Pining for the Fjords

Billionaires for Wealthcare are awesome

missmurchison@gmail.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:46:55 GMT

They infiltrated an insurance industry conference -- musically.

Owie

missmurchison@gmail.com — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:08:14 GMT

Do you have one of those wheelie bins for trash, composting or recycling that says on the inside of the lid, "Lid must be closed when moving"? I do, and I found out what happens if you don't close the lid, even if you're just trying to push the bin a few feet because you're cleaning out the garage gutters and you want to be able to drop the sludge directly into the compost collection bin when you're up on a stepladder ladder.

It attacked me. I survived, but I swear there are bite marks on my wrist. Wheelie bin bites! Now I know how Mickey felt in the first Ninth Doctor episode.

Why have I still not internalized the "follow instructions" message the nuns tried so hard to drum into my then-youthful skull?

missmurchison@gmail.com — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:25:48 GMT

I keep setting aside time to read my FL but my eyes get tired so quickly I have to take a break, and I'm not reading fic or books at all. I may have to break down and get new glasses before the end of the year even though I already ran through the money set aside for that.

windfall

missmurchison@gmail.com — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:05:15 GMT

First, thanks for the birthday wishes. I haven't thanked a lot of people individually yet because I've had a really busy week, although in general a good one.

It just got a bit better. I opened the mail and found a letter from the state department of revenue, the income tax people. It seems they disagreed with my calculation of deductions for the 2008 tax year and sent me a nice refund. It's not enormous, but it will almost pay the cost of bringing M:TNG-1 home for Thanksgiving.

You know what LJ should have?

missmurchison@gmail.com — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:07:47 GMT

I use Google Reader for most of the blogs I follow, like Talking Points Memo and Awkward Family Photos. It has "previous item" and "next item" buttons so that when I'm finished reading one post I can mouse-click and have the next post conveniently move up to the top of the window, instead of having to use the scroll bar to position it that way.

I'd like to have that on my FL, so that when I finish one post, I don't wind up staring at the subject line and first two sentences of the next person's post, and have to reposition the post to the top of the window with the scrollbar.

What? I never mentioned before how lazy I am?

Best house listing ever

missmurchison@gmail.com — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:04:40 GMT

I'm afraid the TARDIS isn't included, though. Or the Dalek.

(For non-US readers, ADA = Americans with Disabilities Act, which, among other things, sets accessibility standards. Of course, the newer Daleks wouldn't have any problem with the stairs.)

I've been sick all week and am just getting back up to speed. Of course, when I finally sat down to read my FL last night, LJ was down. Pah.

Weirdest mood ever

missmurchison@gmail.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:40:53 GMT

I want to get work done, but can't sit still and my concentration is shot. I've tried exercising, but that just makes me more anxious, although not about anything in particular. My stomach keeps telling me I'm hungry even though I've fed it twice what I usually eat by this time of day in an effort to shut it up. I'm not sad or angry, but it would be hard to describe what I feel as happy either. I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin.

I assume this is menopause playing tricks again.

All work (mostly) and no LJ

missmurchison@gmail.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:03:10 GMT

I haven't been posting because work is crazy and after spending extra computer time each day dealing with my job, my eyes just can't handle a lot of recreational time in front of a monitor. Instead I've been making Mr. M watch Glee with me and trying to remember how to knit, although I haven't made him share that second activity. I have so far remastered dropping stitches and splitting yarn, but to my surprise my hands feel better from having a different activity than keyboarding. If I'd known crocheting and knitting would help with my RSI rather than make it worse, I would have tried picking it up again sooner.

Billionaires for Wealthcare

missmurchison@gmail.com — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:53:08 GMT

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:51:54 GMT

I'm furious, and disgusted with behavior that seems to be coming mostly from my generation and people up to a decade or two older. Town halls are supposed to be for discussion, not booing a woman in a wheelchair as she describes her financial distress.

Political rallies are supposed to be opportunities to present your opinions, not to bite off people's fingers. Mike Tyson is not a role model, folks! The pro-health care biter was described as swaggering off after maiming someone and is apparently hiding from the police. The anti-health care bitee not admits to throwing the first punch in the fight, it turns out this guy who opposes socialism in all forms is being treated thanks to Medicare.

Baby boomers, grow up.

I have a chart..I have a mullet

missmurchison@gmail.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:04:37 GMT

The latest Auto-Tune the News:

It's hard to pick my favorite among these videos, but I think the lettuce regulations episode may be it:

We're blessed by Joe Biden from space!

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:21:18 GMT

31 percent of young workers report being uninsured, up from 24 percent 10 years ago, and 79 percent of the uninsured say they don’t have coverage because they can’t afford it or their employer does not offer it.

Bonus facts, because I've missed several days:

- Only 31 percent [of young workers] say they make enough money to cover their bills and put some money aside—22 percentage points fewer than in 1999—while 24 percent cannot even pay their monthly bills.

- 37 percent have put off education or professional development because they can’t afford it.

Oh, and Michele Bachmann is crazy.

Psych

missmurchison@gmail.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:38:06 GMT

A short clip in case you need something to make you smile

High Plains Invaders

missmurchison@gmail.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:08:37 GMT

LOL

That is all.

True Blood

missmurchison@gmail.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:02:40 GMT

The distinction between the content of fanfic and canon has officially disappeared.

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:19:18 GMT

One out of every three dollars spent on health care in the US is wasted.

Money-Driven Medicine

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:00:01 GMT

8 in 10 Americans back a public option for health insurance

Anyone remember Crazy Eddie? Or MySpace?

missmurchison@gmail.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:04:56 GMT

Need a tutorial on money laundering? Here's a fascinating podcast about the scam behind the crazy. Lowest morals in town! It's insaaaaane!

And another podcast from the same source confirms that all your dislike of and dark suspicions about MySpace not only were correct, they reflect a lack of imagination on your part.

MySpace Was Born Of Total Ignorance. Also Porn And Spyware

RIP, Ted Kennedy

missmurchison@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:39:59 GMT

I remember when JFK and RFK were killed. I was very young when I watched the JFK funeral, but I remember John, Jr.'s salute, and it hit me hard when the son died so senselessly years later. Bobby was shot early in the morning and I remember standing on line to go into my Junior High classroom that day and trying to find someone as upset as I was, but the only response I got was, "Who is he?"

Teddy lived to grow old and to see so much more tragedy. He also had to redeem himself. I know a lot of people will say that he could not and that Mary Jo Kopechne's death overshadows everything else he accomplished. I was unsympathetic to him myself for many years. But sometimes age brings compassion or understanding, or maybe just a realization that we all have crimes to atone. I'd like to think that her memory helped inspire his achievements.

His final, ironic tragedy was that cancer took him before he could achieve his goal of providing health care for all Americans. We need to pass a good bill and name it after him.

posting from the couch again

missmurchison@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:36:24 GMT

Sitting in a car for almost 2 hours + helping to move kid into third-floor dorm room in a building without an elevator + sitting in a car for almost 2 hours = legs that do not want to walk, bend, or do much of anything else

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:32:34 GMT

Insurance companies have near monopolies in many states.

Bonus fact: The senior Senator from my state needs a dictionary: He's against a public option because he wants people to have choice.

Special bonus fact: Tom Coburn is a heartless bastard. Apparently, people who can't get health insurance should beg from their neighbors because government "is not the answer." (Except when he "diagnosed" Terry Schiavo from a video tape and got the whole damn federal government involved in a family decision.)

Watching TV

missmurchison@gmail.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:21:26 GMT

Wow, that was a cracky fun episode of True Blood, after too many episodes that were so lame the only fun was mocking them.

Bill is still boring and not sexy, and I have little interest in Sooky, but Jason was at his stupid but oh-so-cute best and, as always, Lafayette wins. I still have no interest at all in the plot, although I assume they're not going to kill Sam, and I'm glad Tara is back to being Tara. She's bad-ass enough when she's not possessed. It looks like Eric will show up next week too.

No show is really grabbing me from a fandom perspective, but I've enjoyed Eureka again this season, although M:TNG-2 and I are angry that they keep being mean to Henry. They've killed Kim at least twice now, maybe three times, depending on whether you count the time he tried to change history and failed. And that was after they had their memories stolen and were kept apart for years. #2 and I adore Henry and do not approve of the show making him miserable. However, I like Tess, having gotten over my initial worries that her character would be too weird even for Eureka, and I'm kind of enjoying the Allison-Jack-Tess triangle. The story arc isn't as strong as last season, but there's still plenty of silly goodness in the individual episodes.

Royal Pains is still not managing to be actually good, but Burn Notice delivered again. Series like that owe a huge debt to the supporting characters and Sam and Madeleine are always entertaining.

I want to watch the last season of Chuck. I missed most of it, but M-TNG-1 made me sit down and watch the final episodes when she was home. She has her first crush on an older man, Scott Bakula, and wanted me to explain the "Oh, Boy," references.

Hmm, anything else? Mr. M is fonder of Being Human than I am. I'm waiting for the next season of Dexter for some real fun, and for the Star Trek DVD in November so I can drive Mr. M crazy by watching it over and over. He just doesn't get it.

Fun fact for tomorrow

missmurchison@gmail.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:47:37 GMT

Tomorrow is my 25th wedding anniversary, and sometime after noon I will be heading off to an undisclosed location with a cute guy who speaks with an accent. Have a great weekend.

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:45:07 GMT

A U.S. Senator wants to destroy the Canadian prescription drug system. At least, that's what he seems to be saying.

I believe re-importation will cause the pricing system world-wide that the big drug companies exploit to collapse. Right now the big drug companies are able to charge very different prices in different countries, and of course we pay the highest price of all. If they did that, like they do now, but then we can write off to Canada, and pass certain safety provisions, and get drugs from there - guess what? That system implodes. That system can't survive. So my ultimate goal, in terms of re-importation, is causing that system to collapse, so there's a true, world-wide price for a drug. And that might - wouldn't might - that would increase the cost in Canada, that would dramatically decrease the cost in the US.

Does that theoretical reduction in costs include adult diapers, Dave?

And setting aside the workability of your plan, why is it superior to empowering the US government to negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of seniors and eventually others?

Fact of the day

missmurchison@gmail.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:52:50 GMT

The former head of corporate communications for a big insurance company says it's the insurance companies that are running the death panels.

"For 20 years, I defended what some might call "death panels," operated by the health insurance industry, which denied health care coverage to people who needed it."

That video is based on the true story of Patsy Bates.

More from Wendell Potter:

Potter, who is from Tennessee, read in a local paper about a free healthcare expedition being held in Wise County, Virginia. He decided to check it out. Walking through the fairground gates, Potter saw hundreds of people waiting in the rain while physicians attended to patients in animal stalls or on gurneys lying on the rain-soaked pavement. Tents had been pitched across the fairground lawns, creating a scene “like something that could’ve been happening on a battlefield or in a war-torn country.” Tears mixed with the rain to cloud Potter’s vision. “What I thought was: ‘Is this the United States?’ It was so remote from my reality. It just seemed impossible.”

..."[E]very person who works for a for-profit company knows that the company has to meet Wall Street’s expectations. Every manager of the company has to pull his or her weight to make sure he and his team are doing all that they can to help the company meet that objective. That includes medical directors. Same with the nurses. They know what the company has to do to meet Wall Street’s expectations and to stay in the good graces of investors...It doesn’t have to be stated directly to them that you will be paid a particular bonus if you deny X number of claims; it’s known, and it’s part of the culture."