ending march

2 sites for environmental issues:
www.switchboard.nrdc.org
www.SaveBiogems.org this one has coverage of areas like bristol
bay, the inside passage, killing of wolves,
lumbering, etc

great quotations if you are of that ilk (like the poem cows are like the bovine ilk, one end is moo, the other milk)

The Endangered Species Act puts 'rats and shellfish' before people--Ponbo, CA

I'm still trying to find the first American to talk to who's in favor of the public option--Boehner OH

(on global warming) When it's hot, we get in the shade--Barton TX

MY FAVORITE:
I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life--Coburn OK



Do some research on Koch Industries for insights into who is running the country.

hard to believe

from the um alumnus magazine winter 2010:

very interesting article about prof juan cole--follow his blog, informed comment

it's safe to reuse pacemakers! wow, think i'd want a new one but. . .actually i think i heard they were "remanufactured" and reused. wonder if dad's is in someone else? the article says pacemakers are donated to underserved nations, 12 of them in the philippines in poeple who could not afford advanced cardiac care and were confined in bed as they waited for a permanent pacemaker. economic issue? race/poverty issue?

another experiment with colon cancer/colostomy patients. some patients were told the colostomy was non reversible, others that it was. researchers found "that holding on to hope may not make patients happier as they deal with chronic illness or diseases". the non reversible group supposedly "reported being happier over the next 6 months than those with reversible colostomies". ah to lie for science. maybe the not so happy group was already depressed before surgery. there's something not quite moral here. having been around someone with a colostomy and then ileostomy (sp?) i can't say i think this experiment is ethical.

positives from health care reform

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10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.
To share this list with your friends using Facebook or Twitter, visit:

http://pol.moveon.org/healthcare/tenthings/?id=19504-7578054-0kedsZx&t=1

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Sources:

1. Final vote results on motion to concur in Senate amendments to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, March 21, 2010
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

4. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010
http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

5. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf

8. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87402&id=19504-7578054-0kedsZx&t=2

9, 10. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87403&id=19504-7578054-0kedsZx&t=3

11. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

this week--saving $ and the earth

from family circle--compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and shouldn't be just tossed, try recycling at places like home depot

saving the planet--see recyclebank.com, Earth911.com, earthday.net/initiative

codes for coupons/discounts--promotionalCodes.com, freeShipping.org, RetailMeNot.com, RedPlum.com, Ebates.com, Alice.com, Coupons.com, BeCentsAble.net, CouponSherpa.com, eDeals.com

March absurdities

sites to visit:

www.childrensdefense.org the path from children's poverty and neglect to prison

http://www.neaorg/home/37878.htm video of people experiencing Social
Security offsets

for testing absurdity see p 56 in neatoday for short summary of 10 day suspensions in seattle. students with cognitive ages of 6 months to 2 years had to take the test for grades 3-5


Doesn't it seem normal that only alaska and texas weren't in agreement with the governors' plan to have a nation wide set of standards? No Child Left Behind came from a Texas buddy of Bush; would that company loose $?


Back to Michigan: If you support cutting taxes and services, why complain when the state makes cuts to your program? Cuts are only for someone else? RIGHT

The Feb 28 2010 Michigan Farm News has several interesting articles. Go
read. Main article: GOVERNOR OFFERS AG ANOTHER BUDGET SLAP. Well,
duh. You support the side that wants cuts, deal with it and quit
bitching. Elect some more to the right so we can cut more of ag's
programs, and keep cutting.

Apathy for the environment: see p 12 So what if "the Michigan Agri-
culture Environmental Assurance Program will be eliminated in 2011 under
Granholm's budget proposal." The ag community is against many controls
like pesticide use controls so obviously why is any assurance program
needed? CUT IT. Wasn't man given authority over the earth? As long as
I'm not harmed too much, go for taking and destroying -- for profit.

See p 3 MEMBERS URGED TO OPPOSE SPRAY DRIFT LAWS. Please, ag members,
the EPA proposed rules to "do not apply this product in a way that will
contact workers or other persons, either directly or through drift" is
obviously too harsh. We don't need no rules like this; people will
get out of the way won't they, if they want to, if they smell something,
if the cloud descends on them, etc. No smell; don't worry. Can't see it
or smell it? IT DOESN'T EXIST.
The article urges continuing the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and
Rodentcide Act of "no unreasonable adverse effects". Do you wonder
who decides?


From the March 8 2010 NEW YORK TIMES, check p. 1, 14-15 article In Deal on Everglades, A Dream is Deferred. Check out who was not included in negotiations, who gave $ to then gov. Bush, what contaminants are in land purchased, etc.
Site: nytimes.com/national

State mantra? We don't need no Everglades.

Also read editorial page especially The Escalating Price of Politics p.18.
"Senator Brown, the Republican newly arrived from MA, promised to study. . ." (a bill by Durbin) "There's a way that we can work to get big money and corporations out of politics, and obviously, adhere to the Constitution as well, said Brown". LET'S NOT forget the 14 MILLION his campaign got in donations!

that makes sense

voting instructions for a proxy vote for Columbia Funds variable insurance from Riversource (Ameriprise) had some interesting proposals, but first let me say that i did find in the large booklet explaining why a yes vote for all items was needed that this Columbia fund is owned by Bank of America. that explains a lot.

one proposal "to submit instructions to approve the proposed policy authorizing. . .to enter into and materially amend . . .agreements in the future with the approval of the board of trustees, but WITHOUT OBTAINING ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL" is questionable. doesn't this mean they can do whatever they want without any shareholder input? will they always be working in the shareholders' interest? not holding my breath.

also how about to approve election of nominees to the board each one to hold office for an indefinite term? until they die? until they exploit as much as they can? until they take all?

Let the average, "working man" beware. Companies do NOT care an iota about anyone--only how to exploit and use each one of us.