I've been working in the health care industry for 40 years now. I started as a nurse's aide/student nurse and worked my way up. I understand many of the problems we have in health care but I really don't understand how they are going to fix them. I don't understand any of the plans so I couldn't say I like the plan. I centainly don't think those turkeys running our government understand how to fix the problems but I appreciate that some of them want to try. I'm sorry that meeting they had recently didn't settle any of the problems. Both sides are just too stubborn.
They are always quoting these polls on who wants health care reform. One side says the people want to fix the problem, the other side said no they don't. Has anyone polled you? No one polled me and if they did I'd say yes we need to fix the problem. It is really rediculous to listen to the results of polls without knowing anything about those who are being polled. Actually we've all been poled, deep and hard, for a while now, and by both sides.
I think there are certain issues in health care reform that we, the people, can all agree to.
There is a lot of abuse in the system that needs to be fixed. That might be a good place to start. Medicare and Medicaid are both full of problems. I've seen where young people with treatable cancer can't get the therapy they need to live because their parents work for a minimun wage income but someone on Medicaid, who may have never worked a day in their life, is recieving an expensive drug to treat a toenail fungus. Or granny, whose been laying in a nursing home for 10 years gets a bilateral hip replacement just before she dies. It's kind of crazy. They talk about death panels and scare people but there has to be a way to justify the need for certain procedures before spending tons of money to preform them on people when it won't improve their quality of life.
Everyone needs some way to finance health care so we do need a public option. It has always pissed me off that people, who have nothing, and don't want to work for a living, get more help that those who struggle to make ends meet working in a minimun wage job. What is the incentive to even try to work? Also many of us with health insurance, and had to use it recently, found out the hard way that it just doesn't cover much anymore. It's a real shocker.
Everyone who gets health care insurance, and everyone must have it, needs to contribute something to the system. Many who do get government assistance don't pay anything but they can still afford a cell phone and cable TV.
There is too much money going in the pockets of those trying to fix the problem. Stop that. As long as our law makers are recieving money from the health care industries, there is no hope of fixing the problems with these industries. Nada. Ain't going to happen.
Can't listen to those high paid turkeys with their radio shows telling us that we don't need any reform because they can slap down cash for their health care and they wouldn't even notice they had any money missing. I laugh when Rush L says we don't need anything in health care fixed and with the next breath he brags about having to go to the hospital and he wrote a check for $40,000 for something he needed. Do the people who listen to him get it? Why would anyone listen to a multimillionaire tell them what they want or need? He's making a good bit of his money to keep us from getting what we need. You're a great American Rush.
Those are just a few problems with health care that I think we can all agree need to be fixed. Do you agree and can you think of any others?
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209 comments:
1 – 200 of 209 Newer› Newest»I'm watching that Move Your Money on CBS. I went to their website and it says Server Temporarily Unavailable.
Carol, Your post is a great review of all the problems that exist and things that stand in the way of our making sure that everyone gets the health care they need and deserve.
I have seen so many examples of people on Medicaid getting better health care than the rest of us. They're able to go to the doctor for anything and everything, and they never have to pay a penny for their care, not even prescriptions. This is fine, except most of the rest of us pay a fortune for insurance, then have to pay a huge deductible and still have to pay a good amount for prescriptions, etc. Even then, we're lucky if we get the treatment we need.
I think you've hit it on the head. Everyone needs to be treated equally. The politicians are 'not' on our side. Looking to them for help is a lost cause. But without their help, what hope do we have for change. As long as big businesses, including the health care insurers, are running our country, nothing is going to change. The sad part is that I can't see anyway to change that any time soon.
Medicaid should be available to everyone who needs it, not just those who won't work and have lots of kids. Sounds kinda course for me to put it that way, but it's what I see.
.. maybe a lot of other people are going to that site too, and it's temporarily over crowded?
Ivy, yesterday I bought one of those big bags of bird food in the white bag that I can't see thru because my birds were going thru my smaller bags that I can see thru too fast. Those big bags have a lot of that red milo in it, maybe more than half of the seeds. There aren't many birds that like that milo so it just ends up filling up my yard with seeds. I didn't end up with as much edible bird food as in the little bags. What kind of seeds do you get?
Ivy, 'The Ghost Writer' sounds like a good movie, but it isn't at any theater's here, except for one downtown. I wonder if it is going to open wide before it disappears. I like Pierce Brosnan and Ewan MacGregor a lot, and hope I get a chance to see it. Another movie that I want to see (it's playing at one theater nearby) is 'The Last Station ' - a movie about Russian author Leo Tolstoy's life. I love seeing these 'small' movies, but in Texas, they often don't make it to the main stream theaters. This one, though, I'm hoping to see next week. I'm also hoping 'Ghost writer' come closer too.
'Shutter Island' was a really strange movie, but I did like it. Reading some of the reviews, it seems the critics either hated it or loved it, depending on which one you read. One thing I have to say, is that I have spent some time thinking about it after I saw it, and I judge a movie, partly, by whether or not it makes me think about it afterward. Some of them I never give another thought to.
'Shutter Island' was suspenseful, and about how crazy (insane) minds works. Not everyone will like it. I can say this though, the end was a surprise and that, I think, is what made me rethink the entire movie.
Carol, My birds only seem to like sunflower seeds for some reason. They'd leave the other stuff in the bottom of the feeder. I used to buy the sunflower seed in 50 lb bags at TSC.
Chloe, I often watched Docs order the finest and most expensive drugs for people with Medicaid when people with insurance or nothing couldn't afford those meds. And they were prescribed for things like toenail fungus. Toenail fungus is most often a cosmetic problem, must be treated for at least a year, difficult to impossible to cure, and the taxpayer shouldn't be financing it.
The sunflower seeds are liked by more birds than any other seed. The bird feeder sites do suggest we mix our own seeds instead of buying the seed that is already mixed. I won't buy the big white bag at Wally World again, at least not unless I need some landfill material.
I know Carol. It's not so much that they're getting such good medical - it's that the rest of us don't.
Another health care problem I think we might all agree on, except for those who abuse it, is that ERs should not be used to treat non-emergent problems or chronic health care problems. They should be able to turn people away when they rule out a problem being an emergency. If they keep treating these people, they won't fix the problem.
My inmates, who do not pay for health care and do not value it at all, most often use ERs to treat all their problems. I do try to educate but they blow off what I say.
The ER motto is "Treat them and street them". That screensavor ran across laptops of some of the ER docs. The ER is there to treat emergencies and not chronic healthcare issues. So many with hypertension, diabetes, asthma go to the ER for their meds. It may be for a serious condition due to not having a doc to treat the problem but the ER only takes care of the emergent condition and then lets them go. The patient needs to find someone who is suppose to care for those chronic problems. In my area, we do have charity clinics that will treat these problems so there is no excuse.
Carol,
I'm watching the Money Issue on CBS Sunday as well.
It's all psychological tricks, these marketing bait-and-switch and other underhanded methods they use.
Not here, but elsewhere they've been running a new Ally Bank ad featuring can't-be-fooled kids. New one has a little guy in glasses running back and forth collecting easter eggs and putting them in a basket on a table in front of the same guy they always feature. Each time the kids turns his back, "the man" steals one of the eggs. Kids catches on and confronts him, you took my eggs!
"Egg management fee," the greedy guy says.
"What does that even mean?" says little guy.
"Egg management fee," mumbles the man again as chocolate dribbles from his lips.
Even kids know when they're being ripped off.
Eggs on Whose Face?
It's not better Chloe, it's just more expensive.
Carol,
nice break down from someone that knows about our problems first hand. That is one of the problems that irritates the hell out of me.
There were no proffessionals in the health care meeting...there never is......If people like U Carol, Professors, Scientist, economist, and ins, medical corps, drug manufacturers were all taken seriously, and consulted, and they ran the panels (study) to improve our system....it would get done..we would have the best in the world....I can't believe that in the last meeting, they all agreed that we have the best health care in the world...we are 37th, and very stupid about it....we keep electing the same scamming people to not get things resolved.....in the long run...it is our own faults...for not educating the people around us.....
Ivy, I was a kid who didn't get it until it was too late. I hope that doesn't happen again.
Carol,
I buy in bulk from one of the wild bird specialty stores. I'd buy there anyway, but one of my Monday-gals works there. I get two kinds, one that is black oiled sunflower seeds which I use in a feeder that hangs over a rocky hillside, so I don't care where it falls. Then I use a hulled sunflower seed where it spills onto the deck so I don't get oil stains. I quit buying grocery store seed because it mostly went to waste. I also buy suet cakes, those I get at Wally's or Target.
Carol, you have stated the health care problems
very well....the solutions unfortunately are
still well beyond the bickering in d.c.
While the idea of covering everyone sounds great, the way to do it, seems illusory...
Most people that have health care insurance are
not unhappy with their coverage, what they are not happy with is the ever escalating costs...whether one gets coverage through work or pays for it direct (as many with small businesses do) the costs have proved to be the stumbling block...
Until a real solution to stop the ever increasing costs is addressed (which I don't think the pols are inclined to really tackle)
I see no practical resolution to the rhetoric...honestly at this point all I hear
is both sides yelling back & forth with no one
hearing the other side...
Ivy
Saw our fav. show this am, and liked most of it...I can't stand Susie Orman....she repeats the same thing over and over...she is just a name, that is popular right now.....who doesn't know that U need to pay down your credit card?? but another nice show....
Coreen, everyone does end up getting some health care but at what cost to the rest of us? Those without insurance go to the ER for high dollar care that they don't intend to pay for and it is only effective for a few minutes. If they do nothing, then they come in and end up in CCU/ICU or in emergency surgery with no way of paying for that. Can't put them out on the street and say tough luck. There is a PUBLIC OPTION that we are all paying for but it just isn't called a public option.
And then there are people with healthcare insurance, who are sick to almost death because they are up to their asses in healthcare bills their insurance wouldn't pay for and they can't pay them either.
Solar,
I never cared for Susie Orman either. I usually tune her out. I don't know what world she lives in, but it's not the real one.
And I laugh at what most of these Republicans are suggesting we do to fix the problems. They actually make some of these suggestions with a straight face. It's bullshit. Are the people listening to their stupid suggestions? All people do is listen to their talking points but not their dumb suggestions.
As far as bird seed, I buy black oil sunflower seeds, songmaker mix, woodpecker mix, cracked corn and mix them all daily....
Everyone seems to like the woodpecker mix which
contains shelled peanuts, other nuts & smaller
seeds....I buy 20-25# bags of each type (that is the most I can pick up from the trunk...they
load about 7 bags at a time for me at the store)
I get them from a local store that sells pet food products, bird seed, hay bales, they deliver large quantity to people with horses & some farms....One of the bird seed companies they carry is blue seal. Purina makes the woodpecker mix...
Ivy, what are the product lines you get at a wild bird seed specialty store.....
Suzie Orman delivers simplistic statements that
are general in nature & not necessarily effective for individual problems, but she sounds good in the delivery...& hey, she has made a fortune at it....so who am I to
comment about her...she found something that the public hears & listens to.....for better or worse, with real help or not.
I like Susie Orman. She is a realist unlike many of the others who talk finance. She started as a waitress and worked her way up. She does make some good suggestions even if they aren't always easy to follow suggestions.
She has been honest about the economy. She warns us not to trust it.
Carol,
I mostly shop at this location. Some prodcuts are shown on line. I like their newsletter. Always buy my seed here, but will buy feeders and decorative items wherever I find them.
Wild Bird Center
I trust Susie more than I trust anyone else on TV talking about finance. But from what I have heard lately I now trust that Dylan Ratigan. He also makes sense. Isn't he a finance guy?
We ought to list our suggestions for healthcare reform and send them to Congress. Tell them that this is what, we the people, think needs to be done.
Again, the delivery of the product, that is,
health care coverage, is the problem...& until
there is some agreement on how to pay for it
all, the argument will continue....it is always about the money....
For d.c. the most important factors are accomodating those that fund their campaigns & then keeping those that vote on their side....meanwhile, the taxpayers have been
those that fund all the programs...& when
those taxpayers who are still working & paying
taxes see themselves not being able to meet
their & their family's personal needs & yet are expected to fund the needs of others, they get angry...& say what about me....when do I the worker/taxpayer get a break.....that is a dilemma that so far as not been satisfactorily
addressed.
I do like S. Orman personally , what I can't stand it that she actually got rich telling people to pay down their credit cards......she is just one of those people that can say the same thing over, and over...and it sounds different to most people....
this is what is wrong with us.....Im not against her making the most of it...but im against the dumb public for making her a celebrity....she is a sales person now...not an economist.....
Coreen,
I agree with what u just said. It is all about controlling the cost of health care, and not having it so complicated, filling our form, after form to get some things done..
I think that both the Dem, and the Republicans, designed this, and now they can't or won't get out of it..it is about who can get the most blame...time will make them make the next move that will make the system better...the more that people suffer, the more they will ask questions and solutions from them both...right now...it is all about, I have ins, and you don't.....big deal....but there are a lot of cities and states ...specially small ones, that have let gov. employees go.....I have several nephews that are detectives, Police, and state troopers....they all (all but 2) say that they don't want ins given out by the government????
One of them has been laid off for a while now...and is starting to worry about how he will pay for everything.....I told him not to worry...the free market will take care of him....I do believe in the free market...but not the slave market....Im glad to discuss this over here...
Last thoughts ...maybe...I think that we missed the chance to fix all; or almost all of our problems....I don't think that we should have bailed anyone out....got rid of the Greenspan of the world...and stated over again....I don't believe that the whole world would have crashed....all this did was to create more, and more opportunity for those who abused us to do it some more........this is what gets me angry as hell, and can see how that guy flew into the irs building....wasn't the right way...but......when the abusers look right at you, and tell you though shit...im going to keep abusing u.....and you can't do a damn thing about it...
I think that we all go scammed, and scared into all of this mess...we need to educate the general public.....
Ok, even tho its Sunday... I will stop preaching....ps it is always about the money...but in the past..we were allowed to keep a little of it....now......
Ivy,
Yesterday I had the feeling that something was staring at me. I looked up in a tree and sure enough there was one of my owls looking down at me. I ran in to get my camera to get a pic but when I returned it was gone. The owl was in the big cypress baby laying tree. Things must be right on schedule.
This is the first year that I have lived here during egg laying season and I was hoping that my being out here wouldn't discourage my owls from using the tree. Maybe it hasn't.
That was a funny quip Speaker Pelosi just made on ABC, the Tea Party movement is more Astro-turf than grass-roots. lol
It's the taxpayor who is paying the bill for all this healthcare mess. And it is the taxpayor who is the patient. They ought to be listening to us patients who are also paying the taxes not the industries who are sucking them up and giving the politicians a cut of the profit.
I think that getting the healthcare industry out of the pockets of the politicians is the number one problem that needs to be solved.
Carol,
Enjoy your owls. They know you are a friend.
You said it, Carol, and the other way too...politicians are in the health-care industry's pocket too.
Having grass roots groups is a good idea but they can't be associated with any of the wing nuts or any specific politicians or sides. I feel it is the wing nuts who started those groups.
I think I did say it wrong Ivy.
Slept pretty well last night for the first cpl of hrs...then my sciatica started to act up...had to sit on the hard floor, do a cpl of stretching yoga things; kneel on the floor for a cpl of minuets.....fell back for a deep sleep for 5 hrs...feel like dancing....Jan?? wanna shake a leg.....that the first move to doing the step and a half...
U know this I have mine, and the hell with you stuff...is part of our evolution,..our mental emotions, and feelings...will see if I can put a post together about it...but is part of the in group thinking....and the out group that doesn't matter to others, not in the position to contribute to the in group...this makes them vulnerable, and in the position of being exploited....it is not in our dna..but a learned in-out group survival culture that had to be developed in order for ancient peoples to survive....
Basically Coreen is right when she say's that the strongest survive...just the way it is....adaptability to changes...but in today's big corp control(enslavement)...not possible to do any more for most....
You have to have a lot of respect for any politician these days who dares to stand up to these health care industries. You know they will end up hurting because of it. Especially now that the Supremes have given them unlimited power for influence.
And I might sound a tad mean here but I think that we should have some conditions placed on other entitlement programs. Have you ever noticed (it may be more common down here in the south) the size of the people and the quality of the groceries purchased by those using food stamps? Not talking about the old people who barely get enough food stamps to buy cheap dog food to eat.
Many, I see using food stamps are grossly obese and have their baskets filled with junk food and not necessarily cheap junk food. Should there be a limit to what can be purchased with food stamps? Some of the more expensive meats and seafoods are often purchased with food stamps. People working for minimun wage, who don't qualify for food stamps, can't eat that high on the hog.
Instead of potato chips, twinkies, and sodas, why not just allow peanut butter and raisins and such for the kids snacks. No high dollar meats and seafoods. We allow all this rotten or expensive stuff to be purchased by people requiring government subsidies and then have to also fork out for the Medicaid to pay for the diabetes and hypertension caused by the obesity it leads to. Never made sense to me.
And if a person doesn't want to pay their share for healthcare, tack it on to the cell phone or cable bill. If they don't have either, they really may not be able to pay their fair share.
Mention of the Tea Party participants, today's
NYT piece about the genesis of one of those
Tea Party leaders....Is this woman the stereotypical wing nut or just someone who is
fed up with the current situation...I don't know, but certainly she does not seem like she
is a wack-a-doodle, yes, apparently a republican, but are her views that unacceptable...
Birth of a Tea Party Leader
Coreen,
Patd posted a great link to a guy in N. C. that is fed up with things...a true progressive. I think that the tea party will be a work in progress...but here to stay...I do hope the wing nuts will stay in thier own side ...
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2010/02/blue-america-welcomes-billy-kennedy-nc.html
Chloe,
About Shutter Island....was just wondering what you thought the twist ending meant...it leaves you to decide what you think really happened (some had different ideas of what happened at the end) & today saw this at Daily Beast....movie a bit too long for my sitting comfort, but decaprio is such a good actor....
WARNING: To anyone who may want to see the movie & not know the ending, DON'T go to this link, since it lays it out....
Shutter Island-Masterpiece or Dud?
maybe this time...it will be the right one...its a very good story.!!
Blue America Welcomes Billy Kennedy (NC-05)
As far as any HCR bill, it remains to be seen
whether in the House the Dem. leadership, that is, Nancy Pelosi, can convince some of their own to fall in line & vote for a bill they already have issues with at the risk of losing their re-election for voting for it....
Any bets on which way these recalcitrant Dems will go?.....
Wary Centrists posing challenge in health care vote
Solar,
In case you didn't know, I am not a 'progressive', I consider myself to be a pragmatist/realist....& 'hope&change' for me
was not persuasive...
Coreen, I do know......and so am I...I just like that article that show that hope and change can come from somewhere when it is least expected....but the reality is that we are in a vice grip....and the two party system won't let go...but that doesn't mean that some one won't stop trying......I can't get the right story to come up here.....will try one more time....and take a break...
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2010/02/blue-america-welcomes-billy-kennedy-nc.html
Yes, Ms Carender had a good idea but she has already been corrupted by allowing one of the parties to snag and use her. She has already sold out. We can't say we don't like the Republicans and elect Democrats then we don't like the Dems and elect a Republican. They both stink. We have to get away from both of these parties. I thought that was suppose to be the purpose of the Tea Party.
Believe me, the Republicans were just as eagar to give away our money to the rich fat cats and anyone who doesn't believe that is intellectually challenged.
Today is a beautiful day and I know Spring is on it's way because I almost stepped on a snake. Solar, I did that step and a half move you were talking about. Got my heart rate up too. It was just a friendly King snake but I said hi and bye real quite and danced off.
Back in the 90s, I was part of a team that developed and implemented a self-funded employee health care plan. We were a consortium of local government and partially government-funded agencies. We ran our new plan as an employee-representative board, exercising oversight on every aspect from funding to claims management. We kept everybody as involved and informed as possible. Some of our open meetings were like today's tea-party rallies. I never knew what would be in the paper the next day, and sometimes I would say, is that the same meeting I attended?
It wasn't fun, it wasn't easy, it wasn't a popularity contest. Eventually, it burned me out. We never pleased or satisfied everybody, and we almost went broke the first two years. But we made it a success, and after the sixth year, we had enough reserve that we rebated premiums back to the individual enrollees.
Yes, it is a few years since that time, and we've been through some changes with 9/11, two wars (one unnecessary), and a tanking economy. But I believe the underlying economic principles that worked then would work now if certain obstructionists would get out of the way. Who fought the hardest against the formation of our self-funded, self-administered health insurance plan? It was the big exclusionary, premium-collecting, claims-denying insurance companies who'd been raising our rates exorbitantly every year to that point.
They need people with your kind of experience on the team Ivy.
Medicine needs to have clear cut standards of care. That bypass surgery may not be indicated unless more conservative treatment has been tried and failed. An 80 year old may not need that sleep apnea study and expensive, uncomfortable equipment, that many won't use anyway.
From that, I learned about the concept of "no free lunch." Medical costs, premium rates, claims pay-outs, profit-margins, it's all part of one pot, no matter how you divide it up. What our plan took out of that pot was the profit margin. No one was there to "make money." We were there to make medical care available to our members and their families.
That is not to say there were no limits. There is no bottomless pit of money. Decisions have to be weighed, choices have to be made, some people will inevitably be denied something to which they feel entitled. We made a great effort to educate and inform; we implemented extensive wellness and preventive health programs, many of which were underwritten with the benefits. Prevention is always money well spent.
Ivy, the plan you describe sounds great. I agree with Carol, how wonderful it would be to have someone like you who has had this experience on the health care reform team.
When people have to fork out the money themselves and don't have much, prevention is important. When it is free, prevention is not important. I had this irritating woman come see me the other day. She complained of indigestion, said it was reflux. I instructed her to stop eating or drinking for 2-3 hours before laying down and to stop buying the spicy junk food from the commissary. I pulled the list of the junk she ordered. She told me she would do neither and I'd better give her the prilosec. Not exactly the best way to influence the NP at the jail. I told her I had a responsibility to the taxpayors and wasn't going to waste their money treating her self inflicted problems.
Unfortunately I get an up close and personal look at many of those who have no health care financing and more often abuse our health care system. It ain't a pretty site.
Another little taste of what I put up with from this crowd...we have this older dude with mulitple problems including heart problems. He had an expensive, hard to get procedure scheduled the other day. It took several months to get the appointment and it was in another city. The transportation people came in at 2:30a to bring him to his appointment and he refused to go, said his wife was coming to visit, she comes every week. He said we could just make him another appointment when it was convenient with him. Arrgggh! I almost had a stroke when I heard about it. Good thing I wasn't there at 2:30 in the morning.
Hadn't decided what I was going to do and fortunately he was being transferred to a State Correctional facility this weekend. Whew!
And what do you do about the fact that when you serve the Medicaid population, you almost have to schedule 4 patients for the same time slot just to have one show up. It's either raining, they had a last minute dope deal, or it's too hot, too cold outside or they felt the need for a nap. Can't charge anyone for that visit. Just lose business and someone loses a time slot to have their problems dealt with. People often do not have any respect for what they get for free.
Going through the rest of this week's NYT before recycling today...and for anybody who wants to track birds as they fly north this spring, there is a Birdwatchers
App to do just that....
The app with 470 of the most common birds, is $19.99 & you can follow a bird's progress as it returns north....
App of the week: Spot Spring on the Wing
Carol,
Prevention is only as good as the people who practice it. By the time people get to your office, they may be past the "prevention stage" (as a general metaphor). It's impossible to save people from themselves.
For us, we have to concentrate on the reasonable, rational people who want to be well, get well, and are willing to do whatever they must to stay there. The rest you have to let go and let God.
On the other hand, as one who has always "done the right thing," and is plagued by persistent pain nevertheless, I know it can drive you batty.
Some people just have an oppositional mindset. They will do the opposite of what someone says they should just on principle. Badgering them produces an opposite reaction. My dad died of lung cancer at a young age, but mom (a nurse) kept smoking for decades. I nagged her endlessly to quit, but she'd puff all the harder. I finally said, forget it, if you want to smoke to your grave, go for it. I worked on letting her "be herself," and me not being angry about it.
Today, she no longer smokes. Breathing problems accomplished what I could not. I breathe easier practicing acceptance.
Coreen, Thanks for linking that blog about the movie. I always enjoy reading write ups on a movie 'after' I've seen one I like. I don't agree with any of the three theories/interpretations that the blog writer listed, nor do I agree with his, but still, it was fun to read.
Commenting on that blog, I'd have to say that since the movie was based on a popular novel of the same name, that gave Scorsese very little lead way to do much manipulating of the plot. It's a movie, and although I like them to make sense, I still expect to be entertained, and am happy to go along with a little twisting of reality in order to get we're we going.
More than anything else, the movie is about insanity, and within that context, about the nature of self-deception. Since I have no doubt that people have the ability to deceive themselves, even sane ones (whereas psychotics and schizophrenics are even better at it), the story made sense to me.
The movie, a mystery within a mystery, did leave a lot to the imagination, and so everyone will take something different from it. I had no problem believing that the doctor in charge would have gone to such great lengths to set up what he hoped would be a cure either, because he 'really' wanted to cure these people.
The plot took place during that time there was so much controversy about lobotomies, so therefore that ending fit in. I'd say it was miles better than most of the junk they put in the theaters lately.
I think it would be impossible for Scorsese or Dicaprio to ever disappoint. I like Mark Ruffalo a lot too, and Ben Kingsley, so it was a can't lose movie for me. Not the type I'd usually go see, but I'm glad I did.
Ha.... That said, not everyone's cup of tea obviously - I gather by looking at some of the reviews.
"I breathe easier practicing acceptance."
... not an easy thing to do Ivy. But you're right, we all need to work on that one.
"He said we could just make him another appointment"
Can't be easy dealing with those guys Carol. They didn't end up there because they are smart.
Do you have women in that prison too? I saw your post about the lady that loves junk food. (I would notice that one)
... oops, I'm alone here again. That's me, always a day late and a dollar short.
Chloe, we are going to a movie this afternoon. thanks for the info on the DeCaprio movie. I think we are going to see it. Your comments are intriguing. I do like movies with a twist and I also am very interested in mental illness.
I did watch the women's figure skating this morning. Our little 16 year old American skater did very well and came in 4th. The Canadian skater whose mother died last Sun. won bronze. The Korean skater won gold. She has been training in the U.S. She was amazing.I do like the figure skating. After doing a little skating myself and taking lessons, I don't know how they do those jumps - my heart leaps when they do them. Skating is not easy- it is a difficult sport.
Chloe, you are not alone!
I have reflux and cannot do without zantac or prilosec. My reflux is stress-related - seldom food related. Although I have learned to avoid food at least one hour before going to bed. John has reflux too but we have different symptoms. I get really bad heartburn - severe pain right in the middle of my chest - John's reflex symptom is coughing.
John's reflux symptom.
Jan,
What is that "boring book" you referred to last evening?
Guess I didn't catch Jan before she flew off to her movie...later, Jan.
Mom's ears must've been burning. She just sent me an e-mail to "check up" on us. You can run but you can't hide. Mom always knows. lol
Prilosec or the H2 blockers, Pepcid or Zantac don't stop reflux, they just reduce how acid it is. When those muscles that hold food and fluid in the stomach are shot, their shot and if you lay down with contents in the stomach, it will backwash into the esophagus. Some experience pain, some coughing. The coughing is because the reflux is getting into the lungs. Not a good thing. Some people develop asthma because of it. It can also cause sinusitis, pharyngitis, and ear infections.
Many of our habits, ie smoking, alcohol, chocolate and medications, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, beta blockers contribute to reflux. Can put the head of the bed on blocks, elevate your head and upper body or have a fundoplication which wraps the stomach around the lower esophagus. Best is not to have anything in the stomach when reclining. They recommend 3 hours. I can sometimes make about 30 minutes. But then I suffer.
I could plagiarize what this guy has to say...lol
"The Civil War was about southern conservatives not wanting the slaves to have freedom because of what it would mean to the south economically. After the civil war, during Reconstruction they didn't want the freed slaves, now free citizens to have the constitutional freedoms they were entitled to...
At the turn of the century conservatives didn't want women to have the vote. In the 20's they didn't want people to have a drink or a beer. In the sixties they didnt want blacks to vote their interests or to, go to schools of their choice, live in houses or neighborhoods of their choice and they were all about preventing both black and women from having equal rights."
The Obstructicans?
Just a warning, the PPIs, ie Prilosec, Prevacid, etc..."...data have shown that PPIs can interfere with calcium homeostasis and aggravate cardiac conduction defects. These agents have also been responsible for hip fracture in postmenopausal women."
Oops, we lost to Canada in hockey. See that Coreen?
That's OK, we're still #1 in the cost of our healthcare!
Canada wins the ice hockey Gold - in overtime! I'm happy for them. Ice Hockey is a bigger deal there than it is here. Not that I don't always like to see our guys win.
Carol,
...and #1 in its inefficiency!
There's those green things again.
I wonder if those guys will stick around, get drunk and drive the Zamboni?
Carol,
The girls f**'d that up for them... lol
This is a pic of the snake that startled me today. I beat I scared him too.
Speckled King Snake
"Kingsnakes are generally docile, curious and gentle, and they enjoy being handled. They seemed to be mesmerized by patterns flashing on a television." Great if you need a TV watching buddy.
Kind of sounds like it could be a description of Solar except for the TV part.
Health care at its best....
Today the President had a physical...here's the
results...he's still smoking...
Is he in as good shape as the doctor says?
Pres. Obama's Physical today
Not happy about the Americans losing the gold
in hockey...but pretty sure that most of the
players on both teams play in the NFL....but not a fan of hockey...
I'm sad that the curling is done for another 4 years, unless I want to go join the local club
which believe it or not, there is one here in
Bpt. at the Wonderland of Ice...
Ivy,
You mentioned your involvement with a local
health care program that successfully delivered care. What happened to that endeavor? Does it still exist?
If you do Coreen, send pics. I'm gonna beat Solar to it this time.
No kidding, the NYT even did a piece on it...
Newcomers Flock to Curling Clubs
Coreen,
They're still offering the same benefits program. The program is 20+ years old now (I was still nursing Miss College when the plan was "born," lol). I'm no longer "in the know" to know if they are still covering all their costs without dipping into the coffers. I hope so.
Ivy,
Would think that some of the experts would
be looking at such programs as possible models to find more than one way to effectively provide care to various groups....
Coreen, if you hurry up and get started, we might be cheering you on in 4 years. Do you want us to chip in for that curling stone. They are probably more expensive than a bowling ball. The ailsite comes from Scotland and cost about $1500. I might be able to whitle you one from a swamp stump. Fill it with some swamp mud to weight it down. I'll put a screen door handle on it.
Coreen,
I used to always think that, but our bosses were publicity-shy...we had a model program...my colleagues and I did our best to quietly win converts...I don't know if we were unique or not...there came a time during a certain pro-big business administration that programs like ours fell off the radar screen and the "bigs" got their way again. That was about the time I was exiting the scene. Now the pendulum swings again. We'll see how it unfolds. I am no longer fighting on the front lines.
I can totally relate to how the Canadians would have felt if they not not won their hockey gold medal. Much like we would have felt if the Crimson Tide had not won their BCS championship. Much like Carol & Co. would have felt if the Saints had not "Who Done."
oops, they did not not won..."not not won" is the same thing as winning...? lol
This is a poll taken by Rasmussen. Those being polled get to give their opinions about the HC reform bill but there is not one question that asks if the person being polled knows what's in the healthcare bill. If Jay Leno was doing the poll he would at least ask them to name one thing that is in the bill.
These polls are useless. When people don't understand something they are not going to support it and I'll bet most voters don't understand exactly what is in the healthcare bill.
If I would have taken this poll, I would have been with the majority on question # 4 "What would be a better strategy to reform the healthcare system...passing a comprehensive bill that covers all aspects of the healthcare system or passing smaller bills that address problems individually?" Most popular answer was...
"Passing smaller bills that address problems individually" 63%
National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
February 21-22, 2010
Ivy, I totally knew what you meant. 100% totally.
Carol,
As I hope I have indicated, I am well-versed in health care plan technicalities, but I am completely boggled by this one.
Do you think the general public is smarter than we are?
Closing ceremonies - I really like how they show-cased their Native Americans both in the opening and the closing programs.
I think I now can hum that "Oh Canada" about as well as the "Star Bangled Banner."
My spell check wanted to change that to the "Star Bungled Banner." Traitors.
Where do you have spell check on this blog?
Is it Star Bangled Banner Ivy? Ut oh, I've had it wrong all these years.
Did you already take your Ambien Ivy? If so, no weiners.
Just got off the blower with my bro, and my s-i-l got the doctor's report on her sleep study on Friday. They read her the riot act...red flags all over it...biggest Rx for better sleep - Solar, you will love this - start exercising and lose weight!!
Bangled schmangled, whatever.
No ambien yet, but my brother has that effect on me...lol
I want some of what your having.
Yeah,yeah, exercise and weight loss is good but what pill can we take to make us want to do that?
My spell check is on the Google tool bar. I've been using Hubs' laptop. Mine still has the blinky monitor.
"sea world thrilled with increased attendance following attack" Go figure.
How do you get the spell check on your google bar? When I'm not too lazy I just google the word and if I'm close enough, they tell me how to spell it.
Carol,
You can download the "google toolbar" for free. It has a little icon that shows a check-mark + ABC and the word "check." I love it because it lets me be lazy in my typing. I really hate typing. I prefer plain old cursive handwriting above all, but I hear it is a dying art.
It was cute what did at the Closing Ceremony to poke fun at themselves for the malfunctioning pillar at the Opening Ceremony.
May be time for me to quit - posting, tv watching, drinking, something...can't seem to get the words on here tonight and everybody seems to have run away...'cept you, Carol. It's just you and me and the night owls...do you hear your owls at night? Barred owls are one species that also likes to call during the daylight, but what are they doing at night??
Carol wrote: "Yeah,yeah, exercise and weight loss is good but what pill can we take to make us want to do that?"
A dire outcome on the sleep study seems to have lit the fire of desire in my s-i-l. lol
They do call every night but usually it is off in the distance. They have little sounds they make that you wouldn't expect from an owl. When I first heard the sounds, I thought that some little dog was crying. I will hear more of those sounds when the babies come.
I'm watching a LKL with Bill Maher. Sometimes I like what he has to say and sometimes I don't. I do think that he is basically a jerk but an amusing one at times.
Actually, I will repair to the Man Cave to watch the finale of the Closing Ceremony. Where is Sochi??
That "dire outcome" strategy has never really worked on me Ivy. I guess you can call me a risk taker, well, at least if it doesn't hurt right away.
I guess it time for me to do some ironing.
Russia, I googled it.
Sochi, At first I thought you were talking about some beverage you were drinking and I was going to suggest you tell me how to make one.
Ivy, I am reading the new book by Barbara Kingsolver - Lacuna. I am on page 70. I had to start it all over again. When I was trying to finish the baby quilts - I had to put it aside. John has read it and says it gets better.
We saw the movie, Shutter Island, tonight. I liked it. I like movies about psychological stuff. I thought it was going to be gory - but was not.
The only thing I miss about HBO is Bill Maher. I really like him.
Carol, my reflux seldom bothers me. I eat very small meals and try to remember not to eat anything before going to bed. I hardly ever have to take a zantac. I just drink some water when the pain starts and that usually takes care of it. If the pain does not stop then I take a Zantac. I know all the side effects of the drug, but if the pain does not ease up I have to have something. When it first started I was living in Little Rock and went to the ER. I didn't know what it was and was worried I was having a heart attack. I did stop drinking coffee and soda pop about 9 years ago and that helped a lot.
I just read the bit about Shutter Island, masterpiece or dud. Glad I saw the movie before reading this.
looks like everyone has left the building. Nite all.
Jan,
Thanks for the book update. I had felt similarly about the book I just finished, "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones. The beginning was surreal and confusing, but I made myself stick with it, and I did get into the story enough to keep me in it until the end. The basic narrative was about free blacks who owned their own slaves. It shows that the basic evil is inherent in the institution of slavery itself not in the racial conflict.
I had made it a particular goal in honor of Black History Month to read as many books as possible with African American themes. I managed to complete three, including one massive tome about my adopted home city that was a real eye-opener. It opened big discussions with my "Monday Girls" who all lived through those times right here and they have tales to tell. That's all I can say without betraying confidences.
Now it is March (or will be in a few hours) which is still Women's History Month. I will set some goals to read as much "feminist" literature as possible this month. Still haven't invested in that "Kindle" or "Nook" simply because I have so many actual books that are not yet read. I have found myself refraining from new purchases, however, with the thought of "I will get that when I get the Kindle." Chloe, can you manage both books and Kindle, or do you find yourself gravitating to one over the other?
I missed Jan by one minute....?? I am a slow typer, that's all....lol
With all the channels they have on cable/satelitte you would think that someone would come up with a channel where we could tune and learn exactly what our government is trying to do for us or to us. The facts. All we get is opinion but very few facts. I don't trust too many of those opinions, I would prefer to come up with my own opinions.
This morning I'm pondering whether maybe seeing the snake out of hibernation yesterday might be a better indication of the coming of Spring weather than old Phil's forecast. "Phil's Winter prognostications have been correct only 39% of the time." I think I will go with the snake.
Ivy, What a great idea to go with the focus of each month for reading. After retardment I may join the reading group at our church. I do like to hear others' ideas and opinions about a book while reading or after reading a book.
Carol, go with the snake :) Of course, I suppose for each of us in various parts of the U.S. spring comes at different times. This week our forcast is for our temps to get into the '60s.
Ivy, I got more into "Lacuna" last night. It is narrated by a young boy who first lives in Mexico with his mother and now he has "been moved" to the U.S. to live with his dad.
Jan,
It seems to me Solar would be interested in your book, and would have some worthwhile opinions about it.
"Chloe, can you manage both books and Kindle, or do you find yourself gravitating to one over the other?"
Ivy, At first I read both - as a matter of fact, I got a lot of familiar comfort reading my regular books after I got my kindle. It took several months to drift away from them and become more attached to the kindle, but I finally did. Now I prefer the kindle. I found out just how much when I stepped on my last one and it was a while before I got another one. I really missed it.
Of course, you can still read both, but it gets more comfortable and a lot easier to use the Kindle as time goes by. It's now taken the place of regular books for me.
Jan, Glad you liked the movie. I did too, but like I said before, it's not for everyone, and so I'd be reluctant to recommend it to someone.
It's not like we have a lot to choose from anymore. There are so many movies out that I'd never want to see, so I try to choose them carefully.
Jan, I know what you mean about the chest pains - they can be downright scary. I take Zantac everyday, more for acid than reflux. I think the acid is what causes it sometimes - I've felt so much better since I started taking it daily. Got rid of my ulcer very quickly too.
I don't know how you gave up coffee and soda. I drink decaf, but still, I look forward (so much) to a cup of coffee in the morning, and love to have diet coke with my lunch. I guess it's like everything else, once you realize how much better you feel without it, it's easier to give it up and stay off of it.
"I do think that he is basically a jerk but an amusing one at times."
I agree Carol, he can Bill Maher can be very funny. I used to watch him regularly, and may start again soon. I always enjoy his (and his guests) take on politics.
Carol,
Who U calling a snake?? First you almost step on one; and it reminded you of me; and my fancy foot work...the step and a half.
Then later on U call me a snake again; forgot what all that was about now...hey I always wanted me one of those talking snakes...want an apple little girl????....oh yeah, something about me ..the snake...watching tv...
Ivy,
Yes to that exercising thingy...if we all did what we animals were meant to do..run, skip, and jump...we would not need most of these meds....
If someone would do the indian seneca fast....stayed of the salt, juiced those items that i posted about...they would cure a lot of superficial illnesses ....I also like the things that Chloe does..the fruit, the blender for smoothies..but the jugging is what will cure a lot of things that are wrong...and combine that with mild, exercises at first, and then a little more strenuous, later on.....life would be better for them.....
Going to be a heat wave around here by the end of the week...have to go and shop for some new speedos...
Hi Chloe,
If anyone is going to watch a comedian.... B.M. is the one to watch...He went way overboard for Obama...but other than that..i have always enjoyed watching him and his guest...he does let people speak at least.
watch a comedian for political news,...that is
Looks like someone else is a little aggravated with the Irs..Rick S. on cnn if reporting someone hurt with hazardous mtls....
sorry about the very poor spelling...was on the two way radios...jugging=juicing
Solar, I meant that you were similar to the King snake in the you were... generally docile, curious and gentle, and enjoyed being handled. Am I wrong? I didn't mean just any snake.
Oh boy. Here we go again.
"Just as Congress enters the final stretch of the financial regulatory reform effort, one of the Treasury Department's leading liaisons to the Hill, Damon Munchus, is bailing out to go work for a financial services lobbying and consulting firm."
He's going to work for The Cypress Group. "Cypress is a five-year-old firm that specializes in telling banks and other investors what Treasury is up to and how they can best use that information to cash in."
Top Treasury Official Leaves For Lobbying Firm
Jan, you do have some warmer weather coming. That will be nice. Lobie will enjoy that.
Solar, you call 40s a warm up? OK.
Carol,
Im not just any ordinary snake...Im a King snake....Yeah. when it gets to be 40 around here...thats a warm up honey.....65 to 72 is as hot as I like it to be...
I just looked at our little map and one of the stars says "White House". Hurry, check it out. Maybe they want our advice. We'll give it!
And it is an active star. It's flashing!
Anyone home?
Well, that's just fine. When I need you guys, you are off doodling. Ivy's got a written excuse, she's out with the girls. That's important.
Solar, Chloe, Coreen, Jan, where are you?
Ok, Mr or Ms White House, do you have any questions. I'll just have to field them all by myself.
There's not a town called White House is there?
Carol, I just saw that White House on our map, and was a little freaked out at first, but then I noticed it was not that far above Ivy's star. I tried White House Tennessee, and bingo, there's one there (also one in New Jersey, and heaven only knows where else).
Solar, I just noticed I only missed you by a few minutes today. I don't know what my problem is, but I'm always here when no one else is here lately. Things seem to be going that way for me (in more ways than one). I need Spring to get here quick, because it's always a good sign for me. I realize it's probably just attitude, but I need an adjustment, so I'm counting on it.
Carol, I think sometimes (when we see those stars on the map for a long time) they get stuck on there. I've notice that even when you know someones left, the star will stay on there for hours. Just think it messes up quite a bit.
You didn't have to pop my bubble Chloe. I was hoping the White House would ask for our advice. Darn.
That's a dumb name for a town!
The stars are late to come and late to go but I think they are pretty accurate.
"I suppose for each of us in various parts of the U.S. spring comes at different times. This week our forecast is for our temps to get into the '60s."
I agree with you about Spring Jan, but for me it's all about the angle of the sun. That's why it's already starting to feel better. Well, it's also about things getting green again, and things here haven't even started to bloom yet. Last year, I could see the beginnings of a lot of new growth by the middle of February (but that was unusual).
High 50s and low 60s can feel pretty dang warm, if the sun is beating down bright. We've had some nice days (the sunny ones, that is) but I still can't wait for the growing season to start. Shouldn't be long.
Sometimes another city close by will pick up the signal coming from a computer. I don't even think it picks me up at all. I can be on and it says no one is here.
Sorry Carol, I was hoping the White House thought we were important enough to monitor too. But it turns out there's at least two towns called that, and I guess there are probably more if we really started looking into it. It is strange though.
Are your grounds pretty soggy Chloe? The yard at my house looks like a lake. I think the snake was out because it would have drowned if it hadn't come out.
We can pretend Chloe. I'm into fantasy.
I notice that it doesn't pick you up usually too.
What are you talking about: the stars are late to come and late to go? LOL
And I bet there are people who do monitor blogs for insight into what the little people think.
Really Carol? You're into fantasy? I wish I could do that, but I'm like Coreen (usually): a realist.
The timing is off. I think someone may be on before the star starts blinking and may be off before it stops blinking. You do see the blinking?
Carol,
U on drugs? a nursie yet...the white house is following us..but spying on us...
Chloe, that is the third time that I tried to catch your attention...if you don't want to talk to me....talk to me anyway...tell me a joke...
Kind of like day dreaming Chloe. Wishful thinking. Creative visualization. That's how some reality starts.
"And I bet there are people who do monitor blogs for insight into what the little people think."
Ha! I think we're a little 'too' little for them to be interested in what we say. TM is political, and I think there were times they were there looking around though, probably mostly because of Craig.
Solar, there is a star that says White House. Unfortunatly it is White House, Tenn.
I don't think that U are happy when im around unless im picking a fight with U...so put em up...mrs 5 bags of popcorn...and don't tell me U don't.!!
I worked in a town called "JESUS" there were more places for us to party than all of the rest of Il.!!
Carol, I can't wait until we go fishing...I bet that pre-historic beaver misses U.!
Hey mz goody three shoes...I feel like arguing a little ..where did U go again;;whata ya got....
You know what I can do to a joke Solar. You're a lot better off if I just stay away from them.
Where is Jesus Solar?
Never mind...moods over...I feel like dancing....I taped a tribute to Selena yesterday. It is great...all of the biggest stars (Spanish) singing her songs, and some of theirs......Coreen, the dancing m achine...u there?
I want a joke...now.!!
Carol, in our hearts....or on a peace of toast...hahaha
"I don't think that U are happy when im around unless im picking a fight with U"
.. Solar, I'm always happy when you're around - and you're aren't so far off. I just bought a box of microwave popcorn that has 6 packs in it. I took my own to the movies last time, it was $7 for popcorn last time I got some at the movies, and $6 for a coke. So now I take a can of coke in my purse, and sometimes even popcorn (I have a big purse).
Sally,
What kind of dancing do you like to do?
Coreen isn't flashing Solar.
Now that the Olympics are over, I'm kinda lost as what to half watch on TV. Satellite has too much to chose from and nothing that looks interesting.
Popcorn, soda, muffins, candy in your purse...where do U put Emma...she goes papoose style riding?? pic please.!
It's mostly just backgound noise anyway.
"Kind of like day dreaming Chloe. Wishful thinking. Creative visualization. That's how some reality starts."
'Course you know I completely agree with that Carol. Wishful think. How else can we make things happen. So I guess I would have to say that I fantasize too.
Carol, I told U....go into those 9400 plus channels.....but u don't really want to watch tv...u want to look for snakes.....
Yep, I have all kinds of things in my purse. No one will ever starve to death, as long as I have my purse with me. Emma loves it. That's where I keep her crackers too. And her bottle.
"So I guess I would have to say that I fantasize too."
Me too....what am I fantasizing about.????
Do you like to fish Solar? It would be nice if you lived closer and could go fishing with me. I often don't have anyone who is off to go with me. It's better if there is someone to laugh with.
... not sure how you knew about the candy though Solar. I took a heath bar to the last movie. Yum... I'd forgotten how good they are.
"Me too....what am I fantasizing about.????"
Carol, Don't ask!!
Carol, Are you still exercising?
I'm going to start exercising and eating healthy on the first day of spring, and not stop the rest of the year. I made a deal with myself that everything changes on March 15th (actually a few days before Spring officially starts).
This morning I was making a PB and J sandwich to eat on the way to work. I was cutting it in half with my very sharp fishing fillet knife. When I went to wipe the PB off the knife it got caught on the paper towel and I put a big slice into the palm of my hand. I almost couldn't get it to stop bleeding so I could to get to work. I put some steri strips on it at work.
I'm still walking if it's not pouring outside. I get to bored trying to do that other exercise thingy.
I can't guess Solar. Tell us.
I wonder if that person in White House, Tenn knows how excited they had me. I bet when someone asks where they are from and they say White House, I just bet it excites other people also.
Carol, I cut myself so often. Does that happen to you a lot? I cut myself on knives, and cat food cans and all kinds of stuff.
I love Peanut butter and I love peanut butter and jam sandwiches so much, although I haven't been eating them often. Now that you mentioned them, I'm sure I'll start. There good for you too. I like the pnuts and salt only pnut butter, and the fruit only jam (so I figure it's healthy).
Carol, I bet your hand is sore now, huh?
I think Coreen has her dance card open now. She's blinking.
"I bet when someone asks where they are from and they say White House, I just bet it excites other people also."
LOL Carol. You are so funny tonight.
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