Thursday, August 30, 2007

We're Not Dumb

The Katrina anniversary has reminded me of some thoughts I put down a couple of years ago (November 2005) to be more exact.

WARNING: IF YOU ARE A TRUE BLUE DYED IN THE WOOL GEORGE W. FAN, PLEASE DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.YOU MAY TAKE OFFENSE IN THE WORDS.


HOW CAN 59,054,087 PEOPLE BE SO DUMB?

A year ago (NOVEMBER 2004) that was the headline on the British "Daily Mirror".

I've got good news for the people who did not vote for George W. Bush in the 2004 election,

good news for those who voted for him because the choice was so limited,

good news for all of those who are becoming more and more disappointed with his entire administration.


The good news is that at least one voter has changed his mind.

I've known a few dumb Yankees during my life, but hardly any dumb southerners.

We aren't dumb. We may be gullible, but not dumb.

Some of us believe that wrestling is real, while the moon landing was fake, but we're not dumb.

For decades we have voted for everything from rural, racial bigots to cufflink millionaires, but we're not dumb.

We enjoy the comfort of conformity with our neighbors, but we're not dumb.

We are quick to rush to judgment when we don't have all the facts, but we're not dumb.

Like most Americans, we don't like the widespread use of abortion, but we're not dumb.

We may have trouble shaking the last iota of racism from our segregationist past, but we're not dumb.

Many of us believe that every able-bodied person should be working for a living, but we don't like the sight of poor, hungry children or old folks living below the poverty line without decent housing, without good public transportation, without a little discretionary change in their pockets. We are not dumb.

We recognize that there have always been a few millionaires at the top and a lot of struggling wage earners at the bottom, and we all like to see ourselves as "middle class," but we don't have a good feeling when someone who has worked all his life loses his pension or loses the value of his health insurance, as premiums and co-pays keep increasing. We are not dumb.

All my life I've heard voters say "I don't vote for the party. I vote for the man (or woman)." We care about our vote. Most of us give it a lot of thought. We believe in democracy. We believe in kicking 'em out when they do a bad job. We are far from dumb.

Now, about that one voter who changed his mind.

He voted for George W. Bush, and he defended him and his administration until recently.

All it took was Katrina to change his mind. He's still so mad at this time that he might never vote for another Republican.

That reaction, or lack of reaction, (by the President) was enough to reveal the real George W. Bush and the cronies who surround him.

That voter ain't dumb.

We wanted to believe that our President is just regular folks. He is not.

Follow the money trail. He is greedy. He supports benefits for the ultra-rich because he is one of them. He pretends religion, but he has never had a record of regular church attendance.

He doesn't care about the poor (working or not).

He is a snobbish prep-school silver-spoon, who never did any real work in his life. I predict that in the next three years the "W" administration will be revealed as one of the most corrupt, self-serving in history.

If you could redo history the "Daily Mirror" headline would read "59,054,086".

At least one person changed his mind. Are there others?

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation, Spontaneous Mutation, Genetics, Chromosomes, and Denied VA Claims

What a mouthful!
We won't address all of it in this post, but we might get around to it one day.

A written note on a page of my VA disability claim reads "Polycystic Kidney Disease is hereditary".

The statement is only partly true. Read the following two paragraphs from the PKD Foundation:

How does PKD spread?
Because PKD is an inherited disorder, the dominant form of the disease
(ADPKD) is passed from one generation to the next by an affected
parent. Each child of an ADPKD parent has a 50 percent chance of
inheriting the disease. Scientists have also discovered that
approximately 10% of the PKD patient community became affected through
spontaneous mutation, and not through inheritance. ADPKD equally
affects men and women, regardless of age, race, or ethnic origin.

In ADPKD there is also approximately a 10 percent rate of spontaneous
mutation. This means that instead of inheriting the ADPKD gene from a
parent with the disease, the gene mutates by itself for no known
reason. It is important to know that even with a true spontaneous
mutation, a newly affected person will still pass the mutated gene on
to his/her children.

Say it again! 10% of the PKD patient community became affected through
spontaneous mutation, and not through inheritance.
None of my relatives have ever had kidney disease.

Read two more paragraphs from PKD.CURE:

What are the symptoms of PKD?
Early in the disease there generally are no symptoms at all. In fact,
many people are never diagnosed with ADPKD because they have so few or
no symptoms. Often the first sign of ADPKD is high blood pressure,
blood in the urine or a feeling of heaviness/pain in the back, sides
or abdomen. Sometimes the first sign is urinary tract infection and/or
kidney stones.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about 60 percent to 70
percent of people with ADPKD. High blood pressure begins early in the
course of ADPKD. In ADPKD it seems that the most likely reason for
high blood pressure is the constricting of blood vessels. In ADPKD,
cysts can press on blood vessels in the kidney, resulting in decreased
blood flow to some parts of the kidney. Sensors in the nephron react
as though the blood pressure in the kidney was low; renin is then
secreted, which in turn generates angiotensin, constricting the blood
vessels, and causing high blood pressure. If not treated, hypertension
damages the kidneys, enlarges the heart and can cause strokes.

High blood pressure was present in me before I learned that I also had PKD.
PKD either caused or contributed to my various cardovascular problems - heart attach, triple bypass, strokes, headaches, dizziness, low ejection rate, blood clots, and more.

To read the entire Q&A, used the URL below

http://www.pkdcure.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adpkd_faq

Environmental conditions can cause spontaneous mutation.
Some veterans are submitting claims based on Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Others' claims are based on exposure to ionizing radiation. My claim is based on both.

Pressure is mounting to include cardiovascular diseases as presumptiveforAgent Orange.
Read the paragraph below:

Data Suggest A Possible Association Between Agent Orange Exposure And
Hypertension, But The Evidence Is Limited, USA
A new report from the Institute of Medicine finds suggestive but
limited evidence that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides
used during the Vietnam War is associated with an increased chance of
developing high blood pressure in some veterans...
To read the full article, please go to:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78201.php

Many types of cancer are already presumptive with Agent Orange or Ionizing Radiation. Since cancers are genetic and other diseases, such as PKD, are genetic, why does the VA handle them differently. As far as I've been able to determine from internet articles is that the VA requested that studies be done on the cancers, but they did not ask for studies on other genetic diseases.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Friday, August 24, 2007

Signs Since August 13

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE GRAHAM WITH LOVE FROM YOUR BROTHERS/SISTERS. 08/14

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE GRAHAM WITH LOVE FROM YOUR HUSBAND SAMMY GRAHAM. 08/14

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY KENNY ROY SCOTT. WE LOVE YOU! MAMA & TERRY 08/15

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKEY MCCOY. LOVE WIFE WIFE & KIDS. 08/15

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRISTAN MCCOY. LOVE MOM DAD & BROTHER. 08/17

I SAW ELVIS IN A UFO! HOWARD HUGHES & CROW WERE THERE TOO. 08/18

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SHERIFF. 08/19

CROW-MART 1ST ANNUAL BIG SQUIRREL CONTEST. SEASON OPEN AUG. 15. 08/19

CROW-MART OPWN 7-2. BIG FISH TALES TOLD DAILY. SHARE YOUR BIG FISH PHOTOS WITH US. 08/20

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREUTLEN COUNTY. 90 YEARS OLD TODAY. AUGUST 21.

JOE MOXLEY LEADS THE CROW-MART BIG SQUIRREL CONEST. 08/22

CROW-MART OPEN 7-2. LLWS ON ESPN. GO WARNER ROBINS, GA. 08/23

SIGN AT AN AREA EATING SPOT: "COME IN OR WE'LL BOTH STARVE." 08-23

LLWS U.S. FINALS. WARNER ROBINS, GA VS. TEXAS. SATURDAY. CROW-MART & THE BAIT/TACKLE CENTER 08/24

JOHN 8:12. ROMANS 8:28. ENJOY TODAY, SOPERTON. 08/25

HAVE A GREAT DAY TO HAROLD AND PEGGY COX. 08/25

I am a PKD Mutation - Agent Orange/Ionizing Radiation

I am a mutation. If genetic research continues and especially if it increases, I may one day get the VA disability that I've been fighting for. Polycystic Kidney Disease can be inherited, but none of my relatives has ever had PKD. Fifteen percent of the people who have PKD got it, not from their parents, but by spontaneous mutation.

Mutations can be caused by the environment - chemicals such as Agent Orange or ionizing radiation. I was exposed to both while I was in the Army.

I've found two types of people in the VA - the good doctors, nurses and other personnel who address veterans' health needs. Then there are those people who work hard to prevent a veteran to receive service connected disabilities. One disabled veteran fighting to increase his 30% level said that the motto seems to be "If they die waiting, we don't have to pay them."

Please read the following from the Mayo Clinic and go to the other URL,s, too.:

How genetic disorders occur
Article excerpt from the Mayo Clinic

Genetic disorders are caused by abnormalities (mutations) in your DNA.These abnormalities are formed by the erroneous addition, deletion orsubstitution of chemicals that make up your DNA.

MUTATIONS CAN OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY, OR THEY CAN BE INHERITED FROM YOUR PARENTS.

Mutations can also be caused by your environment, such as exposure to chemicals or radiation.
Your parents pass their genes on to you in the form of chromosomes. Each chromosome contains genes made up of DNA, which guides your cells in creating proteins that are necessary for normal function.If your DNA contains a mutation, your cells may create proteins that don't work properly or certain proteins may not be created at all. If
this occurs with a protein that plays a critical role in your body's functioning, you could develop a medical condition.
Your genes don't cause diseases. Mutations in your genes cause your cells to stop functioning properly, which can then lead to disease.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/genetic-testing/FL00076

http://www.pkdcure.org/site/DocServer/Q___A_for_Website.pdf?docID=6441

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20060069070.html


Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Sunday, August 19, 2007

SHS Class of 1945-46 names

Here are the members of the SHS Class of 1945-46 to go with the picture from my last post:
Mascots Peggy Moore and L. M. Williams III.
L_R: 1- Mary Ann Sumner, 2- Murl Smith, 3- Nadine Moore, 4- Wilburn Hutchinson, 5- Annizu Williamson, 6- Grayson Drake, 7- Agnes Peavy, 8- Rayford Davis, 9- Birma Walker,
10- Cecil Jennings, Jr., 11- wyllene Phillips, 12- Leroy Kitchens, 13- Alvera Lumley, 14- Billy Williams, 15- Beatrice Claxton, 16- Hoover Herndon, 1- Sam P. Jones, Supt., 18- Doris Claxton, 19- Ned Collins, 20- Judy Mixon, 21- Bennie Frost, 22- Oretta McCoy, 23- Earl Powell, 24- Nannie Lou Henry, 25- Lescoe Meeks, 26- Nina Palmer, 27- Wendell Brinson, 28- Menza Greenway,29- Larsen Phillips, 30- Gwendolyn Henry, 31- Howard Tapley, 32- Vertis Beck, 33- Frank McCrimmon, 34- Sara Stewart, 35- Carolyn Pollette.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

We Photo Scan Prints, Too



The Soperton High School Class of1945-46 was photographed in their gowns,posed at the west entrance of the campus. My neighbor (next door at Sammons Funeral Home) Billy Williams owns the original. At this time I can't find the list of names, but I will add them to this post as soon as possible. Meanwhile, enjoy studying the picture.

Although I did a very high resolution scan and made pre-scan adjustments, I'm not totally satisfied. After I catch up with the insurance and hospital bills, I plan to acquire a moderately high-end scanner with some software bells and whistles, similar to that of the Kodak Cool Scan V, which I use to scan negatives and slides. All donations appreciated.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

BONUS SHOT



There are two pictures of 1977 August 1st week, because they were wide and low enough that after trimming, both would fit into the space alloted in the Mornings Cash Store windows, the home of the physical images presentedin this blog, and is commonly known as the Sidewalk Gallery or Soperton's Picture Show. Be sure to look it up when you are in Soperton.

The picture of Clayton and William Stephens was made at Gillis Springs near the Spring House. It was 1977 July third week. Clayton was in the process of having the house shored up and moved to a site at the Gillis Cemetery for better viewing and for security. Before the building could be moved, it collapsed under the load of a solid red tile roof.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

1977 AUGUST 1ST WEEK 2ND PHOTO



40 YEAR REUNION OF SOPERTON HIGH CLASS OF 1937
L-R: ALMA BARNHILL SMITH, WILLIAM (BILL) HALL, HELENA JOUBERT REEVES, HELEN TAPLEY CELLI, JOE REYNOLDS, ELLLENE PHILLIPS ATKINSON, CHARLIE DAVIS LANDERS, EMILY COURSON MOSELEY,CORNELIA PHILLIPS BOWEN, ROBERT (BOB) HALL, EVELYNN WYNN SMITH, BROOKS YOUNGBLOOD, VIANA BLOUNT WEST, A. J. PHILLIPS, KATHRYNE GILLIS ALLNOCH, FRANCES LOWREY, TULLIE KEEN, MAYTRELLE JORDAN AVERY, HARVEY SPIVERY, GERTRUDE RAINEY WYNN, M. B. WARE, ROBBIE THIGKPEN AVERY.

Back about the time the picture was made, I recall Bill Hall talking about one of Soperton "Characters" of long ago, whom he referred to "Old Man" so and so. Mr. Bill reflected and said, probably that's what people are calling me now "Old Man Bill Hall". He was in his 40th year beyond high school then, and now I'm 46 years beyond high school. What's that make me? Old or what?

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

1977 AUGUST 1ST WEEK




CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL TEAM TABLE SUPPLY: L-R:KENNON PEEBLES, RAY PAGE, BOB HENRY BRADDY, DONNIE CAMMACK, LARRY HAMILTON, JIMMY JOYNER, WM.B. BLAIR, JOE MOXLEY, BARRY MCDONALD, GIL BURGESS, ?, STEVE WARNOCK, RHODUS HARDY, GRADY CAMMACK, GLEN WILCHER.

OTHER PICTURES THAT WEEK: CAR WRECK NEAR TASTEE-FREEZ, BERRY STUDENTS- COX, GARNER, CRUMPLER,LION NEW MEMBER CLARK, SANFORD, CARR, LIONS PROGRAM-CLAYTON, JUDGE TOWSON, CLAYTON, ORIANNA CHURCH, NEW OVERHEAD SIGN AT CEMETERY, SOFTBALL ACTION ANDAWARDS, THS CHEERLEADERS, MR. SAPP BIG OKRA.


Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

1977 JULY 4TH WEEK



As old as Genesis, the serpent always attracts a crowd. Fascinating, but repulsive. The rattlesnake, especially the Eastern Diamond, is the super snake to many people. Even the scientific name, Crotalus adamanteus, sounds awesome.
Of the dozens of rattlesnakes I was asked to photograph over the years, this is my favorite. I was just as caught up into the excitement as the people in the picture. James Love (holding the snake) killed it at Shotgun Coleman's farm near Tarrytown. Of course everybody dropped what they were doing and drove to Soperton, where I was glad to make the picture, whether at my house or in the street.
It doesn't get any better than this.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Really catching up on the signs

The Sign Man is looking over my shoulder.

I know, I know. I should have done better.I know that being sick is no excuse. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so very, very sorry!

I will back up to June 12, right where I started slipping on posting your Signs. It does not reflect on your artistic efforts, love of community, or your cleverness.

IN MEMORY OF OLIVER BRANTLEY. 06/12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE ARCHIE JOHNSON. LOVE YOUR RANAKA, TERESA, TONYA. O6/12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARSHA LANIER. 06/14

COME SEE THE GREEN FISH BAIT. THEY GLOW IN THE WATER. CROW-MART. 06/14

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO THE BEST DAD "FRANK JACKSON" I LOVE YOU. TYTY. 06/17

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BUDDY MARCUS COX JR. U GOTTA BE CLOSE TO 100. 06/18

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK AND DIABETES SCREENING AT DENNARDS. WED. 06/20

HAPPY THIRD B-DAY TENLEY DURDEN ON JUNE 22. LOVE MAMA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CURTIS K-9 DUNN. FROM DALLAS TEXAS, COWBOYS COUNTRY.

(I filled in for the Sign Man while he was on vacation this week, and the only one's I can remember are Curtis's Birthday and Cynthia's Birthday.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOCAL AUTHOR CYNTHIA REESE. 07/14

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY MICHAELA MILTON. LOVE MOM, DAD, GRANNY, PAPA. 07/16

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY MALEAH RICKS. LOVE MAMA, DADDY, KEELY, BUBBA, GRANNY & PAPA. 07/18

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY RICKY AND CYNTHIA REESE. 17 YEARS. 07/19

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY MARKAYLA HARSWELL. LOVE MOM & FAMILY. 07/19

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY CHUCK STEPTOE. LOVE, ALL YOUR FAMILY. 07/20

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY ALAN WARE. WE LOVE YOU. MAMA, DADDY, BRANDY AND LINDSEY. 07/20

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY AJAH HARRIS. FROM MOM DAD TEZ. 07/21

RABIES CLINIC. FARM BUREAU OFFICE, 8:30 TO 11:30. SAT 21ST. (RAN SEVERAL DAYS)

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY. ROBERT AND JOHN HOOKS. I LOVE YOU!;MAMA. 7-22-07

CONGRATULATIONS MIDDLE GA BUCKSHOT WORLD CHAMPIONS. 11-UNDER. WINNING PITCHER MATT POWELL. 07/23

IN MEMORY OF WALTER PAYTON #34 "SWEETNESS". 07/25

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DINKY SELLERS. LOVE CHELSEA AND HANNAH. 07/26

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHY SELLERS. LOVE CHELSEA AND HANNAH. 07/27

ALLSTATE 400 AT THE BRICKYARD. 41 SORENSON, 42 MONTOYA - FRONT ROW. 07/28

TONY STEWART SMOKES EM' AT THE BRICKYARD. 07/29

BUY LITTLE DEBBIE SNACKS. 07/31

GLOBAL WARMING. 08/01

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSANNAH BREWTON TODAY. 08/02

SRO SOCCER REGISTRARTION AT DENNAR'S HARDWARE AUGUST 1ST - 4TH.

SCHOOL STARTS TUES 7TH. OPEN HOUSE MON 6TH. 1-3 PM. 08/03

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM "SABEA" HEUETT. LOVE YA. THE GANG. 08/04

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AUG 5TH JAMES & ROBIN. THE PERFECT COUPLE. LOVE, THE GIRLS.08/05

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY TYSON JACKSON ON AUG 6. WE LOVE YOU! DADDY MAMA AND WANA. 08/06

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMETT HORNE. LOVE, YOUR KIDS. 08/07

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY JESSICA TOLER. WE LOVE YOU! MOM, DAD, BROTHER, SISTERS. 08/07

HAPPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY RYLEE BRIDGES ON AUG 8TH. LOVE MOMMY DADDY & BROTHERS.08/08

MS PATTI, YOUR CLASSROOM LOOKS GREAT! GOOD SAVE. 08/09

30 YEARS AGO TABLE SUPPLY WINS TOURNAMENT 21 WINS - 1 LOSS. 08/09

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEROY. 08/10

HEAT WAVE 2007 HITS SOPERTON. 08/10

CROW-MART HAS COLD AIR BY THE LITER. 08/11

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY RICHARD/MARSHA WARE. 08/11

30 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH: GEORGE/LINDA CLAXTON WERE SHOWING OFF A WRENCH. 08/12

30 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH: FRANKIE NOBLES CAUGHT A 8 3/4 POUND CHANNEL CATFISH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEILA RAIFORD ON MONDAY 08/13.

Would you like to see pictures of The Sign Man's signs on the blog. let us know.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton