New Comment on Hep B. Article

Nice point. But, can't they work on catching it after it's hit?

M

P.S. Readers: On my hep. b article, click the "1 comment" link at the bottom of the article. You can read the comment and comment there

Hep B shot

Recently, I got a hepatitis B immunization. I want to point out two things:

1. IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS. I was worried about the shot for almost a week, had a nightmare about the shot, couldn't have fun because I was constantly thinking about the shot, and then I go to the doctor's office and prick, that didn't really hurt at all, I'm done. I could not begin to describe the feeling of relief I got when It was over, and it took under two seconds. So now, readers of NCBM, I hereby tell you, if you're going to get a shot soon, it's gonna be all right. And I am a huge wimp around needles.
2. Why do I need it? Here's how Hep B is caused: According to http://www.dhpe.org "Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B virus is present in the blood and body fluids of infected persons". Basically, according to this site, if I were to take illegal drugs, have a job that involves contact with human blood, live with somebody who has had Hep B for their entire life, or be in a couple of odd, rare situations that I don't want to discuss on a family blog then I might get Hep B. This shot is required by most schools, including mine. First, I want to tell you two things. One, I'm not a complete and total expert on my school, so in the following sentence I'm just guessing. Two, I can't speak for all schools in this statement. My school does not have a strong culture of drugs, we do not make contact with human blood, and to my knowledge, none of the teachers have Hep B.

By the way, If you want to read the article where I got some Hep B info., it's here: http://www.dhpe.org/infect/hepb.html

M

Vacation!!!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, I was on vacation. I wanted to make a few notes about the blog.

• Want to e-mail about it, maybe send in something for me to consider publishing, or just if you have anything to say that's not public? Then email news.commentary.by.m@gmail.com
• Have something to say about the article? Like it? Hate it? Just feel like commenting? Then comment!!!
• Forward this blog to as many people as you wish

Thanks,

M

Andrews Opinion: Non-Lethal Police Weapons

Portland Police Chief James Craig‛s controversy over buying Tasers brings up all kinds of memories I haven‛t had in years – and strong opinions I haven‛t felt either.

A dozen years since wearing a badge, I‛m not really entitled to those opinions, but boy do I hold them. Approximately no one thinks police should have new toys less than I do – officers almost inevitably find a way to misuse them – but I really feel Tasers are a great idea – or at lease one worth trying.

No one here in America doubts that officers should carry pistols, and pistols are both lethal when properly used and stunningly difficult to learn how to do so. Tasers sure seem like an improvement in both categories.

And that‛s all it comes down to.

A

New Commentator

We now have a new commentator who every two weeks will write a column called Andrew's Opinion. You'll see his post sometime today. By the way, he writes his column 2nd and 4th Mondays.

M

Interview with AM

I am about to interview a 40 year old, ex-police officer who has MS (Multiple Sclerosis). For privacy, I will only refer to him as AM (his initials), but, if you know me, I bet you can figure out who it is. Well, let's begin. M: What year did you retire?

AM: I left work in 1998

M: And what did you do as a police officer?

AM: I did a lot of things in the police business. I started out as a police planner before I became an officer, then became an officer in Portland, where I briefly worked the midnight shift and then worked a community policing beat for most of my time

M: Did you enjoy this?

AM: Very much. What I liked best was walking my beat instead of driving a patrol car.

M: Why was this?

AM: When I walked my beat I had an opportunity to spend more time getting to know the people and

organizations there, rather than just answering 911 calls

M: What did you do when you had to quit?

AM: I tried returning to my planning job in New Haven for a year, then I came to Portland to do the same thing,

and then finally go too sick

M: Now what do you do in your day?

AM: My number one priority is I have a very funky 11 year old kid

M: And what else?

AM: I also volunteer at the library which is something I did when I was a police officer, I even went to grad school in library work when I was in New Haven

M: What are your hours for the library?

AM: Typically Ten AM - Two PM Tuesday and Thursday.

M: Do you do anything else?

AM: It varies, for instance right now I'm taking a class taught by my temple.

M: Anything else?

AM: Nothing comes to mind at the moment

M: Do you have any hobbies or interests?

AM: I'm a big baseball fan.

M: Do you go to the games a lot?

AM: My dad gave me season tickets to the minor league baseball team in town

M: One final question. Would you ever consider guest writing for NCBM?

AM: Certainly, I used to write opinion columns for both the Yale daily news, and the Portland Press Herald.

M: AM, thank you so much for talking with us.

AM: My Pleasure

M

Government Agents Smuggle bombs into Federal Buildings

Investigators managed to get bomb-

making componets into 10 different, high security federal government buildings. They then assembled the bombs and carried them aound freely in their breifcases. Only one was stopped, but (s)he was allowed to go on.

M's opinion:

Good idea, but not so brilliant to release it. It gives American's less faith in our government and tells terrorists when to strike. Here's what I would do:

1. Make it highly classified
2. Do countless employee trainings, offer bonuses, but don't tell them about the study
3. When the employees are done with their training tell them about the study
4. Do the study again
5. Tell them about both studies
6. Tell the public about both studies

M

Welcome

Welcome to NCBM. I hope you enjoy hearing about my take on the news.