Dear Senator Specter

Welcome to the Democratic Party! I lived in Philadelphia for many years and you were the only Republican candidate I ever voted for. You always seemed to listen to your constituants and overall, we (Democrats and Republicans) were pleased, otherwise we wouldn't not have reelected you so many times. You actually served your constituants, which somepeople might consider a novelty in this hyperpartisan age.

I know you are now what is considered a center right Democrat and there is one issue I want to nudge you on: EFCA. I know you don't like it, but Americans need EFCA to ensure they have a real choice when it come to union membership. Having the Republicans lie about the fact no secret ballet elections will be allowed is a fallacy that needs to go away. Even if you are opposed to EFCA, if you could present the facts, that would be a good thing.

Health care reform or smoke and mirrors?

This is going to be short since I have to get to PT.

I received an email from Healthcare-Now! this morning. I have bolded the bits that I think are important.

We need your help getting a single-payer supporter into Senate Finance Committee roundtable discussions on healthcare reform. The Finance Committee (Led by Sen. Max Baucus - MT) is holding three roundtable discussions on healthcare reform in the coming weeks.

The first discussion, titled “Reforming America’s Health Care Delivery System,” on April 21st, had thirteen witnesses. Aetna was there. Blue Cross Blue Shield was there. But not one single-payer supporter was invited.

This is unacceptable. We need to make sure our representatives respond to the demands of the people. Together, let’s put the Senate Finance Committee to the test and demand they include single-payer experts at the upcoming Roundtable discussions on health reform.

The next two discussions are on May 5th(”Increasing access to health care coverage”) and May 14th (”Financing comprehensive health care reform”.

Here is the link for Healthcare-NOW! that includes more information. If your congressperson is on this committee, please write them and let them know you support Single-Payer healthcare for the American people. Americans deserve no less.

Good Monday!

It's been awhile due to a biceps tendon causing lots of pain. I had a biceps tenodesis performed on March 6th so I am on the road to recovery.

It's been fun (and frightening) to watch the economy these days. Could the Republicans and Conservadems (thanks Rachel Maddow for that great word) possibly be more obstructionist? The seem so intent on being the contrarians that they are forgetting their slowing down what the administration wants to do is slowing down the recovery for their constituents. I'm not sure they are know the meaning of the word constituent, but it means the people who vote them in (and OUT) every so often. These people are losing their jobs, their homes, their medical care, and you are playing politics?

Here a hint: start playing nice with others and solve this economic mess that was caused years of deregulation and people being downright greedy.

Things I read in the paper, 02/18/09

New Tolkien book is due

It's about time! I mean, how often can a person reread the Trilogy? The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun predates Rings. My guess is , judging by the names, there's a little Norse influence here. Tolkien wrote it in the 1920's and '30. Now the hard part: we have to wait until May. It's just like waiting for the Star Wars opening, but I don't know if people will wear costumes for this.

Health Care: My Hotbutton Issue

Here's the link to the Obama/Biden health care plan, so you can learn more.

Sneaky aren't I. Yes I will make you go to the sources yourself. Why? Because you should always research things on your own and decide for yourself. People keep telling you things about Obama, but have you taken time to find out the real deal for yourself?

Back to (un)reality.

It's been hard to keep up this blog. Why? I can sum it up in one word: lupus. It does things to you that you never really expect. There's that pesky "mind fog", which people with fibromyalgia will know very well. For those who don't, imagine trying to function mentally when you've had two too many drinks. Then there's the fatigue, which is indescribable, so I won't even try.

I've go a great rheumatologist, and I'm on a great new combination of meds. I actually think I can function at about 80% of normal, which is better than the 40% I've been averaging for the past couple of years. Which is very good, considering this is time we all should be be busy making sure our country gets headed in the right direction again!

Lupus (bad), John Coltrane (good, and very cool)

It sucks. I've had no energy to post, but with the help of the wonder drugs plaquinil and prednisone, I now have about an hour or two of energy a day, with which I am going to waste an hour blogging. I'll also cut-and-paste the same boring entries to Bovina Sancta and my Facebook pages, so for the next month or so there really won't be really topical stuff posted anywhere, just ramblings.

It's forced my to reschedule my trip to Idaho until late September. This is one time I won't argue back to the Big Guy. It's in the low hundreds there now, and while I used to love that temperature range, right now, I'll admire it from afar.

I have come across something that is very intriguing and has made for some good listening and spirit warming. It's Saint John Coltrane Church in San Francisco. I highly recommend going there on Tuesday afternoons for the Uplift Radio Broadcast. If you can pick up locally, tune in from Noon to 4. If not, you can listen online: KPOO 89.5.

When I was living in Philadelphia I used to go to Jazz Vespers at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, which, I learned today have ended due to lack of funding. I'm hope the tradition will continue somewhere in the area; it's a joyous noise too precious to lose.