Loot! Loot! LOOT for ME!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

The Smart Man got a screaming deal on this new 22 inch Acer monitor, and so bought it for me as a "just because" gifty. I'm still getting used to it, but so far I'm thinking it's pretty darn sweet.

Thanks, Smart Man!

2009 Flower Pr0n, Part V




Smart Men Dig Jeeps

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Squee!

In less than a week, I will be flying to San Diego, California with the Incomparable Anne™ to visit frequent commenter and long-time pal The Mechanicky Gal. The usual festivities are planned, including spa treatments, a trip to Balboa park, Tijuana fun, and a walk-through of the Del Coronado. And drinking. And junk food. And Taco Chop rolled tacos. Hmm...rolled tacos!

And now we have even more reason to be excited! Hot Chick and Ordinary Goddess Carol Elaine will be joining us for part of the visit! She's coming down from L.A. on Friday, and will be joining us for the SPA.

I'm giggling like a school girl in anticipation! Hee!

You male readers might want to take a moment to have pity on The Mechanicky Guy, by the way. He's going to be simply awash in estrogen next weekend. As the Smart Man says, "Poor bastard!"

Bwahahaha!

More History!

Friday, May 29, 2009
It's been a pretty good week for ill-behaved woman and Stephen Jay Gould Award winner Eugenie Scott. She was just included in Scientific American's Scientific American 10: Guiding Science for Humanity list!

Congratulations, Dr. Scott. You're getting to be kind of too cool for school.

Boogie Blogging Friday



I love my Boogie.

Bor-ing

I've made a decision about my Friday Who Cares? Magazine posts. I'm BOOORRRREEED with them, and they will henceforth be limited to "Special Editions" as circumstances warrant.

You might notice that the voting indicated 34% to retain the feature, and 30% to kill it because it was boring people to tears. Yes, well - since I'm in the "bored" category, that kind of settled it.

"It's good to be the King!"

Expanding my Mental Horizons

Thursday, May 28, 2009
I've made a decision: I'm changing colleges.

For the last three years, I've been a student at the University of Denver, taking on-line courses. I've pretty much enjoyed my experience there (with a couple of noted exceptions). The only thing I have to complain about is that the program only offered classes from five catalogs - Leadership and Organizational Studies (kill me now), Communication Arts (meh), Global Studies (I liked this one), Science and Technology (hmm...science and technology) and Public Policy and Social Services (I liked this one, too).

Since the program is geared toward focused study in the pursuit of degree completion, the catalog choices really aren't a surprise, but since I attend college almost purely for enrichment purposes, I've been itching to take classes in other areas of study.

So I've applied to Metro State College of Denver, a regional school that has a wide variety of on-line offerings. I've requested all my transcripts be provided to the school, and I hope to take my first class (Meteorology!) in the fall.

The bad news: Both of the Smart Twins plan on attending Metro in the fall. Since they're traditional students and I'll be taking classes on-line, it seems unlikely that our paths will ever cross, but I'm hoping my status at a student at their college won't make them feel icky.

The good news: Metro is much more affordable than DU. I can take four classes at Metro for the tuition I pay for one class at DU. Granted, DU is a much more prestigious school, but since I attend for my own enjoyment, I'm not really willing to pay for the name at this point.

Hmm...learning!

Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History, Volume XXII

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
This is Eugenie Scott. She's the Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to defending the teaching of evolution in public education.

Dr. Scott has been involved in this issue for many, many years, and in fact, her organization was instrumental in providing support for the landmark Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover District Court win in 2005.

Dr. Scott has just won the inaugural Stephen Jay Gould Prize, awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution "to recognize individuals whose sustained and exemplary efforts have advanced public understanding of evolutionary science and its importance in biology, education, and everyday life in the spirit of Stephen Jay Gould."

I'm a great admirer of Dr. Scott, and find her arguments compelling. She's implacable when it comes to providing accurate, scientifically solid information, yet her personal style is such that she's not as confrontational as others with the same agenda.

Her work is controversial, and she's received death threats for her work in keeping religion our of public schools. That hasn't stopped her from plowing forward, though.

She's making history, and she's ill-behaved. Congratulations, Dr. Scott, on your award. Well-deserved.

Bad News, Good News

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Today brings two big stories for those of us who live in the U.S. - the California Supreme Court's ruling upholding Proposition 8 and the selection of Supreme Court candidate Judge Sonia Sotomayer.

I've made my opinion pretty clear regarding the rights of gay Americans to marry. I'm disappointed about the California ruling because I consider Proposition 8 and all is ilk to be blatantly discriminatory, and a violation of the Equal Protection Clause and the Establishment Clause*. I strongly believe the issue will have to be resolved at a Federal level, and soon, just as other institutional discrimination issues have been. Allowing each state to make the decision is unfair to everyone, living as we do in a mobile society. You hear that, ACLU? Get cracking and get a case up to SCOTUS. Chop, chop, before my gay friends and family members grow old and die without having the opportunity to marry the loves of their lives.

The selection of Judge Sotomayer for Justice Souter's SCOTUS seat is the good news, at least in my opinion. Leaving aside the frothy craziness that is the far right these days, Judge Sotomayer is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, qualified. That was really my primary concern, given our recent history of SCOTUS appointments. In terms of her honesty in admitting that she sees the law through the lens of her experience and minority status, I say...so what? Everyone does this, regardless of whatever protestations they may make. The only difference is that she doesn't lie like a dog about it. We'll see how the confirmation hearings go, but I'm thinking she's a lock.

Exciting times, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.

_____________

*You don't get to use religious arguments against the establishment of gay marriage and simultaneously claim not to be violating the Establishment Clause. It's this type of hypocrisy that makes secularists roll their eyes at theists and tune out their arguments. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. Don't like it? Feel free to move to a theocracy. I'll even help you pack.

Pimpin', Yo

You all know I loves me some wooden art. I own several of Jim Wright's creations, and I've given several more as gifts to my family and friends. Everyone I know who owns one loves them.

My sister and I also each own a piece made by Jim's best buddy (and now my friend, too), Beastly. Beastly and Jim's styles are very different, as Beastly tends to work in more exotic woods (since he can't trot out to his back yard and harvest green Alaskan birch wood, and all). While Jim's work tends to have a more rustic feel, Beastly's pieces are more delicate to my eye.

And now Beastly's opened his own on-line store to sell his pieces! If you're looking for an interesting, one-of-a-kind piece of art for a gift or for yourself, mosey on over and check out his wares.

I love wood (insert dirty joke here).

Remembering Our Honored Dead

Monday, May 25, 2009
The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France. 2,289 military dead.

The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium. 5,329 military dead.


The American Cemetery at Brittany, France. 4,410 military dead.


Brookwood American Cemetery, England. 468 dead.


Cambridge American Cemetery, England. 3,812 military dead.


Epinal American Cemetery, France. 5,525 military dead


Flanders Field American Cemetery, Belgium. 368 military dead.


Florence American Cemetery, Italy. 4,402 military dead.


Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium. 7,992 military dead.


Lorraine American Cemetery, France. 10,489 military dead.


Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg. 5,076 military dead.


Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France. 14,246 military dead.


Netherlands American Cemetery, Netherlands. 8,301 military dead.


Normandy American Cemetery, France. 9.387 military dead.


Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, France. 6,012 military dead.


Rhone American Cemetery, France. 861 military dead.


Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Italy. 7,861 military dead.


Somme American Cemetery, France. 1,844 military dead.


St. Mihiel American Cemetery, France. 4,153 military dead.


Suresnes American Cemetery, 1,541 military dead.


To all who gave their lives in the defense of our Constitution and our people, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for my freedom, for my ability to speak my mind, for my children's ability to choose the life they want, for my self-determination. Your sacrifice has not been forgotten.

2009 Flower Pr0n, Part IV

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Neumann Found Guilty of 2nd Degree Reckless Homicide

Saturday, May 23, 2009
No shit.

Boogie Blogging Friday

Friday, May 22, 2009

Boogie likes to "help" me water the flowers. I don't know what I would do without him.

Who Cares? Magazine - a Poll

I was trying to determine who should grace the cover of Who Cares? Magazine this week, and everywhere I looked, I saw photos of the Gosselins, and how John's alleged affair betrayed the family, how Kate will do it on her own, etc., etc., ad naseum.

This would be a great topic for Who Cares?, but really - I don't want to contribute to those kids having their parents' troubles plastered all over the place. It kind of sucks to be them right now, and the Gosselin's marriage is no one's business but their own.

Which brings me to the point of this post. Tell, me Hot Chicks and Smart Men, are you as tired of seeing Who Cares? Magazine as I am of writing it?

'Tard of the Week - The U.S. Air Force

Thursday, May 21, 2009
You know, I'm proud of my service. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Navy, and I'm constantly amazed and humbled by the incredible accomplishments of my brothers and sisters-in-arms.

But there's one thing about the military that really pisses me the hell off, and that's bureaucratic stupidity.

There's an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel named Victor J. Fehrenbach who is a fighter weapons systems officer, and has been flying the F-15E Strike Eagle since 1998. The Air Force has spent $25 million training and equipping him to perform his duties for the Air Force, which he has executed well and with honor. He has received at least 30 awards and decorations including nine air medals, one of them for heroism, as well as campaign medals for Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He is now a flight instructor in Idaho, where he has passed on his skills to more than 300 future Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force weapons systems officers.

He's two years from retirement age, and by all accounts he's a credit to his uniform.

Except the Air Force is going to discharge him because he's gay. Obviously his skills with the F-15E are contingent on his sexual preference. Obviously.

Seriously? Seriously? You're going to discharge a decorated combat veteran with years of experience in his field because he prefers men?

I am so sick of this stupidity. Gay men and women have been serving in the Armed Forces for as long as there's been an Armed Forces. Those that serve and aren't willfully blind know that's the case, and for the most part, simply don't care. The Bible-thumping homophobes care, sure, but for the most part, no one gives a rat's ass about this except those with a religious agenda.

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is RETARDED. It costs the military highly trained people every year, and prevents those gay and lesbian citizens who want to serve but are already out of the closet from joining. It's wasteful, and discriminatory, and above all, it's stupid. Lt Col Fehrenbach is the same man he was when he flew all those missions, he's the same man who received commendations for bravery. Why are we wasting his talent, his training, his service? So we can maintain a military that's ideologically "pure?"

U.S. Air Force - you are a 'tard. This guy has served honorably and well. Too bad you're not doing the same.


Salute to Smart Man Vince.

Judge John Rodenburg - Escalate, Baby

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
My new hero, Judge John Rodenburg, has issued an arrest warrant for flaming nutbar Colleen Hauser, who clearly has lost touch with reality-as-we-know-it.

After being ordered by Judge Rodenburg to allow Daniel to undergo chemotherapy for his cancer, Ms. Hauser took off with Daniel, and is now being sought by the police.

This is so sad. Daniel will most likely die without this treatment, since his mother is treating him with supplements, herbs and ionized water. Because everyone knows "ionized water" keeps cancer on the run.

How does a parent become so delusional that she'll let her child die to prove her beliefs? I don't get it.

But if Daniel dies, I think his mother should be charged with murder.

Being Scarce

This is going to be a busy, busy week around the Yellow House.

My Hot MIL and Hot Mom are arriving today, and will be staying for several stays. The Smart Twins and one of my cousins are graduating from High School on Thursday and Friday. Saturday is a family party for all the graduates. Sunday we're having brunch at the Fresh Fish Company.

Busy, busy.

I'm hoping to pre-post some entries today, but no promises, since I still have some chores to complete before the descending hordes arrive.

So I'm going to be scarce around these parts at least until Sunday. Have a good week, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.

Pimpin', Yo

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

One of the blogs I follow is called Reflections in the Snow Covered Hills, and it's written by a lovely woman named Megan.

I don't know Megan - she started visiting HCDSM and I followed her home one day. But in the months that I've been reading her blog, I've found her writing to be clear, interesting and humorous, although I have to admit I don't understand the fascination with David Hasselhoff.

In any event, today she posted two videos, and I've now decided that Megan is my new girl crush.* The first video was a piece of crap made by those freeze-dried wackaloons, NOM and CPR. You know, the ones that made that retarded "gathering storm" anti-gay marriage ad. Yes, they're at it again, only this time they're Very Concerned About the Children:



Yeah. Their ability to grasp nuance is simply stunning.

Then Megan posted the SCH response, featuring her son:



Hee. Thanks, Megan.

Show Megan the love, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.
___________

*But not in a way that makes me a creepy, creepy stalker.**

**I've been making that disclaimer a lot lately. Perhaps I should reevaluate my writing style and/or mental health.

Furlough, Baby

Monday, May 18, 2009
Like many companies, my employer has been suffering economically during this recession. They've found it necessary to cut expenses, including a number of lay-offs* and other measures.

One of those measures is a mandatory furlough program. I don't have permission to publicly discuss the details, so I'll just say that if instituting a mandatory furlough program for all employees has the end result of saving jobs that would otherwise be lost, then I'm for it. The SmartMan and I have lots of wiggle room in our budget (we both work in telecom, after all), so it's not a huge burden for us. I am concerned about our low-wage employees, though. Most people who live just outside the poverty line don't have any room for these types of emergencies. I suppose it's better than being unemployed, though.

Since I was going to be off anyway, I decided to go on furlough this week. The Smart Twins have their graduation festivities Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and my Hot MIL and Hot Mom will be staying with us, as well. Today and tomorrow I'll be puttering around and trying to get some chores done in preparation for our house guests. One thing I will not be doing is working. While I do know some dedicated folks who will work while they're on furlough, I'm taking my employer at their word that I'm NOT SUPPOSED TO WORK WHILE I'M ON FURLOUGH.

How sad is it that the culture in corporate America is such that people feel it's necessary to perform unpaid work expressly against their company's written directive in order to keep their job?

_________________

*Attention, corporate America: They're called lay-offs. It doesn't matter what euphemism you use to describe them - force reduction, being placed "at risk," right-sizing, down-sizing, off-shoring, re-engineering, streamlining - they're lay-offs. You're not fooling anyone with your weasel-words, and using them just makes you look worse.

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2009 Flower Pr0n, Part III

Sunday, May 17, 2009
I love marigolds. There's just something about their bright colors and full blooms that makes me happy. And the yellow iris' on the south side of the house are a bit out of control this year - I may have to thin them in the fall.

Okay, who am I kidding? I won't thin them until they approach Audrey-like proportions and attempt to swallow a neighborhood child.




*SPOING!*

My irony meter broke this morning, and it's all Nathan's fault.

Remember our January 'Tard of the Month? Dale and Leilani Neumann neglected their daughter Kara to death by praying for her recovery instead of getting her treatment for her juvenile diabetes. Kara subsequently died, and Leilani Neumann is currently on trial for homicide in Wausau, WI. Her wackadoo husband's trial is scheduled to start in July.

So Nathan sends me a link to an article this morning reporting that as the trial began, Leilani Neumann experienced some sort of physical collapse, and subsequently received a medical evaluation by science-based medical professionals.

*SPOING!*

The presiding Judge made the decision to call 911, so I guess it's possible that Mrs. Neumann was ready to pray her collapse away before the paramedics were called.

Either way, Nathan owes me a new irony meter.

Loot! Loot! LOOT for ME!

Saturday, May 16, 2009
I got my birthday present from the SmartMan yesterday. Yes, it is two months early. No, I don't like waiting.

That's right, folks - it's a piece from the UCF's resident artist, Jim Wright of Stonekettle Station.

When Jim posted the photos of this piece, I immediately cried "dibs!" and informed the SmartMan that I wanted it for my birthday. Jim and the SmartMan worked out the details, and now it's being displayed in what is fast becoming the Jim Wright Shrine.*


Thanks, SmartMan! Thanks, Jim!

*But not in a way that makes me a creepy, creepy stalker.

Judge John Rodenburg - My Hero

Friday, May 15, 2009
Today Judge John Rodenburg of Minnesota ordered that a 13 year old boy named Daniel Hauser who has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma doesn't necessarily have to die.

The boy's parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, are convinced that the cancer can be cured by nutritional supplements as advocated by the Nemenhah Band, a "religious" group that advocates "natural" medicine. Evidently young Daniel is a "medicine man" in the group, so can presumably cure himself of the cancerous tumors.

Judge Rodenburg disagrees, and has determined that the boy has been "medically neglected" by his parents, and so young Daniel will be required to undergo the standard treatment recommended by oncologists for his condition.

This ruling makes me happy, happy, happy. We sure don't need another Gloria Sam, and I'm tired of children suffering for their parents' wacky beliefs.

Boogie Blogging Friday


Boogie's been a tired pooch the last few days, and today turned his nose up at his breakfast. He usually skips breakfast once or twice a week (unless there's gravy), so it's not really an indicator with him.

The cleaning people kept him from his usual 10 hours of naptime yesterday, so I guess he's making up for it today. Stupid cleaning people. Stupid vacuum.

HAHAHAHAHA

In light of my entry yesterday on the unholy partnership of Oprah and Jenny McCarthy, here's an offering from The Amateur Scientist that I just LOVE.




H/T to Skepchick

Who Cares? Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 19



K-Fed needs an increase to the $40K per month he gets from his ex-wife, no talent skank Brit! He just can't live on such a pittance! Will Brit pony up? Who Cares!

The Abandonment of Guilty Pleasures

Thursday, May 14, 2009
I have a confession to make. I've watched Oprah on and off for over 20 years. It was my guilty pleasure.

Oprah has been on my DVR for many years - I watched her show while using the Evil Machine of Torture. On the occasions when she decided to be a purveyor of woo (The Secret) or the interviewer of the sordid (Ted Haggard), I simply skipped the episode and moved on. Overall, there were enough shows that interested me that I continued to watch.

I will now pause so the gallery can shame me with their ridicule. Ridicule which, it turns out, I absolutely deserve.

Because recently Oprah decided to form a "partnership" with that freeze-dried wackaloon Jenny McCarthy, and that's pushed me over the edge and brought me to my senses. I'm way over the edge on this one.

You all know I think Jenny McCarthy is anti-science, anti-evidence, anti-health, anti-children and quite possibly the stupidest celebrity on the planet. Her anti-vaccination hoopla presents a public-health threat unrivaled in this century, and the fact that she seems perfectly okay with kids dying from preventable disease so long as her pet theory (i.e., vaccines cause autism) isn't challenged by science and reality makes her incredibly immoral, as well. On a good day, I want to smack her in the face with the Shovel of Doom™. On a bad day...well, let's not go there.

So Oprah's decision to partner up with this skanky dumbass really sticks in my craw. I tend not to care too much about what I consider to be "harmless" woo like past life experiences, ESP, and other supernatural claims that cannot be verified by empirical evidence and the scientific method. But this woman is encouraging behavior that kills children. And Oprah is giving her a platform for her crap, a platform that reaches millions of people who may just take Jenny McCarthy and her anti-science bullshit seriously.

This is not okay, Oprah. It's irresponsible, and it's hypocritical. You claim to care deeply about kids, and yet you allow this complete crackpot to use your production company as a jumping off point for her anti-children ideas - ideas that have soundly and repeatedly debunked by science.

You've lost me, Oprah. Forever and for good, because this is simply unforgivable. I said it in email, and I'm saying it here. Queen of daytime T.V., my ass. Queen of crap-based medicine, more like.

Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History, Volume XXI

This is Dorothy Dandridge. Born November 9, 1922, she was a singer and actress in the '30's, 40's, 50's and 60's, until her untimely death in 1965 at the age of 42.

Ms. Dandridge was a trailblazer. She was involved in the early soundies in the '40's, and her lovely face and exceptional voice distinguished her as a sought after nightclub act and actress.

Her most famous role was in the musical movie Carmen Jones, where she played the title role. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination, only the third African-American in history to receive a nomination.

Ms. Dandridge's legacy in the entertainment industry is now well established, thanks in part to those she inspired, including Cicely Tyson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Halle Barry, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and others.

Truly a remarkable talent, and a trailblazer worthy of the label "ill-behaved."

Here's a sample of her 1940's work, a "soundy" of the song Cow Cow Boogie.

Bittersweet Milestone

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Last night the SmartBoy had his final choir concert. He's a senior this year, and since he's graduating next week, this was his final High School choir experience. His choir closed the show with an a Capella performance of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, which is always fun.

Going to this concert gave me mixed emotions. Over the years, I've attended every one of my SmartBoy's activities, with the exception of one concert I missed due to a business trip. Because I have a large extended family in the area, he has never had an activity where there wasn't people there who loved him to watch and cheer him on. Since I had extremely supportive parents as a youngster, I wanted to make sure my own kids had the same support that I enjoyed.

Now that he's approaching adulthood, there are going to be occasions in his life where he will be marking an accomplishment or a milestone, and I won't be there, either because it wouldn't be appropriate or because logistics won't permit it. While I recognize that this is the natural course of events, that the SmartBoy needs to create and maintain a rich and fulfilling life outside of his role as a member of our immediate family, it still saddens me. Doing for and supporting my kid is a cornerstone of my maternal identity, and I need to do better in learning to let that go as he approaches adulthood.

On the other hand...

I'm no longer obligated to attend high school events where the parents spend all their time working on their Crackberry instead of watching the performance, where the students simply don't know how to act as an audience member, where people leave in the middle of the performance because "their" kid is done, where the seats are so uncomfortable and the leg room so scarce you need a front-end loader to get out of the chair. That part doesn't hurt my feelings one bit.

Congratulations, SmartBoy, on finishing your High School musical career. You make me proud.

'Tard of the Week - Thomas and Manju Sam

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
This sort of story makes me physically ill and enraged all at once.

Mr. and Mrs. Sam are proponents of homeopathy. They had a baby girl, who they named Gloria Thomas. At the age of four months, little Gloria developed eczema, as many babies do. Gloria's pediatrician referred her to a dermatologist. Her parents, who think they know more than an M.D. due to their homeopathy training, decided that little Gloria didn't need no stinking dermatologist.

By the time Gloria was six months old, the eczema had begun weeping and her clothing and diapers would stick to her skin and tear it whenever her parents changed her.

I'm quite sure you can figure out how this story ends. Gloria died from septicemia in May 2002, because her skin literally lost its integrity and ability to keep out infection.

The Sams are now standing trial for manslaughter by gross criminal negligence.

What the hell is wrong with people that they'll allow their child to suffer and die in order to prove their pet theories and unsubstantiated beliefs? If adults want to ruin their own health and possibly die wallowing in their own stupidity, I really don't give a rat's ass. In fact, please do, and we'll nominate you for a Darwin Award. But a baby? How can anyone attempt to justify this behavior?

This really goes beyond the ''Tard" category and into the realms of stupidity-enhanced evil. Fucking 'Tards.

"I believe that free-market principles will solve our health-care problems"

Monday, May 11, 2009
This is a direct quote from former Columbia/HCA CEO Rick Scott. He's a multi-millionaire attorney who is spearheading an effort to oppose the administration's health-care reform initiatives. His group is called "Conservatives for Patient's Rights," and they're running television ads implying that the U.S. adopting the British or Canadian health care system will result in poor access, shoddy care and more expense.

There's a number of problems with Mr. Scott's position, starting with the fact that his "advocacy" group is made up of people who are concerned that their "for profit" health care businesses will lose some of their profitability as a result of new health-care policy. While I'm an advocate of people making money, I tend to believe that health care is an essential public service. It's very difficult to reconcile profit margins and providing primary care to all who need it, so I think from a public policy perspective, Mr. Scott and his associates have a pretty big conflict of interest. Mr. Scott has a history of "making a fortune by destroying quality in the health-care system and ripping off the government," as evidenced by the $1.7 billion in fines his company was forced to pay for over billing state and federal agencies for health care services.

The second issue here is that Mr. Scott and his organization are implying that the Obama administration is proposing a single-payer system, which is what the U.K. and Canada use. In fact, the single-payer model has pretty much been taken off the table, and the ads insinuating that the problems associated with a single-payer system are misleading at best.

But I think my biggest issue with Mr. Scott is the quote "I believe that free-market principles will solve our health-care problems." Really, Mr. Scott? Well, let me tell you what I believe. I believe that you have a tenuous grasp of reality. Isn't the system we've always had a "free-market" system? How exactly is the system we've always had going to solve our health-care problems? Since you can afford health care and the current system will continue to line you and your associates' pockets, it seems like maintaining the status quo solves your problems. But for the millions of Americans who don't have primary care? Not so much.

I believe that providing primary health-care services is a moral obligation of society. Clearly Mr. Scott doesn't agree with that, and his policy recommendations reflect that. He's entitled to that opinion, and he's entitled to publicize his opinion in order to maintain the status quo.

But for me, letting people go without treatment because they're a member of the working poor instead of being lucky enough to have a job with health benefits simply isn't acceptable. I believe Mr. Scott's position is unethical, and apparently reflects his values. Unfortunately for him, the reflection is less than flattering.

Star Wars Fans - Bitter Betties, or Effin' Funny?

Sunday, May 10, 2009



H/T to Joe Albietz.

2009 Flower Pr0n, Part II

Spring has finally made it to my corner of the world. Enjoy your Mother's Day, everyone.