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The Real Death Panels
Author: Raine    Date: 08/10/2009 12:42:08

They aren't anything imagined up by Sarah Palin's speechwriter. They aren't anything the riotous mobs are at the Town hall events. The real death panels Do exist, they are called insurance companies.

A few years ago, we were quite outraged and saddened by the death of a 17 year old leukemia sufferer. She died because Cigna Health insurance decided that a liver transplant was "experimental". Over the weekend I read a story about a baby, 6 moths old, who died at the hands of a hospital panel.
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79 comments (Latest Comment: 08/14/2009 19:51:36 by bloodystanng)

The Debate Continues....
Author: AuntAzalea    Date: 08/09/2009 13:29:32

Good morning Aunt Azalea stepping in today.
And, due to computer problems this is my now 3rd attempt to post this.

There were two posts ideas on my mind this week, the first was a private group message board post that did not seem altogether Kosher. And secondly dreams for our new foster daughter. I ran across this post and I am sharing it with you as well as my reply. I have changed the authors name.
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6 comments (Latest Comment: 08/10/2009 02:19:32 by TriSec)

The peace of fishing
Author: TriSec    Date: 08/08/2009 11:29:55

Just a brief entry this morning....we're already late.

I'm fortunate here in New England....I've got the Atlantic Ocean a mere 12 miles away from my front door, with miles of coastline, beaches....and fishing piers.

For about a decade, I spent my summer weekends as an unpaid deckhand aboard a private boat owned by a family member. We took family, guests, and the ocassional paying customer out of the Saugus river out to the Boston Harbor Islands for bottomfish, or 35 miles out to sea to Stellwagen bank for the big bluefish.

Well....you know the drill. Eventually, I got married, then the family member died and we sold the boat...then young Javi came along. My days on the sea became a distant memory.

But then this spring I started working for the Outdoor Discovery School at LL Bean. One of the things the school does is a fly-casting class. So, somewhat inspired, I dug out an old bamboo fly rod that I inherited when my grandfather passed; it's been gathering dust in the cellar for over a dozen years now.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it might actually be worth something. I haven't been by the store to see the resident expert yet, but who knows. It's certainly not going in the water anytime soon!

In any case, for the first time ever, I bought a freshwater fishing license this year. There's two tubs of nightcrawlers sitting on my dining room table, and as soon as we finish breakfast we're heading over to Spy Pond in nearby Arlington for a morning of fishing.

It's birthday weekend for us; young Javi is turning 8 tomorrow, and his papa is a bit older than that today. What more could you ask for on your birthday than bright sun, a bucket of worms, and a lake?



 
13 comments (Latest Comment: 08/09/2009 03:11:03 by trojanrabbit)

Lord of the Flies
Author: BobR    Date: 08/07/2009 12:29:48


"We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything."

"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"


- from "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding


William Golding's first novel describes children descending into savagery on a remote island when left without adult supervision. It is a particularly grim indictment of human nature, describing how easily mob rule can overcome our civilized upbringing. It shows what people can do when fear guides their actions in the absence of reason.

I was reminded of this yesterday when I read the news of a town hall meeting on healthcare reform in Tampa, where emotions came to a boil and violence broke out. It certainly raises questions of "how did we get here?" and "where is this going?". It seems the crazies are coming out of the woodwork and getting louder.... and crazier. Is this some new breed of animal? I don't think so. I think they've been here all along. I think there's another explanation.
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91 comments (Latest Comment: 08/08/2009 03:43:43 by livingonli)

Manufactured Poutrage
Author: Raine    Date: 08/06/2009 12:47:54

So what to do about Claire McCaskil? Look, I generally like her. I do. She isn't super liberal, but for the most part she tries to be fair. I can live with that. I appreciate that she uses the technology out there to touch base with her constituents. That said, last night I saw a few of her tweets that I found at first, sad and misinformed. Putting them in chronological order, let's take a look:
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88 comments (Latest Comment: 08/07/2009 10:19:08 by Scoopster)

Frankenstein's Monster
Author: BobR    Date: 08/05/2009 12:45:08

Whoops.

What happens when you appeal to a crazy person's id? What happens when you rev up the emotions of an angry mob? It seems that certain elements in the political world are beginning to realize that they are the Frankensteins that are losing control of the monster they created.
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68 comments (Latest Comment: 08/06/2009 00:17:55 by livingonli)

Contacting the Media -- Vital info for you to share.
Author: Raine    Date: 08/05/2009 01:46:20

It isn't impossible. Just like we contact our congresscritters, we should contact the media. It is equally important to tell the media as well as congress what you are thinking about and what your opinions are. Otherwise, they will simply answer to their corporate sponsors. (again -- a lot like the congresscritters.) I am supplying to you a list of contacts (both phone #'s and email) in the media. Tell them what you think about a particular story or event. Tell them you want to see the things that are near and dear to you to be covered! Things can only change if Americans are active participants in making things happen.

It doesn't matter what the issue is... we ALL should have the ability to contact the media at our fingertips. Here is a handy list to do so. Let's get started:
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5 comments (Latest Comment: 05/11/2010 21:05:12 by Raine)

Ask A Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 08/04/2009 11:05:02

Good Morning.

Today is our 2,330th day in Iraq.

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from Iraq and Afghanistan, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4330
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4191
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3869
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3471
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 102

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 767
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 519
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq: 1,395
Journalists - Iraq: 139
Academics Killed - Iraq: 423
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58 comments (Latest Comment: 08/06/2009 01:09:44 by Random)

It's Monday! Let's get things fired up!
Author: Raine    Date: 08/03/2009 12:39:41

Good morning everyone! I am going to keep it light and sweet this morning. It is going to be a crazy week in DC. We will have the final push before all the congresscritters come back to their home states and districts. Sonya Sotomayor is expected to be confirmed as our next Supreme Court Justice. Yesterday, the Grumpy ol' Man that didn't win the election said he was still on the fence regarding Ms. Sotomayor. There is a push for new "cash for clunkers" money, people will be tinkering with Health Care Reform, and I am sure the President will be quite busy with the new GI Bill until he departs for Martha's Vineyard. I fully expect the press to make that the controversy of the week.
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105 comments (Latest Comment: 08/04/2009 01:52:22 by Raine)

A TriSecian Muse...
Author: TriSec    Date: 08/02/2009 21:27:55

Well, I'm unemployed again.

Friday morning, I was invited up to HR for a brief meeting where my manager told me "it just wasn't working out" and they let me pack up my stuff and go home.

I guess the plus side would be that my now ex-manager went out of his way to state that it wasn't me or my work ethic, and in fact he had me listed with HR as "Rehire-eligible" (I know that's significant) and encouraged me to apply for several other open positions since he felt I could still do some good there.

Just not for the team I was on.
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7 comments (Latest Comment: 08/03/2009 13:02:23 by wickedpam)

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