Selene's Spot

My Letter to the President

2009-11-30T16:28:08Z

Dear President Obama,

Please reconsider sending more troops to Afghanistan. If you must place people there, work in conjunction with our NATO allies to train the Afghan people to protect & defend themselves. Bring our troops home, from Afghanistan and Iraq.

We have important challenges at home that confront us, such as the economy and health care. We cannot afford to wage two wars abroad, in blood or money. You were awarded the Nobel Prize in hopes that you could help bring change and peace, not only to America, but to the world.

On health care, I was disappointed that you did not start with Single Payer and call the public option non-negotiable. A program such as "Medicare for Everyone" starting NOW would help boost the economy. Going to war will just bankrupt us further.

Those of us who worked for you and contributed to your campaign believe that you are a good and wise man. Please stop listening and catering to the hate and fear mongers on the right. Please don't "give away the store." Please remember the change and hope you promised not just to those of us who elected you, but to all of America. As the Commander-in-Chief you can deliver on those promises.

Your administration has gotten off to a good start; please don't repeat the horrible mistakes of the last eight years. Be the peace and change president, not another war president.

Helpful Post Office Staff

2009-11-24T05:16:35Z

As corresponding secretary of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, last month I received my official key to the po box (ta-dah!) at the main post office on Fayette Street. The first time I went to pick up mail, the lobby was unstaffed as it was after closing, but the po boxes were accessible 24/7. I spent 10 minutes trying to open the box (there's a trick to it), and then I almost left the key because I couldn't get it out of the lock for another five minutes. I gave up, tried one last time, and out it came. Then a screw came loose and the handle on the front of the box was hanging down one one side. I screwed it back on as best I could.

There was a notice to pick up a package, so last Friday I went back during the "regular business hours" as posted at USPS.com. They were supposedly open until 7 p.m., but when I arrived at 5:30, a sign informed me that, as of October 31, the po box service window closed at 5 p.m. Trick or Treat.

This morning I called the 800 number for the US Postal Service and got a direct number for the main post office. I tried to find out how long they held packages, but the answer varied. The customer service rep also said there were different closing times for different services offered (no kidding). When I asked about the package, he said "it's a big building, you'll have to talk to that department." He took my phone number and complaint about the key, said he would pass the information on, and someone would call me back (I was skeptical). Tired of farting around I drove to the post office before going to work, almost making my husband late for an appointment (we have one car).

I was able to pick up the "article too large for box" that had been held for seven days (big sigh of relief) and was directed to a second service window to speak with someone about the sticky key. BUT-I was confronted with a "window closed" sign, which seemed odd at 10:30 a.m. Peeved, I moved to the regular service line until a staffer walking by asked what I needed. She pointed me to a specific clerk at the main counter. As I was waiting for the customer ahead of me to finish his business, my cell phone rang. It wasn't my husband calling to find out when I was coming home. It was a post office supervisor calling me back regarding the sticky lock complaint(!). He was pleasant and when he heard I was in the lobby, he came right out.

The supervisor tried my key and immediately had trouble with the box. Application of WD-40 didn't help. Using a different key didn't work; it jammed in the lock. Last resort: change the lock. By now I needed to leave. He handed me two new keys and said, "the next time you come in, the lock will be changed." He said to just return any other old keys. I thanked him and left. I also suggested to another staffperson that they update the business hours on their web site.

Kudos to the staff of the main post office for good customer service. Unfortunately, sometimes my local post office is just the opposite, like the time clerk number two, moving ever-so-glacially, decided to take a lunch break when there were 10+ people still in line.

Overall, the postal service works. If the price of a stamp keeps going up and letter-writing keeps going down, perhaps the USPS could make money by delivering email (offering ISP services). Why not?

My Couch Smells Like Coffee

2009-11-18T05:25:49Z

And other (Mis)Adventures in Computerland.

Last week: Brought Toshiba laptop into repair shop because it decided to stop recognizing/booting from the battery. Bought a new battery and even though it appeared to be charging, the computer still wouldn’t boot up on battery power. Unplug it and it instantly shuts off. Turns out both batteries are good and the motherboard needs to be replaced. Would have considered messing with it myself if it wasn’t still under warranty. I wonder if this is related to the fall off the couch (see below). Using netbook in the meantime, hope to pick the Toshiba up on Thursday. (You can do a lot on a netbook).

Last month: Brought same Toshiba laptop into same repair shop after it fell off the couch (ouch) and the wireless switch broke off. Unfortunately, it was set to OFF, not ON, and could not be turned on via the keyboard. Since it was under warranty, the repair shop set the wireless switch to the “on” position (decided I didn’t really need the toggle). Now the wifi can be turned off and on via the keyboard.

It was my cat’s fault. If Inky hadn’t gotten stuck in a space too small for her behind the couch, I wouldn’t have rearranged the furniture.

Last week at work: Slow clunky computer (could barely run MS Word and took 10 minutes to log into the SIrius Satellite Radio site via Firefox) was replaced with a faster, newer PC.

Today at work: Booted up the computer and YIKES! They loaded MSWord 2007. Did pretty well typing labels in spite of the fact I’d never used it before. There needs to be an easier way to copy text and paste it as plain text. Microsoft needs to bring back the “white text, blue background” option. And can someone tell me why they took away the pulldown menus? WTF?!

Two days ago: Narrowly avoided spilling coffee on my laptop. Instead it went all over the couch and my clothes. Would rather change my clothes than install a new keyboard again.

Two weeks ago: Started running out of space on my two Maxtor 1TB external drives that I use to store digital photos (one primary, one backup). Seagate has merged with Maxtor. Having had good luck with Seagate/Maxtor in the past, I purchased a couple of 2TB Seagate expansion drives online. They arrived last week, and I dutifully set about copying ALL my digital photos to a brand spanking new 2TB drive. Just one minor annoyance: the drive hummed very loudly, very sporadically, similar to the hum fluorescent bulbs make.

I should mention that I’ve had Maxtor drives for several years that are still going strong. Usage has not been 24/7, but it has been on a regular basis.

Today: After four or five days of backing up digital/scanned photos from the last decade and a half (and before), just as I finished copying the 2009s, the Seagate drive started clicking like a robotic cricket. This would go on for about 10 seconds, then stop, then start up again sporadically. It didn’t seem to matter if the drive was being accessed or idle. The humming was annoying, but the clicking was even more distracting. While the drive seemed to be working nominally, the extreme noisiness made me wary. I did not expect it—the Maxtor drives are fairly quiet, with the exception of one that makes a sound similar to a quietly babbling brook when it is accessed. A search online revealed that the noise issue with the later Seagate drives was somewhat common. Some people claimed the clicking was a sign of impending data loss and their drives did not last long; some claimed that, according to Seagate, it was normal for the drive, because the larger drives more frequently aligned their drive-heads in order to minimize damage from being dropped or moved. The Seagate technician I spoke with today confirmed this and suggested I hook up the second drive I bought to see if it also made noise (it immediately started clicking). In response to my question, he said they hadn’t received complaints about noisy drives, but reading computer forums about Seagate drives tells me otherwise. The technician also said that what sounds noisy to me probably wouldn’t sound noisy to him, but he’s not me. He’s probably half-deaf already from years of playing X-Box. I called back, obtained an RMA number, and shipped the drives back via FedEx Ground for a refund. At the very least, Seagate customer service was helpful and their return process was uncomplicated. I next went to Office Depot and purchased three portable Verbatim Clone USB drives, 500GB each. They are a little slower, but more portable and extremely quiet. My cat Selene is enjoying ~~the boxes they came in~~ her new toys.

Dear Santa Geek: I want an external USB drive of at least 2TB that is the size of a digital camera and can fit in my pocket. It shouldn’t be that hard to do. A 2TB drive needn’t be large enough to slap Bill Gates unconscious. Get your nerdiest elves on it.

Kentucky Fried Colonel

2009-11-10T04:50:42Z

I see the local KFC has raised their prices slightly, no doubt due to the bad economy:

Either that or the Colonel has outsourced his chicken farming to the Tibetan Plateau (allegedly the remotest location on Earth).

Philadelphia Foray

2009-11-05T17:49:19Z

I haven’t figured out which is worse: a city with a great public transit system (Philadelphia) that goes on strike, or a city with a lousy public transit system (Baltimore) that never goes on strike. Neither is helpful to the commuter.

Et Tu, Caesar

2009-11-05T06:28:22Z

While I am not usually a food critic, I am compelled to comment on the dinner I experienced this evening at the Marriott Courtyard Downtown in Philadelphia, PA. Tim (my husband) and I are here because he is attending a criminology conference. Not being a criminologist, I am accompanying him, doing touristy stuff, and visiting friends.

We ate dinner in the hotel restaurant-cum-sports bar this evening. At the same time, the World Series was being televised (Yankees vs. Phillies). When I got up to bring our check to the cashier, I was amused by the fact that every male patron in the place, including Tim, wherever he was sitting, was glued to the TV set above the bar (the Phillies lost BTW). I even changed seats with Tim so he could watch, and he doesn’t follow baseball regularly.

But, as they say, I digress. I ordered Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. I couldn’t understand why the chicken tasted fishy to me, and finally asked the server if they had accidentally substituted tuna fish instead of chicken. She sad no, it was chicken, but it probably tasted fishy because the dressing was really anchovy dressing(!). Tim said he has read that some people make Caesar Salad dressing with anchovies, but I have never heard of that. My salad was basically iceberg lettuce garnished with a few overlarge tomato wedges, topped with very little dressing and something that looked like chicken and tasted like tuna fish. If a restaurant is going to include fish-flavored dressing in a salad, it should advertise it as such in the menu. Caesar salad with grilled chicken should NOT taste fishy. If I wanted fish on my Caesar Salad, I would have ordered the grilled salmon topping. In that case, I bet someone would complain that it tasted like chicken.

We also had “dinner rolls” that were so hard that I asked the waitress (giving the restaurant the benefit of the doubt) if they were actually breadsticks. She said no and ended up taking them away. They had obviously been sitting around for a long time and were not fresh. If I had thrown one at Tim in a fit of pique, it might have inflicted severe damage. The rolls in question were better suited for hockey practice than ingestion. It’s a shame, because the turkey pesto sandwich I got for lunch from this very same restaurant earlier in the day was pretty good.

It is also a stupid idea to have the same person tending bar and serving food. The restaurant, while not too crowded this evening, was still understaffed, to the detriment of all. One person to tend bar and serve food and one person to bus tables is ridiculous in a downtown hotel restaurant that regularly hosts conferences. This is not fair to patrons or staff.

On another note, I guess all Marriotts are not created equal. The Hunt Valley Marriott that hosts Balticon boasts free parking, not valet parking for $45/day. Maybe it is a space issue in Philadelphia. The Hunt Valley Inn is out in the Baltimore suburbs, surrounded by huge industrial parks.

One thing that seems consistent are the carpets. The Hunt Valley Inn’s carpets look like they were designed by an interior decorator who was on a bad LSD trip. The carpet in the Philadelphia Courtyard Marriott restaurant is not as bad, but is still way too busy.

Tomorrow I’m planning to check out the Reading Terminal for lunch.

Thought/Poem for the Day

2009-10-07T02:42:20Z

Work

Filing in a cold windowless room
that smells like feet,
listening to "Muskrat Love"
on an mp3 player.

There is more to life than this,
even at $15.90 an hour.

Toidy Cat: Selene Makes a Splash! (I Couldn't Resist).

2009-10-01T04:05:41Z

Selene is fascinated by water. She won't swim but she often splashes water out of her water bowl all over the kitchen floor. Tim heard her splashing water out of the toilet--this is the first time we've ever seen her do this--and I grabbed my camera. I was trying unsuccessfully not to laugh the whole time. Will have to remember to keep the lid down when the toilet is not in use. (Thanks to my friend Mark for inspiring the slight title change).

Note: I should point out that this isn't something we let her do all the time--this was the first time in the 10 years we've had her that she showed any interest in playing IN the porcelain goddess.

3:30 a.m.

2009-09-24T07:59:54Z

So it's just past 3:30 a.m. and I'm still awake, mostly because I don't have to go to work tomorrow. So far it's been a sort of productive week.

I've just finished putting a bunch of stuff on Ebay while watching Star Trek: the Next Generation. Unfortunately I accidentally listed the same item three times while trying to revise the listing by adding a second category and had to delete the duplicates.

Spent enough time filing at work today that my back hurt when I came home. Might look into portable satellite radio or mp3 player to listen to while at work.

Had a productive weekend at the BSFS Clubhouse doing a final count of every last Balticon t-shirt for sale. There are 284 of them. After bagging, sorting, and labeling them by convention and size at various times over the last 8 months (with the kind help of other BSFS members), it felt more like 2,084. Maybe some will sell next weekend at the Baltimore Book Festival.

Tim's sinuses were acting up last weekend so we didn't do much. I ran errands and went to the BSFS Clubhouse. Bought some household odds and ends at Ikea. Hopefully this weekend will be better. Would like to get out with my camera-bought a new Tamron 18-270 mm lens for it a few weeks ago (Canon EOS Rebel Ti DSLR).

Broke down and purchased an ASUS EEE PC 1005HAB netbook that was on sale at BestBuy. With the gift card I got for my birthday from my stepbrother, my cost was just under $200. This netbook has a maximum screen resolution of 1024X768, enough to run programs such as Canon's Digital Photo Professional, so one can convert raw photo files to jpeg. Useful while on vacation and not wanting to lug the larger Toshiba notebook. Yes, a netbook can run Photoshop CS3. Don't expect warp speed, but I've found it to be more than adequate. Spent the last two days loading programs.

Turning Circle gathering Friday night. Will probably ask my mother if I can come visit Saturday instead of Friday. Didn't see her last week as we were both getting over colds.

Had a condo association meeting in my building last night. It was lively, to say the least. At least there seems to be more interest among residents to attend meetings than in past years.

*Poopy Neighbor Alert*: The apartment next door REALLY IS EMPTY at the moment except for the occasional contractor. Have heard rumors that they are planning to sell it. May the gods smile on us all.

What a geeky post this is. Should probably go to bed soon if I can tear myself away from the computer, which is misnamed. It should really be called an entertainment center. Now that I think of it, someone did call me a luddite once because I preferred a PC over a mac.

A Letter to Congressman Joe Wilson

2009-09-11T18:08:21Z

Unfortunately, at the moment his website is down due to "unusually high traffic." When it comes back up, I will be sure to contact him directly.

Congressman Wilson:

Shame on you for an "apology" that appears to be offered without sincerity and merely for political expediency. Shame on you for capitalizing upon the media blitz surrounding your "liar" outburst and subsequent "apology" as a campaign fundraising tool. Shame on you for portraying yourself as the "victim" when you are the bully. The true "victims" are the people in this country who can't afford or are denied health insurance. I do applaud you for effectively demonstrating your true colors to everyone in America: you obviously lack the compassion, thoughtfulness, civility, dignity and intelligence necessary to be an effective public servant. The other real "victims" here are your own constituents who are stuck with you, at least until the next election.

Sincerely,
An American

My Cat Takes a " Leap of Faith"

2009-09-10T03:54:04Z

Maryland State Fair 2009 Night Photos

2009-09-08T23:34:54Z

Went back to the fair at night to photograph the lights:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157622269426694/

Cat Antics

2009-09-02T14:46:48Z

Was just sitting here now reading LJ when Inky, our black cat, decided to explore the space between the sofa and the wall that I thought I had blocked off with a box. She managed to get inside a space that was a little too small for her (and she is a big kitty). I had to move the box, a lamp, and a shelf (luckily on wheels) and lift her out. Now I have to figure out a better place to put the lamp.

Yesterday morning we were awakened by banging on the bedroom window. We figured it wasn't our idiot neighbors, because their unit is currently empty. There is a tree outside the window that sometimes has lots of bird activity (it's one of those evergreen-type-trees that is green all year round). Our white cat, Selene, was attracted by the avian acrobatics and, whenever a bird flew close to the window, she leaped up toward it. This resulted in repeated banging against the window. Luckily she is a lightweight cat (unlike Inky); I at first thought she was trying to jump up on the bookcase. In order to get some sleep, I took temporary (desperate) measures and taped garbage bags at the base of the window blocking her eye level, hoping to discourage further kitty acrobatics. I don't think she could break the window (she weighs less than 10 lbs.), but I don't want her to hurt herself and I don't want to take any chances. I'm planning on replacing the garbage bags with something more decorative (maybe aquarium-backing) that will still block her view and looks better than white garbage bags.

Anybody else have a cat who does that? Selene is most definitely a climber and a jumper. We bought a 6 ft-high kitty condo/scratching post to: 1) encourage Inky to get more exercise; 2) encourage Selene to climb somewhere other than on the bookcases or my computer desk.

Maryland State Fair 2009 photos

2009-09-02T06:16:50Z

Photoset: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157622212836172/

Slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157622212836172/show/

The Ultimate Tchotchke

2009-08-28T17:42:15Z

Seen in the car ahead of me today while stopped at a light: a bobblehead Buddha on the dashboard.

Hal Haag memorial slide show

2009-08-28T02:11:34Z

Lovely slide show put together by GCOM (Games Club of MD), shown at the recent Hal Haag remembrance events held at the BSFS clubhouse. Now on the web, courtesy of Dale Arnold.

http://www.bsfs.org/hal-slide-show.htm

Stop Bitchin' About It!

2009-08-26T04:25:57Z

Hiliarious, might not be a bad idea (open to debate I guess). Kinda like diapers for dogs. Makes me glad I have a cat. Although, on the feline end of the spectrum, there are the (alleged) self-cleaning and self-flushing litter boxes. And there's always someone who claims to have a method for teaching kitty to use the toilet.

Down With Socialism! (Read and Become Enlightened).

2009-08-26T03:16:01Z

From a friend of mine. Posted with permission.

Here's a growing list to highlight the services some people likely use on a regular (or as-needed) basis, but want to deny other people:

So, you say you don't like socialism? You don't want the government running anything? Wellll....

- Don't say you honor and support our military. The military (even including private, outsourced companies like Blackwater) are all paid and supplied by the federal government.

- Don't call 911 for a medical, fire or police emergency. Emergency services are largely provided for by public servants using government-provided equipment and training.

- Don't drive on a federal or state or local highway. You can only drive on roads built and maintained by private companies. You'll really have to do this as you will not have a driver's license which is a product of a government agency.

- Don't buy any food that passed an FDA inspection. You have to grow your own fruits and vegetables and raise your own cattle, pigs, chickens, etc. Same goes for any medications.

- Don't visit a national, state, or local park and especially don't participate in any activities there (fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, etc. that would require further expenditures for licenses.)

- Don't be in a position where you would need a public defender. They are paid for via public dollars.

- Don't expect or ask for the prosecution against someone who did you harm, directly or indirectly. The judicial system, you see, is a government-run agency paid for by our tax dollars and other fees.

- Don't visit a public library and use the resources there as tax dollars bought those books, PCs, etc.

- Don't put your children in public schools (elementary, high school, or college). The elementary and high schools are free via tax dollars. Teachers are paid via tax dollars.

- Don't apply for Medicaid if you become disabled or indigent and need assistance such as food stamps, medical care, utility bill assistance or job training. After all, you don't want other Americans who have no insurance to have it paid for via tax dollars, why should you get to take part in that system?

- Don't accept Medicare after you retire and no longer have any type of private health insurance.

- Don't accept any Social Security payment after you no longer work or a spouse has died. Live off of your private investments or the charity of friends and family.

- Don't apply for a small business loan from any government agency. Where do you think that money would come from anyway?

- Don't ask the government for help in getting child support payments from a deadbeat spouse.

- Don't apply for unemployment if you should happen to lose your job.

- Don't mail a letter via the USPS and contact every single entity that would otherwise use the USPS for mailing you items to have them sent via UPS, FEDEX, or electronic delivery.

- Don't visit a museum that was built or is maintained or operated by any government agency.

- Don't ask for government help during a natural disaster.

- Don't use electricity if you live in rural areas that would not have power without federal laws requiring utility companies to provide power even to areas that are unprofitable.

- Don't fly because the air traffic controllers and airlines are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Safety Administration.

- Don't eat at restaurants inspected by health inspectors.

- Don't demand the government build fences along national borders. Buy land there and build it yourself.

- Don't obey orders to evacuate from the path of storms reported by the National Weather Service.

- Don't vote for a candidate who takes public financing for his/her campaign.

- Don't take off from work on a federal holiday that isn't a religious holiday for you.

- Don't file for Workman's Compensation if you are injured on the job, especially if that business is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Organization.

- Don't hunt or fish on public lands that require a license.

- Don't file civil lawsuits, small claims court, torts, divorces, adoption, child custody, name changes, malpractice, personal injury, landlord-tenant disputes, probating your parents' estates, acquiring guardianship of minors or incompetent adults, contract disputes.....

- Don't send your kid to school. Put 'em to work in a dangerous, hazardous factory or coal mine, because of Federal Child Labor laws.

- Don't ask the boss for minimum wage, overtime pay over 40 hours, potty breaks, lunch breaks, non-hazardous working conditions, or special accommodations for health problems under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

- Don't let the EEOC sue on your behalf for sex, age or racial discrimination.

- Don't use handicapped parking spaces or ramps if you are disabled, since those are mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

- Don't buy gasoline at a station where the government regulated the purity and contents of your gasoline.

- Don't buy a car with federally mandated mileage standards, airbags, seatbelts, and crash resistance technology.

- Don't call "time" in order to set your watch or clock.

- Don't ever apply for government grants for starting a business, going to college, etc.

- Don't use the internet. It was invented and built by DARPA using tax money.

- Don't use the IRS deductions for health care expenses, dependent care and/or child care.

- Don't flush your toilets, drain your sinks or showers and burden our public waste water systems.

- Don't keep your savings at banks insured by the FDIC.

- Don't buy guns that require waiting periods, permits, licenses, and/or other documentation.

- Don't participate in the American capitalist economy that was just bailed out using a socialist grant.

Got that? Keep this list handy in case you encounter anti-socialist nutjobs. I have gotten tired of all the rants I hear from people that fail to engage their brain before running their mouths. Feel encouraged to spread the love when necessary.

Photos from BSFS Hal Haag Memorial Gathering

2009-08-25T06:48:47Z

Photoset: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157622012424495/

Slideshow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157622012424495/show/

Neighbors From Hell

2009-08-20T02:58:38Z

Well, it appears that my deviant neighbors may finally be gone, at least for the next few months. The druggie son's going to "rehab" in another state; the mother is going to an assisted living facility (appears to have Alzheimer's); and the son's druggie friends posing as her "caregivers" got the boot. Locks have been changed on the door, and according to the management, no one is supposed to be in the apartment for the next few months, except the maintenance man to periodically check faucets, toilets, etc. While I don't wish ill on them (bad karma for sure), these people have been a pain in the posterior since we moved into our building in the early 1990s. Living next door to them has been sheer misery and every day I have asked the gods to PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE have them move. I hope my neighbor gets the help he needs, even though I don't like him. He and his druggie paparazzi have been an unending source of petty theft/crime (e.g. stealing residents' bikes and pulling the fire alarm), minor drug dealing, harassing/panhandling other residents, shady people coming and going at all hours, occasional drug paraphernalia in the parking lot, our neighbor's scrungy friends banging on his window trying to get his attention, noise (whenever they argue the f-word gets tossed around like a football), cigarette smoke through the vents, not paying bills, and just being an all-round nuisance. For the last two years their apartment has been a flophouse for assorted junkies posing as "caregivers"; the one guy was in and out of jail like tourists in a four-star hotel. The owners finally got cited for having too many people living there. Maybe our condo association can make an offer on their place. On one side of me is a man who we've fondly nicknamed "the Hobbit" because he is reclusive and quiet and keeps to himself (I might make him cookies for Yule as a thank-you); on the other side are the Neighbors From Hell (aka the "cockroaches" because once they are there you can't get rid of them). Anyway, today I can't believe my luck.

I should add that, in spite of a few "rumpfaces" (my husband's colorful term), most of the people in my building are great. Other than the idiots next door (and our resident busybody--that's another story), we've made friends in our building and generally like living there.

'Choosing Civility' in the Restroom

2009-08-12T17:49:34Z

OK, I wish someone would explain to me why some people seem to think it is perfectly normal to carry on a cell phone conversation in the bathroom while doing their natural duty. I wonder if men do it as often as women. I admit to taking some perverse pleasure today in loudly flushing the toilet while overhearing one side of what sounded like a business conversation in the next stall. Personally I think it is rude and insulting to the person on the other end of the line. What if the President or Secretary of State talked to world leaders while using the "First Restroom," so to speak? Telecommuting is one thing, but it shouldn't be confused with telepooping. This is one of my pet peeves. I wonder what Miss Manners thinks.

Follow-up to Ben Cardin

2009-08-12T05:48:01Z

Dear Senator Cardin,

I have emailed you before about health care reform. Please continue to stand firm on enacting the eight health insurance consumer protections as outlined by the President (http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/). Please stand firm on the inclusion of a public option, with the ultimate goal being single-payer insurance coverage.

I would suggest you announce at the start of your next town meeting on health care reform that the purpose is discussion and civilized discourse. Those who attend for the sole purpose of disrupting the meeting with disorderly or dangerous conduct should be warned and then removed from the premises if they do not desist. Please don't be intimidated by a bunch of naysayers and idiots.* These "plants" bussed in by right-wingers and the health care industry aren't your constituents who vote for you. Real health care reform should benefit all the people, not health care CEOs. A country as rich as ours should be able to spend money and compassion on the less fortunate. In the end we all benefit.

*In a word: L.O.S.E.R.S. (this part not sent to Cardin).

It amazes me that the people who will most benefit from health care reform (the poor, the elderly, those with no, lousy, or too expensive health insurance) are the ones fighting against their own best interest.

Support Single Payer for States

2009-08-04T04:13:38Z

Another message to Congressman Paul Sarbanes.

Please vote to retain the Kucinich amendment to H.R. 3200 that would allow states to establish their own single-payer health care plans.

I am a supporter of the National Organization for Women which, since 1993, has supported a single-payer health care plan as the best way to meet women's health needs, while covering everyone in the U.S. at affordable rates. States must be allowed to adopt single-payer plans to bring down spiraling health care costs and to meet the needs of all their residents.
This would ensure coverage for all Americans. No one should be denied coverage for preexisting conditions or be forced into bankruptcy due to insurmountable medical bills. It would stop the insurance industry from putting profits before people. It would bring down costs and help the economy. Health insurance is a right, not a privilege.

I will be watching your vote on this critically-important issue and hope that you will support this amendment.

More info here.

Health Care Reform, Round 2

2009-07-30T04:08:33Z

Latest message to my Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, and Congressman John Sarbanes:

On health care reform legislation, I would urge you and your Senate colleagues to stand firm on enacting the eight health insurance consumer protections as outlined by the President (http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/). Please stand firm on the inclusion of a public option, with the ultimate goal being single-payer insurance coverage. To help pay for it, repeal the Bush tax cuts, and tax the wealthiest Americans in the top 1 and 2 percent income bracket. Why not also fund it through a "sin tax" on cigarettes, soda, and alcohol? Or through the inclusion of sales tax on internet sales (such as Amazon.com)?

Thank you for all your hard work on this and other issues.

Reply from Congressman Sarbanes:

August 3, 2009

Thank you for contacting me to express your views about health care policy. As the Congress enters into this historic debate over health reform, I have heard from thousands of people who care deeply about this issue and want to highlight specific areas of concern to them. I appreciate this input and have tried to put it to good use as we consider various reform proposals.

America is home to the world's best doctors and nurses, the most advanced medical technologies, and scientists that are on the cutting edge of research and development. There are many things about our health care system that we should be proud of and fight to retain. But rising health care costs are making quality care less affordable - squeezing American families and businesses. Americans pay more for care than any other citizens in the world, but we are not the healthiest.

It is time for us to create a uniquely American health system that builds on what works and fixes what is broken. We must make health care more efficient and affordable so that all Americans have the opportunity to receive quality care. And we must put doctors and patients back in charge of our health care decisions - not insurance companies.

In a recent speech to the American Medical Association, President Obama offered his own observations about the current state of health care in America. He said, "When it comes to the cost of our health care, then, the status quo is unsustainable. Reform is not a luxury, but a necessity. I know there has been much discussion about what reform would cost, and rightly so. This is a test of whether we - Democrats and Republicans alike - are serious about holding the line on new spending and restoring fiscal discipline. But let there be no doubt - the cost of inaction is greater. If we fail to act, premiums will climb higher, benefits will erode further, and the rolls of uninsured will swell to include millions more Americans."

As the health reform debate continues, the overriding goal for me is, and always will be, providing the opportunity for every American to access quality care. The debate over how we expand coverage has received the most focus and it is very important that we get it right when we develop new insurance options for patients. I will continue to advocate for a system that gives Americans more choices including a "public option." I strongly support a public option health plan because I believe enhanced competition in the health care market will reduce cost and promote innovation.

But there are several other issues receiving much less national attention that I view as equally important to the success of our reform efforts. I have been particularly focused on ensuring that we have an adequate number of doctors and nurses to support our new health system; bringing a new emphasis to primary and preventive care so that we can catch health problems before patients become very sick and reduce cost; and finding ways to bring health services to the patient through "place-based health care." I have introduced legislation to support each of these goals and have worked to make them a part of the broader health care reform debate. Additional information about each bill can be accessed through my www.sarbanes.house.gov/health.

As a member of both the Health Subcommittee and the full Energy and Commerce Committee, I have participated in scores of hearings on all aspects of our health care system. In late June, making use of what we learned in these hearings, the Congressional panels that claim jurisdiction over various elements of health care policy - Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor - released a tri-committee discussion draft for comment and revision. More recently, the Chairmen of these three committees have introduced legislation that builds on the discussion draft and incorporates ideas that were generated in response to that document. I am pleased that several of my legislative proposals discussed above have been incorporated into the broader health reform bill. The committee has now begun formal consideration of the legislation and it is my hope that we will be able to report a bill to the full House of Representatives in the near future. For more information about the bill, go to the Energy and Commerce Committee here: www.energycommerce.house.gov.

I understand and respect that this is a very personal issue for many Americans. In the end, I believe it is possible to make intelligent reforms to our health care system that expand coverage and improve quality of care. I also believe there are many areas where we can reduce cost by eliminating waste and making our system more efficient. The status quo is unsustainable and I am convinced that long term economic security will be elusive until we fix our health care system. I look forward to your continued feedback as the process unfolds in the coming weeks and months.

Sincerely,

John Sarbanes

Member of Congress

Whoops!

2009-07-26T06:48:23Z

To explain: I accidentally used the wrong setting (time lapse instead of standard mode) on my Canon digital camera. One slip of a finger. One hour of carefully-shot video, complete with sound (or so I thought) now compressed neatly into something that more resembles a Three Stooges tour of Bavaria.