Colin Powell`s “James Bond”

Colin Powell is a good story teller!
“He hid the weapons of mass destruction in all sorts of odd places. But we saw him hide it. We took photographs. We recorded discussions. We saw his links with terrorists. It is the most evil empire on earth right now. And he must be stopped!”

This story-teller is not some fiction writer. Or some movie star from Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world. And the scene is far removed from Frankenstein territory. But this story-teller is a former war general turned American Secretary of State named Colin Powell. The scene is the floor of the great United Nations, which some folks who have a bad sense of humor call Talking Nations. The major character of the story is Saddam Hussein. And the devilish empire is Iraq.

The high point of the JAMES BOND story is not the satellite photographs (after all where are the weapons?) nor is it the Al Qaeda connection (after all if you are not with us you are against us - by George Bush). But the most interesting point of the over one-hour speech at the Talking Nations, sorry United Nations, is the voice recording. For these “devils” in Iraq were actually saying “hide it, hide it, hide it” in reference to the weapons of mass destruction, sorry wepunmassdistrucshun. I actually like the literary effect (The Arabic version is musical to the ears).

And after the great “revelation,” war mongers went to town. They said that it has been proved that Iraq is actually a threat to world peace. What do they call a proven theory in Latin? Quod erat Demonstradum. Yes, the theory has been demonstrated that if Iraq is not disarmed right now, that “madman” directing events in that country will cause historians issuing titles like THE END OF ORDER. Or THE END OF HISTORY. Or THE END OF THE WORLD. What a pity! And these war mongers rolled out Ukulele the drum, and serenaded the movie star, Colin Powell.

But the pacifists were not impressed. First in that number was the Inspection Team in Iraq who thought they would have been handed these evidences ab initio, instead of making it a public show. (Forget them for they know not the rules of script writing.) Then Iraqi officials called it a cock-and-bull story. (Make it a cattle-and-ram story.) France and Germany say no to war. (Americans call them the old Europe) And even Russia is not impressed. Is it because they have their hands on Iraqi oil? (Never mind anyway. That Powerless country is part of “pieces of eight”)

Before then, Africa’s Nelson Mandela, was up in arms against George Bush Jnr. and Tony Blair. He called Bush an arrogant man intent in plunging the world into a holocaust, calling Blair George Bush’s foreign minister .He even says that Bush wants to render the UN irrelevant because an African -Koffi Annan - not a Whiteman, is Secretary-General.

But some wonder why Mandela said so. Is it that old age is telling on him? And he is forgetting things as if he crossed the River Lethe. Or drank Mandragora. Does he not know that Tony Blair, Britain’s Prime Minister cannot be a foreign minister to the president of another sovereign country? And it pained not a few Africans that this their illustrious son has forgotten elementary government.

Regarding his anti war stance, some point to his guerilla war against white South Africa. After all, his “terrorism” paid off because South Africa is now free of violence, anarchists, and rapists. And Bush and Blair want to make the earth a paradise– free of devils– by declaring war on dangerous Iraq. Forget Nelson Mandela. When last did a black man say useful things?

Now the game is over for Saddam Hussein. We are going to war. Do not think of the effect of the war on the world economy. After all, Iraq has some of the world’s finest oil. When we win the war, we would install our own Governor - General and take charge of the oil. You can imagine the rest of the story.

Do not think of the humanitarian cost. For Saddam has always gassed his own people to death. So, what if a few Iraqis die for the salvation of the many. Regarding the soldiers that would die in battle, never mind about that. For they would have beautiful memorial tombs erected for them .And the sons of the war planners would lay wreaths on them, and write their epitaghs. Some would take Charles Dickens book A TALE OF TWO CITIES with them to the grave yard, and copy the opening lines: “It was a summer of hope. It was a winter of despair”.

When Charles Dickens wrote A TALE OF TWO CITIES, however, he was not thinking of the war on terror. Or wepunmassdistrucshun. But in the world of James Bond, anything goes.

THE WINTER OF DESPAIR

We are ready to attack Iraq. The spy planes have done their work and we know just where to strike. So we advance with guns and bombs through the torturous Iraqi desert terrain. We kill and maim as we go, and the enemy decimates our soldiers, too. And we the surviving soldiers press on, ever wearing our masks. Because this “mad” man that rules this evil empire could use anything on us - including chemicals and biological weapons. But alas - after all the hazards, we win and disarm Iraq.

THE SUMMER OF HOPE

We celebrate our victory. The world will be a better place to live now without dangerous weapons in the hands of this evil country. Israel has these weapons too, but that country is better behaved. Besides, they are God’s chosen people.

The newly appointed Governor-General has just inspected his guard-of-honor, and is telling Iraqis how different this new democratic, liberal regime will be. For the people will now enjoy total freedom and life will be more abundant.

We hear many wonderful Arabian Night stories. It was told of a poor Arab cattle rearer who bought a field to graze his livestock. But unbeknownst to him, the field was laid with gold. And this poor shepherd now became a fabulously rich sheikh ever after.

The story strikes a semblance to our adventure. Because after we have buried thousands of our dead soldiers, and laid beautiful wreaths on their tombs, we retire to reflect on the success of our mission. Suddenly, we find ourselves, champagne in hand, floating on top of fine-grade Iraqi oil; watching Saddam Hussein hanging on a 1000-foot high pole and listening to a musical composition of Colin Powell. And it happens to be the musical rendition of the poem, PARADISE REGAINED by the blind poet, John Milton.It was then that I realized the vision of Collins Powell, and I remembered the JAMES BOND story at the UN.

Bravo!

ARTHUR ZULU. The Most Controversial Writer in the World is the author of the best -selling book HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER. For your copy and FREE excerpt, click on: http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/10975 For contact, mailto: controversialwriter@yahoo.com

About the Author

Arthur Zulu, The Most Controversial Writer in the World is the author of the best-selling book, HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER. Download your copy and FREE excerpt at :http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/10975

A Look Ahead to 2008 (Part I)

Just as everyone has breathed a sigh of relief at the end of 2004 presidential campaign, I would like to take a quick look ahead to 2008. Unless George W. Bush is unable to complete his second term, 2008 will bring the third open presidential election (no incumbent running) in 20 years. Even though that’s still four years into the future, the campaign will be unofficially getting underway almost immediately. Therefore, many of the potential candidates can already be identified and there should be no shortage of them on either side.

Today, I will be taking a look at the potential Republican candidates. Among them are Arizona Senator John McCain, Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, Virginia Senator George Allen, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.

John McCain is probably in the best position to capture the GOP nomination, should he decide to run. He was beaten by Bush in the 2000 primaries, but he has since been one of the President’s most loyal supporters, despite some differences of opinion. McCain is one of the most popular politicians in the U.S. and won re-election to his Senate seat last week with more than 70% of the vote! Unlike the Democrats, the Republicans have a history of sometimes awarding their nomination to someone who has waited his “turn.” A case in point is Bob Dole, who was rejected in his bids for the nomination in 1980 and 1988, only to finally get it in 1996.

Bill Frist is a surgeon is who was first elected to the Senate during the “Republican Revolution” of 1994. He is now the majority leader of the Senate and should benefit from the GOP’s pick-up of four additional seats in this election cycle. Frist seems to be well liked by all factions of the party. He would probably have the inside track to the Republican nomination if McCain decides not to run.

Jeb Bush would like to continue a streak that the Republicans currently have in place. Since 1976, they have featured either a Dole or a Bush on every national ticket. That’s eight straight presidential elections! The fact that he was able to help his brother do better than anyone expected in Florida (winning by five percentage points) bodes well for him. That alone should greatly improve his stature within the Republican Party. Having family ties to the White House won’t hurt either.

Dick Cheney has said he probably will not run for president (and there are even rumors that he might even resign before the end of Bush’s second term). If he doesn’t run, or if he does run and subsequently fails to get the nomination, the 2008 election would be the first without the inclusion of a sitting president or vice president since 1952. However, politicians have been known to change their minds. I still think he might ultimately decide to run. If he does, unlike most sitting vice presidents, he will have an uphill battle for the nomination. However, his popularity with the far right wing of the party would play to his advantage and could ultimately give him the edge he would need. There’s still a question mark as to how evangelicals within the party would react to his support of his gay daughter.

Rudy Giuliani rebuilt his image with his handling of the 9/11 aftermath. Previously, he had to withdraw from a potential Senate race against Hillary Clinton, because of health problems. That was the official line, but most people believed it was because of a nasty divorce and rumors about extramarital affairs. He is now a very popular politician, but whether he is conservative enough to win the Republican presidential nomination is questionable at best. He will likely be opposed by the evangelical wing of the party.

Before being elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Mitt Romney headed up the Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee earlier that same year. He had also made a run for the U.S. Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994 and lost. However, he did so much better against Kennedy that most of his previous challengers had done, that his loss actually helped boost his political career. Since being elected governor, he has become one of the bright young stars of the Republican Party. His father, the late George Romney, served as governor of Michigan and sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 but lost to Richard Nixon. His father’s remarks made during the nominating process about having been “brainwashed” about Viet Nam ultimately cost him the nomination. Should Mitt Romney decide to run, he will want to avoid that kind of blunder.

Like Frist, Rick Santorum was first elected to the Senate in 1994. As Conference Chairman, he is now the third highest ranking Republican in the Senate. Santorum is a favorite of the Christian Right with his strong anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality views. However, pragmatic primary voters might shun him, feeling that he may be a bit too extreme to win a general election. Of course, four years before the 1980 election, many Republicans expressed those same sentiments about Ronald Reagan.

Tom Ridge was a very popular and effective governor of Pennsylvania before taking over Homeland Security. He was in his second term as governor when he resigned to take over that post. Prior to being elected governor, he served several terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ridge is more of a moderate Republican, but unlike Giuliani, seems to have some appeal to the party’s conservative base. Whether he has enough remains to be seen. He is pro-choice, so he will get some opposition from the Christian Right, should he decide to seek the nomination.

George Allen is another rising star within the Republican Party. A former state delegate and son of the late Washington Redskins’ coach of the same name, he was elected to Congress in 1990. However, his district was redrawn and he ended up in the same district as another, more established Republican congressman, Tom Bliley, by the end of his first term. He decided not to seek re-election in 1992 and was elected governor of Virginia in 1993 and then elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. He headed up the GOP’s Senate Election committee for the last two years. The extra seats that the Republicans picked up in the Senate last week will be a feather in his cap. He has strong conservative credentials but is relatively unknown nationally.

Before taking her current post, Condoleezza Rice had previously served on the National Security Council under President George H. W. Bush. She is not a career politician or lawyer, but comes from an academic background - she has been a member of the Stanford University faculty for over 20 years. She has never held elective office but has sometimes given indications that she has presidential ambitions. She has been a very loyal member of the Bush Administration and that has earned her a great deal of respect throughout the party. Where she stands on social issues is still uncertain. She might ultimately prove to be a better prospect for vice president than president.

Next week I will continue my look ahead to 2008 with the potential Democratic presidential candidates.

About the Author

Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, free-lance writer, and trivia buff from Hopewell, VA. He operates a website, http://www.commenterry.com, on which he posts commentaries on various subjects such as politics, technology, religion, health and well-being, personal finance, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media.

Are The Search Engines Censoring The Internet?

Every single day I surf through about a dozen sites, looking for
interesting articles and message board posts. I do this for many
reasons: for my job, which requires that I stay up-to-date on
current technologies, and for my hobby, which allows me to write
articles about the internet and the web.

A big portion of my daily routine involves visiting forums
related to all facets of the internet. These forums often have
some incredible information not readily available anywhere else;
the best of these (WebMasterWorld, JavaScript City, Spider Foods,
WebDev Forums, Lisa Says it all and the Web Site Abstraction
Forum) are tightly monitored and are heavily trafficked by
knowledgeable people.

I find them very useful not just for ideas, but to occasionally
post something of interest to others. You know, that’s something
that I truly enjoy. Stumbling across a post which asks a question,
responding and finding out that I really did help someone solve
an issue. There are few better feelings than that.

Anyway, today I was looking through some posts on these boards
and I noticed a very common concern and theme. Virtually every
webmaster on the boards is concerned above all else with one
thing: getting traffic to their site. And to get traffic
virtually all of those same webmasters was convinced they have
to get high rankings in the search engines.

I’d seen this before, of course, but today I noticed something
that actually made me angry. I realized that the search engines,
especially the larger ones, are causing people to self-censor
their own sites.

One lady stated she had a painfully built set of links for
quilt sites. She believed it was the most complete set of quilt
links on the internet, and seemed quite proud. However, she was
disturbed and even was considering removing the links because it
might hurt her rankings in Google.

I continued looking over the posts on that and other forums and
found similar posts scattered throughout. One person was afraid
because he included pages of content not related to the theme of
his site. Would Google drop his ranking and thus cut his income?
Yet he really wanted to include those pages … but felt he had
to remove them because of this search engine.

You see, what’s happening is Google and other search engines have
to work very hard to create very intelligent robots to scan the
web for sites. Until recently, these robots considered each and
every page as a separate entity. Now, however, a change is
occurring. Google is attempting to group pages together into
sites, and then judge all of the pages as a group. The
implication of this is apparently sites which are “tightly
themed” will be positioned higher in the results pages than
those that are not.

I guess the theory is that a tightly themed site is somehow
better than a site which has lots of information about many
different subject.

Google also ranks pages (and now perhaps entire sites) based
upon the number and quality of sites that link back. The thought
behind this is that if a site is linked to by other quality
sites (sites related to the theme), then that site is somehow
better than other sites and deserves to rank higher.

So what’s seems to be happening is many webmasters are very,
very concerned about every move they make. Every change to their
site is measured against the question, “what will Google or
Altavista or whatever think of this change?” Will making that
change drop their rankings? Will it get them removed from the
engine? Will the Earth come to an end simply because a link to a
site with different content is included?

Other questions I have seen include: will using Flash drop me
out of the engines? Should I use tables or will that hurt my
page ranking? If “low quality” sites link to mine, will Google
get annoyed and kick me to the second page?

This is, in my opinion, utterly and completely ridiculous. The
purpose of the web and the internet is communication. People
write articles, create graphics and multimedia and place them on
the internet because they have a story to tell or some
information to impart.

Of course it is important to promote your site, because part of
communication is finding someone to communicate with. However,
there are many, many ways to promote a web site. There are as
many ways and places to promote as their are stars in the sky or
electrons on a wire. Just use your creativity and your brain, and
you will figure out how to get people to visit your creation,
without selling your soul to a search engine.

One of my objections is the idea of “theming” a web site. That
is not the way that the web is intended to work and it is not in
the interest of surfers. When I search on a keyword, I want to
find the best pages that I can find. If someone wrote a page
about their cat but placed it on their site about quilts, then I
still might want to see it. In fact, it’s possible that this one
page has better information than a site devoted entirely to cats.

I have a great example of a site which is one of the best on the
internet by a good man named James Huggins. I’d bet that Google
wouldn’t appreciate this site very much because it would have a
very difficult time figuring out the theme. Yet it is by far one
of the most entertaining and informative sites on the entire web
(in my opinion, of course).

http://www.jamesshuggins.com/

A major problem with the idea of basing the ranking of a site
on it’s popularity is that new or smaller sites tend to drop way
down the list, even though they are often much better than sites
higher on the list. It simply is not true that a site which has
lots of incoming “quality” links is any better than those sites
which do not have as many of them.

Websites are very personal creations, and they should reflect
the unique viewpoints, opinions and background of the authors,
artists and creative talent. There is no need to make every site
on the web look or feel the same; There is certainly no need to
force every site to fit a set of rules in order to be found by
other people.

My advice is to create a web site in which you can be proud. Use
all of the tools and skills that you have, and use whatever
techniques you enjoy. At the same time, explore ALL of the
methods of site promotion, including search engines. But don’t
place too much weight on the engines - they change constantly
and they are very fickle. You might sell your soul to get a high
ranking one day only to find out the next morning that you are
gone entirely.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets
at http://www.internet-tips.net - Visit our website any time to
read over 1,000 complete FREE articles about how to improve your
internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge.

Quick Strategies For Writing Your Essay Under Pressure

Most writing is done under time pressure. Yet, while the majority of students have to write in haste V with limited time, limited space and an instructor to please V few approach to this task systematically. Though, writing under increasing time pressure requires the ability to zero in one activity, turning all the strengths to successful fulfillment of this task in tight schedule.

Pressure makes some students feel frustrated, freak out and distract their mind and attention from writing. Other students, on the contrary, enjoy the rush, feeling oddly motivated by the pressure.

But still overwhelming number of learners tries to find lame excuses to postpone the work which they dont want to accomplish to the very last moment. More often students complain on

the feeling of despise and disgust to the writing assignments;
waiting for the inspiration to strike;
lack of ideas to set about writing;
a fear of putting words on the paper;

Indeed all these excuses are unfounded and usually serve as mere complacency and vindication for the unperformed scopes of writing.

Besides, there is a great article with a proven recipe how to treat the work which you hate, but need to do it anyway.

One has to face the truth and confess that the only obstacle which accounts for under pressure writing and missing the deadlines is procrastination. This malicious thief steals precious time, which is the most invaluable gift that every person should spend wisely.

Procrastination can be prevented by acquiring the ability to budget time sensibly, blueprint all the steps on a way to successful essay writing and uncover quick and winning strategies which can be applied in the creative process of writing.

Discover what you can still do to save your essay for a top grade, when you are running late with its writing.

These quick and pithy strategies will help you concentrate and collect your thoughts and ideas and also help you emphasize the major attention on the most important points in writing.

X Develop another approach for your essay writing. Just realize that successful essay writing is just an acquired skill, which you can easily develop by persistent writing, reading, making and correcting mistakes.

Essay writing requires a set of general guidelines and rules which you have to master one time and utilize them in every essay you write.

X Composing an essay requires putting what you know in a good use. It means to get right to the point in writing and answer the question put before you in the essay clearly and concisely, dropping vague and wordy paragraphs.

X Resist the urge of churning out words immediately and dashing about in a flap just because you are burning out of time. Collect your thoughts and determine the direction of your writing. Draw a mind or also called idea map.

You write the subject in the middle of the paper and write the ideas related to the subject around it, adorning them with small symbols or drawings. Then you see which of the written ideas that were connected, usually by drawing lines between them, were out of place. This way youll have a picture of your essay in your head.

X Write an outline for your work, where you blueprint each step of your writing separately and organize all your ideas in one action plan.

X An interesting strategy to put up all your thoughts and ideas together is a tool box, which is actually similar to the outline and mind map.

It consists of lists categorized into names, dates, places, case studies etc. There is a heading for each list. Then from this jumbled ideas you draw out a rough sequence and make small paragraph division.

Ultimately, you make a frame of initial ideas starting with thesis statement, which is further developed to the body of your essay and summarized with a conclusion.

The analogy of tool box really works, because it is associated with a real tool box that carries tools the craftsmen need for the specific task, sorting them out of all the tools that are stored in the shop (your brain).

In any case try not to bring up your writing assignments to the deadlines, composing your essays in a rush. Remember that you create troubles not only for the self, but for your grader as well. Your late delivery of the paper and missing the assigned deadlines make your grader feel unsatisfied and can influence on lowering the grade for your essay.

But if its too late to think it over and you have already got stuck in this trouble dont hesitate and harness these ideas for your urgent essay writing.

About the author:

Linda Correli is a staff writer of http://www.Customresearchpapers.usShe helps students write college research papers, term books, admission essays, book report and many other types of writing assignments: from personal statements to professional case studies. Article sponsored by http://www.go2essay.com

A Chat with Saddam

He never did say why he chose to call me, but for the past few months I have enjoyed some rather lively chats with Saddam. He said he has been wanting to speak to America and the rest of the world and he should only have to call one of us. He said he could have published his thoughts on the Internet, but he prefers the give and take of conversation. Our early conversations were personal enough, Saddam did not want them recorded or published, so I agreed to keep that between us. The transcript that follows is from a recent chat we had and Saddam requested I record and publish.

Ed: Hi Saddam, what is happening with you lately?

Saddam: Things are great! It is much less stressful living here in the U.S.

Ed: You’re kidding me, right?

Saddam: Maybe. Why does the idea surprise you?

Ed: Because U.S. security is so tight these days.

Saddam: Now it’s you who are kidding, right? Every day, dozens and sometimes a hundred poor people come into the U.S., uninvited. Don’t you read the papers or watch TV?

Ed: Good point! Aren’t you afraid of being seen?

Saddam: No. Over the past six months, I’ve had some excellent plastic surgery. I don’t look much like my old self, but I must say I have never looked this good. None of my old friends recognize me. I am living with some old friends now and I really don’t need to go out much and tempt fate. If you should see me with my friends, I’m the handsome Oriental man. Cute huh?

Ed: Clever, I’d say. Have you been listening to the news since you’ve been here?

Saddam: Of course! It’s really good for laughs.

Ed: This is true. So you have noticed that every day they talk about your weapons of mass destruction? Why can’t they find them?

Saddam: I sent them all to friends before the invasion; friends all over the world.

Ed: I was under the impression you didn’t have too many friends.

Saddam: It’s funny about impressions. If you have been following the news, you know the Americans and their friends come under attack nearly every day. There are just a few of my friends behind that. To be honest with you, I have never been so popular in the world.

Ed: Is that so?

Saddam: Yes. Most are new friends, since the Iraqi Freedom thing. I think it’s about ten million of them but I don’t want to boast. Did you ever hear that I am a very rich man? It’s true. I can buy anything I want, any time, any where. I can buy friends, weapons, cars, houses, anything. But I don’t have to buy friends and many of my friends would give me whatever I asked of them. Is that so hard to believe?

Ed: Not any more.

Saddam: To get back to WMDs. I mostly sent them where they would do the most good. Keeping them in Iraq would have been utterly pointless. It wasn’t about embarrassing the President and his aides or calling intelligence into question, although it has been great fun. It was just a simple strategic military move. Get them close to where I want them.

Ed: Did you ever get the nukes you wanted?

Saddam: Not the ones I originally wanted for my missiles. But I have bought quite a few neat little portable models. Osama split an order with me.

Ed: You’ve been talking with Osama? I thought you were enemies.

Saddam: Like I was saying, Operation Iraqi Freedom changed a lot of things. We will probably never sit and drink tea together, but our conversation has been cordial and productive. He doesn’t need half the funding that the frozen assets represent, but I told him I’m ready to contribute anything he doesn’t want traced. Did I tell you I am rich?

Ed: I believe you did. What does Osama think of your disguise?

Saddam: He thought it was clever. He asked if I’d send him my surgeon.

Ed: Did you?

Saddam: Yes. They met at a Swiss hospital a couple months ago. I asked him to send me a picture. He hasn’t sent one.

Ed: So how come you didn’t leave Iraq when President Bush said you could have safe passage out?

Saddam: He would have tried to kill me. And I’m not used to being told what to do. You understand. I thought it would be much safer if I waited a while and I thought it would be good to be seen by friends in Iraq. If I had left when the President suggested, it would have looked like I was a coward, a scared rabbit. Why would I want to do that? Friends needed my moral support and I wanted to give it - can’t just run out on my friends. Would President Bush do that?

Ed: Not on his special friends anyway. So what is Osama doing for you?

Saddam: You have heard that there are now members of Al Qaeda fighting in Iraq? They bombed the U.N. headquarters last month. I heard they are moving in a few thousand each month. They are well trained so they don’t need a lot of them to get the work done. They could hardly wait to get to Iraq. My friends are in touch with them and they will be attacking with increasing frequency. The non Iraqi civilian workers will have to leave, over the next few months, for lack of security. There won’t be any Iraqi police in a few months either.

Ed: I got a hunch just following the daily news that could be the case.

Saddam: Ed, my dinner is on the table, so I’ll call you back in a few weeks. We’ll discuss the news.

Ed: Thanks for calling, Saddam. I look forward to hearing from you again.

About the Author

A freelance writer published on many websites and in newspapers.
edhowes@hotmail.com
justanotherview.com

What You Should Know About Medicare

Medicare is the Federal health insurance program that is available to older people and to many of those with disabilities. Generally, a person is eligible for Medicare when turning age 65. In other instances, a person with a disability may be eligible, regardless of age.
There are two parts to Medicare: Part A and Part B. Inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice services are covered by Medicare Part A. Physician services, durable medical equipment, clinical diagnostic laboratory services, laboratory tests, X-rays, diabetes self-management, outpatient hospital services, ambulance services, outpatient mental health services, mammograms, pap smears, colon or prostate cancer screenings, flu and pneumonia shots, bone density measurement, and physical therapy are covered by Medicare Part B. Medicare generally does not cover preventive care services, private duty nursing, hospital room telephone or television, private hospital rooms, dental services, eyeglasses, chiropractic services, care outside of the U.S., acupuncture, hearing aids, long term or custodial care in nursing homes or most prescription drugs.
To qualify for Medicare, a person must meet at least one of the following:
(1)Be age 65 and eligible for Social Security or railroad retirement benefits,
(2)Have been receiving Social Security disability income for at least 24 months, or
(3)Have end stage renal (kidney) disease.
If one continues to work after age 65 or decides not to enroll for Social Security benefits at age 65, he/she may still receive Medicare benefits. Permanent legal aliens also qualify for Medicare when they have lived in the U.S. for at least five years or more continuously prior to eligibility date. They may also qualify when they are not eligible for Social Security benefits or railroad retirement benefits, but they usually will have to pay the premiums for Medicare Part A.
If one qualifies for Social Security or railroad retirement benefits, his or her Medicare enrollment is automatic. If one is not age 65, he/she may apply with the local Social Security office during the 7 month period that starts 3 months before their 65th birthday. When applying 3 months before turning 65, the Medicare coverage begins in the birthday month. When applying in the birthday month or during the 3 months following, coverage will be delayed for up to 3 more months. Enrollment may also be done between January 1 and March 31 of any year once becoming eligible, but there may be a penalty for late enrollment and an effective date of July 1.
If one has coverage with a group or business health plan, he/she may enroll any time while still working and if the employer has more than 20 employees. If one cancels group coverage while still working or retires, he/she is given a special 8 month enrollment period beginning when the group coverage ends. Be aware that when applying for a Medicare Supplement policy 6 months after Medicare Part B coverage is effective or after open enrollment ends, health questions would have to be answered on the application. Also, when one is covered with a group health plan and Medicare, as long as the employer has 20 or more employees one has the option of making the group health coverage primary and Medicare secondary.
If one is automatically eligible for Medicare Part A then there is no premium to pay. A premium is required for Medicare Part B. If one does not enroll in Medicare Part B when initially eligible, then there is a 10% premium penalty for each year of delayed enrollment.
Medicare options include original Medicare which comes direct from the Federal government, and Medicare PPO (preferred provider organization), Medicare PFFS (private fee-for-service plan), Medicare MSA (medical savings account plan), and Medicare HMO (health maintenance organization) or Medicare PSO (provider-sponsored organization) which are offered by private health plans. There are also special Medicare programs for people with low incomes of $4000 per individual or $6000 per couple not including a house or car. These programs are: QMB, SLMB, Q1-1, Q1-2, or Medicaid.
Over 80% of those eligible for Medicare select original Medicare. It is available everywhere in the U.S. and one is enrolled in it automatically when becoming eligible for Medicare. Just about any doctor or hospital may be used with original Medicare, and it pays providers and doctors directly for the services one receives. To fill in any gaps in the original Medicare coverage, a Medicare Supplement insurance plan may be purchased.
For more information, please contact Social Security at 1-800-722-1213 or log onto www.medicare.gov.

Editor of Poetry Market E-zine, Contributing Editor of Muse’s Kiss. Chapbooks include: …after Graceland, The Cat and the Carroll A. Deering and Other North Carolina Poems, Alexandra’s Wreck (Kitty Litter Press - http://kittylitterpress.com). http://www.thepoetrymarket.com

5 Tips To Keep Happy … Even In Wartime

The world is going downhill faster than an Olympic skier. Terrorists lurk around every corner. Climate change will soon melt the tundra and turn Iowa into a desert. Frankenstein foods are flooding the market, cleverly masquerading as innocent potatoes and beets.

And everybody is planning a war.

Sadam wants to unleash unspeakable biological evils. George Bush II wants to unleash unimaginable military might. Germany and France want to just unleash. North Korea … need I say more? India and Pakistan want to run a nuclear relay race, and worst of all we won’t even know who the good guys and bad guys are supposed to be. And I know why my Israeli friend moved back to New Jersey.

Just when we thought it was safe to sit back and take comfort in knowing exactly how bad things are, some fool has to come up with five tips to keep our spirits up in uncertain times. And that fool is me. So here are the tips:

1. Count your blessings. We have so much to be grateful for. Iraq’s dime store missiles cannot hit anywhere too important (defined more specifically as “where I live”). Then, of course, there is all the “stuff” we have, like the flush toilet (I would not want to have lived 500 years ago!) and the remote control. We can be grateful for all the variety, such as 32 flavors of ice cream on every corner and at least a dozen flavors of tooth floss. We can count our education, our knowledge and our opportunities. And we have soooo much more freedom than our ancestors. Geez, with all these blessings to count, it gets hard to enjoy living in terror of the big, bad world.

2. Smile at a stranger. If the world shows us a threatening face, why not paint that face with smiles to make it less threatening. Let’s face it, if I smile at you, you’ll smile back. The more I smile, the more people will smile at me. The more you smile, the more people will smile at you. If everybody follows my advice, at least dentists will be too busy to fear world events.

3. Learn a new skill. Imagine the sense of accomplishment and the power of mastering a new skill. Like mesquite cooking. Like whittling. Like pterodactyl breeding. Oh well, two out of three. And if you learn that skill in a classroom setting, full of other energized new-skill-masterers, you get the bonus of seeing that positive face of the world, complete with smiles and busy dentists.

4. Study history. Bad things happen. Good things happen. That’s history. Today will one day be history that somebody reads about. So don’t sweat it. (Editor’s note: If nobody is left to read about it, scratch this tip.)

5. Volunteer. One of the scariest things about the world today is not just that it seems to be going downhill, but that we feel powerless to stop it. Worse still, politicians and diplomats are in charge. But we CAN take control and send the world uphill right in our own neighborhood. We can help the local animal shelter. We can work at the food bank. (That’s my personal favorite, and NO you do NOT get free samples.) We can help little old ladies across the street. We can make a difference right in our own communities where the politicians and diplomats won’t interrupt.

Sorry about those five tips. If you wish to ignore them and return to the regularly-scheduled misery-wallowing, please go ahead. After all, in wartime nobody really wants to be happy, do they?

About the Author

David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, even in wartime (he hopes!) and author of “Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness”. Sign up for your free “Daily Dose of Happiness” at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html, or visit the Self-actualization Resource Center at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/self-actualization-articles.html.

North Korea and Diplomatic Solutions; Random Thoughts Part II

North Korea and diplomatic games; something has to give and negotiating with those who renege on promises in treaties is a problematic issue for the United States. Here are some additional random thoughts on this issue which span a few years of off and on thinking on the matter.

You can tell by looking at the general population of North Korea that the common citizen is under pressure and in poverty for the most part, but the armies are loyal and feed. The labor force is 10 million and they may be forced to fight along the military or killed, fear is the way they are controlled. They, that is to say the current regime prescribe to the worst of the Machiavellian principals. Their primary industries are military manufacturing. They also make power, electrical, also mine raw materials and manufacture chemicals too, they have polluted much of their farmland and have big problems with diseases and general health care; you are basically on your own and had better pay attention if you live there. Most of the electricity they make has been hydro which was bad during the drought, do you make power or save water. This changed as nuclear became more widely used, but unfortunately that lead to the present day problem of spent fuel rods being used to make bombs or long-range missiles. How long range, long enough to be a threat to our continent. Some of their electric generation has been from fuel and coal; 2/3 has been hydroelectric until now.

They grow many things such as Corn, rice, soybeans, wheat and raise hogs, chickens and cattle, they are also skilled fishermen and manufacturing fishing instruments.. We still found their exports to be small at under 1 billion per year, of course selling nuclear weapons would move that figure up double within a few years. There are more rogue countries, whom would buy them for sure. They wish to raise their 940 million per year exports, that is how they see they can accomplish that task. And we already know where the bulk of that money will be spent don’t we? Their military is not assisting their populations who live in fear every day of their lives. They have a limited steal industry and use that to make WEAPONS folks.

They export the most to Japan who in turn re-manufactures those components and sells them to people like us. Yep. Almost 40% of their exports go to the Japanese islands. South Korea 20.5% of exports, China also buys some things from North Korea. We end up with things from North Korea too in some of our products; similarly we end up with Heroine from Afghanistan poppies and Cigars from Cuba. They sell these countries such things as clothing, fishing lures, etc. I would not be surprised if you bought a flag after 9-11 that it came from china and that the fabric came from North Korea, seriously this is not funny.

They import from the same countries they export too, China, South Korea and Japan about the same amount, actually a little bit more. They import refined oil, coal, grain for cattle and livestock and food, some machinery and equipment (farming and other, but not a lot), certainly enough to use to fight a war. They do not buy enough to offset our incredible thirst for imports if we made deals with these other countries. After all if we boycotted automobiles Japan would crumble, South Korea has been shooting back at the boarders this time so trade with South Korea is a joke and look what we buy from Daewoo and the issues we have overlooked in that realm?

North Korean debt is about 19 Billion and this could be an issue as it was with Saddam and Russia and France. So we may have to fix this issue or at least make good on future purchases to China, Japan and S. Korea. Remember Hitler also strung out nations in debt until the fighting started. I sure love history. There currency the won has seen better days due to debt and shortages. The US has flat out given them aid in the past over 300 million in the past so no one can say we did not try. They took the money spit in our face and now holding the world for ransom and want to negotiate. Can you say with a poker face, kiss my ass, and be willing see you in the alley way. This is getting ugly and we should be prepared to go all the way and all out in a surprise first draw baseball bat to the head no holds bar. Human Rights abuses in North Korea, well we have discussed this with prior administrations too;

http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/19981128korea2.asp

You think that Saddam was bad, he was a pussycat compared to these people. Check out just some of these articles

http://www.wam.umd.edu/~stwright/right/north-korea-rights-abuses.html

and go get a copy of the most recent issues of Foreign Affairs Magazine too while you are at it. The regime has reached its final days. What is there to talk about? Talk is cheap. Give them till November 25 see why;

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/50-unof/un-2a.htm

Incidentally we are not the only people to give humanitarian aid, the EU has and so have countless non-profit organizations around the world. They have two satellites in space both should be destroyed immediately and a drop-dead date given; they are not owned by the Koreans, they lease them and are flown by Russia and China. Our allies should turn them off or we should turn them off forever or use them for intel. They have over 30 TV stations, which of course can broadcast propaganda. Worse than Iran for censorship; First the signals are to be scrambled and the air superiority won as the chaos of satellite communication and RF are taking out at AM 16, FM 14, short-wave 12. Russia and China hold much of their communication powers and should be able to assist.

They have somewhat extensive electric rail and I assume that runs on a near 600 volts or something due to the availability of hydro. We can either take out the hydro or if our super duper military attorneys fell that would not be a nice thing to do then we can allow them to operate and we can friggin cook our hotdogs on the rails after we take over the pig farms. Is it just me or is someone else thinking out their that attorneys deciding military targets defeats the definition of war and obviously prolongs war, since the enemies moral is not defeated as quickly causing more loss of life anyway? I mean come on get real. War is hell and to win it, you bring a little hell to your enemy? Otherwise do not even bother? Friggin attorneys deciding targets, please spare me the BS? Have they not already been the ones to cause the wars in the first place?

Hail Caesar, can you please help me out here with some verbiage to explain to these nice Internet viewers what to do with the attorneys and why? When to wage is even more important that what to go after. My grandfather was 200 miles off the course of NJ in a hot air balloon waiting weather to predict the best time to launch the invasion of Normandy, were some of my ancestors had lived in the 1200’s. Weather was important then during the Gulf war of 1991 and in the current conflict in Iraq, which just ended. Weather in North Korea and heat in seasons. We found the current weather not fun to fight in. We prefer Nov or April probably. Now is okay but that humidity is a bummer.

http://www.weatherhub.com/global/kn.htm

A war with North Korea is completely winnable and we should not unnecessarily forgo that option if needed and during the negotiation we must stand as JFK did against the Russians in Cuba. Luckily during this present period we have such a leader who can and will do what it takes in our white house.

End Part II

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Progression in Immunohisto Chemistry Permit Improved Diagnostic Sensitivity Malignant Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a unusual and quick acting growth for which no helpful treatment has been discovered in spite of the breakthrough of several potential molecular and genetic targets. The late stages of MPM diagnosis and the long time that connects some exposures and diagnosis have made it difficult to comprehensively study the importance of risk factors and their downstream molecular effects.

A lot of health centres are witnessing more patients with peritoneal cancer. Because of this, pathologists studying the case are given a number of problems, which can be broken up into those discovered in making the distinction between cancer of the mesothelium and worriless changes and those discovered in setting apart cancer of the mesothelium from other types of epithelial and connecting tissue tumors. Immunohistochemistry is a major factor in helping to make the diagnosis, nevertheless it should be interpreted in regards to the scientific setting and radiological features, and with a knowledge of the wide morphological differentiations seen in mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the serosal cavities, a basic location that is frequently affected by metastatic disease, largely from primary cancers of the breast, ovary and lung. Progression in IHC have resulted in enhanced diagnostic sensitivity and exactness in the differential diagnosis regarding cytological and histological material. Lately, the researchers employed a high level of throughput technology to the recognition of new markers that may aid in telling the difference between mesothelioma from cancer in the peritoneum and ovaries, tumors cells that contain closely related histogenesis and antigenic profile. Along with the improved medical devices obtainable for serosal cancer diagnosis, knowing the biology of malignant mesothelioma has been accumulating in recent years.

A Letter of Congratulation to George Bush

Dear Bush,

I must first of all apologize for not including my address on this letter. In this age of terrorism, one should be wary of disclosing private addresses in public places. So I decided to send you this mail from “an undisclosed secret location.”

The purpose of my writing you, however, is to congratulate you for your “decisive” victory in the November election. You must see what I am doing this moment—playing my ukulele in my garden and singing “God Bless America.” Do you know how to play musical instruments?

But I do not even think that that is necessary. For did Bob Kerry not gad about town twanging his guitar with his right fingers and wiping big drops of sweat with the left? Didn’t know that gals don’t like sweaters. And lost badly. I heard he wept profusely too. Was that true? He thought that the ability to play musical instruments win elections, just because Bill Clinton “saxophoned” your dad out of office. But Kerry wasn’t Bill.

You have shown that you have guts, and that only gung-ho men rule America. For did you not bungee jump from the top floor of Empire State Building the other day while singing the Star-Spangled Banner–landing unscathed at ground zero and blowing hot kisses to cheering spectators. You might protest enacting such “kamikaze” acts, but that was exactly what you did when you single handedly “vanished” ALL those BEASTS who brought down the World Trade Center and flew them blindfolded with their arms chained to their seats for RE-EDUCATION at Guantanamo. And endeared yourself to the hearts of Americans ever after.

So, why did the Democrats suddenly dream up the word “electability” and thought that Kerry was the “best thing” to happen to America just because he saved ONE fellow soldier from drowning in a river in far away Vietnam. And they even downplayed your role in the war. Or did you not fight?

But all that is history, now. You are electable, Kerry is not. Period. And many of your detractors, not just the Democrats, will be put to shame.

Let’s consider the friends of the earth. Just before the election, they prayed to see your back, saying that you had better the earth perished than honor the Kyoto Agreement. But now you won! Do not take them serious.

The earth is gong to die, anyway. TIME magazine gives it about 4 billion years to go. If it doesn’t stop turning, a stray asteroid from outer space might just as well kiss it a hasty goodbye.

What do they even do in those earth summits than watch half-naked dancing virgins, gulp down multi-colored wines, swallow exotic meals and leave the earth to groan in pains. And yet they say you are the earth’s mortal enemy.

Even some world leaders (particularly those in the EU), and big time politicians are disappointed that you are still around. Not a few of them regard you as a self-willed and strong-headed man. Nelson Mandela who used a word that sounded like “psychopath” and the former German official, who called you a “nazi,” will be most disappointed. Chirac and Schroder–old Europeans–would weep like babies.

Your list of enemies is a fairly long one (I hope you are keeping a black book). Because Nobel laureates—even these ones—have joined the infamous register. Just before the election a group of them signed a statement calling on all Americans to remove you. Because you are world enemy number one. Imagine such a statement coming from the most distinguished persons on earth. Now, they are walking with their tails between their legs.

Come to think of it, Bush, Did some of them merit the award? I know that they would equally ask if you deserved the victory. But seriously speaking, was it not Alfred Nobel who invented the explosives, which they now say that you are using to “dynamite” people at random? Don’t mind their hypocrisy. Not that you are even itching to be awarded the prestigious prize. Damn them!

Even then, writers are the most disgraced people for writing you out of the White House before your time. Let them dare write again. Never mind, I will send them a riposte in your behalf. Even the movie stars are up in arms against you,. Now, I will advise you to turn up the thermostat of the Fahrenheit and burn them till they expire.

And cynics who are coming to terms with your victory are saying that you only won by a “slight” margin. Some are also wondering if your brother in the “F” state didn’t do one or two things behind a magic curtain to influence the poll’s result. So they are still using words like “rigging” and the “F factor.” But don’t mind them, even if they call it the “hand of God.”

Those that I pity the most are terrorists, leaders of rogue states, and those producing weapons of mass destruction with evil intentions.
I did not mention North Korea or Iran. To be honest with a capital “H,” I do not want Hong Song-nam and Mohammad Khatami to be “Saddamized.” Or will they be the next to go? You know what I’m talking about–”regime change” and the hooded man in red, the hangman. I’m told that the job is in high demand in these seasons of anomy.

I didn’t realize how easy it is to create jobs till now. What if the U.N. sponsors an international conference titled HOW TO CREATE A MILLION JOBS IN A YEAR, with a little explanation on how to do mass rape and operate torture chambers, for the FULL benefit of genocidal heads of state. For spcial guest of honor, I nominate Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. And for observers, I recommend the “janjaweed,” and delegates from Bosnia and Rwanda.

I feel very sorry for them because as you said in your 2004 State of the Union Address, the work would not be left “unfinished”; “this danger must be defeated”; “we refuse to live in the shadows of this ultimate danger.”

Good talk. For according to you again “the world without Saddam Hussein is [really] a safer and better world.” See how peaceful the earth is now. Actually, “the world is changing for the better,” as you said and before you leave the White House, the world would have been transformed into a paradise without wars and terrorism.

But make no mistake about it, the world will return to the status quo if you hand over power to the Democrats. I think that the only electable person who can consolidate your enviable legacy is Dick Cheney. I do not mean that his unsmiling visage will frighten away terrorists and bad people. Rather, I know that he is the most suitable man for the job judging from what he said on July 24, 2003: “One by one, in every corner of the world, we will hunt the terrorists down and destroy them.” He sounds even a bit more upbeat than you.

Which means that after you have left the paradise earth to him, he will upgrade it to heavenly status. Then we will have heaven on earth and live in ETERNAL BLISS ever after. I am eagerly looking forward to that GREAT day.

Once again, congratulations! And three cheers!

Yours sincerely,
Arthur Zulu.

Arthur Zulu is the author of HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER, CHASING SHADOWS! and A LETTER TO NOAH to be published soon.
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http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/21013
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For his works and FREE articles,use the search engines and search “ARTHUR ZULU.”

About the Author

Arthur Zulu is an author, book reviewer and editor.