kagoscuba

"Our Heavenly Father is the one who ultimately has the solitary right to vengeance. Give THAT to him, and find peace." If that were truly adhered to, then there would be no Christians. They'd all be dead and buried. That's why, in only my maybe silly opinion, that statement is a crock. A couple of issues there. A vengeful God. Spooky themes...scary language...designed to keep people in check. Doing so would actually be a sin...wrath. Being judged is not the same as having vengeance thrust upon you. It is also not his solitary right...ask Sampson or Joshua or myriad of others I just happen to be forgetting right now. Damned or not, I will die with a clear mind is my view. That's just my eastern philosophy edging in there.

"The difference is that speaking generally Catholics are not victimised, reviled and hated on the basis of the actions of a minority of their population the way Muslims are today." They once were south of the Mason-Dixon line. There is a reason only one US President was a Catholic (JFK was and is the only non-Protestant elected), and he got shot in the head. Granted, today, that pejorative view is 99% less than in years past, but it did once raise its ugly head. The US is the land of equal opportunity hatred, but we have grown from it for the most part. We once hated Italians, Irishmen, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and many others, but for the most part, except in isolated pockets of the US, they are mostly accepted. Muslims are the latest group to try for inclusion, and based on a few minority actions, it's going to take them awhile to gain acceptance.

It's simple biology. You could eat nothing but chocolate cake and wash it down with a glass of wine, and as long as the calories were below your Basal Metabolic Rate, you will lose weight in the long run. You'd die from malnutrition, but that's another issue. Short-term lack of weight loss can be body adjusting or water retention. Either one of these typically won't last more than a couple of weeks. I'm getting about 1200-1500 calories a day, I am losing slowly (now, after a tremendous start), and my nutritionist is asking me to try and get more calories into me, since I am exercising so much. I am averaging about -1200 calories than my BMR per day. I am losing between 2-4 pounds a week, which is right on schedule for my caloric intake but twice what is considered healthy and sustainable weight loss. We just have to keep on reminding ourselves that this is a marathon and not a sprint.

I was taught, in my Methodist upbringing, that God does not consider you to have forgiven someone until you forget the act you are forgiving. That's one of the reasons why I'm a Unitarian now. Forgetting a transgression is repression of thought. Repression of thought is stagnation of the spirit. Too many rules made up by man. There is a God, and he will judge us all on how we lived our lives and affected those around us. He's not going to give a rats-a$$ what religion you were, if you believed in Jesus, a cow, a fat guy, gefilte fish, or some guy who had a lot of sand in his hair. Religion is not the truth - God is.

If I was getting bombed during weddings, standing in line to go dancing, or sitting down for a nice holiday dinner in a public hotel, I might just want to shoot someone for no other reason than walking down the street. 1940's is not where it all started by the way, but if you want to start from there, chew on this awhile: The Palestinians want their own country. There's just one thing about that: There are no Palestinians. It's a made up word. Israel was called Palestine for two thousand years. Like "Wiccan," "Palestinian" sounds ancient but is really a modern invention. Before the Israelis won the land in war, Gaza was owned by Egypt, and there were no "Palestinians" then, and the West Bank was owned by Jordan, and there were no "Palestinians" then. As soon as the Jews took over and started growing oranges as big as basketballs, what do you know, say hello to the "Palestinians," weeping for their deep bond with their lost "land" and "nation." So for the sake of honesty, let's not use the word "Palestinian" any more to describe these delightful folks, who dance for joy at our deaths until someone points out they're being taped. Instead, let's call them what they are: "Other Arabs From The Same General Area Who Are In Deep Denial About Never Being Able To Accomplish Anything In Life And Would Rather Wrap Themselves In The Seductive Melodrama Of Eternal Struggle And Death." I know that's a bit unwieldy to expect to see on CNN. How about this, then: "Adjacent Jew-Haters." Okay, so the Adjacent Jew-Haters want their own country. Oops, just one more thing. No, they don't. They could've had their own country any time in the last thirty years, especially two years ago at Camp David. But if you have your own country, you have to have traffic lights and garbage trucks and Chambers of Commerce, and, worse, you actually have to figure out some way to make a living. That's no fun. No, they want what all the other Jew-Haters in the region want: Israel. They also want a big pile of dead Jews, of course-that's where the real fun is-but mostly they want Israel. Why? For one thing, trying to destroy Israel-or "The Zionist Entity" as their textbooks call it-for the last fifty years has allowed the rulers of Arab countries to divert the attention of their own people away from the fact that they're the blue-ribbon most illiterate, poorest, and tribally backward on God's Earth, and if you've ever been around God's Earth, you know that's really saying something. It makes me roll my eyes every time one of our pundits waxes poetic about the great history and culture of the Muslim Mideast. Unless I'm missing something, the Arabs haven't given anything to the world since Algebra, and, by the way, thanks a hell of a lot for that one. Chew this around and spit it out: Five hundred million Arabs; five million Jews. Think of all the Arab countries as a football field, and Israel as a pack of matches sitting in the middle of it. And now these same folks swear that if Israel gives them half of that pack of matches, everyone will be pals. Really? Wow, what neat news. Hey, but what about the string of wars to obliterate the tiny country and the constant din of rabid blood oaths to drive every Jew into the sea? Oh, that? We were just kidding. My friend Kevin Rooney made a gorgeous point the other day: Just reverse the numbers. Imagine five hundred million Jews and five million Arabs. I was stunned at the simple brilliance of it. Can anyone picture the Jews strapping belts of razor blades and dynamite to themselves? Of course not. Or marshaling every fiber and force at their disposal for generations to drive a tiny Arab state into the sea? Nonsense. Or dancing for joy at the murder of innocents? Impossible. Or spreading and believing horrible lies about the Arabs baking their bread with the blood of children? Disgusting. No, as you know, left to themselves in a world of peace, the worst Jews would ever do to people is debate them to death.

hijab, you are right about Iraq, and I consider you wrong about Israel. Innocent Palestinians? Please. I think Israel has shown enormous restraint, considering the wars and terrorism they've beenput through.

To be honest, I use it the same way I'd use "White Trash." Ignorant black people who break the law, think the government is their "lifeline," and think white people today should somehow be responsible for their shortcomings. You notice I say black and not African-American too. I have a German heritage,can hold a basic conversation in German, and I do not consider myself a German-American. I'm an American. I'd guess 98%+ of so-called "African-Americans" would be hard-pressed to speak one sentence of any of the languages used in Africa. It's not a racist thing; it's a realist thing. I have nothing against black people. If Colin Powell ran for president, I'd vote for him in a second (over any of the present candidates, Republican or Democrat). If Al Sharpton ran, I might vote for Hugo Chavez first. It'd be a hard choice. The "N" word is hateful and demeaning-so are the people deserving of the moniker.

Wearing a raincoat also helps ensure you have something to wear one on, when you get married. You don't need it dropping off somewhere.

Horizon BCBS got my bill for my hospital stay two days ago and already made their decision. I was denied coverage and was a self-pay, so anything would be appreciated. I'm glad I kept my expectations low. They paid $1900 out of $13k. Not great, but it could have been zero. At least they are paying for the fills in full.

"Do your children believe in Santa Claus?" Mine believe in the Holiday Armadillo and that Superman flew all of the Jews out of Egypt...well at least according to Joey Tribbiani.

Are you saying you have a body-fat percentage of 30%? How on earth is that even possible, considering what you look like and the exercise you do? I just got measured yesterday at 29% bodyfat, and I've got a considerable way to go. I know men and women have different fat contents, but I'm shocked to see you might be at 30%.

Oy! You should see the greed when they get gifts for eight days. I bought my oldest a bike last year, and 10 seconds after he got it he asked "are there any more presents tonight?" I almost channeled my father and chucked the bike into the garbage. My wife pulled me out of the room and gave my son "the speech on why he should be thankful."

I haven't tried bread or pasta yet. Last night I had rice with my Thai Curry and Basil Chicken, and it went down WAY TOO EASY. In fact, I was able to eat an entire portion, which really surprised me. I stick to liquids during the day and typically only eat solids at night, so I was shocked I was able to eat so much. I definitely need to ask for another plate, when I go out, so I can portion my meal and ask for leftovers. Last night was the first time I've had that much food in front of me, and unfortunately I ate it all (with zero pain and band filled once). Baked chicken is hard for me to get down though, so those portions stay pretty small. Tuna is easy, as are boiled eggs on most mornings (yesterday the egg turned into a golf-ball).

...and to think, some people think socialized medicine is a good thing. I think everyone who wants socialized medicine should read your post, because Medicaid is the closest thing we have to it now, and the system is not very optimal.

Hell, child-support for a child that is your is a nothing story. How about the thousands of fathers per year who have to pay for children that aren't theirs? That's right, in many states, if you ever agree the child is yours, then a couple of years later find out through DNA the child is some other man's, you STILL have to pay child support. Nice. That being said, any man who refuses to pay child-support because he wanted the woman to have an abortion and she didn't is an a-hole who should be forced to be sterilized.

I'd love my hot neighbor, but I can't afford the divorce. :confused:

It depends really. I was denied by Horizon with two diagnosed co-morbidities: HBP and Sleep Apnea. I submitted everything anyway, and so far they've paid for my first fill, 40% of the anesthesia bill, and my doctor fee and hospital bill are pending.

Most insurance companies that do not cover certain procedures do so at the request of the employer. I worked for Toys R Us in their corporate HQ office, and TRU did not cover most of the reproductive costs my wife and I had for my wife having issues keeping a pregnancy. When I inquired as to why the corporation who considered "mom" their greatest asset did not cover reproductive costs, they (HR and the CEO John Eyler, because I wrote to him) told me it's because they fund their own insurance policy and Aetna only administers it for them. The reason why I asked is because NJ has a law that mandates any company with more than 50 employees who has its headquarters in NJ MUST cover reproductive costs. TRU got away with ignoring that mandate as any company who self-insured is covered by Federal law, not state law. That's one reason why I no longer work for those a-holes.

I was denied by Horizon BCBS, so I was a self pay for my surgery. However, they have paid for my fill and radiology for fill. In addition, they paid 40% for the anesthesiologist for the surgery. I know I shouldn't, but I am hoping they pay a similar amount for the surgery, somehow. The doctor's fee shows as pended right now, but so were the other things they ended up paying for. Doing a little Snoopy dance for the things they've paid for!

Requirements Approximately 10-15% of total daily energy intake should be consumed as protein. Protein needs for sedentary adults average about 50 grams. Growth, pregnancy, lactation, and exercise increase protein needs as indicated in the table below. Protein Requirements Infants (0-6 months) g/lb 1.0 Infants (6-12 months) g/lb 0.72 Children (1-3 years) g/lb 0.55 Children (4-6 years) g/lb 0.50 Children (7-10 years) g/lb 0.45 Adolescence (11-14 years) total g/day females total g/day males 46 45 Adolescence (15-18 years) total g/day females total g/day males 44 59 Young adults (19-24 years) total g/day females total g/day males 46 58 Pregnancy total g/day 60 Lactation total g/day 65 Sedentary Adult g/lb 0.4 Recreational Activity 0.5-0.75 Competitive Athletics g/lb 0.6-0.9 Muscle Building g/lb 0.7-0.9 Maximum Usable Amount Adults g/lb 1.0 References: · Mahan, L.K. and Escott-Stump, S. Krause's Food, Nutrition & Diet Therapy, 10th ed., 2000. · Rosenbloom, Christine. Sports Nutrition. A Guide for Working Professionals, 3rd ed., 2000.

Yep, all man. I guess I wanted to stay as low in calories as my mind would allow, and keep the nutritional values. I don't want a tomorrow solution, but I want this weight off ASAP.

LOL...kind of like laying on the bed to be able to "fit into jeans," and then just about passing out if you have to bend over for somethnig?

Really? My BMR burns at 2200 calories a day, and my exercise is another 500 a day, so theoretically I could eat 2700 calories a day and gain nothing. Even +- 20% would still put me above what I consume. I could not imagine eating less, except when I was on Clear liquids and getting 200 calories a day. Breakfast: 2 egg whites, coffee (black) and small low-fat yogurt Pre-lunch workout snack - 1 sugar free pudding 35 minutes of cardio during lunch 5 days a week and 1 hour on Saturday Lunch - 1 Myoplex RTD Carb-Sense shake Afternoon Snack - whey Protein shake dinner - 1 medium can of tuna with 1 tsb of low-fat mayo and 1 spear of dill pickle After dinner: 45 minutes of weight training 4-5 days a week Snack - 1 sugar free popsicle 60oz of Water throughout the day. This has stayed pretty constant for the last two weeks, as I don't care about eating solid food during the day. Once at night is good enough for me. Even cutting out the Snacks aren't enough calories to make a difference, and I'd definitely be weak for working out, if I did.

Got sick of Horizon for the same thing and self-paid. I go to the doctor so rarely I couldn't prove anything. They are being fairly good about paying after the fact though *knock on wood*. Not that I suggest that strategy though. They haven't paid doctor or hospital bill yet, but they did pay for the first fill (100%) and for the surgery anesthesiologist bill at 50% (better than nothing).

So, I was down 37 pounds last Thursday, had started lifting weights last Monday and have continued with weights 4-5 days a week and cardio six days a week. My body has been responding well, so when I weighed myself yesterday I expected a change...then nada. No gain and no loss. I weighed exactly what I weighed last week, and there was no change in the diet (1k-1.5k calories a day) from the previous two weeks. It's a little bit of a bummer, but I chalk it up to my body taking a break and possibly a couple of pounds of muscle gain. Time to keep on chugging along. I'm feeling a lot better, except my trainer killed my legs last night and I'm all wobbly today...I look like I'm a prisoner smuggling something when I walk.