Bill Moyers on Obama and Health Care

The health insurance debacle

How can so many people be so blindly stupid as to believe everything they hear from talk radio and Fox Opinion regarding universal health insurance? How can so many people be willing to put their ignorance on public display at open meetings in front of cameras? Let alone their disgusting lack of manners or respect. How is it possible to get real honest facts to these people to try to convince them of their blindness?

I understand why many in the business sector of our economy cast a terrified eye on the possibility of competition for the health care dollar. There is money to be lost in reformation of the system or lack thereof. Salaries and bonuses might be frozen or even cut. Lobbyists could lose their jobs and influence. Drugs that sell outside the country for a fraction of the cost to US users might yield smaller profits. Companies that refuse to cover certain individuals and illnesses might have that right curtailed and expenses increased as a result. Investors could see their income drop. That's why those who profit from the health care industry are spending billions to try to protect their empires.

I have great difficulty with willful ignorance. I have too many friends and acquaintances who have experienced the health care systems in other countries and wonder why Americans are so backward and uncaring about each other. As far as I can see and hear, those who oppose universal health care in the US are of two main categories - those who will profit less financially and those who are willfully ignorant about the advantages of it. While I have some sympathy for the former, I pray the others never have to experience the fun of a health crisis with no insurance. (If I didn't pretend to follow Jesus, I'd pray they have a crisis immediately and learn the hard way.)

There is more information and incentive to act at Acts of Hope. Go read and do. And watch the following:

Friday cat blogging

Little One settles down on her towel while Jellico watches. Jellico has had eye problems the last few days but seems to be a little better this morning. The cats are away today since my neighbor is cutting up the branch that fell.

Friday shuffle

1. The Last Old Shovel - Phyllis Boyens
2. In the Still of the Night - The Satins
3. Cherish - The Association
4. Montana Cowboy - Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard
5. It's Just a Matter of Time - Brook Benton
6. Orange Blossom Special - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
7. Golden Ring - Dry Branch Fire Squad
8. Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton
9. Walton: King Herod and the Cock - Trinity Choir
10. Phibbs: Rainland - Bach Choir of Pittsburgh
I don't like any of the YouTube Association videos.
So much bluegrass this time. Interesting.
Note to Matty Boy who doesn't read this anyhow as far as I know: I don't have any recent "popular" music as I don't identify with it. Actually I don't listen to it at all. If I could find a collection I like, I would have lots of 40s and early 50s music. I know most of those songs because, as part of a family that traveled, we sang with the radio.

Dear ABC Rowan Williams,

I don't understand all the fuss over a covenant which has been proposed to hold the Anglican Communion together. It seems to me that there should be one and only one criterion by which anyone can be part of the AC.

If you would invite everyone to the eucharist, you would quickly learn who is and who is not in communion. Anyone who will share the meal with you and everyone else is a member. Those who discriminate are not.

Who needs anything written?

Sincerely,

Me

Little One gets comfortable

I put a clean towel outside the kitchen window on the cathouse roof. All the cats have checked it out. Little One seems to have taken possession. At first she was apprehensive of this large moving thing on the other side of the window. She has since settled down and snoozes there during the day. I think she spends the night in Dudie's old leanto. I don't know where he goes now. Jellico is the purrson eating.

Earlier this morning, Little One ran full tilt toward Jellico and did a head over tail flip beside him. It was amazing.

Tree cat

This branch came down while I was gone. The black cherry trees (or so I'm told they are tho I think they are choke cherry "trees") pose a significant hazard to the house as they are quite tall.

Tim has always been a climber who can get down as well as up. She is enjoying this new playground. Little One was down below but I couldn't catch her with the camera.

Hikers

One week ago I joined these folks on a short hike. It was her birthday. I'm so happy I got to see them. Two of my very favorite people. I was with them for his birthday in February too. This one was a bit quieter.

Mornings

North Carolina morning on Rt 98 between Wake Forest and Durham.

Georgia morning on I-75 way north of Atlanta.

This morning at home. A large branch fell off one of the black cherry trees while I was gone. A neighbor will remove it and use it for firewood eventually. One of these days, a tree or part of one will probably fall on the house tho I pray not. The trees are very tall and the house is very small.

Friday cat blogging 2

This is Smokey. He has quite a history including wandering in and adopting the people who live in that house. He was lost after a vacation and sorely grieved but eventually reappeared surviving but in poor shape. They think a neighbor tried to get rid of him without actually killing him.

He has the most earnest face.

He has trained his family to brush him every night.

Then he settles to relax with TV.

Smokey is a rather large feline who likes to read the paper in the morning.

Friday cat blogging 1

Rainy day. You can barely see Jellico behind Little One on their side of the cathouse roof.

While on the other side of the roof, Tim is in the corner and PuddyTat is atop the annex.

These were taken thru the door and window so the cats wouldn't be disturbed. They get up if they see me.

Friday shuffle

1. I Want to Take You Higher - Sly and the Family Stone
2. Prelude to a Kiss - Jim Hall
3. Live Here with You - Dusty Springfield
4. A Girl Like You - The Young Rascals
5. Ives: Psalm 90 - Westminster Choir
6. Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee
7. Wonderful! Wonderful! - Johnny Mathis
8. I'll be There - Jackson 5
9. Polka Dots and Moonbeams - Ray Brown Trio
10. How Sweet it is to be Loved by You - Marvin Gaye
The music may be listed on the CD as I Want to Take You Higher but the actual music is The Age of Aquarius by the 5th Dimension. Guess I need to change that on iTunes. lol

The Terrific Team Trivia Team

What do you think?

We're sure of that answer.

I think it is...

I hope we win again.

Susan and Lisa invited me to join them for pizza and Team Trivia at the Blue Moon Cafe in Marietta, GA. The pizza was excellent. The people are wonderful and fun. The trivia went from simple to Huh? This team won last week and had a 50 gift certificate to spend. Made the evening even better. Now they have another one. I didn't contribute much but the others have excellent memories for useless stuff. Thanks for including me.

Monster squash

These are squashes. The spot on one is my iPhone. They are huge.

The one they have cut up and used weighed 33 pounds.

And there are more.

And more coming.

And there are even more around the front of the house plus some vines that grew out back as well. They rarely get a frost here. They may have squash all year? And we thought zucchini was prolific.
Perhaps someday the squash will overwhelm the fountain?

Two friends on a cake

The cake was decorated with an older photograph of these two when he was a student at Westminster Choir College.

NC sunset

Friday cat blogging

Bishop Maya Pavlova

She moved just as I snapped it.

The bishop and her canon.

I don't know why some of the photos have a blueish cast. That is a constant battle with this camera.

Friday shuffle

1. Turn! Turn! Turn - The Byrds
2. 16 Candles - Crests
3. PDQ Bach: Erotica Variations
4. Time of the Season - Zombies
5. In the Sweet Bye and Bye - Jerry Douglas
6. Mr. Engineer - JD Crowe and the New South
7. Britten: Festival Te Deum - Westminster Choir
8. Cara Mia - Jay & Americans
9. I Was Made to Love Her - Stevie Wonder
10. Summer Wind - Monty Alexander

On the Prius bumper now

(Click to embiggen.)

Ugh

Rebuilding the system after installing a new hard drive under warranty is not fun. Guess I should strap the Macbook in so it doesn't fly off the car seat and crash into the firewall. I won't be checking as many blogs for awhile. It isn't because I no longer care or have lost interest. sigh.