FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wooooooo Now, pump those anger brakes, put down the gun before you shoot your eye kid.

Santa Claus is fine and dandy…well, if you are on the good list.

If your on the Naughty list…hit me up!

Just kidding (no seriously, wink wink, send me those pics that got you on the list)

But I digress, must of been all the home made Egg Nog…minus the egg and more Grog than NOG, But any way…

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).

Nicholas’ tomb in Myra became a popular place of pilgrimage. Because of the many wars and attacks in the region, some Christians were concerned that access to the tomb might become difficult. For both the religious and commercial advantages of a major pilgrimage site, the Italian cities of Venice and Bari vied to get the Nicholas relics. In the spring of 1087, sailors from Bari succeeded in spiriting away the bones, bringing them to Bari, a seaport on the southeast coast of Italy. An impressive church was built over St. Nicholas’ crypt and many faithful journeyed to honor the saint who had rescued children, prisoners, sailors, famine victims, and many others through his compassion, generosity, and the countless miracles attributed to his intercession. The Nicholas shrine in Bari was one of medieval Europe’s great pilgrimage centers and Nicholas became known as “Saint in Bari.” To this day pilgrims and tourists visit Bari’s great Basilica di San Nicola.

Through the centuries St. Nicholas has continued to be venerated by Catholics and Orthodox and honored by Protestants. By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate life.

SOOO THERE YOU GO, NOW YOU KNOW

AND KNOWING IS HALF THE BOTTLE…..I mean Merry Holidays….BAH HAMBURGER…Man this is some good GROG!!!!

Stay Safe

Stay Warm,

Keep 2 wheels on the road!

Well if you didn’t know you do, December 1-7 is CHROHN & COLITIS awareness week. Think your stomach grumbles might be just all that left over turkey your still trying to get rid of…maybe not.

So here is some insightful medical information but as always…this is the internet and if you are suffering from something or anything that listed please please please go see a doctor aka hospital, clinic, something.  Not just the internet or your friend who is a medical <insert area>, it takes labs and more than just symptoms of a complaint to help find out what’s going on. Because being PROACTIVE is better than having your Way Of Life challenged.

Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis: Know the Difference?

• Keep Up With Your Checkups

You’ve had stomach cramps for weeks You’re exhausted and losing weight. And you keep having to run to the bathroom. What’s going on?

It could be an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But which one?

There are two: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They have a lot in common, including long-term inflammation in your digestive system. But they also have some key differences that affect treatment.

By the way, if you hear some people just say “colitis,” that’s not the same thing. It means inflammation of the colon. With “ulcerative colitis,” you have sores (ulcers) in the lining of your colon, as well as inflammation there.

Shared Symptoms

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC) can be similar. They include:

• Belly cramps and pain
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• An urgent need to have a bowel movement
• Feeling like your bowel movement wasn’t complete
• Rectal bleeding
• Fever
• Smaller appetite
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Night sweats
• Problems with your period. You might skip them, or their timing might be harder to predict.

You might not have all of those symptoms all the time. Both conditions can come and go, switching between flares (when symptoms are worse) and remission (when symptoms ease up or stop).

Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are most often diagnosed in teenagers and young adults — although they can happen at any age — and tend to run in families.

What Sets Them Apart

There are three key differences:

1. Location.

Ulcerative colitis affects only the large intestine.

But in Crohn’s disease, inflammation can appear anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.

2. Continuous inflammation.

People with Crohn’s disease often have healthy areas in between inflamed spots. But with ulcerative colitis, there are no healthy areas in between inflamed spots.

3. Which layers are effected.

Because Crohn’s disease affects more of the GI tract, it can cause some problems that doctors don’t usually see in people who have ulcerative colitis. For instance:

• Mouth sores between the gums and lower lip, or along the sides or bottom of the tongue.
• Anal tears (fissures), ulcers, infections, or narrowing.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

Since the differences between the two conditions mostly revolve around where in the digestive system inflammation happens, the best way for a doctor to give you the right diagnosis is to take a look inside.

You might get tests such as:

X-rays that can show places where your intestine is blocked or unusually narrow.

Contrast X-rays, for which you’ll swallow a thick, chalky, barium liquid so doctors can see how it moves through your system.

CT scans and MRIs to rule out other conditions that might cause symptoms similar to an inflammatory bowel disease.

Endoscopy, in which a doctor uses a tiny camera on a thin tube to see inside your digestive system. Specific types of endoscopy can:

• Examine lower part of your large intestines. Your doctor will call this test “sigmoidoscopy.”
• Look at your entire large intestine. This is a colonoscopy.
• Check the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. This is an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy).
• Additional testing to look at your small intestine using a pill-sized camera. This is often called pill, or capsule, endoscopy.
• See the bile ducts in the liver and the pancreatic duct. This test is called ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography).

Scientists are working to make several blood tests better at helping to diagnose ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s. They check on levels of certain antibodies found in the blood. Two of these are:

• “pANCA” (perinuclear anti-neutrophil antibodies)
• “ASCA” (anti-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae antibody)

Most often, people with ulcerative colitis have the pANCA antibody in their blood, and those with Crohn’s disease have ASCA in theirs. But for now, the tests have uncertain accuracy and should only be used in addition to the above testing.

Sometimes, even after all these tests, doctors might not be able to tell which of the two conditions you have. That’s true for 1 in 10 people with IBD. They show signs of both diseases. So they get a diagnosis of “indeterminate colitis,” because it’s not clear which ailment it is.

Finding Your Treatment

Because of the similarities between the conditions, many treatments of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease overlap. These things help for both:

Lifestyle changes. Those include diet tweaks, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and avoiding pain meds called “NSAIDs” (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen.

Stress management is also key. Stress doesn’t cause IBD, but it can lead to flare-ups. So try to cut down on the things that make you tense, and find ways to relax. Exercise is a great way to do that. So are other healthy things you might enjoy and find meaningful, such as hobbies, meditation, prayer, volunteering, and positive relationships.

Medicines can get inflammation under control:

“5-ASAs” work on the lining of your GI tract to lower inflammation. They work best in the colon. You might take them to treat an ulcerative colitis flare, or as a maintenance treatment to prevent relapses of the disease.

Steroids curb the immune system to treat ulcerative colitis. Due to side effects, you probably wouldn’t stay on them for a long time.

For severe disease, you may need drugs that work on the immune system. These include:

• 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol, Purixan)
• adalimumab (Humira)
• adalimumab-atto (Amjevita), a biosimilar to Humira
• azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)
• certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)
• cyclosporine
• golimumab (Simponi, Simponi Aria)
• infliximab (Remicade)
• infliximab-abda (Renflexis),a biosimilar to Remicade
• infliximab-dyyb (Inflectra), a biosimilar to Remicade
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• natalizumab (Tysabri)
• tofacitinib (Xeljanz)
• ustekinumab (Stelara)
• vedolizumab (Entyvio)

With the treatments for mild symptoms, almost all — 90% — of ulcerative colitis cases go into remission. If your UC is “refractory,” you may need continuous treatment with steroids.

With Crohn’s disease, complete remission is less common.

Some people eventually need surgery. That includes up to 45% people with ulcerative colitis and three quarters of people with Crohn’s.

You and your doctor might talk about an operation if you have severe symptoms that aren’t helped by medications, if you get a blockage in your digestive tract, or if you get a tear or hole in the side of the intestine.

Keep Up With Your Checkups

If you have either condition, you’ll need to keep up with your checkups, even if your symptoms start to ease up.

You may also need to get colonoscopies more often and start them at a younger age. A colonoscopy can check for cancer or polyps that need to come out. Experts recommend that you start these tests within 8 to 10 years of developing UC or Crohn’s symptoms, and then typically  every 1 to 3 years after that. Your doctor will tell you a schedule that is best for you.

Special shoot out to WEBMD for making this information useful

And we here at CMMC hope it has.

All of us at Carpe Mortem MC want to wish you all a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Ride safe, Ride smart, but most of all RIDE!

Take a moment of silence and just give thanks for what you have and what others are doing so that you can enjoy this day. From all those working, the Medical people at work (much love!!), those overseas eating a meal with the Battle Brother and Sister (yes I think it was Turkey but that had to be the largest thigh I have ever seen) and those who just have to do the grind because…well we have to put food on the table. All are best are with you and thoughts also!

So get those stretchy pants on and feast! Remember to set the scale back 10lbs for tomorrow morning!

HAPPY KIND BENT ROCKER DAY!

OK, it not just one thing but it is THREE separate things to celebrate on 13^th November.

So FIRST the important one:

Kindness Day isn’t just about adopting all the children from your local orphanage – it’s about the little gestures of kindness too. Helping others can restore a sense of humanity, not to mention giving you that warm fuzzy glow inside.

Kindness Day was born when a collection of humanitarian groups came together on November 13, 1997 and made a “Declaration of Kindness”. Likewise, on Kindness Day everyone is encouraged to make a similar declaration. Donating books, food or clothes to your local community is a great way to celebrate. However, pledging to commit just one act of kindness is no less worthwhile: hold the door open for a stranger, compliment your neighbour on their collection of garden gnomes, let your partner have control of the TV remote for the evening.

However you decide to celebrate remember that the best thing about Kindness Day is that it doesn’t cost a thing!

If your unsure what to do or need an idea for KINDNESS then perhaps help this person out Ryan Nelson Memorial Fund 

Now the Second part, BENT;

November is National Impotency Awareness Month

November is National Impotency Awareness Month. Impotency is defined as the persistent inability to maintain or get an erection. This condition is fairly common. It affects about 10 percent of men. It can occur at any age. Studies have shown it effects 5% of men under age 40. However, men who are over the age of 50 are at the greatest risk for developing erectile dysfunction.

Purpose of National Impotence Awareness Month

Impotence, which is also known as erectile dysfunction, can be an embarrassing condition for a man. The embarrassment that is associated with having this condition can stop a man from getting the treatment that he needs. The purpose of National Impotence Awareness Month is to remove the stigma associated with impotence and encourage men to seek medical help.

Causes of Impotence

Impotence can be caused by a variety of things. The cause can be classified as physical or psychological. Some of the medical conditions that can cause impotence include diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Stress, anxiety and depression are some of the psychological conditions that can cause impotence. Peyronie’s Diseaseis another cause of ED. It is characterized by the formation of hardened tissue (fibrosis) in the penis.

Treatments

There are a variety of treatments available for erectile dysfunction. One’s age, overall health and the cause of the condition are some of the things that will determine the treatment. If the cause of the condition is psychological, then counseling may be recommended.

There are also medications that can be used to treat impotence. Some of those medications include Cialis, Viagra and Levitra. These medications take anywhere from 15 minutes to 36 hours to work. Eighty percent of men who take these medications will get results. However, these medications can cause side effects.

If medication does not work, then surgery may be recommended. Penile implants can be used to treat the condition. These devices work by pumping blood towards the penis.

And finally the THIRD part ROCKER;

SYMPHONIC METAL DAY

There is a place where the falling angel meets the rising beast, and it is in that place that symphonic metal is conceived, performed, and celebrated in an orgiastic union. Here, the dignity of the symphonic orchestra meets the feral heart of the guitars wail, and humanity in all its humors is exalted on that stage.

It may seem a strange concept to those who haven’t heard it, but there is a style of music that combines the power and energy of heavy metal with the beautiful dance that is the symphony orchestra. That place is symphonic metal and to some, it is a celebration of the most perfect elements of music, brought together and melded. Symphonic Metal Day celebrates this style of music and seeks to bring it to those who have not yet encountered it.

History of Symphonic Metal Day

From it’s earliest days Symphonic Metal has felt the influence of power metal, gothic music, and a style known as the new wave of British heavy metal. The characteristics associated with this style of music include keyboards and guitars, strings and choirs, pipe organs and drums all mixed together. In many cases, the style will be emulated through a keyboard synth rather than a live orchestra when such is not available. The guitar styles present in almost all examples of this work call on all backgrounds of metal, from death metal to gothic, power metal to progressive, all blended together in a beautiful orchestration.

The earliest known example of this style of music is by Celtic Frost in 1987, and who were important influences on many who would come to pioneer this style. Some of the most influential bands in this genre include Nightwish, Haggard, and Edenbridge, but the style has also been adopted on an occasional basis by bands like Metallica. Metallica’s Symphony & Metallica album is likely one of the most well-known among those who are not already avid fans of this music style.

How To Celebrate Symphonic Metal Day

Symphonic Metal Day is best celebrated by filling your day with your favorite symphonic bands, and then expanding beyond that to bands you have not yet heard. Then you can share your enthusiasm with friends and co-workers, introducing them to this wonderful experience and all the power and meaning it entails. Don’t let Symphonic Metal Day go by without celebrating it with your friends, and power your way through the day on your favorite bands!

OK, so now you know and I hope you have a great November 13^th.

I promise we will add more medical stuff but KNOWING is HALF the BATTLE! I mean technically we did have some SOFT medical information that will hopefully RISE to the occasion of better fulfilment. I know it was a LIMP idea, but it a way to HARDEN you for the holidays!!!

CMMC FOR LIFE!

We at Carpe Mortem MC know the sacrifice, the long SUCK factor and the far & few times of Good and Bad. But we also know that we have a great country and only because of those that keep the wolves at bay, keep the tides of atrocity and those evil doers who wish our country way of life to be threatened, dismantled and obliterated could we be who we are. We thank you all that are serving, have served and are with us and those that picked up the Call To Arms to Protect not only our Country but those of other countries that where under siege and needed our help.

So now for some history lessons………………………………

Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces .

It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

SO let us Clarify some things. Veterans Day should not be confused with Memorial Day, Memorial Day honors those who DIED while in military service. A U.S. public holiday in May (to REMEMBER our fallen ones). Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans who served

It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance that also occurs in May, which specifically honors those CURERENTLY SERVING (aka active duty) in the U.S. military.

The United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. A Congressional Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made November 11 in each year a legal holiday: “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’”

History

On November 11, 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to his countrymen on the first Armistice Day, in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans:

ADDRESS TO FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN
The White House, November 11, 1919.

A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of international relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and endured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half.

With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we remodeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought.

Out of this victory there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men.

To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.

WOODROW WILSON

From all of us at Carpe Mortem MC we wish all those present, past and Future a happy birthday.

The history of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) begins with the founding of the Continental Marines on 10 November 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces.

In February 1776, the Continental Marines embarked on their maiden expedition. The Continental Marines were disbanded at the end of the war, along with the Continental Navy. In preparation for the Quasi-War with France, Congress created the United States Navy and the Marine Corps.

So from a former Teufelhunden,

HAPPY MOFO BIRTHDAY!!!!!

SEMPER FI!

Marine Corp!

17 years ago America was attacked. Everyone has their own take on it; terrorism, not terrorism, hoax, etc. It does not matter what part of the arm chair you want to quarter back, the situation happened 17 years ago and people died.  From the 4 airplanes that attacked 3 locations, to those people who were trapped in the airplane, those trapped in the building or those who died from the collapse. Also those firefighters, law enforcement, EMS and good Samaritans that went back in before the dust had literally settled.

It was a terrible thing.  Some of us can remember exactly where we were at when the attack took place. Some might have not event been born yet and are trying to understand the scope.

As a Veteran who answered the call after the attack and also a medical professional, we  ask that you just stop and honor those who are not here because of what happened.

The following is some excerpts about it but I am sure there will be plenty on the TV and internet already.

Let us not forget those who lost their lives as Victims or Heroes.

~DICE

Observe Patriot Day

On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings in the whole world. The flag should be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect to those who died on September 11, 2001. Many people observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time). This marks the time that the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. Some communities, particularly in the areas directly affected by the attacks, hold special church services or prayer meetings. People who personally experienced the events in 2001 or lost loved ones in them, may lay flowers or visit memorials.

Public Life

Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some people and organizations may take some time out to hold prayers for the victims of the attacks, but these do not usually affect public life for more than a few minutes.

About Patriot Day

On September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. The hijackers then deliberately flew three of the planes into two important buildings, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The loss of life and damage that these hijackings caused form the biggest act of terrorism ever on United States soil. Nearly 3000 people died in the attacks and the economic impact was immense.

The attacks have greatly increased attention to national security in the United States. This has had huge implications for United States national and international politics. This is particularly true for the relationships between the United States and Islamic countries in the Middle East.

Symbols

The most potent symbol of the events that happened on September 11, 2001 are pictures and videos of planes flying into buildings, of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center engulfed in smoke and later collapsing and of people falling from buildings. Pictures taken of damaged buildings and relatives looking for loved ones in the days and weeks after the attacks are also often shown. The flag of the United States is often displayed around images of the events on September 11, 2001. This is to remind Americans that their country remained strong in the face of massive terrorist attacks.

Patriot Day should not be confused with Patriot’s Day, also known as Patriots Day, which commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which were two of the earliest battles in the American Revolutionary War.

from https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/patriot-day