(Akiit.com) It may seem like we are seeing an increase in deaths of folks we know, as well as popular public figures. Truth is, it is mostly about aging. The older you get, the people dying will more and more be folks you know. It’s just that simple.

What amazes me is how many of us are not willing to accept this very final event in life as a reminder to “get our affairs in order.” I don’t know about you, but it is increasingly difficult for me to see the anguish and suffering for both patients and their families, as a result of not preparing. As though they don’t think they will ever die.

Come on people, nobody gets out alive!

In the continuing spirit of providing useful information on health issues, I decided to revisit a the topic of preparing for the end-of-life.

More than any subject, avoiding talking about death ranks at the top of the list. Death of a loved one is also the one thing that causes the most damage to the survivors, when it had not been discussed fully in preparation for the end.

How many of us have made clear to our family and friends, who understand all too well what we liked in living, how we wish to die?

Our families and friends know our favorite foods, vacation spots, the music and movies we love, even the cars and clothes we like best. But, nine times out of ten, those same people aren’t prepared to make decisions about what circumstances we should die under.

You see, we are all a car accident, a fire, or a heart attack away from being in a situation where someone else will determine how we will die. Many times there is no sudden tragedy, but simply the final chapter of a terminal illness, or just the closing of a long and wonderful life.

People need to openly discuss their end-of-life care beliefs and choices with their families and doctors.
One needs to consider what he or she personally values in life and communicate that to people you love through conversation and even better, also in writing.

Patients who are seriously ill and their family members need to ask questions of doctors and other health-care providers to get all the information needed to make appropriate decisions.

It’s important to ask your doctor ‘what if’ questions. For example, ‘What if the surgery is unsuccessful? What is my option then?’ People sometimes have difficulty discussing such issues because it is hard for them to consider that the treatment might not work. They may worry that a failure to remain positive could actually have an adverse effect on their outcome

People should hope for the best while planning for the worst.

It doesn’t mean that you are giving up; it just means you are considering all of your options so that you can make the best decision regardless of what you find.

In general, it is much easier to make this decision when you feel relatively healthy and are able to openly express your wishes to a family member or friend.
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(Akiit.com) MSNBC analyst Chris Matthews, apparently in celebration of the fact that he believes we now have a “post-racial America,” felt the need to congratulate President Barack Obama on his State of the Union Address by proudly claiming that he “forgot Obama was black for an hour.”

The comments were made shortly after the State of the Union Address ended last night.

I am not sure where Chris Matthews was coming from with these comments. To some extent, his remarks were shocking, and I wasn’t exactly sure why they shocked me until I’d had a chance to sleep on it. During my rest, I realized that Chris Matthews’ words were hurtful and irritating because they represent the kind of paternalistic racism that might come from liberals in an historically racist society. With his words, Matthews was practically applauding Obama for rising above his blackness, as if merely mentioning the words, “I am a black man,” would have completely ruined Obama’s brilliant speech. No one asked Matthews what he thought about the fact that the president was black, so Matthews going out of his way to mention Obama’s blackness is a reminder that Matthews himself was focused on the fact that he was listening to a black man.

It’s odd and interesting that in a so-called “post-racial society,” the way to applaud the fact that you didn’t notice something is to mention the very thing that you’re claiming to not have noticed. If Matthews had been truly unaware that he was listening to a black man, he would have spent his time commenting on Obama’s policies rather than the color of his skin. To be relieved that President Obama did not force you to notice that he is black is a subtle reminder of the implicit threat of putting blackness on the table for even one second during political conversation.
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(Akiit.com) He came. He saw. He did what was expected. President Barack Obama, one of the greatest orators to ever grace the White House, used his standard recipe of charisma, charm and vocal rhythm to renew his national agenda. I found his State of the Union address to be relatively inspiring, somewhat informative, and just vague enough to remind us that politicians can hardly deliver most things that they promise. At the same time, he did what I would have advised him to do: focus on “the Benjamins,” since Americans are mortified by the economy right now.

The president was a moderate, not the crazed liberal that the right wing has made him out to be. He talked about cutting the capital gains tax on small businesses and doing other things that you might typically hear from Republicans. He even discussed a government spending freeze: a move that would be horrible for the economy, but would give Rush Limbaugh one less thing to complain about.

The president pushed all the right buttons early in the speech: Creating jobs, reducing spending, attacking Wall Street and taking care of the middle class. Most political scientists will tell you that the state of a nation’s middle class serves as a critical indicator of political achievement, so the president went right for the heart of our country. Obama also showed that he hates banks as much as the rest of the nation, reiterating his intent to charge a massive tax on banks at the very beginning of the address.

What was surprising was the candor and humor within the president’s speech. There were several moments of laid back laughter from the audience, hardly what one might expect during a usually tense State of the Union address. There were subtle jabs at those across the aisle who continue to fight with the president tooth and nail, namely the Republicans. But Obama even punched hard at conservative Democrats who have held out on the health care bill. I am not sure if this speech is going to make Obama’s olive branch any more reachable, but the truth is that the Republicans don’t yet appear to be interested in working with this president on much of anything.
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(Akiit.com) A quiet revolution is underway and it represents real change that is positively impacting all Americans.

In departments and agencies all over Washington, the most diverse Cabinet in American history is retooling and transforming government to better serve the people.

Consider the Department of Justice. Over the last year, Attorney General Eric Holder has taken a number of steps to repair a department that, to put it mildly, lost its focus during the Bush administration. The department is now prosecuting criminals and fighting Internet crimes at a historic rate. And while protecting the country against terrorism remains the primary concern, it has not lost sight of important priorities like protecting our civil rights and ensuring fairness in the market place.

Under Holder’s leadership, federal prosecutors have jailed hundreds engaged in foreclosure rescue scams and loan modification fraud. And thankfully, these prosecutors and other career justice officials are again being promoted and judged based on their record not punished because of their political affiliations, as was the case in the Bush administration. Moreover, by issuing new guidelines regarding the Freedom of Information Act, the Attorney General has made transparency in government a priority again.

In his first trip abroad, Holder visited our neighbors in Mexico with one clear message: The piecemeal approach to combat the illegal drug trade and reduce the threat and influence of international cartels are over. His frustration was as clear as his resolve. And over the last 12 months, his Justice Department and affiliated agencies have shown that a new sheriff, indeed, is in town.

The administration has invested $700 million and hired hundreds of federal employees to help secure the Southwest border and combat and confront threats posed by Mexican cartels. In one noteworthy moment, Justice and their state, local and international partners, arrested over 700 individuals, many in the United States illegally. Authorities seized more than $59 million in cash, 12,000 kilos of cocaine, 23 tons of narcotics and an estimated 1.3 million Ecstasy pills and other drugs.

Now that’s change I can believe in.
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(Akiit.com) I do need to wash my car, as it’s way to dirty… Barely can see out the windows… Well I see Apple now is ready to sell their new device to the masses… Yes it’s the ipad which is kind of funny… They didn’t even register that domain now oddly enough… Let the bidding wars begin… Don’t know if I will spend 500 for something that looks like a bigger version of the Ipod/Iphone… On that note I wonder what term life insurance my friend has… He keeps saying I need to give his company a try… I shall see… Let me finish this football game…

Written By CTA