The View From Here. . .: June 2005

Thursday, June 16, 2005

The results of the Schiavo autopsy are back. I think it's interesting to compare political speak back during the height of the controversy over Ms. Schiavo with the political speak now. Take a look and decide for yourself.
This is what Dr. Frist said then:

Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a renowned heart surgeon before becoming Senate majority leader, went to the floor late Thursday night for the second time in 12 hours to argue that Florida doctors had erred in saying Terri Schiavo is in a "persistent vegetative state."

"I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an hour or so looking at last night in my office," he said in a lengthy speech in which he quoted medical texts and standards. "She certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli." (Washington Post March 19 05)

This is what Dr. Frist says now:

The Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, defended himself on Thursday, a day after an autopsy report showed that she had suffered irreversible brain damage.

"People said: 'Bill Frist, you're making a diagnosis. Doctor, you're trying to wear your white coat on the floor of the Senate,' " said Dr. Frist, a heart-lung transplant surgeon. "I never made a diagnosis. I wouldn't even attempt to make a diagnosis from a videotape."(New York Times, June 16 05)

Hmmmmhh......okay.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

My Trip to Rome

These are just some of the shots I took during my trip to Rome in May. You can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

The weather was warm, the people were great. Everyone spoke English, except one taxi driver, and I think I was kind of glad he didn't - at least he got us back to the hotel intact.

We liked the tours, they allowed us to see and hear the history of many of the famed sites in Rome. The Roman Forum we were told dates back to 79 AD. We walked through all the areas you see in the pictures posted. Our tour guide spoke to us via those radios you may have noticed hanging from our necks. We had earbuds so we could hear her. She walked around with a little orange flag so we could easily find her in a crowd. There wasn't much time for dawdling on the tours and if any of us lagged behind we were treated to a public announcement that we were lost and to please report back to the tour guide. Each evening we returned to our hotel and fell into bed, exhausted but happy.

On the On-our-own days we explored the shops in the Piazza del Popolo. All of the Italian couturiers were there - Prada, Armani, Ferragamo, Gucci, you name it. Sandy bought a bag and I bought a pair of shoes - from Italy, yet! We also had dinner in one of the charming little restaurants with outdoor seating that are all over that area. We spent the last day at the Rome Hilton. Boy, I see what I have been missing at the Ramada Inn!