Sign of the Times

It seems that on occasion I forget that I put a brew in the freeze. Most amazing thing was is that it didn't explode.

Oddly Enough

Over in Britain at least one group of Doctors is worried about overall healthcare being lowered, not because of the recession (which is threatening services) but because Public healthcare dollars are going to private companies.

He said moves to create polyclinics and PFI schemes, which use private money to build hospitals, were draining the health service of resources and fragmenting care.

Whodathunk?

The Numbers

The numbers are important. People like to quote them, hold them out as proof, or just to have something to compare what they have with. For instance the list below. With the exception of the United States everyone listed below has universal healthcare. Mind you this is for everyone in the country, not just those with insurance.

Total health expenditures per capita, 2003

United States $5711
Australia $2886
Austria $2958
Belgium $3044
Canada $2998
Denmark $2743
Finland $2104
France $3048
Germany $2983
Iceland $3159
Ireland $2466
Italy $2314
Japan $2249
Luxembourg $4611
Netherlands $2909
Norway $3769
Sweden $2745
Switzerland $3847
United Kingdom $2317

Hmmmm. I guess it can be done less expensively and everyone has the benefit of living a healthier life. BTW, the US healthcare system ranks in the 30's for quality. Behind everyone listed above.

Updated: Here are some more numbers. Why is the Healthcare Industry dropping $1.4 million a day to keep the status quo? How are the Politician's going to do the Right thing for America and the Public by voting for a full public option when they are so beholden to Big Pharma and Big Health Insurance Companies?

Don't worry! We can pretty much count on all the Polly's to protect their cash flow and buddies profits. If America is less better off, well so f*cking what? Lay on your couch till you get better, bitches!

Pearohdee

Parody¹:

1 : a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule.

I simply like to call it making fun of f*cknuts and asshats by putting them in the spotlight.

h/t raw`story

Camping on the Kankakee

Lucky nephew that I am I have an uncle who has a nice spread up on the Kankakee. Right around Ritchie or thereabouts. I'm also proudly named after him. The weather was hot and miserable, the mosquitoes where ferocious and a wonderful time was had by all. My brother and his family came down to visit from the High Plains. More family came in from around the Country. On Friday we enjoyed an early Fathers Day with my 95 year old granddad and a lot of the family.







The Eureka Apex 2XT we've been using rocks! We experienced thunderstorms and steady rain for a couple of hours. The Apex was of course bone dry, but my brother's tents faired less well. Just a tad of water inside both tents, but WTF? I thought Field & Stream was a good brand. Ah well, it isn't like anyone slept in a puddle or anything.

Updated, as if anyone cares but: There are guy outs on the F&S tents that were not utilized. An additional three each will be needed to secure those tents: stakes, eighty inch lengths of guy out rope. The guy out points over all the windows really need to be set up. Be sure to zipper up those windows at twelve o'clock and have nothing inside the tent touching the tent's sides. None of which happened and thus there was water in the tents. The buyer just doesn't get everything needed to secure the tent in it's most water tight configuration, that's all.

What You Won't Hear

What you won't hear in the media in our "discourse" about health care:

On a per capita basis, we’re already spending twice as much as comparable nations which get better health outcomes and already have full coverage

Amen, brother. That and if you get sick your policy will be cancelled. That's called riscission. Your word for the day?

h/t Daily Howler

The Garden Is In

Yep, finally got it all almost settled. Just waiting for the raspberries, gooseberries and blackberries to be dropped off. As a matter of fact the phone just rang and dude is on his way. Tomatoes, jalapenos, red, green and yellow peppers. Some basil, spinach, cucumbers and broccoli finishes it off.

Good thing we are learning how to preserve and can stuff.