Lone Star

Not only that, but wasn't it Jesus himself, who threw the thieves and money changers out of the temple?

I think I strained a couple ab muscles. I DID learn a couple valuable lessons though....do NOT read this forum while drinking coffee! "Keyboard condoms" are essential if you're insistant on violating the first lesson.

How cute: A liberal AND a hypocrite! I have no issue with people moving to this country for a better life, but it's not unreasonable to have them do it LEGALLY. Just like anything else in life, you cant 'get out' of something you haven't ccontributed to. You can't get money out of a bank account you haven't put anything into. The social assistance programs weren't designed to be abused like they are today. On top of that, why should the illegals qualify for more assistance than people who have contributed to 'the system' all of their working lives? It's a sad turn of events when people who have contributed to 'the system' for 30 plus years are getting shafted because someone who isn't legally entitled to anything is sucking the resources dry, and have contributed NOTHING toward the pot they're drawing from. Since you brought religion into the mix, what ever happened to the old adage "The good Lord helps those wh help themselves"? It would seem that sneaking into this country and living 'below the radar' only to mooch off those that have spent their entire adult lives busting their humps building up the resources that the illegals are draining isn't the 'Christian way' of doing things. Why is it that your 'righteous indignity' only seems to present itself when it comes to handouts, but not when it comes to actually rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty? You seem to scream the loudest when it comes to what the government can give you, but I've yet to hear you protest for the 'working man'.....why aren't you protesting our jobs going overseas at the expense of the people who filled those very same jobs here?

You're joking, right? With the content of some of your posts, you actually have the nerve to even go there?

Why Women Don't Want Men To Write Advice Columns

There are two ways of gaining entry into this country. One is the 'legal way' and the other isn't. All I'm saying is that if you can't be 'bothered' to do things the 'legal way' then you have no business being here. Since you have no business being here, that means that you have no claim to any of the 'benefits' associated with living here. Since I WAS 'lucky enough to be born here', then explain to me why when it comes to the 'benefits of living here, why I seem to not qualify; whereas those that are here illegally are somehow entitled to the keys to the kingdom.... I have nothing against LEGAL immigration. I've got nothing against cultural diversity. I DO have a problem with illegal immigrants being treated better and entitled to more than natural born citizens in this country!

And therein lies the heart of my observation! As far as I'm concerned, if you want to be part of this country, then do it legally. If you can't, you get nothing! There is no sense in handing over the keys to the kingdom to anyone and everyone that just 'shows up', especially when the citizens (legal and natural) of this country are having to do without.

I just want to know what cut the environment is getting from all the revenue generated by purchasing 'carbon offsets'......

Your last response has me puzzled. Just how does your ‘environmental transgressions’ and ‘personal health sins’ equate to the issues created by corporate greed and a government so far out of touch with the needs of the populace? How will separating glass from plastic and paper suddenly and magically create a utopia where the unemployment rate is decreased by even a fraction of what it is today? Maybe it will mysteriously allow the millions of uninsured people to suddenly be able to afford the premiums… How does smoking in your earlier years suddenly degrade the levels of education? How did your throwing a candy bar wrapper out of the window of your car have any effect on the economic crisis that’s being blamed on the mortgage companies? How did it have any effect on illegal immigration? How does any of your ‘contributing factors’ are responsible for leading all the politicians astray and getting arrested? Did your not throwing McDonald’s wrappers in the proper receptacle provide enough of a ‘ripple effect’ that led Tom DeLay to engage in money laundering? Did your smoking a pack of Marlboros have some hidden cause for all of the jobs lost to overseas workers? Or did it cause the upturn in people losing their houses? Maybe it had an effect on getting a President elected that has done nothing but throw us deeper in debt…. You offered the explanation by counting your personal ‘contributions’, now you get to explain how they’re even remotely connected…..

Ahh yes, "To err is human, to really f*ck up takes a computer!" Now she's got something 'substantial' to post to her facebook, myspace and twitter!! Maybe instead of getting a 'smart phone' to replace the one she fried in the fountain, she should get the 'seeing eye' model!

Hmmm... A government that uses the Social Security Fund as a 'slush account', the same one that will vote down increasing the federal minimum wage, but NEVER misses an opportunity to vote themselves a pay raise..... The same government that hides all sorts of 'pork' in bills and laws that the people have no voice on... The same government that signs laws that allow our jobs to be shipped out of country, and yet STILL finds ways to break the law for personal gain.... The same government that passes laws that are struck down either in part or in whole because they exceed its authority.... The same government that tries to outdo the previous administration's attempts at stimulating the economy, but only stimulates certain parts of it..... The same government that decries the sad state of education, but yet doesn't do anything to restructure it, and teaches our children that it's not necessary to really apply yourself...you're entitled to succeed. The same government that does nothing to regulate corporate greed, and then hires the crooks to their administration… This is somehow MY fault, simply because I’m a human? I didn’t vote for most of these criminals! I didn’t vote for these ‘lame ducks’ that are nothing but a waste of oxygen! Part of the 'lure' to come to this country seems to be all the 'freebies' that are waiting on you to just show up. Free education, health care, social assistance, etc. In order to receive these benefits (which are harder than hell for some of the natural citizens to secure), you don't even have to be a legal resident....go figure. Since they don't have to be 'legal citizens' to get the government handouts, what's the impetus to go through the naturalization process, or even apply for a visa to come into this country in the first place? As far as thanking God for Obama.....I hardly think so! His policies have done nothing more than throw us deeper in debt, while doing NOTHING to stimulate a floundering economy as a whole. Look at his 'Cash for Clunkers' program...what did it REALLY do to stimulate the entire economy? Not much, but I'll bet GM (Government Motors) made a killing on it! Look at his 'Health Care Reform’, the bulk of it has either no funding, or has been struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional because it exceeds their scope of power. Has he fixed Social Security? Nope Has he stopped the steady flow of American jobs going overseas? Nope Has he closed Gitmo as he promised? Again...Nope Has he addressed the illegal immigration problem? Nope Has he presented a viable solution to the millions of people who are uninsured because of the skyrocketing prices of insurance premiums and treatment costs? Nope Has he done anything about stopping corporate greed? Sure, he's hired the top guys from Fannie Mae and Freddy Mack to his cabinet! Please, oh please tell me what there is to be thanking God for! And as far as the Republicans being responsible for all this mess; let’s go back to your Democratic buddy, Uncle Bill Clinton who just happened to sign NAFTA and GATT into law as he was leaving office. Prior to those two bills becoming law, no U.S. based company could have more than 10% of their total production outside of the United States. HE is the one that opened the floodgates!

This reminds me of a joke I'd heard a long time ago. It seems that a young man went to a psychiatrist and said, "Doc, I've got a problem!" The psychiatrist told him to come into the office and tell him all about it. The young man started by saying, "I just got married last week." The psychiatrist congratulated him, but stated that he didn't see where that was a problem, so the young man continued his story. "Doc, we were in our hotel room on our honeymoon, when she started getting ready for bed. First, she took off her wig and put the wig in a box; then placed the box in a drawer. Then she took off her false eyelashes and put them in a small box, and placed the small box in the drawer." Again, the psychiatrist stated that he failed to see the 'problem'. The young man continued by saying, "Well, after that, she took off her shirt and bra, unpinned her 'falsies' and put them in a box; and placed the box in the drawer. After that, she took off her prosthetic leg, and placed the leg in the drawer." At this point, the psychiatrist tried to assure the young man that it wasn't him with the problem. The young man simply stated, "Doc, the 'problem' is; I don't know whether to sleep with my new wife, or the drawer!"

Either definately Canadian or lived far too long in Michigan! The really sad part is that those apply to Michiganders as well......especially 'da Yoopers'.....

I wonder how 'distraught and embarrassed' she would be if her video was chosen as a winner (like on America's Funniest Home Videos) and she got a chunk of money out of it.... Like I said in my previous post, she was doing something that she admits was stupid and further admits that she knew it wasn't a good idea to do. It got caught on video and someone found it funny.....oh well! If it were me in that situation, I'd start by being extremely glad that I didnt break anything!

The whole gist of the story is you got caught on video doing something that you ADMIT was stupid. You further stated that you KNEW BETTER. So someone found your 'misfortune' funny.....that happens every day, get used to it. The only one that should worry about getting sued by you is YOU! If you were watching where you were going instead of blindly ambulating while texting, none of this would have happened in the first place. You wouldn't have been 'embarrassed to death', and no one would have had any video to post to youtube. You learned a lesson, take it, and go forth and text while walking no more!

You forgot: The Baker, because he says: "If you put it in a dark warm spot, it'll rise". The Banker, because he'll tell you: "If you take it out too soon, you'll lose interest". But ultimately, the two classes of men that make the best lovers are: Firefighters 10. Sleeping with a Firefighter beats sleeping with a smoke detector 9. A Firefighter knows how to deal with 'bush' fires 8. Firefighters work well under pressure 7. Firefighters like it when it's hot 6. A Firefighter always carries enough 'hose' to get the job done 5. A Firefighter is ready to go at a moment's notice 4. A Firefighter gets hot on the spot 3. A Firefighter doesn't quit until the fire is completely out 2. A Firefighter is always eager to let you play with his 'nozzle' 1. Firefighters find 'em hot, and leave 'em wet and Cowboys 10. Sleeping with a cowboy beats sleeping with a horse 9. Cowboys usually drive pickup trucks (an 8 foot bed that never has to be made) 8. A cowboy is always eager to whip out his 'pistol' 7. Handling wild and horny creatures is what a cowboy does best 6. The smell of leather is an aphrodisiac 5. A cowboy is always in the 'moo'd 4. A good cowboy will always have his bed roll tied to the back of his saddle 3. A cowboy won't quit no matter how much you buck, bite or kick 2. Cowboys always take off their hat to eat 1. Cowboys practice 'safe sex'...they take off the spurs first (I'm still looking for a Stetson shaped bunker helmet!)

I have read and reread this post and cannot figure out how it can be considered ‘unprofessional’ or even accusatory. Is it because I chose to use more direct language, or that I didn’t use the same ‘soft tone’ that you did? I posted those definitions because its clear that you have confused the definitions, and I felt it was appropriate to define the terms and point out that while they can be applied to employment, they are not as interchangeable as you think they are. Just because someone considers their job a ‘profession’ doesn’t make it one. I know some people that are quite comfortable thinking that their job makes them more important than God Himself. Does that make it true? Since you seem to place so little significance on the definition of the words, should I also presume that you also take the same glib approach to the definitions/descriptions found in the DSM IV? This isn’t about patient advocacy. I noticed that you’ve mentioned the ‘core values’ of EMS. It’s apparent that the original posters stories have violated all of them. Because we have chosen to point out the errors of his ways, doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re being ‘mean’ or ‘bullying them’. Furthermore, just because we have chosen a different path to point out these errors, doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re wrong in the way we did it. Since you’ve decided in your own mind that because I haven’t taken the same approach to dealing with the issues of the original poster’s comments, that I’m wrong, a bully, and just a downright ‘mean person’ who is ‘verbally attacking’ him, how is it that your constant berating me (and anyone else who disagrees with you) any different than what you’re accusing us of?

There are two simple courses of action in this situation: 1) you can speak out about the unacceptable behavior or 2) you can keep silent, and by doing so; you silently condone their actions. Since you've come to the 'rescue' of the original poster by pointing out how 'mean' we're being to them, you have effectively chosen path #2. Just because someone has chosen to speak out, doesn't mean that they're being 'mean' or 'bullying'. It's pointing out unacceptable behavior in hopes that by doing so, it will change it into acceptable behavior. As far as being a 'job snob'...there is really no such critter. Just because I pointed out that working at McDonalds requires no real education (not that there IS any real education for that type of position), doesn't mean that I consider it a ‘bad job’, I’m just stating the obvious. Working in a fast food business is NOT a profession, it is simply a job. In most cases it’s a ‘fill-in job’ until something better comes along. Haven’t you ever noticed that the majority of McDonald’s workers are those that are either very young (17-18) or those that lack sufficient skills and qualifications for better positions in the work force? How many people actually set out on their career path with the intention of retiring from McDonalds, Wendy’s or Burger King? Haven’t you noticed that there is always a large group of ‘new faces’ through those establishments? We can understand a ‘faux pas of judgment’, but to attempt to defend it as ‘acceptable behavior’ only adds to the original transgression. Profession: An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study. Job: A regular activity performed in exchange for payment Occupation: An activity that serves as one's regular source of livelihood; a vocation. Trade: The people working in or associated with a business or industry Vocation: A regular occupation, especially one for which a person is particularly suited or qualified. Based on the above definitions, I hardly see how being a fry cook or even Fry Manager qualifies as a ‘profession’ (even if they DID attend “Hamburger University”). Let me break out the tissues! EMS is NOT a profession known for it’s ‘warm fuzzies’or sunshine and belly rubs. It is a tough profession and people who find humor in another’s misery or misfortune is not going to be well received.

It's MY religion, and I can worship any diety that I want!.....ROFLMAO!!

By keeping silent, we are tacitly condoning this type of behavior. By expressing our outrage and disapproval of this poster's behavior, we are attempting to a.) correct the behavior and b.) to distance ourselves from the negative image that the poster is putting forth. By defending the original poster, you are thereby defending their actions and vicariously defending their behavior. Honestly, being a fry cook (or even Fry Manager) at the local McDonald's doesn't take a plethora of education, and it's not a profession. I seriously doubt that the local colleges will offer an Associates Degree course in 'Fryology'or 'Fast Food Preparation'. It is this type of image that we in EMS need to dispel, so that we can concentrate our efforts on projecting a positive and professional image. Hopefully by being ridiculed, the original poster will see that this type of behavior is frowned upon, and can become active in changing the face of EMS that the general public sees.

Of course he does....and his name is Owley-Medic!

It's no longer a concern about pleasing anyone, you had better NOT offend that one person! Should we change the lyrics to "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" next? Momentarily increase light intensity, momentarily increase light intensity diminutive self-luminous celestial body... yeah, that ought to fix it! It's suggested that I refrain from using certain words because they're 'offensive', yet I still have to endure a barrage of words I find offensive, and nothing is done about it! It appears that all these 'ofended people' are willling to DEMAND that I watch what I say, yet are unwilling to reciprocate. I thought respect and fair treatment were two way streets. It's very clear that while I have to be very careful about what I say, no other group is limited in how many disparaging ways I am to be addressed. At this rate, no one will be allowed to say, type, or think ANYTHING for fear that it MIGHT offend! It is my opinion that if a word is so 'offensive', then it should be struck down for EVERYONE! Don't hand me this "it's ok if the ingroup uses 'that word', but no one from the outgroup is allowed to use 'that word'!" I think we need to quit being so sensitive, and focus our attentions on more important matters at hand....

I find neither of your stories funny, nor do they qualify as even being 'slightly amusing'. That you attempt to justify the 'humor' makes it that much less funny. As far as your second 'story', your lack of professionalism makes things even less so. It's apparent that the day your class was taught about professionalism; you were either asleep, or you thought it applied to everyone BUT you. Your actions and your lack of maturity are the antithesis of what those of us that are SERIOUS about our profession are trying to accomplish. Your attempt at casting aspersions (the attempt at using 'rookie' as an insult), only makes you more all the more reprehensible. There are many that regularly post in these forums that have more time in service than apparently you've been alive. Rather than lash out at those who DARE to chastise you for your actions, maybe you should view this as a 'teachable moment' and learn proper ettiquette and professional demeanor from those of us who are quaified to point out your errors in judgement. Congratulations, you and your contemporaries have succeeded in setting EMS back to the days of it's inception. I hope you're proud!

Here's my take on the whole situation: First off, refusing to 'tech' on this call doesn't relieve you of anything. You were still part of the crew that took this patient home. While it's apparent that you had some concerns about the whole situation, you ARE the patient's advocate...this means doing what's in the best interests of the patient. Since the patient was CAO x 4 (alert to self, day, time, place), and adamantly refusing to be put into a nursing home (even if only for rehabilitation); you had a responsibility to try to talk the patient into going. This is no different than trying to talk a patient into going TO the hospital for their own well-being. In your shoes, if I couldn't talk the patient into going (even for a short term rehabilitation stay), then I would have involved the hospital's social worker. There ARE options available to the patient (even if the patient isn't aware of them). I take great umbrage to those that are advocating the whole ‘just take them/dump them’ stand on this call. I would rather stand by my morals and ethics (professional and personal) than I would just generate resources for the company. If we were to respond to a call where we found the patient who wasn’t able to take care of themselves, or not being taken care of, we would be legally bound to report that situation to Social Services so that the conditions could be remedied. How then, can you even ATTEMPT to justify CREATING that very situation? This is a tricky situation, to be sure. Your partner must have forgotten the very foundations that EMS was developed upon. Do no harm, patient advocacy, compassion and a commitment to education.

Maybe someone should have told him that 'grinding' and 'shredding' had nothing to do with turning your ankle into hamburger?