Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
June 2009 Archives
Chime in Canadian Readers
I found this video of Canadians commenting on their healthcare system:
Category: healthcare
Summing Up Single Payer
Okay, Republicans who read BBM, this is your chance, watch and listen and you will learn how and why single payer healthcare A) makes sense and B) works in other countries
The secret is, get ready....Private insurance sucks up all the money.
Take out the privatized insurance companies and you can reduce costs and create a Medicare for all system.
Category: healthcare
Enough of the Bible Thumping
I finally got some time to sit down and listen to this jackass Mark Sanford babble his way through his apology.
Both Democrats and Republicans do it to varying degrees, they all hold their religion up at their respective podiums when they speak regardless of what the situation is, but Republicans hold their religious and moral standards in front of them to try and justify their wrong doings.
Could Mark Sanford have used the Bible and his religion anymore and not sounded like a complete hippocrit? He completely justified his actions, thinking that because of this morals and faith that he will somehow be cleansed of his wrong doings. God's law? WTF was that? How about taking responsibility for your own actions, Religion is for those who can't take responsibility for their own actions.
The fact is, when you hold your religion up there for all of us to sit there and get sick over your outright lies, it means nothing. Stop thinking that just because you quote a few verses doesn't mean that you will be any more forgiven than if you just said Im a friggin idiot, I did what I did and it was a choice I made. It had nothing to do with religion.
The sad fact is that Sanford was one of the republicans who called for Bill Clinton's impeachment over a blow job. At least Clinton remained in office to get it. This guy left for Argentina and used government money and time to do it.
He should resign. He said it was a mistake, no a mistake is a one time thing, a momentary lapse of judgement, this was a conscience effort to repeatedly have sex with a woman outside of your marriage.
Darcy on Sabres Lunch Express?
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier is on a little show on the Buffalo Sabres website tomorrow called Sabres Lunch Express from 12:30 to !:00. Thats so cool, what hockey fan wouldn't want their GM online answering fans emails/questions. Nice job to go on the show and its nice to see management paying attention to fans.
EXCEPT WHEN IT IS A HALF HOUR INTO THE FIRST DAY OF FREE AGENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
WTF? Tell me that its pre-recorded or better yet, that Darcy, behind the scenes has a couple of big names and they are waiting until noon to strike the deals and he is going to go on the show at 12:30 to answer to the joy and happiness the fans will have over the signings of some big name free agents for once.
Tell me that he is not the only GM who will not be working the phones trying to land a free agent at 12:30 PM tomorrow. At least look like you want to sign players, politely decline the Lunch Express and pretend like you are too busy and will catch up with Kevin Slyvester. Trust me Darcy, most of us, don't have time in our busy work days to go online and send you questions, most of us won't mind, do your job tomorrow.
Please tell me that its pre-recorded..........if not, folks, seriously, its not looking good for signing anyone significant because our GM instead of showing the initiative will be talking to what fans his team has left.
Humor us, sign Bob Corkum tomorrow before you go on the show, sign a frozen bag of brocoli, just do something before you go on that show and talk about how you are trying but its a tough market and blah blah blah blah...give us the friggin run around we have come to expect. Something Darcy.
I have a headache.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Bloggage
Didn't get a chance to blog much over the weekend, too much stuff going on, swim meet Sunday, got a new contract accepted on a new house and facing the realistic possibilty of losing my healh insurance because a certain employer who I will not name (though I should) is giving the screw job to my wife.
Oh yeah, and our doggy graduated from obedience school.
So, life is fun here at the Buffalo Boy residence, a mixed bag of good and not so good. I will write more later possibly.
In the mean time, Single Payer, Universal Healthcare all the way!
Leave me some comments
Category: Blogging
4th Round The Son of an Old Friend
Marcus Foligno, another big forward, 6'3" tall and over 200lbs. He likes to make room for the skill guys. He also likes to fight.
He is also the son of former Sabres captain Mike Foligno:
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Zach Kassian, What's Not To Like?
The Sabres picked 13th overall in the first round of the NHL entry draft tonight and the picked up a kid by the name of Zach Kassian, hes 18 and hes a mean cuss who can play all aspects of the game:
He can fight...this is him versus current Bruin's tough guy Milan Lucic a couple years ago:
He can hit, check out thsi body check: He can score: Welcome to Buffalo Zach KassianCategory: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Michael Jackson 1958-2009
Michael Jackson was huge. I spent all night last night trying to think of how to write something about him without having been a true fan of his. I liked some of his music and I will never deny the incredible influence he had on pop/rock music at his peak.
The key to remembering him is his peak of stardom. Yes he has always been in the media and one of the single most popular people in the entire world since the Jackson 5 really, but the positives stopped soon after Thriller.
Yes he had some hits after Thriller but nothing quite as big as Thriller. Thriller was and always will be his peak. After that things started to change, he started to have those weird things change in his life from his hair on fire in a Pepsi commercial, to his skin changing color, to his nose disappearing, the bankrupcy, the child molestation allegations, Lisa Marie....that list goes on and on.....
The only way to remember him though is what he left us up to and includint Thriller. He broke the color barrier on MTV, he changed the way music videos were presented and used by music artists. He dominated the 80s, maybe no one more so dominated that period of time with the exception of maybe Madonna.
Michael Jackson may have peaked too early...How could he possibly have topped Thriller? He couldn't and ultimately you have to wonder if the pressure of trying to top it led him to much of what resulted in the following years. The media pushed and pushed.
Looking back he may have been the first superstar that you could see the media hound and hound to the point where they ruined his life. Thats sad and you have to wonder when the media will learn that pop stars, entertainers and superstars from any walk of life need personal lives too. It just seemed that the media never left Michael Jackson alone and that just drove him into hiding.
So, back to the positives, I listened to a lot of the early stuff up to Thriller last night and so that is what I am going to leave here, the positives. That is the responsible thing, for not being a big fan, but someone who respects what he did back then to open so many doors in the music industry and push so many envelops with what he did best, the music:
Bill Cosby introducing the Jackson 5 as a reporter Live at the Grammys in 1988 Billie Jean live in 1983 Motown 25 Live, some say the birth place of the Moon Walk My personal MJ favorite Beat It, featured Eddie Van Halen.... There was a lot more yes but those are some of my personal favorites from the early stuff that made him who he was and what we will remember.Keep Talking Rush
If you happen to be in the same room as Rush Limbaugh when he opens up his mouth lately, hold your nose. Everything that comes out of his trap lately is complete bullshit.
His latest "blame Obama" skit (I call it a skit because there is no truth, the only explanation for his outrageous claims can only be for entertainment/shock value), blames President Obama for the Mark Sanford run off to Argentina and his extra marital affair.
Did you get that guys/gals....want to be unfaithful? Nows the time, according to Rush we can blame it on the president. Im not kidding or making this up. When does it stop for him? Its amazing there are enough half wits out there dumb, no dumb is not the word, ignorant enough to listen to his crap.
I listen so occasionally I can post something about the vile lump of human flesh and help expose him for what he is. For the sake of the democrats though, keep the guy on the air and keep him talking because the majority of Americans I believe are bright enough and smart enough to know that what this guy says is hog wash, which is fitting since he looks like Boss Hog anyway. Unfortunately, hes got just enough Roscoe P. Coltrane's out there to support the wind bag.
Walking With The Dinosaurs
Tonight I walk with the dinosaurs down at HSBC. Who says you have to be a kid to go to this. I got laughed at at work because certain individuals think its lame that my wife and I would go. My wife got me tickets for Easter and to be honest its more for me than it is for her.
I love dinosaurs and the science of paleontology. When I was a kid I used to have a box full of rocks and fossils, a huge collection of dinosaur toys and couldn't get enough.
Tonight, Im going to be a kid again. Yeah it would be nice if our unborn daughter were a year or two old right now, but who says you can't enjoy the things you did as a kid as an adult. Dinosaurs are for everyone, this show is for everyone who likes dinosaurs.
Hopefully I can get some video of it tonight to bring back and post, the tickets don't say anything about not taking video of the show:
Category: Easter 2009 | Entertainment | Miscellaneous
Sabres Offseason
I don't expect much from the Buffalo Sabres in the offseason, just don't screw it up anymore than it has been screwed up the last two years.
However, I can't get the comments Darcy Regier made on WGR 550 yesterday. He was commenting on making additions to the team and commented that they want to make additions that will benefit the team in the short term but not break the long term chemistry in the locker room......not break anything?
Darcy, comments like that are exactly what I am afraid of. That comment showed just how out of touch you are. This team has finished in 10 place two years in a row, its broken, there is nothing you can do to make it much worse, unless you plan on finishing dead last next year.
So, with the draft coming this weekend, if there were a trade to be had, is there a player on the roster that is untouchable?
I have no untouchables, thats right none. The last two years this group has gotten to no better than 10th so why hold back? Yes, Ryan Miller is included, he can be dealt too if the trade makes sense and you find a new starting goalie in the process.
This is my list of players that I am wiling to let go for next to nothing if it means cleaning out some cap space:
Max Afinogenov- He will never score 50 goals, he is like a piece of furniture with a nice veneer, the outside looks nice but then you chip through the shiny outside to find out its nothing but cork board. He skates like Bure, but as we have found out over the years can't finish worth shit.
Jochen Hecht- Used to be the best two way player on the team but all of a sudden became captain absent minded. This is no coincidence, he needs a change of scenery, he looked bored at times, disinterested even. Maybe they think he can come back, I don't, if no one wants him, send him to waivers and hope someone takes a chance.
Henrik Tallinder- He has had three years since that Carolina series to get his head together, he hasn't been the same since. Some guys just can't get back to their old selves, he has a lot of mileage on him, needs a change of pace or may fizzle into obscurity.
Toni Lydman- I have mixed feelings, if we can get the physical side of Lydman without the stupid ass penalties, Im willing to talk about keeping him, if he keeps on taking stupid calls late in games Im trading or releasing him before game one of the regular season.
Andrew Peters- Waste of a roster spot, no offense
Adam Mair- If I have to go through one more game where he plays on the second or third line Im going to start breaking beer bottles (empty of course) and gouge my eyes out. He is not a goal scorer, a playmaker or anything close to that, with injuries last year he actually sniffed time as the number one center........if that has to happen again, they will finish 10th for a third straight year. The only way Im keeping Adam Mair is if Darcy and Lindy can put it in writing that Adam Mair will play exclusively on the fourth line and no where else. I would rather call up a prospect than let Adam Mair skate with guys who need to put the puck in the net.
Dominic Moore: Sorry not impressed by anything down the stretch after we basically traded Ales Kotalik for you. Toronto can have you back.
This is my list of players Im willing to trade for the right price:
Derek Roy: If you can get a guy with the same skill set but better leadership skills do it. I am so sick of Derek Roy and the faces, the dives and the crap he portrays on the ice. Not once did we see Drury make a face or bark at a ref. Game face no matter the situation. If I can improve the locker room and get the same skill set I make the move in a heart beat.
Jason Pominville: He tailed off but came on stronger as the season went on. Point wise he was close to the previous season, goal scoring wise, not even close. Pominville needs to see its population increase dramatically next season. For the right price Im willing to give him a new address. He is still young and some teams may look at him to have some potential to develop still with the right linemates so I think he could fall into the if the price is right, trade him category.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
Jay Bouwmeester: Hes the talk of the town lately and every story I have read from wishful thinking media types think its good move and I want the drugs they are smoking. I just don't see it happening. The only way this happens is if Darcy comes to the draft high on some powerful drugs.
Shane Hnidy- If Bouwmeester is too much, and trust me for Darcy he will be, Shane Hnidy would provide some toughness and shore up the blueline. Hes a veteran with lost of experience in the division with the Bruins.
Nick Boynton: Another Florida Panther defenseman is on the market and he might be another great second choice. Hes tough, he could play some power play and hes still relatively young at 30 years old, like Tallinder, he has logged a lot of miles already and any move to get Nick Boynton will have to come with assurances that he has a clean bill of health.
Alex Tanguay: If you wanted to trade Derek Roy and replace him with a center via free agency, heres your man.
Brian Gionta: Another forward that I would love to get but might be a pipe dream, however, if Darcy wanted to score some local points he is from Rochester and still young. He would be the leadership guy we were looking for too. He'll put up Drury like numbers and he comes with Stanley Cup rings.
Jaro Spacek: Im okay with this at the right price. If its too much as to prohibit signing another guy via free agency then Id rather go big or go home. Id say in the 2.5-3 million range would be good. Hes getting up there in age and that money would save about a million on what he was making last year.
Restricted Guys:
Drew Stafford: Need to sign him based on the fact that hes still only 24. Hes got a big season in him and he started to show it in spurts last year, just not consistent enough. He should be your number one center if Derek Roy should depart via trade.
Clarke MacArthur: Hes restricted so I would say 1-1.5 mill per season for three years with some bonus money built in would suffice. No more than that, way too inconsistent last year, again hes only 24 like Stafford so with any consistency, these two guys are a big part of the future.
What Id Be Happy With:
Don't screw up the draft, which in Darcy's defense, he usually is pretty solid at the draft. Other than that, get rid of the guys mention above (Max and company) and try to make some moves that will improve this team. I don't expect Bouwmeester, that would be nice, but not necessary.
I would settle for Nick Boynton and trading Derek Roy and a draft pick for a leader up front or signing a guy like Gionta and trading Roy for a defencemen. Either way.
One solid forard with some leadership skills and a solid veteran defenseman that has a few years left to bang things up and to help Rivet with the youngsters.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Sunday Retro
Every Sunday I post a retro tune. This was the first song I heard by this band. "Till I am Myself Again" was a huge hit for Canada's Blue Rodeo back in 1990 off the album Casino.
I saw them in the mid 90's a few times, the last being on Delaware Ave for what I believe was Artvoice Fest, hard to remember, though there were a couple of good Canadian artists on that bill including 5440, Econoline Crush and Moist if Im not mistaking.
They play Artpark for the free Tuesdays this summer and may be worth a trip out.
Category: Sunday Retro
Happy Father's Day
Category: Happy Father's Day
New Orleans Is Sinking- The Youthful Version
Category: Music
This Is Awesome
This is just awesome from Toronto Mike, random characters just get obliterated by oncoming big trucks and buses. After a long day at work, it is sometimes what I would like to see happen to certain people, only in a strictly fictional sense of course.Category: Miscellaneous | Television
Buffalo Townhall Meeting
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Category: Politics | healthcare
More Republican Babble
Republicans just don't want every American to have health insurance. That must be their plan, not to allow every American access. They talk of our system like there is nothing broken. Are they blind to the fact that the US spends 50% more per person than the next highest spender when it comes to healthcare? Do they realize that to the north of our border, Canadians live longer on average than we do by 2 years?</p>
This article features some absolute lies from Senator John Kyl and Mitch McConnell. They presented legislation today that would ban the government from using comparative effectiveness research.
This sums up what is essentially comparative effective research: “Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008” Finding Out What Works in Health Care - The Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 establishes a private, nonprofit corporation, called the Health Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Institute to generate evidence on which health care interventions and services work and which ones don’t. Comparative effectiveness research compares clinical outcomes, or the “clinical effectiveness,” of alternative therapies for the same condition. More evidence on what works and doesn’t work can lead to better health care decisions and thus to improved quality of care, improved efficiency, and ultimately to the potential for cost savings throughout the health system. The Institute will establish a national agenda of research priorities, based on the need for better evidence, disease burden, practice variations, the potential for improved care, and expenditures associated with a given health condition or care strategy. The Institute can contract with federal agencies, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and appropriate private entities to conduct the research, which will include systematic reviews, observational studies, clinical trials, and randomized controlled trials. Research findings will be peer-reviewed and publicly disseminated in ways patients and healthcare providers can easily understand. The Institute will be governed by a multi-stakeholder Board of Governors, including the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Directors of AHRQ and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 18 additional members representing diverse public and private sector expertise and interests. These members will be appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States. " Now, having read that, it is a mouthful, it essentially means that they want to simplify the research that is out there, double check existing research and find what works best in order to best manage patient care......sounds great...the republicans want to stop this? Yep, because they are the party of "NO". “I don’t want America to begin rationing care to their citizens in the way these other countries do,” Kyl said I think Mr. Kyl needs to visit Canada, they do not ration healthcare in "these other" countries. No government official is between you and your healthcare. Even if there was, how much worse can it be now when the health insurance company is between you and your care? Where companies won't pay because of a "pre-existing condition" or will limit your choice of doctors because they will charge more for "out of network" doctors. That my friends is limiting your choices, forcing you to pay more for choosing an out of network provider is limiting who you can see. Who would want to pay more if they didn't have to? The GOP needs to get their heads out of their asses folks, because like it or not the majority of Americans want single payer, universal healthcare, it works. We need to check our pride at the door and learn from our neighbors to the north, learn from other countries and get this done. The GOP needs to listen to the 60% of us that voted for Obama. Everyone I talk to, patiens, therapists, doctors, and friends, they all understand what it is, the only thing holding it up is the greed of the politicians in Washington and the private insurance companies who help to create that atmosphere of greed.Category: Politics | healthcare
Exactly What We Will Not Accept
Exactly what Ed talked about last night. The Co-Op option is being considered as a heavy favorite with senators saying that they simply don't have the votes for what Barack Obama ran on and promised last year.
The Co-op approach does not eliminate the big insurance companies who are gouging Americans when it comes to healthcare. It certainly doesn't address the issue and it really does nothing to decrease costs overall. It keeps healthcare controlled by the big, greedy insurance companies while the government pours money into a gushing wound.
Enough is enough, the votes are there, there are 60 votes in the senate. This is the same banter that Ed Schultz discussed last night.
Meanwhile, the republicans are calling this Co-op plan something similar to what McCain was going to propose....if we wanted what McCain was going to propose we would have elected him, we didn't we elected the democrats.
Again I post the map that I have been posting for the last year or so. In the blue are the countries that already have universal single payor healthcare, you want to know where the US ranks in terms of overall health....count the countries in blue and place the US somewhere behind them. The countires in green as of the time this map was created were implementing single payor, universal systems.
Why are we lagging behind the times? Why are the republicans and democrats just totally failing us? The only answer has got to be the big insurance companies and lobbyists are lining their pockets. Anyone who says we are too big to have universal healthcare I say look at Russia and China. Anyone who says its a communist or socialist idea, I say look at Britain, Canada, Austrailia and France for starters, none are communist or socialist.
Category: healthcare
Sunday Retro
This week for Sunday Retro we go live for a truly under appreciated REM tune called World Leader Pretend off 1988's Green album. This is a more recent live version, they, like the Tragically Hip can make so much of their material take on a brand new life live, which to me is the sign of a truly great band.Category: Sunday Retro
The Ed Show At Canisius
Last night we went to the Cultural Center on the Canisius College campus to see Ed Schultz at a town hall meeting. It was a great discussion on healthcare and the Employee Free Choice Act. Most of the evening was spent on healthcare.
It was a packed house with people from all over western and central New York as well as Canada to voice their concerns over healthcare and why single payor healthcare has not been given more attention in the healthcare debate in this country, especially when it was something that Barack Obama had promised during his run for president.
I got a chance to hit the mic and throw a shameless plug for BBM so if any of you who attended last night are checking the site out today, welcome and feel free to surf around! I will post as much as I can on healthcare until we get the results we need.
As most of you know, I am a physical therapist, I also have a masters in education so I have two perspectives on what is happening with healthcare and education.....This comment by Flabby Man Rush that Ed played last night was the highlight of the night for me (besides getting a chance to speak in front of everyone and voice my humble opinion) because it really says so much about the ignorance of the Republican party when it comes to issues like healthcare.
The first thought that went through my head was if exercise is so bad, we might as well cancel all physical therapy and occupational therapy clinics, sports medicine is bad, and so are athletic trainers. Hell, lets stop any and all professional, college and high school sports leagues because the head of the Republican party thinks exercise is bad, this is a clip from The Ed Show on MSNBC that featured that same clip from the fat ass of the Repukes:Category: Politics | healthcare
Miss Piggy Strikes Again
I posted the video first so I could leave it a few comments: 1. To Miss Piggy: Stay off the TV, everytime you do an interview you embarass yourself and expose yourself for being the biggest, airheaded politician this country has ever seen and that includes Dan Quayle. 2. If you had a brain in your piggy skull you would understand the joke and would realize that Letterman was referring to your older daughter Bristol. 3. If Bristol had adhered to those strict Christian standards and abstained then she would have never been the butt of a joke of that nature. Everyone else in the country got the joke but you and the rest of the republican party. Its time for you to stop being naive Miss Piggy, and realize that you don't have the brains to run a hot dog stand. The GOP needs to keep finding her airtime because she just keeps digging the hole. If they end up with her as the candidate for that party in 2012, it will be an easy go of it for Obama to get re-elected.Category: News | Television
Humble and Fred Fridays
Ah yes another Friday, which means more Humble and Fred classic moments. This cut is off their #1 in 97 CD, a track simply called People.
The guys used to do a bit with Cito Gaston, no not the real Cito, it was a parody and that is included in this track. There is also a classic bit with a guy named LA Chris. Also in this clip is some great Dateline Humble and Fred
Enjoy and happy Friday!People - Humble Howard, Fred Patterson
Category: Humble and Fred
Yet Another Case For More Gun Control
How an 88 year old loser like James Von Brunn got his hands on a gun and was able to commit the horrible murder is just incredible but it does provide another example of how we need stricter gun control laws in this country. This happened in a Museum, if the Repukes have it their way, the next major shooting will happen in a National Park. Mark my words.Category: News
Digital TV
If you are one of the two million households that are not ready for the switch too friggin bad. This has been on the news, in the papers, posted at all the major electronic stores and talked about on radio/TV so much that is hard to see anyone not ready for the switch to digital.
Where have these two million households been? Enough is enough, stop the talk, these people are obviously not interested and they will find out on Friday that their TV's don't work.
Category: Television
Hip Show
I was going to post about the Hip show on Sunday but got distracted with other higher priority things.
That said, the show was awesome as always. I don't think I have been to a bad Tragically Hip show and I have been to 19 now. For the money...$59, you don't get a better show these days. The passion and the quality of music is really second to none right now. They consistently put out quality records from beginning to end and live, they can play any song from their entire catalog on any given night.
So, overall the concert was great musically. Here are a few of the negative experiences:
First, to the asshole who forgot to use the bathroom before the show....go take a crap before so my eyes aren't watering from your stink. Our whole row was disgusted by it.
Second, what is it with certain Hip fans that they feel they have to throw stuff at the stage? Haven't we learned the lesson from Spring Fest at UB years ago? Grape Jam in Erie, Pa? You get unruly at their shows and they will end the show. Now, what was thrown wasn't anything big, a small empty water bottle and a stuffed bear, but still.
The song Hundreth Meridian contains the lyric "I remember Buffalo..." That line is about UB when Gord Downie, lead singer, was hit in the head with a shoe. I was at the show.
Third, if you are at a concert and in the beer line during an intermission, BE CONSIDERATE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. For what ever reason Artpark had aluminum cans. So they had to pop them open and pour from cans into plastic cups. They should have had a two per person per trip, but they did not and what that created was just FUBAR. Guys in front of me were getting beer for themselves and 10 of their friends and taking 5+ minutes a piece. I got up to the front and got one. For me. Tell your friends to get their asses in line and get their own.
Here is a little clip, Hundreth Meridian from that show at Artpark, listen for the Buffalo reference:
Category: The Tragically Hip
Big Eddie Ripping GOP and Hugh Hewitt
Ed Schultz is coming to Buffalo next week and he is coming here in a rare mood. I have been a big fan of Ed Schultz if for nothing else his candor and honesty with his listeners. Something Rush Limbaugh, Hannity and this Hugh Hewitt physcho doesn't give you.</p>
Hugh Hewitt and Limbaugh have been now stating that they want to boycott GM if it would be in the interest of seeing Obama fail. If Obama fails and GM just happens to fail with him so be it. Eddie does a much better job than me and almost has a stroke doing it.
If this is going to be the platform the republicans and their right wing talk show lunatics are going to run with for the mid-term and the next four years, go right ahead, because I think if you went around this country and asked, the vast majority of the people of this country are hoping our president succeeds because this isn't a game. This isn't a matter of lets see him fail so we can all say we told you so, Obama's and essentially GM's failure means jobs will be lost but hard working, middle class Americans.
Obama doesn't want to run GM or take over coorporations, hes having enough trouble cleaning up after the asshole that got us into this mess because he over spent, screwed up a war and provided tax cuts to the rich when we couldn't afford to provide tax cuts.
Check out The Ed Show:
Category: Politics | Television
Bloggage Down
Sorry about the lack of new posts. Somewhere between the Hip show on Saturday, work, and house hunting I have neglected BBM this week. I promise to catch up probably later tonight....In the meantime leave thoughts and anecdotes in the comments section of this post.
I have stuff to post about the Hip show, healthcare and stupid right wing republicans and....The Doc Watch which I have not updated on since May. Stay tuned and patient as life is hectic around the Buffalo Boy residence.
Category: Blogging
Healthcare Reform.....Finally!
Barack Obama is such a breath of fresh air, we have a president who can multi-task unlike our last president. All praise aside that does not mean I am 100% on board with everything Obama has done. Yes he is miles ahead of the Bush Administration and much more in tune with Americans.
Healthcare reform though has me scratching my head. Why has Barack Obama not pushed harder for single payor, universal healthcare in this country?
Its time for universal health care regardless of what the opposition says. 60% of doctors and medical professionals are in favor of universal health care. The same percentage of Americans are for it as well. So why is the administration not listening? This is partly what Obama ran on in his campaign, yet he is catering more and more to the greed amongst the private for profit insurance companies and HMO's.
As a physical therapist I am in favor of single payor, universal healthcare. Those of you who say this is too expensive, how does Canada, France, Britain and the rest of Europe do it? How does the US afford to provide it to Iraqi citizens and Afghanistan and not to its own people?
Healthcare needs to be a right, not a privilege. Healthcare should be not for profit. No one should profit off the sick. We claim we are a christian nation yet most of those who claim to be christian are against providing healthcare for each and every single American.
Obama says that he has brought all parties to the table to reform our healthcare system yet he has not invited the single payor action group to the table. Another idea is to invite officials from France, Britain and other countries who think enough of their citizens to provide them with universal coverage. Now is not a time to be proud and to shield ourselves from the rest of the world, that is what George W. did for 8 years after 9/11, now is a time to invite other countries to help us fix our system and show us how to adopt a healthcare system that works for every single person in this country and is affordable for the single payor system.
Category: healthcare
Religulous Request
Edward Lilly is a Lewiston Porter school board member who has one final request before he leaves his position in a month. He wants the 10 commandments posted in each of the districts four schools.
He represents yet another religious wack job that thinks religion will solve everything. He thinks the 10 Commandments which really are a bunch of garbage, would provide the moral code for the community.
What about laws? What about school rules? Why does it have to be tied to religion? Does he realize that Lew Port is not a Catholic school district?
They should consider it, only if he can prove that each and every single one of the students in the district is 100% Catholic. If not then no go and my bet is that its a no go.
What pisses me off more than anything about religion is how people who are overly religious (brainwashed) think that they have to impose their beliefs/will on those who quite frankly don't give a shit and are doing quite well without.
Public schools have a code, its called separation of church and state.
They recieve funding from state and federal sources and therefore have no right in imposing religion on anyone. That is why we have gone to "Winter Break" and Spring Break" Because although he may not realize it there are Jewish, Muslim, Atheist and all sorts of other backgrounds that attend not just the Lew Port public schools but every public school.
Mr. Lilly, if you want a school with the 10 Commandments posted, start your own private, Catholic school. That's what Churches are for, they post the 10 Commandments for those of us who care to attend.
What a Pretty Duet
Category: Miscellaneous | Music
Tonight's The Night
Tonight is the big night, An Evening With The Tragically Hip. Here is a little live Bobcaygeon:
Category: The Tragically Hip
Tragically Hip From Detroit May 29th
The Hip are probably just now finishing their second night at Art Park right now and what better treat for those of us yet to go than to get a little taste of the current tour.
Today I got four discs worth of live bootlegs from the two shows at the Fillmore in Detroit. Both nights are totally different set lists. A little sampling tonight is a song that has become one of my top five favorite Hip songs to hear live. Family Band off their last release World Container:
Family Band - The Tragically Hip
Category: Music | The Tragically Hip
Let's Hope They Pitch Alike Too
I can't help but notice the striking resemblence Blue Jays left hander has to another former Twins lefty. Are they "Twins"? (No pun intended). Brian Tallet lately has been pitching an awful lot like his 80's look alike Frank Viola. Lets hope it isn't just the looks they share, lets hope the similar pitching continues.
In addition, they both pitched for the Blue Jays. Viola signed with the Jays in 1996 and went 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA. At his best Viola was a tall lefty 6'4" tall, 209 lbs and went 24-7 in 1988 for the Minnesota Twins.
Brian Tallet just to sum things up obviously doesn't have the stats at this point to match but he is a tall 6'6" 215 lb lefty like Frank was. Tallet has won 10 games lifetime, three of which he has won this year. Lately he has consistently pitching 7+ innings after being recruited to step into the rotation from the bullpen.
Category: Miscellaneous | Toronto Blue Jays
Hip For The Hell Of It
I haven't done this in a while. Periodically I get into rediscovering songs and artists. The last few days its been Dinosaur Jr. but lets not make it about them tonight, we will get to them soon. Tonight and for the rest of the week its about The Tragically Hip as they do four nights at Art Park.
I am going on Saturday night for the fourth and final show and this is a song that I always looking forward to. It always features Gord at his best and always draws the biggest reaction from the Buffalo crowd. Its a rare live version of Hundreth Meridian, enjoy!The Hundreth Meridian (Live Version) - The Tragically Hip
Category: Hip For The Hell Of It
A Little Late But Worth The Post
This is Jesse Ventura on Larry King recently, Im a little late in posting but I love listening to Ventura, hes opinionated and very intelligent.
Category: Television
Wake Up America
Dennis Kucinich, if you run on an independent ticket in 2012 I will give you my vote. This man is the only honest politician in Washington.Category: healthcare
The Ed Show- Universal Single Payor Healthcare
I haven't been posting much lately, looking for a house, potentially changing jobs, working extra hours and being a little under the weather will do that.
Speaking of a little under the weather, I am a big fan of the Ed Schultz Show on AM 1520. Unlike some right wing talk show hosts who kiss their respective former president's ass no matter what he did, Ed Schultz tells it like it is.
Lately he has been all over Barack Obama and the administration for not have single payor, universal healthcare on the table. Senator Baucus who is heading this reform up in the senate is not even making it an option. Despite the majority of Americans and 60% of healthcare workers and doctors being in support of single payor, universal healthcare, the reform that is on the table doesn't even suggest it as an option to discuss. I find that to be very sad. We already have the infrastructure for it in place with medicare and medicaid. Congress, Senate and government workers already get a form of universal healthcare. If you are lucky enough to have a job that covers a substantial portion of your healthcare you are okay. Its the millions of Americans who do not have jobs with healthcare, who may be self employed or "too well off" to get medicaid and not disabled or old enough to qualify for medicare. I just got our premiums for my companies open enrollment last week, $966 per month for the cheapest option. WHAT!? Im not going to name names or tell who. Those of you who know me know who and its not worth listing it. My wife makes $20,000 a year, hers is about $160 per check out of the $650 or so that she brings home. Thats about a quarter of her salary. Meanwhile, health insurance executives pay keeps going up while they raise their rates on all of us. I work in the healthcare field and I can't stand the field for the simple fact that I believe that healthcare under no circumstances should be "for profit" No healthcare business should be for profit. They should be out to care for the sick first and make their money second. The last several years you get the feeling that its the other way around, its how much money can we get first, hows the patient second. Heres Ed Schultz talking about it on his MSNBC show:Category: healthcare
