Science Foundation, which dispenses grants to a variety of scientific research endeavors, would be trimmed $776 million, an 11 percent cut.
Democrats do:
Democrats won the latest shutdown showdown fight, triumphing over President Trump on nearly every major issue in the $1 trillion spending bill negotiators announced early Monday. The bill partially bails out Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program, boosts spending for the National Endowment for the Arts, increases the National Institutes of Health budget by $2 billion, restores year-round access to Pell Grants for college students with financial need and keeps the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget intact---fending off Mr. Trump’s efforts to [gut] the agency’s operations.
Next time someone tells you there's no difference between the parties, print out the above and shove it in their face. Better yet, let me do it.
P.S. Both the hospital and me have been thrilled at how easy it’s been using my Affordable Care Act policy. So, once more, but certainly not for the last time: Thanks, Obama!
Cheers and Jeers starts below the fold... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Note: For temporary relief of minor joint pain, try new ACME Pain Pills in new easy-to-swallow gelcaps. [Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, and violent dreams about horrific joint pain.]
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By the Numbers:
Days 'til the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia: 6
Days' til Polish Fest in Milwaukee: 9
Percent approval in January and May, respectively, for Trump among military counties in the U.S., according to Gallup: 51%, 43%
Percent of the military made up of members of racial and ethnic minorities, who tend to vote Democratic, in 1990 and today, respectively: 25%, 40%
Electric vehicles sold in the U.S. between 2011 and 2016: 540,000
Wingspan of the new Stratolaunch aircraft that will launch rockets that deliver satellites into low-earth orbit: 385 feet
Number of U.S. presidents who were canal-boat laborers: 1 (Garfield)
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Stanley Cup Finals
Pittsburgh Penguins tied with Nashville Predators 2 games to 2
NBA Championship
Golden State Warriors lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 2 games to 0
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Mid-week Rapture Index:
183 (including 4 marks of the beast and 1 Ringling Bros. Rapture Predictor). Soul Protection Factor 30 lotion is recommended if you’ll be walking amongst the heathen today.
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Puppy Pic of the Day: Puppeh enters the Circle of Life…
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CHEERS to Meetup Fevuh! For the eighth year in a row, New England Kossacks will be cavorting with nature at the annual summer meetup at Mayim's Maine cottage by the lake about an hour northwest of Portland. It's coming up in a couple weeks on Saturday, June 24 from roughly noon 'til whenever, and you're invited:
The details: A meet-up at The Point (my family's summer cottage in the western hills of Maine), this time on Saturday, June 24, noon to 6:00 p.m. (approximately) in western Maine (about a scenic hour-long drive northwest from Portland, and maybe three hours from the Boston metro area, depending where you start out and how bad traffic is).
I’ll cook some, as well as have beer and assorted non-alcoholic beverages. But my life has been a whirlwind recently {a good whirlwind, but a whirlwind!}, so if people want to bring a dish to share, that's more than fine. {One request: no pork or shellfish, please.} It will help with planning if you let me know the general type of dish {appetizer, side, salad, dessert} when you RSVP, as I’ll fill in the gaps.
Please RSVP to Mayim via kosmail here for complete directions. It's a super way to experience the beauty of Maine at the best time of year with the best of friends. Michael and I (and Haley the Wonder Dog) will be there along with other local Kossacks and we hope you'll be able to join us for what has become an annual DKos summer tradition. As a special bonus, we'll let you fire the catapult we set up every year that's calibrated to launch rotten tomatoes into Governor LePage's back yard. He's so stupid he still thinks they're coming from Canada.
JEERS to where we are. After less than five months in office, here's the latest summary of Trump's "honeymoon period':
» Still under investigation by the FBI for colluding with Russia and obstruction of justice
» D.C. swamp now roughly twice as large as it was pre-inauguration
» 37% approval (via Gallup daily tracking poll)
» Trade deficit highest in five months
» Production down for first time in five months
» Latest jobs report (138k) very disappointing
» GDP likely won’t reach 3 percent this year
» The $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia was fake
» Pulling out of Paris climate agreement fosters worldwide backlash
» While 11-year-old son Barron remains "traumatized" in New York over Kathy Griffin severed head stunt, chooses instead to go golfing in Virginia on both Saturday and Sunday (his 22nd and 23rd rounds)
» Insulted Britain, our closest ally, in wake of London terrorist attack
» Refuses to acknowledge LGBT Pride Month
» Hundreds of positions in his administration remain unfilled/un-nominated
» No budget
» No tax reform bill
» No infrastructure bill
» No revised Trumpcare bill
» No plan to defeat ISIS
» No wall
» USA has become "flyover country"for vacationers
Other than that, things are going awesome.
CHEERS to pissing on the King. On today's date in 1775, "United States" was chosen to replace "United Colonies" as our official name (beating "Bubbaland" by one vote---Pinckney's, of course, that bastard). By the way, if you need some parchment at bargain basement prices, there's still ten thousand boxes of "United Colonies" stationery in the Independence Hall supply closet. Thanks for the heads-up, management. :-(
CHEERS to previews of coming attractions. Eat your Wheaties and get plenty of sleep tonight, because tomorrow all hell is going to break loose. Across the pond, Britain is holding elections, and---Surprise!!!---Labour is rising in the polls, which means Prime Minister Jeremy Freaking Corbyn is not out of the question. Closer to home, all eyes will be on the Senate Intelligence Committee as fired FBI director James Comey spills beans of varying sizes and shapes, possibly firming up everyone's suspicion that Lord Dampnut tried to get Comey to obstruct justice. But wait, there's more: as an appetizer, today NSA head Mike Rogers testifies before the Intel committee, and he may have a bomb or two to drop regarding Trump's abetting of Putin's election interference. So a lot of irons in the fire. Let's hope some of 'em make their way to Trumps ample buttock region. Remember: three brands equals one impeachment.
JEERS to eye-rolling moments in history. 87 years ago today, in 1930, The New York Times took a huge step forward in the civil rights movement. I do believe the earth shook and audible gasps were heard across Manhattan when the editors agreed to start capitalizing the 'N' in"Negro." So to refresh our collective memory:
negro = old, unacceptable usage.
Negro = new, acceptable usage.
Please celebrate this Herculean advancement in civil rights and update your spellcheckers accordingly.
JEERS to your Trump administration in action. It’s right at her fingertips, I swear...
This can only mean one thing: a promotion is imminent.
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Ten years ago in C&J: June 7, 2007
JEERS to sloppy goodbyes. President Bush bid a final farewell to outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday. C&J was spying on them from the ceiling and we post this exclusive transcript of the moment:
Bush: I'll miss you, Tony the Tiger Guy.
Blair: Not as much as I'll miss you, old sport.
Bush: Call me.
Blair: I will. Promise.
[They give each other one last pinky handshake and part company.]
Bush [out of earshot]: What a pussy.
Blair [out of earshot]: Wanker.
They're cute.
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And just one more…
CHEERS to easy layups. If you enjoy looking up yonward and beholding the wonders of the cosmos, check out Space.com for its summary of the brightest orbs to look for in the June sky. As a special bonus, this year we even get a June Strawberry Minimoon! Swear to god, the moon will look like exactly like this:
Or, if you prefer instead to watch the dimmest bulbs, just check out the nearest Freedom Caucus meeting. (Boom. Nailed it. Thanks, folks, and don’t forget to tip your server.)
Have a nice Wednesday. I’ll give you a reason: it’s Chocolate Ice Cream Day. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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Today's Shameless C&J Testimonial:
CNN Host Reza Aslan Apologizes for Calling Bill in Portland Maine a ‘Piece of Shit’
---Mediaite
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