Dear Folks,

 

Since a tender young age, I have worried that I might have cancer, the Big C, just as John Wayne referred to it, as did Linus Pauling, when he spoke about Vitamin C, as being so beneficial.

 

Anyway, I sometimes worry about the Big C, which John Wayne battled and won, before he finally succumbed, when the cancer regrouped and attacked him, once more.

 

So, I am just saying that....

 

With Cancer always in the news, then how can we happily live our lives.....UNDER THE   Sword of Damocles.....

 

And, for that matter, why is it that the W is not pronounced in the word SWORD?

 

================

 

So, what do you do when you DO NOT have Cancer, but you see this word CANCER everywhere you go....????

 

It is almost like......

 

a.  You could live your life happily.

b. But, since they tell you, every single day that you might get cancer

c. So then, you cannot be happy....

d. Just thinking that you might get cancer....

e.  And then you begin to check yourself out, daily

f. You feel your balls in the shower, just to see if there might be an extra lump

g. Or, you palpitate your throat, just to see if your lymph nodes might be sensitive....

 

Really....

 

IS this any way to live.....?

Always in FEAR of cancer, ....

Just due to idiotic media?

 

So then....here is what I do to get rid of this fear....

 

I listen to the rock bands that were popular before this Cancer Fear......

 

And, what might be the best bands to blast out of you any fear of cancer?

 

Of Course....Led Z.

 

And, in this case....Must be Stairway to Heaven....after one,...presumably,.. had died from cancer....

 

Because, why?

 

Because:  If you were to take a look at this video, here, ROBERT PLANT is the very closest thing you will ever come to seeing an angel, either in this life, or in the hereafter .....

 

 

Yeah.....

 

It's really good for us who do not have cancer, just to listen.

 

But, for those who do.....

Then....the world has changed, the worm has turned...and then.....

 

Maybe this music might not feel the same.

 

And, is there really any music which resonates once one is diagnosed?

 

No....there is not......

 

Oh!

Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

 

Cancer can be conquered?

So said Many US Presidents....

 

But, they were wrong......

 

And, why is that?

Did they even know?

I do know, but did they?

 

Is there any Heaven for those who died from Cancer, after so much torture on Earth?

 

Horrible disease.

Horrible life.

But, this is the life that God dealt us, and smelt us.....

 

Or not?

 

Who knows?

 

Regards,

Gamma

 

 

NOTE:  I have always thought, for so many years, that the LIGHT shining down upon Plant's Golden Curls, on stage, made him look more like an Angel than anything I have yet to see on this planet.  Thank the gods for Plant, I say....

 

NOTE2:  Does anyone remember laughter?.....

 

 

 

 

Do you really think you will live long enough for that ?

 

Isn't there a 22 wheeled truck with your name on it ?

 

Never a better time to decamp to rural Japan  🙂

I just went for a check up and got a positive diagnosis 

14 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

I just went for a check up and got a positive diagnosis 

 

Of what?  😨 

46 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

 

Because:  If you were to take a look at this video, here, ROBERT PLANT is the very closest thing you will ever come to seeing an angel, either in this life, or in the hereafter .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE2:  Does anyone remember laughter?.....

 

 

 

 

Not sure trying to compare Plant or his Lz band mates to an angel works for me ?

14 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Not sure trying to compare Plant or his Lz band mates to an angel works for me ?

 

Honestly speaking, I must say that Plant's amber/golden curls, back-lit on stage, with his siren voice, is probably the closest I have ever come to experiencing heaven on Earth.

 

Also, I must say that.....

 

If one were to be diagnosed with a serious disease, then....

All of this, everything, goes out the window...and does not matter much.

 

So then, sometimes, before one's time is called....

 

Enjoy Plant, the closest thing to an angel on Earth that we will ever know.

 

IF I knew how to use Photoshop, and  to crop and highlight Plant's curls, then I would upload the result here.

 

I am in love with Plant.

 

I think he gave more to Mankind than most humans.

I REALLY DO....actually.....

I have benefited so much from Plant, you would not even know.

 

 

 

 

Plant makes me feel young, even today, just recalling his music in Tokyo and Yokohama, 1971.

 

Even If I might be diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, at the very least......

 

I have had Plant in my life......

 

Life is strange......

 

So Strange.....

 

 

 

I wish He were still among us.....

 

RARE.....

 

 OP I've had cancer twice, it's nothing to worry about.

Speak to your primary health care providerabout antipsychotic drugs, it's wonderful what they can do nowadays.

35 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

 OP I've had cancer twice, it's nothing to worry about.

Speak to your primary health care providerabout antipsychotic drugs, it's wonderful what they can do nowadays.

 

Thank you.

 

And, I will take your advice...PDQ...for sure...but...

 

Fortunately, even before reading your comment....

 

I have already gotten rid of these FIVE THINGS...which had been driving me....NUTS....

 

 

In the past, I had wished to have a desk chair which was on wheels.

But then, the wheels became clogged with hair from the rug, and not the GF.

 

So, I removed these, and replaced them with a different type of thing I found on Lazada.....

 

And.....YESSSSS......

 

I am now BACK ON LAZADA.....

 

I love Lazada, now.....

 

Lazada is improved, now, IMHO.....

 

NOTE: I once read from that f3llow ROBBINS, the self-help guy, that I must get rid of FIVE THINGS in order to feel better about myself.....

 

Glad you can take a joke.

BTW twice I was scared shoyteless but it turned out ok, so faranyway.

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

I just went for a check up and got a positive diagnosis 

 

By the way, I have, and long ago, stopped listening to popular music, such as Canned Heat....

 

Also, I have stopped listening to JS Bach's Cantatas, for that matter....

 

 

These days, or, during the recent months, I have been back to Rostropovich and his Cello....

 

 

 

We who are about to die salute you, Rostro....

You knew how to go out with a bang, for sure.....

 

I am just happy that I have had so many wonderful experiences using my Burma washing machine, during my lifetime....because....

Who could ask for more?

 

This does not mean that I will be leaving you, or the forum, anytime soon...because....

I suspect that I have 10 more years to go....not being diagnosed....so far....

 

But, of course, it's all just a matter of time, as anyone might tell you....

 

My guess is that I have 10 more years ahead, which is not a lifetime, of course.

 

As I mentioned a few years ago, I expect my Samsung refrigerator to outlive me, by a few years.....at the very least....

 

And, this is just another reason why I do not save the warranty cards on major household appliance purchases.....

 

But, with the ACs....I always hold onto them.....

 

Life is fleeting, unlike JS Bach's amazing music, I think.....

 

 

And, ACs manufactured  in SE Asia are the most fleeting things of all......

Of all things in life, that is....

 

 

 

 

You know, sometimes I think that Bowie is one of the most underestimated guys of the past 100 years, even though...

He was famous.

 

Bowie was not appreciated enough for his great work.

 

Well hung...

Snow-white tan....

 

Could you ask for more?

 

 

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Thank you.

 

And, I will take your advice...PDQ...for sure...but...

 

Fortunately, even before reading your comment....

 

I have already gotten rid of these FIVE THINGS...which had been driving me....NUTS....

 

 

In the past, I had wished to have a desk chair which was on wheels.

But then, the wheels became clogged with hair from the rug, and not the GF.

 

So, I removed these, and replaced them with a different type of thing I found on Lazada.....

 

And.....YESSSSS......

 

I am now BACK ON LAZADA.....

 

I love Lazada, now.....

 

Lazada is improved, now, IMHO.....

 

NOTE: I once read from that f3llow ROBBINS, the self-help guy, that I must get rid of FIVE THINGS in order to feel better about myself.....

 

 

Man...

Robbins has aged so much.

 

How does he even deal with it?

 

Last time I saw him, he was full of vim and vigor, and handsome.

Now, he has so many wrinkles on his forehead....

 

In fact, his forehead wrinkles makes him look like one of those faces we see on Mount Rushmore.....

 

I guess his positive thinking was just not enough....

 

This guy is a joke, and everyone knows it......

 

Still, with such a huge ego, he could care less.

 

I wonder what it might be like to be his partner and have to sleep with him every night.

Must be totally horrible.

 

 

1 hour ago, saintdomingo said:

Glad you can take a joke.

BTW twice I was scared shoyteless but it turned out ok, so faranyway.

 

 

How many here, might you guess, live in fear of ....

 

Spiders from Mars?

 

 

 

 

Cancer can take 10 years to get to a size to be detected, good luck

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Cancer can take 10 years to get to a size to be detected, good luck

 

Yes.

 

This is why.....

 

I have always loved the story about the Princess and the Pea.....

 

Do you know the story?

 

And, sometimes, Fairy Tales have a hidden meaning, other than what most children, thankfully, might imagine....

 

 

 

Sometimes, peas grow bigger, and Bigger, and BIGGER, and Even Larger.....!!!

 

 

We all worry from time to time the secret is how you deal with it.

 

Can you do anything about it if yes then do it.

 

 If no then forget it and get on with life and stop worrying.

 

We all die that is the only certainly we have in life the older you get the less important it becomes.

 

Worrying about something without doing anything about it achieves nothing positive.

 

7 minutes ago, Bannoi said:

Worrying about something without doing anything about it achieves nothing positive.

 

 

I vote this sentence the best sentence of the decade.

 

Let's all take note, and keep this in mind.

 

Still, let's also keep in mind that this is the definition of anxiety.

Mother's little helpers were born of this type of anxiety.

 

Maybe, we should all go back to the bush....?

 

While in the bush, we worried less about the nebulous....

 

Give me a tiger, any day.

 

 

<>

Have you planned out the long-term healthcare costs if you do?

Are you insured? 

Maybe time to move back to the US? 

 

21 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Have you planned out the long-term healthcare costs if you do?

Are you insured? 

Maybe time to move back to the US? 

 

 

Healthcare in the US is a disaster.

I think you might also know.

 

Far better for me to return to Canada...

Land of Snow....

 

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

NOTE: I once read from that f3llow ROBBINS, the self-help guy, that I must get rid of FIVE THINGS in order to feel better about myself.....

 

I think he said that one of those things should be posting in chat forums. 

51 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Far better for me to return to Canada...

Just when you thought Canadian health care had hit rock bottom, wait times in 2024 have hit an all-time high.

According to the latest version of our annual report published by the Fraser Institute, the median wait from referral by a family doctor to treatment (averaged across 10 provinces and 12 medical specialties including surgeries) is now 30 weeks—the longest wait in the report’s history and more than three times longer than the 9.3-week median wait in 1993.

18 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Just when you thought Canadian health care had hit rock bottom, wait times in 2024 have hit an all-time high.

According to the latest version of our annual report published by the Fraser Institute, the median wait from referral by a family doctor to treatment (averaged across 10 provinces and 12 medical specialties including surgeries) is now 30 weeks—the longest wait in the report’s history and more than three times longer than the 9.3-week median wait in 1993.

 

Are you saying that you now agree with my friend and fellow-alumnus, Noam Chomsky?

 

If only everyone would read more Chomsky, then this would be a better world.

 

And, what might Chomsky say, today, if he could talk, which, very unfortunately, is impossible, due to his incapacitation as a result of his stroke?

 

"Based on Chomsky's consistent and long-standing critiques, Chomsky's assessment would be sharp and framed by his broader political and economic philosophy.

 

The United States: An "International Scandal"

 

Chomsky has repeatedly described the U.S. healthcare system as an "international scandal." He would argue that its fundamental failures at the present time are direct consequences of its design.

 

Failures of the U.S. System:

• Extreme Inefficiency and Bureaucracy: Chomsky points out that the U.S. spends far more per capita on healthcare than any other developed nation. He attributes this to the enormous administrative waste inherent in a privatized, multi-payer system. This includes money spent on marketing, complex billing, executive salaries, and denying claims—costs that do not contribute to patient health.

   

• Fundamentally Immoral: A core of Chomsky's critique is moral. He argues that a system that ties healthcare to employment and profitability is inherently cruel. It leaves millions uninsured or underinsured, leading to preventable deaths and financial ruin for those who get sick. He sees the commodification of health as a profound moral failing.

• Poor Outcomes: Despite its astronomical costs, the U.S. often has worse health outcomes (like lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality) compared to other wealthy nations. Chomsky would see this as the ultimate proof that the for-profit model fails to deliver on its most basic promise: health.

   

• Undemocratic and Dominated by Elites: He would argue that the system is not a reflection of what the public wants. Polls have consistently shown that a majority of Americans would prefer a government-guaranteed healthcare program. However, powerful insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies fight viciously to maintain the status quo, which serves their profits, not the public good. This is a key example of what he calls the "class war" fought by elites against the general population.

   

Pluses of the U.S. System:

From Chomsky's perspective, there are virtually no pluses to the overall structure of the U.S. system when viewed from a societal or ethical standpoint. While acknowledging that the U.S. has excellent doctors, hospitals, and medical research, he would argue that access to this excellence is rationed by wealth, which is not a "plus" but a central feature of its cruelty.

 

Canada: A More Rational, Humane Alternative

 

Chomsky frequently uses Canada as a direct point of comparison to illustrate the failings of the U.S. model. He would frame the Canadian system as a more civilized and rational approach, though not without its own challenges.

 

Pluses of the Canadian System:

• Universal Coverage: The primary advantage is its principle of universality. Healthcare is treated as a fundamental right. Every citizen is covered, regardless of their income, employment, or health status. This removes the fear of financial ruin from illness that plagues so many Americans.

• Greater Efficiency: By having a single-payer system (or more accurately, a provincially administered single-payer system), Canada eliminates the massive administrative waste of the U.S. private insurance industry. This allows it to provide universal care for a fraction of the per-capita cost of the U.S. system.

• Focus on Health, Not Profit: Because the system is publicly funded and administered, its primary goal is to provide healthcare, not to generate profit for shareholders. This aligns the system's incentives with the public good. Chomsky would see this as a result of successful popular struggle, particularly by labor unions, who fought for healthcare for everyone, not just for their own members.

Failures and Vulnerabilities of the Canadian System:

Chomsky is not an uncritical admirer and would acknowledge the system's vulnerabilities, especially in the current political climate.

• Wait Times: He would recognize that wait times for certain procedures can be a legitimate issue. However, he would immediately reframe this by stating that the U.S. also has rationing—it's just rationed by wealth. If you can't afford a procedure, you have an infinite wait time. He would argue that a publicly managed system that struggles with wait times is still preferable to a system that rations care based on ability to pay.

• Threat of Privatization: Chomsky's biggest concern for Canada would be the persistent efforts by conservative political and business interests to undermine the public system and introduce more for-profit, U.S.-style elements. He would see this as part of the same elite-driven "class war" that has so thoroughly shaped the U.S. system, and he would warn that this is the primary danger to the integrity and success of Canadian healthcare.

• Underfunding: He would likely argue that many of the problems within the Canadian system, such as wait times, stem from political decisions to underfund it, often by the same groups who advocate for privatization.

In summary, at the present time, Noam Chomsky would argue that the debate between the two systems is not a close call. He would present the U.S. system as a failed, cruel, and deeply undemocratic outlier, and the Canadian system as a fundamentally more sane and humane model that, despite its challenges, gets the big things right by treating healthcare as a public good rather than a commodity."

 

Also, I endorse everything that Chomsky said, or might say, if he could say it.

 

We have lost a very valuable asset.

 

Now, I ask you, who will take up Chomsky's cudgel, now that he is down?

 

You????

 

Why don't you THINK ABOUT IT, while you are waiting for your next visit to your doctor.....

 

But, do not worry because.....

With GROK 6, we will finally begin to address this issue of wait times....FOR SURE...!!!

 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, Clapped out said:

Do you really think you will live long enough for that ?

 

Isn't there a 22 wheeled truck with your name on it ?

 

Never a better time to decamp to rural Japan  🙂

 

I agree with you.

Never a better time.

 

And, never a better time for JAPAN to give us an easy Retirement Visa....

Is there?

 

Of course, we should give retirees some sort of IQ test before providing an easy retirement visa.

 

There are some very beautiful places in Japan, for sure, that would appeal to retirees if there was only a cheap visa.

 

My Japanese is rusty, but i could improve it, as could you, no doubt....

 

9 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

NOTE2:  Does anyone remember laughter?.....

You are not going to find laughter online in some strange chat forum.  

Kids laugh at everything.   Unless you are a teacher, I guess you will miss out.

Bars?  No, no laughing.  

Thais?  Are you fluent in Thai?  Well, cross that one out.

Yes, this is probably a major setback for most older expats.  

You will likely only find this in your home country.   

Most places it's just business.  money, fake smile, done.  fake laughter, maybe.  

If you are not teaching, you will likely be surrounded by older, morbid humans.  not fun.  

but, things are cheaper here?  

Laughter, a good laugh, is generally cultural related.  Two close friends.  People who can

really bond with each other.

How can an expat bond with a farmer speaking a dialect in the middle of nowhere?

 

I think you need to go back to your home country and find some real friends.  

No. I make it a point of not worrying about things that I have absolutely no control over. I also make it a point not to dwell on potential sickness when I have absolutely no indication that it is real. The brain is a very powerful instrument, either we use it productively or it can eat us up. 

Why would I care if an AI bot gets cancer?

11 hours ago, gargamon said:

Why would I care if an AI bot gets cancer?

Yeah, everyone will be accused of being an AI bot soon. 

 

 

Gamma, is that why you've been posting less ?? 

 

 

Had cancer.

got organ removed.

No have cancer.