National Mall / HealthCare Debacle Metaphor
Yep. Put them in charge of 1/5 of the economy.
Crumbling sidewalks near the Jefferson Memorial are sinking into the Tidal Basin. Reflecting pools are filled with green, smelly water. And millions of visitors have trampled the soil into virtual concrete where grass can't grow.
So they'll fix it right? Just like they'll assign funds properly to 1/5 of the economy, right? Yeah, right.
Last year, when dozens of ducks and ducklings died of avian botulism because the water in a mall pool near the Capitol was so fetid, and as urgent repairs were needed to stop the Jefferson Memorial's sea wall from sinking into the mud, the Senate killed a $3.5 million earmark for the mall.
Instead, funding went to projects back home. All told, Congress sent home more than $181 million in earmarks through the park service budget last year - an election year - according to data compiled by the group Taxpayers for Common Sense and analyzed by the AP. Nearly half that money was driven by lawmakers who were on the House and Senate appropriations committees.
Wait. You mean, given the choice between maintaining a decent park for everyone and giving money to their own voting bloc, they choose the latter? I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.
At least we know that congress is so competent at running things that service will be efficient and without any wait times. Oh hell.
And now we are promised a tax increase for this wonderful service? Well, damn. Why didn't you tell me in the first place? Sign me up, man.
Less care. More waits. More inefficient. Higher taxes. Less choice. It has all the makings of success!
Sarah Palin: The Experience Question
Inevitably, the question of Palin's experience is going to come up in the Vice Presidential debate. Democrats have been hitting this hard in the media.
After the events of the past week, the debate is the perfect time to turn this back on the press and on Biden, himself.
When asked if she thinks she is ready to become President, here is an answer that will probably not win her any points in the press, but the country at large will understand.
First off, I'm not running for President. McCain is running for President, I'm running for Vice President - just to clear that up. You all have been confused lately by the ticket.
If, by experience, you mean the people who sat up in Washington - totally clueless of the events of the past week. With Harry Reid, Democrat Majority Leader in the Senate, said "no one has a clue what to do" and Democrat Speaker of the House saying that she'd just adjourn Congress and leave it someone else to fix. And, next to me, we have Senator Biden who has been on the wrong side of every foreign policy issue in the past 25 years. Wrong on the first Gulf War. Wrong on the Surge and he wanted to cut and run from Iraq and split it up into 3 provinces, further increasing Iran's influence in the region.
Is this the kind of experience you think we should have up there? If this is your type of qualifications and experience, then I'm not your person. If you want fresh blood up there, someone who has a history of cutting through the bureaucracy, cutting spending, and governing on the side of the people. Then, yes, I have the right experience. And John McCain and I will be ready to lead when elected.
I think it's a terrific answer. Could probably be worded better - I'm no artist, but it would resonate around this country. People understand that Washington is a disaster (20% approval ratings for Congress) and believe that Washington is run by criminals. Exploit that; and they'll win.
Is Trig Sarah Palin’s Child?
Just killing the meme here.
But before I do, can I make a point that you people on the internet will believe anything without actually researching it yourself? The meme started on Daily Kos (always a hotbed of truthfulness!) after someone pulled it out of their ass from looking at a single picture.
Then it just ballooned from there. How sad that you people seem to think that accusing a woman - with no evidence - of this sort of cover-up makes it to the front page of major Democrat sites, such as Democrat Underground, Daily Kos, etc.
First off, ignorance. The meme popularly states that most Downs births are from births under 35 (or some number below Palin's actual age). This is because overall births are from this age group. However, after 42, woman have a greatly increased likelihood of giving birth to a child with Downs:
Recent data also suggest that paternal age, especially beyond 42, also increases the risk of Down Syndrome manifesting in pregnancies in older mothers
Again, I ask, is this the Democrat Party of the 21st century?
Now, putting the meme to sleep:
Story written In April, just before Trig's birth.
Of course I had to check out the “Hottest Governor in the US” and quickly turned to see her pregnant (she has since had her baby) with bags and daughter in tote. Then it struck me as odd. Why is the Governor of Alaska in the airport and preparing to get onto my commercial flight?
So the meme is done, correct?
Thanks to Ace's commenters for the link.
Sarah Palin Swimsuit Contest
Sarah Palin swimsuit photos are here. One piece and two piece swimsuit photos from an Alaskan beauty contest. Stunning pictures! Sarah Palin must be seen to be believed.
See Sarah Palin's swimsuit photos after the jump!
Halloween Turns Kids into Welfare Recipients
So it's Halloween again and here we go again. Random kids I've never seen before come to my door begging me for food. And not healthy food, but for candy. And they demand it too, they ring the door-bell until I come running offering my tithing lest my house get toilet papered or they throw eggs at my house or something.
So I offer up my tithing, actually thanking the kids of coming to my house and stealing food that I had purchased with my hard earned money. Sometimes they thank me sometimes, most of the times they do not. But I continue to give my money over because it's demanded of me. And then I say "Happy Halloween!" to them - what's happy about it? I should call it the yearly Halloween Tax. It only affects parents with no kids, because parents with kids are out wandering the neighborhood, begging for scraps of food themselves
And when the kids come, they are dressed up like mummies, skeletons, vampires and all sorts of creatures that are dead. Much like the way that welfare kills the soul, because you are given things you didn't earn; Halloween welcomes fake dead people up onto your porch.
Then we get strange cars driving around the neighborhood, obviously carrying kids from other neighborhoods to get candy from us. So the trick-or-treaters (re: welfare recipients) gather up in cars, drive to strangers' houses and steal their food too. It is not about community or getting to know your neighbor. It is all about "how much food can I steal, in the shortest period of time possible."
So this year, I once again pay my Halloween Tax, tithing my money to children and parents who - any other day of the year - wouldn't come by my house if I were rolling around the yard on fire. But for free food, they'll come in droves - lavish me with attention and happily walk away with my food. Then move onto the next house to steal from them too.
And the parents of these children get off with no Halloween Tax at all; because they are smart. They are out chaperoning their children through the streets. Sometimes eating the food we've tithed to the children. Leeches.
Happy Halloween everyone!
(Bryan at Hot Air chimes in with some cool Halloween stuff - that doesn't involve me feeding other peoples' kids)
Assurant Health (Time Insurance Company) Sucks
I've been with the same health insurance company for years now, since about 2002. My premiums were about $250/month, with a decent deductible and a low co-pay as well. I was pretty happy with the service, and it kept my parents from nagging me about getting insurance. So it worked on different levels.
Then, in 2005, I tried to add my wife to plan and include maternity coverage as well. Adding her raised my premiums to $582/month which was astonishing, but women need to go to the doctor more, so I was fine with that. This year, as we are possibly trying to have a child, I called to make sure that the policy included the maternity coverage as requested.
It did not and there was no way to add it. After speaking to a few people at our insurance company, I got them to allow me to add the coverage as long as it was backdated to the time she joined the policy and pay the past premiums. I said fine and send me a quote as to what the cost would be. Keep in mind, I assumed that the $582/month already included maternity coverage on it, so I wasn't expecting a huge increase or bill. Maybe a few thousand dollars in back premiums and $100 or so per month extra at worst.
So I open my mail the other day, and I get this letter from Assurant Health.
This letter is to advise you that if you were to add the Maternity Rider effective December 15, 2005 the total amount due would be $11,206.58.
....
We apologize for the amount of time it took to respond to your correspondence.
I omitted the boring part of how they broke down how they came across the figure. I liked how they apologized for how long it took to get back to me; they should have been apologizing for trying to pass this off as a reasonable amount to pay. $11,000 ? Assuming you have a child without insurance, it costs between $10,000 and $20,000 or so. So, I'm almost half paid off anyways. What's the point of this insurance? Really?
So I placed a call to Assurant Health and talked to someone on the policy holders' line. I asked her what, on top of that $11,000, would happen to my monthly premiums if I went ahead and paid. She said my premiums would go from $500 per month to $1200 per month. I was flummoxed and asked if she thought $1200/month was reasonable for 2 people, in their early 30's, non-smokers, no health problems, etc. She said that she has seen higher. That was helpful. She asked if there was anything else she could do to help. Other than pay off that $11,000 pill and not rape me for $1200 per month, not really.
I called around just a few moments ago and reached Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I've heard of them of course. So I talk to someone on the phone and they said there is some "Plan 3" policy (or something like that) that'd cost me $313/month plus $100 (or $50, depending on the deductible) for maternity coverage. For both of us. Hmm. $413 compared to $1200. That's a tough choice there.
Obviously, I'll do more calling around before I make a commitment, but $1200 is crazy. $413 is quite pallitable.
While on the phone with Assurant Health (I'd already contacted BCBS as this point) and told her that BCBS quoted me $413 for the same coverage, if not a little better. She said that was possible, new business is cheaper than existing business. That's completely contrary to every business model I've ever heard about it. It's supposedly much cheaper to keep an existing customer than get a new one. Weird.
Anyways, Assurant Health sucks. If it wasn't apparent to me before, it is now.
Xbox 360, PS3 – What’s the point?
I've been waiting since the Xbox 360 has been released to buy the system. I keep waiting and waiting. I currently own an Xbox and liked several games - even though I'm not a huge gamer. I like action RPG's and adventure games, primarily.
I've also been looking at the PS3 since it was released. I used to own a PS2 a long time ago as well.
But, I'm still wondering - why did either of these companies even produce these systems?
In 2007, do we really want to be playing Missile Command? Pac Man? Joust? Double Dragon? Paperboy?
Those games were fun; for their time. But it's 2007. Surely we can do better, right?
So far, for the Xbox, the only game that interests me is Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. I haven't seen anything for the PS3 yet. The quality of games doesn't even seem much above the Xbox for either system.
How much longer before something good comes out? Really?
I'd buy some PC games, but I'm sick of upgrading my PC and everything seems like its an MMORPG anyways - and I refuse to play those wastes of time.
Public Schools Taking Steps to Improve…Something
When your school system suffers from the following:
- 46% proficiency in Reading
- 39% proficiency in Math
- 31% proficiency in reading for black students
- 25% proficiency in math for black students
- 65% graduation rate (in 5 years)
And are told, that to improve the situation, you need to implement the following steps (pdf link):
- A top-to-bottom organizational focus on student achievement, supported by a consistent and continuous message from superintendent and board
- The rigorous use of achievement data to inform instructional, staffing, and programmatic decisions by teachers, principals, and central office staff
- Systems to hire, develop, and retain effective teachers and principals in all schools
- The full engagement of families and the larger community in promoting achievement
What steps would you take to improve your schools and the quality of education for your students?
If you are the Pittsburgh Public School system, then obviously, you'd take the following steps:
Hire Better TeachersDrop the word "public" from the school system.Encourage Parents to Help with EducationMake a new logo. Complete with circles, triangles and squaresUse achievement data to help recognize areas of concernHire a marketing consultant to make a new slogan, "Excellence for all"Improve communication between parents and teachersBuild a customer service center, aimed at boosting the district's imageImprove the reading and math classesTeach kids how to put on a condom
The Pittsburgh Public School System, sorry the Pittsburgh School System, is surely in line to work wonders in the field of education, graduation and help to bring a new generation of leaders into the world. Congratulations.
Curious, if only 39% of your student body will be able to recognize a logo with circles, squares and triangles - won't that alienate your customer base? Oh well. Guess that's a hurdle we'll cross when we come to it.
Come See Me On ‘To Catch a Predator’!
MSNBC ran a marathon of the Dateline series To Catch a Predator the other night and it was totally fascinating. I've never seen the series on Dateline (I thought Dateline only specialized in blowing up cars to drive their conclusion based reporting) but I've heard about it and seen clips and parodies online. Last night, I watched most of the marathon, and eventually I realized that one of the products we sell is featured on the show! Awesome!
Watch the embedded video and the magical moment starts at about 7 seconds into the clip. It might repeat a few times throughout, but the first time is all you really need. Did you miss it? At the right of the frame is a wall cross with a dark thing in the middle. I believe (though obviously its hard to tell for sure) that it is this item. We haven't sold anything to NBC recently; but given that these houses are (I assume) rented out or owned by Perverted Justice, it'd be hard to know if we sold them that item or not.
Either way, I'm glowing! So; if you want a piece of 'To Catch a Predator' memorabilia, click on over! I won't guarantee that creepy dudes will come over to your house to have sex with your 12 year old son/daughter, but I will guarantee a good conversation piece. And what more can you really ask for?
Ron Paul Promises to Cut Government Spending
The last hope for the Republic, Ron Paul, is a fiscally conservative senator from Texas who rails against big government and government spending.
Ron Paul's supporters "love" his championing of the Constitution in this regard. Limited government. Lower taxes. More Freedom.
But is Ron Paul really for less government spending? The proof in the pudding is always pork projects for the local constituency. That's the way politicians buy votes, right? Shouldn't Ron Paul, the champion of the Constitution, be against pork barrel spending.
As they say on TV, let's go to the tape. (local PDF link - link to original version). Can someone please remind me, which article of the Constitution allows for "Brazoria County Shore Protection", "Cancer Center Expansion" "Chocolate Bayou" among other pork projects, many of which just -happen- to be in his local district. Very puzzling.
The Champion of the Constitution, indeed. Sure, come and say that he's just working within the system and that when he's elected he'll change things. Then, in the next breath tell me that he doesn't pass many bills because he can't get people to agree with him - because he's such a rigid supporter of constitutional ethics. Uh huh.
Ron Paul. The last hope. The best hope. For the Republic. Take the Red Pill. Ron Paul.
(H/T: Ace)