No Death Panels, but Maybe A Death Spiral

Because we are all forever-learners, another article on the ACA:

But even as designed, Obamacare was as much an expansion of Medicaid as it was anything else. With the exchanges proving so unattractive, it may happen that the majority of new coverage under Obamacare will amount simply to an expansion of the Medicaid rolls.

Medicaid expansion is expensive, but that won't be the worst problem. Medicaid systematically underpays doctors and hospitals. Yet doctors and hospitals are forbidden to refuse Medicaid patients. They compensate, therefore, by raising charges to other patients—an invisible subsidy that will now inevitably grow even larger than before—and that will show up, among other places, in yet higher costs on the exchanges, inducing more people to drop coverage, accelerating the death spiral.

Redistribution is not the core design flaw in Obamacare. The core design flaw is that Obamacare had its priorities upside down: it put coverage expansion first; cost control a very distant second. What we are discovering now is that without cost control, coverage expansion quickly devours itself.

The comment section is worth consideration too.

FIF: Throwing the Baby Out With the Bathwater... Into the Street to Get Hit by an Ice Cream Truck

Halloween's over, but opinions are rampant below. So, beware. Boo!

Because it's clear that many Americans don't know that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Obamacare are the same thing, I'll tell you now that they are and I'll be referring to them as the ACA. Not to say there's anything wrong with calling it Obamacare. ACA is just shorter to type. Here we go.

Good, bad or ugly, the ACA (the Act, not the site) isn't working for 3% of Americans. That's 9 million people.

But the ACA was intended to bring the many poor/uninsured/uniformed Americans who use urgent care facilities or emergency rooms as their primary medical intervention into a sustainable market.

ERs are the most expensive place to get care.

And those uninsured people who use the ER are much less likely to be able to pay their medical bills.

Hospitals make up the difference for all those unpaid bills by charging the paying customers more.

For the sake of those 9 million who are paying a lot more for their insurance,
for the sake of the uninsured who need affordable care,
and for the sake of the regular Americans who want to pay fair prices for excellent care,
we need bipartisan cooperation.

Or a simpler title for this post: Mend It, Don't End It.

Or for some imagery, we need the losing party not to crash the ice cream truck just because they didn't get an allowance this week.

George Stephanopolous, ABC News, said in this last election cycle that he, as a journalist, feels it's his duty to stay impartial and for that reason he doesn't vote. He doesn't want to have a dog in the fight so that his heart doesn't influence his reporting. I chose to declare myself as "Post-Partisan" for the same reason. I don't want to file along a party line. I want to keep my allegiance open to new ideas and smarter thinking.

I wish there were more of both on the issue of healthcare reform.


What do you think?



(BTW, Flip It Friday is now FIF. Get it?)

Why I Chickened Out About Starting a Salon

I actually had to look back in the blog archive to see if I've posted about why I didn't start a salon yet. I've already written this post so many times in my head apparently.

So remember when I thought of having a thoughtful place to discuss current events and big ideas over finger sandwiches and wine? Yeah, that's not going to happen.

I beat myself up about it for months. "Why don't you just do it, already!"
I've forgiven myself for not following through on something yet again.*

The main reason: I don't want to alienate my friends.

I have been slapped on the wrist for bringing Obamacare up at a picnic.
I've induced cricket-silence from a group of people over a race debate.
I have, in one lifetime, condemned and condoned nearly every religion.
I've snapped at my boss for suggesting we arm teachers with guns.
I've waffled on what I think about taxes and government programs.
I've admitted I can't tell the difference between bourbon and scotch.

See? I embarrass myself so freakin' frequently that I don't need to have people over for herbal tea and scones every Tuesday to prove that I am fallibly human.

And for anyone who was looking forward to watching me socially burn myself down having a thoughtful discussion, let's get coffee! One on one! You can film it, but you must obscure my face and voice!

--
*Try it. Go ahead right now and forgive yourself for something that you can't take back. Go ahead. You'll feel better.

Flip-It Friday: Take the Middle School Political Test

Because I just can't help myself.

If you can't stand talking politics, here's a boy and dog in the Philippines escaping flooding:

If you can stomach any more politi-talk, here's a easy test with a new perspective.

I'm apparently a Liberal Patriot. I take this to mean that I am pretty lax on what individuals do with their own lives, but am pretty into the whole 'being American' thing. Spot on, if so! If it means all of the things on this list, then no. I don't think that's what I am. 

Will you take this quiz? What are your results?

And are the pictures showing up for you? For some reason I am not seeing them consistently load and wonder if it's just me...?

Happy Friday, Wimps Pimps!

Come Lord Jesus, Give Me Conspiracy!

An article about Russian door-to-door booksellers came across my Facebook news feed with the warning: "Don't let them in! They want to steal your children!"

Basically there is a rumor going around that "Russians" are coming for your kids. To sell them into human trafficking situations. They are pushy and ask about other kids in the neighborhood. You're supposed to not let them inside and not give them your neighbor's information.

 Well... duh!?

If someone is making you uncomfortable, would you want to share any information with them? And would your neighbors want you to give their deets to a salesperson anyway - even if they are just selling books?!

Good lord, people. Common sense. And how about you knock it off that you need to watch out for "a heavy foreign–usually Russian–accent; well-built; physically fit; military mannerisms or appearance". Vladimir Putin is not coming for your children. You must have fallen asleep during the 10 PM news and dreamt that Russia wants your children. They already have one-too-many of our Aryan, me-me cry babies*. And they don't even want him.

This particular rumor spreader is a contact from High School. She has a son and is extremely Conservative** and extremely Christian. Capital C on both counts! I did some research to see where she got this "news" and ... well... I've found the holy grail of bullsh*t.

Click to make the image larger.

The "About" page says:

So you want to know why we do what we do...

Did you ever feel like something is horribly wrong? Sometimes maybe you think it's all just in your head? We, at KnowTheLies.com, are SICK of being lied to! So we have made it our strict mission to show you that your nagging intuition is right. 

Here's something to consider... If it FEELS wrong... odds are it IS wrong. Always listen your intuition. Somehow we already know but just haven't realized it. 

~ KnowTheLies.com Staff

Here are a sampling of their other headlines. My favorite is highlighted.

I also came across some publicity for a seemingly upcoming movie about the REAL Obama:

But it turns out that the movie was released in 2012 and without critical acclaim.

In the Washington Post, Michael O’Sullivan described the movie as a "slick infomercial...destined to irritate the president’s supporters while mobilizing his detractors, even as it is doomed to win precious few converts", while also criticizing D'Souza for "fear-mongering of the worst kind".^[30] Bill Goody koontz of The Arizona Republic said it was "preaching to the choir" in a style similar to Michael Moore's films, but without the humor, straw men, and views from the other side.^[31]
(from Wikipedia, emphasis added.)

Fear-Monger. 

Yep. That seems to be what I would add to KnowTheLies.com's "About" page.

---
*Edward Snowden
**There's nothing wrong with being conservative. Just don't also be a dumbass.

Tipsy Tuesday: Vote Your Conscience. Vote Your District. Don't Surprise Me.

Bottom line: Watch House of Cards on Netflix.

I'm a wuss when it comes to R-rated sex scenes (I couldn't get past the first few episodes of HBO's Girls... the writing was great but the scenes were raunchy and I was so distracted/horrified.), so some of the episodes in HoC were a bit ... adult for me.

But the writing is GREAT. The character building is GREAT. The acting is GREAT. The plot is GREAT.

It's a writer's TV show. It's got excellent foreshadowing, quippy dialogue and layers of storytelling that all come to a head at just. the. right. time.

This one has earned it's Emmy nominations.

via

Getting up off our knees

You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago. And when you think about why, in the African American community at least, there's a lot of pain around what happened here, I think it's important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away.

There are very few African American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me -- at least before I was a senator. There are very few African Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.

And I don't want to exaggerate this, but those sets of experiences inform how the African American community interprets what happened one night in Florida. And it's inescapable for people to bring those experiences to bear. The African American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws -- everything from the death penalty to enforcement of our drug laws. And that ends up having an impact in terms of how people interpret the case.

- Barack Obama

I don't know, you know?

It's about to get really philosophical, so go check out the spaceship on Google today if you just want to be entertained (it's a game!!).

I often ruminate on things until I think I have it all figured out. Like a little judge in my mind, I debate, debate, debate until the gavel drops and I pick the most well defended answer.

Two sides of the same coin: I want to think I know it all; I want to know that I don't know it all.

Big topics that I talk about here are often polarizing. And I always choose a side, however hasitly or ill-informed*. I am trying to not do that so much. I want to challenge what I think I know and be open to changing my mind. I think it's essential.

For instance, we watched "Atlas Shrugged" parts 1 and 2 this weekend and I tried NOT to stomp out of the room.

So to turn completely around from my usual, shameful "know it all" model, here are some things I don't know. I won't follow it up with a list of things I do know (although I am tempted). Comment, readers. I want to know your thoughts on my list or other things you don't know.

• I don't know if foreign aid is a good thing.
• I don't know if dairy is bad for humans.
• I don't know what benefits corporations create for themselves by giving out big bonuses and little salaries to their leaders, instead of just a salary. 
• I don't think all recycling collected is actually recycled.
• I don't know how to punish my dog.
• I'm not sure hell is real.
• I don't know if all children (not the individual child, but the circumstances** of having a child) are a blessing.
• I don't know if it overall matters if we buy local/sustainable/green/ethical products.
• I don't know who's really at fault for September 11th.

*Aren't we all, comparatively?

** Considering definition: a happy event or state of affairs

"We've Got Time!" Said Chicken Little to the Sky, Daringly.

AKA: The Dangers of Deferring Retirement Planning

(suspense) Dun, DUN, DUHHHH!

The Mr. and I started meeting with financial planners when I was 26. We interviewed a couple of them to ensure we got a good fit, as financial advisers are like other professional services where personality and relationship matter. Both of the people (from two different firms) we met with though had the same two reactions to us and our financial breakdown.

1) You guys are much younger than my usual clientele.

2) If nothing in your savings, 401k, stocks, bonds, etc. changes, you will only reach a fraction of your retirement goal by the time you want to retire.

Here are the facts about us:
I am 27, the Mr. is soon-to-be 29 (I like to round up to 30 to irk him).
We BOTH have 401ks that we max out and then some.
We have no credit card or student loan debt.
We have savings, a low-rate mortgage and a low-rate car payment.
I have some educational bonds that are vested.
The Mr. has done moderately well conservatively playing in the stock market.
The Mr. may have some inheritance, but that is uncertain at this time.
We are interested in retiring early with enough money to enjoy our golden years*.

So. I thought to myself, "Self, you're set! Look at how well you've planned and how you allocate your debts and savings! Pat your self on the back and go have a BLT**."

I and think the Mr. and I aren't far from the norm in our planning.

Many youngun's have some retirement planning in place. Some have more. Some have none. But most of us think, in my experience, that we've got time.

Here's what "time" and our pre-adviser planning would get us, according to CNN's retirement calculator:

(some spaces have been whited out for our privacy)

Blah blah blah, basically the bottom line is this:

We will only have a 55% chance of being able to retire when and how we want if we don't change our plan.

And that means taking action now. This is how we changed our tune. "Finance" is the category to notice.

The more accurate, robust breakdowns of our financial trajectory done by the professionals showed that most of our investments only made big bucks in the final, compounding years before retirement.

Two words. Compound interest.

And think that 6-figure number is atypical for retirment? This basic calculator says that a modest retirement at a later age even costs $1.5 million, accounting for inflation! Pensions are going the way of the Atari*** and don't count on Social Security, friends!

As my vibrant 92 year old Grammy says: "You always need more than you think you do."


*Travel and buy lattes.
**Had a BLT in Minnesota that was on pita bread... I recommend it!
*** Pac-man!

I'm Back, Losers

The coma that is vacation is over and I'm back at the grind.

I'm getting a sore throat and a headache from recycled air and reply-all email chains. Must. Get. Outside.

Things have been wonderful and shitty and wonderful again lately.

Vacation was nice and we had minimal bicker-ments with each other and family. And I think we came home with less that we took, so that's a plus*.

My former coworker's mom passed away under seemingly sudden circumstances. And my boss's dog had to be put down. Those who don't have dogs might think I'm making light of the passing of my friend's mother, but those who do have dogs know I'm not.

But the sun is out and summer's coming soon and I have a job and a husband and a family and very giving friends (Thanks RENEE for watching the roost while we were away!) and that's all peachy.

Like the flavor of Skinny Girl Margarita I shared with my mom and sister in Wisconsin this past week.

Last night the Mr. and I went to see Bill Maher**. He talked about religion and I spun into my own head about it.

Mine is not a religion that needs a church as of late. It may not even need rules. It certainly doesn't need judgement. It's more into asking questions than giving answers. It's humbler than me and directs me into Humbletown frequently.

It is about tithing - to people not to organizations. It does believe in giving grace even when you don't understand.  It does believe in changing your mind and sometimes shutting up. It even likes this / new / pope.

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.” - Charles Darwin

Maybe I'm Catholic. Maybe I'm a Humanist. Maybe I'm Agnostic. Maybe recycling is futile (this is for you, Rachel!).

TBD.


---
*Simplify!
** I tuned out halfway through the show from exhaustion and repeat material, but it was fun.

Flip-It Friday: Blogging is like singing with headphones in... in prison.

A friend was picking my brain (ew!) about blogging lately and said I could re-purpose the whole shebang for a blog post. Lucky me, luck you.

What is your view of personal blogging in general? 
I like posts that share personal stories, teach us something and/or have a good plot to them. I don't like blogs that are:
- all about someone's outfit of the day/hair products/well-designed inspiring quote from an author they've never read.
- not well edited. Good writers are only made so by good editing. Brevity is an art form in itself!
- have no tension or conflict (Your mom* may be the only one who wants to hear about the errands you ran today or what you ate for lunch.)
- have conflicting viewpoints (One cannot post about budget finds from a store supplied by sweatshops alongside lipstick that stops human trafficking.)

Though, I don't have to have anything in common with the writer (Orange County mom of 4) to love how they write and what they write about.

Why do you do it? 
Because I'm a middle child and I have the deep-seeded need to be heard... and social media makes it so easy to feel like a star! Seriously, though, I do it because writing and thinking are synonymous to me. It's how I process life. And its probably why I've retracted some things (hello, Kony 2012) as I learn and evolve. I have such a habit of thinking in a writing format (i.e. full sentences, editing as I go, picking words that sound good to me) and I now write blog posts in my head while walking the dog, brushing my teeth, sitting in traffic. Not all on-the-go thinking gets written down, but I do get the satisfaction of knowing that the thought has been thought. Ya know?

How do you disconnect from readers and just write what you want? Or do you struggle with that? This has been a process. It's trial and error. I often think,"My dad is going to read this" and that keeps me from going overboard. Although, I do write about politics, religion and women's health so much that it's a wonder he still reads. I think he comes for the pictures of Roo. Which is also a good point - throw in some cute dog pics and people will forgive you!

You mentioned in one post you "don't feel safe in your own blog" since family members got the address, how real is that concern? Does it effect what you write? 
How I felt in that scenario is how one feels when they've been caught dancing and singing while wearing headphones. And I believe that some family has stopped reading because of that. Oh well. Again, its the "processing" thing I mentioned above. I had not shared my URL with many people when the Mr. thought he was doing me a PR favor by handing it out. I felt violated. Like someone had been reading my middle school diary. I can't write about some things because the situations are too specific for me to generalize with fake names and locations. Unfortunately some of my best/worst thoughts cannot be expressed because of the people involved. It is restrictive, but I keep going and honestly think that it's better this way. Everything written online is out there forever so it's better that I censor myself. Plus, I've been able to use my blog to leverage freelance opportunities now.

What is your view of writing things that offend people? (like you said you did sometimes) Does that make you nervous or do you just not care? 
Blogging is like prison. Beat someone up right away and no one will mess with you. (J/K... I think). I'm as bold online as I am in real life. I'm not afraid of tough conversations or confrontations. I've gotten into it with another blogger before. Not badly, but we did exchange snarky comments. I realized then that I need to speak my piece on MY blog. Instead of leaving inciting comments on someone else's blog, I can use those points to launch into a counter-post on my site. I get to control the content and they get to ignore my criticism. Win, win.

How much time do you spend on it (mental head space as well as executing posts)? 
Some posts are 15 minutes, some are an hour. If there are a lot of pictures or if the post is on a sensitive topic, I like to spend more time on them. If I spend more than an hour I know I haven't perfected the idea and I save the post in drafts. I stick by my idea of brevity.

Do you have any goals, like to get more readers? Comments? 
I used to watch the pageviews more. I had goals to get more comments too. But I don't have sponsors and I don't make any money on my site. If I did, I think I'd be worried about the numbers more - but I also wouldn't be able to write about whatever I want. The difference between a hobby and a job-by is the paycheck, right? I think I'll forgo monetary strings to be able to rant for now.

So why do/would YOU blog? 

Or have I just scared you?

This doesn't scare me (maybe it does?). And it has nothing to do with this post. I just hope in my heart of hearts that this is how they dress at home.

---
*Your mom!

Come on in and Laugh with Me

I saw an SUV dragging a case of beer that was caught under it's suspension on the highway to work today.


I was checking out this really cool woodland house on Apartment Therapy and loved the way one of the two men described their style:

Our style is a mix of laid back Hamptons and California ease. Think the gay male version of Ina Garten, “and who doesn’t love that?”

Michele-ah Bella Boo-Boo Bachmann isn't seeking reelection. If anything her outspoken sound bites have reinforced that I need to put the keyboard down sometimes.

In August 2006, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that in March 2006, Bachmann was on a Minneapolis radio show advocating for a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. A caller asked her to explain how he, a heterosexual, would be harmed if his gay neighbors were allowed to marry. Bachmann replied saying, "Public schools would have to teach that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are normal, natural and that maybe children should try them." The Star Tribune also reported that Bachmann has publicly referred to homosexuality as "sexual dysfunction," "sexual identity disorders," and "personal enslavement" that leads to "sexual anarchy." (via)

On a similar note, Bob Dole launches up out of his wheel chair for five points on today's Republican party. One of them is just. one. word:

3) Nixon?

She's 41, she's single, and she doesn't care that you don't have teeth.

Tipsy Tuesday: Put Down the Keyboard, Vigilante

I can get bogged down in fruitless work in my professional and personal life.

Like, are people going to even notice if I put those files into a color-coded binder? Or can I just stuff them in manilla and walk away?  I have to ask myself periodically if going the extra mile is worth it.

I can also get bogged down in self-righteousness in the blog community.

Like, some nice bloggers I know seems to contradict themselves in their blog by preaching about God's love one minute and featuring ethically questionable products from Forever 21/H&M/The Gap/Zara/Wal-Mart/Target the next. Does it do anything to write a scathing comment on their post? Would calling them out help anything? Most likely, no. It will just make them mad or expose my self-righteousness.

I can also feel guilty for not recycling in a country where recycling is easy.

Like, when you're at a beach-side barbecue and the host doesn't offer a recycling option, but has bags of Styrofoam plates for disposal. Do you make an ass of yourself by eating a hot dog with no safety net for dripping condiments and hoard soda cans in your purse for the hour's ride back home to recycle them? No.

I, J.Mill, release myself from these self imposed obligations. While I won't lower my work ethic or compassion, I'll also not alienate people over a La Croix can. I'll try to live humbly in this glass house and hope that someone doesn't catch me taking 20 minute showers.

via

---

Beverage pairing: Lime and cucumber infused water. We need to detox after back-to-back parties this weekend.

John Piper's Rain Dance Elicits Tornado

After one light post let's go right back down into the pit, shall we?

I was thinking lately about how much I blog about the news. I really enjoy being current on world events and think, possibly self righteously, that everyone needs to have a wide, educated world view. It may keep us from WWIII or get us to start recycling. Who knows.

So when the tornadoes hit Oklahoma this week, I thought, "Should I blog this?"

I usually blog on things in the news that have an angle. Two sides. A stance I can take.

Aside from launching into global warming and the need for us to care for the planet, I didn't see how I could take a side that wasn't implicit. Of course these tornadoes are terrible. Of course we are sadden by all of the loss. I'm not trivializing it; I'm saying I thought that reaction was universal.

After a long lunch in the sun with a particularly progressive, politically minded, and religiously skeptic friend (who went to school in OK and has friends there that were affected), I read this post and was immediately thrown into head-nodding agreement and heart-pounding disgust.

Rachel Held Evans wrote:

"Then, before I could stop it, an awful thought popped into my mind: “Oh no. How long will it take John Piper to get on the radio, TV, his blog, or Twitter to explain to the world that this was God’s judgment on sin and tell the parents who lost children in this tornado that they got exactly what they deserved?
"Because this is what John Piper does whenever there is a tornado…or earthquake…or shooting…or war. While the world is still in shock, while we struggle to find the words to convey our grief and compassion and to weep with those who weep, he jumps in with an explanation, and it’s always the same: Bad things happen because God is angry. This is God’ judgment on undeserving, sinful people. Repent. We brought this on ourselves.
"That’s because Piper and many in the fundamentalist neo-Reformed movement are working off of a perversion of the doctrine of total depravity that not only teaches that human beings are depraved—that is, that our humanity is marred by sin—but that this depravity renders the world’s men, women, and children into valueless objects of god’s wrath, worthy of nothing more than eternal torture, pain, violence, and abuse."

If you're interested, read the whole post. Or to skip it. It'll really only make you mad at some sad man mongering "just desserts" on Twitter. 

And if you need to get out of the downward hate-spiral, be sure to read the end of Rachel's post:

"God is patient and kind. God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God does not dishonor, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered. God keeps no record of wrong. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails."

Common Sense Wednesday: You Down With CSC/DoD? You Know, Conspiracy!

I watch enough documentaries and political/government dramas (hello Scandal! hello Homeland!) to make me a nut job when it comes to trusting the government, but hear me out.

A few weeks ago the NBC Nightly News (whadup, Bryan Q. Williams!) featured a story about how the Department of Defense fleeced American taxpayers by conducting a runaway $1 billion dollar technology project that produced zero results or usable product (or some results if you count "lessons learned").

Today I was Googling to find this article and reference it for work. I looked on several news sources, including NBC, and even calling the Mr. to have him look it up got me nothing.

The story was nearly nowhere. It had either been taken down by NBC because, at two weeks old, it's now old news OR... the main contractor on the project, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), put some lawyer muscle into this and asked that the tracks be wiped OR...

Conspiracy!

How else would the story have been wiped from all other news sources too?

I'm not sure what the truth is, but I know that if you somehow read of me being locked up for insanity or killed in a freak accident, know that I was right!

Who am I kidding. You won't read about it. They control the papers!

Well, you might read about me in the IEEE Spectrum because that's where I was able to find the real story about CSC and the DoD.

Source: retrocampaigns.tumblr.com via Retro Campaigns on Pinterest

When I searched for "Bryan Williams" on Pinterest, I got this image. I was immediately sold on it's incongruity and turn-of-the-century sex appeal - HA!

We Are Young/Old

Bootlegged from here. Photoshopped in Paint like a boss. 

More Babble for Your Ears

Words below are not my own. I just like them. 

Question: Are you pro second amendment or do you support this new legislation?

Answer: I don’t accept this premise. I am both.

I’m pro compromise, common purpose, safety, reason.

Americans have been asked to give up many rights far more fundamental than the extremity of our personal arsenals in the name of safety. We allow ourselves to get patted down and disrobed in public, stopped and frisked while walking. Our calls and communications have been monitored without warrants. So prevalent is the degradation of our privacy, so entrenched the idea that “9/11 is why we can’t have nice things” that we are now in a tech environment that uses our personal information as a commodity and most of us don’t notice or mind. That’s the price you pay to play. You want in, you have to expose yourself. That’s what we have been asked to accept, the freedom we have been asked to give up.

We have also been asked to give our money and our friends (and for some of us, ourselves) to foreign conflict in the name of our public safety, notwithstanding the specious nature of much of our involvement.

Some of this has helped, some of this hasn’t, but it’s what’s been asked of all of us to protect the lives of those around us. And the process has contributed to the stagnation of both the American Dream of individual liberty and the American Dream of social mobility. The only group who has not had to sacrifice one modicum of their dream? Those who wish to use guns for recreation, sport and protection. Lost in the nebulous conjecture of potential threat is the stark reality that less innocent people would die with reasonable restrictions on gun ownership. And yet, the NRA has chosen to lash themselves to a (relatively modern) position of never giving an inch, that any regulation is the enemy (sound familiar?) and we all pay for it every time there is an episode of extreme violence like so many recent instances I need not cite.

People should be able to own guns, should be able to protect themselves but should be able to give up a bit on the margins to save lives. We give up a lot more for a lot worse reasons every day.

via I love Charts by the chartmaster himself. 

Pissing into the Wind, Shooting into the Sky

Referring to Chicago.

Referring to Austrialia.

Referring to an actual conversation around the actual water cooler today:

C-title Executive: The drought is so bad in Wisconsin. The trees and lakes are really showing it. I blame the Democrats.

VP-title: Yeah if the Republicans had their way, we'd send the military to bomb the drought right outta there.

***

No conclusions need to be drawn, I just thought it was all coincidentally funny.

YOU WANNA HAVE A TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL NOW?!

Seriously.

More than two dozen people, mostly elementary school children, were shot and killed at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school this morning, federal and state sources tell ABC News.

The massacre involved two gunmen at a Connecticut school this morning, prompting the town of Newtown to lock down all of its schools and draw SWAT teams to the school, authorities said today.

State Police confirm that one shooter is dead. A second gunman is apparently at large. Car-to-car searches are underway.

It's unclear how many people have been shot, but 25 people, mostly children are dead, multiple federal and state sources tell ABC News. That number could rise, officials said.

via

Flip It Friday: C is for Cookie... or Congress

larger graphic here

Learn more about Sesame Workshop’s early childhood initiatives in the United States

Did you watch Sesame Street?

Do you think the government should fund Sesame Street and things like it?

Should it be on the chopping block, considering out national debt?

How would you advice congress?