Leaving the hospital in the broad daylight

I was discharged from the hospital this morning but it took almost an hour for me to leave the building. After Transportation was called for, they arrived fairly soon, but some complications set in, and I eventually had to secure the assistance of a doctor and a nurse who were kind enough to lead me to the front entrance where my wife was waiting for me. I was not upset at all. It was fun to walk out of a hospital while wearing a bloody bandage on my head and a drainage bottle danging down on my chest.

But this was the only time I have left a hospital depressed rather than elated that I had escaped with my life again.

I had a tumor removed from my face as was the parotid gland. Most such tumors are benign, but mine was malignant. I am still wearing a bandage on my face.

I believe I've come through this surgery fine. I was in the hospital only for one night.

Reading between the lines about my overall condition, I think doctors are hiding information from me about the real state of my health. They are not actually concealing it from me, but they know how bad it probably is, but they won't tell me the truth in plain language. I will soon see an oncologist and I expect to find out from him.

Health like me

Last week Bob and Joy Schwabach's On Computers column referred to three websites that allow people to discuss their health conditions. One is called PatientsLikeMe.com. Another is CureTogether. HealthTap lets you ask a doctor a question for free.

I have not yet tried any of these sites but I definitely will look them over. If you have any experience with these sites, please let me know in the comments.

Health crisis

Several weeks ago, I considered giving notice that I could not continue my blog for the unforeseeable future. But I found my problems hard to put in words. At first I did not even want to tell family and friends about what I faced and what my feelings were. In the past few weeks I have been overwhelmed with a series health problems that involved four hospitalizations, including major surgery. In addition, tomorrow I am facing another surgery, my second.

My most serious problem is kidney cancer. I have had a kidney removed, but the cancer may still be present. I am going to have to see an oncologist about further treatment. I have another cancer in my jaw that is, fortunately, separate from the one in my kidney. My ENT doctor is scheduled to remove this tumor tomorrow.

I have tentatively decided to blog about these problems. I'm not sure what good it will do but I've heard of people who have emailed family and friends about their medical problems. But I'm a blogger, so that's the way I will do it.

I don't know how much detail to go into. My desire is that writing about these problems will make me feel better. We'll see. More later.

New iPad expected with faster chip, sharper screen

I'm anxious to get a look at the new iPad. I own a Kindle Fire, which I like. One advantage for me is that the Kindle Fire is smaller than the iPad, making it more portable.

'via Blog this'

Sources -- Indianapolis Colts to part with Peyton Manning Wednesday - ESPN

Sources -- Indianapolis Colts to part with Peyton Manning Wednesday - ESPN:

'via Blog this'

End the Afghan war

Obama: Time has come to wind down Afghan war.

"I think that it is an indication of the challenges in that environment, and it's an indication that now is the time for us to transition," Obama said during a White House news conference.

"Transition" means to get the hell out, but not too fast.

'via Blog this'

Larger overhead bins

Airlines are building airplanes with larger overhead bins. But if you carry-on larger luggage remember you have to lift it up too.

Barone on James Q. Wilson

Barone sums up the life and contributions of James Q. Wilson, whose insight improved America.

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Taking a break for now

Sadly, Megan McArdle is taking a break from blogging while she works on a new project. I'll miss her.

Mark Steyn on Afghanistan

Mark Steyn explains what has gone wrong in Afghanistan. Of all our recent wars, this is the one I totally fail to understand. Let's get the hell out and try to forget about the place!

Scams and frauds target older Americans

Boomers beware: Scams, frauds and other financial exploitation schemes targeting older Americans are a growing multibillion-dollar industry enriching the schemers, anguishing the victims and vexing law enforcement officials who find these crimes among the hardest to investigate and prosecute.

Volt production stopped

GM halts production of the Chevy Volt. 

Who were the first Americans?

This will shake things up: A stone knife that is still sharp places Stone Age Europeans in America 20,000 years ago.

Archaeologists have long held that North America remained unpopulated until about 15,000 years ago, when Siberian people walked or boated into Alaska and then moved down the West Coast.
But the mastodon relic found near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay turned out to be 22,000 years old, suggesting that the blade was just as ancient.
Whoever fashioned that blade was not supposed to be here.

Notice how archaeologists' careers become wedded to a single view of events. You can see the conflict in the review of Across Atlantic Ice. The essence of science is to think like no one has thought before.

Bill Clinton favors the Keystone Pipeline

Bill Clinton Recommends America ‘Embrace’ the Keystone Pipeline.

'via Blog this'

Why Can’t the Obama Administration Make Its Case Without Disseminating Hate? | Power Line

Have we ever had an administration like Barack Obama’s? An administration that tries to benefit from pitting Americans against one another? An administration that uses its billion-dollar slush fund, not to mention the resources of the Executive Branch, to demonize private citizens who disagree with its policies? An administration that uses hate as an instrument of domestic politics? I don’t believe that there is any precedent in American history for the mean-spiritedness that now emanates from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

'via Blog this'

ATT relents but watch your bill

AT&T relents on restrictions on their unlimited data plans. 

Americans are highly skeptical of Individual Mandate

72 percent of Americans believe the Obamacare mandate is unconstitutional.

Andrew Brietbart is gone

Andrew Brietbart is dead at age 43.