The Eagles' Nest
If you are among the handful of people who haven't tuned in to the video camera that is monitoring the eagle's nest in Decorah, Iowa.... well, we now have babies. It's amazing how the parents bring freshly killed fish, rodents, and birds to feed the little ones. Go here, scroll down, and enjoy:
http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Decorah_Bald_Eagle_Nest.html
....
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Obama-Care, Freeloaders, and Grandma
“The most surprising part of the pushback against the law for me . . . is the part where conservatives hold high the banner of freeloader rights.”
--Melinda Henneberger
I don't like Obama-Care. I also don't like otherwise prosperous -uninsured people- who come into my hospital needing emergency surgery and expensive care... And we have to treat them... and then we eat the bill.
I would hate the Obama mandate more, if when one of these health care freeloaders gambled and lost, the hospital would own that person until every penny of his bill was paid.
But that's not how it works.
Obama-Care would be worse, because the government would likely ration its payments to hospitals... (It now pays pennies on the dollar for medicare and medicaid services)... Hospitals are already cutting back on personnel... Obama-Care would make it much worse.
I'm rambling.
But on this issue, conservatives are hypocrites. Obama-Care is a bad idea, but it's not as if conservatives have great ideas on how to pay for exploding health care costs, or how to break it to grandma that there isn't enough money for her open-heart surgery.
Yes, this is America and you think Grandma has a right to have that surgery. But here's the thing: The money isn't there. Doctors and hospital employees aren't going to work for peanuts... anymore than you would.
Sorry Grandma, we're broke.
....
“The most surprising part of the pushback against the law for me . . . is the part where conservatives hold high the banner of freeloader rights.”
--Melinda Henneberger
I don't like Obama-Care. I also don't like otherwise prosperous -uninsured people- who come into my hospital needing emergency surgery and expensive care... And we have to treat them... and then we eat the bill.
I would hate the Obama mandate more, if when one of these health care freeloaders gambled and lost, the hospital would own that person until every penny of his bill was paid.
But that's not how it works.
Obama-Care would be worse, because the government would likely ration its payments to hospitals... (It now pays pennies on the dollar for medicare and medicaid services)... Hospitals are already cutting back on personnel... Obama-Care would make it much worse.
I'm rambling.
But on this issue, conservatives are hypocrites. Obama-Care is a bad idea, but it's not as if conservatives have great ideas on how to pay for exploding health care costs, or how to break it to grandma that there isn't enough money for her open-heart surgery.
Yes, this is America and you think Grandma has a right to have that surgery. But here's the thing: The money isn't there. Doctors and hospital employees aren't going to work for peanuts... anymore than you would.
Sorry Grandma, we're broke.
....
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Flirting with Black Women
I've never lived in, or worked in urban or suburban areas. My society has always been rural.
Until now.
Now I work in a hospital near Indianapolis and suddenly there are people in my world who speak, dress, and look different from my neighbors at home. I have a friend who is Muslim. I have a friend who is gay. And, I have black women.
Now here's the thing. Cute young white women avoid eye contact and conversation with me. Cute young black women will stop and talk. I don't know why. Maybe black girls think I'm harmless. Maybe they think if I'm white and friendly, then I'm cool.
I'm cool? This is new.
Now for some black men, having a white girlfriend is a status symbol. I don't think it's the same for black women who have a white boyfriend. I think in those cases the white boyfriend eventually gets beat up.
But anyway, this is new for me... talking to black women. And stranger things have happened. Maybe I should put my family on notice. Thanksgiving is just a few months away. If I bring a date, she just may be... well... ... ... And I'm just saying that if a certain nephew asks me, "Who dat?" ... I will consider it to be in poor taste.
....
I've never lived in, or worked in urban or suburban areas. My society has always been rural.
Until now.
Now I work in a hospital near Indianapolis and suddenly there are people in my world who speak, dress, and look different from my neighbors at home. I have a friend who is Muslim. I have a friend who is gay. And, I have black women.
Now here's the thing. Cute young white women avoid eye contact and conversation with me. Cute young black women will stop and talk. I don't know why. Maybe black girls think I'm harmless. Maybe they think if I'm white and friendly, then I'm cool.
I'm cool? This is new.
Now for some black men, having a white girlfriend is a status symbol. I don't think it's the same for black women who have a white boyfriend. I think in those cases the white boyfriend eventually gets beat up.
But anyway, this is new for me... talking to black women. And stranger things have happened. Maybe I should put my family on notice. Thanksgiving is just a few months away. If I bring a date, she just may be... well... ... ... And I'm just saying that if a certain nephew asks me, "Who dat?" ... I will consider it to be in poor taste.
....
March Madness
College Basketball, after College Football, is the purest form of political free, clean entertainment that is left to us. Oh, there are still sleazy programs like Kentucky, but it is still a venue in which schools like Lehigh, St Bonaventure, and Loyola can shine on a national stage.
I think Tom Brokaw should have gone to Loyola... Just so we could hear him torture the name. (Woy-Oh-Wa)
Brackets, upsets, last minute shots affording last minute victories... There is nothing like it.
....
College Basketball, after College Football, is the purest form of political free, clean entertainment that is left to us. Oh, there are still sleazy programs like Kentucky, but it is still a venue in which schools like Lehigh, St Bonaventure, and Loyola can shine on a national stage.
I think Tom Brokaw should have gone to Loyola... Just so we could hear him torture the name. (Woy-Oh-Wa)
Brackets, upsets, last minute shots affording last minute victories... There is nothing like it.
....
Friday, March 09, 2012
Faith In Our Future
As I consider the direction our country and culture are heading, I'm becoming less emotionally attached to the news of the day. The prince of this world is posting some pretty impressive victories in our country and in organized religion, but I think it is a predictable phenomenon and should be seen as an expected outcome among the rich.
I know my anxiety over the economy and politics is directly proportional to my worldliness.
As the American Culture heads towards its sad end, I cling to the promise that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. And as our little corner of the planet becomes poorer and less appealing, the Church will more and more turn its gaze upon eternal things, and remember that this world is not her home.
The God in whom we live and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28) has no affection for our prosperity, because it only dulls our spiritual senses and retards our Holiness.
And as our culture decays into idolatry and immorality, the enemy will be revealed with more clarity... And the battle lines will be more easily seen.
The Church will quite naturally turn away from this world and become a more beautiful Bride... Pure... Holy... Set apart. I believe this is God's plan. His priority is not our wealth, health, comfort, and happiness... But rather that we turn from our worldliness and seek Him first. It will give Him glory, and giving Him glory is our purpose.
....
As I consider the direction our country and culture are heading, I'm becoming less emotionally attached to the news of the day. The prince of this world is posting some pretty impressive victories in our country and in organized religion, but I think it is a predictable phenomenon and should be seen as an expected outcome among the rich.
I know my anxiety over the economy and politics is directly proportional to my worldliness.
As the American Culture heads towards its sad end, I cling to the promise that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. And as our little corner of the planet becomes poorer and less appealing, the Church will more and more turn its gaze upon eternal things, and remember that this world is not her home.
The God in whom we live and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28) has no affection for our prosperity, because it only dulls our spiritual senses and retards our Holiness.
And as our culture decays into idolatry and immorality, the enemy will be revealed with more clarity... And the battle lines will be more easily seen.
The Church will quite naturally turn away from this world and become a more beautiful Bride... Pure... Holy... Set apart. I believe this is God's plan. His priority is not our wealth, health, comfort, and happiness... But rather that we turn from our worldliness and seek Him first. It will give Him glory, and giving Him glory is our purpose.
....
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