"The Interview" and the Sony hacking

At this point it is abundantly clear that North Korea was involved in the hacking of Sony in some form.  It is also apparent that there are journalistic concerns with reporting the released information.  There are also free expression concerns with the stifled release of the movie "The Interview" due to veiled threats.  Sony has reached agreements to secure a fractionalized release

What seems of note to me is that Sony seems to be overlooking the fact that they could greatly spin this catastrophe in their favor.  I have thoroughly resigned myself to the fact that the movie in question is likely awful.  I mean I have not been a fan of previous movies involving Seth Rogen and James Franco but that is my own personal preference and not of consequence here.  What is of importance here is the amount of attention that has been drawn to this movie.  This movie which I would have likely not paid to see if I ever did watch it has attracted my attention. That will ultimately fade if they do not capitalize on it soon.

Sony claims to have interests involved that prevent them from releasing the movie for free to the public.  Well as I do not live anywhere near the select locations that will release the movie they will likely not be reaching my wallet. So they will get a fractionalized release that will bring in fractionalized profits.  Sony possesses a network with which they could release the movie for online viewing.  Why have they not decided to utilize that? Sony could easily release the movie online and profit immensely of a short Korean man who believes he is a godly incarnation.

So ultimately why is Sony not releasing this movie for me to see at an inflated rate online? I would pay $20 easily to see the movie just because some deranged little man and his brainwashed followers are seeking to prevent me from doing so through their enlisted group of hackers.  I mean they can't even use an online translator to make sure that their weak threats even make senses to their targets of Sony and the American public.  I mean I severely doubt that North Korea is going to burn me alive sitting in my home by myself because I chose to see this movie.  I mean if they did manage to do that then their military might would be quite impressive. That however is not the case.  They can't even manage to feed their people.

Sony grow a backbone and don't let North Korea push you around. Free expression is an idea and ideas can easily topple any country no matter their might.



*Editorial Note*

Sony announced earlier today, after my original post, that they would make "The Interview" available online from sources like YouTube and Google Play on a rental or purchase basis.  Take that Kim Jong Un!

Long Awaited Return

I have been silent for approximately 3 months.  In that 3 months I have received some positive news.  My health situation has had no developments.  I have undergone a 3rd MRI and the growth has not changed at all.  It is not a final conclusion but no news is good news I guess.  I will return to be examined again in February or March unless symptoms move that up.  At the current time I do not foresee that as happening.

The BearShark may have lost the battle but he will win the war

My mri has come back and does not appear to have changed.  Therefore they concluded that the pain is not related to the brain tumor.  I personally have to wonder why I got vertigo and would be having headaches and they occur so close together but be unrelated.  Then I am not sure where the brain tumor fits in there,  The lady from the neurosurgery group kept mentioning something about Christmas presents.  I think that they may be intentionally trying to confuse me.  She did recognize my FLBP shirt from The CHIVE and was a fan.  This was before I put on the BearShark sweatshirt.  He didn't bring good news yet but we will not give up.  Shelly and the BearShark are determined.

In recent occurences, I just ordered lunch and the woman on the other end seemed not only willing to but excited about giving me a double order of fries.  I was prepared to send the minions out to secretly scavenge and retrieve some if they decided to continue their seige on room Shelly by depriving the kingdom of necessary supplies like food.  As an olive branch they are sending ice cream as well.

So I am now sitting within the fortress that is Club Shelly conversing with my subjects.  We are waiting on a visit from a neurosurgeon and a ear nose and throat specialist.  If anybody finds themself on the Northside of Indianapolis and would like to keep me company, even if its just to say hello, please stop by. I would be overjoyed to see you and I have orange juice.  Those aren't necessarily related but I am willing to share juice if you would like some.

Shelly returns to the death tubes they call MRI's

I went to my first follow up appointment with my neurologist. I was thoroughly agitated because they threatened to charge me $50 if I was not 30 minutes early for my appointment. They were then 10 late to starting the appointment.  He gave me a physical exam and then interviewed me.

The physical exam was good.  I tested well in that area.  But when I asked him about the fact that they had turned me away for help with my headaches he was shocked.  I came to realize he was not consulted and I was lied to.  So I explained limping along to make it through life.  He became very concerned.  He decided to readmit me to the hospital and get an mri.  There was no way I was going into that tube without drugs though.  He understood and had no problem providing them.

I sit in my hospital bed and decide to order some pizza and pasta for lunch before they try to tell me that I cannot eat or drink.  They flexed their communist muscle and told me that they would not give me pasta and pizza.  I ceded to them because I was really hungry and got pizza with a side of breadsticks.  It came with a single breadstick.  I was looking to get around a 1000 calories outta the meal.  Somehow that conflicted with Biggest Loser St. Vincent edition as they capped me at 600.  I am listed at a regular diet.  That is not regular.

Hours passed and I finally got tired of waiting for the mri to ask for pain meds.  They gave me two percocet and a second pain medicine that has to do with nerves.   Immediately upon taking that they call to say they are ready for my mri.  Only 4 hours late.  I am then given a large dose of a sedative intravenously.  The large delay was so I could use a bigger mri machine so I wasn't so crowded.

The actual test went very well.  I actually fell asleep inside the tube of death.  I am currently writing this fresth out of said tube and a little disoriented.  I hope that this mri shows why I am having headaches because if not then I will be getting a spinal tap tomorrow. That sounds truly awful.  Especially since it requires a long perriod of laying flat afterward.  This post is becoming exponentially harder to write so I will leave it and go on to laying down.

My Faith in Civilization is Shaken....Kinda.

On Monday I decided that I needed a bookshelf for my room as the floor had outgrown its usefulness as a method of storage. I have had shelves before that did not hold up very well so I decided to actually go to a furniture store and get a good one.  Upon reaching the store I quickly discovered that people do not really go to these types of stores to look for a bookshelf.  They had 1 and it was not stocked in their warehouse.  The floor model was the only one.  What has happened to people that they do not need at least one bookshelf in their home? This is really not the point of this post though.

I was quickly drawn away to look at the recliners of which they had several.  Apparently people do lots of slothing but not reading these days.  I tested out several as I am also mulling over purchasing a recliner.  I found a double recliner that shook my faith in the future of the world.  The recliner was electric.  It did not require one to raise the foot rest with their own strength or releasing a spring.  It had a simple button in place of the lever that has always been a staple on any recliner.  I have to wonder if this sort of convenience is going to far in removing all physical exertion in the name of comfort and relaxation.  I do want to admit however that I will be purchasing one of these recliners in the future at the expense of my own moral rightness. But after all, I do enjoy slothing as a hobby.  

If you were wondering, I did buy that bookshelf but not before negotiating the salesman down about 20%.  

How I came to be a Suspected Drug Dealer

This past Friday I found myself in quite a predicament.  I was experiencing the worst headache of my life and could not seem to find any relief with the methods suggested to me by the hospital during my extended stay just a week ago.  I proceeded to call the neurologist, lets call him Dr. DEA,  that was in charge of my treatment for help.  After nearly an hour I was told "Since Dr. DEA has not seen you he can not provide you any treatment or prescribe you any medication." They then told me to go to the Emergency Room so that they could give me medicine for my nausea and pain.  They then terminated the phone call.  I was a little confused because I did not think that I had mentioned being nauseated.  I may have though.  I was in no state to be very attentive to my language.  I was a little confused as well because he had seen me in the hospital.

I then made several phone calls to my primary care physician, lets call him Dr. Helpful, and got ahold of a nurse, lets call her Nurse Lecture.  After explaining my situation and Nurse Lecture lecturing me for a few minutes about how it was nearly time for her to leave, the Dr. Helpful agreed to stay late and review my situation too see if he could help. Dr. Helpful called me back at about 4:15, after reviewing the files he could get St. Vincent's to send him, (his business hours end at 4:00) to discuss what he had just read and see if he could help.  We discussed my situation for several minutes before he read to me that I was already prescribed a drug that would have helped immensely.  This prescription was news to me since I had specifically asked about prescriptions while being discharged because I imagined a situation similar to this one.  It struck me now that Dr. DEA likely thought I already had prescription strength medication and that I was seeking more to sell or abuse. I am likely on some sort of drug abusing watch list now because of it.

Dr. Helpful is not one to prescribe drugs of this type under usual circumstances.  He also rarely if ever prescribes one of this intensity.    After discussing it further and him expressing genuine concern for me he agreed to write me a prescription that would help me get through the weekend.  Win for Shelly and being able to function.  Just to note, it was not a high level of functioning but it would have been horrific otherwise. And a thank you must go out to my friend, Mike, for driving me to pick up the medication as driving had become kind of impossible at this point

The real question is what happened to leave me in that condition and seeking help? It was seen fit by the neurologist to give me medication for my condition and potential complications. Upon being discharged however the prescription must not have shown up in my records because my discharge papers differ from those seen by Dr. Helpful. Dr. DEA may have looked at my file and decided to add a prescription but the nurse had already discharged me.  It would seem that some sort of failing in protocol occured.  I could have understood if they contacted me via phone in some way to say they thought I might need something to ease they pain that I was sure to experience.  Maybe I am wrong. If anybody reading this might be able to shine some light on this situation please do so.  Also does anybody know if the watchlists that I mentioned above actually exist?

Reason for Creation

I guess I should open with an explanation as to why I have decided to create this blog.  In the interest of being completely honest, I urge all of you that may be easily offended to continue reading and then be extremely upset.  Do not worry, I will do my best to make all of you laugh and cry in later posts.

On August 1, 2014 I became rather ill and could not really hold myself up after having a ringing in my ear for several days.  I got violently sick due to being severely dizzy.  Upon finally reaching the hospital I had to be lifted out of the vehicle because I could not support myself.  The doctor in the Emergency Room ordered several drugs for the dizziness and vomiting.  The one that finally kicked the symptoms was Valium.

Once the symptoms subsided I got the distinct privilege of getting to take part in an MRI.  This was one of the worst 30 minute periods of my life.  The machine is loud and will make anybody claustrophobic.  Afterward the doctor had the test results read rather quickly and gave me what has so far proven to be life changing news.  He told me that the test showed a mass that is fairly deep in my brain, in the thalamus region.

I was a little shocked but kept my cool well enough to make a very inappropriate joke to a few people via text messages.  I am truly sorry to those who received this.  It was a little insensitive.  I proceeded to spend the next 30 hours in 2 different hospitals, with an ambulance ride between them, being poked, prodded, injected, scanned, and even electrocuted at one point.  I was eventually allowed to leave with the instructions to follow up with an army of doctors for more tests and examinations.  Since I then I have had headaches nearly daily and have been prescribed medication for them.

They have concluded that my condition is one to be monitored to tell if it is necessary to take further action.  I may have had the mass for years or even my whole life or it may be something new.  I am looking forward to future MRI's and blood tests.

The fact that there are several people who wanted to know this story and any new developments has become exhausting to tell individually has led to the creation of this blog.  I am warmed by the fact that the number of people who care and are concerned for me is too great for me to individually address.

Now obviously that would make this blog kinda dreary and I wouldn't even wanna read that myself.  That says a lot because if there is anything I enjoy most its talking about me.  So to cut through that you can also expect opinion editorial pieces from none other than me.  I also hope that you will post lots of comments to keep the conversation going.