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Said goodbye to one of my programming days today, but got stuck on being unable to connect to the on-line servers for Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Everything else that I did on the Wii worked, including a system update. But Brawl remained elusive. I’ll keep trying, and there will eventually be success. I’m sure of it. Until then, here’s the news.
My professional self is sure Ellen’s trying to be funny. She’s failing miserably at it in this stereotype-riddled "thought" about librarians. It just doesn’t work, and tends to raise spines rather than laughs. This one needs some rewrites.
In international affairs, the United States' new, heavily fortified embassy in Iraq is complete and now open. For a place that claims it doesn’t want permanent bases in the country, the extra armor is a bit unsettling.
A French film star stands trial today on her fifth charge of "inciting racial hatred" because of her remarks about Islam.
The RCMP, under sealed orders from the election commission of Canada, has searched the offices of the Conservative party. The only thing known about those orders is that they are in relation to a campaign finance and/or spending issue. More to come if those orders should be unsealed.
In the domestic realms, Study sponsored by four organizations that are part of the "marriage movement" claims that divorce and unwed parents cost the United States $112 billion per year. The assumptions being used claim single-mother households are high-poverty, which means more spending on welfare, health care, education, and criminal justice. And then claims that the government has a legitimate interest in reducing those costs by promoting marriage.
It used to be that insurance would protect you from rapacious costs for medications or procedures. After all, that’s what it was there for - pay in when it isn’t needed to get the benefits when it is. Well, insurance companies have started moving some treatments away from flat-rate co-pays to requiring the insured pay some percentage of the drug costs, which for some medications without generics, can easily run up into the thousands of dollars. For those on fixed incomes, that’s even worse. So now, even more so than ever, the people who need the insurance’s insulation against big bills are most likely to be stuck with big bills. A national health care plan for everyone or stomping mudholes in the insurance companies until they provide the services they are supposed to, without attempting to make stellar profits. It’s your choice, government. But you have to choose, because health care may be one of the few issues that a populace will riot on. I’d like to see them do both - stop mudholes in profiteering and replace the cumbersome inefficient system with one where nobody has to worry about whether they’re covered for most things.
Nicholas Kristof forecasts a consequence of climate change most people may not be aware of: increased witchcraft executions. He does this to make the point that there are unintended consequences to all of this.
With regard to the candidates standing in the election in November, Dana Milbank points out that the idea of liberal media is nonsense, just in the way they gave McCain donuts and softballs, while Obama continued to be grilled about his remarks with regard to what people turn to when government fails them. Thomas Sowell repeats the noise about Obama's "real" self being totally against the proles and a complete liberal. The liberalism the proles do tend to like, and this elitism charge should be leveled at all the candidates, as they come from sufficient means to be able to fund these kinds of campaigns and raise that kind of money. In the Senator’s defense, Dick Polman writes the speech he feels Senator Obama should give.
Taking care of Listmania for tonight, seven simple ways to wake up refreshed. For managing the money, Carrie Schwab Pomerantz gives advice on where to put your savings dollars. And just to add spice, Mac Tonnies gives us a list of reasons why we haven't had ET contact yet. And topping it all off,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jokermage lists how the news media treats any story with a scientific component.
To warm hearts, a disabled cat providing theraputic interactions for older persons.
Last for tonight, our Moment of Zen - a puddle with its own blog. And to disrupt that moment, LOLTheorists.
On the postscript, something that could have the same appeal as PostSecret, although not necessarily with the same anonymity - Dear God, which are short prayers to a divinity on all sorts of subjects, which then have a appropriate picture attached to them.
And now, bed. Although I don’t know that I have to do this, I may need to get up nice and early tomorrow morning and attend a meeting.
My professional self is sure Ellen’s trying to be funny. She’s failing miserably at it in this stereotype-riddled "thought" about librarians. It just doesn’t work, and tends to raise spines rather than laughs. This one needs some rewrites.
In international affairs, the United States' new, heavily fortified embassy in Iraq is complete and now open. For a place that claims it doesn’t want permanent bases in the country, the extra armor is a bit unsettling.
A French film star stands trial today on her fifth charge of "inciting racial hatred" because of her remarks about Islam.
The RCMP, under sealed orders from the election commission of Canada, has searched the offices of the Conservative party. The only thing known about those orders is that they are in relation to a campaign finance and/or spending issue. More to come if those orders should be unsealed.
In the domestic realms, Study sponsored by four organizations that are part of the "marriage movement" claims that divorce and unwed parents cost the United States $112 billion per year. The assumptions being used claim single-mother households are high-poverty, which means more spending on welfare, health care, education, and criminal justice. And then claims that the government has a legitimate interest in reducing those costs by promoting marriage.
It used to be that insurance would protect you from rapacious costs for medications or procedures. After all, that’s what it was there for - pay in when it isn’t needed to get the benefits when it is. Well, insurance companies have started moving some treatments away from flat-rate co-pays to requiring the insured pay some percentage of the drug costs, which for some medications without generics, can easily run up into the thousands of dollars. For those on fixed incomes, that’s even worse. So now, even more so than ever, the people who need the insurance’s insulation against big bills are most likely to be stuck with big bills. A national health care plan for everyone or stomping mudholes in the insurance companies until they provide the services they are supposed to, without attempting to make stellar profits. It’s your choice, government. But you have to choose, because health care may be one of the few issues that a populace will riot on. I’d like to see them do both - stop mudholes in profiteering and replace the cumbersome inefficient system with one where nobody has to worry about whether they’re covered for most things.
Nicholas Kristof forecasts a consequence of climate change most people may not be aware of: increased witchcraft executions. He does this to make the point that there are unintended consequences to all of this.
With regard to the candidates standing in the election in November, Dana Milbank points out that the idea of liberal media is nonsense, just in the way they gave McCain donuts and softballs, while Obama continued to be grilled about his remarks with regard to what people turn to when government fails them. Thomas Sowell repeats the noise about Obama's "real" self being totally against the proles and a complete liberal. The liberalism the proles do tend to like, and this elitism charge should be leveled at all the candidates, as they come from sufficient means to be able to fund these kinds of campaigns and raise that kind of money. In the Senator’s defense, Dick Polman writes the speech he feels Senator Obama should give.
Taking care of Listmania for tonight, seven simple ways to wake up refreshed. For managing the money, Carrie Schwab Pomerantz gives advice on where to put your savings dollars. And just to add spice, Mac Tonnies gives us a list of reasons why we haven't had ET contact yet. And topping it all off,
jokermage lists how the news media treats any story with a scientific component.To warm hearts, a disabled cat providing theraputic interactions for older persons.
Last for tonight, our Moment of Zen - a puddle with its own blog. And to disrupt that moment, LOLTheorists.
On the postscript, something that could have the same appeal as PostSecret, although not necessarily with the same anonymity - Dear God, which are short prayers to a divinity on all sorts of subjects, which then have a appropriate picture attached to them.
And now, bed. Although I don’t know that I have to do this, I may need to get up nice and early tomorrow morning and attend a meeting.
