Of this and that

First and foremost, healthcare reform, yes I am still at it. (Two different views and I actually agree with both of them but then, I am a Gemini). You should read BOTH of them:

National Coalition on Healthcare statement on healthcare reform bill passed by Senate: click here

And, the Pittsburgh Trib on Democrats playing doctor: click here

Ok, moving on to lighter topics. I saw 2 great movies this year, total opposites (just like me). That's 2 more then I saw last year!

Precious: brutal truth, heart wrenching. A must see.

It's Complicated: Brilliantly hysterical yet poignant story of divorce. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin are superb but so is John Krasinski who is absolutely HYSTERICAL. I would see this movie again. I never laughed  so hard and that felt great. GO SEE IT.

David and Shaun Goldman reunion: does NBC have no shame since it provided the charter plane...do they have to report on this time when these two need time alone?

Ok, am done. Happy and healthy new year to all!

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Part 7??

I have done so many posts with this title I can't remembe what number I am on. But here goes:

What makes me happy?

American Idol starts in 2 weeks as does Project Runway, back in New York, Hurray! Biggest loser starts their next season in 1 week and new cooking competition shows. Yeah, life is good. These are such great distractions from the incredible burden of trying to find a job.

My grandchildren and family. Over the holidays, we got together with family and friends. Here are some pictures which of course feature my grandkids as well as their cousins:

Lexi, 8 1/2 months delicious

Chloe almost 3 with cousins (and my cell phone!)

Family, Kids, Joy

I wish for all of us the happiest and healthiest new year with joy, peace, and love.

Scrooge and the Good in the Holidays

The holidays are here. Yeah. But they are tempered by some scrooge visits already happening. So here are my nominations, my opinions, for Scrooge of the Year:

The entire Republican Party: they know nothing about compromise and constituents and pay more attention to PAC funds from Managed Care Insurers then the health and well being of their constituents.

Senator Lieberman: who cares more about getting his name in the press then about health care or common sense issues.

President Obama: this one pains me greatly as I supported him and believed in him; and to an extent, I still do. But he did not step up to health care and is happy about a bill that will take 4 years to implement (unneccessarily) while impacting the over 160,000 people who will die over those years. Keep it simple and make it happen should be the mantra here.

My former employer which also pains me greatly. While this company does good things for people who reside in their communities, public documents filed in their recent bankruptcy show they made sure to financially stuff the pockets of the chosen few executives just 4 days prior to the filing while not paying the accrued time off earned by employees who agreed to stay to the end as part of a signed agreement with those people. These are people like you and me; good workers with families who got no money; no payment for time earned and not used which is a policy of this company, no severance and are struggling to live and provide for their children. Chances are these individuals will become part of the uninsured, the foreclosed and more. While executives were enriched. I wonder how the leaders can sleep at night, especially this holiday season.

The good: the kindness of strangers, friends and family to help each other in good times and bad. I wish for these people the best life has to offer. I wish for peace and joy and justice in 2010 and I want to especially acknowledge the employees of Social Security who are kind and never recognized. They helped me to get Medicare health coverage for 2010 so I would not be one of the uninsured. Thank YOU!

So Happy Holidays to all and to all, thoughts and prayers for a healthy and happy 2010!

The Good Life

So last night we went to my daughter and son in law's new home that they moved into during the snow, 1 week ago. Of course, all of us are sick with colds but it was Chanukah, festival of lights and chance for gifts and sharing time with those we love most: our children and grandchildren.

My Daughter's oldest daughter loved the bow on the gift most and proceeded to wear it through the night. My son's daughter was more interested in exploring and trying to get the two of them to take a picture was hysterical as you will see. Each doing their own thing. The baby was asleep and missed the festivities; the older kids more interested in toys and exploring then in picture taking.

But all in all, it was a great warm night on a very cold outside weather. Meet the stars of the evening that allow me to experience more joy then I ever thought possible:

Health Reform as we wished for has been pronounced dead

According to the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/10/pelosi-backs-off-public-o_n_387197.html}, Pelosi has thrown in the towel, and no one is standing up for the public option. So almost 50 million US citizens, will now not have the hope of life with health care coverage. Personally, I cannot stand Pelosis or the other power monger, partisan, imbeciles in Congress. Senator Reid: where the heck are you in this?

Almost 70% of the US citizens want a public option. The good news is that Medicare will have an option for 55+ now. Gee,.....duh...some of us have been saying just do Medicare for all to share the risk and lower health care costs and get it done quickly. But some of us actually work in health care. What makes us think we know what we are doing? We have people in Congress who know how to use anatomical parts of their bodies and take oodles of money from managed care companies....but are soooo clueless when it comes to actually providing legislation to protect, perserve the citizens of the United States. And they get their health care coverage paid for by you and me....that's good because I bet some of these congressional geniuses couldn't write a check for payment...but they know how to deposit those checks don't they......

So sick of this. Wish there was an election tomorrow to get rid of all of Congress and start over. Mr. President, I voted for you and am disappointed you did not stand up for this public option. Senator Ted Kennedy must be turning over in his grave.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly; Ramblings on a Monday

I have been silent for awhile. Helping my daughter and her family move and recognizing that my body is way older then I thought it was and I work out! I have muscles hurting that I did not know I had. And they moved during the first snow in Maryland. Nice.

Coupled with the snow was the absolute unbelievable poor customer service of 2 companies who, in my opinion, represent companies who feel they are doing well enough not to have to care about customers. This represents my opinion, but Verizon is number one on my list of incompetent, stupid, and disdainful businesses in today's world. My daughter's family has NO phone or wireless connections because VERIZON, even though they confirmed that everything would be done the Friday before the move since they don't do new connections on weekends (must be nice), have neither. And when Verizon was called, they did NOTHING to correct the situation. It's a good thing my family  all have cell phones (and not thru Verizon). Additionally, since Verizon did not have FIOS available in the area, direct TV was to be the provider of television services.

All of this was arranged well in advance of the move. Email confirmations were received. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. Nothing. And my daughter and her husband have spent hours on the phone with each and they frankly don't care and have done nothing to rectify situation saying they could come out in a week or so.

So they called Comcast and whoever does come out and install first, wins. Frankly, I would like to ask VERIZON: don't care about customers? Well, maybe its time, customers or potential customers leave you. I did. In my opinion, the best thing about Verizon, is that it made Comcast more customer friendly.

Amanda Knox: I have been following this Italian trial. What it showed me is no matter how imperfect the US court system is, it is enormously better then the Italian System.  I can't even imagine what Amanda's family is going thru, not to mention what they are spending on this. What would you do? In my opinion, Amanda should have been acquitted. It really was a verdict against the US as Italian American relations are not great.

Tiger Woods: really a personal matter but very disappointing as this clean cut role model turns out to be a slime bucket. I actually would watch golf if Tiger was playing. I don't think I will ever be able to look at him with any respect at all. I don't care what he does on the golf course; he is a cheater, liar, plain and simple.

Congress: Several senators are urging Senator Reid to move Medicare under the auspices of Congress. What? Congress can't agree on what bathroom to use much less how health care should be governed. We are the only major country without health care for all. And now THEY want to manage Medicare. Spare me. They are not health care professionals and are frankly clueless in this realm. Instead, I would like to see ALL of them gone.

The GOOD? hmmmm...Amazing Race was great. Top Chef is coming to a close, sadly. About 6 more weeks till American Idol starts. And, I have great friends and family. Yep, that's the best!

The Great Divide: Republicans vs. Democrats,

I have been silent for awhile. Still searching for that great job. Still sick of partisan politics and those who put their own interests above the interests of the citizens of the US. sorry to see Project Runway end and Top Chef soon to end. No distractions from the reality of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Finishing the reduced COBRA payments; thanks President Obama for 9 months of affordable health care coverage.

Yesterday, the Senate voted on moving the Senate's version of the Health Care reform act to discussion and hopefully, a final vote. While its not perfect, it does contain a public option, albeit with an opt out. Who in their right minds would opt out of providing affordable health care to every human being in the U.S.? But then, who in their right minds would vote no to bring this health reform to the front of Congress for discussion and compromise and vote? Guess who? EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED NO.

I can't say what I think of them here but think of an anatomical part you sit upon and that comes fairly close. I pray that all these self serving, money grubbing, PAC influenced senators get voted out in their next terms. They will do anything and everything to opose the President; even if its in the best interests of the citizens of the US. A conspiracy of sorts? Hello? Of course it is.

Almost all countries have some form of health care coverage. Not the US and our health care ranks very low in the world. A world leader? I think not. I was amused by a post by a woman opposed to health care reform who touted that we don't need this because her hospital never refuses treatment to anyone who comes in. HAHA! Clueless. Does she understand that the hospital loses a fortune on this care? does she not understand that ALL of us already pay for this in taxes. And doe she not understand that these people wait till they are really sick because they can't go to doctors to prevent illness? No she obviously is drinking the same KoolAid those republican senators are (I am not capitalizing those words on purpose).

Do you know the Congress has health care coverage you and I would die for (pun intended) and we pay for it. I wish I could introduce a bill into the senate that strips health care coverage from the "benefits" of those people.

Here is the full list of who voted: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00353

Though I could say more, sometimes less is better. Let's get those naysayers out of Congress! Whew, feel much better now. More to come...

Happy Birthday Sesame Street

My daughter was a fan of Sesame Street and now her daughter is a fan; my son loved Cookie Monster; my grandaughter loves Elmo. I took her and my other grandaughter to see Elmo in person. I thought I was at a rock concert with 2-5 year olds doing the screaming.

So the question around the web is which character are you?

Some days I am Oscar the grouch like when the Senate is stalling on the passage of the health care reform bill and the public option without triggers. These people have the best health insurance possible. We pay for it. Don't we deserve to have some of that coverage for ourselves and our children? I am also Oscar when the House passed HCR with a public option (thank you) but sold out women to the conservative right in prohibiting the public option from covering abortions. Uh, excuse me but when was Roe vs Wade overturned? and when does one group over-ride the freedom for all?

Somedays I am a cross between Snuffleupagus (however you spell it), Elmo, with a touch of Ernie. Then there are somedays I'm Bert. Ah if life could only be so simple.

So which character are you?

House Vote Aye on Health Care Reform with Public option

Yeah its passed the house. Well done. Want to know who voted yes and no? Here is the link:http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml

Look it over carefully. Your calls and emails helped. There were 2 from my home state of MD who voted no. One is listed as Independent and that is how he ran but we all know he is a Republican.

Sad that only one Republican voted for the bill. Partisanship over constituent wishes. Enough said.

Don't Make More of it, than it is: what's "it"

Ah, much ado about nothing or something, depending on your perspective. Example: the Yankees won the World Series, congrats but most of the news on the Internet is about the recent 2 state governor's loss to Republicans and the so-called impact on Obama and pending legislation. BS! Local politics is local not national yet the media seem constantly to be searching for garbage to promote...negativism, who needs this? not me.

When Hillary Clinton was running against Barack Obama for President during primaries and Md Governor O'Malley endorsed her, that was the kiss of death for her in MD. Marylanders are not enthralled with Governor O'Malley, and I believe if the former Republican Governor, Bob Ehrlich were to run against O'Malley today, Ehrlich would win. Does his mean we don't endorse health care reform? No, in fact MD Is ahead of the game with low cost and free health care in state and certain counties. Does this mean, people in MD hate Obama? Not. Yet on most of TV Talk and media outlets the pontification of the impact of 2 Republicans taking over formerly Democratic Governorships is the talk. And it occurred on the anniversary of Obama's election. Spare me. Local is local. Period end.

Obama took over with a lot of issues. He started working before he became President. Is it perfect? No. Do I think he is doing a good job? Yes. Look at him. He is grayer and skinnier than before. He has a lot on his plate. Do I wish he would be more emphatic in his pushing on health care reform and public option? you bet. But given what predeeded him, I think Obama is doing very well. The media picks on everything. And the ponitificating is getting so intense that I only watch the Today Show and no news on TV. I get the news from the Internet and read several different articles to try and get one non-biased, factual story.

Thank goodness for reality shows that are non taxing, non ponticating, non life/death (though I cannot figure out why Top Chef had the reunion show in the middle of their hotly contested series). The good news is Project Runway is on tonight. Life is good.

But I can't close without my asking you to call your congress representative to make your voice heard on health care refom and your senators. Tell them you want this vote before the end of this year. Senator Reid now says vote won't occur before 2010. Not acceptable...45000 more people will die from no health insurance...a fact. And our Congress seems to always make more of something; make things more complicated than they have to be....when Medicare came into being, it took only 10 months not 3 years as Congress is proposing for health care reform. Can you live with this? I cannot. So here is the number once again to call either the House or Senate: 202 225-3121

Health care is a freedom and liberty. We don't have to make it complicated. If every other country can provide BETTER health care to all their citizens at no or low cost, certainly we, the USA can do it.  But then, that might just leave some politicians not getting millions of dollars to decide on how to vote. BS. Just do it.

Make the Most Important Call of Your Life

Here is the main number for Congress – the Senate and House – in Washington, DC. 202 225-3121

Call this number and ask to speak to YOUR  representative in the House. The House will be voting on their version of the health care reform bill on Monday or Tuesday. CALL TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION with NO TRIGGERS. It's a matter of life or death.....


Then CALL Your Senator using the same number listed above and tell them to support the PUBLIC OPTION WITHOUT TRIGGERS.


Don't know who your representative is? Find out here:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

It takes 2 minutes. Do it now. Then watch the voting on CSPAN.

More to come....

Life Goes On..the Next Chapter

Unless you are a good chef on Top Chef and have the weekly risk of being let go (when it should have been someone else, Robin), and maybe even if you are a Top Chef contestant, life does go on, fortunately. In addition to my Top Chef addiction, I am also addicted to Project Runway, and the Ravens football team, though wish they were doing better. Rambling? Probably, but I have time to ramble...this is my 6th month of being unemployed, which in and of itself, is a full time job.

 I am not alone...and, I have one more addiction for survival: bi-weekly "Rif" meetings with my former colleagues.

There are about 90 of us still unemployed who worked for the same company, and are in the same region geographically, who are staying connected. We have our own special group on Linked In, set up by a former employee that allows us to vent, stay connected, share tips and even job postings. And the more local of us, meet in person every 2 weeks, rotating at various Panera stores for breakfast (Panera, if you are reading this, how about discounts for the unemployed?) ..a theme that started at our former workplace....when we meet, we eat.

I am addicted to these sessions where my former colleagues, now friends, talk, share, laugh, cry, vent and give hope to each other. I don't know how I would survive without them. There is a bond that will last a lifetime. I have learned so much from all of them.

Lesson one: move on. When you get "let go" from a company, you go through a grieving process, sometimes with anger and disappointment. Sometimes the company you so admired doesn't seem to meet the same expectations in layoffs that they had when you worked for them. But it's really about you, not them.

Lesson two: make the effort to stay connected and share information. The company I worked for had a mission that included "sharing our (their) gifts with others". That meant, even helping competitors. Why? For the greater good.  It is a message I carry with me today.

Lesson three: everything happens for a reason. Yes there are regrets but learn from them to get to lesson one.

My former company recently filed for Chapter 11. And some of the former employees have not let go. They don't remember how good the company was to work for and how much they took care of the employees. Instead, they post on blogs and on news stories the negative comments that only demonstrate how disgruntled they are. Sad. And not helpful to them or the situation.

No one is perfect and neither is any business entity. But the economic downturn was and is difficult. And, many businesses did not believe it would get so bad. My advice? If you hate what happened, don't blame yourself of your company, call George Bush. Let him know.

Lesson four: get involved in something to make you feel good. Even if its joining an online community about a show you love. Stay connected and find the fun in life.

And if you are lucky enough to have children or grandchildren, enjoy the moments this time off from work affords you. Nothing makes life as good as seeing it through a child's eyes..the innocence of youth is too delicious. So I wish you well if you are struggling to find a job, know you are not alone and feel free to post your experiences here. Fortunately, life goes on.

Baucus still leads in moneys from insurers and more, a must read

If you do nothing else today, you must read Time Goes By today: http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/10/the-nonpublic-option.html to see the list of Senators taking money from pharma and insurance lobbyists. These are the same people who we elect to protect us. Hahahahaha.

If you do not read this blog today, at least go here to find out who in Congress is getting moneys from the insurers and pharma to control what kind of health insurance you and I get. Make note of those names. We can control this by not voting them in again if we do not get health insurance for all that is affordable. My own state of Maryland: Senator Mikulski accepted over $90,000 from healthcare and pharmaceutical product industry...not huge but why even bother? Senator Cardin accepted over $300,000 from health professionals, no insurers/pharma companies listed.

Stall tactics that is what Congress is best at. Only Senator Reid is free from receiving moneys. In my book, he has been elevated to Sainthood. And he is listening to the public option. I found out from Ronni's blog listed above that President Obama took out the possibility of a public option coming under Medicare. So I ask President Obama why? Was is too simple to use an infrastructure that is already in place to provide health coverage? Medicare is not perfect but it works. And if we took the age factor out, it would work better. It seems so logical to spread risk in health insurance over 100 million people, rather then put 40 million in a separate pool. The risk factor would decrease; costs would decrease. And it's already in place. It could actually work. What a concept! Making something work simply, easily and at less cost. Who knew? Certainly not our Congress.  And sadly, not even President Obama. And that saddens me even more.

If you do not make your voice known, you will have no say in the health care destiny of you or members of your family. If you do not make your voice known to Congress to tell them how you feel about their taking money from industries who control the US health care system, then we all reap the consequences. I am not willing to sit back and do nothing. I hope you feel the same.

So here is the link to find out the phone/email of your Rep and Senators in Congress and even the President. The rest is up to you.

more to come..............

Contact these Senators, Medicare Recipients: tell them to support doctor reimbursement

Ok have not posted in a couple days and now doing 2 posts. Obviously, I have too much time on my hands and I believe people have power to change lives. In prior post I listed some Senators who have Medicare. They also have high option health insurance paid for by the US citizens they represent. That means their coverage is superb. Is yours?

Doctors who accept Medicare payment, receive less reimbursement than any other insurer. Why? Discrimination against those over 65? Saying to docs and world, these people do not deserve health coverage? I am just asking a question here.

The Senate defeated a bill designed to stop another cut in reimbursement to docs accepting Medicare. Not good. See http://www.timegoesby.net/ for today's blog on this subject.

Rep. Weiner posted members of Congress who are on Medicare: contact these Senators and ask them if they want their docs to refuse to accept Medicare . Here is the list. Do it now please. Power to the people. We have this power to make our voices heard:

Sen. Jim Bunning




Sen. Richard G. Lugar



Sen. Charles E. Grassley




Sen. Robert F. Bennett
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch




Sen. Richard C. Shelby

Sen. Pat Roberts




Sen. George V. Voinovich



Sen. John McCain


Sen. Thad Cochran



Sen. Christopher S. Bond


Sen. Lamar Alexander
Sen. Mitch McConnell


Sen. Jim Risch

Sen. Jon Kyl

Sen. Saxby Chambliss




Sen. Michael B. Enzi
House of Reps:

Addenudum: Call this number and ask to speak with your Representative: (202) 224-3121



We hear Democrats in the House are counting votes for a robust public option this morning. We need to flood their offices with calls. Please call your Representative now.

151 Congressional Members on Medicare: Oppose Public Option, Bravo Rep Weiner

Am quoting form Congressman Andrew Weiner website. YOU HAVE TO READ THIS:

10.22.09


NEWS: New Weiner Study Shows 151 Members of House and Senate Get the “Public Option” Now

Weiner Calls on GOP Opponents of the Public Option to Give Up Their Medicare

WaSHINGTON, DC—A new study by Representative Anthony Weiner (D – Queens & Brooklyn), member of the Health Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Caucus on the Middle Class, revealed that 151 members of the House and Senate currently receive government-funded; government-administered single-payer health care - Medicare.


On the list of recipients are 55 Republicans who have steadfastly opposed other Americans getting the public option, like the one they have chosen.

Weiner said, “Even in a town known for hypocrisy, this list of 55 Members of Congress deserve some sort of prize. They apparently think the public option is ok for them, but not anyone else.”
The list of congressional recipients of Medicare who also oppose the public option is below:
Rep. Ralph M. Hall

Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett

Rep. Sam Johnson

Rep. C.W. Bill Young

Rep. Howard Coble

Sen. Jim Bunning

Sen. Richard G. Lugar

Rep. Don Young

Sen. Charles E. Grassley

Sen. Robert F. Bennett

Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch

Sen. Richard C. Shelby

Rep. Jerry Lewis

Sen. James M. Inhofe

Rep. Ron Paul

Rep. Henry E. Brown

Sen. Pat Roberts

Sen. George V. Voinovich

Sen. John McCain

Rep. Judy Biggert

Sen. Thad Cochran

Rep. Harold Rogers

Rep. Dan Burton

Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon

Rep. Frank R. Wolf

Sen. Christopher S. Bond

Rep. Michael N. Castle

Rep. Joe Pitts

Rep. Tom Petri

Sen. Lamar Alexander

Rep. Doc Hastings

Rep. Cliff Stearns

Rep. Sue Myrick

Rep. John Carter

Sen. Mitch McConnell

Sen. Jon Kyl

Rep. Phil Gingrey

Rep. Nathan Deal

Rep. John Linder

Rep. Kay Granger

Rep. John L. Mica

Rep. Walter B. Jones

Sen. Jim Risch

Rep. Ed Whitfield

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner

Rep. Virginia Foxx

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite

Sen. Saxby Chambliss

Sen. Michael B. Enzi

Rep. Elton Gallegly

Rep. Donald Manzullo

Rep. Peter T. King

Rep. Ander Crenshaw



###

Who Does Congress Really Represent?

While I heard some encouraging news from a conference call several bloggers and myself had on Friday with Senator Reid's staff, I am still left wondering: who does Congress really represent?

The good news? Staffers reported that Congress really is taking note of what their constituents are saying (let's hope they actually confirm a healthcare reform bill based on what their constituents want). So, that part is up to you and while I am sure you are sick of reading that here...if you truly care about the future of healthcare and how coverage plays out, you MUST make your voice heard. Here is link to contact information: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

The Baucus Bill has no public option even though recent polls showed over 67% of the US voters want it. This week and ongoing, the Congress will try to reconcile the Baucus bill with other bills that do have a Public Option. Ronni Bennett of Time Goes By does a much better job of describing this on her blog:http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/

What Ronni reminded me of last week was that it only took 11 months for Medicare to be implemented. And while not perfect, Medicare works. If it were revised and streamlined, its infrastucture could be used for the Public Option. More then that, this merging could finally remove the age factor in health care. Health coverage is a freedom...a liberty. We are the only large nation that does not have a public option for its citizens and our health care is viewed as one of the worst in the world. The Baucus Bill does not go into effect until 2012 or later. Really? More people will die...thousands...I find that appalling but then I find a family wanting publicity and willing to have their children lie..also appalliing (balloon boy)...what are we coming too? Did they learn that publicity is more about negatives, fear, possible death and negative outcomes? then doing good? I have my own thoughts on that and won't bore you with those.

The truth is, we cannot count on the Media to help push a public option through even though that is based on need and facts; we cannot count on the Senate to push a public option through based on current history; we could CHANGE outcomes if we believe and take 5 minutes out of our day to contact CONGRESS NOW and let your voice be heard. CLICK HERE

I could go on and on about the money factor: the greed and perceived buying of votes based on profits and huge salaries, rather then need (and it's more then my opinion). Frankly, it is exhausting to repeat this crap again. Right wing Democrats and Republicans have tried, and often succeeded, to rule the lives of all Americans. This country was based on the freedom for all principle; not just the few.

So my question to you today is do you want your health care coverage decided by a few? based on profits? or based on need?

more to come

Grey Day...Grey Me, Pun Intended

I have a full time job looking for a job. I have learned a lot in this process. It's a game....I hate games. I hate playing the game to get someone's attention but I do it because there is no other option.

Now you have to have "keywords" in your resume as most employer HR departments use technology to scan the over 100-200 resumes they get for each advertised job. I would be happy to review resumes for any company looking to fill a position. But I guess I would cost more then technology.

I have a different resume for each job applied for. Next week I am going to a job placement agency that offers retraining. Who knew? But it's all good.

I started signing up for online surveys. Mostly with Greenfield and Nielsen, two companies I trust that do not charge and do alot of online surveys. The surveys take from 3-20minutes. Sometimes you get paid a whopping $2 and sometimes you get your name placed in a sweepstakes to win up to $1000. I have never won anything so am not counting on this. But I did "make" $6 so far this week. And I also got rejected from about 100 surveys because of age or profession. Wow, a symbolic reflection of my life now?

I refuse to make more of this then it is but today is rainy and grey so rejection fits my mood and the color of my hair. But, like Scarlett O'Hara, there is always tomorrow...when I am getting my hair colored just in case....and tonight will play the Mega Millions....there is good news: Senator Reid's office is doing another conference call with some bloggers (me included) to discuss the outcome of the Senate Finance Committee's passing of a health reform bill. They may regret my participation as I am NOT happy about no public option inclusion in this bill.

And my Twittering has gotten me some contacts with media and more...and my grandkids give me more joy than anything else...so onward and upward..

more to come....................

Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, Part 5 I think

First, update on healthcare refom: Senate finance committee passed bill with No public options; taxing of those who do not get health insurance, etc. Not perfect, not even good frankly. We need public option. Am part of conference call (with several bloggers) with Senator Reid staff tomorrow. Will let you all know.

But it is very important that ALL human beings have the freedom of health care coverage. Please, please let your voice be heard and contact your Congressional reps and tell them you want PUBLIC OPTION.

Ok, moving on.....to the flight from reality to reality shows and more. Top Chef was great last night, as usual. Can't wait to see Project Runway tonight as Nina Garcia is BACK!!! Sorry Drop Dead Diva is finished for their season. Really enjoyed the show.

Noticed Today Show today (pun intended) has some feel good stories. One inspiring story about a kid with one leg who is a sports player with no use of prosthesis.
See this:



And they did some other feel good stories. Hurray for Today! I actually feel pumped after this. I think I will promote the good stuff that I see. We all need some great stuff to inspire us to move on in life and do good for others. When you give, you get.

Heard any feel good stories? Feel free to post them here. Oh, and did you visit Emma Wallace on youtube yet? See post I did on her recently.

More to come.................

A Must Read today; blog on HCR :Will it make us healthier?

Please visit, http://www.birdsonawireblog.com/ for important interview with
Howard K. Koh, M.D., assistant secretary for health in the US Department of Health and Human Services on the topic :will reform make us healthier as a nation.

No use my blogging on this when Birdsonawire has done a great job...please visit the blog and see for you self this very interesting topic...that deals with what we seemed to have lost site of: Are we going to be healthier with health reform?

Meet Emma Wallace

I have a "friend" who follows my blogs and occasionally comments. She is far younger than I. Yet there is a quality that belies her age. She is an artist, a songwriter and vocalist. I love to listed to her voice and think of all the young artists that use YouTube to get noticed.

So I am asking you all to look at the video and rate it in hopes more people will come and she will get noticed. Then, I, and you, can say we "knew her when".

Why Can't We All Be Proud and Say Congrats Mr. President?

President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize today based on what he promised and how he has succeeded thus far. He has reached out to all nations to bring the US into diplomatic relationships based on trying to maintain peace and respect for each. It is truly a noble beginning. His acceptance speech says it all.

As an American, I am extremely proud that our President achieved this honor. And terribly disappointed that our media and politicians have to analyze this prize. We don't have control over this prize. What right do we have to question this? Who are these people?

Frankly I am so sick of our politicians and media outlets who question everything and do NO objective, factual reporting to allow individuals to make their own views based on this info and fact. Instead the pontification is so great, it has reached the unbearable. There is no celebration of good. There is only destruction of any morsel of pride and good.

It reminds me of my Aunt when I was growing up. She LOVED to be the one to spread the bad news...it made her feel important and in fact, my mother was the same way.

So my question is: are all these politicians, pundits, media shows and outlets so damn insecure they have to make more drama than necessary???

This is why so many of us retreat to reality shows that are now our fantasies because the true reality is made unbearable. Give me Project Runway (even though I miss Nina Garcia), Top Chef, The Amazing Race,  and Iron Chef.

Of the media and so called news shows, who continue to sap up any and all positive energy in this country, and world, and treat us, their viewers as tho we have not a brain in our heads by telling us their opinions versus reporting facts,  may I say....et tu brute?

More to come..................

A Personal Story on Health Care

This is a personal story as to why healthcare reform must occur. Today, my friend Ronni Bennett, posted a video from Senator Kohl where we submitted questions related to health care reform and he answered. See it here: http://www.timegoesby.net/.

There is a new bill on the table and Senator Kohl has posted a fact sheet on health care related to aging issues here.

However, health care affects more then the aging. That said, no one should dispute the need for changes in Medicare also. You will be there one day if you are lucky.

My grand daughter is on the SCHIP program. She is 15 months old. My son has 4 children and he and his wife do not have access to a company provided health insurance program. To purchase an independent health insurance would cost them over $2000/month but my grand daughter would be exempted for a pre-existing condition. She was born with hyperinsulinism whereby her body produces too much insulin causing her blood sugar to drop. I wont get into details but when she was born, she was misdiagnosed by a large Baltimore hospital that put her on the wrong medicine for 15 months.  Now, thanks to SCHIP she was allowed to go to a huge center with a world reknowned Endocrinologist who diagnosed the correct issue and started her on a path to doing better.

There are still issues with SCHIP. They always question everything and may not cover a $200 a month medication. Still, she was able to get a great health care entity treat her. Thank you SCHIP. The problem now is if she ever has access to private health insurance that many of us have access to, she would be exempt from coverage for a pre-exisiting condition. Nice huh?

To those of you fighting change in health care reform: you should know that this change will be mandated in every single proposed bill. And it must be. No child, no human being should be without health coverage.

Those of you who are apathetic and still have not contacted your congressional representative to make your voice heard, shame on you. It takes only a minute to send an email to make your voice heard. This bill could affect you or your family one day. Just do it. Or face the consequences. Only a minority of Americans have made their voice heard. Do you want a few to dictate what the majority must face? Here is link to getting in touch with your Congressional representative.

And here is a link to finding out the truth about the proposed health reform bills. Click on picture.

http://www.ncpssm.org/truth_squad/

By the way, Top Chef was back last night...a good omen for things to come?

Stay tuned...................

I'm All A Twitter: who knew?

I use Twitter. You can follow me on twitter.com/nkbe. I use it to promote my blog; have some fun; tell others about the need for a public option plan and more. Yesterday on Access Hollywood, now AH Nation, they did a bit with Speidi: those overblown people, now married who have more then used their 10 minutes of fame. So I tweeted Billy Bush, the host, and told him what I thought, funny.

Guess what, I was watching the show tonight, and he used my tweet on the air. Who knew? I almost fell over. Of course no one knows who I am but I do....guess twitter and tweeting work. This means that others actually read tweets.

Social media, its fun. You should try it. I wish it would help me to find a job but it is yet another distraction from the reality of unemployment. Hurray!

more to come.........................

Oh NO, No Top Chef new show on Sept. 30, the world is coming to an end

I pre-schedule tapings of new Top Chef episodes to be sure and not miss any. Yesterday ONLY Repeats! I even taped the normal time for the show even though the TV guide said it was a repeat. And it was a repeat!

What happened?

Congress is missing the boat on public option health care for all. Paula is gone from American Idol. Ellen is coming to Idol.

Roman Polanski rapes and sodomizes a 13 year old and now people are trying to let him side step a crime because of who he is....excuse me, they even put Michael Jackson on trial....what is the world coming too?

Access Hollywood changes their name to AH Nation: really?  Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are missing from Project Runway.....and NO TOP CHEF. What is happening to this world?????

Is the world coming to an end? Is this yet another right wing conservative movement? I may not be able to deal with real reality now.................ah the misery of this.

The Days of Awe, Reflections of a Mad Woman...I think

What are the days of awe? well, for some people, that may mean something else. For me, being Jewish, it means a period of introspection, reflection, forgiveness and much, much more.

In the Jewish faith, there are 40 Days of Awe that culminate in the most holy of our holidays, the last 10 Days of Awe, Rosh Hashonah (the Jewish New Year) up to and including Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement where Jews fast, and usually spend time in synagogue, praying for forgiveness for sins, bad deeds, remembering those who died, and reflecting on their lives and how they will live a better life going forward. It is written that between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, G-d keeps "books" on everyone and by the end of Yom Kippur, HE decides what one's fate will be for the next year. That is why you hear people say to one another..."may you be inscribed in the Book of Life".

Why do I not write out the name of G-d? I was always told that the name of G-d is not to be spoken or written. That is true in the writings of the Torah (book of prayers). In English, their is no real translation for this other then the word G-d. Some Jews say in English, you can write out HIS name. Frankly, I am sticking with the old way since I take no chances, especially at this time of year!

I am not an overly religious Jew though I love and respect my religion and the culture: strong family ties and relationships, charity, forgiveness. In my own way, I observe my Judiasm. It probably does not coincide with what the Man Above had in mind, but it serves me and my immediate family.

That said, I always become more emotional and reflective at this time. And now, that is even more so. I am very blessed. G-d has been good to me and my family. I truly believe HE is watching over us.

I am a passionate person. When I believe in something, I fight for it. I have also been told I am funny, not funny enough to perform comedy but enough to provide myself and my family and friends with comic relief when needed. I am also very sarcastic but if you have been reading this blog, you must have gotten that by now.

So I have taken a little break from the realities of life : no health care reform stuff as Repubs and Dems are duking it out with over 600 ammendments, stall tactics, etc.

Glen Beck and Rush Limbo (intended) are in their own world primed with instigation, hate mongering and more (IMHO). Sick of them.

Still looking for job....along with millions of others but am hanging in there.

Having fun with my grandkids and that is a good thing.

Am thrilled to have distractions like Project Runway (please bring back Michael Kors and Nina Garcia), Top Chef, Biggest Loser, Ellen, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and more.

I have become intolerant of right wing-nuts who promote hatred and lies.

But I am not worrying about the future. Though I will pray on Monday for forgiveness, and for my family, I have become more of a fatalist: what will be, will be. I have lived a good life so far. G-d has been good to me. I believe that what will be is HIS will. I trust in HIM.

I am very fortunate to have wonderful grandkids. 2 of the 6 whom are pictured here. The ever drooling Lexi at 5 months, and the spectacular Chloe whom I spent 2 hours with at grandparents day at her pre-school where she exhibits her "tude" . Could life be any better?

So, Happy New Year...May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life.

More to come............

Updates to this morning HCR Call, and blog below

Just when I was feeling so discouraged after our morning conference call (see blog below) change has already started to take place. Not because of our call this morning, though I hope that will have an impact but because of comments the public has been making to Congress.


I just found out from the team on the call this morning two things:
An ammendment has been addes that would improve beneficiary access to primary and preventive care by adding a modified version of the Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act (S.769). This policy would improve beneficiary access to bone density tests. This policy was submitted by Senator Lincoln as amendment D2.

And more ammendments are coming in to change the bill that addressed our concerns. Here are links to original Baucus Plan and updated plan for your viewing pleasure:
the original Chairman’s mark released last week in case you still need it: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/091609%20Americas_Healthy_Future_Act.pdf

Here are the modifications to the Chairman’s mark – proposed by Baucus – that the Committee will consider: http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb092209a.pdf



This is why it is so important to contact Congress.

To see more from people who are talking, go here

Conference Call with Senator Reid Team; Health Care Reform

Ronni Bennett of TimeGoesBy blog organized a bloggers outreach on Health Care Reform that motivated me to blog, ad nauseum to some, about my thoughts on this very important matter. As a result of that, Ronni  spoke with Senator Reid's team yesterday and then today 4 other bloggers, myself included, we invited to speak this morning with a team from Senator Reid's office, health policy people and staff, related to Senator Baucas plan. Ronni will be blogging on more specifics on the Medicare aspects of reform; the actual process involved in getting this bill through, and more tomorrow at http://www.timegoesby.net/. My post is my view point on the general topic of getting health care reform bill passed. Some facts, a lot of opinion, and pure emotion.

I spent most of last night and this morning reading Senator Baucas plan that the team graciously supplied to all of us on the call. I am now officially brain dead. This bill is, in my opinion, awful. There is NO public option plan. It is a lesson in how politicians keep their jobs and give buraucracy a lousy name.

What I learned from the call that is positive:

Medicare will cover prevention testing free to subscribers

Medicare will cover free annual check ups(instead of just ONE when you sign up)

If you are in the donut hole on Medicare, you will get a 50% reduction discount on brand name drugs but get credit of 100% toward coming out of the donut hole

There will be a .5% increase in reimbursement to doctors and NOT the 21% reduction. This will keep doctors on the roll of providing medical care for seniors.

What is negative:

no public option plan

574 ammendments submitted as of yesterday

still no coverage of bone density scans as prevention for osteoporosis which has increased health care costs related to this disease to a whopping $19 billion!

No agreement between Repubs and Dems on bills and ammendments

What is hopeful:

House bill does have public option plan

HELP has public option plan (HELP is the anacronym for the Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Finance)

The call: the staff were very nice, helpful and listened to our concerns and explained the process.  For me, someone who has been in health care in one way or another for more years than I care to count, I do not understand why Congress continues to make something so simple, so difficult.

My question: Medicare is in place. It is not perfect but provides good health care coverage for over 40 million seniors. You do pay a premium for Medicare that is managable to most. If you cannot afford it, and are eligible for Medicaid, Medicaid will pay for Medicare. This is called dual eligibility.

Medicare has an infrastucture in place. True it has some bureacracy but what health insurer doesn't? So, very simply, why  not make Medicare the PUBLIC OPTION plan for the uninsured? tada! Simple. Easy, Fast.

Frustrating...some of congressional staff/members actually suggested this but its not going anywhere. Don't ask me why.

The good: Congress is getting calls, emails, phone calls on Health care reform. So if you have a view point, make it known. Or suffer the consequences of non action.

I know the President's bill and others make certain conditions a necessity in changing the managed care insurers but they forgot to eliminate the term MCO love: Medical necessity which is used to deny coverage for "anything" the plan deems too expensive.

I loved the staff today who were very helpful and honest. More than that, they were willing to listen. Tell everyone you know to call, email, blog about health care reform. Congress is listening. And that is the best news I can offer.

Frankly, I am drained from frustration related to what I perceive as the mind boggling reticence on the part of Congress to make a simple, easy to use health care system possible. Health care coverage is a liberty. I thought liberty for all was part of our US Consitution. Remember when Patrick Henry  said: "give me liberty or give me death"? It is evident today that he was also including health care coverage.....pun intended.

More to come.....

Add Your Name; the Myth of 60

The Senate only needs 50 senators and Vice-President Biden to pass -- by majority vote -- healthcare reform including a public option in a budget bill this year. there are  50 senators on record ready to vote for real reform.


The budget process can start as soon as October 15. Need to hit the critical mass of at least 250,000 signers by then to make sure our call to action has an impact on every member of Congress nationwide.  If we work together, I think we can double it and gather 50,000 signatures by Monday.


As the President said in his speech to Congress last week, this is the season for action. The majority of Americans want the choice of a public option and majority votes in Congress will pass it. Join me in calling on Congress to get the job done this year.



ADD YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW http://americacantwait.com/dfaemail2



The myth of 60 is pushed by those who want to kill reform.



But the foundation of American democracy is based on majority votes and the United States Congress is no exception. While Senate rules allow a procedural tactic known as the filibuster to block most bills without the support of 60 senators, there are exceptions -- because Senate rules also ban the use of a filibuster to block budget reconciliation bills. That means, if the Senate can't pass healthcare reform including the choice of a public option with 60 votes, they can still pass it in the budget bill this year by majority vote.



The question is do they have the political will to fight back against right-wing fear mongering and misinformation to deliver real reform?



It's up to us to demand action. Let's work hard to get 50,000 signers by Monday.



ADD YOUR NAME -- THEN PASS IT ON
http://americacantwait.com/dfaemail2

I added my name. Will you add yours?

Referral to another blog, read it, facts

Please see http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/09/reflections-health-care.html

A factual and personal view of health reform. Not by me. I am drained. It is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Saul Friedman . Here is a brief point from the blog:

One of the several health care proposals before the Congress comes closest to Medicare for All. It was approved by the Democratic majority on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) without a single Republican vote. It was Senator Edward Kennedy’s bill.




Why didn’t Barack Obama put his actions where his fine words were and tell the Democratic Congress to pass the Kennedy bill?

Ellen DeGeneres, New Judge on American Idol

Yes, no healthcare reform post today. It is what it is. The President did his best, and so did I. The fact that the GOP sat like blubs and looked like spoiled children with several screaming liar to the President, says more for who they are and what they represent, then anything else I could say or do. So I am moving on....to good news: Ellen is the new 4th Judge on American idol.

It doesn't hurt that she is best buds with Ryan Seacrest, or that Simon loves her, more then that, we all love her. She says she represents the average potential buyer of music. I believe her. And she is not a teeny bopper. She will certainly revitalize the show which is badly needed. Shame the President didn't pick her as the health reform czar...that would have really ticked off the conservative right...hahahaha.

Thank goodness for Drop Dead Diva, Top Chef, and Project Runway...even Joan Rivers' show: How'd they get so rich, relief from the political pundits, news outlets and fox, no they're not a news network, at least in my mind.

More to come........................

HCR act now; repubs sit on their brains...cause that's where they are

President Obama was brilliant. Called out the liars; spelled out the plan. Everything remains as is if that's the way you want it. NO DEATH SQUADS; will force no more pre-exising conditions; no more use of medially unncessary; insurers must pay for members health care.

Public option available to those who have NO OTHER OPTION FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. YEAH. It will be non-profit

Will cut waste and fraud. Mediare and Medicaid remain: with better options.

Repubs sat like little children. Some did join in but most sat on that part of the anatomy not usually thought of to house brains, but in their case, it was where their brains are. I hope someone knows the names of the repub hecklers. I hope they all are replaced in Congress.

Time for change is NOW.  Make your voice heard.

Time is Now; WSJ reports Prez endorse Public Option Plan

Twitter alive and well with healthcare reform updates BUT conservative right wing-nuts are more prevalent; news reports they raised $20mm to destroy what they call: ObamaCare. They almost destroyed free speech by the President yesterday and actually blocked some schools from listening to a president who wanted to show and talk about the importance of school, commitment and responsibility. Is this who you want speaking for you? And, they are out to kill healthcare reform with such a vengence, it blows me away.

Contact the white house today and let the President know you want a public option health plan. this plan is NOT mandatory if you want to continue with the health plan you have. It is a CHOICE. 202-456-1414. FAX: 202-456-2461 are the White House numbers. I hope they are jammed with people letting the President know we support health care reform

Done.

A Matter of Life or Death: Are you ready to choose?

I said I was taking a break from the political and media pundits giving voice to the minority who want to control the USA and destroy the Presidency. Those who know me, know that is difficult for me to step back. So, motivated by a true story that is recent, I had to post this:

A young woman, mother, wife, in her late 30's, suffered a cardiac event: ventricular fibrillation (this is not conducive with life). Rushed to the Emergency Room, the doctors there initiated immediate cardiac surgery to correct the problem. They were successful. She did very well after the surgery and has returned to living a fairly normal productive life.

2 Weeks after her surgery, she received the hospital and physician bill totaling almost 100,000 dollars because HER MANAGED CARE HEALTH INSURER DENIED THE CLAIM as UNECESSARY MEDICAL EXPENDITURE. She is fighting it. I hope she wins. And if I knew the name of the insurer, I would name them here. But I don't want to affect her case.

In the NEW health reform public option plan, there would be no such incident or denial. And I believe, once a public option is in, managed care insurers will have to compete and denials as ridiculous as this one, will go away.

So it's a matter of life or death. Which do you choose? If you are currently insured with one of the managed care health insurers, this story could be about you.

Make a difference. Make your voice heard. CALL your congressional representatives, senators, and tell them you support the public option health plan. Here is the phone number, just ask for your representative: Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Taking a break from hate mongers: conserv right wing-nuts and fox news(Lies)

Is there anyone else out there who sees that the Repbs, conservatives, bimbo limbaugh, fox news are having a field day organizing lies and media coverage not to be believed. In my lifetime, I can't believe at this stage of our country, we promote hatred and lies and make a President wanting to encourage school kids to stay in school be on the verge of a criminal act. Bush spoke to kids in school: where were this idiots then?

These are the people, in my opinion, who fought against civil rights, and who are really exceptional at taking people's fears and appealing to them. What's worse? The media coverage of this crap.  Here is an example of distortion :http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/09/01/kevin-mccullough-obama-implode/; beyond the article are the comments from people who obviously never went to school.

Am retreating to relishing Project Runway, Top Chef, and more. Where are the sane people? No complaints on how these hate mongers are trying to take over our country? that is the part that saddens me most. The voice of reason is no where to be found.

Obama inherited this mess. He is doing his best to clean it up. We should all be praying he succeeds because we will succeed if he does.

Whatever, no one listens but if YOUR job was taken, if YOUR health care was denied, if your child wanted to hear a president speak and was denied it, what would you do?

Support those in Congress supporting a public option health plan, sign up now

Sign your support of the health heroes who are backing a public option health plan.....do it now

From Democracy for America:
This week, we kicked off September reminding Congress that passing the choice of a public health insurance option is about people -- not politics.



Organized by our partners at MoveOn, DFA members joined in holding over 350 "Can't Afford To Wait" vigils nationwide. Local papers covered many of the events whether there were 15 people attending or several hundred. And members of Congress were reminded that real people have real stories and are depending on them to pass real reform.


Over 60,000 Americans have signed on to thank the House Healthcare Heroes for committing to not vote for a bill if it doesn't include a public option. We will deliver all the signatures next week. Can you help us get to 75,000 signatures by Tuesday night?


SIGN UP NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 64 Democrats who have stood up to draw a line in the sand (AND SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION PLAN) need to know we have their backs. They need to know that no matter what happens we're depending on them to not back down. Here is the link:http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activities/181

Health Care Reform UPDATE

Read this post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/why-health-insurance-refo_b_276202.html

Finally a rationale analysis of why a public plan and health reform must pass.

Health Care: Speak Out. Now is the hour

My friend, Ronni Bennett of TimeGoesBy.net, has been doing a great job blogging on health care reform and the importance of the public option plan.  President Obama is speaking to Congress on September 9th. Have you spoken to the President lately: go to http://www.healthreform.gov/ and make your voice heard.

Lots of lies out there. Ronni talks of a site to help you sort fact from fiction. I am putting information here:

http://www.ncpssm.org/truth_squad/

It's the Truth Squad. Please check it out. Please contact your Congressional Representative. Karl Rowe is now speaking out on health reform: is this the man YOU want deciding what health care coverage you or your family has? Not me!

My Motivation for Life, health care for all

Meet my grandchildren....the stars of my life who inspire me with their unconditional love, complete trust in those they love, and absolute innocence.

First is Chloe, the first grandchild who at 2 1/2 yrs has attitude, personality, loves to dance and has dance moves Dancing with the Stars would die for. A zest for life, loves her little baby sister though hates to share toys with her and is a little too enthusiatic about pushing the swing and tickling her. Some pictures are with her little sister Lexi.

Now meet Lexi, almost 5 months. A very smilely baby, excited by her parents and sister, and bubbie of course:

Now meet Cassidy, 15 months, who appears with her cousins and by herself...a much more laid back young lady who when push comes to shove, makes her views known.

Chloe is constantly moving and often it is hard to capture her incredible smile and attitude in pictures. But all of them are the joy of my life.....they deserve the best and that includes affordable health care.

Hate Mongers attempt to follow me on Twitter

I have made it no secret I am for a public option and support President Obama's health care reform plan. I have blogged on it and used my Twitter (Twitter/nkbe) account to continuously promote this action, joining many others in this cause. I don't know why I am still amazed at the agression of the minority who espouse lies and fear mongering to get Obama's plan defeated; but I am still amazed. I almost wish those of us for the bill had more gumption and less apathy in this matter.

If you watched Senator Kennedy's memorial and burial service, you would have heard Republicans speeches on what they admired most about this Senator: His ability to reach across the isle and get things done. Yet less than 24 hours after Kennedy's burial, the Republican Congress was out in full force espousing lies about the health reform bill. They need to be removed from Congress because all they care about is their own personal gain (in my opinion). They seem to want to do and say anything to have the President fail. If the President fails, we all fail. President Obama inherited this mess. It will take more than 6 months to fix the crap President Bush got us into not to mention the greed of Wall Street and banks.

Where are you people? Do you not have a voice? You better speak now because we are in danger of losing help we desperately need for our citzenry. I contact Maryland Congress people yesterday to tell them to make health reform happen, particularly the public option. As I said in a previous blog: managed care insurers want their say; want to make millions and billions of dollars at our health needs. We need an option!

Today, the Christian Coalition wanted to follow me on Twitter. Their goal: defeat health care reform and more. Can they not read? do they not see I am for it or are they trying to defeat my voice? I blocked them but I fear their efforts will attempt to defeat my voice.

Now is the time: here is the link to all of Congressional emails: http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html

What are you waiting for? 57% of those polled want the entire Congress replaced. I want most of them replaced. We can make a difference here. Make your voice heard. do it NOW.

RIP Senator Ted Kennedy; Keep Hope Alive for Healthcare Reform

Sad news this morning: Senator Edward Kennedy has lost his battle with the Glioma, cancer of the brain. A tragic end to a life filled with both tragedy and good. I choose to remember the good. Yes, the Chappaquiddick incident is still constantly brought to the forefront. But he paid his dues. He did good and he was a champion for people. Maybe the bad that happened brought out the best in him. Maybe his good and commitment to good came about as repentance. Whatever, he was the head of a family that felt more tragic events that any family should.



Now, with Eunice gone, there is no other leader to this family. Now, with health care reform being badgered by Senators who may not have had such public misdeeds, but as vile as anything you can imagine by taking money from health insurers and fighting with such vengeance and lies to stop healthcare reform. Now we are left with many Senators who will stop at nothing to get their own ways; to assassinate health reform; to kill a new President's goals that are needed for this county. Maybe as a tribute to Senator Kennedy, we ought to vote out those who choose their own personal goals ahead of the good of the country and its people.



Whatever you think of Senator Kennedy, you must see that for decades, he changed his life and improved ours. I fear health care reform in this year may be stalled by his loss. I hope not. But I urge you to please contact all congress leaders to promote healthcare reform. Not as a tribute to Senator Kennedy, though a tribute it would certainly be, but for all of us, all of us. Don't believe those people who push their own interests over ours.

Kennedy got between 300-500 bills that help each and every one of us. Have a child that needs more help in school? Think of Title 9; So much that is too much for this blog.

For the Kennedy family, I wish them peace. Keep hope alive; let the dream of health care coverage for all human beings live on.

A little more on healthcare reform; Baucus plus

I read September issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. They have a great section on health care reform. A little bit of Trivia:Max Baucus (a so called right wing Democrat) who chairs the Senate Finance committee and is trying to stop the public option of healthcare reform, took almost $3 million from health insurers over the past year...and he knows health care? HAHAHAHA; he is owned by managed care companies.

Here is an emial I got from an organization trying to get health reform passed, the way it needs to be passed. I am including it to show that if we all work together, we can overcome the lobbyists and in fact we are lobbyists!

It's all because of you and the work we've done together.It started with 400,000 thousand signatures of Americans drawing a line in the sand, demanding that the inclusion of a public option in healthcare reform is non-negotiable. Then over 10,000 people delivered these petition signatures to every single member of Congress, sometimes to multiple offices. Governor Howard Dean capped it off with a public delivery event in Washington D.C. that drew over 10,000 supporters.Congress got the message. At least 64 House Democrats have pledged to vote against any bill without a public option. We need to thank our House Healthcare Heroes. Tell them to stand strong against pressure from insurance industry lobbyists.

ADD YOUR NAME NOW AND THANK OUR HOUSE HEALTHCARE HEROESWe're winning today because you've been driving the debate and delivering results.For the last two months, DFA members teamed up with OpenLeft-com and Healthcare for America Now to get every Senator on the record in support. The campaign is working. We are only four Senators away from the 50 we'll need to guarantee passage. We've been raising money all week to put extra staff and resources on the ground starting September 1st in as many as 10 states to pressure the remaining Senators. We will not stop until we win.DFA members also teamed up with FireDogLake-com to mobilize House Democrats. We made calls together.

We went to Town Halls and spoke up. And we offered House Democrats the chance of increased exposure if they shot a video to drive their position home. At least 64 House Democrats have stood up publicly, taken our challenge, and several of them backed it up with a video. Thanks to your work and these 64 Democrats, a Healthcare bill without a public option is D.O.A. in the House.Together with leaders like Jane Hamsher at FireDogLake and Chris Bowers at OpenLeft, we're delivering the results to get the job done. Let's make sure our House Healthcare Heroes know we have their back as long as they stand strong against insurance industry pressure.

THANK THE HEALTHCARE HEROES AND DEMAND THEY STAND STRONGWe're not holding anything back.We're continuing to pressure Roadblock Democrats like Senators Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu and Max Baucus with hard-hitting ads and personal healthcare stories of real Americans calling for change. And, with our friends at the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, we're preparing to amp the pressure up for Republican Senators in Iowa and Maine just in time to send them back to Washington with a clear message to not block reform.More than 1,000 DFA members have offered to become a spokesperson in rapid-response ad campaigns pressuring their member of Congress. We're ready to hit back against any Republican or Democrat - in any state - at any time if they plan to stand against the choice of a public health insurance option.

We're organizing everywhere to make sure we pass reform with a real public option. And just as it is important for us to be able to fight back against our opponents, it's important for us to be able to thank our heroes.ADD YOUR NAME NOWWe're winning, but we can't sit back and hope it happens. We need to make it happen.Thank you for everything you do to make sure we win.-ArshadArshad Hasan, Executive Director Democracy for AmericaP.S. On Tuesday, Governor Dean challenged DFA members to fund a campaign to put organizers on the ground in states where we still have Roadblock Senators. We've almost hit our goal. After you add your name, please contribute. We can be on the ground in as many as 10 states if we have the funds by Monday.

Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.

Paid for by Democracy for America, http://democracyforamerica.com/ and not authorized by any candidate. Contributions to Democracy for America are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Health Care Reform or Revolt? An insider's view

First and foremost, I wanted to say how proud I am to be part of a blogging community that is taking action to provide accurate, truthful, factual information on health care reform as proposed under the Obama administration. Much has been written, printed, pontificated about already. Much of it wrong. This blog will attempt to offer opinions and views, facts that will dispel the horrendous propaganda being dispelled by people who have a mission to destroy health coverage for all. Others will report more facts and this blog has listed resource for you also. Today, I want to talk about polls, myths and my own experience working in the insurance industry...managed care (and it is managed).

First, let's talk about public opinion. How can you have an opinion if you don't know the facts?

Polls: the reports are polls are showing people are against healthcare reform. Well it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that when people are reporting that the new reform will kill elders and ration healthcare, people would fight back. BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE.

How polls are reported is up to selection of material by politician and media alike. They usually choose those aspects of polls that support their views. On the Health care Blog yesterday, the Chairman of Harris Interactive posted one of the most thoughtful, factual truths about the health care reform polls. I urge you to go and read it NOW: http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog/2009/08/health-care-reform-what-do-people-really-want.html

Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive. reports on what do People Really Want? He lists the top 13 items people really want or feel about health care reform. He says its not about cherry picking polls as politicians do and choosing those aspects of polls that confirm and individuals opinion.



More on polls:http://polls.newsmax.com/results/obama_health.html is from a sight Newsmax that offers an immediate online poll on health care reform. Anyone can take it. I went to the site and the results listed are above. You have to sign up with your email so this is really a site, in my opinion, that really is soliciting information based on your email that they can perhaps sell or reveal. That is my opinion because when I went to the site for results: see url above, the poll was over 70% against health care reform and the same percent were people who voted for McCain. Factual and reliable poll? No. Be careful what polls you use or believe.

HMOs, Managed Care from the inside: I am a nurse. I worked in managed care for 7 years. I even worked in appeals and medical management where claims and issues with members were attempted to be resolved. People please understand that this affects YOU, your family, your health. Here are some examples of issues I found that made me sick:

A woman went to the hospital for surgical removal of a suspicious breast lump. When the surgeon went to remove it, it was obviously malignant and spread to lymph nodes. He removed the breast lump, the breast and some of the lymph nodes. The HMO denied coverage because the surgeon did not call the managed care organization for pre-authorization for a mastectomy instead of lump removal.

Mandates for hospital stays that were unreasonable and have changed but these included 1 day post op for mastectomy; 1 day hospitalization for postpartum care following vaginal delivery.

What happened? Cases such as the above caused more repeat hospitalizations for complications thus various states, and politicians, started a movement that finally resulted in certain conditions having to follow mandates for good health care. This was the first public mandate of health care. Whether you choose to believe this or not, this is true. So public, or government mandated care, actually saved lives, and money. And had it not been for the government and human outcry, this deplorable restriction on health care would be alive and well today.

Did you know: that most health insurance, including yours, has a cap on care? Did you know that your insurer has the right to deny coverage for care based on fine print including such terms as medical necessity?

Did you know that UNLESS you have group health coverage with an employer, the health insurance company can elect not to cover certain pre-exisitng conditions? These include asthma, diabetes, and more. So if you lost your job....which is entirely possible in this economy, and could not afford COBRA or ran out of COBRA and had to buy an individual health coverage plan, you would pay top dollar and still NOT be covered for pre-existing conditions.

And let's talk about individual purchase of health coverage. My son works. The company where he works is small and cannot afford to provide health coverage. Understandable. So my son purchased a HMO plan of one of the nation's largest HMOs. It started out at $150 per month. It went up every single year and hit $400 per month in 36 months. My son never was hospitalized, is in good health, went to a doctor once a year for a physical that was the extent of his claims. Health coverage for individuals and families who do not have access to employer covered health insurance is UNAFFORDABLE.

MYTH: the most widely spread myth out there is that the proposed government insurance will ration health coverage and kill off elders. Spare me. The stupidity of this is unbelievable. Public insurance will provide "end of life coverage". That is Hospice care. Hospice is offered for people of ALL ages who have a terminal illness. What it says is even though you have a terminal illness and may die within 6 months, you CAN STILL GET HEALTH COVERAGE to keep you pain free, and avoid complications that would hasten death. THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS. It is needed. Ask anyone who has experienced a catastrophic illness affecting a family member. Hospice has gotten the family and the patient through this difficult time. NO ONE KILLS ANYONE.

Where to go for more information:http://www.healthreform.gov/

I urge you to contact your congressional representatives TODAY to support health care coverage for all human beings. This blog has been touching on issues for the last week. YOU need to do your own sole searching based on solid facts and what you want and deserve for yourselves, your children, your families.

I urge you to visit Time Goes By, the site that started the movement among "elder"bloggers that spread to all ages blogging on health reform today. Here is the link to see the list of bloggers on health care reform: http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/

Also, a great blog with questions and answers to help people understand the health care reform movement:
http://darleneshodgepodge.blogspot.com/2009/08/questiona-and-answers-on-health-care.html

To your health, and for your health, please, please be vocal, make your voice heard. "One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world." — Barack Obama

Show YOUR support: http://www.healthreform.gov/support.html