VA Healthcare

I've heard a lot of horrible stories lately about cuts in funding for VA healthcare. What's sad is that the soldiers are coming home from Iraq with some of the most serious injuries we've ever seen in a war. The deatch toll is high, but the amount of wounded is about ten times as much and a large percentage of the wounded are seriously wounded.

The military is calling on the government to act:

The three largest veterans organizations firmly believe that veterans have earned the right to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care through their extraordinary sacrifices and service to this nation. Yet, each year funding levels must be determined through an annual appropriations process that is fundamentally broken. Year after year, veterans have fought for sufficient funding for VA health care and a realistic budget that reflects the rising cost of health care and increasing need for medical services. Despite these continued efforts, the cumulative effects of insufficient health care funding have resulted in the rationing of medical care.

"The nation's highest priority is national defense. VA health care is an ongoing cost of ar. Every veteran answered the nation's call to arms without reservation. As wartime veterans, Legionnaires understand the importance of the VA health care system.

Short-changing VA health care is short-changing every military veteran from Bunker Hill to Baghdad. America's veterans are not expendable and should never be treated as such," said American Legion National Commander Thomas P. Cadmus. "Especially during this time of war, fully providing for the needs of this nation's past, present and future defenders is more than a mere contract between this government and its people, it is a moral obligation. No veteran must ever be denied VA health care or benefits for want of federal funding," said VFW Commander-in-Chief John Furgess.

Well put. Anyone listening?

Troop Shortages and Surpluses

The Navy and Air Force are looking to get rid of some folks while the Army falls short and The Marines are barely making it.

From military.com:

As part of their efforts to downsize, the Navy and Air Force last year began encouraging sailors and airmen to consider transferring to the Army. But since the ''Blue to Green'' program began, only 50 sailors and 89 airmen have switched to the Army, according to Navy and Air Force figures.

The Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard continue to have a difficult time recruiting. The Army Guard and Army Reserve are part-time forces made up mostly of troops who typically serve one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, but who have frequently been called up for full-time duty since the invasion of Iraq in early 2003. Guardsmen and reservists make up about 40% of the 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq now.

According to the article, the army fell 30% short and made up some shortage by sending some troops in 2004 that hadn't planned to ship out til 2005.

A Joke

"The big corporations are suddenly taking notice of theweb, and their reactions have been slow. Even the computerindustry failed to see the importance of the Internet,but that's not saying much. Let's face it, the computerindustry failed to see that the century would end."
--Douglas Adams

Then it was Buster

Now, Buster faces censorship.

PBS has decided not to release an upcoming episode during which Buster visits a friend with two moms. I wonder if divorced, interracial, or otherwise nontraditional families will also face censorship.

Write to your local PBS station. Don't let intolerance prevail.

Spongebob

First Spongebob was criticized.

Personally, I liked the reaction of the folks that made the controversial video. They said anyone questioning the sexuality of Spongebob needs to get their medication increased.

Really folks, by this criteria, everything in cartoon format is gay.

Enough said.

Feeling Like a Kid Again

I took a break to make snow angels.

Can I Make It?

The snow was up to my knees where I took this picture. I couldn't go any further.

Yay!

We finally finished the driveway.

Neat View

The back of our house.

Enjoying a Day Off

The neighbor's kid is walking down our street. Plus, I made a snow angel because I was so happy that we had finally made it to the end of the driveway.

No Street

The plows can't make it down our street. The neighbors informed us that the plows came last night but got stuck on the ice left over from the last storm. Word on the street is that they're bringing a bulldozer.

I helped

I helped. Glad I saved those ski pants.

Ripples

Ripples

Shoveling Out

Shoveling Out- the beginning.

Lawsuit Happy

I guess this kid never had to do summer reading:

Math teacher sued over homework

A Milwaukee high school student and his father are taking the legal route to stop the student's math teacher from giving homework during summer vacation. The lawsuit by Whitnall high school student Peter Larson and his father,Bruce, argues school officials have no legal authority to make students do homework over the summer because the state requires only a 180-day school, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "These students are still children, yet they are subjected to increasing pressure to perform to ever-higher standards in numerous theaters," says Bruce Larson. Critics say the schools and courts need a break from lawsuits such as the one brought by the Larsons. "If I were a judge, I would not only dismiss the lawsuit, I'd levy a fine against the father for misusing the courts,"says Philip K. Howard, a lawyer and legal reform advocate based in New York City. Peter says his summer vacation was stressful because he had to do math homework in addition to a summer job as a camp counselor that often exceeded 40 hours a week. Whitnall School District Superintendent Karen Petric says the district tried to resolve the matter but to no avail. She sees no reason for Larson to sue his teacher.

As the storm winds down.

A beautiful night. It's so beautiful out tonight that I couldn't resist taking a few more pictures. To me, it looks like the snow stopped, but my camera is still picking up flakes so maybe not.

Mountains

Mountains- they're all over the neighborhood.

The Fort

The fort. You can walk on three sides of the house. To the left, the snow is several feet high all along the side of the house.

Beautiful!

Isn't it beautiful!

Walking

the back of the house

Is it Really Still Snowing?

Can it still be snowing?

Awesome

I think we got a little bit more snow since the last time. It's hard to tell, but I just think it looks so neat.

Clearing up

A clearer shot- the wind has slowed.

This swing is on a deck.

the bulkhead

the door again

back door

Blizzard 2005 Pictures

No shoveling for us!

The Neighborhood

Yes, there is a street somewhere in there.

Drifts

Plow, anyone?

The neighbor trying to shovel out of the street.

The Front Porch

the front porch- It's cold out there!

Cool Drifts

the backyard

Even cooler view

More of the backyard

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

Yes, those are shingles all over the yard.

So these pictures are from about 9AM. The wind is crazy- the haziness is because the snow is blowing all over the place. This is a wild storm. Looks like we won't be going anywhere for awhile. The weather report says that we're just beginning the worst of it now. They're expecting several feet of snow to fall between now and 1PM.

Anyone else snowed in?

The door

The outside of the door I showed last night.; If you look closely, you'll notice that you can see the grass to the right.

weird drifts

Grand Canyon

If you get up close, the drift looks like the grand canyon. This is part of our roof.

Next Door- the house

The neighbor's house- the way the wind is blowing, in parts of the neighborhood you can see the grass, but in other parts the snow is many feet high. It's really weird to see. I'm having trouble getting a great picture like that because the windows are mostly covered in snow and right now we have 75mph winds so it's not a good idea to open them.

Next Door

the neighbor's car- or half of it anyway- it really is half covered by snow-it's not just the picture quality

From the kitchen

snow drifts- there is a deck outside this door, but the snow has piled up to cover it

A Snowy Night

the birdfeeder

Flakes

more snow

Beautiful

the snow

Blocking the Doorway

the door

Iceberg

The power and beauty of cold.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

After a sad week of Bush getting sworn in, I'm happy to report that we're getting snowed in as I type.

I love the snow. Everything looks so beautiful after it snows. Plus, it looks like we're going to get more snow than we have in years if not decades.

My in-laws made us dinner tonight and then we all watched The Terminal. It was a good movie. Sad, but good. Enough humor to make it worth watching.

I'd like to watch movies all day tomorrow, too.

I tried posting earlier this week but either blogger or my computer were being difficult (can't remember which). I have a whole bunch of stories saved up so maybe before my movie marathon, I'll do some updating.

We still haven't finished casting our show so I had another week of late nights. We're supposed to have one more day of callbacks on Monday and then we'll begin. The kids are fabulous. I'm really excited about the show. A lot of younger kids tried out and they're all really sweet so I think I'm really going to enjoy working with them.

I took my niece to see Series of Unfortunate Events today. I brought my nephew a couple of weeks ago. It's a good movie. She's growing up to fast (they always do!). I thought we'd beat the snow, but it had already started piling up when we left the theater. It was a rough ride to her house and my own. I usually take the kids to dinner, too (it's a birthday trip) but it'll have to wait.

Anyway, I'm going to sit back and enjoy the snowstorm. There's a feel-good thread going on at Daily Kos. Check it out if you need a smile tonight. Happy snow angel making.

Newsweek and Bush

sigh

Just when I thought Newsweek was doing alright, they go and publish an article about how Bush isn't who we think he is. He's smart, and he reads, and he wants people to disagree with him, and he has big goals.

Yeah, big goals to destroy our country.

I really don't feel much like elaborating, but one point that struck me: the article mentions the difficulty Bush is facing in getting his proposals passed in Congress. The article goes on to state that there is a chance that some of the proposals will become like Clinton's Health care plan where Clinton had a majority but couldn't get it anywhere.

I couldn't help but think that maybe if the Republicans hadn't tried to destroy Clinton and had actually been willing to work with him, they might have been able to get some cooperation now.

Anyway, a special cheer goes out to Sen. Kerry for voting no on Condoleeza Rice. Yes folks, I still think he would have made a great president. No, I don't think he should run in '08.

For my regulars, I posted about my holiday visit with my daughter on my other blog. It was wonderful. She is growing up too quickly.

I'm Not Thankful

Our lovely President's brother, Jeb, said of his new hire:

[I'm] thankful for the fact that (Brown) is willing to serve here in state government.

Mind you, the man has been charged with plagiarism and sexual harassment. Hmm, and we're thankful, why?

Those Bushies have such incredibly admirable values.

Plan B

The morning after pill was taken out of the guidelines for helping victims of sexual assault. Although this is one of the safest drugs on the market, the Bush administration has fought it every step of the way.

This is different from abortion. Plus, when dealing with victims of sexual assault, I think it is even more important to help them avoid the additional burden of carrying their rapist's child.

As a birthmother, I have spoken to many women who conceived as a result of rape. There are no words to do it justice. Nobody is suggesting that these women be automatically given the drug, just that it be presented as an option. If you believe in this as much as I do, you can help here.

Not Much News

Little known tidbit: I have a theater background (don't get all excited, I mean local and school stuff).

The music teacher at my school found out and enlisted me to help direct the school musical. We're holding auditions this week so I haven't really been keeping up with the news. As I type, I'm listening to the soundtrack so I can sing the female part while the boys audition tomorrow.

I'll spare you the details, but I will say how amazed I am at the level of talent in our middle school. I'm pretty critical, but these kids are really amazing.

I'm probably going to get away from politics a bit. I have a few education stories I've put aside for posts. I'll probably focus mostly on education and social service issues. They are the two categories I feel most passionate about.

Please continue to stop by occassionally and drop a note or two in the comments.

Punishing the Troops

This has to be one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read:

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is calling for clemency for six Ohio National Guard troops court-martialed for taking vehicles and parts for their unit in Iraq. Durbin, who becomes assistant Democratic Senate leader in January, sent a letter to the White House Tuesday calling on President Bush to pardon the reservists, including two decorated officers.

The members of the 656th Transportation Company based in Springfield, Ohio, were court-martialed for taking two tractors and two trailers left in Kuwait by other U.S. military units that had moved into Iraq and stripping an abandoned 5-ton truck for parts to repair their vehicles. They pleaded guilty and were fined, dishonorably discharged and stripped of military benefits. Durbin said while scavenging unused vehicles technically violated military law and showed poor judgment "the punishment is completely out of step with the violation." Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, has asked the U.S. Army to grant clemency to a major sentenced to six months in prison and a chief warrant officer court-martialed in May.

They better get clemency. How can you punish soldiers for trying to make themselves safer? They didn't steal or kill. They used parts from unused vehicles to improve their vehicle. I keep reading about all the equipment our troops are forced to abandon. Would we rather leave the vehicles to be looted by insurgents?

Let's hear it for Sen. Corbin for doing something right. Those punishments are unbelievable. As if we can afford to lose officers because they fixed up their vehicle.

Huh?

Another weird comment (on condom machines):

"All this is well and good. but you have to USE them for them to be effective! Lots of people would probably get them from the machines, but them fail to put them to use!"

While I agree that not everyone uses condoms when they should, I can't imagine someone taking the trouble to buy one and then not using it! Am I missing something?

Will the Internet Collapse?

As someone who spends a lot of time online these days, I find articles about the internet to be fairly interesting.

I remember when I was in college and had unlimited access to the internet. I never was into surfing though I did waste plenty of time doing crossword puzzles on Netscape. None of my friends used email. It was too weird then. We still did our research in the library. I don't think google existed.

Anyway, the consensus is that the internet will be fine, but that it has long since abandoned it's original intended use. Isn't that always the way for the best technology?

Sunshine Sundays

I really hope this takes off.

A bunch of journalists are starting a nationwide campaign to fight the secrecy in our government. Each Sunday, they will publish articles, commentary, and editorials about openness. Part of the idea includes telling stories about people who have benefited from open records.

Associated Press President and CEO Tom Curley said a national campaign is needed to fight government secrecy "that seems to be growing at an epidemic rate."

I couldn't agree more. I'm actually surprised that folks are saying openly that this is a problem and are coming together to fight it.

Read about it here.

The Right on Temptation

A comment from a mailing list (sorry, I don't recall the topic):

"Yes, I think the gap is widening, mainly because in an attempt to placate these kids because of their own guilt trip about one thing or the other--either not having time for them or having grown up poor--many adults simply shower the children with material wealth and let them "do theirown thing." While, of course, the children grow to love these "things," they are smart enough--at some point--to figure out that the "things" can't replace what they feel when the parent is present. So, they take those same things--which now represent an absent parent--and they act out with them--e.g.,dressing to the extreme, doing drugs, joining gangs, having sex--anything that will help them recapture the warmth that they feel when the parent is there, which is seldom.

Not even church is off limit when it comes to this "making this mine." These youths want to sing contemporary songs that reek of secularity. So, what's the resolve? Despite the outward show, children need to have standards set for them--not a strict, inflexible wall, but a range of behaviors that constitute acceptable behavior. Thus, they will know in uncertain terms what is unacceptable. The problem is that we've taken tolerance to the limit. The idea is to tolerate those superficial features that have little to do with the worth of a person--e.g., race, gender, sexual preference, etcetera. However, those behaviors that can be controlled should not be tolerated when they offend others around them.

Schools, churches, and government at all levels are the institutions that must set the limits when parents either won't or can't. While there must be enough flexibility for youths to "express themselves," in most cases, they don't know they are yet, so guidance is sorely needed. It wouldn't hurt to keep them busy--focused on activities that will channel their excess energy into creative endeavors (But, again, that might mean the parent will be expected to transport, to attend, to support, so, then, we're back to square one.) The bottom line is that if parents were held directly accountable for all of their children's behavior--that is, fined, jailed, placed on probation, etcetera, there would be fewer such episodes."

Emphasis mine.