CAVE GRAVE and other oddities'

Perhaps you've been following the story about the spelunker named Jones who died in the Nutty Putty cave in Utah.

Well it turns out that the cave is now a grave and will never be spelunkered again.

Today his family and friends are holding a funeral service at the Nutty Putty gravecave site.

The decision to leave John Jones in the Nutty Putty must have been a hard decision for both the family and the people who own and run the park where the cave is located.

At least I hope it was a hard decision. I'm not one to venture into deep dark holes on the planet's surface so I don't understand the fascination. I'm also one who doesn't have any desire to climb to the top of the highest mountain in the world to check out the view, so therefore I'm not an up or down kind of guy.

My imagination is well developed and I can pretty much go where I want whenever I want thanks to Quantum Physics and the time-travel theorems postulated by Dr. Fred Wolf.

But that really is a story for another time and another place.

Perhaps I lack an adventure gene or perhaps I'm just not a person who enjoys facing physical danger on a regular basis.

Whatever I am or am not, I'm having a problem with leaving John Jones in the Nutty Putty cave.

It just doesn't sound right. In the future his daughter will be saying the following words.

"My dad is stuck in a tiny hole upside down inside a huge cave called the Nutty Putty."

Her show and tell experience in the third grade should prove to be interesting.

There's also a question of common sense when it comes to Mr. Jones. At some point as he squeezed himself into the little tiny passage that proved to be not a passage but a grave, he had to really force himself into his resting place. The moment that he pushed himself through and realized he could no longer move had to be preceded by a moment of....."maybe I shouldn't push this hard."

I know this is going to sound really strange but couldn't they have poured olive oil or liquid WD-40 into the area where he was trapped and then pulled him out. Apparently he was upside down so his feet had to be exposed.

I also didn't realize that being upside down for 24 hours could kill you.

Another thing I won't be trying to do.

So many things not to do and so little time in which not to do them. Could you please pass me the remote?

The Nutty Putty?

The least they could do at this point is rename the cave the

John Jones Memorial Cave.

That's about the only thing that would make any sense out of this story.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Still THE TROJANS

I was six years old in 1952. My dad took me and my older brother, who was 10, to the Los Angeles Coliseum to see the UCLA Bruins play the other Los Angeles University known as USC.

IT WAS MY FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME

The Bruins had won in 1950, 1951 and then ended up winning in 1953, 1954 and 1955.

IN 1952 both UCLA and USC were undefeated.

IN 1952 I BECAME A LIFELONG TROJAN FOOTBALL FAN.

It probably was caused by a contrarious attitude which developed between my bother, my father and myself, which by the way has continued, regarding political matters, to this very day.

For some reason I think it was raining on that Saturday afternoon and I remember the QB for USC was Rudy Bukich. The Coliseum was filled to the brim.

I've re-created a wonderful image in my mind of USC coming from behind in the driving rain to win 14-12 on the last play of the game.

I actually have no idea if it was raining or if they did win on the last play of the game but I do know they won the game 14-12. I do remember yelling and being excited and being told to shut up by people sitting around me....including my dad and my brother.

I probably didn't have a lot to gloat about at the age of six but I'm pretty sure I got my digs in on the way home. I've always had a tendency to use the smart-aleck approach when it comes to stating my opinion. Most likely my brother beat the crap out of me for the next few days until I completely shut up.

Since 1952 I have followed USC football to a fault. I prefer to watch the games alone with no interference, which is really silly.

A USC/UCLA football game holds a special place in the minds and hearts of fans from both sides of the aisle.

This year neither team seems to have the upper hand and therefore anything is possible. Neither team is playing for a BCS spot and neither team is in the running for the PAC-10 Championship.

IT HAS BEEN A STRANGE YEAR FOR USC.....but not totally unexpected.

A college football team does not lose three linebackers in the NFL draft and replace them without a pause in performance.

A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM DOES NOT START A TRUE FRESHMAN AT QB AND EXPECT EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT ROSEY.

A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM CANNOT LOSE THE AMOUNT OF COACHES THAT USC HAS LOST IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND EXPECT TO HAVE PERFECT COORDINATION.

But one thing to keep in mind when they line up Saturday to play the Bruins.

THEY ARE STILL

THE

TROJANS

and Pete Carroll is still the most eloquent coach in college football.

FIGHT ON!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Just consider this

There is a lot of money being spent on creating "a thought" in the mind of the American public.

That thought is based on Global Warming being a "THEORY" and not a reality.

As long as it is a THEORY then the general population does not have to subscribe to the reality.

The longer people wait to accept the reality the harder it will be to change course.

WHO IS SPENDING THE MONEY TO MAKE GLOBAL WARMING A THEORY?

THE AUTOMOTIVE, PETROLEUM AND COAL INDUSTRIES!

THEY HAVE LOBBYISTS WHO HAVE POLITICIANS WHO HAVE VOTERS WHO STILL CLAIM THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS NOT A FACT.

WHY DOES IT ALWAYS SEEM TO BE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOSTS WHO CLAIM THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED?

Misinformation is a tool that can be used by both sides of the issue.

But one side seems to be pointing out problems and the other side keeps saying there is no problem.

Which side will have the most regrets?

But one thing I've noticed about conservative republican positions. When they are proven wrong they just take up another issue and move along like nothing happened.

Regrets and apologies are not part of the conservatives mode of operation.

Why is that?

Of course the same thing can probably be said for liberal thinkers but the difference is that liberal thinkers seem to be open to VIEWING SITUATIONS that might be causing problems and therefore are constantly looking for solutions to global issues.

Responsibility is an interesting word when it comes to Global Warming.

ALL POLITICAL IDEOLOGISTS SHOULD USE EXTREME RESPONSIBILITY WHEN DEALING WITH A PLANETARY CRISIS.

I'm starting to sound like the Una-Bomber but it absolutely amazes me how the sides are drawn up regarding the issue of Global Warming.

One side says we need to deal with the facts and do things to reduce our carbon footprints.

The other side says it's just a theory and there's no such thing as a carbon footprint.

CHECK OUT ANTARCTICA AND TELL ME NOTHING IS GOING ON

http://topics.cnn.com/topics/antarctica

THEORY?

PLEASE!

HELLO!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Every November 22

Every year on this date I 'm reminded once again of a family and their personal tragedies. Tragedies that became pain and sadness for multiple generations of Americans.

Bobby's brother Teddy won't have to be reminded this year of what happened on November 22 1963.

I've posted many pictures of JFK but today I just needed to see Bobby's smiling face.

I was 17 years old on November 22 1963 and I was studying for a math test when I first heard the news.

My class was canceled and to this day I've never been good at math.

I actually wasn't that good at math before but whatever happened at that moment made my brain move into a complete other realm. A realm where no math exists and no numbers make any sense....except of course the number 81.

If you don't know about 81 figure it out.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

The beginning of the Holidays

Today is six days away from Thanksgiving.

TODAY IS THE START OF THE HOLIDAYS

Many retailers would have you believe that it started in October....don't fall for it.

The reality is.....Holidays are created by family gatherings....and some families will be welcoming home their kids for the first time since school started.

Many college students have already blown off the three days next week and are on their way home.

Many families are preparing for Thanksgiving by getting in the death lines at Wal-Mart.

The lines at Costco aren't any better but that memberships dealio creates a different customer base....less excited although still viscous.

The buzz is officially in the air today, even though most families will not be reunited until early next week.

But the holidays also reveal the other side of a very slippery coin.

Of course as I write this I think about the students who can't go home for the holidays or don't want to go home for the holidays.

I have noticed, as I am also sure you have, certain irregularities taking place in society over the last 50 years and it is fairly clear that some large dysfunctional situations are the result of poor parenting.

Irregularities can be self created or as the result of circumstances beyond one's control.

When those irregularities turn into dysfunctional situations the end result is not a warm and cozy Thanksgiving celebration with one's family.

I also think about the homeless that basically appear to have no families.....

I'm sure that most students who are getting ready to come home are not stopping to contemplate how truly lucky they are. They are tired from studying and partying and laughing and crying and being sick and being lonely and being bored and now it's time to come home and get into their own beds for about ten minutes before rushing out to hook up with their friends.

Some of these students have worked much harder than others but getting home is the only thing on their minds.

AND NOBODY EVER SAID IT BETTER THAN LITTLE JUDY GARLAND

"There's no place like home."

And as I recall I think she said it three times.

I think my stuffed animals will be released from the closet lair a few days earlier this year. I usually wait until after Thanksgiving.

The nation has had a tough 18 months and I feel this Holiday season is extremely important for reminding each other what matters the most.

LOVE matters the most

and acting like you are a loving person can be done by anyone at anytime.

If you don't feel loving then start practicing.

If you do then you deserve a huge hug and a kiss

And today is as good day as any to kick off the Holidays with a big

I LOVE YOU

Happy Holidays

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Is she really?

Is Sarah Palin really the best that Republicans can offer for the next election? I apologize for even bringing up the next election already but the game seems to be underway.

I find it very hard to believe that Mrs. Palin is the leader of the Republican party.

I mean isn't the party spearheaded by the triangular viewpoints of Rush, Sean and Glenn?

Do those three jamokes want Sarah Palin to be the next President of the United States?

Has anybody asked them or gotten their approval.

I'm pretty sure that Sarah Palin overestimates the importance of being able to shoot a slow moving animal with a high powered rifle, or ride a snowmobile or catch a large fish or have children.

Those are all things that quite a few people are very good at and I'm not sure they want to be President of the United States.

This might be the greatest example of the Peter Principle I've ever seen.......of course

without the P.

OR?

Hummmmmm.

I honestly believe she is trying to get her own talk show. I think that's her goal and then the Republican media triangle mentioned above....

can become a complete

square.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

TEACHER

I wish I had this guy for a teacher when I was in school.

His style of addressing unique issues is quite special

About Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson with the tools of his trade. Photo by David Gamble, 2008.

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics fromHarvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.

Tyson's professional research interests are broad, but include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. Tyson obtains his data from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as from telescopes in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and in the Andes Mountains of Chile.

In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a 12-member commission that studied the Future of the US Aerospace Industry. Thefinal report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.

In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a 9-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the Moon, Mars, and Beyond commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which will help guide NASA through its perennial need to fit its ambitious vision into its restricted budget.

In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. He is a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title Universe. And among Tyson's nine books is his memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; and Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, co-written with Donald Goldsmith. Origins is the companion book to the PBS-NOVA 4-part mini-series Origins, in which Tyson serves as on-camera host. The program premiered on September 28 and 29, 2004. And beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appears as the on-camera host of PBS-NOVA's spinoff program NOVA ScienceNow, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.

Tyson's latest two books are the playful and informative Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet, chronicling his experience at the center of the controversy over Pluto's planetary status.

Tyson is the recipient of nine honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid 13123 Tyson. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive by People Magazine in 2000.

Tyson is the first occupant of the Frederick P. Rose Directorship of the Hayden Planetarium. Tyson lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

IF and one fast girl

Yesterday in the Business section of the LA Times there was a small blurb about

AIG

Moody's said that the insurer bailed out by the U.S. would be able to repay its $44-billion Federal Reserve credit line and "much or all" of the Treasury Department's $40-billion investment in the company if

financial markets stabilized.

THAT MIGHT BE THE LARGEST IF I EVER SEEN.

THAT IS AN $84-BILLION DOLLAR IF

It's comparable to me saying if I ran faster than Usain Bolt I could whip his ass every time

or

If I had more money that Warren Buffet

or

If a monkey flew out of my ass

or

on and on and on

I suppose the financial markets will stabilize at some point in time but when oil is $80 dollars a barrel and probably going higher and gold is $1100 an ounce and a US T-Bill pays 0.16% over six months.....it appears that the stabilization could be quite a ways off.

First and foremost unemployment has to drop below 9% for any chance of stabilization...

I like to be the guy working for the government trying to collect on the $84 Biilion from AIG.

Ring ring ring

"Good morning, my name is JOE and I'm calling regarding a rather large past due amount. Is there someone available to write me a check for $84 Billion or do I need to speak with your supervisor? I like to get this taken care of before the weekend."

The land of IF......

The largest land in the universe.

And what exactly determines stabilization?

Every economists has an opinion on that answer and the odd thing about that fact is that they all have a different opinions.

Kind of like handicappers at the track.

Speaking of the track

the Zenyatta story was one for the ages

They could have a match race with Rachel Alexander and Zenyatta and guarantee

them more than they could make in their entire lives.

I can't wait to see the movie.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

A MOTHER JUST KNOWS THINGS WE DON'T

From ACCUTANE RECALL WEBSITE

http://www.accutaneclaimcenter.org/

Accutane Recall | Accutane Lawsuits

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche Holding AG has abruptly pulled its acne medication Accutane off the market in the United States and eleven other countries. Accutane (isotretinoin) has been on the market since 1982 and is sold under several other brands by other firms as a generic product. Roche is citing pricing competition from the generics for Accutane’s withdrawal, but the reality is that there are over 5,000 product liability suits pending against the firm because of side effects associated with the drug.

In November of 2008 a New Jersey jury awarded $13 million in damages to three plaintiffs who had developed severe gastro-intestinal health problems including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as a result of using Accutane. The jury found that Roche had been negligent in advising physicians of the potential dangers associated with prescribing Accutane. In April of 2008 a Florida man was awarded in excess of $10 million for a similar suit filed against Roche. To date, the company has been hit with over $33 million in damage awards from product liability suits over Accutane side effects.

The drug has been controversial for years, and has long been associated with birth defects caused by Accutane use during pregnancy, and with mental health issues including depression and suicidal tendencies. The FDA issued a warning to health professionals in 2005 regarding side effects with Accutane. In 2007, the FDA took the extraordinary step of posting a webpage warning consumers about buying isotretinoin over the internet without a prescription because of its association with birth defects and mental health issues.

If you or someone you know has suffered a bowel diseas as a result of Accutane. Please fill out the Free Case Evaluation form and we will have a skilled lawyer speak with you free of charge in order to determine if you have a viable claim.

I sure would like to know a skilled lawyer. Oh wait a minute....been there, done that......or not???????

There are so many aspects to this story that I'm not sure where to start.

First and foremost will be the people who say...."Let it go. There's nothing anyone can do."

THE ACTUAL TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT IF HOFFMAN/LA ROCHE WITHHELD INFORMATION FROM PATIENTS AND FROM DOCTORS REGARDING THEIR FINDINGS ON THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF ACCUTANE THEN WHAT BECOMES A CASE OF NEGLIGENCE TURNS INTO A CASE OF, IN OUR CASE......MURDER.

The company is now called ROCHE HOLDINGS AG

I'M ACTUALLY RESTRICTED FROM TALKING ABOUT OUR CASE BECAUSE WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO NOT TALK ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT. OUR SETTLEMENT WITH HOFFMAN/LA ROCHE WAS FOR THE HOSPITAL BILL ($7000) IN 1996

I've obviously decided to IGNORE that restriction.

AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IF WE DIDN'T ACCEPT THE SETTLEMENT, HOFFMAN/LA ROCHE WOULD SUE US FOR VARIOUS THINGS AND WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES.

Sean's mother, Kerry, fought extremely hard to prove that Hoffman/La Roche knew there were problems with Accutane and spent hours at their east coast corporate office going through boxes and boxes of documents trying to find information that they were not divulging to the public.

I'll stop at this point and try to explain in simple terms what MIGHT have happened.

KERRY'S THEORY AND THE THEORY OF A RESEACH DOCTOR WAS THAT ACCUTANE HELPED DRY UP, OR SHRINK, THE LOWER BOWEL PORTION WHERE

THE BOWEL STRANGULATION TOOK PLACE

SCAR TISSUE FROM PREVIOUS SURGERY IN 1988 CAUSED THE BOWEL STRANGULATION.

I'LL REPEAT THE THEORY

THE BOWEL AREA WHERE THE STRANGULATION TOOK PLACE MIGHT HAVE BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE BY THE USE OF ACCUTANE AND THUS HELPED CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE PROBLEM TO TAKE PLACE.

ACCUTANE IS A MASSIVE DOSE OF VITAMIN A AND DRYS UP NUMEROUS PARTS OF THE BODY

http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/accutane.html

KERRY'S MAIN BATTLE WAS TO GET HOFFMAN/ LA ROCHE TO ADD A WARNING REGARDING TAKING ACCUTANE IF A PREVIOUS STOMACH PROBLEM HAD EXISTED.

IN 1988 SEAN HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR A PUNCTURE IN HIS LOWER BOWEL, CAUSED BY A CAR ACCIDENT.

IN FEBRUARY OF 1994 OUR WORLD CHANGED AND ACCUTANE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SINGLE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN OUR LIVES.

AND IN THEORY IF WE HAD BEEN WARNED THAT ACCUTANE MIGHT CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE BOWELS BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS SURGERY THEN SEAN WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE ACCUTANE AND THUS THE BOWEL STRANGULATION MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

THE LAWYERS FOR HOFFMAN/LA ROCHE CLAIMED THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THAT TYPE OF WARNING BECAUSE NOTHING HAD BEEN CLINICALLY PROVED.

GO BACK AND RE-READ THE BEGINNING OF THIS ARTICLE

THE CONTENTION IS THAT NOT ONLY DID THEY KNOW THERE COULD BE BOWEL RELATED PROBLEMS BY TAKING ACCUTANE BUT THEY INTENTIONALLY HID THE INFORMATION.

THAT INTENTIONAL HIDING OF INFORMATION IS WHY WE THINK OUR CASE BECOMES A CASE OF MURDER OR AT THE VERY LEAST INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER.

THERE ARE NO STATUES OF LIMITATION ON MURDER....

and it's not about a lawsuit.

IT'S ABOUT ANOTHER CASE OF MULTI NATIONAL CORPORATE INDUSTRIALIST HAVING THERE WAY WITH A SINGLE CONSUMER

AND MAKING THEM FEEL SMALL AND INADEQUATE WHEN FACED WITH LAW FIRMS THAT HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS AND RESOURCES.

I DON'T WANT TO START SOUNDING LIKE THE UNA-BOMBER BUT SOMETHING IS VERY VERY WRONG

AND IN THIS CASE WRONG RESULTED IN THE LOST OF OUR SON

AND YOUR FRIEND

AND MY FATHER'S GRANDSON

AND THREE SISTER'S BROTHER

AND MY BROTHER'S NEPHEW

AND MULTIPLE COUSIN'S COUSIN

AND MOST OF ALL

A WORLD

THAT WAS AHEAD FOR A VERY SPECIAL HUMAN BEING.

And all we wanted was a warning

and we were told to sign this and shut up or we would be liable for slander and defamation of character.

THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT A MOM KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG

AND

THE REST OF US DIDN'T REALLY LISTEN or worst of all, believe her motherly instinct.

WE WERE SANDBAGGED BY A VERY LARGE CORPORATION WHO NOW SAYS THEY ARE PULLING THE DRUG ACCUTANE FROM THE MARKET.

I have so many regrets concerning this matter that I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to reconcile them in any reasonable manner.

Summary statement:

Whereas Accutane might not have been the ONLY cause of Sean's death it appears now that it helped exasperate the bowel problems.

RE-READ ONE MORE TIME THE BEGINNING OF THIS ARTICLE AS SUPPLIED BY THE ACTUANE RECALL WEBSITE.

Mom's just know things we don't and just because those feelings existed in 1995 instead of 2008 does not eliminate the facts or alter the truth.

TRUTH is the only goal that matters in order to resolve issues of the heart and soul.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Reality but still a little sad

One of my very dearest and oldest friends had a life altering experience yesterday and while it was inevitable it is still a little sad.

Those of us that know him and love him had used him as a flag bearer for the way life was and for perhaps the way life should be.

My friend jumped into the 21st century and purchased his first cell phone.

We aren't talking about a hayseed living in the backwoods of Mississippi. This person is a politically active consultant who up until yesterday has not owned a cell phone or a computer.

He does have a nice wide screen HD capable TV so somethings are in order.

Of course he swears he won't give the number to anyone but I have it and I'm someone so the walls have already started to crumble.

There are multiple additions for our current lifestyles that create intrusion and the cell phone might be at the top of the list.

The intrusions are not just caused by our own phones but by the proliferation of more people talking aloud when in the past one could walk down the street and experience a semblance of calm and serenity.

There are so many times when cell phones are a nuisance but obviously it has become a permanent attachment to our current reality and it will not be going away.

At least not until that rumored story is confirmed. You know, the one about cell phone airwaves causing brain cancer.

I'll tell you one thing for sure. If we could visually see all the invisible waves that are crisscrossing throughout our environment we would probably run for cover in the first leaded enclave that could be located. I highly doubt that there are an abundance of those places.

I tossed my microwave a few years ago just to reduce one more wavelength inside the house.

It might be pretty crazy as the human species continues to evolve and the next advanced form of a human being is able to visually detect all the waves that have been created previously.

Wireless technology only appears safe because we cannot see it.

Imagine if we could see it. The colors of the spectrum are probably included and while it might be very beautiful....

....ducking and dogging would be the new game in town.

All cells phone would be replaced by land lines and WiFi would be considered the enemy of the people.

I could keep going but I don't want my friend to give up his newly acquired toy.

That will happen the first time he travels and he receives his roaming charges.

Out the freakin door and back to a time where life was a little bit calmer.

In the meantime here's his number

#########0

Michael Timothy McAlevey