A River's water of thoughts

I posted this at ontd_p and I got many a horror scream from women who didn't know this actually existed and is something they should KNOW about.

I think we have finally found the female version of a ball kicker story.

Woman's Health Horror: 'My Vagina Fell Out' (November 06, 2009 - Sphere.com - Buck Wolf)

( I'm cutting the entire article...read at your own risk )
Thoughts?

I warn you it's a bit graphic and you will scream in horror

A way to prevent ending up like the lady above is kegel exercises and GOING TO YOUR GODAMN DOCTOR WHEN THINGS ARE AMISS!

On last night's Keith Olbermann, Georgia Republican Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. was the Worlds Worst Person. And you know what? Keith is right. I think littleblackbow would agree.

Obama's Meeting With the Dalai Lama Is Delayed - Move Appears to Be A Nod to Chines (October 05, 2009 - WaPo - John Pomfret)

In an attempt to gain favor with China, the United States pressured Tibetan representatives to postpone a meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Obama until after Obama's summit with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, scheduled for next month, according to diplomats, government officials and other sources familiar with the talks.

For the first time since 1991, the Tibetan spiritual leader will visit Washington this week and not meet with the president. Since 1991, he has been here 10 times. Most times the meetings have been "drop-in" visits at the White House. The last time he was here, in 2007, however, George W. Bush became the first sitting president to meet with him publicly, at a ceremony at the Capitol in which he awarded the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian award.

The U.S. decision to postpone the meeting appears to be part of a strategy to improve ties with China that also includes soft-pedaling criticism of China's human rights and financial policies as well as backing efforts to elevate China's position in international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund. Obama administration officials have termed the new policy "strategic reassurance," which entails the U.S. government taking steps to convince China that it is not out to contain the emerging Asian power.

As Layoffs Persist, Good Jobs Go Unfilled (October 04, 2009 - Huff Po - CHRISTOPHER LEONARD)

n a brutal job market, here's a task that might sound easy: Fill jobs in nursing, engineering and energy research that pay $55,000 to $60,000, plus benefits.
Yet even with 15 million people hunting for work, even with the unemployment rate nearing 10 percent, some employers can't find enough qualified people for good-paying career jobs.
Ask Steve Jones, a hospital recruiter in Indianapolis who's struggling to find qualified nurses, pharmacists and MRI technicians. Or Ed Baker, who's looking to hire at a U.S. Energy Department research lab in Richland, Wash., for $60,000 each.
Economists say the main problem is a mismatch between available work and people qualified to do it. Millions of jobs with attractive pay and benefits that once drew legions of workers to the auto industry, construction, Wall Street and other sectors are gone, probably for good. And those who lost those jobs generally lack the right experience for new positions popping up in health care, energy and engineering.

Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider And Jack Szostak: 3 Americans Share 2009 Nobel Medicine Prize (October 05, 2009 - Huff Po - KARL RITTER and MATT MOORE)

STOCKHOLM — Americans Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak won the 2009 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for discovering a key mechanism in the genetic operations of cells, an insight that has inspired new lines of research into cancer.
It was the first time two women have been among the winners of the medicine prize.
The trio solved the mystery of how chromosomes, the rod-like structures that carry DNA, protect themselves from degrading when cells divide.

Kevin Smith Talks Judd Apatow, Weed, And His Post-'Zack And Miri' Depression (October 05, 2009 - Huff Po - Katla McGlynn)

Today it seems every leading man in a comedy is a nerdy, awkward, social deviant trying to get laid. But it wasn't always like that. Kevin Smith's iconic films of the 90's brought the often overlooked slacker to the leading role in this decade's films, offering comic book geeks everywhere the chance to see themselves represented on the screen. Now in his late 30s, Smith's fame has almost surpassed that of his films, and he's in a period of transition. I recently sat down with the filmmaker/writer/pop-culture godfather to talk about his new book, his upcoming projects and the heartbreaking realization that he's not the slacker he was 15 years ago.

When I arrived at Smith's hotel room, he opened the door wearing a long, black bathrobe, reminiscent of Silent Bob's trench coat. After we sat down on what we both agreed was an uncomfortable couch, I broke out my tape recorder and Smith munched on some bread and peanut butter. First we discussed his new book, "Shootin' The Sh*t With Kevin Smith: The Best Of SModcast," which he didn't really write, so to speak. It's a "best-of" transcription of his and best friend/producer Scott Mosier's podcast, where they discuss topics like the origin of Santa Claus, inter-breed dog sex and the effects on the digestive tract after eating four pounds of raw meat, among others.

"When they told me they wanted to do this at Titan, I was like 'I don't think it's gonna translate, dude. It's all about inflection," Smith said. "But what I loved about it is how they formatted it. It just made sense. You can just read it and just go 'Oh my God, I can hear it in my head!' That's why I give credit to the people who transcribed it, like they're the real authors. I mean they wrote the book."

Did you know that being pregnant is a pre-existing condition? Good luck trying to get coverage if you are preggers, trying to get preggers or your spouse is preggers.

Also, firemen, police, and others in hazardous jobs? The health industry tells them to go jump off a cliff.

ontd_p post on pre-existing conditions

Did you know that not even the state or federal agencies know how many health insurance claims have been denied?

ontd_p: In Health Care, Numbers of Claims Denied Remains a Mystery

California knows that 40% have been denied and are invesitgating in two insurance companies for criminal activity. But the rest? No clue because they are not required to share the information that the insurance companies share with each other with keeping track of that information with state agencies.

The House bill is supposed to rectify this.



At least Texas is doing something...even if it is keeping track of those who have been dropped.

*sighs*

Do we have this information on car insurance? What about house insurance? Do we have a record of claims made and denied and dropped?

If not, then why the fuck not? If we do, then why the fuck do we not do this for health insurance the most important and most used kind of insurance in existence!

Majority Of Doctors Back Public Option: New England Journal Of Medicine Study (September 14, 2009 - HuffPo)

A new study finds that a majority of physicians support the creation of a public health care option.

A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) study published in Monday's New England Journal of Medicine shows that 63 percent of physicians support a health reform proposal that includes both a public option and traditional private insurance. If the additional 10 percent of doctors who support an entirely public health system are included, then approximately three out of four physicians nationwide support inclusion of a public option. Only 27 percent support a private-only reform that would provide subsidies for low-income individuals to purchase private insurance.

Surveying a nationally representative sample of 2,130 physicians across America, researchers Salomeh Keyhani, M.D., M.P.H., and Alex Federman, M.D., M.P.H., from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City queried physicians about a range of options for expanding health insurance coverage.

"There should be no confusion about where doctors stand in the debate over expanding health insurance coverage: they want reform," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "This survey reveals important information about the perspective of physicians on issues central to the health reform debate. Policy makers should listen to their doctors."

"We found that no matter how you sliced the data, physicians demonstrated majority support for a public health insurance option, regardless of their type of practice or where they live," said Keyhani.

Among those physicians who identified themselves as members of the American Medical Association, 62.2 percent favored both the public and private options. The AMA has opposed a public option, saying that it "threatens to restrict patient choice by driving out private insurers."

A majority of physicians surveyed (58 percent) also supported expanding Medicare eligibility to those between the ages of 55 and 64.

"These results give voice to individual physicians in the national discussion about health reform," said Federman. "Most often we hear the opinions of special interest groups rather than doctors themselves, but we know that Americans want to hear the opinions of doctors like those who treat them. This study lets us hear the unfiltered views of physicians on key elements of health reform and should be useful for lawmakers."

~

Physician Views on the Public Health Insurance Option and Medicare Expansions (September 14, 2009 - Keyhani S, Federman A and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey shows physicians support reform plan that includes both public and private options.

A RWJF survey summarized in the September 14, 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine shows that 62.9 percent of physicians nationwide support proposals to expand health care coverage that include both public and private insurance options—where people under the age of 65 would have the choice of enrolling in a new public health insurance plan (like Medicare) or in private plans. The survey shows that just 27.3 percent of physicians support a new program that does not include a public option and instead provides subsidies for low-income people to purchase private insurance. Only 9.6 percent of doctors nationwide support a system where a Medicare-like public program is created in lieu of any private insurance. A majority of physicians (58%) also support expanding Medicare eligibility to those between the ages of 55 and 64.

In every region of the country, a majority of physicians supported a combination of public and private options, as did physicians who identified themselves as primary care providers, surgeons, or other medical subspecialists. Among those who identified themselves as members of the American Medical Association, 62.2 percent favored both the public and private options.

The survey was conducted between June 25 and September 3, 2009 by Salomeh Keyhani, M.D., M.P.H., and Alex Federman, M.D., M.P.H., of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. While the survey was conducted in several “waves” over a tumultuous summer for the health reform debate, no statistically significant differences were identified in physician responses throughout the summer.

</objec

I so love this.

It's against House rules to call President a liar. (There's going to be a punishment)
Joe Wilson's Apology To Obama Not Enough -Hoyer
WHAT IS IN THE WATER THERE I SWEAR TO GOD: Obama heckled by GOP during speech to Congress
Wilson apologizes: 'I let my emotions get the best of me'
Rep. Joe Wilson's Dem Opponent Raises Over $375K Overnight
Joe Wilson Denounced By Lawmakers On Both Sides Of Aisle (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo - LAURIE KELLMAN)
Joe Wilson says outburst to Obama speech 'spontaneous' - CNN

Joe Wilson Apologizes For Shouting "You Lie!" At Obama (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo - Ryan Grim)

All eyes turned in the South Carolina Republican's direction -- including Obama's, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's and Vice President Joe Biden's.

Wilson, looking agitated, leaned forward and began tapping away at his BlackBerry, as if he were Googling up proof that the president had, in fact, lied.

"Shame on you!" shouted someone from the Democratic side. "Throw him out!" shouted someone else. First Lady Michelle Obama, seated behind and above Wilson, seemed to mouth a drawn-out "damn" at the scene unfolding before her.

~

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the longest serving member in House history, said he was not impressed by the GOP antics. "Well, you've got to understand: They're Republicans. They're just doing what comes natural," he told HuffPost.

Obama, in his speech, referenced Dingell's father for first introducing universal health care legislation in 1943. Dingell has introduced such a bill every year he's been in Congress and today's House bill bears his name.

Breach of Discipline (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo - Major General Paul D. Eaton)
Conservatives Rally Around Joe Wilson: "Great American Hero" (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo - Elyse Siegel)
Health Care Bill To Cover Undocumented Immigrants? False. (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo)
Wilson Censure Considered By Dem Leadership (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo - Rachel Weiner)
Rep. John Shimkus Walked Out On Obama Speech Out Of "Frustration" (September 10, 2009 - HuffPo)
Joe Wilson's rallying cry (September 10, 2009 - Politico - Glenn Thrush)







He spoke to Rahm after greatly insulting the President of the United States...don't you think you would be jumpy too? Though he is ballsy to still push his agenda. He will be out of office by 2010 anyways.





Here is Rep "Joe" Wilson making an ass of himself before he was more widely known for shouting out "YOU LIE" to the President in Congressional Assembly!



Ontd_P live-post on Obama's speech 55 pages long <- we talked a lot about how cool this and that was and then when the stupid hit we all jumped on the bastard's case and tried to figure who he was.

Oh and stuff like this as well: RT @jaketapper: energy secy chu is the cabinet official not present here. so if Apocalypse happens - say hi to President Chu



Btw, Teddy's letter in full. It's a tearjerker.

May 12, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me – and one last time, to salute your leadership in giving our country back its future and its truth.

On a personal level, you and Michelle reached out to Vicki, to our family and me in so many different ways. You helped to make these difficult months a happy time in my life.

You also made it a time of hope for me and for our country.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the President who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society. For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me - and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination.

There will be struggles – there always have been – and they are already underway again. But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat - that you will stay with the cause until it is won. I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will – yes, we will – fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.

In closing, let me say again how proud I was to be part of your campaign - and proud as well to play a part in the early months of a new era of high purpose and achievement. I entered public life with a young President who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young President inspires another generation and once more on America's behalf inspires the entire world.

So, I wrote this to thank you one last time as a friend - and to stand with you one last time for change and the America we can become.

At the Denver Convention where you were nominated, I said the dream lives on.

And I finished this letter with unshakable faith that the dream will be fulfilled for this generation, and preserved and enlarged for generations to come.

With deep respect and abiding affection,

[Ted]

Use the Organizing for America site to find your members of Congress & email them:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon?source=vic

Contact their office directly via phone:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt





ETA: Miller has raised 500k. http://twitter.com/RobMillerUSMC http://i26.tinypic.com/ib9ber.jpg

Graffiti gains ground in China (August 20, 2009 - AFP)

Clean-cut 23-year-old design graduate Chen Chuang sprayed a whitewashed wall in central Beijing in broad daylight with big jagged blue letters -- his clan's signature -- before scurrying away.

"It's not really against the law," said his friend Liu Yuchen.

Chen quickly added: "But once you get caught, it can be very serious."

Chen and Liu are members of a small but growing group of graffiti artists in China where the craft, once the preserve of Western countries, has taken off in the last few years.

But unlike their counterparts in the West, who have sometimes used the art form to convey political messages, Chinese artists offer a message that has little to do with revolt or protest.

"Graffiti art in China has got rid of the strong rebelliousness and confrontational attitude in Western graffiti," said Luo Zhongli, head of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.

"It is related to the aesthetics of people's lives, and leans more towards fashion."

Scientists: New species of worms release 'bombs' (August 20, 2009 - RANDOLPH E. SCHMID)

Adult video gamers often overweight, depressed (August 20, 2009 - Reuters)

Men who said they played video games weighed more and used the Internet more than men who did not play video games, the survey showed.

Women who reported playing video games reported greater levels of depression and poorer overall health than non-gamers.

Adult video gamers also seemed less outgoing, or extroverted, and less social and assertive than non-gamers, consistent with prior research in adolescent video game enthusiasts that tied video game playing to sedentary habits, weight issues and mental health concerns.

Adult video gamers of both sexes relied more on the Internet for social support than non-gamers, which supports prior research suggesting that adult video game players may "sacrifice real-world social activities to play video games."

Shanghai kids' sex-ed camp fails to excite: report (August 20, 2009 - AFP) <- not the most cleverest title

A NEW ENERGY FRONTIER? (August 20, 2009 - MSNBC Cosmic Log)

The new Barney Frank macro meme

and this rap music montage <- Huff Po why do you hate to allow embedding?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barney Frank's Town Hall Snaps
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

Some 'good' news for once from Afghanistan. Despite low turnout, Afghan vote declared a success (August 20, 2009 - McClatchy - Jonathan S. Landay and Hashim Shukoor) The area biggest hit by the low turnout was the Northern area were Karzai dominates. It will be interesting to see how this effects the elections and how many will call fruad.

Who Works The Least? The French, According To UBS Study (August 19, 2009) I wonder how much they work in comparison to the US?

French transport workers threaten to pollute river Seine (August 20, 2009 - The Guardian - Lizzy Davies )

First they kidnapped their bosses; then they threatened to blow up their own factories. Now, in the latest phase of France's summer of discontent, disgruntled workers are turning to environmental blackmail as a stick to beat the management into submission.

Angry lorry drivers at Serta, a struggling transportation company, are threatening to pour more than 8,000 litres of toxic fuel additive into the Seine if their demands for redundancy pay-offs are not met. Acknowledging the "dramatic" effect this could have on the river's fish population, they insist they will not be dissuaded unless their bosses give in.

~
These actions, decried as media stunts by their critics, followed a springtime spate of so-called "boss-nappings" across France in which business executives were taken hostage by their bellicose employees. Such episodes are familiar features in the country's sociopolitical landscape and received more attention abroad than they did at home.

The more recent threats of environmental damage, however, are more unusual.

It may be that the Serta drivers are seeking to recreate the success of an infamous workers' campaign nine years ago in which workers at the Cellatex textile plant poured thousands of litres of sulphuric acid into the river Meuse. They were rewarded by management with a year-long redundancy package of 80% of their salary.

What rebound? Foreclosures rise as jobs and income drop (August 20, 2009 - Kevin G. Hall) <- These foreclosures are the ones in which people were fine until they lost their jobs. I think the government should put a mortetorum on these foreclosures until the recession ends and job hirings begin. Surely something can be worked out, otherwise, the viscious cycle will continue.

Huff Po LobbyBlog (August 20, 2009) <- is on the influence of Lobbying on a new provsion that FDIC wants on private equity firms having capital before investing in failed banks (highly important)

Jim Cramer Thinks Food, Inc. Could Inflame The Justice Dept To Take On Monsanto (VIDEO) (August 20, 2009)




If it doesn't embedd, try here






Healthcare Update

Obama Smerconish Interview: "Guarantees" Reform, Still Open To GOP (August 20, 2009 - Sam Stein)


Want to know what is going on in health care? Watch this: It will explain everything.

Totally awesome isn't it?

New Poll: 77 Percent Support "Choice" Of Public Option

Analysis: Health care endgame near but uncertain (August 20, 2009 - AP - CHARLES BABINGTON)

On defense, Obama woos right, left on health care (August 20, 2009 - AP - PHILIP ELLIOTT)

WHO predicts 'explosion' of swine flu cases (August 20, 2009 - AP - GILLIAN WONG)

FACT CHECK: Health overhaul myths taking root/a> (August 20, 2009 - CALVIN WOODWARD)

In consideration of this Federal study shows mercury in fish widespread (August 20, 2009 - AP - DINA CAPPIELLO) news story about mercury. I'm more likely to believe that Jeremy Pevin really did have mercury posioning.
Jeremy Piven: I Haven't Had Fish In 11 Months, I Feel Like A Different Person (August 20, 2009 - Katy Hall)

The Public Option? It's About Accountability (August 20, 2009 - Dan Froomkin)

"Meet The Press" Draws Most Viewers Since April On Maddow's Debut Appearance (August 20, 2009 - Danny Shea) video of the ep <- why can't MSNBC embedd work within LJ code?

Via Public Option Fundraiser Nets $100k In 24 Hours

I reported on Anthony Weiner in this post about how he took on Morning Joe and Chris Matthews and pwned their asses over how good public option is.

This just makes me fucking giddy.

A fundraiser launched by progressive bloggers as part of an increasingly aggressive response to White House backsliding on health care reform has out-raised any such effort in the past.

Donations in support of Democrats who back a public insurance option as part of health care reform have topped $100,000 from more than 1,500 donors in 24 hours and counting.

The most successful effort to date had been organized around the online community's opposition to retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that collaborated with the Bush administration to spy on Americans. The issue galvanized liberals, but community only raised about $350,000 over the course of a month, said Howie Klein, Blue America PAC's founder and treasurer.

"I've never seen anything like this before," said Klein. "This is the biggest one."

The effort is being driven by FireDogLake.com and backed by blogs across the country. It was launched in reaction to the White House signaling over the weekend that it was backing off the public option as key to health care reform. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday that a public option was "not essential"; Obama himself called it a "sliver" of the total reform effort; spokesman Bill Burton, on Tuesday, called it "just a piece" of the overhaul.

As recently as July, Obama pledged in a weekly address that "any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange -- a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, costs and track records of a variety of plans, including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest, and choose what's best for your family."

The benefit to individual members goes beyond the dollar amount. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), for instance, had a grand total of one ActBlue donor since the site launched in 2004. (Somebody gave him $25 in November 2006.) While he raised roughly $1,100 over the first 24 hours, it came from 460 donors -- meaning he now has 459 more progressive e-mails he can add to his fundraising network and hit up for contributions in the future.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) hadn't gotten a single donation through Blue America. She's now been on the receiving end of 461 gifts, averaging just under three bucks each.


Ryan Grim is the author of This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

Public Option Fundraiser Nets $100k In 24 Hours (August 19, 2009 - Huffington Post)

As of right now they have raised $168, 039 with just 2, 600 supporters. We can surely add to that can't we?

I already know dozens of people on ontd_p have donated.

I debated on donating more than $25 to Anthony Weiner.

I decide to just give $3 to the Pac, $10 to Barney Frank and $15 to Anthony "My middle name is Mutha-Fuckin-Single Payer" Weiner.

Schools starting, money is tight, but I hope to give more when some more money comes in. Maybe another quarter to Anthony "My middle name is Mutha-Fuckin-Single Payer" Weiner. I ♥ him

I found a bunch of links via ontd_p about the misconceptions of healthcare and comparisons to NHS which the Brits have.

Enjoy the fact checking.

A breakdown and takedown of conservative lies on health care reform

The NHS versus the US healthcare system.

The Guardian - 'Evil and Orwellian' – America's right turns its fire on NHS

We Love the NHS!
Graham Linehan (writer of The IT Crowd, Father Ted and Black Books) is starting a Twitter campaign to stop the right-wing nutjobs from insulting the NHS. Join in, view and spread the word with the hashtag #welovetheNHS
Also, they want you to retweet everything to @glennbeck

A favorite quote by someone, "UK NHS: designed to help patients, sometimes fails. US system: designed to screw patients, usually succeeds."

The ghosts of Clintoncare

Side by Side comparison of major Healthcare Reform Proposals - Kaiser Family Foundation <- The ones in Congress now.

Krugman: Health care obstructionists as concern trolls

Stephen Hawking Enters U.S. Health Care Debate


For the Lulz.

Protesting the Protesters <- Signs calling for Obama to bring back the awesomeness that was Arrested Development is not what the other protesters were protesting in New Hampshire before the Prez showed up for the townhall meeting. (yes the one with the guy with the legal gun (there was also a guy with an illegal gun who got arrested))

Lawrence O'Donnell educates clueless town hall attendee


I would have mentioned repealing the women's right to vote, et al oh and mentioning that socialism didn't exist when the Founders were around.



Update: Internal Memo Confirms Big Giveaways In White House Deal With Big Pharma

Politifact: The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises The Health promises

Talking Point Memo: As Part Of New Coalition, PhRMA, AMA Sink Millions Into New Pro-Reform Campaign (By Brian Beutler - August 13, 2009, 10:20AM)

WHY SPEND MONEY ON GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE? HEY WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH ON PRISONS OH GOSH WOOPS! About two-thirds of the nation’s juvenile inmates — who numbered 92,854 in 2006, down from 107,000 in 1999 — have at least one mental illness, according to surveys of youth prisons, and are more in need of therapy than punishment.

Huffington Post's Health Care page

Clyburn: Town Hall Protests Like Horrid Anti-Civil Rights Demonstrations

As U.S. health row rages, many seek care in Mexico

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/dean-there-will-be-primar_n_258813.html

In case you still had faith in average Americans...Poll: Health care views take sympathetic tilt to the protesters

Update 2 (August 17, 2009): How much money is your Member of Congress getting from the health industry?

This is just another reason why I want to live in Sweden.

I wonder how they are on freedom of speech? Manga porn...stuff like that?

federal judge on Thursday overturned guilty verdicts against Lori Drew, issuing a directed acquittal on three misdemeanor charges.

Reason being because it would criminalize what would usually be a breach of contract in website TOS.

Wu also doubted that MySpace provided sufficient notice to members to hold them responsible. If a user didn’t read the terms of service, the judge asked prosecutor Krause, could they still be charged with violating them?

Krause struggled to respond to Wu’s questions, emphasizing that not every terms-of-service violation would be prosecuted as a crime. In Drew’s case, he said, there was sufficient evidence to suggest that she knew what she was doing was wrong.

But Wu disputed this, pointing out that the government’s star witness — Ashley Grills — had testified that she never read the terms of service before clicking on a button agreeing to them.

Wu and Krause circled around each other for several more minutes before Wu finally announced that he was granting the defense’s motion to acquit.

Penguin Parents Won’t Chip In to Help Handicapped Spouse

Why you can't keep your foot out of your mouth?

Using ingenious experiments to reveal the brain’s hidden machinations, Wegner and others have found that our brains expend steady, conscious effort to avoid talking about ex-girlfriends on first dates, sending putts off the green, or letting slip the real reason you were late for work.

But when our conscious minds are stressed and preoccupied — by, for example, a desire not to screw up — a subconscious process devoted to guarding against the mistake slips through. Unwanted thoughts pop into the forefront of your mind.

New Class of Black Holes Discovered.

DOJ formalizes probe of google books settlement

The New York Times and others are reporting that DoJ has written to the federal judge administering the settlement, which gives Google the right to digitize not only works in the public domain but protected works, for a fee, unless content owners opt out, and a huge cache of what are known as “orphan” works — books whose copyright status isn’t clear.

Green Lantern lands comic con premiere and facebook sweepstakes

To sweeten the pot, the comics powerhouses have launched a Facebook promotion to get Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman nuts on board with a time-honored hero just landing his first dedicated film. Interested parties can power up widgets on their Facebook pages, which need, like Green Lantern’s iconic ring, to be continuously recharged to satisfy eligibility for prizes like a Playstation 3, 40-inch 1080 LCD HDTV and a Blu-Ray version of the film. Of course, if they don’t feel like recharging their lanterns, they can also goof around with the widget’s peripheral content, which includes a personality quiz, Green Lantern IQ test, videos, news, and downloads.

Bulwer-Lytton Contest Salutes ‘09 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writing Disasters

Every year since 1982, the English Department of San Jose State University has sponsored the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, a literary battle royal that challenges aspiring hacks to compose the opening sentence of the worst novels imaginable.

Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the contest’s namesake, was a noted author and politician who coined famous phrases such as “the great unwashed,” “pursuit of the almighty dollar” and “the pen is mightier than the sword.” But, he also opened his novel Paul Clifford with the infamous clunker, “It was a dark and stormy night.” So, the contest bears his name.

Remember how in April I mentioned that I thought I got bit by a spider and I was put on these horrible antibotics that made me deathly ill? Remember how I said the medicine didn't work but I was too busy to go back to the doctor and withstand another two weeks being sick for the medicine to work?

...I should have gone back to the doctor.

It is now June and while the red spot on my leg has shrunk...it's still there and still looks bad (it also hurts when I press down on it...like something is in there). A few minutes ago I noticed a scab part was about to come off (I did this once before and it did nothing to hurt it) this time something happened.

It hurt when I pulled off the tiny bit of scab that was coming off. I'm rationalizing in my mind that it was bound to be ripped off since I toss and turn in the bed and it was bound to get caught on cloth or something and get ripped off anyways. Mom kept telling me to leave it alone and I have! It is sooo totally not my fault it came off. We've been saying for the past week that I need to go back because the thing was looking bad.

So it bled...a tiny tiny bit...but once I took pictures (see I am smart, I'm taking pictures to show the doc) I saw this white pouch/sack thingy...and now I'm freaked. Head of pouch thingy is poking through the middle of the red mark thingy. I'm now worried it will bust...

Is it a boil? Poison from a spider/insect bite? Something freaky? What?!

Why the hell have I had this for three months now and it still hasn't healed?

Is it cancer?

See, I'm freaking out.

FYI: the red spot is a little bit smaller than the size of my pinky fingernail...still it's scary.
( the pictures of the red spot )

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Swine Flu is a real threat. The main reason is that it is killing healthy young people. Which are typically happening because their immune system fights the virus too much and tissue and cells build up in the lungs and they suffocate. It is also causing acute pneumonia.

Keep in mind that the regular flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people a year. But these are mostly young children and old people older than 65. So far it seems that the majority of the deaths in Mexico are happening in people aged 20-40. Death toll is up to 149 (suspected deaths, less than half have been confirmed and it will take time). So far, it's only killing people in Mexico. It could be because people were putting off people seeing the doctor or it is losing strength (new mutations make it weaker) from each person it passes to. Or it's because we have tamiflu? And we are aware of the swine flu unlike how it was a couple of weeks ago.

As for the Tornado. Not but two counties away a tornado has been spotted on the ground and is moving 20mph east. We aren't in danger from the tornado but we are in danger of a severe thunderstorm that is going to hit us within the hour.

It's coming. It's big. And it is BAD. I'm not sure how we are going to handle it considering how damaged our house is.

Medicine goes in and out of when it makes me sick. At the moment, today has not been a good day. I keep feeling nauseous but nothing happens. I'm tired, drained and weak. A little bit hungry but it's hard to eat.

Not to mention I have this sore on my tongue. I think I bit it. But mom has me worried that maybe it's the antibiotics. And what if all this medicine wasn't worth it? Or it's treating the wrong thing? I also have a slight sore throat. Maybe all this did was get rid of all the good stuff and this will leave me vulnerable for something else?

I'm sick as a dog. The medication I was given to help me fight off the staph infection in my leg is making me extremely nauseous. The smell of food makes it worse. I can't get used to it. I've lost most of my appetite and the only reason I eat is right before and after taking my pills. Otherwise I don't eat, at all.

I'm weak, tired and sometimes unable to sleep due to the gassiness and nausea.

I'm going to e-mail my boss... I can't come in tomorrow. Each day is getting worse. I actually threw up tonight just hours after my pills.

The infection has gone down and it no longer hurts to touch it, it's slightly off-colored, but there is still a little bump under it. I hope that by the time Sunday comes the bump will be gone. Mom says the nurse practitioner should have lanced it to take out the stuff. *shrugs*

I don't think I'm going to be well enough to go to my cousin's wedding on Sunday.

Here are a few things I learned this weekend.

1, the cheapo version of bactrim fucks you up if you don't eat food with it. I so nauseous that I had to stay in bed and miss the Easter party that the uncle's gf was throwing. Btw, she's doing okay. She's been calling my mom nearly daily but work keeps her busy. She's a tow-truck driver and now the only one certified in her small town.

2, twitter is powerful and can make companies bow out in apology. Amazon screwed up and had an LJ type of failboat happen. All the LGBT deemed Adult books were dropped off the sales rnakings and the authors are PISSED.

I wonder if this was passed on to the yaoi/yuri (boylove/girllove) graphic novel side of things as well. They are considered adult...but they aren't aimed at an audience except adults as erotic reading.

So was this some new policy? An lj change of tos failboat type? Or just an honest glich?

Opinions?

Edit: I checked Amazon and the Brokeback Mountain book does not have it's Amazon Sales Rank listed and it is true that it does show for another of the author's book. But I don't think this was deliberate because the erotic graphic novels are NOT effected. Not even the gay ones.

Update: Maybe it is deliberate as on the petitionsite it has a letter stating Amazon's new policy.

My question is this, why aren't the smutty graphic novels not being blacklisted and only the novel books? Do they not deem it adult? Or is it because the ones being affected are categorized under the gay and lesbian linky and even the bl and gl mangas are listed under comics and graphic novels linky. So is this really a glitch or do the banishers not want to mess with TokyoPop et al or do they not know about the comic porn?

update: Here is the blog that started it all, Mark R. Probst e-mailed and got a response saying that all books that fall under the 'adult' category are being taken off the sales ranking... But it's only affected the gay and lesbian novels. Nothing else, so far.

update: dearauthor is getting the techno info on what exactly was affected. It seems that the block only effects certain metatags which may be why the graphic novels are unaffected.

It could be that it was a glich and someone did this to all those they deemed 'adult' or it could be a hackjob. Is it just a coincidence that this happened Easter weekend the holiest of holy days in the Christian religion?

Joy.

Went to mom's doc it was $130 dollars mentioned I had no insurance got it dropped to $80.

The Nurse Practitioner says that if it was a brown recluse it would have turned black. Whatever it was if it was a benign spider bite or a some other insect it is infected. She's worried it's staff and that might be turn/into MRSA, because of the lesion-like abscess.

I'm screwed.

I have a weak immune system. I get bacterial infections and it wrecks my system. I once had an ear infection that got so bad it went down and made sack of venom pouch in my neck by my lymph modes. Doctor said I was lucky it didn't burst because I would have been dead in seconds.

I've had a UTI and a relapse, weeks apart, with an e-coli and then staph infection.

I have had strep a few times.

I hate having to take medications. I HATE it!!!

Now I have to take four antibiotics for seven days (but I have 40 pills so ten days?). These antibiotics are huge and I have to take two of them twice a day. I have 40 pills!

I got the generic version of the antibiotic, bactrim, I've never taken it before. *is nervous* And I have this leison ointment and I have to stick a small part up my nose.

*sighs*

The other day I noticed that right above my left knee it was a bit painful when I touched it. So I took off my pants and noticed there was a spot and a bit of a bump on there. I thought maybe it was an insect bite or a pimple and started to put some pimple cream to dry it out.

Now though...it's looking worse, it's red and swollen and me and mom are starting to think it's a spider bite. More specifically, a brown recluse spider bite. I don't remember any pain with the bite (if it is a bite) and brown recluse spiders are notorious for having anesthetic in their bites to prevent their victims from realizing that they have been attacked.

In Texas there are only two native species of spiders that are considered deadly, the black widow and the brown recluse. Which is why we are worried.

Here are two pictures I took of it. Does it look like a spider bite?



Close Up view:


So do you guys think I should wait and see if things get better or should I go to the doctor?

Remember, I DON'T have health insurance.

I might have to put off the tattoo for another six months. Mom finally got ahold of the county health department and we went down to get me the gardasil shot.

When mom burned her arm she asked about the garasil HPV shot and the clinic said it is about $150 a shot and told her to ask our county health dept clinic to see if it's cheaper. It was. I paid $10 today each for the gardasil shot (1 of 3) [as long as you are younger than 26 the state will pay for the majority of it and you owe the leftover, $10), tdap (new tetnaus shot) and the Hep A shot (1 of 2).

I told the nurse about me wanting to get a tattoo and she recommended waiting until after I get the second shot in June.

Btw, I didn't look when the needle was put in my arms (2 in left, 1 in right) but it did hurt for a bit. The lady said it might not be the needle but the vaccines burning as it goes in. Since needles don't bother me much...I think it might be a bit of both. I think I'm a tiny bit effected by the side effects, tiredness a little bit of dizziness pain at injection site (though this could be because we went grocery shopping and I had to carry it) or it could just be because I stayed up all night and I slept in most of the day.

So what do you guys think? Should I put it off?