Problems in the ER

A new health care analysis out says that the U. S. emergency care system has serious problems, namely overcrowding, declining access, and "poor capacity to deal with public health or terrorist disasters." Nowhere does the article mention one major cause of at least the first two of those problems. That major cause would be massive numbers of people who go to the ER for non-emergencies. Some of these people have no insurance, and know that they won't be turned away, so the ER becomes their primary physician. But other people do have insurance, and don't care about paying the higher co-pay so they can receive instant care. All of these non-emergency visits strain the system, and raise insurance costs. It seems to me that I've heard of hospitals that wanted to turn away non-emergency patients, but in the end did not succeed. I will try to find some examples of this and post and update.

CNN.com - Utah megaplex balks at 'Brokeback' - Jan 8, 2006

CNN.com - Utah megaplex balks at 'Brokeback' - Jan 8, 2006
Sigh. It's things like this that give Utah a bad name among certain groups of people who fight for freedom for certain groups of people. However, it is a free country (to quote all middle-schoolers out there), and if the theatre owners don't want to show a certain movie, they shouldn't have to. I'm guessing that there will be much ado about this decision, at least in Utah.

Crime wave in Northern Neck

Crime wave in Northern Neck - There's nothing like seeing my hometown area featured in the news. Frankly, although rural areas like this one generally have less crime, I often feel nervous in them. If you live several acres or even miles away from the nearest neighbor, who is going to hear your calls for help, or notice suspicious activity? I know the cities are supposed to be more dangerous, but I have always felt more secure knowing that other people are close by. However, I wonder about my perception that cities have more crime. Per capita, rural areas are probably no better than cities. Anyone out there know where to find those kind of statistics?

Chronicles of Narnia Movie

Hubby and I finally went and saw them much-heralded The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe last night. While not fully capturing the magic and intensity of the book, it was still well-done. I thought the children were well-cast, and the computer effects stunning. Some of the dialogue was a bit slow-moving, though. I try to imagine seeing the film without having read the book, and I believe the film would be a bit flat and even puzzling in its religious symbolism. Anyone who hasn't read the books definitely should, whether or not you plan to see the movie. My favorite book of the series is the first one chronologically, The Magician's Nephew, which would have made a better movie. All of the books are pure enjoyment, though. My mother tried to get me to read them when I was kid, but I wouldn't, as I didn't like fantasy. A few years ago, I decided I needed to read them to be well-read, and was captivated from the beginning.

Foreign-Language Learning Promoted

Bush announces a new iniative to promote foreign language learning, particularly in Arabic, Hindi, and other languages critical to our national security. It's about time! This problem has been discussed periodically, but nothing much ever happens. Unfortunately, I'll be surprised if any real change takes place now, either. The obstacles to the U.S. becoming more language proficient are daunting. Even if money is available (surely not enough), just where are we going to find all of the Arabic teachers necessary who are willing (and certified) to go teach in elementary school? Most Americans have enough trouble learning the easy languages of French and Spanish, and have little idea just how time, motivation, and effort are required to learn Chinese or Arabic. To attaine fluency instruction really must be started at a very young age, and our current K-12 system is resistant to the massive changes needed to implement such programs.

However, any progress we make is better than none, so let's get the momentum going! This is a big subject dear to my heart, and I feel as though I've hardly given it any time, but my little one is howling at my knee.

The Power of 1984

In pondering the current fuss over NSA wiretapping, I am wondering just how much of a fuss there would be if George Orwell hadn’t written 1984.  Don’t get me wrong; I have enjoyed reading the book several times, and it provides much food for thought.  However, I think as a nation we are obsessed with fear that it will come to pass.  Bob Barr mentioned Big Brother in his anti-Bush editorial in Time magazine.  He had no need to explain the reference – everyone knows because it such a part of our culture.  It’s quite a tribute to Orwell’s literary powers, but should we really make national security decisions based on fears driven by a work of fiction?

Let the Blaming Begin

We're already hearing about the poor safety record at the mine where 12 men died, and rightly so. It's a horrible tragedy. But in an editorial, the Washington Post has the nerve to say that perhaps the culture of the Mine Safety and Health Administration has changed in the past six years (code: it's Bush's fault). There is no evidence that this is the case; even that part of the editorial was full of "mights". I don't know why I even read the Post anymore, other than that I "might" have some sort of obsession to know what the MSM is up to.

TimesDispatch.com Employee cost of health plans vary
This article is good, as far it goes, which isn't very far. It did at least start to mention that many small businesses don't offer health insurance for their employees, but failed to state explicitly that the reason is that Anthem (Virginia's insurance monopoly) charges small businesses more. Outrageous!

Then there is the usual talk of how various politicians want to help (or require) smaller businesses to provide insurance. This is misguided at best! Currently, if your employer doesn't provide insurance, you can go to Anthem and get a plan for much cheaper than the awful small business rate. I know this based on personal experience.

The Wheels on the Bus are Kinder Now

Recently at our public library storytime, I noticed a change to popular children’s song.  Anyone who’s ever sung “The Wheels on the Bus” knows that after the baby goes, “wah, wah, wah” the parents on the bus go, “shh, shh, shh.”  It’s a fun song, at least until you’ve been forced to sing it three hundred times.  My girls particularly liked the “shh, shh, shh.”  It’s easy for a baby to pick up.  Well, at the library, all of the mommies, toddlers (and a lone daddy), are happily singing along when I am startled to hear, “The parents on the bus go ‘I love you.’”  No one else batted an eye, and since I don’t attend very regularly, I obviously missed the big changeover.  I haven’t talked to the woman in charge yet; so I should reserve my judgment, but I won’t!  She’s a nice lady and does a good job.  I’m guessing that someone who was a little too fond of the misguided self-esteem movement came up with the idea that shushing your child is too harsh, and wrote a more feel-good replacement.  So the library lady heard the new version, and probably thought that it was sweet, and made the change without much thought.  But I’m annoyed!  What is wrong with a little shsshhing in a public place like a bus?  Besides a loving, rhythmic shsshhing can actually be very soothing for an infant.  Anyway, kids like the song the way it is.  Leave it alone.  Has anyone else heard this new version?

Well, I didn't escape the dreaded stomach bug after all. It's been a rough weekend. It's sad that it takes feeling horrible to make me fully appreciate how wonderful it is to have good health. Every time I'm sick I promise myself not to take it for granted once I'm feeling better, but I always seem to forget after a while. While sick, I would rather be doing just about anything else in the world, if only I could feel normal. But once normality returns, so does my complaining. In fact, this weekend's episode got me out of speaking in church - something that I had not been very eager to do. However, I would have rather spoken every Sunday in church for a year if it would have meant I could have avoided this misery!