Put down the red pen and step away slowly

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More healthcare details
My brother passed this along. And for those of you who will tell me to consider the source and that it's misinterpreted? I say that any legislation where such radically different interpretations are possible is deeply flawed, and we need to go back to the drawing board.
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We need to be vigilant in investigating the ramifications of the Pelosi Health Care Bill. Some provisions sound so outrageous as to be considered impossible to fathom, but they’re right there in the bill in black and white. For instance, page 297 of the bill explains the punishment for not purchasing government mandated health insurance. If you don’t buy what the government considers “acceptable health care coverage,” you’re going to be hit with a tax of at least 2.5% of your income. And if you don’t pay that new tax, you could be fined as much as $250,000 and sentenced to up to five years in prison.

But here’s the thing: they have to make the penalty for opting out very harsh in order to force us to buy coverage. The only way to keep this government run health care plan afloat is for everyone to buy into it – especially young and healthy people. That means that they will have to penalize citizens if we choose not to buy a plan that will cost a minimum of about $15,000 per family per year.

The bill that came out of the Senate last month – the Baucus Bill – does just the opposite. It calls for a much lighter penalty ($750 maximum) for people who don’t buy government approved health coverage, making it cheaper to pay the fine than to pay for the coverage. (And with a recession on, who can blame families for not wanting to pay $15,000 for a government mandated health care plan?)

But here’s the kicker: the bill also forces insurance companies to cover everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions. Think about what that means. A lot of people – especially young and healthy people – will just pay the penalty instead of purchasing coverage because they’ll figure that it’ll always be there if they get sick, as government has promised. That’s what will happen, and when it does it will totally undermine the very concept of “insurance” – which is basically a group of people pooling their resources over time to cover themselves for a rainy day, paying while they’re healthy so that they’re covered when they’re sick. Those who are healthy now pay for those who are sick. If your insurance pool only contains sick people, it’s a bust. And that’s what this government plan will be. Without all of those young and healthy people paying into the pool and defraying the costs, the government will have to pony up more and more money, and who knows how long the whole crazy plan will last before it goes broke – and our country with it!

That’s where we are with this bureaucratic mess: either the government penalizes people so harshly that they could be hit with huge taxes and even possible jail time, or the government makes the penalty a slap on the wrist and undermines the plan from the get-go. Forcing individuals to buy health insurance seems unconstitutional, yet Congress wants to foist it on us anyway. Proponents of government controlled health care will say, “But we’re made to buy car insurance and home insurance, what’s the difference with health insurance?” It’s apples and oranges. Auto insurance is a state law requirement, and people can always choose not to drive. Banks might require you to have home owner’s insurance, but again, you choose to own a home, just as you choose to drive. You have no choice at all when it comes to this federal government health care insurance mandate.

There are other ways to reform health care without violating our Constitution and our personal liberties. Let’s get back to discussing market-driven, patient-centered, result-driven solutions, like, for example, allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines, tackling existing government waste and fraud, and reforming medical malpractice laws (tort reform) to stop unwarranted lawsuits that force doctors to order unnecessary procedures just to cover themselves.

Please let your Senators know that the Pelosi Bill should be dead on arrival. Once we go down this big government path, it will be virtually impossible to reverse course. Let’s fight for the reform that makes sense for Americans before it’s too late.

- Sarah Palin

Current Mood: anxious

Please, somebody kill this healthcare bill
I figured the House would pass it, but I had been hoping more Democrats might actually listen to their constituents. Alas, it's about the power.

I'll keep fighting the good fight, praying for a miracle now and serious conservative action in 2010, but it still just baffles me how otherwise intelligent people are willing to support this, who even think it's a good thing.

What the Pelosi Health-Care Bill Really Says

~Amanda

Michael's prepositional poem
I swear, this kid is a constant source of surprises. Most of them are horrible, I grant you--the old food stashed under the bed, the fights at school--but this one was of the more pleasant ones. He had an assignment to write a poem using 18 prepositions, and he wrote this. A love poem. Jan said when he saw what it was turning into, he just ran with the genre.

I just don't expect this sort of thing out of a 10-year-old male hellion who's into Wii combat games and sees everything through a lens of espionage and war.

Transcribed from his paper--all notes and misspellings are his. Prepositions are underlined as he had them.

Michael Poem (weird! I don't know how it turned into a love poem)

Across the sea and over the land,
Seeing you is just grand,
Beyond beauty and above heaven,
Your love is a given.
But when you leave my heart is gone,
Without you, my love is gone off.
Upon my sorrows, you arrive
With your arrival, you make me derive
Into your arms, to wrap around you
From inside my heart, through and through
Toward your arms I go into.
Of all beauty, only you are the most
From east to west, from north to south,
You are my sunshine.

--Michael, October 2009

Current Mood: impressed

Just because of this icon
Saw this picture on a friend's Facebook and I had to have it as an icon. The "microwavable" is the best part, I swear.

No idea where she took this photo--I have to ask her!

~Amanda

Please support my Light the Night Walk in memory of my brother
In 2007 I registered to walk for the Light the Night Walk in San Antonio; and I have again. My family and I will be walking in memory of my brother Kelley, who died of leukemia in 1968 at age 7.

Light the Night is sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and this Walk is a major fundraiser for their cancer research.

I was four when Kelley died, and he was wonderful. As I put it once in an essay, his smile spared our mother many tears. Kelley would be 46 now; and I've often wondered how my life, and the world, would have been different if he had lived. Fundraising events like this may help other little sisters be able to grow up arguing, tattling, fighting, and wishing their brothers were dead--instead of the other way around.

My site is here, and this year I managed to add a picture of Kelley, taken on July 20, 1968, about a month before he died.

If you are so inclined, you can make a donation online. And my heartfelt thanks for any contribution you care to make.

~Amanda

Current Mood: hopeful

Another Michael opus (drumroll)
Michael, currently 10 and in the 5th grade, had an assignment to plan out certain elements of, and then write a story. With a little back-and-forthing, as the story took hold and required the basic elements to be adjusted, he produced this. Unedited by Mom.

( Story elements )

And now, with no further ado, may I present....

( The Killer Radiation Monsters!! )

I thought you'd enjoy this, especially those of you who remember his earlier opus.

~Amanda

Current Mood: proud mama

Especially for Macloudt!
I have no idea if this is legit. The world would be a better place if it were.

I honestly can't decide which option is my favorite; probably that last one.

Current Mood: LMAO

This is starting to get chilling
I am so proud of Senator Cornyn for speaking up.

Here's the white house blog entry in question, FYI.

I'd like to find the Drudge link to the expanded version of the Obama quote about single-payer universal healthcare, which showed that it was NOT taken out of context (referenced here). I'd forgotten how much I like the Drudge Report, but I just don't have time to comb his archives.

I need to find some way to do more than just wear my Tea Party shirt.

~Amanda

Current Mood: becoming alarmed

Oh, SO much more detail than you wanted to know!
I realized I hadn't posted anything post-surgery, so I thought I would, to let you know that alas, I seem to be fine and the surgery was successful, and yes, you all still have to read my overly detailed, TMI-rich posts. Bwahahaha, etc.

( You have been warned... )

Anyway. I owed you an update. Sorry if it's TMI. I am a detail person. And now, since we've finished Season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation and don't have Season 3, I believe I will crack open the Cadfael collection someone gave us. *sigh*

~Amanda

Current Mood: listless

Update--Surgery! Whee!
Okay--barring my finding out something wholly unsavory about this surgeon or the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital--which is unlikely, since all the rating services I can find on the net involve $$$ or subscriptions--here's the details of my surgery:

(1) Scheduled for Thursday, July 23; if no complications, I'll go home the next day.

(2) They'll take out the whole thyroid, plus the lymph nodes on the left side of the neck.

(3) Risk is LOW. I told you. Main risk involves nicking the vocal nerves, causing permanent hoarseness. I could go for a husky Lauren Bacall thing, but I bet it wouldn't work like that, so that's really the only thing to cross your fingers about.

(I tend towards TMI with respect to medical procedures, so as a favor to you all, I'll stop there; further details available upon request. Complete with little diagrams.)

(4) They said to expect to be home for at least a week; or rather, they said not to drive for a week. I imagine that's due to the head-twisting required, which is probably bad after surgery on the neck. Jan's offered to drive me to work if the restriction is only on driving; but I'm not sure what other activities are restricted and for how long.

(5) As I understand, if I do anything billable in that whole time I'll hose up short-term disability kicking in; and this will drive me insane. If I had any sense I'd have put this off until August 25, when House MD Season 5 comes out on DVD.

I'll let you all know if anything changes.

~Amanda

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Vintage Barry Manilow (don't tell)

This was an interesting call
Sort of a long story. Or actually, has some longish prequels.

( Prequel: March-November 2007 )

( Prequel: March-May 2009 )

( Seeing the doctor: June 24, 2009 )

( The test results )

~Amanda

Current Mood: neutral
Current Music: Office-mate's conference call in background

I have a great tit!
His name's Steve.

We went to the bird show today, to get a better cage for our second cockatiel--the one we bought as a companion to our first cockatiel, but who lives in his own cage because they can't stand to be together. And I finally succumbed to temptation and bought myself a little bird of my own.

Although it would undeniably make for better puns if I had a pair of great tits, having one is still very fun. In fact, I was intending to name him Hefner until "Steve" lodged itself fairly strongly in my mind, out of nowhere.

I think he's the Indian variety, because he's not very yellow beneath. He's starting to make charming little cheeps, as he gets used to his new cage and home. He's adorable. I'd post a picture if I knew how.

~Amanda

Current Mood: amused

Randomness Win
Can anyone *cough*Macloudt*cough* possibly make me an icon that says "Ne portez pas pour le sumo luttant"? That is the most wonderfully random thing I've seen in forever.

see more pwn and owned pictures

Current Mood: amused

HELP-->Level of non-G-ratedness of "Wicked" (show)
My cousin is singing Glinda in Wicked, and it's coming to San Antonio, and my husband and I should go see it. My question to you all--what is the age-appropriateness of the content? The book is definitely not G-rated.

Kid ages are 13, 12, and 9. Interest level in the 12 and 9 is iffy anyway, but my daughter may want to come. Good idea, bad idea?

~Amanda

Current Mood: curious

The evil, infamous, contagious one-word meme
I think I did this meme a while back, so this may be a repeat for all of you, and I know you have better things to do anyway. But I need a diversion from my horrible filthy house and stressful work and school spiraling into disaster. Divert me.

- Describe me in one word... just one single word. Positive or negative. [AMANDA EDIT: there's a third option...?]

- Leave your word in a comment before looking at what words others have used.

- Then copy and paste the meme to your journal to find out how people will describe you when limited to one word.

Current Mood: overwhelmed

I kind of like this result.

Your result for The Golden Compass Daemon Test...

The Honest Soul.

You are a talkative, open kind of person. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and you trust people not to break it. In a way, you are as honest and trusting as a child. You are comfortable with who you are and have a strong sense of self, but you are also a little sensitive. Hurtful remarks, especially from people whose opinion you value, have the power to wound you terribly.

You tend to be open about your thoughts and opinions, and you find it difficult to hide your emotions from people. You like to share your thoughts, opinions, and emotions with people, and to hear theirs in return. When someone disagrees with you or offends you, you will take them up on it, whether they are friends or strangers. You don't mind a friendly debate, but become upset when things get hostile. You wish that people wouldn't take everything so personally, but simply think calmly about things.

You have a close knit group of friends and family for whom you would sacrifice almost anything. You don't like big parties full of strangers - you would rather spend your time with the people whom you really care about. You need a private spot where you can retreat when the world gets to be too much, but you want to be able to emerge from your "den" and find your loved ones there to heap love and affection upon you.

Your daemon would represent your loving, open nature, and he or she would probably spend a lot of time encouraging you to be independent and to do the right thing.

Suggested forms: Dog, Otter, Marmoset, Saw-Whet Owl, Songbird, Chinchilla.

Take The Golden Compass Daemon Test at HelloQuizzy

Current Mood: pleased

Why, indeed?

Your Word is "Why"

You see life as complicated and intriguing. The only thing you know for sure is that you haven't figured it all out yet.

You question everything and believe very little. And whatever you believe is likely to change.

You are interested in theories, philosophies, and religions... even if you don't buy into any of them.

You are also fascinated by how things work. You'd like to understand as much in the world as possible.

What's Your Word?

Current Mood: amused

Kids. Teachers. Suggestions?
From: Ms. Adams (Michael's teacher)
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:04 PM
To: Geist, Amanda [USA]
Subject: Michael - drawing

Hi Mrs. Geist,

I just tried to catch Mr. Geist on the phone before he came into town to pick Michael up but I missed him. I was calling to let you know that Michael drew a comic strip to express his aggravation with another student after being told not to. It showed him fighting with/hurting the other student and then declaring that he won. He was warned not to express himself in this way because it could get him in more trouble but he did it anyway. He also told me that he will continue to draw them but make secret envelopes and hide them so no one sees them.

After school I had to walk him to the doors leading outside because he was running. He was arguing with me and saying that he hated the other student (the one he drew the picture of). He also went to the counselor this morning after getting very mad at me for a hole punch that I gave him because he was refusing to do his work (he sat there for an hour doing nothing though myself and another teacher tried to give him ideas and gave him positive reinforcement). He refused to fill out the hole punch note and continued to say that he didn’t deserve it. I tried to reason with him. After visiting with Mrs. Torres he came back to the room and was fine until this afternoon with Mr. Walton. I just wanted to let you know what else went on today.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for your time!

--------------------
Ms. Adams--

Thanks for the note; I was away from my desk today. We'll try to see what's going on, but I have to ask--why is drawing as an outlet for aggression objectionable? I had always believed that was a healthy outlet (as opposed to expressing it verbally or physically). Can you clarify? If we remove all outlets, he'll turn into a little pressure valve.

Maybe we can work it out so that he draws his strips and gives them to you, or goes to the counselor to draw them, or shows nobody and brings them home? You have to understand that Michael is acting on a longstanding precedent, because his brother Tomek's focus for years has been comic strips which reflect current happenings, and we've always encouraged this, as have Tomek's teachers. Michael may see this as the grossest inequality, that Tomek does this and he's being told not to.

Even if he had no precedent, I'm very concerned that we may cause a worse reaction by blocking a largely harmless one.

Thanks,

~Amanda

Current Mood: sheesh

I would agree.
From yesterday's Wall Street Journal: The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace.

I'd agree; in my opinion, Bush's main fault was that he genuinely tried to be bipartisan and reach across the aisle. It made his own party question him, and let his opponents use him. He never achieved the "new tone" he so wanted to. He was a realist in many ways, but an idealist with respect to human nature, and Washington runs on the lowest common denominator of human motivation, not the highest.

I fully believe history will show him a great president who led well in challenging times. Too bad he wouldn't just take his authority and run with it the way he could have.

~Amanda

Current Mood: in agreement

This will be interesting.
Well, you guys got what you asked for. Let's see if it's really what you wanted. And now let's see if the boy can make more than pretty words, when he's confronted with reality.

He always sounded more like a proposal than an execution plan to me, and now it's time to execute. This is what I doubt he has the experience to do. Eh, he may do fine, since I suspect he is the tool of greater masters. Unless he finds out that he is, and reacts badly.

My kids are bummed out, but I'm trying to convey the point that this is still the best country to live in, even if you disagree with the current leadership. And I renewed my Rush 24/7 membership, and my Limbaugh Letter subscription, to help keep my faith up for the next few years.

~Amanda

Current Mood: aggravated