That is a coincidence

Manchurian candidate - coincidence [2008-04-29]
Well I Tonigh DH and I watched the Manchurian Candidate with Meryl Streep. We had not seen this movie in about 3 years and about 10 minutes into the movie DH and I looked at each other and said the same thing at the same time. We said Hillary Clinton. Whatever you may think of Clinton (good or bad) if you watch this movie you have got to see the similarities. DH said even her hairstyle is the same. Streep plays a Senator who will do anything to get her son elected to President (only in real life its Hillary doing anything to get herself elected). Anyway...don Actually its not a coincidence- its like watching the real thing. Regardless of whether you like her or now, watch the movie with an open mind and you will see what I mean.

That is a coincidence [2008-01-08]
That's amazing they were born the same date. Not bad luck though. I read all the posts below and I think people who don't know you, your son or your daughter are judging. They say they aren't but it sounds like they are. I totally agree with you on two things. First, you should have your key back. You don't give it to other people who don't live at your house, it doesn't matter if he is your son. Like you said, you don't have a key to your moms house, neither do I to my parents or anyone I know that doesn't live at that house. Second the point is exactly what you said...they didn't discuss the situation with you. I didn't think a 16-year-old child had the right to make that kind of choice unless its living with the mother or father. Either way they should have talked to you first and you could have sorted out whatever brought this on. I'll tell you the biggest mistake of my life (although your case is not as drastic). I joined the Army without discussing it with anyone. I was mad at my mom and wanted out of the house and thought this was the easiest way (and one she would not be able to do anything about - change the situation I mean) - and I was 20 years old at the time. Now as an adult how I wished I would have sat down with my parents and told them what I was thinking about doing. I wish you all the best and hope you all can sit down at some point. If you are responsible for him because he is at his age, he and his sister should know that some kind of rules need to apply to him because of the law with you being responsible. Anyway...I do not think you were wrong to ask for your key. Best of luck to you.

What a funny coincidence! [2007-08-20]
I was getting married in October, and my hubby's sister was getting married in August before us. I bought my dress before she did, but it was still at the shop. How funny that when she got her dress and brought it back to her parent's house, it was the exact same dress! Ha! We couldn't just share it though because she had to have 4 inches whacked off the bottom and I didn't. I did stick a crenolin under mine, and she didn't, and our veils were different. Oh, and we both got oval diamond engagement rings. Isn't that a hoot? So funny!

Soooo cute! I have a lab/great dane mix... scary to some 'cause he is so big. But he is a big wus [2008-10-14]
Are those mini-pins! A while ago I was running with Walter (my dog) and we came across a lady with 2 mini-pins. Walter wants to meet everyone and the lady said they were friendly so we let them sniff, but all of a sudden they were all over Walter with little tiny flashing teeth. Walter yiped like a little baby and skulked away and the lady said oh my they never do that. Why do they always say that, like it is my big dog Well anyway, just this weekend I saw the mini pins in her car at the market when by coincidence I parked next to it. When I opened my door they were up on the dash and leaping at the crack in the window and snarling and barking at me. I know they could not get to me but I cringed and hustled away. They looked really scary! I swear I felt like they could jump up on me and grab on something like my ears or something and not let go. But I am sure they are sweet... NOT! But it goes to show you never know... they are all animals, after all. And like people all have very distinct personalities, very much formed by their family (the people family, I mean). I could tell the owner of the mini pins was kind of a ---- well you know, not that nice... she left them in the hot car, after all... and they were pretty much a product of their upbringing. I too actually think pits have some of the sweetest dispositions I have ever met in a dog.

What I thought... [2008-07-27]
was that he meant he had David and his wife in the car. Probably because they knew Nikki wasn't happy and they might as well take them both at the same time. I think it was just coincidence that Sabrina was there. BUT, I do think that they might come after Niki in the hospital or while she is recovering. Of ourse Victor will make sure she is well protected.

If you would like to further educate yourself on this issue [2008-06-12]
INTERESTING ARTICLE I realize this is very long, but as an expert in this field, I want to re-post information I sent, in September, to another blogger concerned about the Best Friends summit. I want to emphasize that the following information is based on years of dedicated research, and decades of dog training experience. I do not simply pass along information I've heard or read somewhere...which is sadly what most people, on all sides of dog-related issues, do. I recognize that some of your readers may find parts of it quite controversial. That's okay. Facts are facts, even if they conflict with some other [expert's] unresearched opinions. As such, I've opted to leave those sections in, because they're vital in refuting unfounded notions about dogs, canine genetics, and dog behaviour, which lead to myths about canine aggression. Any individual point of controversy should not take away from the overall message of fact and reason that does not support the view that any entire dog breed could be considered dangerous. Only once people stop repeating inaccurate information (no matter how good it may sound), will we ever hope to get to the heart of this issue, and start reducing the number of unprovoked dog bites. The following was written off the top of my head, in response to concerns about the Best Friends' agenda. It is not a composed article meant for publication. Please also keep in mind, it has a decidedly Canadian perspective, although there is ample U.S. data referenced. This is what I wrote (with a few minor clarifications): Dear (blogger), As you know, I am an expert in Canadian dog bite statistics. After years of research, there are a number of interesting facts I right here, in one place. The situation with unprovoked dog bites is not what nearly everyone believes it to be. If I had one pet peeve, it is that most people merely repeat things they’ve heard or read. They don’t really know if what they’re saying is true or not. They merely “believe” those things to be true, and that’s enough for them, I guess. You know what I say, “No matter how often or loudly a myth is repeated, it is still just a myth.” Some people simply like agreeing with others. Some like to pretend they’re especially knowledgeable or have unique insight. Whatever the source for so many of these myths, years of research has proven the majority of beliefs I encounter about dogs are simply untrue. Whenever discussing the issue of dangerous dogs, it's always important to remember a few key points about the dog bite statistics (especially as they pertain to Canada): 1. The most dangerous breeds in Canada are, in order: German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, Rottweiler, and Golden Retriever. Why do I say this? Well, this is not dog bite data, but rather dog attack data based on the reporting information from the Canadian Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP). The CHIRPP members (hospitals, and reporting physicians and nurses) have no reason to lie about the information they receive, surrounding the breed of dog that has attacked. Why do I say the most dangerous? Well, because the CHIRPP data only applies to the most severe dog attacks (i.e. those injuries serious enough to require treatment in hospital). These are not little nips that can be treated with ice or even a band aid. These are severe dog bite injuries that need to be treated in hospital. The dogs that cause the most serious injuries in Canada belong to the above-mentioned breeds, more than any others. Unlike municipal dog bite data (where any bite, no matter how inconsequential, or even against other animals, is counted), the CHIRPP data only relates to the most serious dog attacks against human victims. 2. 'Pit bulls' are rarely in the #1 spot in dog bite statistics. Any measures to restrict or ban the #2, #5, or #37 'breed' of dog in the dog bite statistics, but not #1, is pure hypocrisy. As faulty as the logic may be, if you're going to ban or restrict a type of dog in an attempt to reduce the number of dog bites, then it must be the ones who bite the most and/or cause the most serious injuries. Either way, that 'breed' is not 'pit bulls'. 3. There hasn't been one confirmed death of a child attributed to an unprovoked attack by a 'pit bull' in Canadian history. (There has been one unconfirmed death.) 4. The very first human fatality attributed to an unprovoked attack by a 'pit bull' in Canadian history occurred in May of 2006. Until then, every insinuation or claim about Canadians being in danger of being killed in unprovoked attacks by 'pit bulls' was totally unfounded. (In the Ontario case in May, the dog was actually only part 'pit bull'. It was a Labrador Retriever/'pit bull' cross, and the dog's owner was the victim.) (It should be noted that there have been at least two human fatalities in Canada attributed to unprovoked attacks by Labrador Retriever crosses, yet this was the first for a 'pit bull' cross.) 5. Municipal dog bite statistics often combine reported dog bite data against both humans and other animals. While I don’t have any problems with doing so, those citing combined statistics must be aware that the majority of the dog bite reports aren’t against people. To imply otherwise is, at best, misleading and, at worst, dishonest. For example: Toronto has arguably the largest municipal ‘pit bull’ population in Canada. In 2004, 12 of the city’s estimated 30,000+ ‘pit bulls’ had been reported for biting. (That’s about 0.04% of the population, by the way; leaving 99.96% of Toronto’s ‘pit bulls’ completely innocent of such allegations.) However, the majority of those reported bites were against other animals. Only 2 of the 12 could even begin to be called “attacks” against humans. So, when 2 out of at least 30,000 dogs of a loosely-defined type are involved in attacks in an entire year, is that really justification for not just trying to ban or restrict them, but for making sweeping generalizations about all the rest? 6. No matter what dog ‘breed’ tops the dog bite statistics, the vast majority of bites are still attributed to other breeds. To better help people understand the absurdity of a breed-based approach to dog bite prevention, let’s imagine that ‘pit bulls’ are responsible for a virtually unheard of 10% of bites in some Canadian city. That still leaves 90% of biting dogs unaffected by any breed-based approach. This is the primary reason why breed bans have been such a colossal failure wherever they’ve been tried. The majority of biting and attacking dogs are not affected, so their owners are free to continue to behave negligently. 7. All dogs can bite. There is no such thing as a breed of dog that has never bitten, never attacked, never maimed, or never killed (a person or other animal). 8. It is the size of the victim, not the dog, which best predicts severity of injury in an attack. While even the very smallest dog breeds have killed humans, the very largest dog breeds are rarely involved in attacks. 9. Adults are rarely seriously injured by dogs of any size, while children are the most common dog bite victims. Their attackers range from the very smallest to the very largest dog breeds. 10. The dogs actually involved in attacks are not genetically related in any meaningful way. This goes right to the heart of common, yet completely unscientific, baseless claims about allegedly inheriting aggressive behaivours or being bred for aggression. In short, the dogs involved in attacks are not closely genetically related to one another. This tends to refute the idea that the attack was due to some aberrant inherited gene. Think about it. What could the Dalmatian that bit off a boy’s nose 10 years ago and the Golden Retriever that left 76 stitches in a girl’s face, just a few years ago, possibly have in common, from a genetic standpoint? Is anyone really trying to suggest they’re genetically related, and both inherited some sort of as-yet-undiscovered “attack gene”? Even the Rottweiler that killed a child in New Brunswick and the Rottweiler that killed a child in Ontario don’t share any common ancestors in their pedigrees; making the whole notion of a shared genetic cause for attacks completely ludicrous. Put simply, the individual dogs involved in unique attack incidents are not genetically related in any way other than that which makes them dogs. 11. Psychology defines aggression as learned behaviour. I’ve been researching dog biting incidents since 1999. I have yet to find a dog involved in an attack that didn’t have a known history of aggressive behaviour. Aggression has to be learned and practiced before it is perfected. I have yet to come across a case of a dog that attacked unprovoked, without ever having barked menacingly, growled, lunged, snapped, or what have you. This completely refutes the (quite silly) urban myth that “some dogs just turn”, or that dogs can be THIS unpredictable. (i.e. friendly family pet with no history of ever having behaved aggressively one minute; then savage, unprovoked attacker the next) As an experienced dog trainer (one who has spent many of those years SUCCESSFULLY re-training aggressive dogs), I can attest that dogs are not all that unpredictable. Sure, they might do something out of the ordinary, every now and then. However, for a dog to suddenly behave aggressively in a way that is truly threatening or injurious, it must have practiced those behaviours in the past. This is the nature of all learned behaviours. Only practice makes perfect. (I can elaborate more on that, if you wish.) It’s as though people can’t imagine any other form of aggressive behaviour, other than biting. To help them along, I must point out that aggressive behaviours follow a fairly predictable scale of escalation. It may begin with staring or raised hackles (all merely indicating discomfort with a situation). That can lead to raised lips, growling, stiffened body posture, menacing barking, lunging, and attempted bites. Long before an unwarranted bite ever occurs, there are a litany of warning signs that the dog will eventually bite. Even the most die-hard dog fighting breeders admit they have to start their puppies very young (often at six weeks), to turn them into superior fighters. When asked why they have to spend so much effort training their (allegedly bred-to-fight) dogs, none can provide a scientifically or practically sensible response. Most use made-up terminologies to emphasize what they believe are inherited traits, while playing down the daily training they force on the dogs. Yet it is clear that, without this ongoing encouragement, the dogs don’t become proficient fighters. I’ve researched so many cases where the owner has allegedly claimed the attack was the first time the dog behaved aggressively, I now pay little heed to such statements. The neighbours almost always tell a very different story. To use a more famous case as an example, little Courtney Trempe was killed by a dog the owner claimed had never behaved aggressively before. The owner went on to say he “couldn’t have known” the dog would attack, because it had never tried to bite a person. Well, it turns out the dog had not just attacked previously, but had actually killed two neighbourhood dogs in the past. That is an aggressive dog, by anyone’s standards. But it does bring me to my next point… 12. Aggression is aggression is aggression. The idea that aggression can be species-specific is not based in any kind of scientific, statistical, or practical data. It seems to be little more than wishful thinking. Those perpetuating this notion tend not to have even attempted to validate this theory in any way. There is a very disturbing myth being promulgated by a number of groups that should know better than to perpetuate unfounded myths. The idea that aggression towards other dogs is markedly different than aggression towards humans is scientifically and statistically baseless. (But I realize a lot of people learned this myth, and repeat it as though it is true.) I have to point out that the real-world data, in no uncertain terms, clearly refutes such theories. Of the dogs involved in their first aggression incident towards a human, the vast majority had behaved aggressively towards other animals (usually other dogs) in the past. Of the dogs involved in their first bites against humans, where the dog had no history of aggression towards humans, the majority had behaved aggressively towards other animals (usually other dogs) in the past. Of the dogs whose first bite against a person resulted in that individual’s death, and where the dog had no history of aggressive behaviour towards humans, every one of the cases I’ve investigated involved dogs that had behaved aggressively towards other dogs in the past. (see the Trempe case example, above) So, while some aggressive dogs may, for now, limit their aggressive behaviour to other animals, it in no way guarantees it will remain that way forever. Most, if not all, the first-time human biters had only behaved aggressively towards other animals, in the past. Their owners, having believed the myth that aggression is species-specific in dogs, are always surprised when their dog-aggressive dogs bite someone. Again, dog-aggression could remain contained, for a number of social and environmental reasons. Statistically, these dogs are equally as likely to bite a human, one day. Dogs with histories of aggressive behaviour (towards either humans or other animals) are almost exclusively involved in unprovoked biting incidents. 13. Nearly all unprovoked dog bites would not be prevented by dog control laws. Since dog control laws typically only apply to the conduct of owners (and their dogs) when they’re on public property, it completely negates their ability to affect the circumstances that lead to the vast majority of unprovoked dog bites. When it comes to total dog bite numbers, almost all take place on the owner’s property. When it comes to reported dog bite numbers, the overwhelming majority take place on, or directly adjacent to, the owner’s property. Supervised dogs in a public place account for less than 1% of all bites. This makes public restraint laws especially ineptly-aimed and ineffective in reducing dog bites. Most unprovoked biting incidents involve (typically an unsupervised) dog known to the victim. Whether or not the victim knows the dog, the bite usually takes place on the owner’s property (where the dog is either loose or tethered), or directly adjacent to the owner’s property (where the dog was either allowed to venture off the owner’s property, or “escaped”). Very few unprovoked biting incidents involve a supervised dog. Simple supervision appears to be very effective in preventing dog bites. When bites take place far from the owner’s property, the dogs involved were most likely loose, roaming, unsupervised dogs. Simply put, public restraint laws don’t target the situations that actually lead to unprovoked dog bites. 14. Cities that address the real causes of unprovoked dog bites (i.e. lack of supervision & lack of socialization and training) are hugely successful in reducing the number of dog bites. Calgary is the best example we have in Canada. They reduced dog bites by 70%, even during a period where the population doubled. Calgary’s approach was to first enforce existing laws. They strictly enforce licensing, and boast a licensing rate of 90% (compared to most cites’ 10-20%). In this way, they have a better handle on the dog population in their community, which helps in making decisions and drawing conclusions. They also have a zero tolerance policy for acts of aggression. (Something I’m personally totally in favour of. Dogs are not weapons, and anyone who unethically uses a dog for that purpose shouldn’t be allowed to own one.) Any report of aggressive behaviour of any kind results in a visit from animal control and a warning. City officials are clear, in that they agree one of the biggest aspects of their success was the creation of ample off-leash areas for dogs to be exercised, socialized, and trained off-leash. With reportedly the largest number of off-leash parks in Canada, it’s no coincidence that Calgary also has the lowest dog bite rate of any major city in Canada. Several years ago, I made this prediction, “When the studies are done, we’ll find the cities with the best access to off-leash parks are also the cities with the lowest percentage of dog bites.” Calgary certainly suggests my prediction was correct. Finally, Calgary increased the penalties for some transgressions. Combined with increased enforcement, the large percentage of licensed dogs, along with the higher fines, has led to Calgary’s animal control department becoming financially self-sufficient. It’s win, win, win, in Calgary, all because they addressed the real causes for unwarranted aggression in dogs. 15. Breed-specific approaches to dog bite prevention have failed. There isn’t one region that can claim a reduction in the number, or severity, of dog bites as a direct result of banning a breed of dog. In Winnipeg, officials promoting the city’s long-time ban on ‘pit bulls’ often misleads the public by stating “’pit bull’ attacks” have been eliminated. Well of course they’ve been eliminated. ‘Pit bulls’ are banned in Winnipeg. You don’t have to be rocket scientist to figure that out. There are also no wooly mammoth attacks or saber toothed tiger attacks, either. When Winnipeg banned ‘pit bulls’, German Shepherds, and their crosses, were far and away the most common biters in that city. After ‘pit bulls’ were banned, there was an average of close to 50 more bites per year, for the following decade. In addition to the rise in overall dog bites, the number of bites by German Shepherds and crosses, Labrador Retrievers and crosses, Terriers crosses, and Rottweilers and crosses, skyrocketed. Kitchener is another example. The city of Kitchener banned ‘pit bulls’ in 1997, without ever having done an analysis on the city’s dog bite data. Only after ‘pit bulls’ were banned was it discovered they were #8 in the 1996 dog bite statistics, “right behind #7 Poodles,” as it is commonly said. In what could only be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, officials immediately halted the collection of dog bite data by breed. Even so, while we don’t know which breeds have been doing the biting, we can still determine if the ‘pit bull’ ban has been effective in reducing dog bites in Kitchener. Every animal bite is required, by law, to be reported to the Medical Officer of Health. With a sleuthing, it was discovered that dog bites haven’t been reduced at all, since ‘pit bulls’ were banned in 1997. They’ve remained pretty constant. According to a BBC report, hospitalizations due to dog bites rose 25% after ‘pit bulls’ were banned in England. Officials from most of the cities that have repealed breed-specific laws have used terms like “ineffective” and “unenforceable”. 16. All dog breeds are genetically identical. Even DNA can’t distinguish between a Chihuahua, a ‘pit bull’, a Great Dane, and a wolf. (Yes, while there are occasional claims of in-roads, in this area, using markers, all dogs are still considered genetically identical.) Those rare individuals with the personal expertise necessary to accurately attempt to determine a dog’s breed based on appearance alone typically are not employed in the various occupations charged with enforcing most breed-specific legislation. This leaves the subjective determination of a dog’s breed to the very inexpert animal control and shelter workers. In some cases, police officers must decide the dog’s breed, yet not one police officer is trained to (accurately) differentiate between dog breeds. The same can be said of veterinarians. A veterinary license infers expertise in diagnosing and treating illness, for the most part. Neither practicing veterinarians nor veterinary students are required to prove any expertise in breed identification in order to obtain a license. Any expertise an individual veterinarian may possess, in terms of breed identification, or even dog training and behaviour, was most likely acquired outside the requirements of licensing. Because the people enforcing breed-specific laws are not dog breed identification experts, the likelihood of misidentification is unconscionably great. (In Ontario, several dogs have already been misidentified, under breed-specific ordinances.) 17. The public is not in danger of unprovoked dog bites. For instance, every recent dog-related fatality in Canada has involved dogs and victims residing within the same home. The same could be said for the majority of bites and attacks, as well. This is very important information, in terms of quelling the public’s hysteria. “The public” is rarely involved in unprovoked biting incidents. Most bite victims knew the dog and were voluntarily interacting with it at the time of the bite. Most bite victims are bitten by their own dogs. If you don’t own a dog, your risk of being bitten is very low. If you also don’t interact with dogs, or live next door to a dog that is routinely left unsupervised, or one that is known to behave aggressively, then your risk of being bitten is virtually nil. Even when we don’t account for contributing factors (such as proximity) you are still more than 100 times more likely to be hit by lightning than killed by a dog. (In Canada, the likelihood of being killed by a dog you don’t know or live with is virtually zero.) 18. ‘Pit bulls’ are, if anything, less likely to bite. In the U.S., ‘pit bulls’ are estimated to make up 9% of the dog population, yet they typically only make up 2-4% of dog bites, nationwide. In case your readers don’t understand what that means, it would be expected, purely on population alone, that 9% of dog bites would be attributed to ‘pit bulls’. Since less than half (even a third) of bites are reportedly caused by ‘pit bulls’, this suggests they’re much less likely to bite than should be expected. 19. ‘Pit bulls’ are less likely to kill than people. In the U.S., even extremely conservative estimates suggest that only 0.00002% of the ‘pit bull’ population has killed. This is much lower than the human population (men, in particular). Whatever someone’s views about ‘pit bulls’ might be, it can’t change the fact that at least 99.99998% have never, and will never, kill anyone. 20. 99.9% of all dogs, from all breeds, will never be involved in an attack. Huge generalizations about dog breeds is not only unscientific, it’s not even practically accurate. I like to put it this way, “If any ‘breed’ were genetically programmed to attack, certainly more than 0.1% of them would.” 21. The media. While I don’t want to get into a protracted discussion about the lack of honesty in media reports of dog bites, I will summarize by saying that reviewing media reports of dog biting incidents is not “research” because the media is extremely biased in regards to which stories it chooses to cover. The media reports dog biting incidents involving ‘pit bulls’ to the near-exclusion of all others. In addition, they use other tactics to exaggerate the details, such as salacious language, or references to other dog biting incidents involving ‘pit bulls’. There are countless incidents of media bias. In Ontario, a ‘pit bull’ killed another dog, and it was front-page news, that reappeared in the media for weeks. The owner was swiftly taken to jail. Around the same time, two Labs killed another dog, and attacked a ‘pit bull’ without any real media interest. The owner of the Labs was not charged with any serious offence. There are other blatant incidents, as well. One weekend, two off-leash dogs (one of them being a ‘pit bull’) got into a squabble, and every major media agency reported the incident. That same weekend, a child was mauled by the family’s Golden Retriever, and not one media outlet covered the story. A child was mauled so savagely by his grandfather’s Labrador Retriever, he required treatment at two Ontario hospitals. Only one media outlet covered this story in just one broadcast. Again, relying on the media for the facts of dog biting cases is not advised. Naturally, I could go on. But there you have a pretty good primer (off the top of my head), regarding the facts about the who, what, where, when, how, and why dogs bite unprovoked. Because I kept encountering the same story, over and over and over again, in my research of dog biting incidents, I was led to create a dog bite prevention strategy that deals with the factors common to nearly all the cases I’d investigated. I made it simple, and easy to remember. And I made sure not to include anything that would require an individual to develop some kind of expertise. People who don’t own dogs or aren’t experienced dog trainers still have a right to protect themselves from unprovoked dog bites. The following is what I call, the “3 Simple Steps to Dog Bite Prevention”: 1. Avoid unsupervised dogs. 2. Never leave children unsupervised with dogs. 3. Ensure our own dogs are properly trained and adequately supervised at all times. By following these “3 Simple Steps”, we could virtually eliminate unprovoked dog bites in Canada. It is not just important, but vital, to know what ACTUALLY causes dogs to bite unprovoked, if we ever hope to reduce those numbers. Obtusely theorizing about possible causes or solutions is not helpful and, as in the case of breed-specific legislation, is often harmful to both humans and dogs. If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Marjorie Darby Founder,

hmmmm [2008-06-10]
Curious about something here. I banged my head pretty hard a couple weeks ago on the steel ladder that leads up the side of our house and onto the roof to the chimney. I was squatting below it and miscalculated my distance and went to stand and whammo. I have been angry and depressed since then and don I didn Anyways, I didn Could they be related? It doesn't seem like you could hit your head hard enough in that way to damage anything but your ego, but???

I don't want to falsely accuse... [2008-05-11]
I havenit doesnmatch at all then maybe they donneed totalk to him. Like I said, if I donbut it's just too much of a coincidence that it happens the same time as the note with the same racial slurs that he used on the kids as well as getting punched by a black kid just a few days prior. My son did go to school the next day and of course everything was okay. I just get so nervous because of everything you hear these days. No one is safe anywhere. Thanks for all your input. I really do appreciate it. I'll keep you posted if they ever do find out who did it.

Manchurian candidate - coincidence [2008-04-29]
Well I Tonigh DH and I watched the Manchurian Candidate with Meryl Streep. We had not seen this movie in about 3 years and about 10 minutes into the movie DH and I looked at each other and said the same thing at the same time. We said Hillary Clinton. Whatever you may think of Clinton (good or bad) if you watch this movie you have got to see the similarities. DH said even her hairstyle is the same. Streep plays a Senator who will do anything to get her son elected to President (only in real life its Hillary doing anything to get herself elected). Anyway...don Actually its not a coincidence- its like watching the real thing. Regardless of whether you like her or now, watch the movie with an open mind and you will see what I mean.

Nothing made me happier when a neighbor... [2008-01-16]
was driving by and saw me outside when we first moved here. She pulled in the driveway, got out of her car, went back in her car and pulled out a bag of carrots, walked over to me, and introduced herself as my new neighbor. She of course brought the carrots for the critters and it was the nicest gesture. She said she had them in her car for almost a week but she had no idea what our schedules were (I worked 3rd, husband worked first) and didn't want to bother us. IMilk Bones or some other fairly benign dog treat and a welcome to the neighborhood card with your name and maybe even phone number in case of any emergencies and let them know how much you like their little pooch. Ambassador of good will kind of thing. I can Personally I wouldn Hope all goes well with your new nay-ba's!

so then the kids you had didn't grow up [2007-12-31]
in you care...they went back to who? Family? Wow, the odds of every single child you cared for going back to their parents/family is well, just remarkable or what a coincidence for the sake of these posts. NONE of them were split up? You never claimed to be an angel, but you must be one heck of a FC parent to have lucked out like that considering the politics and social issues involved. I never said having siblings in short-term FC is unacceptable, just harder to come by anymore than it used to be...and the states now have federal laws to follow that were not in place 10 years ago. I will restate that sending siblings to a GROUP HOME (read: Not a FC setting) is less desirable than several relatives maintaining close contact in short-term situations. Yea, Budda likes it when I write about something I'm passionate about.

anyone else getting tons of email for Cialis, Viagra, etc? [2007-10-26]
It all started up for me about about 10 days ago. I am getting up to five messages a day. Guess where they originate? India. Coincidence?

I had a somewhat similar experience with my wedding band...sm [2007-10-17]
Quite suddenly my finger would itch underneath my ring. It would become red and almost blister like. I would have to take my ring off for a few days for it to go away. I took the ring, which is not a plain band - has two rows of diamonds so the underside is not smooth, to the jeweler and had it cleaned. IthasnIt wasn Perhaps your diagnosis and your reaction is a coincidence. It

Would I?! (The shining beacon of morality?!) [2007-09-18]
Hells no. It seriously could be just acoincidence and a tragic accident. It seriously could be insurance fraud. Let the insurance company do the investigating...lord knows they (insurance companies)are employed by Satan himself, and most likely have all the resources the Hollywood CSI shows do, so let them do the digging. Did I mention Ithink insurance companies are nothing more than blood-sucking leeches of the underworld?

Well, alot of us DIDN'T vote them in... [2007-03-30]
And look at what happened the first time olcoincidence regarding lost votes and hanging chads happened in Florida - which just by mere coincidence Dubya's brother happened to be governor of at the time.

Do you wake up early in the AM with the beginning of pain? (sm) [2007-03-16]
My migraines were often caused by a sinus headache run amok. I would wake up early, like 4:00 AM, with a tiny little sinus headache. If I was too lazy to get up and take something for it, (decongestant with pseudoephedrine in it) and 2 aspirin, I'd wake up with an out-of-control headache at 8:00 AM that would no longer respond to anything. That in turn would usually trigger a migraine. For me anyway, the secret to preventing the migraine was getting that sinus headache under control. The best combination (for me) was 2 regular-strength Sudafed and 2 extra-strength Excedrin (or Excedrin Migraine) taken immediately upon feeling even the slightest twinge in the early morning. Then I'd go back to sleep, ND 9 times out of 10, I'd wake up headache-free. For out-of-control migraines, (or when I was out of Imitrex), I had good results with lying down & placing an ice bag directly on the exact spot where the pain was on the top right side of my head, and PUSHING ON IT. Once the proper dilated vein or artery was getting chilled, I would feel relief, but ONLY if I remained absolutely motionless, and KEPT ON PUSHING. Under the best circumstances, I could sometimes abort the migraine in an hour or two. At at the very worst, at least it made it easier to endure. Sometimes sucking on a popsicle helps, too! (But probably not a good idea for the sinusitis!) ;D With a recent sinus INFECTION, I got good, though not long-lasting, pain relief with Excedrin Sinus Headache, which has no aspirin in it. Have you tried changing brands (or permanancy) of hair colors? Maybe you're allergic to the fumes, if it's not causing your skin to break out. Interesting Note: I refer to my migraines in the past tense because in the past 6-8 years they've gradually disappeared, and are now rare, and considerably milder. Menopause may have played a role, but about the same time the headaches began to disappear, I had been diagnosed with depression and begun taking an SSRI. SSRIs have recently been found to reduce or eliminate menopausal symptoms, and I believe it, as I never had any symptoms at all - not even a single hot flash. I notice while transcribing (especially Neurology...) that lots of people who have depression also have migraines. Coincidence? I'm starting to think not. My depressive episodes almost always coincided with a migraine, and it was impossible to tell which one might have caused the other. SO --- if SSRIs can cure hot flashes, I wonder if they might also be helping with the migraines, which are also a result of dilated blood vessel(s)??? Food for thought. Might be worth asking a neurologist about. As for migraine PREVENTION, I learned a lot from a doctor I used to have who GOT migraines. (BIG difference between that type of doc, and one who DOESN'T get them!) He told me to avoid: 1. Strobe lights or strobing fluorescent lights.* 2. Sleeping in late on weekends if I normally get up early on weekdays. 3. Skipping meals. 4. Movies, cartoons or TV shows with bright flashing colors/lights and jerky movements.* 5. Looking at copy-machines while they are photocopying.* * (This is because migraines are believed by some doctors to be related to epileptic attacks - the aura, that post-ictal feeling afterwards, etc., and some epileptic attacks can be triggered by strobes and flashing lights. I've even had them brought on by driving along a highway with frequent, intermittent changes from sun to shade caused by a row of tall trees on one side with the sun behind them.) One more handy hint, then Ito-do list, including social commitments? And when you call to cancel, people treat you like a malingerer, telling you to just take an aspirin and shake it off? Or even getting angry and yelling at you? Well, I got tired of that, and started telling folks I had the FLU, instead. Same symptoms, but flu is something people can relate to and understand! (Plus they donp

shingles on face [2007-02-21]
About 4 years ago, I had a mastoidectomy the middle of May. The middle of June, I came in exposure rangewith a child with chickenpox at Wal-Mart, and 2 weeks later I developed shingles. Could have been coincidence, but I figure stress related, and I, too, have hypothyroidism. No other testing was done, but it hurt so bad I couldn I had it on right forehead, bridge of nose, and up through scalp. By the way, something else that really helps with the healing process and pain of it all is Pantothenic acid capsules from the herbal store.

Going Gray [2006-10-10]
It is so nice to see this new board!I came here this morning with a non-MT question so it's awonderful coincidence...I've been coloring my hair for 30 years, startingwhen I was 28 years old--to cover premature gray. Now have decided to just let it go, because of the time, expense and harshness to my hair and scalp. I think I must be about 80% gray/white, with some dark brown still in the back. It's short--bottom of the ear length. What is the best way to transition from those with a similar experience? Thanks so much--