Fourth
Dimension Report
Suggested Names for this Column
Jerry
Melvin
12/19/2002
SUGGESTED NAMES
FOR THIS COLUMN
Last week I asked that readers please help me in selecting a name for this
column, "Fourth Dimension", that I have been writing for some 5
or so years. Since I'm no longer a member of the Legislature, just
thought might need to change the name and cover a wider range of
topics. I've received some very good suggestions and wanted to
pass some of them along to you. I still welcome your input for a
name, so please get back to me. Remember my new email address
is: jerry@jerrymelvin.com.
Here are some of the suggestions: "Truth or Consequences",
"The Florida Dimensions", "The Greenacre Digest",
"Jerry's Journal", "Memo from Jerry", Jerry Melvin's
Mullings", Melvin's Musings", "Musing with Melvin",
"Jerry's Justice Journal", "Determined Dimension",
"Discovery Dimension", "What's New Newsletter",
"The Melvin Factor", "Jerry's Topics", "Online
With Jerry", "The Melvin Bulletin".
Got the following from David Foy of Tallahassee, a young man I expect to
hear a lot about in the future: "Jerry, My parents were visiting over
the weekend and my father said something that made me think about
you. Dad is a mix of Italian and Irish and is a retired NYC
firefighter - always says what's on his mind. He said that the old
adage has always been 'Make honey, not vinegar', but he said he always
liked to tell it like it is and sometimes it's just vinegar, forget about
the honey. That's how I see you, so my newsletter title
recommendation for you is 'Frankly.To the Point!'".
OLD TIME MEDICAL REMEDIES
Thanks to those of you who have responded to the call to send in the old
time medical remedies you remember your parents and grandparents talking
about. Some are extremely interesting.
From Rod Taylor, O.D.: "In a jewelry store in Bowling Green
Ohio, an old Jeweler/Optician treated vision disorders by stimulating
blood flow to the optic nerve. For years, he treated quite a number
of female clients with breast message. 'Messaging the breasts lumps blood
to the brain and the optic nerve, restoring normal vision if done
frequently and fervently enough,' he explained. Many Bowling
Green ladies were apparently pleased with the treatment as many returned
weekly for treatment. The Ohio Board of Optometry had a different
opinion on the matter and revoked his license." Also >From Dr.
Taylor: "A common medical treatment for back trouble was to
have the sufferer lie on the floor face down while someone walked up and
down the back barefooted. Seems to me that both of my parents treated each
other this way and it seemed to help."
Bill sent this one along: "Arthritis Relief: Crush up aspirin
tablets and mix them with green alcohol for inflamed arthritis
joints. Rub the mixture on affected joints. Aspirin is an
anti-inflammatory and the "green" alcohol has oil of wintergreen
mixed with it. The oil of wintergreen is the penetrate.
It's a doctor's formula and works great for temporary relief."
SMALLPOX VACCINATION
I don't know what all the fuss is about giving people the smallpox
vaccination. Had it not been for the vaccination program and
with today's mobile society, there's no telling how many people would have
died from this dreadful viral infection. I carried my scar and was
proud of the fact that I was protected. I remember the publicity
surrounding the announcement that the vaccinations were being ended in
1972 and that the illness had been eradicated from the world. If
there is even a remote chance of its returning, I definitely feel the
vaccination program is needed. I'll be glad to step up and be
one of the first.
INVISIBLE DROPOUTS
A labor market economist at Northeastern University has just completed a
study of America's young immigrant population. The report examines
the work record of young immigrants and compares that record to others in
the U.S. job market. One interesting finding: At the low end
of the market, defined as young people between 16 and 24 without a high
school education, 82 percent of immigrants have a job. For
native-born Americans in the same age and skill range, the figure drops to
59 percent. For Black Americans, the number falls to 37 percent. To
make the point more clearly, 63 percent of Black Americans in this age
group are neither working nor in school. The nation is busy worrying
about threats from abroad and an economic slowdown at home. States and
cities are wondering how they will maintain their services with budgets
being slashed. Yet at a time when the slogan 'No child left behind' is the
mantra for the education system, maybe we need to expand our definition of
'child,' both for themselves and the rest of us. For more info, to: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/344business/Our_invisible_dropouts+.shtml.
STATE SUES ON NO-CALL
The State of Florida has sued nine companies for making telemarketing
calls to residents on a do-not-call list. It 's the first time
the state has taken legal action against alleged violators of the nation's
oldest anti-telemarketing law.
Most commercial telemarketers are barred from calling the 160,000
residents who have paid $10 to add their phone numbers to the
list. And while Florida has collected more than $658,000 in
fines from some 55 firms, no legal action had been taken before.
The state has fined violators $750 to $1,000 per violation, although the
law allows for up to a $10,000 fine. Some of the companies sued in
October have sought to settle with the state.
BRAVO TO MISSISSIPPI
Beginning in January, jury awards in malpractice lawsuits against
Mississippi doctors, nursing homes and other health care providers will be
capped, under legislation signed by Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove.
During a contentious and prolonged special session, the Mississippi
legislature in October approved medical liability measures that cap
non-economic damages - pain and suffering, for example - awarded by juries
to $500,000 until 2011. The cap pertains to cases filed after
January 1, 2003; will rise to $750,000 for cases filed after July 1, 2011;
and rise again to a maximum of $1 million in 2017. The law also allows
cases to be filed only in the county where the alleged malpractice
occurred.
Doctors in Mississippi have blamed rising jury awards for their difficulty
in obtaining malpractice insurance. Many patient advocates blame the
high premiums on questionable pricing strategies by insurers in recent
years.
Perhaps during the upcoming session of the Florida Legislature that
convenes in March members can take a look at this Mississippi law.
WRITING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGSTERS 13 TO 18
The Daniel Pearl Foundation and YouthNOISE - a nonprofit initiative of
Save the Children - announce the first annual Daniel pearl Writing
Contest. They invite students ages 13 - 18 to use the power of
words to share their solutions to intolerance and cultural hatred and be
eligible to win a SONY laptop computer. The deadline for submissions
- essays, songs, poems, plays, and short-stories qualify - is February 7,
2003. For more information go to:
http://www.youthnoise.com/site/CDA/cda_Page/0,1004,1189,00.html.
THANKS, JIM, FOR A GREAT ARTICLE
Thanks so much to Jim Futrell for furnishing the following article.
It says a lot!
WHEN CHRISTMAS BECOMES ILLEGAL
Christmas everyone!
Oops, did I say Christmas? I meant to wish you Happy Holidays or a
Cheerful Winter Season. Christmas, you see, contains that dirty
little word...Christ.
If you don't believe me, just ask the veteran first-grade teacher who was
informed this week that she could not mention the word
"Christmas" in her Sacramento public school classroom.
Imagine that. Christmas banned in a public school classroom.
This interdiction is actually quite predictable because the word Christmas
and the concept of a holiday bearing the name of Christ contradict the
situational ethics that pervades many public school classrooms. If
there is no true right and wrong, there must not be a notion of a Savior
or the need of a Savior.
However, such a ban is nothing less than religious persecution. In
order to promote "diversity," these types of policies actually
target individual for their beliefs. It is systematic discrimination that
is unconstitutional and illegal.
Tragically, the ACLU and similar groups have convinced many public school
officials that the mere mention of Christ or a biblical reference is
barred by law. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In the Harry Potter series, the evil character Voldemort is so feared that
his name must never be mentioned. Similarly, real-life religious
antagonists today are creating an environment that virtually prohibits the
mention of Christ in public school classrooms or in the public
square. By twisting the meaning of the Constitution, they have
produced an atmosphere of fear regarding Christ and Judeo-Christian
teachings.
Across the nation, school and city officials are banning Christian
themes. Nativity scenes have been barred in some New York
schools. A New Jersey middle school cancelled a field trip to attend
a performance of a play based on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas
Carol." In Lewistown, Pa., a Christian church was denied tax
exemption because it distributes food to needy families (the activity was
deemed not to be religious worship). In Cleveland, Tenn.,
missionaries have been barred from placing religious literature on cars
(even though other groups frequently do so). The Ten Commandments -
the very foundation of American law - have been banned in many public
arenas. (Thank God that Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy
Moore is leading the defense of the Commandments by legally defending his
erection of a Ten Commandments monument in the rotunda of his courthouse.)
These alarming actions are part of a diabolical scheme by anti-religion
devotees to create distinctive and unfair rules for religious Americans.
These individual cases will eventually add up to a national climate of
overt hostility toward Christianity (and Christians). It's really
quite a frightening scenario, but we are literally watching it unfold
before our eyes.
We have seen a federal court panel rule that the mention of God in the
Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Atheists are now attempting to
seek the ban of congressional chaplains. Barry Lynn of Americans
United for Separation of Church and State has admitted that he wants the
word God erased from American coins. These people literally want a
godless society, a concept that dramatically conflicts with the
God-centered nation our Founders created and nurtured.
The agenda is clear. Christians must be prepared to stand ready to
fight for their rights. It is apparent that our adversaries who wish
to stifle us will not rest until they have silenced every last one of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no
man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Humphree passed the following to me. Thought it deserved
passing along:
Jerry, I understand your frustration in trying to find building numbers at
OWCC. Though I have not been there, I experience the same
frustration when trying to locate a street address just driving around
town! And, not just Pensacola either. It's the same
everywhere! Businesses with only small numbers that are unreadable from a
passing car, IF there are any numbers at all. I have gone for blocks
trying to find a street number on businesses and found none! I have
often wished I was the Postmaster General for one day. I would pass
a rule that for any business to receive USPS mail delivery, they would
have to post large, clear, highly visible street numbers that are readable
from the nearest roadway!
Thanks, Humphree; I would go even further. I thought about
introducing legislation withholding some revenue sharing funds from cities
and counties that did not strictly enforce proper numbering. Since
911 has been in operation, such ordinances are supposed to be
enforced. Perhaps you may want to put pressure on the legislative
members to introduce such legislation when they meet in March.
FROM ED CHENEL, A POLICE OFFICER IN AUSTRALIA
"Hi Yanks. I thought you would like to see the real figures
from Down Under. It has now been 12 months since gun owners in
Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms
to be destroyed by our own government, a program costing Australia
taxpayers more than $500,000 million dollars.
The first year results are now in: Australia-wide, homicides are up
3.2 %. Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6%; Australia-wide, armed
robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)! In the state of
Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 %. (Note that
while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not and
criminals still possess their guns!) While figures over the previous
25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has
changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since the criminals now
are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed. There has also been
a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly.
Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has
decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in
"successfully ridding Australian society of guns.' You won't
see this data on the American evening news or hear your governor or
members of the state Assembly disseminating this information.
The Australian experience proves it. Guns in the hands of
honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect
onl6y the law-abiding citizens. Take not Americans, before it is too
late!"
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Guess most of you saw the committee assignments arrounced by Senators
Clary and Peaden for this new session of the Florida Senate. Very
impressive! And, since they are now in such high positions of
leadership and in such good standing with Senate President Jim King, there
should be no excuse for not getting all the priority issues for Northwest
Florida passed in the coming session of the Senate that begins in March.
In checking both the House and Senate pages with reference to legislation
already introduced, only one bill has been introduced by our
delegation. Senator Clary has introduced a claims bill: Senate Bill
0016, providing for the relief of Brian Daiagi; authorizes and directs
South Florida Water Management District to compensate Mr. Daiagi for
personal injuries that he suffered due to negligence of said
district. Claim with appropriation: $4,008,617. I saw no
bills by any other member of the Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa or Walton
County delegations. Will keep you posted
You can check on such activity at any time by going to myflorida.com.
When the page comes up, click on Government. Then click on either House or
Senate and then click on the subject you're interested in.
Hopefully some or all of them will introduce legislation to complete the
abolishment of Florida's Intangibles Tax and a bill to implement the
Constitutional Amendment passed in 1985 making English the official
language of the state. How about helping by contacting them and
asking for their support and introduction of these two issues. Next
week I'll pass along the address, email, and telephone number of each
member of the delegation from Northwest Florida.
ADDING A LITTLE HUMOR
An Israeli doctor says, "Medicine in my country is so advanced that
we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him
looking for work in six weeks."
A German doctor says, "That's nothing, we can take a lung out of one
person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four
weeks."
A Russian doctor said, "To my country, medicine is so advanced that
we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have
them both looking for work in two weeks."
The Arkansas doctor, not to be outdone, says, "You guys are way
behind. We recently took a man with no brains out of Arkansas, put
him in the White House for eight years, and now half the country is
looking for work."
If you have something light you'd like me to pass along, just send it in.
QUOTE
In the long run, nothing influences a state's prosperity more than the
education of its people. (Southern Regional Education Board's Goals for
Education publication)
ANOTHER QUOTE
"The difference between the path toward greater freedom or bigger
government is the difference between success and failure; between
opportunity and coercion; between faith in a glorious future and fear of
mediocrity and despair; between respecting people as adults, each with a
spark of greatness, and treating them as helpless children to be forever
dependent; between a drab materialistic world where Big Brother rules by
promises to special interest groups, and a world of adventure where
everyday people set their sights on impossible dreams, distant stars, and
the Kingdom of God. We have the true message of hope for
America." (Ronald Reagan, 1984)
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should revenue sharing funds be withheld from Cities and Counties that do
not enforce a proper street numbering system where numbers are clearly
visible from the streets? If you've had problems with this situation, pass
along your experiences.
Comments
should be sent to: jmelvin@gulf1.com
Email
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