pills

"More than 110,000 active-duty Army troops last year were taking prescribed antidepressants, narcotics, sedatives, anti-psychotics and anti-anxiety drugs,"according to the LA Times and Army surgeon general.

“From city halls to county courthouses, from the State house to the White House – bureaucrats control our lives.  Public servants who often try to become our masters.  People whose salaries we pay, but what goods and services do we get?  On Sierra Wave’s Bureaucrat Beat, we’ll report what they’re up to.”  That’s the Bureaucrat Beat declaration of dissatisfaction, but as you may know, Bureaucrat Beat talks about so much more.

Check it out now, again, on sierrawave.net.  First outrage of the day – a story that appeared in the Los Angeles Times detailing that the military now regularly prescribes and hands out psychotropic drugs, antidepressants and amphetamines to our soldiers.  The headline – “A medicated military face side effects.”  Good grief.   How far down the rabbit hole must we slip???

The Times’ investigation found that “more than 110,000 active-duty Army troops last year were taking prescribed antidepressants, narcotics, sedatives, antipsychotics and anti-anxiety drugs.”  Even worse?  Soldiers are sent out on deployment with 180 days’ worth of drugs.  The Times says they then “trade with friends or grab an entire fistful of pills at the end of an anxious day.”  What are we doing to our soldiers?  James Culp, former Army paratrooper and now military defense lawyer, is quoted as saying “when 30 to 80% of the people in the military have gone on three or more deployments and they are mentally worn out, what are you supposed to do?”
How about ending a useless, terribly costly and destructive war?

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered that “getting a buzz from booze may boost creativity.”  We all kind of knew that, but now it’s scientifically official that research volunteers who drank enough vodka to be almost legally drunk could more successfully complete creative problem-solving tasks.  So, let’s see now – the military is handing out drugs and the scientists say we should get tipsy to solve problems.  We in the Bureaucrat Beat newsroom have just been scared sober.

For inquiring minds in Mammoth Lakes, Marianna Marysheva-Martinez is now called the Assistant Town Manager.  Okay. She’s been called that since last July.  We asked Town Manager Dave Wilbrecht about this.  He said, “We kept her on for the lawsuit and we needed a title for her for the contract.”  Wilbrecht said Martinez is the “main co-ordinator” on the MLLA issue.

Hey, what’s up with the LADWP? Management got up on the wrong side of the bed a few weeks back.  You know, the scrapping after every drop of water here.  What’s next?  Will LA slurp up all the water in our public pools?  Scolding us for our indulgent ways.

More layoffs at Mammoth Mountain?  Rumors flew recently, but Ski Area CEO Rusty Gregory clarified that it’s just end of winter season changes. He also said that they are committed to stay open into June “as long as there is sufficient snow.”

wallace

Mike Wallace, the real deal.

60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace had a more than sufficient talent when it came to speaking truth to power.  He didn’t sugarcoat it either.

We need more hard-nosed reporters like Wallace and fewer egotistical blowhards who use journalism to twirl about in a spotlight. There’s another word for that – dilettantes. Dictionary definition?  “A person who claims an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge.”

Rumor hopefully to be confirmed soon – Whiskey Creek in Bishop set for major remodel and some changes at the Mammoth Whiskey Creek, too.  Stay tuned for Eastern Sierra wide food reviews, by the way, as our intrepid weather forecaster, Dennis Mattinson, puts on his other hat of food critic.

More from the comments by Mammoth Town Councilman Skip Harvey.  He pretty much said that the whole $42 million debt drama in Mammoth should step out from behind the curtains and get the public involved.  Harvey said that’s in part why he’s not running again for Town Council – wants to see how the Town “does business” on this issue.  Harvey made it clear his health is not what kept him out of re-election.  “Get out of closed sessions.  The people need to know what’s going on,” he said.

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