Two years later his wife was broadsided (driver side) by a red light runner. She emerged without a scratch. Before all the environmental and pollution regulations passed by our esteemed pols in DC cars used to be built with steel (thick). In the late forties the Israeli Army bought up all the NYC Desoto cabs and used them for armored personnel carriers.

How many people died in thin-skinned plastic/aluminum cars built to meet environmental regs? It's the unintended consequences for which nobody is held accountable.

but first, what I will say applies only to me, not to anyone else.

At a far too young age I had cardiac arrest. That was over 11 years ago. I was very fortunate to be in ambulance for the event and was brought back to start the bonus round of my life. I had minimal to no damage to my heart. Two months later I had a triple bypass.

I stopped smoking. I became a vegan. I run 25 mile a week. I am on no medication.

My cholesterol is regularly tested at 150 to 170. In the beginning 170 was the goal. Then my doc says the rules have changed and 150 is the target. I resisted. Finally, I gave in and for two months took a anti-cholesterol product. Then, out of the blue my left eye goes permanently blurry at the edges. Then, I suffer a stress fracture on my left shin. At that point i say "screw the drugs".

Here's my take: My cardiologist says I am his poster patient. I exercise strenuously and regularly. I eat right. My cholesterol reading are superior. What marginal benefit is gained taking an anti-cholesterol drug?

Yes, I think the pharmaceuticals are pushing the lower readings (150 and below) to protect themselves against law suits. I tell my doc "why do you want to push this on a patient who is already doing all the right things? Why don't you just leave it alone?" I think the doctoring community is in a prevent defense mode against law suits.

We, the patient community are the ones who bear the ultimate burden of lawyers and pharmaceutical marketing campaigns.

Then, there is the other issue of constantly changing finding and studies of drugs and treatment methodologies.

That's what I tell her now. But, I was the curious one who opened the door at 35mph on a gravel road.

1. Got 14 stitches in the back of my head from the fall. My poor mom. Think how she must have felt as I went out the door.

2. Once I was dead.

3. I started college as a phys ed major and journalism minor and wound up with a degree in math.

4. I flunked out of college twice and took my second masters with a 4.0

5. My last three cars had 267,000, 229,000 and 356,000 miles. My current car has 245,000 miles and I want 400,00 this time.

6. I was a train spotter in England when I was 15 and living in Oxford.

7. Took me four hours on a park bench to get up enough nerve to kiss my first girl friend - I was really very shy.

8. I switched from smoking, drinking and being a meat eater to being a non-smoker and vegan in literally a heart beat (or lack thereof). I still enjoy a good cabernet every once in a while.

9. I was a successful, super type A CEO at 39, crashing and burning by 43.

10. I really enjoy the warmth and friendliness of the Lounge, how its people support others and accept you without judgment.

10+1 I run 30 miles a week.

10+2 I served on active duty for the Navy in Arlington VA; watched Nixon's call-up of 5,000 airborne from Fort Bragg arrive for one of the big peace demonstrations.

Not all of life has changed, but some of my outlooks on life are different. Many keywords are popping in and out of my head right now. So, let me just mention a few.

I remember vividly deciding in ER that I would approach this life crisis with optimism, positiveness, cheerfulness and a sense of humor. This was a very deliberate and conscious decision. I did not want to appear weak and as a has-been to others in my life.

I knew immediately how very fortunate I was to still be alive and that I was going to physically make the most of the gift given to me. I changed my life style of smoking, poor eating habits and no exercise to a non-smoker, vegan, exercise nut. Eleven years later it's still the same. Although, on holidays I will enjoy a meat dish. Otherwise, it's strictly a non-fat, non-dairy diet. Quitting smoking was fascinating. I had tried to stop a few times before, but there was always the desire. Once I quit for seven years, but went back. Since life has restarted I have had absolutely not one iota of desire to smoke. It was like turning off a switch. Really psychological.

I tell myself I'm not afraid to die as I've already done that once. Knowing that I'm in the bonus round, and that I had caused my own demise, I really don't think about it much. Life is to be lived, not worrying about the end of it.

At one time I had an over-achieving, type A++ personality. Very goal and career objective driven. I went a long way in my career, very fast. All that crashed and burned 20 years ago. I've rebuilt a new career since then, less of a type A, but still goal and objective oriented. After being born again, I cannot get the same emotional feeling to achieving. That's not to say I don't achieve, but I just don't want or need the same rewards and recognition.

I'll stop here by saying that I'm calmer, more tolerant, less judgmental. Less intense. I enjoy the people aspect of my job at all levels more than before because I don't have to prove anything to anyone.

Really appreciate your interest. Hope I haven't been overly self-centered. Good to hear from you again; you kindly welcomed me to DU a while ago.

In the ambulance on the way to the emergency room I watched the heart monitor plunge to flat line.

Three EMTs zapped me twice to start my second life.

The EMTs? A Jew, an African-American woman and an Hispanic!! Ain't this a grand country we live in?!!

So many things I get to do in the bonus round of life. See my kids grow up, have wonderful grandchildren.

My wife gets to put up with me longer!!!

Join DU!!


I get to celebrate two birthdays now.


I am so lucky.

I'll only eat nonfat, and plain nonfat schmierkase (who am I kidding, I flunked Germans 7 times!), is inedible.

A couple of weeks ago I found a nonfat pineapple cottage cheese made by Penn Maid (out here on the east coast) that's not bad.

It has small curds, so I'll go with small curds for 200, Alex.

Thanks for posting. Another day of expanded horizons on DU!

I'm sorry to hear your bad and more bad news. I wish you well.

But, now you can do something you might not have done before. No more risk of losing your job and apartment. The worst has occurred. When things go bad for me (believe me they have, big time) I try to stay positive (not always easy to do) and look for the silver lining. It's an opportunity to try something new, something different.

All the very best for you.

Ending the draft was a great thing done by Nixon.

But, if you want to fully re-live the 60s, then re-institute the draft. Then watch how big the anti-war protest gets!

Keep control in-house for critical corporate functions (and not fire your employees) simply by raising the fee sufficiently to cover operating costs (and profits) of scoring. Yes, ETS (and the College Board) have an uncompetitive leverage over pricing.

They had a special rack of cylinders each containing only one flavor. Buy only the flavor you like!

Alas, all gone. Individual flavors can be purchased on the web from the manufacturer - 10 pounds at a time for $70!

Result? Less control over a critical function.

All in the name of reducing costs (and quality apparently). Why? All they have to do is increase the test fee.

Just plain dumb management

Does the company have a written corporate policy on sexism? It should have and it should express a zero tolerance attitude. Does the company actively support womens groups through funding and promotion of meetings and activities such as lunch and learns with outside guest speakers. What corporate executives (women and men) are members of such groups and who is the executive officer that acts as sponsor?

When you interview observe the diversity , or lack thereof, in the people you meet and see in the halls and office spaces. Your eyes won't lie. Does the company have a chief diversity officer? Has the company won any recognition awards for diversity? Are there any wall plaques in the lobby proclaiming the companies pride in winning such awards?

What is the gender mix of interviewers? Of management? Of executive officers? Of the board? Does the annual report address its activities to promote diversity? Google the internet with keywords of the company name, diversity, sexism. What results do you get? Discrimination suits or awards? Google the corporate officer and board member names. My CEO's name returns diversity awards.

When a women interviews you ask her about opportunities for women in the organization. Ask for examples. Ask her to tell you about her career in the company. Ask for a candid observation on how the organization treats women. Is the response one positive enthusiasm or short answer of indifference (or embarrassment)?

Usually one or two companies will clearly stand above all others in the quality and depth of people you interview with. It will be obvious, not subtle differences.

I wish you well in the organizations you work for in the future. Strive for what you believe is right, but don't waste too much time with the wrong company. If you find you spend time complaining about the company then you know it's time to move on. Make your personal goal to become the kind of person you would be proud to work for.

I have worked non-profit higher education and Fortune 100. I can say for the last 30 years I have worked at organizations that have as corporate policy the active encouragement and promotion of equal opportunity and compensation regardless of gender or race. In fact, my current dual reports are strong, people-oriented women reporting directly to the CEO. I would follow them anywhere.

I'm sorry your experiences were less than what you would want. But, there are many organizations that provide real equal opportunity. They should be encouraged, not included in generalities based upon personal experiences. The world's not all bad if you don't let it be.

Flame away, but I take pride in who I choose to work for.

The presidential election is more than just a popularity contest. Can you imagine the debates?!

I cannot think of a president in the past 100 years without valid credentials of running something (you do not "run" the state department; the bureaucratic structure does that) or winning at least a significant election.

Bring it on!