Rocky

(((((((Ophelia))))))) No doubt your journey has been rough of late. It's good to see you. I hope you get loads and bunches of comfort and friendship, here or anywhere for that matter.

Oh, I don't blame Disney for what Lohan does... I just think it's unfortunate that child stars, who are almost universally among the cutest kids around (or else the wouldn't get into the movies), can grow up to be so troubled. Personally, I'm all for studios banning smoking from their movies. Fifty or sixty years ago, no one seemed to realize just how much havoc smoking could cause in terms of public health. But even then, Big Tobacco knew how much of an influence they could make by buying product placement in movies. Then there was The Insider (one of my all time favorite movies) and the Tobacco Settlement in the 1990s -- to hopefully diminish marketing efforts to kids (i.e. Joe Camel). Even so, EVERY movie made in the last 10 years seems to have LOTS of smoking in them. Neither I nor my (ex)-wife are or were smokers. But that didn't stop my daughter from taking up (hopefully only experimenting) with smoking by the time she was 12. And just about everyone, at least in THIS country knows how easy it is to become addicted to it -- and how difficult it is to quit once you're hooked. So, from a public health standpoint, it's REALLY about time movie makers start waking up and quit being accessories to child endangerment. As to smoking bans throughout the country... they aren't near as universal as you might think. It was only last Nov that AZ voters approved a ban for bars and restaurants that went into effect May 1. And I could not care any less than I already do whether Disneyland or any other theme park has a "gay day". People are NOT going to take up being gay "just because".

So, make sure you have a coupla firkins of unleaded in the tank before you head east! Yes, we WERE young... and doggone if we didn't have much more YOUTH back then (or at least youthfulness... as in "youth is wasted on the young!") :blink: Very appropriate choice of smilies there niKa!

And let's not forget how great a role model that child star who was in the most recent remake of Disney's The Parent Trap has become. btw, Chas, my understanding (from the article) is that Disney's proclamation pertains only to movies made henceforth and not to ones already made.

And I hear that doojable is a PHENOMENAL cook!

If you're a parent these days, you might be interested in what Disney said today: Disney snubs out smoking from its films Disney stubs out smoking from its films By Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles Published: July 25 2007 18:17 | Last updated: July 25 2007 22:25 Walt Disney on Wednesday became the first Hollywood studio to phase out cigarette smoking in its films, in a move that could herald the end of the industry’s longlasting love-affair with tobacco. The decision comes just weeks after the Motion Picture Association of America, responsible for the film ratings system, said it would consider smoking alongside other factors, such as violence or sexual content, when rating a film. (continued) --- I wonder what you guys think about this. (btw, I think it's great). One of my favorite movies from the 21st century is "Thank You for Smoking." A wonderful (and IMO hilarious) satire on smoking, a tobacco lobbyist, and the issue of tobacco use in movies.

Indeed the world HAS changed -- substantially and significantly -- in the last 30 years. (probably because of "the Word of God being preached by followers of The Way International... he says "tongue-in-cheek"). I'm single and retired. IF I were looking, speed dating might be worth considering. However, in the course of my life these days, there are other places where I meet people... including the community college fitness center/gym (where I go at least four times/week to work out), my dentist's office (I've had quite a bit of dental work done in the last two years), the children's shelter at which I volunteer, and at my local VA medical center (where I go usually 3 times/week for various reasons, but usually for meetings/activities at which I meet other fellow veterans). Oh, and btw, I just received the Sept/Oct 2007 issue of the AARP magazine in the today's mail. One of the articles teased on the cover is about speed dating. It MIGHT be available online (hint, google) ... but if not, I'll check it out in a day or two and will let you know what it says about the subject.

What about Gagnon, er... Gagne?

NO. THAT is not true. Suns got CHEATED. Not beated. I can't evaluate Mavs/Golden State... that series didn't mean enough to me to have recognized/remembered anything quite as blatant as the cheating that robbed the Suns. Sure, getting over it is important. Even Nash has recently said good things about Horry (I heard it from his own mouth on TV news/sports reporting). That would not restore the legitimacy of the NBA finals outcome this year. Now, if you are speculating that the Suns WOULD HAVE still gotten beat had the suspensions not taken place... well, THAT is entirely possible. But we'll NEVER know, will we?

Have any of you noticed that the NBA ref who recently resigned because of his gambling on games he was officiating... was working the game in which Cheap Shot Bob Horry cheated against the Suns? He was SMACK in the middle of the situation. Spurs as NBA champion this year is complete crap.

Well, the eye clinic at the VA (where I first went to get them to authorize the surgery) told me that everyone gets cataracts... it's just that most don't show up until people are older like that. My understanding is that there are a number of factors that can expedite formation so that surgery is necessary in "younger" people. First is genetics. Both my parents had cataract surgery when they were in their early 50s. So, the fact that I developed them at this age seems pretty reasonable to me. Other factors that I'm aware of (and there may be others) include diabetes and exposure to UV light (like being outside in daylight longer or more frequently than many other people). I'm not diabetic. And I don't work outdoors... but they DO call the Phoenix metro area the "valley of the sun". As a note of disclaimer, I would have NO idea why your wonderful wife would have needed the surgery at her age (whatever age that may be). Since I had my surgery, I've talked to several other people who either have only had one eye done or waited a long time before doing the second eye. Given the pronounced (dramatic) difference in the eyes after the first one was done, I'd probably go (more) nuts if I had to wait two years in between surgeries. There for the two weeks, I was driving without glasses but could really only see what I needed to see while driving with only one eye. It was a most bizarre experience. Of course, if they had NOT implanted the lens, I would have been able to get by with the old (bifocal) glasses. However, with only one eye done I could tell a substantial difference in the color everything seemed to be. The post-op eye let in more light and everything therefore was brighter with whiter whites. The NON post-op eye saw everything as if I was looking through a dark brown shade screen over a window. It was so significant that I could see the difference (when I looked in a mirror) in how dialated the two pupils became. That is, apparently, also very common.

Oh, I don't think such a proportionality would be a good idea either. And I'm with you on allowing the guy to fill my Rx's.

Well George, I think the key is in the adjustment to make the dose proportional by body weight.... IOW, if a baby is 20 lbs normally when they receive said vaccination, and you are 200 lbs, then the amount of themirosol (or whatever it is) would be increased tenfold. I think it's a good thing I had no idea that these things were in the shots my kid had to get. I probably would have freaked out. She's rapidly approaching her 18th birthday (in Oct) and thankfully she's not autistic.

Well... those ARE just reading glasses. But at the time of the pic, I was wearing contact lenses. Now, no contacts. Can't you tell? ;)

At the eye specialist group where I got my cataract surgery, they do two kinds of eye surgery, cataract and Lasik. They ONLY do one eye at a time, for either type of surgery. I had the first eye done in May. They wouldn't even schedule the second eye until the first eye surgery proved successful. In my case, it was obvious from the day after the surgery that it went very well. So, after the 7-day follow up exam, they scheduled the surgery for the other eye. I only had to wait one more week before that one was done (very nicely also, I might add).

Absolutely!!

Before my cataract surgery, I did that too... but since the lens implants, it doesn't work. I just plain can't see the small print (or other details) without my reading glasses. I carry my readers on my shirt collar instead of on my head... But I'm thrilled that I don't need glasses to drive.

and that was before steroids! Yes, I agree with you.

Maybe because we were just kids back then? And hiway... every time I see your avatar, I'm thinking of the President (of the US)!

That's because I have baloney in my shoes.

I once had an eye exam and the doc prescribed new glasses that one eye was for seeing far and the other for reading... without telling me he was going to do that... I hated it. eventually got a full refund. glad I didn't do that via surgery.

or lick your face or ears? (oh... a pet dog or cat can do that!)

Hills, have you already had an eye exam to evaluate whether you're a candidate for lasik? Given your age (mid-50s?), perhaps lasik might not be the best option. I recently had cataract surgery -- which included implanting permanent lenses. Now, I ONLY need glasses to read.

And Excie, IMO that is a VERY good thing both for your and your son!

THAT nails it.