Nobody 806

Sunday, February 14, (Valentine’s Day) 2010

Nobody # 806

Nobody Asked Me But:

Along with a life of happiness, my marriage brings me certain kitchen fringe benefits. When Barbara makes guacamole, I get to taste-test it. With mashed potatoes, I get to eat what's left in the large bowl. And when she makes Thousand Island dressing, it's deviled-egg salad time. This latter was the bliss I experienced last Monday. I was sitting in the yard on one of the few mild days in an excessively cold winter, a book in my hand, a can of iced coffee nearby and a small dish of deviled-egg salad with four cheese sticks ready for dipping. Life is good.<<<

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change," he began, "the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." Reinhold Niebuhr

Niebuhr, who is our president’s favorite philosopher, was one of the three great Protestant theologians of the 20^th Century. (The others were Paul Tillich and Karl Barth.) I have been re-reading some of Niebuhr’s writings lately, and they gave me a sort of epiphany.

Too often I hide behind my idealism. That way I can turn off a disappointing world with a "what's the use" or a "why bother." It is much easier to do that than to commit to the imperfect or to the gradual.

Example: It is morally right to provide affordable health care for everyone. The alternate is to increase the unfair advantage of the haves over the have nots or those who have less. However, except in very unusual times and circumstances, Americans are afraid of “excessive” change, especially when it involves "too much" government. The answer then, even though I don’t like it, is to seek a moral health care system by increments. Pass a bill this year outlawing discrimination for pre-existing conditions and all policy cancelations for the sick and very sick. Include a warning clause to the companies and to hospitals that anything more than cost of living rate increases will result in legislation establishing either price controls or a government option.

Although this law will not solve the problem of most of the uninsured, it will add vital protection to the currently insured and the newly insured, and will, “with all deliberate speed,” win their support for the larger changes that will follow.<<<

And for those who still believe in the tooth fairy and that private health insurance companies have good hearts and, in any way, operate in the public interest, chew on the following:

The five largest health insurance companies racked up combined profits of $12.2 billion -- up 56% over 2008.

The five largest health insurance companies covered 2.7 million fewer people than they did last year.

Some of the five insurers cut the proportion of premiums they spent on their customers' medical care, committing relatively more to salaries, administrative expenses and profit.<<<

QUESTIONS FOR GRANDFATHER

Emily: “Grandfather, for my homework I need to list 100 reasons for saving our planet. I can only think of 99. Can you help me?”

Grandfather: “Earth is the only planet with tacos.”

Emily: “Grandfather, what were rabbit ears?”

Grandfather: “Just think of them as a free cable box.”

Emily: “Grandfather, why do Republicans in congress wear that button with Nancy Reagan’s picture on it?”

Grandfather: “Because she is the mother of their anti-Obama philosophy - ‘Just Say No.’”<<<

ACTION/REACTION

Action: “The tea-party movement has no leader, but neither did the American Revolution," talk-radio host Phil Valentine, at the convention.

Reaction: WOW! George Washington just turned over in his grave.

Action: Sarah Palin says, "it would be absurd not to ponder a presidential bid."

Reaction: Those darn newspapers got it wrong again. They obviously added the word “not” to Palin’s statement.

Action: New study shows heavy male politicians are considered more reliable and honest than thinner counterparts.

Reaction: So Shakespeare was right when he had Caesar warn Mark Anthony:

“Let me have men about me that are fat/Sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nights/Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look,/He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.”

Reaction # 2: Call me reliable. Call me honest. At least, call me.

Action: President Bill goes to the hospital and SOS Hilary “does not seem too concerned.”

Reaction: WOW! If true, that’s cold.

WHEN HISTORY HURTS – OR THE (NOT) GOOD OLD DAYS.

Tucson’s famed El Dorado Lodge, AT Wilmot and Speedway, opened in 1949 specifically to serve Jews who were banned from Tucson's other dude ranches.<<<

More on Arizona – the Republican-controlled legislature is considering a bill that would FORCE couples seeking a divorce to wait four more months before it can be finalized. And I always thought the GOP believed in less government not more. Isn’t one of their favorite sayings is that the government should “get off the people’s backs?”<<<

Sad to say, but “24” has finally jumped the shark. It has become a show that only Dick Cheney can love.<<<

Payton Manning is a great quarterback but Joe (4-0 in the Super Bowl) Montana is still the all-time best.<<<

I don’t like it, but I agree with UCLA’s Michael Roll about why they lost a recent game to California: "We're not as good as these guys."<<<

FROM “TRUE COMPASS, A MEMOIR” BY TED KENNEDY

During a debate over the Democratic nomination for Senator from Massachusetts, Ted's opponent ridiculed him for never having worked a day in his life. The next day Kennedy was shaking hands outside a factory when a worker yelled over to him, “Hey Kennedy. I hear you haven't worked a day in your life.” Then the guy walked over to Ted, slapped him on the back and said, “Let me tell you something, you haven't missed a thing.”<<<

And did you know that: After graduating from Harvard and receiving his varsity letter, Ted received a letter from the Packers asking him if he wanted to try out?<<<

And how can anyone who saw our president at the White House Lincoln/civil rights tribute last Thursday smiling, moving to the music’s rhythm and singing along, not have a huge warm spot in their heart for the man?<<<

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIALS

My top three love movies for Valentine’s Day:

“The Quiet Man:

“The African Queen”

“Casablanca.”

My top three greatest movie kisses:

“The Quiet Man” (John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara)

“Gone With The Wind: (Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh)

“From Here To Eternity” (Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr)

Runners-up – “Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs” and “Lady And The Tramp.”)

My classic Valentine’s Day dinner:

Barbara’s macaroni and cheese, (well-browned on top) a salad with home made thousand island dressing and a superb bottle of red, – all of which I will be having in about 10 hours.

So Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!