Alphecca

Around Town...

So I'm stalling... Anyway, here's some interesting stuff out there in the blogosphere:

As usual, the Acidman is right about a lot of things, including this and especially THIS. I turn 50 next month and try as I might, I just can't live the "lifestyle" I did when I was a couple decades younger. It's even tougher when you (meaning me) are gay since a lot of gays tend to worship youth. On the rare occasions when I venture into the limited "gay life" here in the Upper Valley, I am roundly ignored for being too old or being too Republican.

Jay, I love you and Deb and I hate to give you this news but welcome to the world of Gout! I've had it for 20 years. Here's what I've learned...

You can munch a burger and get away with it. Have two or three in a row and your toe explodes in pain. Here are other foods rich in purines: Beans, peanut butter, bran, anything beef or pork or derivitives of them, any shellfish like clams, or lobsters, shrimp, et al.

I'm sure your doctor will give you Allopurinol, a time-tested drug that helps your body deal with such things. Here's what you should know: Food only accounts for maybe 20% of the purines generated by your body. Stress contributes a lot as well. The combination of diet and stress can fool you: You can go a week seeming to eat normally and then suddenly your toe goes nuts. After a few years, your symptoms move into your knees and trust me, that REALLY disables you. From there it's into your hip, elbows, and hands. The only thing you really have control over is diet. Seriously, be careful with it. Despite the lack of press over this disease, it makes millions suffer every day.

Good luck, Jay, and I'll be happy to share what I know and what I've gone through with you. Gout used to be called the disease of Kings but really, I know about 10 ordinary folks like myself who suffer from it.

Via DCThornton comes a challenge to African Americans from Booker Rising on why they really should be voting for Bush.

Frequent commenter here, Steven Malcolm Anderson, is again posting at his own blog, Up With Beauty. That's a good thing.

Rocket Jones is exactly right; we need to eliminate our enemies by invading him. And the biggest enemy to the US? He says, "let's invade France". Can't argue with that!

Jay at WizBang has a scoop that Bush promises not to drown kittens. Heh.

Zee puts a curse on the left and he really means it!

Pakistani President Musharraf gives an interview to WaPo. Solomonia is all over it and correctly spots all the anti-semitism as Musharraf blames all conflict in the mideast on the "Palestinian problem". Interesting.

After my my own post yesterday about Islam, I'm gratified to see Demosophia with similar thoughts.

Okay, I'll take a nap and then go to work on my Weekly Report. I hope. Who knows what I'll really do...