My mom has colon cancer and no health insurance

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Tuesday August 03, 2010 · 9:39 AM PDT

2010/08/03 · 09:39

My mother was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. She is going to need chemo, radiation, and surgery. Unfortunately her Medicare part B has expired which means she has no outpatient coverage. So why did it expire? Have you ever seen one of those new TV programs about compulsive hoarders? That’s her. She’s not as bad as most of those shows, but bad enough. When my brother and I finally went down to clean out her house there was months worth of unopened mail filling boxes, bags, tables, the garage floor ... everywhere. When I was young they used to turn off our lights and telephone for non-payment. So she hadn’t paid the premium for her Medicare part B, she didn’t even know there was one, and they terminated it. The enrollment period is January and she obviously can’t wait for treatment.

Rezkalla

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Sunday February 28, 2010 · 10:49 AM PST

2010/02/28 · 10:49

Looks like the the republican claim that the government can't do anything right has just been dealt another counter-example, as if they weren't already all around us. One of the main reasons the earthquake in Hait was so devastating was because they have no building codes. Chile, on the other hand, has building codes. There are other reasons as well, but this was a strong factor. Contractors may complain about the building codes, but I'm glad we have them.

http://news.yahoo.com/...

Rezkalla

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Monday January 18, 2010 · 6:05 PM PST

2010/01/18 · 18:05

I know you have one, we all do: one of those brilliant, unorthodox ways to combat global warming that cause people to look at us like we’ve got a screw loose. Maybe you’ve never shared your crazy like a fox idea with anyone because you know the reaction you’ll get. We’ll here is your chance. You have just been granted to share your brilliant idea, no matter how kooky, with the rest of the group. Who know, perhaps your inspiring words will percolate upwards into the stratospheres of political power and some senator, or, dare I say, Barack himself, will put your plan into action, thereby saving our species from certain annihilation.

Your plan doesn’t have to completely reverse global warming; any idea that moves us in the right direction is welcome. Remember, this is not my diary, it’s your diary. So step up and share your unorthodox, outside the box solution. My only rule is to leave out the obvious, so no suggestions for a carbon tax, more fuel efficient cars, or wind energy. We’ve already heard about those.

Rezkalla

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Wednesday December 30, 2009 · 8:53 AM PST

2009/12/30 · 08:53

As a huge fan of Miyazaki, and a really big fan of Pixar, I was excited to see them get the recognition they deserve. The article makes the case that Miyakazi's films are deeper and have more complex, interesting characters than Pixar. As much as I love Pixar moves, I couldn't agree more. To this day, when I mention that I love a certain Japanese directors, many people turn their noses up snobbishly as if I just declared my love for Pokemon. Miyazaki is not Pokemon in the same sense that Mozart is not Ashley Simpson. Any respected film critic will tell you that Miyazaki is one of the world's best directors. If you haven't seen any of his work, do yourself a favor and put them in your netflix que. My only caveat is that Disney, who has the rights to trnaslate his films into English and provide the subtitles, massacred Porco Rosso, a transcendentally beautiful film. I've heard they also butchered Castle in the Sky. So either watch these in Japanese - I hope they didn't massacre the subtitles - or get the box set from Hong Kong off of ebay.

Next month my wife and I will be in Tokyo and one of the highlights of the trip will be a visit to Ghibli studios.

Poll

40 votes Show Results

What is your favorite film by Ghibli studios?

40 votes Vote Now!

What is your favorite film by Ghibli studios?

Howle's Moving Castle

1 vote

Laputa: Castle in the Sky

2 votes

Princess Mononoke

8 votes

Naussica of the Valley of the Wind

5 votes

Lupin the III

1 vote

My Neighbor Totoro

3 votes

My Neighbors the Yamadas

0 votes

Spirited Away

13 votes

Grave of the Fireflies

1 vote

Only Yesterday

0 votes

The Cat Returns

0 votes

Pompoko

1 vote

Ocean Waves

0 votes

Ponyo

1 vote

Something I've forgotten

4 votes

The War on Halloween / Poison Candy Myth

Rezkalla

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Friday October 30, 2009 · 8:29 AM PDT

2009/10/30 · 08:29

Since it’s Halloween it’s worth pointing out that the old stories about poisoned Halloween candy or razor blades in apples were nothing more than urban legends. When I was a kid the poison candy scare was a big deal. A police woman came to my elementary school to talk to us about it. It was on the news every year. We heard stories about people putting razor blades in apples - this was seen in Halloween part II. The news media never bothered to research their stories (ie do their jobs), and nobody ever bothered to retract their stories (ie be resonsible). I guess that's why I'm posting this diary - to get the word out that this was all a big scam. Of course the evangelicals would love to have you believe this stuff happens all the time, because they actually do have a war on Halloween. Unlike the mythical war in Christmas, this one is real. Please recommend this and spread the word, not for me, but for Halloween. Thank you.

Rezkalla

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Wednesday August 26, 2009 · 10:51 AM PDT

2009/08/26 · 10:51

Instead of dealing with the Deathers and their absurd claims with reason and logic, which is clearly wasted on them, why don't we employ mockery and derision? We should forward the meme that if you buy the whole death panel crap, etc, then you are gullible, a dupe, sucker, fool, and pawn of the insurance industry. A little shame and embarrassment goes a long way. It would be especially effective because it's true! I know that Olbermann and Maddow have employed some of this already, but I think this needs to be the primary thrust of the Democratic response.

So when some wingnut makes the claim that the public option will create death panels, will increase health care cost, will deprive seniors of health care, is socialist, or whatever other crap they're throwing out at the moment, the reply should be something like ...

You're a gullible fool who has been duped by the health care industry.

You mean you actually fell for that? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I think I have some swampland in Florida I'd like you sell you!

You just fall for whatever Fox news tell you, don't you?

Do you believe every piece of chain mail you get?

Rezkalla

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Monday April 24, 2006 · 8:12 PM PDT

2006/04/24 · 20:12

When was the last time you met a Canadian who was in the USA illegally? Take a minute and think about it, I'll wait.

Now, when was the last time you met a Mexican who was in the USA illegally? Easier question right?

So what's the difference? It's probably not the cold weather and hockey. More likely it's the strong economy, good jobs, health care, education, low crime, better quality of life, and social justice that Canadians enjoy as opposed to the Mexicans. Read More

Opium problem in Afghanistan

Rezkalla

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Saturday November 26, 2005 · 12:08 PM PST

2005/11/26 · 12:08

I apologize if this idea seems half-baked, but I wanted to throw it out there.

Why don't we just buy all the opium Afghanistan is producing? If we pay a higher price than the drug lords then they'll have to pay the farmers more to get their crops. We then ratchet it up again.

To make a profit, the drug lords would have to charge a much higher price for their product, so the cost of heroin goes higher than what a typical heroin addict can afford.

We then push it high enough that the economics of the heroin trade collapses. Read More

Insecure Males = War + SUV

Rezkalla

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Tuesday August 02, 2005 · 6:31 PM PDT

2005/08/02 · 18:31

Usually I'm proud to be a man, but sometimes I'm not. Read this. For the record I drive an economical sedan and oppose the war.

http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050802_masculinity.html

This is important because the GOP is using things like this to garner votes. I strongly suspect that in the red states being a liberal or a democrat is tantamount to being a "sissy." A lot of this probably started with Reagan's cowboy image. It sells cigarettes, it sells politics.

Wisdom From Malaysia!!!

Rezkalla

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Friday June 17, 2005 · 4:36 PM PDT

2005/06/17 · 16:36

Marina Mahathir is the daughter of the last prime minister of Malaysia, she has a much more
liberal view of the country than most people.

This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
URL:
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2005/4/20/features/10719232&sec=features

Wednesday April 20, 2005
Moral terrorism
Musings by MARINA MAHATHIR

Sometimes we think we are so unique in the world. But just a little
reading makes us realize that there are so many parallels with other
people, despite what looks like inherent differences.

This coming week, the leader of the majority Republicans in the United
States, Senator Bill Frist, is participating in a telecast geared
towards labeling the opposition Democrats as acting "against people of
faith." This is because the Democrats are opposing the nomination of judges
with extremely conservative views. But, as columnist Frank Rich of the
New York Times says, Senator Frist and his allies do not mean people of
all faiths, only those of their faith. Read More

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My mom has colon cancer and no health insurance

Chile and Haiti Illustrate the value of government

What is your 'crazy like a fox' idea for fighting global warming?

Hayao Miyazaki & Pixar tied for second best director of the decade by Salon! With Poll.

The War on Halloween / Poison Candy Myth

Forward the "Deather = Gullible Fool" Meme

My solution to illegal immigration

Opium problem in Afghanistan

Insecure Males = War + SUV

Wisdom From Malaysia!!!