January 26, 2018

Tonight's Vinyl Selection

Pink Floyd's masterpiece

Dark Side of the Moon

January 25, 2018

"America First" or "America Alone"?

From the New York Times.

WASHINGTON — President Trump is arriving at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to explain his “America First” approach at a moment when the world is moving ahead with a trade agenda that no longer revolves around the United States.

The world marked a turning point in global trade on Tuesday, when 11 countries agreed to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, announcing they had finalized the pact and expected to sign a deal on March 8 in Chile. It was a remarkable moment for a beleaguered agreement that was conceived and constructed by the United States, then abandoned by Washington when Mr. Trump took office last year.

As the world’s largest economy and architect of many international organizations and treaties, the United States remains an indispensable partner. But as the global economy gains strength, Europe and countries including Japan and China are forging ahead with deals that do not include the United States.

The world marked a turning point in global trade on Tuesday, when 11 countries agreed to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, announcing they had finalized the pact and expected to sign a deal on March 8 in Chile. It was a remarkable moment for a beleaguered agreement that was conceived and constructed by the United States, then abandoned by Washington when Mr. Trump took office last year.

As the world’s largest economy and architect of many international organizations and treaties, the United States remains an indispensable partner. But as the global economy gains strength, Europe and countries including Japan and China are forging ahead with deals that do not include the United States.

Thirty-five new bilateral and regional trade pacts are under consideration around the world, according to the World Trade Organization. The United States is party to just one of them, with the European Union, and that negotiation has gone dormant. The United States is also threatening to withdraw from one of its existing multilateral agreements — the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada — if it cannot be renegotiated in the United States’ favor.

The world marked a turning point in global trade on Tuesday, when 11 countries agreed to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, announcing they had finalized the pact and expected to sign a deal on March 8 in Chile. It was a remarkable moment for a beleaguered agreement that was conceived and constructed by the United States, then abandoned by Washington when Mr. Trump took office last year.

As the world’s largest economy and architect of many international organizations and treaties, the United States remains an indispensable partner. But as the global economy gains strength, Europe and countries including Japan and China are forging ahead with deals that do not include the United States.

Thirty-five new bilateral and regional trade pacts are under consideration around the world, according to the World Trade Organization. The United States is party to just one of them, with the European Union, and that negotiation has gone dormant. The United States is also threatening to withdraw from one of its existing multilateral agreements — the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada — if it cannot be renegotiated in the United States’ favor.

more:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/us/politics/trump-trade-america-first-davos.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

January 25, 2018

So I dug out a few of my old vinyl record albums

Hubby connected the old turntable to our living room speakers tonight.

I listened to

The Yes Album

Let It Be album

Allman Bros. Brothers and Sisters

... good stuff...... Sure took me away from all the idiocy and crap in the news for a while.....

(smiling)

January 23, 2018

I'm getting so sick and tired of this

Hearing right wingers say that "Dems go to the mat for these illegals .... and turn their backs on REAL 'Mericans!"

Does this have to be a zero-sum game? Because you help one group, the other group feels jealous?

And I ask you, which party has spent decades trying to aid the poor, protect us from consumer fraud, keep our air and water clean, fight for workers' rights, make sure everyone has affordable health care? It sure ain't the Republicans.

But they whine that they're not getting any special favors.

GAH!!!!

January 22, 2018

Can anyone believe this shit?!

In 3 States, if Anthem Thinks You Shouldn't Have Gone to the ER, They Won't Pay

When you decide to make a trip to the ER for symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, you do it because you are concerned that this could potentially be a life-threatening situation. After undergoing careful medical evaluation including X-rays, EKGs, ultrasounds or CT scans in the ER, the end result might indicate a condition that isn’t dangerous, such as pleurisy or bronchitis.

But this very process and the assurances to systematically arrive at a final diagnosis are being threatened by one insurance company that is creating a list of specific diagnoses they are choosing not to cover.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is placing policy holders in Kentucky, Missouri and Georgia on notice that they could be responsible for covering the cost for such ER visits. It turns out that Anthem has developed a specific list of diagnoses that it will not cover, such as “chest pain on breathing” and blood in the urine, even if the patient thought it was a medical emergency.

“Health insurance companies are scaring people away from emergency departments, saying they will decide after the fact what is a real emergency,” Rebecca Parker, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), said in a news release published online last Tuesday. “If your insurer disagrees with your decision to visit the ER, they may now refuse to pay. These new actions violate federal law and are dangerous because people with identical symptoms — such as abdominal or chest pains — may either have a deadly medical condition or a non-urgent issue. It is not fair for health insurers to expect patients to know the difference between a heart attack and something that is not life threatening.”

More

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/10/16/anthem-at-odds-with-your-decision-to-visit-the-er-and-refusing-to-pay-in-certain-states/#5f0fc1054356

January 22, 2018

I would like to ask a right wingnut

If Hillary and her "bands of thieves" were bringing illegals here by the droves so they could vote in last year's election .... as they all believe ....

Then why did she lose???

January 22, 2018

Today is the anniversary

Today is the 8th anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. It's proponents boasted it would increase democracy by expanded political voices. It sure did -- the voices of those with mega cash or who owned corporations gained even greater constitutional "rights" by a majority of Supreme Court justices who believe money is constitutionally-protected free speech and corporations have "personhood" protections. So do you feel your political voice is heard more frequently and forcefully by our elected representatives that 8 years ago? Me neither.

January 21, 2018

Puppy paddling paws while riding a bike

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/animals/puppy-moves-paws-while-riding-bicycle/vi-AAuV2Jz?ocid=mailsignout

after the ad, of course

January 21, 2018

Another lawsuit for Dumpy and Pruitt?

Commercial fishermen and environmental groups could file lawsuits against the Trump administration, if it fails to follow a recommendation by one of its own agencies to protect salmon, sturgeon, orca and other endangered species in the Pacific north-west.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently issued a long-awaited opinion on three organophosphate pesticides – chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion.

It did so after a long court fight. Environmental groups sought publication of the opinion while the Trump administration, supported by pesticide manufacturers, pushed for a two-year delay.

The 3,700-page federal report was issued on 29 December. The scientists warned that the widely used pesticides pose a threat, through run-off into rivers and oceans, to dozens of endangered and threatened species.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/21/trump-administration-lawsuit-pesticide-orca-salmon

Note that Dow Chemical wrote a $1 million check to help underwrite Dumpy's inauguration. No surprise here, eh?

January 21, 2018

I'm looking for suggestions for a healthy dinner

Something that appeals to men with hearty appetites, healthy, doesn't bust your budget, and is quick to prepare. Although the last one could be overlooked if it's a crockpot meal.

Oh, and we don't eat red meat.

Ideas?