I'd like to leave you with something
valuable, she said. You probably already
have, I said, but we take most of our
lives to remember that, even in the best
of times
From StoryPeople.
I love "Story of the Day". I post the little stories probably only for Ann and me, and Ann gets them by email, too, so I suppose they're just for me. Anyway....
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
700,000 Bankruptcies Per Year Because Of Medical Bills
From T. R. Reid in the Washington Post:
This fragmentation [in US health care] is another reason that we spend more than anybody else and still leave millions without coverage. All the other developed countries have settled on one model for health-care delivery and finance; we've blended them all into a costly, confusing bureaucratic mess.
Which, in turn, punctures the most persistent myth of all: that America has "the finest health care" in the world. We don't. In terms of results, almost all advanced countries have better national health statistics than the United States does. In terms of finance, we force 700,000 Americans into bankruptcy each year because of medical bills. In France, the number of medical bankruptcies is zero. Britain: zero. Japan: zero. Germany: zero.
Given our remarkable medical assets -- the best-educated doctors and nurses, the most advanced hospitals, world-class research -- the United States could be, and should be, the best in the world. To get there, though, we have to be willing to learn some lessons about health-care administration from the other industrialized democracies.
Imagine! 700,000 bankruptcies per year due to medical bills. How can we, the richest country in the world, call ourselves a civilized country? Do the numbers of bankruptcies shock you Mary Landrieu, David Vitter, and Charlie Melancon? They shock me. Must we study health care models for a longer period of time while folks get sick, die, and go bankrupt because they can't pay medical bills for the lack of a decent health care plan?
You're well-covered by a government-run health plan. Why can't your constituents have what you have? We pay your salaries. You work for us. Give the citizens of the US the help they need with health care. Isn't it time that we cease to be a disgrace and embarrassment around the world?
The entire article is worth a read. It's long, but it has a lot of interesting information about health care in the US as it compares to health care around the world.
H/T again to Paul the BB. I'm stealing all his stuff today. What are blog friends for if not for stealing their material? Really.
UPDATE: The 700,000 bankrupt because of medical bills are real people, not just numbers. Hedwyg tells her story at her blog. Please read her post.
This fragmentation [in US health care] is another reason that we spend more than anybody else and still leave millions without coverage. All the other developed countries have settled on one model for health-care delivery and finance; we've blended them all into a costly, confusing bureaucratic mess.
Which, in turn, punctures the most persistent myth of all: that America has "the finest health care" in the world. We don't. In terms of results, almost all advanced countries have better national health statistics than the United States does. In terms of finance, we force 700,000 Americans into bankruptcy each year because of medical bills. In France, the number of medical bankruptcies is zero. Britain: zero. Japan: zero. Germany: zero.
Given our remarkable medical assets -- the best-educated doctors and nurses, the most advanced hospitals, world-class research -- the United States could be, and should be, the best in the world. To get there, though, we have to be willing to learn some lessons about health-care administration from the other industrialized democracies.
Imagine! 700,000 bankruptcies per year due to medical bills. How can we, the richest country in the world, call ourselves a civilized country? Do the numbers of bankruptcies shock you Mary Landrieu, David Vitter, and Charlie Melancon? They shock me. Must we study health care models for a longer period of time while folks get sick, die, and go bankrupt because they can't pay medical bills for the lack of a decent health care plan?
You're well-covered by a government-run health plan. Why can't your constituents have what you have? We pay your salaries. You work for us. Give the citizens of the US the help they need with health care. Isn't it time that we cease to be a disgrace and embarrassment around the world?
The entire article is worth a read. It's long, but it has a lot of interesting information about health care in the US as it compares to health care around the world.
H/T again to Paul the BB. I'm stealing all his stuff today. What are blog friends for if not for stealing their material? Really.
UPDATE: The 700,000 bankrupt because of medical bills are real people, not just numbers. Hedwyg tells her story at her blog. Please read her post.
For Shame, Mary Landrieu!
Shame on you, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), for blocking real health care reform. Is it the money that the health care industries give to your campaign fund? Why do you insist that the public option be excluded? Why not do something for your constituents, instead of favors for the health care industries? Why not do the right thing, Senator Landrieu?
Senator Mary Landrieu [OpenSecrets]
Insurance: $397,231
Health Professionals: $598,866
Pharmaceuticals: $224,196
Hospitals/Nursing Homes: $268,145
Health Services/HMOs: $165,505
TOTAL: $1,653,943
From Bold Progressives.
H/T to Paul, the BB, for the link, although I see that I may have to get on a plane to ABQ and wash his mouth out with soap and water.
Lazy Sunday
Today I'm taking the day off from anything strenuous, even strenuous thinking. Yesterday, I took my 13 year old granddaughter clothes shopping. She wears uniforms to school, but she needed fall and winter clothes for the weekends. I told her that we'd tackle the fall clothing first and that winter outfits could wait. Sometimes the need for winter clothes arrives late in the year, indeed, and we'll cross that bridge later. GD is a serious shopper. She knows just where to go in the stores for her size. She, said, "I'm so lucky. I can still wear girls sizes, and now junior sizes fit, too, so I have two places to look."
She didn't miss a rack of clothes with her size in the entire store. She picked out 11 items to try on. I cautioned her that we would not be buying all 11 items, and she said, "Oh, I know that. I won't like the way some of them look, and others won't fit." That turned out to be the case. She picked out one pair of tight, worn-looking jeans, one dressy knit top, an adorable dress that both she and I loved, and black-beaded, strap-between-the-toe flip-flops, which I liked a lot, too. A little funk into the mix is fine. Oh, and three bras, but I probably should not tell you that. Then, to my delight, she was done for the day, with only one stop.
Clothes shopping for myself is no longer a pleasure, because nothing looks good on me. I need to lose weight, and my clothes are simply to cover me and make me presentable in polite society. However, I took great pleasure in shopping with GD. All the clothes look good on her attractive, budding figure. She is a trip, funny and enthusiastic about her shopping, reminding me of myself many years ago. Except that I was always searching for a bargain, so I headed for the sales racks first. GD doesn't give that a thought.
Afterward, we went to lunch at Sicily, a restaurant with an all-day buffet, one price for all you can eat. GD didn't eat much, and I ate too much. She's good company, and we have bonded in a way that we probably never would have if her parents had not divorced. For now, I am the principal feminine presence in her life during her time with her dad, and my time with her is precious to me.
She didn't miss a rack of clothes with her size in the entire store. She picked out 11 items to try on. I cautioned her that we would not be buying all 11 items, and she said, "Oh, I know that. I won't like the way some of them look, and others won't fit." That turned out to be the case. She picked out one pair of tight, worn-looking jeans, one dressy knit top, an adorable dress that both she and I loved, and black-beaded, strap-between-the-toe flip-flops, which I liked a lot, too. A little funk into the mix is fine. Oh, and three bras, but I probably should not tell you that. Then, to my delight, she was done for the day, with only one stop.
Clothes shopping for myself is no longer a pleasure, because nothing looks good on me. I need to lose weight, and my clothes are simply to cover me and make me presentable in polite society. However, I took great pleasure in shopping with GD. All the clothes look good on her attractive, budding figure. She is a trip, funny and enthusiastic about her shopping, reminding me of myself many years ago. Except that I was always searching for a bargain, so I headed for the sales racks first. GD doesn't give that a thought.
Afterward, we went to lunch at Sicily, a restaurant with an all-day buffet, one price for all you can eat. GD didn't eat much, and I ate too much. She's good company, and we have bonded in a way that we probably never would have if her parents had not divorced. For now, I am the principal feminine presence in her life during her time with her dad, and my time with her is precious to me.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Update On Sue's Brother, Myron
From Suzanne in the comments:
Thank you for posting this note Mimi. I took another trek to the hospital today, and Myron looks more like himself and more of the swelling has gone down and he actually looks like himself. The docs are beginning to reduce the deep sedation, and also have inserted a monitor into his brain and determined the pressure in normal. Thanks be to God for that!
The concern now is for the fractures in his spine and weather or not there will be any paralysis.
Again thanks for the post. This has be an extraordinary time and I'm whipped.
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Myron the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God give strength, courage, and the peace that passes understanding to all who love Myron, as they minister to him; in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thank you for posting this note Mimi. I took another trek to the hospital today, and Myron looks more like himself and more of the swelling has gone down and he actually looks like himself. The docs are beginning to reduce the deep sedation, and also have inserted a monitor into his brain and determined the pressure in normal. Thanks be to God for that!
The concern now is for the fractures in his spine and weather or not there will be any paralysis.
Again thanks for the post. This has be an extraordinary time and I'm whipped.
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Myron the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God give strength, courage, and the peace that passes understanding to all who love Myron, as they minister to him; in Jesus' name. Amen.
Angel Dog
Lapin sent me a reminder of one of his favorite dog pictures. It's one of my favorites, too.
Please Pray For Sue's Brother
Roseann sent me the following prayer request from Sue, who often keeps us informed about Roseann:
Sorry I haven't been in touch. My younger brother [Myron] was involved in a horrible bicycle accident Thursday night. He has numerous fractures, bleeding on the brain, and 2 fractures of the back. In other words he is a mess. I've been running back and forth to the hospital and finally crashed last night.
I hope you are feeling better, I know you are home with the weiner dogs, and I'm sure they are entertaining you royally.
I'm surrounded by Baptist folks who love to pray and boy do they go on. I'm beginning to think they pray God into submission.......LOL
I'll be in touch when I can.
Sue
Roseann has a nice, newsy post at her blog, Give Peace A Chance, Please!
Sorry I haven't been in touch. My younger brother [Myron] was involved in a horrible bicycle accident Thursday night. He has numerous fractures, bleeding on the brain, and 2 fractures of the back. In other words he is a mess. I've been running back and forth to the hospital and finally crashed last night.
I hope you are feeling better, I know you are home with the weiner dogs, and I'm sure they are entertaining you royally.
I'm surrounded by Baptist folks who love to pray and boy do they go on. I'm beginning to think they pray God into submission.......LOL
I'll be in touch when I can.
Sue
Roseann has a nice, newsy post at her blog, Give Peace A Chance, Please!
Don't Touch!
A co-worker got a pen stuck inside our printer. He started to try and remove the pen, but I told him we don't have time for that now, just put a note on the printer telling folks not to use it and then report it to the Help Desk. So he grabbed a piece of paper and scrawled on it. I left before he finished the note.
About 20 minutes later, one of my techs comes in laughing and says he was just in the lobby, saw a piece of paper on a printer and went to investigate.
Attached is what he found. Sometimes things don't always come out the way you want them to........
From Doug.
About 20 minutes later, one of my techs comes in laughing and says he was just in the lobby, saw a piece of paper on a printer and went to investigate.
Attached is what he found. Sometimes things don't always come out the way you want them to........
From Doug.
Story Of The Day - Day Break
liking each other because it's a beautiful
day & it seems like a waste of time to
disagree about stuff the other one is
refusing to change out of sheer
stubbornness
From StoryPeople.
day & it seems like a waste of time to
disagree about stuff the other one is
refusing to change out of sheer
stubbornness
From StoryPeople.
Friday, August 21, 2009
ECLA Opens Ministry To Partnered Gay And Lesbian Pastors
From ELCA News Service:
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) - The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted today to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships.
The action came by a vote of 559-451 at the highest legislative body of the 4.6 million member denomination. Earlier the assembly also approved a resolution committing the church to find ways for congregations that choose to do so to "recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same gender relationships," though the resolution did not use the word "marriage."
The actions here change the church's policy, which previously allowed gays and lesbians into the ordained ministry only if they remained celibate.
Good work, brothers and sisters!
And here's a personal story from Southern Voice:
Pastor Bradley Schmeling
Despite loud and repeated threats of secession, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted this afternoon to stop requiring gay pastors to remain celibate or be defrocked.
By a 55 percent to 45 percent vote, the ELCA national assembly approved changes to its policies that would allow gay pastors to be sexually active in the context of committed relationships. The denomination also voted earlier today to allow churches to conduct ceremonies recognizing same-sex couples.
The vote seems to clear a path for Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta to return to the rolls of active pastors after being defrocked in 2007 for acknowledging his relationship with Darin Easler.
Schmeling's congregation has kept him at the helm although he was removed from the clergy roster by ELCA after an ecclesiastical trial. His story made national headlines and he has been referenced in USA Today, National Public Radio and Associated Press reports this week as the church considers the new legislation.
Remember Pastor Schmeling? Good for his congregation. This change in policy is not an abstraction. It's about real people, faithful Christians trying to follow the Gospel as best they can.
H/T to Caminante for alerting me to the news.
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) - The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted today to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships.
The action came by a vote of 559-451 at the highest legislative body of the 4.6 million member denomination. Earlier the assembly also approved a resolution committing the church to find ways for congregations that choose to do so to "recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same gender relationships," though the resolution did not use the word "marriage."
The actions here change the church's policy, which previously allowed gays and lesbians into the ordained ministry only if they remained celibate.
Good work, brothers and sisters!
And here's a personal story from Southern Voice:
Pastor Bradley Schmeling
Despite loud and repeated threats of secession, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted this afternoon to stop requiring gay pastors to remain celibate or be defrocked.
By a 55 percent to 45 percent vote, the ELCA national assembly approved changes to its policies that would allow gay pastors to be sexually active in the context of committed relationships. The denomination also voted earlier today to allow churches to conduct ceremonies recognizing same-sex couples.
The vote seems to clear a path for Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta to return to the rolls of active pastors after being defrocked in 2007 for acknowledging his relationship with Darin Easler.
Schmeling's congregation has kept him at the helm although he was removed from the clergy roster by ELCA after an ecclesiastical trial. His story made national headlines and he has been referenced in USA Today, National Public Radio and Associated Press reports this week as the church considers the new legislation.
Remember Pastor Schmeling? Good for his congregation. This change in policy is not an abstraction. It's about real people, faithful Christians trying to follow the Gospel as best they can.
H/T to Caminante for alerting me to the news.
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