3/25/2005: Life & death in Florida, and avoid the chili
I haven't been following the Terri Schiavo situation in Florida closely, but apparently she, like so many others, had said she wouldn't want to be kept alive by artificial means if the need should arise. Her husband - who one would think would have the final say in it all, laws being what they are - has been fighting to let nature take its course, to let her die. Her parents, along with a lot of politicians and "right-to-life" types have been fighting to keep Terri alive. She's been in a "persistent vegetative state" for 15 years, but her parents believe she will get well. As of now her husband has gotten his wish, and her feeding tube has been removed.
This kind of thing happens every day all around the world, but for some reason this case has caught everyone's attention and it's been one of the top news stories of the week. Whatever the outcome for Terri, the concept of her being allowed to die with dignity has been shot to hell.
Personally, I can't really say what I think is right or wrong in this situation - I don't know them or the background that led them to this impasse. Watching a loved one to starve to death is a horrible thought, but so is the idea of watching their absent body day after day for years; there really are no easy, black & white solutions. I do think though, that those who are loudly weighing in with simplistic, black & white opinions and appeals and even sneaking into the hospital to try to give Terri Schiavo water might spend their time & energy better by volunteering to help patients and families in similar situations at their local hospitals and hospice centers..
Basically I think it serves as a lesson to us all: if you have strong feelings one way or the other on this issue, and particularly if you know you have relatives who are on the other side of this fence, take the proper steps to make your wishes known!
Meanwhile, in San Jose, CA a woman was having some chili at a Wendy's restaurant and not only found, but bit into a human finger 
How does this happen? Investigators are looking into it of course, but somebody somewhere must be wondering where that finger got to? Unless.. well.. I won't go there.
Regardless of how it got there, I hope this woman gets a huge settlement and that she doesn't have to fight for it. I'm not sue-happy, but c'mon, we aren't talking here about suing a fast food company because you're fat, or because they served hot coffee - it was a finger!! <gak>
