Philosophical Thinking: Not What You Accomplish in Life, but How You Accomplish It

It is through our actions in how we treat others that we experience the riches and rewards of life.  It is not what you accomplish in life, but how you accomplish it that is truly important, impacting, and memorable.  I enjoyed this story as illustrating that point.

-Mark

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I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I  got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen. sHe Was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her.  It was a nickel.
   
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. 
   
I asked, "were you praying a moment ago?" That made her back away from me a little but I assured her I was not an evangelistic fanatic.   At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder if there was possibly a reason my car had died when it did.
   
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.  She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there. So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
  
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"  This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people." It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. 

 

And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Comedy: State Of Minnesota Too Polite To Ask For Federal Funding

State Of Minnesota Too Polite To Ask For Federal Funding

ST. PAUL, MN — Although many of its highways and bridges are in severe disrepair, the traditionally undemanding state of Minnesota isn't comfortable asking for more interstate funding, sources reported Monday.

"Oh, we wouldn't want to bother the U.S. government—they've got more than enough on their plate as it is," Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said. "Most of the potholes on I-90 are less than four feet wide. We get by just fine. I wouldn't want anyone all the way over there in Washington to be worrying about little ol' us."

According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, Minnesota has not requested an increase in highway funds for 10 years, in spite of the fact that the majority of their roads are plagued by rutted or uneven surfaces, cracked pavement, potholes, and other deterioration.

"If it were a life or death situation, you can bet your bippy we'd ask for it, but since it isn't..." Pawlenty said. "Well, we can make do with the transportation-department budget they decided to give us back in 1995. That was more than generous."

But U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said Minnesota's highway system is "dangerously underfunded."

"Nearly 20 percent of Minnesota's highway lights are not working, and Highway 280 seems to be held together with equal parts concrete and prayer," Mineta said. "We tried to slip them a few dollars along with the National Bridge Inspection Standards Act, but they told us to put the money right back into our wallets, or give it to someone who could really use it, like Arizona."

Mineta said that, even after he explained that he couldn't simply give the money to another state, Minnesota reaffirmed that it was determined to stretch what federal dollars it had.

"They kept saying, 'Oh, you guys keep that budget allocation,'" Mineta said. "But everyone likes Minnesota and would love to help them out. They never ask for anything, unlike New York, which seems to be in some kind of crisis every other week."

Joshua Bolten, U.S. Director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the national government "guilted" Minnesota into accepting some money to fund a child-safety-seat program three years ago, by repeatedly urging them to "think of the children."

"After all it took to get them to take the money, they wouldn't stop thanking us," Bolten said. "The following day, Minnesota congressmen kept dropping by with cakes and cookies. I mean, the hand-stitched quilt Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-MN) made was beautiful, but a gift was really, really unnecessary."

Most Minnesota residents support their governor's decision to do without increased federal funding. In fact, citizens have been holding rummage sales and donating their time so that they won't have to inconvenience the rest of the country.

"We don't want to be a bother," said Brian Calhoun, a restaurant owner who spent last weekend fixing highway safety rails in his hometown of St. Cloud. "There are a lot of folks around here who know the value of a little bit of elbow grease. Duluth said it has some scrap metal we might be able to melt down to make some lamp poles."

Although the majority of Minnesota residents agree that they can "make do," a few have disagreed.

"This is stupid," said Tom Suttcliffe, a recent transplant to Minneapolis. "We need more snow plows—everybody knows it. I'm sorry, but I don't think having people agree to shovel the street in front of their houses is the answer. Heck, if everyone else is too embarrassed to ask for the money, I'll do it. Who do I call?"

Later that day, Minnesota officials gave Suttcliffe a "stern talking to," and the Boston native said he would not speak out of turn again.

In spite of the state's congenial nature, federal officials say they are "exasperated" by Minnesota's selflessness.

"Minnesota should just take the spending money, already," Department of Education Undersecretary Edward McPherson said. "It's not like it's a special handout—all schools were allocated extra money under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. But they refuse to accept their extra federal funding on the grounds that their schools 'don't need to be fancy.'"

"Frankly, they're just being stubborn and I'm not going to stand for it any longer," McPherson said. "They're gonna get some more funding by the end of the year if the federal government has to airdrop in school lunches and forcibly place new teachers in the classrooms with the help of the National Guard."

Information: The Truth about Stem Cell Research

I have received many questions from various individuals on the controversial subject of stem cell research.  Recently I wrote the following response to someone and thought I would share it to clarify as best I can the subject for all of you.

-Mark

 

As for stem cell research, I'm also not a proponent of doing research on the unborn.  However, most people do not understand what is truly involved.  I have done extensive research to be sure I understand the topic myself and will attempt to share what I've learned as best I can.

 

There are two forms of stem cell research.  Adult stem cells are extracted from areas of the body such as bone marrow or the bridge of one's nose.  These do have great applications and wonderful research is being done with them.  However they are more restrictive in that they can only grow into the same type of cell they are already programmed to be.

 

Embryonic stem cells are controversial because of where they come from.  However if people understood more completely, I don't think it would be such an issue.  The advantage is that therapies developed from embryonic stem cells have the potential to grow into any type of other cell of the body.  In an embryo when it is composed of 1 to 8 cells, any one of those cells have the capability to grow into a complete individual.  During the 8 to 16 cell stage, any one cell has the capability to grow into any type of cell of the body yet does not have capability to grow into a complete organ or a complete individual.  This is the point at which a cell is extracted from an embryo.  And extracted cell can then be grown and duplicated themselves countless times which is what creates a "stem cell line".  It is much like extracting blood and donating it to another individual except these cells that form this "blood" have capability to grow into any type of cell of the body in which they are placed.  It's kind of like they recognize damaged cells, recognize what type of cell they are, grow into and replace the damaged cell.  It's essentially relocating the body's ability to heal itself to locations most needed where other factors inhibit the healing process such as in the heart, brain, and spinal cord.

 

Most people do not have a problem ethically with donating or using body parts from a deceased person's corpse...  heart, liver, eyes, kidneys, etc. that give new life or renewed capability to someone else.  Parents of individuals under 18 years of age are given the ability to make the decision on whether to donate body parts of their deceased child.   Similarly, the parents must give authorization for a cell to be taken from an embryo created from their sperm and egg cells.  Extracting a single cell from an embryo at the stage mentioned is much the same, just on a much smaller scale.  Instead of an entire organ been donated from an individual it is simply a cell been donated from an individual. These embryos are corpses, the remains of an individual just on a much smaller scale. 

 

The research is not on the unborn embryos, and stem cells are not "harvested" from embryos as some people seem to believe.  Rather, a cell is extracted which, at this stage is a stem cell, and this cell when allowed to duplicate itself becomes a stem cell line.  Then research is conducted on how to best apply and use this stem cell "line" to generate various therapies.  Obviously, because of differing genetic structure from a cell extracted from one individual to another, the effectiveness of a therapy and its results from one particular stem cell line to another may vary.  Also, remember this cell's genetic information is not the genetic information for a complete individual.

 

The new legislation simply clarifies that cells can only be extracted from embryos once permission has been received from the parents, following the same lines as organ donations.

 

Some people have ethical issues with how these embryos come about to be in the first place.  Possibly with the processes used by fertility clinics.  However, do not combine these issues!  Consider if you have a problem with fertility clinics process that results in the creation of excess embryos while assisting pregnancy, or if it is the donation, extraction, and use of a cell from the remains of an individual that never grew beyond the embryo stage of life.  For most people it is the first, not the second issue they are truly concerned about, be sure you understand what you are really objecting to and then focus on that rather than associated issues you may or may not truly object to.

Disability Politics: Research Review Act of 2004 Unanimously Passed

Just in case you haven't heard, sending those e-mail messages to let them know what you think does make a difference!

-Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Opinion@coleman.senate.gov [mailto:Opinion@coleman.senate.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 10:29 AM
To: mfelling@yahoo.com
Subject: Responding to your message

Dear Mr. Felling :

Thank you for taking the time to contact me concerning H.R. 5213, the Research Review Act of 2004. I appreciate your strong support of this legislation.

As you may know, H.R. 5213 was introduced by Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) on October 5, 2004. On October 7, 2004 the bill passed in the House by a vote of 418 to 0. I am pleased to report that on November 16, 2004, the Senate unanimously passed H.R. 5213 with my support. President George W. Bush signed the Research Review Act of 2004 into law (Public Law No. 108-427) on November 30, 2004.

This legislation requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to report to Congress on the progress of efforts to use multidisciplinary research to advance treatments, develop new therapies, and collaborate on clinical trials with respect to spinal cord injury and paralysis research. The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to report to Congress on the status of certain ongoing studies and efforts to establish partnerships with research and patient advocacy communities, particularly with respect to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to identify the barriers that IBD patients encounter when seeking insurance coverage under Medicare and Medicaid and the challenges that IBD patients encounter when applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The GAO report is also to provide recommendations for improvem! ent.

I am pleased that this important legislation is now law. Thank you for your efforts to educate Members of Congress about paralysis and spinal cord research. You have made a difference. Please know that I appreciate hearing from you and I value your advice.

Thank you once again for contacting me. If I can be of any further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

Free MN Fishing License Availability for Disabled... Application contact

I recently learned if an individual receives Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) or Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI), they
are eligible to receive a free annual Minnesota Fishing license. This
license is not permanent, it does need to be renewed every year. Permanent
licenses are available to persons who are veterans, and have sustained a
100% disability that is service related. To request an application, send
your mailing address to the:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, License Center in St. Paul
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
info@dnr.state.mn.us
651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367 TTY: 651-296-5484 or 1-800-657-3929 !

Fun: for Those Who Send out Too Many Forwards

If you like to send out lots of forwards and junk e-mail, you need to see this!

 

Disability/Political: Support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act!

A few of our legislators are introducing a new bill to encourage ethical stem cell research. Please help me, your self, and your family by filling out the form to send a prewritten letter (customizable) to your legislator encouraging their support! It will only take a minute or two of your time... Please tell all of your friends and family to also send their support!

-Thanks, Mark

I hope that you will take some time to help protect medical research by joining me in writing to representatives to urge them to support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Every letter you send makes a difference!  Let your Representatives know what you think and urge their support for and co-sponsorship of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (formerly H.R. 4682 - 108th Congress), introduced by Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) and Diana DeGette (D-CO).

Click this link to take action now!!

Click here to view the the full announcement from the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (http://www.crpf.org)


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