~ firefly-dreaming a virtual home to learn (or teach!) alternative methods of solving problems we find facing us each day. By sharing ideas & knowledge on living with less stress, more joy & embracing tolerance & compassion we are working towards building a sustainable future for all living beings.
Did you know Obama's health care bill contained a $20 billion a year tax on the richest Americans? I didn't until I stumbled onto a mention of this the other day, although writing about politics is my life and I knew enough to be angry at the gutting of a national public option. I asked a dozen other friends, half of whom work in health care or health care policy and most of whom are fellow political junkies. None of them knew either. If those who follow these issues intensely don't know about something that all of us would cheer as a step toward getting the wealthiest to pay their fair share, most American voters sure aren't going to know either.an voters sure aren't going to know either.
An experienced economist and a novice economist are walking down the road. They come across some dog sh*t lying on the pavement. The experienced economist says, "If you eat that dog sh*t, I'll give you $20,000!"
The novice economist runs his optimization program and figures out he's better off eating it, so he does and collects the money.
Continuing along the same road they almost step into another pile of dog sh*t. The novice economist says, "Now, if you eat this sh*t I'll give you $20,000."
After evaluating the proposal, the experienced economist eats the sh*t and collects the money.
They go on. The novice economist wonders, "Listen, we both have the same amount of money we had before, but we both ate sh*t. I don't see us being better off."
The experienced economist retorts, "Not so! We've created $40,000 of trade!"
Finance Capitalism: You have two cows.
You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows.
The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the rights to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company.
The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.
Meanwhile, you kill the two cows to break the Dairy Union.
..............................
The current depression and banking crisis could not have been achieved by normal civil servants and politicians. It required the involvement of economists.
So I disappeared for a full week, right in the middle of what should have been a busy writing schedule, and I have to claim some "personal days" to cover the time we missed here at the blog - but it won't be time entirely wasted.
Instead, I'm going to jump into my own personal life for today's story, and I'm going to do it so that we can stimulate some thinking about where we really need to go to if we ever hope to make some sense out of the crazy way we deliver health care in this country.
Since this appears to be the weekend that a lot of decisions are either going to be made about the future of our "social safety net"...or they wont; we're entirely unsure...let's talk about how it actually works for a lot of us - and how it could work a lot better.
While the silence from most of US mainstream media remains deafening, the print and online news publication for physicians published by the American Medical Association - American Medical News - reported yesterday May 16 that Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has scheduled a bill-signing ceremony for May 26 during which he will sign a bill approved by the Vermont Democratic-controlled legislature, with the state Senate voting 21-9 to pass it on May 3, and the House adopting it on May 5 with a 94-49 vote "that paves the way for the state to launch a health system approaching a single-payer model later in the decade and to create a state health insurance exchange".
The measure creates a powerful five-member Green Mountain Care Board, members of which will determine the benefits and craft a funding plan for Green Mountain Care, a state universal health plan. The board would have wide authority over state health spending and health system reform. The bill requires the governor to nominate Green Mountain board members by Oct. 1 and the Vermont Senate to confirm them.
All Vermonters would be eligible for the plan, which would cover hospital services and prescription drugs.
Shumlin had pledged to enact a single-payer health system during his January 6 inaugural address, saying "Let Vermont be the first state in the nation to treat health care as a right and not a privilege."
Let's put the seniors in jail and the criminals in a nursing home.
This way the seniors would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.
They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly if they fell, or needed assistance.
Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.
They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.
Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.
Private, secure! rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens. Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.
The "criminals" would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay $900.00 per month and have no hope of ever getting out.
So Arizona Senator Jon Kyl went and did a stupid thing the other day by claiming on the floor of the Senate that 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is related to abortions, and that, by God, we need to cut that Federal funding for abortions, and we need to cut all Federal funding for Planned Parenthood-and we need to do it today.
Of course, that 90% claim was total hooey; it turns out that only 3% of Planned Parenthood's work relates to abortions. (The Federal funding for abortions part is, too; the Hyde Amendment made such funding illegal decades ago.)
When confronted, Kyl's office released a statement claiming the Senator's comments were "not intended to be a factual statement".
Sir Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA, decided to have a bit of fun with Kyl, and he challenged his audience to Tweet their own "Not Intended To Be A Factual Statement" about Kyl.
I decided to compose a Tweet of my own...and then another...and before I knew it I had an entire story's worth; that's why, today, we'll be taking a taking a short break from the daily grind to have a bit of fun with a man who truly deserves it: Jon Kyl.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
Spring vegetables aren't here quiet yet - and if the weather doesn't improve soon, they may not arrive for a while. Until then, there's a fine alternative: Swiss chard.
This leafy green, hearty enough to withstand the cold but more delicate in flavor than kale and collards, has been finding its way into all sorts of comforting dishes in my kitchen, from pastas to soups to stir-fries. It's the most versatile of greens, and an excellent source of calcium and potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
If you avoid eggs because you think they're bad for you, you should reconsider. It was never clear that dietary cholesterol had a significant impact on heart health; saturated fat in the diet is thought to be a bigger culprit (how big is also a matter of dispute these days). The government's new dietary guidelines acknowledge as much, advising that eating an egg every day will not affect blood cholesterol or cardiovascular health.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
The muffins available in most coffee shops and cafes are like oversize, unfrosted cupcakes: too sweet and too big. But muffins don't have to be cloying - a bit of natural sweetener is all that's required to make them taste like a treat. And they don't have to be calorie-laden confections.
This week, you'll find it's possible to make muffins with a number of nutritious ingredients, particularly whole grains. Muffins made with buckwheat or cornmeal offer great taste and nourishment - without the feeling that you're chewing on rocks.
Even if you don't think of yourself as a baker, take a stab at this week's recipes. They're easy and come together quickly.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
Survey Suggests Many People Call an Ambulance for Minor Medical Emergencies
Feb. 22, 2011 -- One in three people don't understand when an ambulance is not necessary to deal with common medical situations, a survey indicates.
The survey shows most people know when to call an ambulance for life-threatening medical emergencies like a heart attack, but many don't understand when an ambulance is not needed for less urgent situations like a woman going into the early stages of labor.
Here's a quick look at this week's selection of grains:
LUNDBERG WEHANI This reddish-brown whole-grain rice has a slightly chewy texture and a nutty, savory flavor. To cook, combine 1 part rice with 2 parts water and salt to taste ( ½ to ¾ teaspoon per cup of rice). Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 50 to 60 minutes until the rice has absorbed all the water. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, place a towel over the pot and return the lid to the pot. Let sit 10 minutes, and then serve.
For a nuttier taste, before adding the water sauté the rice in 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil until the rice smells toasty. A cup of raw rice yields about 3 1/3 cups of cooked rice.
LUNDBERG BLACK JAPONICA RICE A combination of medium-grain mahogany rice and short-grain black rice. Cook it like Wehani rice, above. A cup of raw rice yields about 3 ¾ cups cooked rice.
RUBY RED JASMINE RICE This red long-grain rice is distributed by a company that specializes in fair-trade products. The package says to cook 1 part rice in 2 ½ parts water, but I found a ratio of 1 to 2 worked better. Cook like the Wehani rice, above. A cup of raw rice yields about 3 cups of cooked rice.
PURPLE PRAIRIE BARLEY This hearty dark purple barley originated in Tibet. It takes 1 ½ hours to cook - 1 hour if you soak it overnight, which I recommend. Cook 1 part grain in 2 ½ parts water with salt to taste. Place a strainer over a bowl, and drain the soaked rice. Combine the soaking water (you don't want to lose the pigment in it) with more water to make 2 ½ parts. Add salt to taste ( ½ to ¾ teaspoon per cup of grain), and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour or until the barley is tender and beginning to splay. A cup of cup raw rice yields just under 4 cups of cooked rice.
AMARANTH Amaranth is the tiny seed of a green native to the Americas. In Mexico, both the seeds and the greens are eaten. It's very nutritious: high in protein, and very rich in the amino acid lysine, which most grains lack. Cook 1 part amaranth in 3 parts water, and stir often.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette on Wednesday mornings. As it is at Stars Hollow, it is an open thread for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page of The Stars Hollow Gazette.
At the recent Worlds of Healthy Flavors conference, sponsored by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Culinary Institute of America, two prominent researchers called for an end to the use of the term "low-fat."
Dr. Ronald Krauss, director of atherosclerosis research at Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, and Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, have been involved in numerous studies measuring the effects of dietary habits on health. Few of those studies, they noted, have turned up reliable associations between one's total intake of dietary fat and such diseases as cancer and heart disease. Nor have they turned up meaningful associations between total fat intake and obesity.
As most of us now know, it is the type of fat that matters most to health. A diet in which saturated fats are replaced by polyunsaturated fats, found mostly in plants, nuts and seafood, and monounsaturated fats, present in olive oil, may help protect against heart disease.
On the other hand, trans fats, created during the hydrogenation process, seem to increase heart disease risk. And saturated fats - found mostly in meat and dairy products, and in coconut and palm oils - raise blood levels of L.D.L., or "bad" cholesterol, also a risk factor for heart disease.
Welcome to the Health and Fitness weekly diary. At RiaD's kind invitation, this diary will be cross posted from 
