RANDOM STUFF: courtesy NY Daily News

NYPD race case shocker

JOHN MARZULLI

Monday, April 16, 2012

Top supervisors of an elite NYPD anti-gun unit allegedly handled white suspects with kid gloves while treating blacks like “animals” deserving of a bullet to the head, the Daily News has learned.
The explosive charges appear in sworn depositions from three members of the firearms suppression unit: two current NYPD detectives and a retired first-grade detective.
Their testimony, part of a federal discrimination lawsuit, details how Capt. James Coan and Lt. Daniel Davin created a hostile environment for both their black detectives and suspected minority-group gun traffickers, said the plaintiffs’

Davin used the N-word to address black suspects, while Coan considered the unit’s minority-group targets almost subhuman, the depositions indicate.
“Capt. Coan would tell the field team . . . ‘They are f-----g animals. You make sure if you have to shoot, you shoot them in the head. That way there’s one story,’ ” said the retired detective.
The ex-cop, identified only as Undercover 7988, said Coan’s racist rant came before every search warrant executed in Brooklyn’s Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York from 2008 to 2010.
“They didn’t care if it was kids in there, they didn’t care if it was women in there, naked women,” the detective said. “. . . They treated them as if they had no rights whatsoever. It was disgusting."
In contrast, search warrants on predominantly white Staten Island were handled without kicking in doors, said the undercover.
The two detectives still on the job testified that Davin hurled the N-word at suspects — and at one of them.
“On a search warrant which I was present with him and several members of the team, while working in firearms, he called one of the perpetrators a n----r,” said Detective Al Hawkins.
On another occasion in 2005, Hawkins recalled, he walked into an apartment where Davin was instructing white officers, “If you have to shoot a n----r, do what you gotta do.”
“I just walked out of the room and shook my head,” Hawkins said.
The accused captain and lieutenant remain on the job, although in different positions.
The detectives testified last month in a discrimination lawsuit brought by Detective Debra Lawson in Brooklyn Federal Court.
She alleges minority-group members in the unit were passed over for good assignments and career advancement.

The unidentified undercover, before his retirement, had also filed a discrimination complaint against Davin. The lieutenant was “reinstructed” about his offensive comments in 2010, according to court papers.
Detective Gregory Jean-Baptiste, who was demoted from second-grade to third-grade detective after clashing with Davin, testified that the lieutenant called him a “black bastard.”
In his deposition, Coan “absolutely” denied making the racist remarks. He acknowledged involvement in five shootings over the past 20 years — with two people left dead.
While in narcotics, Coan also shot and killed a pit bull. “He didn’t sue me,” the captain testified.
In his deposition, the retired detective also said Coan assigned on-duty detectives to work on his personal boat, the Celtic King, moored in Suffolk County. The roll call would reflect the detectives were on “commanding officer assignment,” the ex-cop said.

Coan said in his deposition that the Internal Affairs Bureau cleared him of the boat allegations last year.
The NYPD and Davin did not respond to requests for comment, while the head of the Captains Endowment Association defended Coan.
“That language was never utilized and discredits the bravery of this elite unit who routinely enter locations known to be occupied by known felons,” said union head Roy Richter.
jmarzulli@nydailynews.com

NYPD race case shocker

NYPD race case shocker

Home Attendant Blues 1

I spent about 12 days in Daytona Beach assisting my mother.  I took her to the ear doctor, got her hearing aid serviced, went with her to church and to dinner on Easter Sunday.  I picked up a few things that she needed and tried to make sure she was set for the next few months.  Now I find out that one of the ladies is not around.

As I may have mentioned my mother has lived with my aunt (her sister) since late 2006.   My aunt does not walk well at all so my mother is needed to open the door and to do a few basic things my aunt can’t.  Naturally my aunt has a home attendant.  There are actually a few home attendants in my aunt’s house.  Ida is there Monday-Friday from 9-3.  Betty is there Monday-Thursday and every other Friday from 6-10.  Annette works the other Friday evening, Saturday from 9-3 and Sunday from 8:30-2:30.  Another lady, I believe Betty works Sunday evening from 6-10. 

Ida and Annette are older ladies and connected better with my aunt.  Annette and my mother really bonded.  Both ladies have similar work ethics but different personalities.  Not in a bad way.

I am not sure if Annette ‘s absence is temporary of if it is for good.  I just know that I called Friday and asked if she was there and my mother got all mysterious and said that she wasn’t.  The absence wasn’t telling but the mysteriousness was.

I have been mentally preparing myself to go live in Florida in case things down there go sour.  No, a particular home attendant not being around is not the end of the world.  Don’t get it twisted though; one home attendant can make a difference in the health of your loved one.

Ida is my aunt’s number one.  They clicked right away.  Ida will go that extra mile for my aunt.  Clothes are not only washed but folded properly.  They are able to talk as if they knew each other for years.  Most of the other ladies put on their music or act as if they don’t really want to be there but Ida is different.  She interacts with my aunt.

Annette is about the same age as Ida.  She is just as professional as Ida but as I said earlier she is different.  Ida is Black, Annette is white.  Ida is a little more reserved and Annette is more inquisitive.  Ida clicks a little better with my aunt and Annette clicks a little better with my mother.  Annette goes with my mother to doctor appointments if needed.  In fact, the doctor my mother sees was referred to her by Annette.  And even though Annette works FOR my aunt she enthusiastically does for my mother.

You really have no idea how important these things are until you either get old or get very sick.  You cannot fathom how important your independence is until you have to depend on someone to wash you and help you get out of bed.

As of now there is no solution to this situation.  I have to find out if Annette is out sick or if she is gone permanently. 

My concerns about Annette do not mean I have no confidence in Betty.  Betty is a more recent addition to the house.  She became a regular around late February after Terri left.  Terri was the evening person for about a year or two.  I have no idea why she is no longer there.  I don’t think it was anything horrific like stealing or anything like that.  In another blog entry I will go into past attendant stories.  If you are in a situation where you have to choose one I do not envy you

UPDATE

Sorry I have had no recent posts.  A lot has been going on lately.  Currently I am in Florida on family leave helping Mom out for Easter.  I will take her to the ear doctor and get her hearing aid serviced as well as take her to church.
Last week though a family member had to go into the hospital.  Not really going to go too deep into it right now because I don't want to to give out too much of her business.  She had some issue with medication she was taking.  So in addition to worrying about my mom and aunt in Florida I had to be concerned about this particular cousin.  It didn't help that my flight to Florida was a few days after my cousin was hospitalized.
I spoke to my cousin last night on the phone and she finally sounds more stable.
I can't say it enough, if you are a caregiver and especially if you are the sole caregiver, watch your health and in particular, watch your mental health.  It is easy to get into a rut and even a depression while you take care of a loved one.
I think back to 2008, right after Dad started having semi-regular bouts with dementia and just before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.  I started feeling jittery and I wasn't sleeping.  If I did get some sleep it was about three hours.  I had no real desire to eat and I was extremely claustrophobic.  I could hardly ride the subway and if I did I had to be by the door so I could feel like I could escape if I needed to.  Eventually I was diagnosed at St. Vincent's Hospital with anxiety.  It was only because of Lisa (my friend who I interviewed here) that I recognized that there was a problem and sought help.
Lisa, years ago suffered from depression and thought to school everyone in her social network to the warning signs.  I took some note to it and thankfully I was able to help a family member as well as myself.  My personal episode got me more aware of medications , something I will get into during a future posting.
For now, as I mentioned, keep up with your entire health, especially if you are taking care of someone and be aware of your mental health, in particular.  Take time for yourself.  Do SOMETHING by yourself and away from the person you are assisting or you can go mad.  Okay, maybe not that serious, but you can allow yourself to get into a depression and open the door to a slew of physical illnesses.

from MSN 6 SURPRISING SLEEP STEALERS (text)

6 Surprising Sleep Stealers

Are you groggy in the daytime, but you don't know why? You might have an unsuspected sleep disorder. Learn 6 surprising signs of a sleep problem.

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com

 

If mornings find you feeling like you just drifted off a few hours before, or if you droop with weariness no matter how much coffee you drink, you just might be suffering from a sleep problem. But wait, wouldn't you know about it, if you were? Not necessarily, experts say. In many cases, instead of keeping you awake, a sleep problem sabotages your sleep in more subtle ways, leaving you frazzled and frustrated without knowing why. Here are six signs that you have a sleep problem that's secretly stealing your rest.

Acid reflux

Sleeping poorly and waking up with "morning mouth" or a sour taste in your mouth can be a signal of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or asymptomatic heartburn.

What's going on: Acid reflux causes the body to partially awaken from sleep, even when you're not aware of typical heartburn symptoms. The result of this "silent reflux" is fitful, uneven sleep -- but by the time you wake up, you've finished digesting and you don't know why you slept poorly.

Alarming stat: Recent sleep studies have shown that up to 25 percent of people who report sleeping poorly without a diagnosed cause have sleep-related acid reflux. But because they don't have obvious heartburn symptoms, they're unaware of the condition.

What helps: Luckily, there are many ways to minimize acid reflux and prevent it from interfering with sleep.

• Don't eat for at least two hours before going to bed.
• Avoid acid-causing foods, such as heavy sauces, spicy food, fatty meats, citrus, and tomatoes at dinner and afterward.
• Don't drink after dinner; alcohol stimulates reflux.
• Don't take aspirin or other painkillers, which are hard on the stomach and esophageal lining, just before bed.
• Try chewing gum before bed; it can boost the production of saliva, which neutralizes stomach acid.
• Sleep on your left side; acid clears out of the esophagus faster when you're on your left side. (Sleeping on the right side can actually make acid reflux worse.)
• If you sleep on your back, elevate your head and shoulders.
• If all else fails, take an antacid.
• Limb movement disorders
  Waking up tangled in the covers or in a different part of the bed than where you started out could signal restless leg syndrome or a related problem, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), which is characterized by involuntary jerking, kicking, or twitching. Pain, numbness, or a tingling sensation are also common signs. If moving your legs relieves symptoms, that's another clue.
  Alarming stat: Restless leg syndrome affects up to 10 percent of the population, and the chance of developing it goes up with age. Symptoms tend to increase over time.
  What's going on: Doctors don't know what causes sleep movement disorders, but they do know they set up a vicious cycle that interrupts deep, restful, REM sleep. The restlessness can prevent you from sinking into deep sleep, or a muscle jerk can wake or partially rouse you from deep sleep.
  What helps: Try some tactics to get at symptoms, the cause, or both.
  • Symptoms ease with exercise and stretching. Take a walk before bed, and do stretching exercises such as hamstring stretches a few times a day. See a doctor to discuss your symptoms and get a diagnosis, which may also involve looking for underlying conditions related to restless leg syndrome or PLMD.
  • Eat a diet high in iron and B vitamins, particularly folic acid, since iron and folate deficiency have been linked to restless leg syndrome. Red meat, spinach, and other leafy greens are good sources of both nutrients.
  • If your doctor diagnoses restless leg syndrome or PLMD, medications used to treat Parkinson's can relieve symptoms by eliminating the muscle jerks. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to help you sleep more deeply, with the idea of preventing the involuntary movements from keeping you in light sleep.
  Bathroom calls
  
  
  The inability to get through the night without urinating more than once both interrupts sleep and decreases the amount of restful REM sleep. Known as nocturia, it includes both waking up with an urgent need to use the bathroom and needing to go so frequently that your sleep is fractured by physical tension.
  Alarming stat: The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 65 percent of older adults are sleep deprived as a result of frequent nighttime urination.
  What's going on: Normally, our bodies have a natural process that concentrates urine while we sleep so we can get six to eight hours without waking. But as we get older, we become less able to hold fluids for long periods because of a decline in antidiuretic hormones.
  What helps: Experiment with a number of strategies to see what works to decrease nighttime urination.
  • Don't drink any liquids for at least three hours before going to bed. This includes foods with a lot of liquid in them, like soups or fruit.
  • Lower your coffee and tea consumption; the acids in coffee and tea can irritate the bladder.
  • Don't drink alcohol, which functions as a diuretic as well as a bladder irritant.
  • Use the bathroom last thing before getting in bed, relaxing long enough to empty your bladder all the way.
  • Get checked for conditions that cause urination problems. In men, prostate problems are the most common culprit; inflammation of the prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPN), and prostate tumors can all cause frequent urination. In women, overactive bladder (OAB), bladder infections, cystitis, and incontinence can cause nocturia.
  • If you haven't been tested for diabetes recently, consider it a possible cause.
  • Evaluate your medication list; certain drugs such as diuretics and heart medications can increase urination. If that's the case, talk to your doctor about taking them earlier in the day or making other changes.
  • Consider taking a prescription antidiuretic to cut down on nighttime urination if all else fails andthere's no underlying issue
  • Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
    Officially known as bruxism, teeth grinding or jaw clenching often occurs without your being aware of it; experts estimate that 95 percent of people who grind their teeth or clench their jaws don't know they do it until a sleep partner notices the telltale sound or a dentist detects wear on the teeth. Jaw clenching is even harder to detect than grinding; one sign is waking with pain or stiffness in the neck.
    Alarming stat: Experts estimate that during sleep bruxism, the upper and lower teeth can come into contact up to 40 minutes per hour, and with a force of up to 250 pounds on particular teeth. (Under normal chewing circumstances, your teeth make contact for a total of about 20 minutes a day, with only 20 to 40 pounds of pressure.)
    What's going on: Bruxism is considered a "subconscious neuromuscular activity," which means your brain is affecting your muscles without you being aware of it. The exact cause is still unknown, though scientists are investigating the role of neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Stress, smoking, caffeine, and alcohol are all known to contribute to or worsen nighttime bruxism. Because grinding or clenching involves tensing of the jaw muscles, it interferes with the relaxation necessary for deep sleep. Also, when you're grinding or clenching, your body is engaged in movement -- even though you don't know it -- rather than resting.
    What helps: Start with some professional advice.
    • Get a dental checkup. A dentist can look for underlying causes, such as problems with your bite alignment, and can prescribe a mouth-guard-type device such as a dental splint.
    • If jaw clenching is your primary issue, there are specific dental devices for that.
    • Experts also suggest giving up gum chewing during the day, because the habitual chewing action can continue at night.
    • Botox injections to the jaw muscle are one of the newest treatments for bruxism.
    • Some people have had success using a new biofeedback device called Grindcare, approved by the FDA in 2010.
    Alcohol rebound
    
    
    It's common to drink enough to feel drowsy, fall asleep suddenly, and sleep heavily. But if you wake several hours later and can't get back to sleep, or you toss and turn for the rest of the night, that's a sure sign of alcohol rebound.
    Alarming stat: Even a moderate dose of alcohol, such as two drinks, consumed as much as six hours before bedtime (think happy hour), has been shown in studies to increase wakefulness during the second half of sleep. By this time, the alcohol has already been eliminated from the body, which shows that drinking causes a long-lasting effect on sleep rhythms.
    What's going on: As your body metabolizes alcohol during the night, sleep becomes increasingly disturbed. Sleep is deeper than normal during the first half of the night but much lighter during the second half, and nightmares are more common. Some experts call this syndrome "glutamine rebound" because alcohol inhibits glutamine, one of the body's natural stimulants. Once you stop drinking, your body produces more glutamine than it needs to make up for it. The increase in glutamine levels stimulates the brain, keeping you from reaching the deepest, most healing levels of sleep.
    Also, alcohol is extremely dehydrating, so your body reacts after a few hours by craving water, which is why you wake up thirsty during the night. And because alcohol is a sedative, it relaxes the muscles of the nose and throat, exacerbating snoring. If you suffer from a sleep breathing problem such as apnea, alcohol is known to worsen it considerably.
    What helps: How and when you drink can have a big effect.
    • Drink in moderation.
    • Don't drink within two hours of bedtime, which, studies show, has the worst effect on sleep.
    • Drink a lot of water along with your alcohol to help prevent dehydration and to "water down" the alcohol in your system. (That's why experienced drinkers always order a water chaser.)
    Sleep breathing problems
    
    
    If you sleep fitfully, feel exhausted all the time, and wake with a sore throat or neck pain, breathing problems might be to blame. Severe snoring -- particularly when accompanied by gasps or snorts -- can also indicate a more serious problem with obstructed breathing during sleep. There are two stages of sleep-disordered breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed when sleep is interrupted by intervals of ten seconds or more. A milder sleep breathing problem, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), occurs when breathing is obstructed but the intervals between breaths are under ten seconds. Although snoring can be a clue to sleep apnea, many people with apnea don't snore.
    Alarming stat: Experts estimate that 20 million Americans have sleep apnea, but 87 percent of them are unaware they have the problem.
    What's going on: The throat closes and cuts off airflow, preventing you from getting enough oxygen. When blood oxygen levels drop, the brain knows it's not getting enough oxygen and wakes you up, either fully or partially. This causes fitful, unproductive sleep and decreases REM sleep, but you may not be aware that it's happening. In UARS, it's often tongue position that blocks air from getting into the throat. In sleep apnea, weight gain is a major factor because when people gain weight they end up with extra-soft tissue in the throat area, which causes or contributes to the blockage.
    What helps: Experiment with different methods of tackling nighttime breathing issues.
    • Try snore-stopping nose strips, available over the counter at drugstores, or use saline nasal spray to irrigate your nasal passages.
    • Experiment with sleep positions; obstructed breathing is more common when you're sleeping on your back. Use pillows to prop yourself on your side. Some experts recommend the tennis ball trick, in which you use an elastic band to attach a tennis ball to the back of your pajamas or T-shirt so it presses into your back when you start to roll over.
    • Losing weight -- even just ten pounds -- can decrease or even eliminate sleep-disordered breathing.
    • If problems persist, schedule an exam by an otolaryngologist to determine if a structural problem with your nose, mouth, or throat is causing your interrupted breathing.
    • It's also important to have your oxygen levels measured during sleep, which can be done during a sleep study or with a take-home device.
    • More and more, doctors are recommending oral appliances that change your mouth position by moving your jaw forward to open up the throat as first step for some types of obstructed breathing, particularly UARS.
    • One of the most effective cures for disordered breathing is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, a mask that blows air directly into your airways. Another mask called a BiPap (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure Device) works similarly but has dual pressure settings. However, compliance is a problem with airway masks, so be careful to choose a model that's comfortable for you, so you'll continue to use it.
    • Surgery to remove excess tissue from the throat or shrink nasal tissues can be a successful approach to treating apnea and UARS as well.

6 Surprising Sleep Stealers - Page 1 -

6 Surprising Sleep Stealers - Page 1 -