Have You Noticed

That the quality of food at our local restaurants has gone very close to what McDonald's sells.
We went to Outback a month ago and I was surprised at the low quality of the food there. Boy was that a surprise!

Health Care

This morning on C-Span a woman called and said she remarried her abusive husband because he had excellent health care. She said she was living from day to day until she remarried. Because of Health Care couples tend to stay together.

Health Care Reform Facts & The Truth o Meter

And

The Truth-O-Meter

The Sound of Electricity

There is a ringing in my ears this morning and it is the hum of electricity though these veins of power in our home. To make sure I am speaking the truth I could cut off the main power switch.
The reason I know about the hum is that when the Ice storm cut our power there was a real silence that we should normally hear.
Time for a little coffee.
For those of you with inventive minds create me a bag clip (with a number) as shown that I can call on my cell phone so I can find it ( Good for keys, important documents and stuff I laid down last night.)
We went over to visit our friend Red the other day and he had an electric fence around his garden. It seems the deer have learned that in town man is not a threat; out on the farm a farmer can remove pests but in town it is against the law to hunt (I am not sure about the pest law in town).

AlleyCat

Mom was looking for her 9/11 post when she found these posts about AlleyCat and Black Bird Pie.
As a matter of fact all her posts are great.
Today Alleycat is old and blind, she can't remember a whole lot so it takes her some time to remember to take baths, eat or walk. Some days are better than others and today seems to be a good day.
The photo at left is a photo of her in September of 06 when it was best to keep your distance from her as she was all cat and knew it. When she wanted to be petted she came to you and you petted her when she was done you got bit; so you learned to pet her on your term then let her be.

White Canvas

It is very hard to not paint something on a white canvas. After all our view of the planet is very colorful.

Sandy called she is on her way west.

It is pleasant in Western Kentucky this morning. I am about to turn on my pool heater. I need to clean the pool - the last day I was in the pool was Saturday. The weather just dropped in temperature and the pool has done the same. Our pool solar cover was not as good (sturdy) as our old one and all the bubbles flattened. They normally hold heat overnight but this cover is a dud.

Wire in the water - THE CABLE UNDER THE SEA

Social Welfare

I can travel on a river that is deep because of lock and dams = social welfare.

Flood control = social welfare.

I can go to the public library and read a book and take it home = social welfare.

I can go to the public school and learn from a teacher = social welfare..

Poor mothers can not work and still be home at the same time = social welfare.

Paved numbered highways and roads across the country = social welfare.

Government grants to people to do things that they could not afford to do = social welfare.

Small Business Administration = social welfare.

The U.S. Agricultural Department is required by law to subsidize over two dozen commodities = social welfare.

Government home loans = social welfare.

An army to protect our nation = social welfare.




For the past 30 years conservatives have been throwing out words like unfair taxes, socialism, big government, communism and leftists to keep government out of their business but they would not be in business without help from the government. If you remember correctly Washington and Daniel Boone walked or rode a horse through the woods on Indian paths.

The strangest thing is that the people of the United States are the government and all the things above were created by the United States population.

Something Very Strange

In the last twenty years China has duplicated Microsoft Software, Music and Movie CD's and DVD's. China has led the world in duplicated manufactured goods and really does not give a hoot about our patents and copyrights.
And what has the United States borrowed from China more of than anything else?
Yes, it is trillions and trillions; is it real?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkt8Dwzl6Sg

Health Care Rumors

From the The Christian Science Monitor:

•Rumor That illegal immigrants will get health insurance under reform. “That idea has never even been on the table,” Obama said.

•Rumor That reform will produce a government takeover of healthcare. He attributed this accusation to confusion over the so-called “public option,” a proposal for a government-run health insurance plan that would compete with private plans. “It would just be an option; those who prefer their private insurer would be under no obligation to shift to a public plan,” Obama said.

•Rumor That coverage for abortion would be mandated under reform. That is false, although Obama did not venture into the territory of whether women receive federally subsidized insurance could sign onto a health plan that covers abortion.

•Rumor That “death panels” will be formed to decide who receives treatment. Obama called this “an offensive notion to me and the American people.”

http://www.drudge.com/news/123906/obama-refutes-outlandish-health-care-rumors

Birthday Party

Today we celebrated my birthday and Natasha's birthday with a pool party. The day was grand and festive with a lot of wonderful surprises.
Kitten Yarn is getting ready for a class reunion so she browsed our photo albums for appropriate photos. She scanned them and I will send them to her via email.

Segregation In Our Schools

Did you know that the Federal Government pays for segregation in our schools?
It is called private schools, charter schools and public schools. When a family cannot afford to go to a private or charter school they go to a public school. Public schools are the schools that are left over either by distance, poverty, wealth or knowledge. Charter schools are segregated by wealth and knowledge. Private schools are segregated by religious faith and discipline.
When I was growing up in California I went to public and private schools. The private school was a Catholic school which was not funded by the federal government at that time. Today all schools are funded.
The worst part of the problem is the old saying, "When you lay down with dogs you get fleas." I always felt that if you hung out with smart of good people it would rub off on you. So now you see the problem when children of poverty hang out with only those of poverty they only know poverty. Money can change all that and that is the problem. The money causes the segregation. I realize that some children will lift themselves up by intelligence but what happens to the rest of them. There is no equality in segregation.

The FBI in 2002 - 2007 Paid Right-Wing Blogger

From Wired : Lawyer: FBI Paid Right-Wing Blogger Charged With Threats

A notorious New Jersey hate blogger charged in June with threatening to kill judges and lawmakers was secretly an FBI “agent provocateur” paid to disseminate right-wing rhetoric, his attorney said Wednesday.

Weather in Marion, Kentucky

When we got back from PT yesterday I mowed the grasses growing in our yard and as soon as I finished it rained.
This morning it is raining hard. I never looked at the satellite images of earth but I will as soon as I finish this sentence.

United States Federal Government

Dear Friend,

We've all sat in the hospital or the doctor's office and been asked to fill out form after form.

And when we come back to the very same doctor's office or the same hospital, we’ve probably been asked to fill out the very same forms.

All that paperwork is more than just annoying. It wastes time, prevents quick and accurate diagnoses, and makes our health care system less efficient. And it simply doesn't make sense that in today's digital age.

We know that electronic health records can improve the quality of care, reduce medical errors, and make doctors and hospitals more efficient. That’s why the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included new resources to help build a nationwide, interoperable health information network. This network will be built on a foundation of incentives to encourage doctors and hospitals to use electronic health records and protections for medical privacy.

We already know through example that health information technology is working in communities across the country.

Earlier this year, Secretary Sebelius toured Omaha's Alegent Health Lakeside Hospital to see how one hospital is using health information technology.

Today, we're releasing a new video showing some of the highlights of her trip. You can watch the video by clicking here.

Later this morning, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary Sebelius will also be making a major announcement regarding the availability of grants worth nearly $1.2 billion to help hospitals and health care providers implement and use electronic health records. The grants are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and will help health care providers qualify for new incentives that will be made available in 2011 to doctors and hospitals that meaningfully use electronic health records.

Electronic health records are pillars of a reformed health care system. Together, our investment in health information technology and proposals to improve health insurance options and affordability will help ensure all Americans get the high quality care they deserve.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Lambrew
Director, HHS Office of Health Reform

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro

GOP support most important to Grassley

Posted: Monday, August 17, 2009 11:12 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Republicans

"From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
In an interview today on MSNBC's "Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan," Senate Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R) said he'd vote against any health-care reform bill coming out of the committee unless it has wide support from Republicans -- even if the legislation contains EVERYTHING Grassley wants.

"I am negotiating for Republicans," he said. "If I can't negotiate something that gets more than four Republicans, I'm not a good negotiator."

When NBC's Chuck Todd, in a follow-up question on the show, asked the Iowa Republican if he'd vote against what Grassley might consider to be a "good deal" -- i.e., gets everything he asks for from Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D) -- Grassley replied, "It isn't a good deal if I can't sell my product to more Republicans.""

Help Help Me Rhonda

God

We are together, looking at the world.
We teach what we view. If the world would have taught me the proper way to see the world while
I was very young then I could have blossomed sooner.
I could have spoken more fluently and I could have possibly been an influence on more children.
As it is, now perhaps I can show the world a colorful flower and
position their awareness in the space that is their being,
the place that they occupy, the place that glows with life,
the aura and warmth around their existence.
Perhaps their eyes can view the world around them.
Maybe they can see that each of us is here with our own glow of existence.
Our omnipresent point of view that sees the world and beyond.
God
***
I wrote this piece below the other day to try explaining to everyone that we are here no matter what happens to the earth.
I realize that the earth could explode and dust/and or vapor would be all that is left. Whatever.
Some particle of life will be there. Some substance of our presence will be there.
Saying that I thought about my mother and her presence on earth.
Her physical presence has not been found or I am not aware of whoever knows of her presence on this planet but I realize this.
She is here.
She loved, lived and became a mother of three children that I am aware of.
She was a sister in a family who say that are not aware of her present existence today.
All that is left to me is speculation about her whereabouts.
So I now I know that in a photo taken from space of this planet that my mothers dust or presence will be there.
Her marble marker in life is here in these words and every photo of earth.
Her life is in my substance and in my families.
Life should have been better for her.

A Good Investment For The Republican Party

It is cheaper in the long run for Republicans to vote against and pay for commercials telling us Health Care Reform will raise taxes, be socialist, lean toward communism, cut the benefits you have now and send you to hell if the doctor thinks there is no chance for you to live longer (fiction).

One fact that has happened to my Blue Cross and Blue Shield since Medicare bargained to lower drug costs is that because Medicare bargained Blue Cross and Blue shield lowered their drug costs to compete with Medicare (fact).
The President wants to bargain with health care providers to lower overall prices and try to cover everyone that wants health care with an government option. Blue Cross and Blue Shield want health care but not if it lowers their profits, doctors feel the same way.
The money they spent on propaganda could have got me out of the hole financially. Did they care or look my way.

Health Care - What Happens When Your Back Is Broken

I am young in spirit but my back is old. I feel that I should do everything everybody else does for the good of the country without wages. That is the spirit of value and freedom - doing work for your fellow man. Gandhi and Nelson Mandela worked

But what happens when your back is old and tired and somewhat broken?
WalMart wants those values in its employees because when they do that the company can offer lower priced products. That is great until some greedy manufacturer does not want to help their employees with good benefits or health care.
Well that is where our country is. The Republican Party does not want small business paying for health care or good benefits because that would break small business back but they want the employees of small business to work for nothing for the good of the country.
They want us all to be the good slaves and sing spirituals in the fields and in the WalMart stores of the world.
Well it is time for small business, world bankers and the Republican Party to shed those blue ties, dark suits and a haircut every week and roll up their sleeves and do some work like those WalMart employees and field slaves of the world.

It is Sunday morning and I do not know why today today is something special but it is. I feel uncomfortable and I know what is. I did some weed-eating yesterday and some the clipping (minute particles) are on my body and hair.

Tomas Stories and Links Muse

Some of this stuff is dated and some is really off the wall, some is brilliant and some is plain stupid; whatever it is me in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Hubble Telescope Video

From Devorak
Very nice images of the Universe and giving us a little history as well.

This is a late post after Jerry and Pat's visit. The visit was short and intense. It was really nice to meet Pat and renew an image of Jerry who I had not seen since my last days of United States Navel Service in the early 1960's.
He has worked hard to get where he is and he looked worn and well - comfortable to be around. Allison drove 70 miles to see him and Pat.
I posted a lot of photos of his visit on Facebook. His camera was another appendage on his body having practiced using it in the last 30 days of traveling.

I had a good time talking with Kentucky's First Congressional District United States Representative Ed Whitfield. District 1 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association had a meeting with him at Senior Citizens Center in Hopkinsville, KY.
It was a remarkably enlightening event which dispelled a lot wives tales and rumors floating around the country. Every one had some concern about their health care and Obama's plan to offer a government plan within Medicare. Another concern was that our retirement benefit would be reduced but this idea was dispelled.

Happy Birthday Jerry

hide details 7:41 PM (21 hours ago)

Reply

August 10, 2009 In this MegaVote for Kentucky's 1st Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Senate: Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Senate: Supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program Editor's Note: Congress is out of session and is scheduled to return on September 8. MegaVote should return on September 14. Recent Senate Votes Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 - Vote Passed (80-17, 3 Not Voting) On Tuesday, the Senate passed this $124.3 billion bill funding the USDA, FDA and other related agencies and programs. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States - Vote Confirmed (68-31, 1 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program - Vote Passed (60-37, 3 Not Voting) The Senate passed this $2 billion bill to replenish funding for the “Cash for Clunkers” program, sending it to the President for his signature. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Ice-D just told the dog next door who's territory this was; the dog circled Ice -D and kinda said, "Ya know I can eat you." and walked home.

Health Care Reform Support Page

We had a loud and vibrating storm last night; pretty spooky.

The page above gives support to health care reform. If you believe that we need reform then fill out the form and lend your support peacefully without shouting and barking.

I am watching TV this morning. Normally I just sit in the quiet and get my self together and contemplate the day, say a prayer to the planet, space and the space we occupy.
I do not pray to Jesus or Mary like I was taught as a youngster. I pray to the remarkable existence of being on a planet in space including all scientific minds and adventurers.
My daughter brought up the fact that some folks I worship, "Are purely evil." That is not the point; the point is the remarkable body we occupy (plants and other creatures too).
Just look around you and tell your self, "What the hell is all this stuff?"
Yeah!
Yup that is pretty remarkable, mind chilling and sometimes absolutely lovable.

Well this is pretty much another day in Western Kentucky. The seems of this garment are torn and pretty well worn.
I opened the cat door and only the older cats know how it works. We had one wild tom cat that learned to use it. We awoke in the middle of the night and the tom was sleeping in our living room chair. That tom is long gone; I hear a cat scratching at the door at the moment and I think it is our orange outside cat; if she succeeds then she will promptly be chased outside. She sprays like a tom marking her territory; I think whomever was there gave up.
My sarcasm has reached a new high; I have bombarded the world for treating Motherkitty like crap. I am a big fan of human rights and that seems to have gone with the demise of union thought. Union thought in southern eyes is socialism, communism.
"Take your government grasp elsewhere!" is the southern chant today.

Is the US on the Brink of Fascism?

Story by Sara Robinson

Universal health care: I vote Yes

The United States "The World Scapegoat".
We have the power to clean up the worlds messes and still be bombarded by the left and the right of the world political spectrum. All nations just watch CNN and give left or right comment on the United States. They are never involved in war. They are involved in supplying both sides of any war for economic wealth.
We are the pawn. The king is the world of wealth. The King sits and watches his hands are clean, there is no need to dirty them in war and gardens.

Facebook is a dud this morning. I posted and it did not show. I logged out.
I was sleeping in this chair and Motherkitty said,"Lets go swimming." We just got out and I feel fine.
Alleycat is in the bathroom with a kitty litter pan and some food and water. Motherkitty is giving her a bath she smells like old age and urine.
I mowed yesterday and today I pick grass clipping.
Our NARFE District Vice President for Western Kentucky wants us to meet "Our Man in Florida" - Our Kentucky’s First Congressional District Representative Ed Whitfield. I hope our meeting with him will not turn out to be a Raucous Republican Rally which I am seeing every day.

Ecard

This made me feel good.
Ice D just came in and jump up on my lap and fell asleep.
The kitten is sleeping on Motherkitty in the bedroom.

Happy Birthday Suzanne

Rapture

George W. Bush ended the adventures of space travel knowing that there was no need to travel in space when he knew the end was in sight (He and Mitch McConnell cut NASA's budget to nothing). He has a lot of followers and the best little story about that was Mist by Stephen King. One of the best fictional tales of late is our 10,000 year history of creation which in rampant in our schools.
The worst thing is that I am now 67 years old and the world blossomed in my lifetime and now it is settling in decay before the upcoming rapture.
Children raise their hands to the skies crying to heaven asking god to send his missile to the planet.
Be careful of what you wish for for your children are just now starting grammar school.

I told Motherkitty that I was pissed at our country (not the Federal People but the bankers and corporations). I have calmed down a bit but the sore still festers in me.
All the new jobs will be at half the wages you used to make and without health care and retirement. The best situation to view our state of being are Banks, Walmart and our Health Systems.
Our days have been hot. Motherkitty said we have had over 6 inches of rain in the last 3 weeks.; you saw the photos of Louisville Kentucky - it rained so quickly there the drains could not handle it - plus I know that because of budget cuts the river there has not been deepened to allow for excess water ( you can thank Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning for telling the world that our government is too big and we should cut unnecessary spending (which the government did for 8 years)).
Ya 'll republicans really don't know what you did to our country? All the south cared about was their guns and hunting season.
Our deer is still sleeping here mom saw it this morning stretching its legs and getting ready for a day in the woods.

Cracked Shells

Our pool was comfortable yesterday.
I do not like the idea of being screwed by bankers and thieves while I live peacefully and quietly in my home. I put up with it knowing that when the Republicans left office then the Democrats would fix things.
I was wrong the bankers and thieves are set in concrete just as kings ran their kingdoms so long ago. President Obama can do noting with these thieves. It is a shame because I thought that they would mend their ways. They are entrenched just as the French Nobility was just before the French Revolution.
Sometimes you think that the wealthy had better sense.

What is the interest rate the feds will receive on the bailout loans?

I want to erase all the crazy posts on this blog and just be normal. I know I have written enough prayers.
It is quiet and peaceful here in Western Kentucky.
Until a two years ago I was an Independent (I voted whatever suited me) but during the last primary I wanted to vote for Hillary Clinton so I changed my registration to Democratic. I am still a Independent voter but lean moderately liberal.
***
What is the interest rate the feds will receive on the bailout loans?
Is that enough to pay for part of our health care.

Just Send Me the Money

The world I live in is just outrageous and I seem to be right there in the forefront. I can hardly imagine that the Federal Government gave billions to folks that squandered billions just to save me from going broke. I look at the folks that got those billions and they are doing the same things that lost the 1st billions.
Our President who's mom fought the insurance companies because they did not want to pay her bills is losing to the insurance companies in his fight to have everyone taken care of. I know that my insurance company will surely raise my premiums before the year is out and they will call me outrageous because of my statements here. Hell just send me the money.

Where did all the bailout money go?

We have one small kitten running and jumping everywhere. A ball of energy; Ice D was out all night and came in and did play with the kitten; now he is about to crash he is falling asleep and I look over at him.
Motherkitty has not been feeling so good. She has been waking up with headaches every morning and she thinks it is because she is without her blood pressure medicine. I think she ordered it two days ago and it should arrive via mail any day now. I was not aware that she had stopped taking her medication. We were in an empty pocket mode and we bought nothing for two weeks but milk and bread. I think that mode will continue toward the end of the month.
We had a friend deliver a message about the free trip with NARFE the other day because our phone was out for two weeks.

If the banks are listening send your excess (in millions please) to me.
Only large checks in millions need apply; I don't want to beg again and again.
I want to live at the lake near our grandchildren and not worry about paying bills ever again.
My address is over at the side.

Happy Birthday Reva

Save Money. Live Better

Last month we were without a phone for most of the month. This month we paid the bill but we robbed Peter to pay Paul. Motherkitty has not worked much since being knock down at work and she is off work on workers comp. She goes to PT next week but we have to drive one hour (56 miles) to PT because workers comp and the doctor say that is so. We have no choice but to follow those orders. In the meantime we have to spend the money for gas for those trips. Whatever. We will get by.
We went to JC Penny's to get Dancer Girl some clothes and the mama's did not like the selection available so we went to lunch. We stopped at Walmart to continue our shopping for Dancer Girl and to change our oil. The young man asked us. "Is it all right to change the air filter?" and I said, "Check it and ow by the way our windshield wipers are bad could you replace them." He wrote on the sheet check filter and wipers. When we picked up the van I asked, "What did you replace ?" and they said, "Everything was fine we just changed the oil." ... EH?

Ghostbusters

Happy Birthday Dancing Girl!

Hopefully it will not rain today. I spent the day yesterday cataloging backup DVD's and CD's and a little laundry plus I cleaned the pool. These cool days are keeping Motherkitty out of the pool.
Today I trim some branches and mow.
Time for some coffee.
Although it seems peaceful and I assume that it is quiet. It was quiet during the ice storm and the only sound you heard then was the weight of ice on wooden limbs.
We are plug into the electrical circuits of our society. The coffee pot heats the water and it flows into a container; the house fan blows warm air into our rooms and automobiles and trucks move on U.S. Route 60 two hundreds south of this home.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce oppose health plans if small businesses have to pay part of the health plan. That means that any plan that the US Congress has on the table is going to be nixed by Small Business owners. Small Business does not want to pay for any health plan. How about a government plan? Well that would raise taxes for small businesses.
Small Business sympathise with folks that are suffering but they ain't going to pay their employees to be fit and fin.

When I awoke at midnight to take my medicine it was raining. A few minutes ago I went to put the cat out and it was raining. It rained all night. I was going to mow today but that is out of the question. The weather forecast was just that; the weather is very unpredictable.
I will continue to back up moms computer and do some chores.

This good morning I welcomed the world. I gave Alleycat at my side a good mild pat letting her know I understand. She muddles through the aging process just not quite ready to walk into the woods; she is taking a bath. Ice D and George just came in; Ice D headed for the food and George headed for Motherkitty who is asleep.
I am washing clothes and backing up Mom's computer.