[My] Life in Wisconsin

Corn vs Coal

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/su-evg121409.php
Ethanol, often promoted as a clean-burning, renewable fuel that could help wean the nation from oil, would likely worsen health problems caused by ozone, compared with gasoline, especially in winter, according to a new study led by Stanford researchers.

Ozone production from both gasoline and E85, a blend of gasoline and ethanol that is 85 percent ethanol, is greater in warm sunny weather than during the cold weather and short days of winter, because heat and sunlight contribute to ozone formation. But E85 produces different byproducts of combustion than gasoline and generates substantially more aldehydes, which are precursors to ozone.

"What we found is that at the warmer temperatures, with E85, there is a slight increase in ozone compared to what gasoline would produce," said Diana Ginnebaugh, a doctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering, who worked on the study. She will present the results of the study on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. "But even a slight increase is a concern, especially in a place like Los Angeles, because you already have episodes of high ozone that you have to be concerned about, so you don't want any increase."

But it was at colder temperatures, below freezing, that it appeared the health impacts of E85 would be felt most strongly.

"We found a pretty substantial increase in ozone production from E85 at cold temperatures, relative to gasoline when emissions and atmospheric chemistry alone were considered," Ginnebaugh said. Although ozone is generally lower under cold-temperature winter conditions, "If you switched to E85, suddenly you could have a place like Denver exceeding ozone health-effects limits and then they would have a health concern that they don't have now."

The problem with cold weather emissions arises because the catalytic converters used on vehicles have to warm up before they reach full efficiency. So until they get warm, a larger proportion of pollutants escapes from the tailpipe into the air.

There are other pollutants that would increase in the atmosphere from burning E85 instead of gasoline, some of which are irritants to eyes, throats and lungs, and can also damage crops, but the aldehydes are the biggest contributors to ozone production, as well as being carcinogenic.

Ginnebaugh worked with Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering, using vehicle emissions data from some earlier studies and applying it to the Los Angeles area to model the likely output of pollutants from vehicles.

Because E85 is only now beginning to be used in mass-produced vehicles, the researchers projected for the year 2020, when more "flex fuel" vehicles, which can run on E85, will likely be in use. They estimated that vehicle emissions would be about 60 percent less than today, because automotive technology will likely continue to become cleaner over time. They investigated two scenarios, one that had all the vehicles running on E85 and another in which the vehicles all ran on gasoline.

Running a widely used, complex model involving over 13,000 chemical reactions, they did repeated simulations at different ambient temperatures for the two scenarios, each time simulating a 48-hour period. They used the average ozone concentrations during each of those periods for comparison.

They found that at warm temperatures, from freezing up to 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 F conversion), in bright sunlight, E85 raised the concentration of ozone in the air by up to 7 parts per billion more than produced by gasoline.
At cold temperatures, from freezing down to minus 37 degrees Celsius, they found E85 raised ozone concentrations by up to 39 parts per billion more than gasoline.

"What we are saying with these results is that you see an increase," Ginnebaugh said. "We are not saying that this is the exact magnitude you are going to get in a given urban area, because it is really going to vary from city to city depending on a lot of other factors such as the amount of natural vegetation, traffic levels, and local weather patterns."

Ginnebaugh said the results of the study represent a preliminary analysis of the impact of E85. More data from studies of the emissions of flex fuel vehicles at various temperatures would help refine the estimates, she said.

###

Paul Livingstone contributed to the study while he was a postdoctoral researcher in civil and environmental engineering. He now works for the California Air Resources Board.

Contact: Louis Bergeron
louisb3@stanford.edu
650-725-1944
Stanford University
**********************

So much for corn vs. coal.

Time to start over kids-
Coal is nonrenewable, and very very dirty. Our usage must absolutely be kept in check; and ultimately done away with.

$ave your dollars spent on gas and insurances.
Can anyone say SUNSHINE, bicycles, shanks mare, and public transportation?
It's about time.

XOXO
Me

Before Our Flintville Christmas

Thank You!



Good Morning All;
And a "Holly~Jolly" two days after to everyone!
Once more I have been having many problems with my computer, and the fact that Multiply chooses the heart of the day to do its updating-  So, I did what any normal person does on the day after... I napped like a kitten with a full belly.

Nice when sleep comes... I had gotten those shots in my back on Christmas Eve- Not a bit of relief either, but we made it there and back without any real problems on the roads of ice/snow.

I hope your Christmas was "wunnaful", though I know many people had many problems with the weather.  Knowing that my sister Barbara was on the road with her hubby as they headed west to Texas was not a happy thought-  I haven't heard from them, and am assuming all is well.

William and Lawrence called on Christmas Eve- So nice to hear those voices on the other end of the line!  All is well in Prattville- threatening rain, but at that point had very little that actually fell.  Lawrence sounding so very grown up!

As far as the storm went, (and it went far and wide), I hope everyone hunkered down to enjoy a quiet, safe and warm day; where ever you might have ended up.


This photo stolen from NOAA- showing what this storm was like on the eve of Christmas Eve.


NOAA CLOUDS
This NOAA satellite image taken Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 at 12:45 a.m. EST shows a developing storm system in the Southern Plains, which is generating a mix of snow and freezing rain over eastern Colorado and Kansas. Moreover, widely scattered showers and thunderstorms are noted across the Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley.



Then this picture on Christmas Day, actually showing an "eye" in Minnesota...


Christmas2009Eye



This is what it left behind here...


Cnv1914


Casey and Greg were out bright and early trying to remove snow and ice so people could actually get to the front door without killing themselves in the process.

This picture, taken on Christmas Eve- As the snow just kept on coming down. And just enough to screw up the sidewalks too.


Cnv1913

No hat???

Not too chilled, but a fresh glass of eggnog always warms up the innards!

And the nog that won't flow out of the cup? No problems. (And no need for a thorough pre~rinse either when this dog is around).


Cnv1916

I promise the glass got washed... hehehe

It helps too, to warm up by playing a bit...


Cnv1917

Sheesh kids, hasn't your mama ever told you not to play on the steps???




Cnv1907

Colors of Christmas also warm the spirit...


Cnv1903


And the mistletoe?


Cnv1910

...also has a warming effect


Cnv1909

Awwwww......   Sweet, aren't they?


And all dressed up with nowhere to go!

Cnv1911
hehehe



Cnv1912

Who ARE these people???


And who is this little guy trying to make his exit without being caught?


Cnv1902


I'd better close for now- Darn computer wants to do a bit of updating, and I must update my shower for the day!

Hope you are all having a very special Christmas Week!
My love to all

XOXO
Me



Is anyone else's anti~virus all over Multiply this morning?

Health Care Update. What's in the bill? (Updated)


http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2009/12/health-care-update-whats-in-the-bill.html
December 21, 2009
Health Care Update -- What's in the bill? (Updated)
By John Ballard

Thanks to holiday indigestion I was awake at one in the morning to watch the Senate's cloture vote on TV. Surfing about I noticed the proceedings were bumped from C-SPAN I to C-SPAN II, CNN had continuous live coverage with the usual annoyance of talking heads, Fox got on board the last few minutes and the alphabet networks ignored the whole thing. Two more procedural fences remain before the results even get to "reconciliation."
Anyone thinking this issue is out of the weeds might still believe in Santa.

Having got that out of the way, I refer the reader to Dr. Timothy Jost at Health Affairs whose close scrutiny of these matters is the most timely and comprehensive I have found. 


Amendments to title I, the health insurance reform provisions of the bill, take up about a quarter of the Manager’s Amendment. This post will discuss these provisions.
The remainder of the Amendment contains:
  • amendments to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), including additional funding for CHIP for 2014 and 2015;
  • a new program for pregnant and parenting teens and women;
  • a number of new Medicare initiatives, with a focus on innovative approaches to provider payment, quality reporting, minority health, and more resources for rural health;
  • a change in the name of the Independent Medicare Advisory Board to the Independent Payment Advisory Board and a change in its mandate so that it would now issue reports on slowing the growth of non-federal spending as well as Medicare spending.  The IPAB would also have authority to make binding recommendations for cutting Medicare spending in years where Medicare spending exceeded the growth of health care spending generally;
  • an expansion of Medicare to cover individuals suffering from exposure to certain environmental health hazards and funding for environmental health hazard screening;  * public health initiatives including new programs for depression, congenital heart disease, and breast cancer;
  • funding for state malpractice reform initiatives;
  • adjustments in the funding provisions of the bill (including elimination of the excise tax on cosmetic surgery and the addition of a 10% tax on indoor tanning).



After mentioning provisions regarding the public option and abortion, he notes the most bizarre piece of legislative language imaginable to be included in legislation regarding health care and/or insurance reform.


The Manager’s Amendment also (it is hoped) puts to rest the anxieties of those who believe that the real agenda of health reform is to disarm the populace.
The legislation prohibits the consideration of lawful gun ownership or use in setting insurance premiums or in wellness or prevention programs, as well as the collection of data concerning gun ownership, storage, or use.

May God protect us from those who need to see this in writing
.


Now here is some of the good stuff.



The Manager’s Amendment does not simply address the concerns of conservatives, however. It also improves on the consumer protections offered by the underlying bill.
A number of provisions of the Amendment expand or at least clarify the protections of the original bill.

These provisions:
  • Prohibit group health plans and all insurers from imposing lifetime or annual dollar limits after 2014 and permit only “restricted annual limits” prior to that date.
  • The underlying bill allowed “reasonable” annual limits on a permanent basis. The Amendment continues to allow group health plans and insurers to place annual or lifetime limits on specific covered benefits.
  • Align the prohibition on discrimination in favor of highly compensated-individuals in insured group plans with those already in place with respect to self-insured plans.
  • Extend minimum insurer medical loss ratios to grandfathered plans and increase them from 75 percent to 80 percent for individual insurers and from 80 percent to 85 percent in the large group market.
  • As in the underlying bill, insurers who exceed these ratios must provide rebates to their consumers.
  • States may require higher ratios, but HHS may also lower the ratios in the individual market if the market would otherwise be destabilized.
  • HHS is to enforce the requirement.
  • Provide that HHS is supposed to develop external review standards for coverage determinations and claims for self-insured ERISA plans and for insurers in states that do not have external review laws.
  • Apply the uniform explanation of coverage provisions to grandfathered plans
  • Prohibit pre-existing conditions clauses for children under the age of 19 effective six months after enactment.
  • Require all health plans and insurers (and not just qualified health plans in the exchange, as in the underlying bill) to cover emergency services without prior authorization or additional out-of-network cost sharing,
  • to permit pediatricians to be designated as primary care providers for children,
  • and to permit women in plans that cover obstetrical and gynecological care to have direct access to obstetricians and gynecologists.
  • Fund “Medical Reimbursement Data Centers” to collect and analyze information from health insurers, provide consumers with information to help them understand provider charges in their area, and develop fee schedules and other database tools.
  • Require plans to allow their members to participate in approved clinical trials in relation to the prevention, detection, or treatment of cancer or other life threatening diseases and to cover the routine patient costs of trial participation.
  • Permit “qualified direct primary care medical home plans” to participate in the exchange.
  • Require exchanges to take “into consideration” excessive or unjustified premium increases in determining whether to certify a health plan for exchange participation.
  • Require exchange plans to implement activities to reduce health and health care disparities.

Dr. Jost finishes by examining administrative provisions regarding mandates, penalties and maneuvers aimed at closing the "donut hole" (legacy of a prescription drug plan, the now-famous Part D, a convoluted feature of the Bush years insuring that the middle class cough up every penny they can afford before receiving one additional dime of government assistance as they slide in the direction of Medicaid).

"Not all of the regulatory provisions of the bill are consumer friendly, however." he adds. "
The provision in the underlying bill allowing states to regulate rates paid to agents and brokers for enrolling individuals and groups in exchange plans has been dropped."  All you states rights people can now stand and applaud. The civil rights movement has taught you nothing.
I give Dr. Jost the last word.



What comes next?

Once it is adopted, the Senate bill will have to be reconciled with the House bill.

While the insurance provisions of the Senate bill have real strengths — their transparency provisions for example — the bill also has, from my perspective, great weaknesses.
The two most significant, I believe, are its four-year delay in implementation date and its dependence on the states to enact and enforce the federal reforms.
There are other problems with the bill as well, such as its allowing an individual insurance market to continue to exist outside of the exchange, which will surely make the exchange a target for adverse selection.
The affordability subsidies in the Senate bill are also less generous for low-income households, those most in need of help, than the House bill. But many of its provisions should bring real improvements in insurance markets.


As promised, here is a link to Dr. Jost's second post. Rather than parse his post I leave it to anyone interested in further details to go to the original. Meantime, here is an easy to copy list of ingredients going into the Congressional Sausage Machine...


The simplest, though perhaps most tedious, approach to identifying these provisions of the manager’s amendment is simply to list them.

Here is a list, roughly in the order in which they appear in the bill. New or expanded initiatives in the bill include:
  • Medicaid coverage for former foster children under the age of 26 who age out of Medicaid.
  • Requirements for public notice and comment at both the state and federal level (including public hearings at the state level); periodic evaluation by the Department of Health and Human Services; and reporting to Congress for new Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program section 1115 waivers. These waivers have often been used to make radical and permanent changes in state Medicaid programs with little transparency or public scrutiny.
  • “Balancing payment incentives” to incentivize new program initiatives to encourage the use of Medicaid-funded home and community-based care in states that rely disproportionately on institutional long-term care.
  • Extended federal funding for the CHIP program for 2014 and 2015.
  • Competitive grants to the states for assisting pregnant and parenting teens and women. These grants would go to institutions of higher learning, high schools, and community centers that would offer pregnant and parenting teens and women the support that they need to get an education and to function. Grants would also be made to state attorneys general for improving services to pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
  • Enactment of S. 1790, a bill to improve the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
  • The development of a value-based purchasing program for ambulatory surgical centers.
  • A revision to the national quality improvement strategy to mandate quality outcomes measures for doctors and hospitals for 10 acute and chronic diseases in 24 months and 10 primary and preventive care measures within 36 months.
  • A public report by HHS on measures for hospital-acquired infections and ongoing studies by the Institute of Medicine on clinical practice guidelines.
  • A requirement that HHS develop a strategic framework for collecting, aggregating, and reporting data on provider performance.
  • New provisions for testing payment and delivery system innovation models by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
  • Provision for additional payment models for the Medicare shared-saving (accountable care organization) program. ACOs are encouraged to participate in similar arrangements with private payers.
  • Provision for expansion of the national Medicare pilot program for payment bundling if it proves successful.
  • A pilot program for continuing care hospitals, which combine rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, and long-term care services with acute care.
  • Further extension of the rural community hospital demonstration project.
  • A study, to be followed by a demonstration project, of revising the home health prospective payment system to assure access to care and accommodation of patient severity of illness.
  • A quality reporting program for psychiatric hospitals.
  • A pilot study for a pay-for-performance programs for psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term care, and cancer hospitals and for hospices. Incentive payments for doctors who participate in maintenance of certification programs more often than is required for their board certification.
  • Targeted Medication review programs for Part D drug plans.
  • Development of a physician compare website with information on outcomes, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and continuity of care.
  • Demonstration projects on providing incentives to Medicare beneficiaries to choose high quality providers
  • Provision for access to Medicare data for researchers with appropriate safeguards.
  • A program for community-based collaborative care networks involving a hospital and federally qualified health centers to provide comprehensive services to law income populations.
  • The creation of a Deputy Assistant for Minority Health in HHS and creation of offices of minority health in the CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA, AHRQ, the FDA, and CMS. This provision is, in my mind, long overdue.
  • A requirement for a national diabetes report.
  • Provision for $200 million in grants to small businesses for wellness programs.
  • Creation of a new national center for excellence in depression research and a national center on congenital heart disease.
  • A new program for breast cancer education and prevention for younger women. (I wonder where this came from?)
  • Provision for a prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers by 2014.
  • Additional funding for training nurse practitioners, rural physicians, and preventive health and public health specialists.
  • Six billion dollars in new funding over 5 years for community health centers.
  • A 3-year demonstration project for 10 states to provide comprehensive care to the uninsured at reduced fees.
  • Provisions for amending the federal sentencing guidelines to increase criminal sanctions for fraud and amending the criminal health care fraud statute to clarify that a provider need not have actual knowledge of the prohibition or intent to violate the fraud statute to be convicted of fraud.

And finally, another closing statement or two from Dr. Jost...

While there is much to like in titles II through IX of the manager’s amendment, I will close with a mention of the two features in amendment that I find disagreeable. First the bill provides a “cures acceleration program” to fund research for “high need cures” for which incentives in the commercial market are unlikely to result in timely development. The Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and a new Cure Acceleration Network Board are supposed to work together to facilitate the discovery of such cures and to translate them from bench to bedside. Grants can be made under the project of up to $15 million a year to eligible entities such as academic medical schools, biotech companies, and drug companies, who need only meet a $1 to $3 matching requirement. $500 million is appropriated for this program for 2010.

This is all well and good and a great idea. But nothing that I can see in the legislation gives the taxpayer any stake in this investment. A drug or biotech company that in fact discovers a blockbuster drug or biologic through the federal government’s investment (perhaps for an off-label use) owes nothing in return. Shouldn’t we the taxpayers get some return on our investment, or at least the promise of reasonable prices? [ed. JB This is an echo of the sweetheart deal drug makers already have with NIH whereby important discoveries resulting from research paid for by tax dollars there is sold "wholesale" to the for-profit private sector for a few years before any generic competitor is permitted.]

The final issue is a small one. The original bill required charitable hospitals to charge persons eligible for financial assistance “the lowest amount charged” insured patients. The amendment requires that they charge “the amount generally charged.”

Merry Christmas, Ebenezer.



Hazelnuts recalled... US FDA


http://www.fda.gov/
Just a heads up-

There are too many links to post all at once here.
Just know that you should not be eating any hazelnuts. It seems as the last half dozen or so recalls on my list are ALL hazelnut recalls.

XOXO
Me

photo from here:
www.hazelnuts.com.au/images/hazelnut26.gif

Slush~N~Uck~N~Mush

More, on the way...


Good Afternoon!
I am online here- Not sure for how long, but am happy that my desktop is working once more-

I had a dentist appointment at 7 this morning... Bad in the chair for my back, but at least I could get up and stand for a bit. That helped. Have to go back for a cleaning at the end of January. Oh well.

Casey has been coming out to try to help get Christmas in order for my annual brunch. What a great help she has been to me! 
Kelli even came and rolled my dumpster out to the road last night for me! 
Also yesterday, my sister Barbara, (Panama City Beach, FL) called. What a lovely surprise!  She keeps updated by reading the blogs, but not the same as talking either. And she might just fly up to Minneapolis when Casey has those next 2 surgeries, if all works out for her.
Like myself, Barbara sent out zero Christmas cards- The first year for her not to either.  She just didn't want me to think she had forgotten about me. (Not a chance, I know she loves me). We had such a great conversation!  Methinks I have about 50 phone calls of my own to be making! hehehe

Family and friends- What could be better?

As you can guess, my back has been an unrelenting kind of awful.
Our weather is to turn nasty(er) tonight, and I have an appointment with the pain management doctor tomorrow morning, at 7:50. This, for two more pain injections in my back. I may try to arrive earlier if I can so we don't have to be in the worst of the storm-
They are calling for 4-8 inches of new snow, plus ice, rain, drizzle, sleet, and all the rest, beginning tonight. Slush. Uck. And mush.
If the shots work then all will be worth it. If not, or if they leave me feeling rough or otherwise, Casey has already volunteered to do the cooking on Christmas morning. Thank God for Casey and Greg. (She volunteered himself too)!

My computer is trying to upload some updates- It's been a while...
I shall try to post a real blog later on today or tomorrow; and maybe after it's all updated I can even get to a few of your own blogs. I just don't want it to shut down in the middle of trying to post this! Darn thing.

In the meanwhile I hope all is well with everyone, and that you all are safe and warm (enough).

Love to all, and Merry Christmas too!

XOXO
Me
 


Are YOU Ready?

12-18-2008



Good Evening All;
Anything I would write at this point would be so depressing that I would have to unpost it later. hehehe? 
I won't write much. (Suffice to say between my head and my back, neither is winning, but they keep on warring anyway).
Punk did go to see Dr. Spires yesterday- For whatever reason, (maybe her injury as a pup), her glands just don't fix themselves as they should. She is OK for now once again.

As is Casey!
Isn't it hard to believe but it has been exactly one year since Casey's TP/AIT?

Hard to believe also that it is 26 degrees above-
So by my calculations that is a full 40 degrees warmer than it was then
!
Nice, that.
I am, and always will be, "wonderfilled"  that Casey is such a gift to me, and an inspiration to everyone who faces any kind of adversity.
This "anniversary" is a miracle, even though she is still facing two more prolonged surgeries. (One is about 11 hours).

Speaking of weather, (was too),  if you are part of the 50 Million people in the pathway of the Eastern Storms/Blizzards, please stay safe and warm. Know where your flashlights and your can openers are...

I am unprepared for Christmas. It will remain that way.
I am not sending Christmas cards/presents this year. Know I love y'all even if I can't afford to do all that this time around. Casey got the mail yesterday!  Thank you to all that sent me a card. I do appreciate them all.
As many of you already know, I put them up for everyone that visits to see/read!


My Yahoo email "seems" to be working again. I tried to report the problem etc, and kept getting pages that said the page was closed, or moved with no forward link. Dang Yahoo anyway.

*** For those of you who receive my updates through your email, and if you missed yesterdays blog, (as written by Punk), here is that link.
http://flintville.multiply.com/journal/item/918

I must get the shopping done for my little Christmas Brunch. That get~together is always such a high point, for the year, for me.
I once blew up an entire dish of beef hash on John. While we didn't have hash that year, the look on his face as he stood 6 inches away when my dish went "bang" will remain imprinted on my psyche forever.

I'd better close- Can't stand the light for long...
Hope your spirits are all wonder~filled!

Love to all

XOXO
Me

PS
I received the following link to click and note in my email today.
It is not too late to make your voice heard.

The latest Senate health care bill has no public option. No expansion of Medicare. And it does too little to guarantee that uninsured Americans will actually be able afford the coverage they'll be required to purchase.

But it's not too late to fix the bill. And as Joe Lieberman has shown, just one senator willing to stand in the way can force legislation to be changed dramatically.

Senator Bernie Sanders has already made clear that he's opposed to the legislation in its current form. I just signed a petition urging him and other progressives to block it until it's fixed. Will you join me?

http://pol.moveon.org/block/?r_by=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&rc=paste

Thanks

The petition reads: "America needs real health care reform—not a massive giveaway to the insurance companies. Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressives should block this bill until it's fixed."

Despite this latest setback, we can still win the health care fight. The House has already passed a strong health care bill with a real public option. It would cover millions of uninsured Americans, offer real competition to the insurance companies, and reduce costs in the long run.

MoveOn members overwhelmingly support the House bill. But it's clear from member feedback and surveys that the majority of MoveOn members oppose the Senate bill as it now stands.4

And recent polls show growing opposition among grassroots progressives generally—the very folks Democrats in Washington count on to volunteer and donate to their campaigns.5 One found that one-third of Democratic voters will be less likely to vote next year if Congress doesn't pass a public option.6

So to get real reform, we need to immediately send a powerful message to Senate progressives like Bernie Sanders, Roland Burris, and Russ Feingold that we're counting on them to block this bill until it's fixed.

Click here to add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/block/o.pl?id=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Joan, Michael, Ilya, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "ANALYSIS: House Bill More Affordable Than Senate Legislation," Think Progress, October 30, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85097&id=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&t=5

"Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals," Kaiser Family Foundation, November 23, 2009
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm

2. "Senate Bill a Big Win for Insurance Companies," Countdown with Keith Olbermann, December 16, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#34455097

3. "Sanders Could Still Vote No On Cloture," WhoRunsGov.com, December 17, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85817&id=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&t=6

4. MoveOn Members' Views on the Senate Health Care Bill
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85818&id=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&t=7

5. "Poll: Loss of Public Option Causes Big Increase in Opposition to Health Care Bill," Talking Points Memo, December 16, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85808&id=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&t=8

6. "Poll: One Third Of Dems Less Likely To Vote In 2010 If Public Option Dies," WhoRunsGov.com, December 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85816&id=18359-14408432-fU5ZDvx&t=9
!

**************

Please take a minute to NOT give up the fight.
You might have to sign up (It's been so long, I don't remember),

But do remember this: Anything less is sanctioned murder!


Damn disappointed... I already am missing half the fun by not being able to watch videos. I try to get to your blogs, ***MANY of you, but I cannot- (Though many of you are not immune to this, Connie and Pamela, yours are the very worst of the bunch). And even if by some token I can, your backgrounds don't load fast enough on my dialup so I can even leave a comment. Feeling frustrated and more than sorry for myself... Hope all is well with your worlds. *Know I tried, but I am done trying. Merry Christmas to all. XOXO me

Allison. (ARF)!


A big old "ARF!" to you all!
Yeah, it's me, Punk.

I been toad that I hafta be writing my own story of the snowstorm.
So here it is.

It was a dark and chilly day... HAHA

But it was! The day before anyway. 
My "she" wanted to go to the store.
And my Casey met us there too.
'My Casey' is nice to me.   Mostly anyway.

'My Casey' came out to the car to see me, and to kiss me, and to hug me.
I like her kisses and hugs, 'cept for when my 'she' makes us look at the picture thing.
.
.



Casey and Punk at Woodmans
Me, and My Casey at the store.
My she was kinda upset because they don't have her Wild Cherry Pepsi in bottles anymore.  (I'll share my water from now on).

We came home, and ate some yummy supper. (I always get to lick her plates off, but she cleans them pretty good before I do).

Later we went outside, and after that, me and my she cozied up nice and warm on the couch.

When we woke up, I wanted to eat. But my she always makes me go outside first.  So I went to the back entrance and peeked...

THIS IS WHAT I SAW!!!!

.
.
Outside, Early

That's not good.
I could hear the wind howling like me when I get my toe-nee-nails cut.

I knew it meant that it would freezie my toes right up.
.
.
No

I got really worried... And I tried to tell her, "No!"
(She doesn't listen to me, and went off to turn all the water spouts on to make sure we had not frozen water).

In the meanwhile I really had to go potty!


.
.
Punk Waiting to go out

So then I waited nice for her.

That door did not want to open, even when my she pushed on it hard!

After a few more pushes, I finally got to 'go'.
And I 'went' really fast too.

Then we ate some yummy breakfast. My 'she' gives me a cup of dried up meat and stuff to eat.
the 'she' gets the good stuff for herself!
NOT FAIR!

She made some taters, and some dead pigstrips, and a couple of yokey things. (I love those yokey things because they stick to her plate really good and I get to lick them off)!

After that she finally turned the big light on outside, (and I had to 'go' again anyway by that time).
.
.
Sitting in the snow

My she wouldn't come outside with me this time though. But she did go all the way up those steps and throw my ball out of her window.

It was even fun to find in the snow!!! I had to keep on digging to find it.
.

.
Punk with Ball


While I was doing that, I heard that picture thing make its funny noise...

.
.
Punk, Spies the camera

She always clicks if she thinks I'm cute.
(And I am really cute)!
.
.
What are You Doing?


But I had to keep looking for my toy too. (It kept getting lost)!
.

.
Where's My Toy?!


This was a LOT of fun!
.

.
Found It!

'Specially when I could see the dang thing!
.

My she would hide it on me, and sometimes I just couldn't find it anywhere! 
(I don't know how she did that either)...



Where did you put it?


I would look all over!

.
.
C-c-c-cold on my nose!


Some parts were even higher than me!
Mostly I didn't sink too bad. But when I did, I got a little full of snow...

And a little cold too...

.
.
4 below (F)


She didn't let me take my Frisbee outside either.

Even when I begged her to...


Four below, wanting to play



But then a few days later, 'My Casey' came to visit me again!
She also brought that Greg Man along. I like him too.

Since my she won't do much of the shoveling, 'My Casey' did this for her.



Casey shovels, Punk Waits



So did that Greg Man...



Greg Pitching In



I had to watch and stay outta the way.



Punk, neener neener



My Casey thought I looked bored so she kept throwing the snow at me!
I would catch it in my mouth!  Cool, huh?!?



Casey and Punk shoveling



The man that came and pushed a lot of snow out of my way had done a really good job.

He even HID MY TOY ON ME!!!

But I found it in a big pile of snow!




Found it... Again


Later when we all came back in and my feets got warm, I brought my Frisbee to 'My Casey"...



Punk with Frisbee


But My Casey said I couldn't play in the house that way too.

I tried to sit on her lap.  (That's always fun)!




Casey, Peekaboo, Punk


And now that I lost some weight, I even weigh less than she does! (My she says that has been a long time coming)!

Even so, My Casey makes me sit all alone; just next to her.


Casey and Punk


We like holding paws.
And she likes teasing me about my Frisbee.


Pull Punkie, PULL!


I showed My Casey that even though I'm not as fat as she is, I can still tip her over.



Punk Wins


And I hold onto it really tight!


MINE!


She just kept on trying to steal it though...


KC Stealing the frisbee

Then I would bite it hard, just to hold on to it.


Chewing on the Frisbee



I tried to hide it on My Casey, and she tried to push me off the couch!



Don't Push the Pup!


Then she tried to steal it all over again!


LooHooHooZer

We had LOTS of fun that day!

Well, until My Casey decided it was time for my "pet-i-cure".

I tried to hide my toeneenails on her, so my she helped hold me down.

After I let them "win".
My Casey had to 'finish' my toeneenails.
She filed them!
(I like this part the very best you know)!



Nails filed

My Casey makes me feel so special that I almost fall asleep every time she does this.

Well, it's time for me to be done here today...
My 'she' says she has to call my doctor.  (I like him too).  I haven't been feeling too good, and my she just wants me to be feeling better than I am.
My 'she' thinks its my butt again-  (I ain't tellin').
Said she sees me trying to turn around a lot. (And I can't do that 'cuz I was squished when I was really little).  If ya wanna know 'bout that, just click on the "written by Punk" tag below...

Time for my nap now.

ARF to all!
May your bowls and your bellies always be full!

Love, Punk


United Parcel Service Airlines Info

Rating:★★★★★
Category:Other
UPS Airlines

Please go potty before you read this.  If you are not laughing hysterically at at least one of these, please check for a pulse.
(From my email, from my Sweet Sissy KrissiePoo).

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of us who fly routinely in our jobs.
(By the way, UPS Air is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident).


After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics corrects the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.
(Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor).

Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (
marked with a P); and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers. (marked with an S).


****  Problem/Solution


P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

                  *

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

                  *

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

                 *

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.


                  *

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

                  *

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

                  *

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

                  *

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

                  *

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

                  *

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

                  *

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

                  *

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

                  *

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

                  *

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

                 *
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

                   *

                

Now, about that pulse of yours???

XOXO
Me


(Photo Googled).