Lady Alice apples

I bought three Lady Alice apples Saturday for $1.49/lb. A fruit website describes them: "Lady Alice was discovered as a chance seedling in a Washington orchard so we don't know its parentage. Flavor profile: Sweet - with a hint of tartness. Heirloom crunchy, dense flesh." I had one for breakfast, and it has a very nice flavor and texture. Although I'm a Honey Crisp junky, Lady Alice is wonderful.

Remember Johnny Appleseed,
All ye who love the apple;
He served his kind by word and deed,
In God's grand greenwood chapel.
William Henry Venable (1836-1920), Johnny Appleseed

I also made an apple dessert from some apples I've had around for awhile--a Granny Smith, a Fuji, and a Pink Lady. I sliced them, added flour, sugar and cinnamon while they cooked, like a pie filling. Then I made a Jello sugar-free pudding cheesecake flavor filling and put it a graham cracker crust. When the apple filling cooled, I put that on top. I have no idea what this will taste like. It just came to me when I realized I didn't have the right vegetables to make vegetable stock, but there I was in the kitchen, in the mood.

Defaulted Loans May Haunt Seniors

According to an article in the WSJ this morning by Ellen E. Schultz, Congress (that would be Democrats, btw, who won Congress in 2006 in case you've forgotten) tacked on a nasty little thing to the 2008 Farm Bill. I've read quickly through the highlights of the bill, and can't find the specific provision, so I'll take her word for it.

"A provision in the 2008 Farm Bill lifted the ten-year statute of limitations on the government's ability to withhold Social Security benefits in collecting debts other than student loans—for which the statute of limitations was lifted in 1997—and income taxes, where the limit remains 10 years.

This means that a person who defaulted on a small-business loan in 1995, for example, and who is receiving Social Security could be notified that his benefits may be reduced each month until the debt, with interest, fees, and penalties, is paid. The Treasury can withhold 15% of the benefit, though it can't be reduced to below $750. Tax debts have no floor.

The change will add more than $6 billion to the $75 billion in delinquent debt individuals owe the government, according to the Financial Management Service, the Treasury's debt collection unit. Defaulted Loans May Haunt Seniors - WSJ.com

Imagine the interest, fees and penalties the Treasury will tack onto that loan you defaulted on 15-20 years ago, and then see your Social Security check go "poof" right before your eyes! Wow. Even if you challenge the validity of the government's claim, you can spend thousands and thousands fighting the claim and still be impoverished by using up your savings. And you folks trust the government with health care? This is a change in the law--and how many people were paying attention to a farm bill? This will impoverish God knows how many seniors. But not to worry. Obama will tax the rest of us for some new program so he can claim to rescue them from the impoverishment the Democrats bestowed on them!

Also, lookout if you are defaulting on a government backed loan right now. Especially, if retirement is coming up. If they can take your social security to pay it off, they can take your government pension too.

How to be mislead on budget and policy

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is one of three left wing think tanks funded by the Democracy Alliance which is funded by George Soros. The other two are the Center for American Progress and the Economic Policy Institute. They are all non-profits, but not non-partisan. I just read a March 5 report by the CBPP which advises that we’d be in much worse trouble if it weren’t for ARRA! Woot! President and Chief Executive Officer of Center for American Progress is John Podesta, who served as chief of staff to Bill Clinton. One of the directors of the Economic Policy Institute is Andy Stern, who runs the SEIU, who drafted and designed the health care bill to benefit unions and is a regular White House visitor and confidant. His is a global labor movement. These folks have more agendas, plans, white papers, and tax payer hustles than you can read in a month of Sundays. There's hardly a word in English they can't turn upside down, inside out and squishy. And they have handsome, beautifully designed web pages that sound very patriotic and reasonable. Don’t be fooled. They are all Marxists. Capital M. Their grandiose plans have all been tried and found wanting before.

30 days or your ignorance back

Democrats are taking a huge risk asking their followers to listen to conservative hosts on talk radio and call in their scripted opinions. Right now, the snippets they hear are filtered through the liberal "truther" filter. Sliced, diced, and canned. What will happen when they catch the entire piece and realize they've been lied to?

"Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee, has launched an online site to help President Obama’s supporters infiltrate largely conservative talk radio.

Visitors to the On the Air site are provided with the call-in number of a talk show that discusses political topics, and the option to listen to the show live. They are urged to phone in when the topic of healthcare comes up. They can also click on a button to move to another show.

“The fate of health reform has been a focus of debate in living rooms and offices, on TV, and online — and on talk radio,” the introduction to the online tool states.

“And since millions of folks turn to talk radio as a trusted source of news and opinions, we need to make sure [Organizing for America] supporters are calling in with a pro-reform message.”" Newsmax

What does public education really cost?

A lot more than you're told. CATO figures the per pupil cost in Washington DC is $28,170, and in Los Angeles $25,208. Those aren't the figures reported, if they are reported at all. Are you getting your money's worth?

Dementia is a leading cause of death in the U.S.

That sounds really scary unless you realize that our research and technology have extended the lives of people who would have died of different diseases, and safer roads and automobiles have prevented thousands of deaths. Dick Cheney and Bill Clinton for instance have both been saved several times of dying of a heart attack. All that means is you live long enough to die of something else. Deaths from heart disease, stroke, prostate and breast cancer all decreased between 2000 and 2006, but Alzheimer's (about 70% of dementia cases) was up 47% in the same time period. And I doubt that too many actually die from dementia, but from something related like pressure sores, kidney infections, or pneumonia from aspirating food.

The February 10 issue of JAMA has an article on using feeding tubes with nursing home residents with "advanced cognitive impairment" i.e., dementia [Hospital characteristics associated with feeding tube placement in nursing home residents with advanced cognitive impairment," vol 303, no.6, p.544-550]. Using feeding tubes in patients with advanced dementia does not improve survival. So why is it done and why do the rates vary from hospital to hospital? That's what this study was supposed to explain. I'm not sure I understood all the details, but I did see that only 5.8% of hospitalized nursing home residents had an order to forego artificial hydration and nutrition despite the fact most nursing home residents say they would rather die than live in dementia with a feeding tube. (I'm not referring to people like Terri Schiavo who didn't actually need a feeding tube and wasn't dying--she was inconvenient for a husband who had received a very large monetary settlement and had started another family.) Also, I didn't see a distinction between hydration and feeding in this article. (Dehydration is an extremely painful death.) Also, it appears that feeding tubes don't solve any of the problems like pneumonia or pressure sores, which actually are the cause of death. The research also demonstrated that practices vary widely among hospitals and that black and Hispanic nursing home residents were more likely to undergo a feeding tube insertion. So is that more aggressive care or a reflection of how indigent people are treated?

As the authors of this study comment, the results raise more questions than they answered. For instance, the rates decreased during the 8 year study. But one thing I know, conservatives unhappy with Obamacare shouldn't use reluctance to use feeding tubes or counseling about preferences as a sign of an attempt to dispatch the elderly. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that feeding tubes help those suffering the end stages of dementia.

Shame on the Christian Science Monitor

For this headline: "John Patrick Bedell: Did right-wing extremism lead to shooting?
Authorities have identified John Patrick Bedell as the gunman in the Pentagon shooting. He appears to have been a right-wing extremist with virulent antigovernment feelings. "

He was a registered Democrat; hated Bush; was a 9-11 truther; had numerous drug charges; and probably was insane. And I don't blame all the craziness and conspiracy stuff from the left for his behavior--he made his own decisions, unincumbered by political views. I think he was on the level with a woman I met about 40 years ago at a community meeting. We were all sitting around discussing an event we were planning, and she stopped, looked at me and said, "I know you're all watching me, that you know what's going on with my husband." We didn't even know her, where she lived, or who she was married to. We were shocked. So I put him at that level of "politics." His parents were concerned and had notified the authorities when he disappeared. But just like the Stack case (flew the plane into an IRS building) the media jumped on a chance to smear the peaceful, grass roots movement known as the Tea Party, a group they first ridiculed, then marginalized, and now that they see the movement's strength in less than a year, they are fear mongering. Even after the truth about Bedell came out, I heard the chattering heads on the left cable shows speculating in code words. Really, how do you people even turn those shows on? Your view of history and current events are totally screwed up.

As Ben Shapiro says: "This mirrors Noam Chomsky far more than Rush Limbaugh; meanwhile, the media is attempting to play it off as some sort of legitimate “right-wing” perspective. Real conservatives look at the 9/11 truthers as complete dolts, and complete left-wing dolts at that. This guy was more Van Jones (a fellow 9/11 truther) than John Boehner or Sarah Palin."

That aside: Do you really think Amazon.com should be releasing people's reading lists? Yes, it was all anti-Bush crazy stuff like what my public library stocks, but I still don't think it should be released to journalists.

Mind Your Own Damn Business Politics, a blog

Here's a blog with some well thought-out principles. I've only read a few of his entries, but he seems to stick with his plan. I particularly like points 7 and 8 of his 10 principles.

7. Everything has a cost. Government can only give to one group by taking resources from someone else. Therefore, be careful about taxing the other guy.
Example: Don’t decide that the rich person doesn’t need to buy that yacht unless you are willing to tell the people that build and maintain that yacht that they are not entitled to their jobs because the government has a better use for the rich person’s money.
8. Self sufficiency and personal accomplishments are good. Helping others is good when you give that help of your own free will. Using government to compel others to help with your cause is not good, no matter how good you believe your cause to be. The people you compel may have causes of their own. They certainly have needs.

I particularly believe that churches that take government money to run their array of "good works" from pre-schools, to lunch programs, to work training programs need to reconsider Christ's challenge to meet the needs of those less fortunate.

Principles of MYODB | Mind Your Own Damn Business Politics

Is Hawaii or Florida or New York or Georgia or Pennsylvania Home to the Next Scott Brown?

A New York Democrat, Eric Massa, is quitting--apparently there will be, or would have been, an investigation into harassing a male staffer. So that makes possibly special elections in New York's 29th, Florida's 19th, Hawaii's 1st, Pennsylvania's 12th and Georgia's 9th. Now if the Republicans just don't do something stupid like appointing or electing RINOs, we just might be able to stop Obama. And isn't this a handsome family behind their man in Hawaii? CHARLES KONG DJOU--according to his bio Djou is a French misspelling of his Chinese surname.

Is Hawaii Home to the Next Scott Brown? - Hip Hop Republican

Could Charlie Rangel be next? Anyone who replaced him would be an improvement, even another Democrat.

Vintage Aprons, Kitchen Aprons: Jessie Steele Hostess Aprons

The various times I've blogged about aprons here and my sewing blog, I've received a lot of hits. Women are looking for aprons bigger than a postage stamp that don't sag, bag, or make promises they can't keep. At Facebook today I see that the Tremont Goodie Shop in Upper Arlington Tremont Shopping Center is selling Jessie Steele aprons, so I just had to look it up and see if they have COVERAGE and aren't just a lick and a promise. Really cute. Could use a bit more across the bust, or are other women just neater cooks? My Mom really knew how to make an apron, and I still have this one after 50 years. Jessie Steele also has aprons for professional wear, like hair dressers.

Vintage Aprons, Kitchen Aprons: Jessie Steele Hostess Aprons

Pentagon shooter killed by police

36-year-old John Patrick Bedell of California is dead, killed by Pentagon police after he wounded them. Story from WaPo.



As an aside, I think Bob Orr used to be in Columbus.

Update: The Pentagon shooter had a history of drug problems and arrests, especially marijuana.

Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion: Anti-Tea Party Crowd Disappointed, Again

4 chords, 36 songs

Do the songs all sound alike to you? Maybe they are. Here's a fun way to review a little recent music history.



HT Opining Online

A bribe is a bribe is a bribe

Naming the brother of "undecided" Jim Matheson of Utah to a judgeship is just a bribe, no matter his brother's qualifications and credentials. This one really stinks.

Obama Now Selling Judgeships for Health Care Votes? | The Weekly Standard

The Two Kinds of Freedom

Both parties want you to be free. Democrats want you to be children. Republicans want you to be adults. The Cumberland Post: The Two Kinds of Freedom

Thursday Thirteen--13 things not on my bucket list

A bucket list supposedly contains things to do before you die (kick the bucket). I don't have one. But if I did, these would NOT be on it.

1. A primitive camping trip with no privy, hot showers, decent coffee or restaurant within miles.

2. Join the Peace Corps, Americorp or Vista or any other government based volunteer effort.

3. Attend a workshop on self-esteem, or any "do-over" workshops for that matter.

4. Update my resume and go back to work.

5. Publish a novel (writing it maybe, but not publishing).

6. Plant, hoe and harvest a garden.

7. Read the complete works of any author.

8. Public speaking.

9. Win the lottery.

10. Bathe the cat.

11. Ride a ferris wheel or roller coaster.

12. Appear on "What not to Wear" for $5,000 worth of new clothes.

13. Get a sun tan, or do anything sweaty.

Obamacare: Still a Threat to Your Life

The decimation of our health care system under Obamacare begins with government mandates, regulations, bureaucracies, and controls. There are close to 100 new health care bureaucracies, boards, commissions and programs in the proposed plan pushed by Obama, according to The American Spectator.

For just a little bipartisanship, ask yourself would either Bill Clinton or Dick Cheney, both political has-beens with limited usefulness to the current administration and a long history of heart problems treated with the lastest technology by the best doctors, be alive today if Obamacare were in full bloom?

Paygo?

A $10 billion emergency spending bill is now law despite the one-man campaign (Bunning R-Ky) to delay the measure. Senate Democrats could have brought the issue to a vote at any time, but chose not to--preferring to paint the Republicans as bad guys. Guess they don't remember all the mischief they caused with funding the troops.
The president was lauding Paygo
Wasn't it just days ago
Until a someone
A brave Republican-one
Stood and said no go.

Trying To ‘Alinsky’ The Tea Party Movement

I'm not aware of a single violent act resulting from the Tea Party Movement--but it certainly has brought out the wrath and violent tendencies of the left and the media.

"Using tactics straight out Saul Alinsky’s Rules For Radicals, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has released a scathing report attempting to isolate and ridicule the Tea Party movement. Filled with leftist talking points and blanket statements, the SPLC report, “Rage On The Right: The Year in Hate and Extremism,” asserts Tea Party alignment to “Timothy McVeigh and Olympics bomber Eric Rudolph,” “hate groups,” “furious anti-immigrant vigilante groups,”and ”so-called ‘Patriot’ groups.” In the eyes of the SPLC, the average American citizen is
“shot through with rich veins of radical ideas, conspiracy theories and racism.”
Southern Poverty Law Center Tries To ‘Alinsky’ The Tea Party Movement

In fact, the Tea Party movement may be the best thing to happen to both parties in this country, who have long ignored the ordinary citizen, who thought all he/she needed to do for representation was vote and send money to PACs and party machines. It's a new day, and as usual, those in power don't relinquish it easily.

I got an e-mail from Murray today who writes that he and his wife "went to the weekly Tri-county Tea Party meeting last night here in The Villages. The featured speaker was Jason Sager who is running for the House of Representatives in Florida's 5th district. There were about 160 pumped up people in attendance to hear Jason provide insight to the destruction that's taking place in our Federal government. The mood of the audience was unified towards returning our government back into the hands of WE THE PEOPLE. The usually silent seniors have had enough of the spending, the healthcare bill and sharing the wealth philosophy of the Obama administration. Meetings like this are happening all over our great country. We ought to thank Obama for waking us up so we can begin the "change" that we thought we were going to get!"

A bunch of pumped up Florida senior citizens, and the left is so afraid they're demonizing them. It's pathetic, but I guess something had to wake us up.

What smoking does for you, Mr. President

Makes you cough.

Makes you stink.

Makes you short of breath.

Makes you feel more stressed, especially if you can't get to a cigarette.

Burns up your discretionary money--$4.00 a pack, so if you are smoking 2 packs a day, that's a huge chunk. A trip to Europe after you're out of office.

Puts you more at risk for preventable diseases

heart disease
stroke
cancer of the larynx
cancer of the mouth
cancer of the bladder
cancer of the cervix
cancer of the pancreas
cancer of the kidneys

Opens you up to respiratory problems

bronchitis
emphysema
asthma attacks

to say nothing of yellow, stained teeth, periodontal disease and wrinkles.

And smokers tend to die 7 years earlier than non-smokers.

That said, and obviously I think it's a horrible, life diminishing habit, I think you guys in the government are going too far. "Promoting Health Through Tobacco Taxation" JAMA, Jan. 27, 2010. The very first tax you imposed in office was primarily on lower income people, by raising cigarette taxes.

Obama's colon

Isn't it terrible when the whole world knows the state of your colon? It seems that President Obama's recent clean bill of health has turned up high cholesterol, a stubborn addiction to cigarettes, and the fact that his doctors used a virtual colonoscopy. Colon cancer is the only cancer we can prevent with screening. The other types of screens find it after the fact; this one finds polyps which can be removed before they become a problem. There is a lot of colon cancer in my family, so I'm extremely grateful for colonoscopies, although the prep isn't pleasant (and it's the same for virtual and traditional methods).

While traditional colonoscopy can remove polyps at the same time that they are detected, a virtual exam cannot. However, only about 10% of patients will have polyps that require removal. On the other hand, a virtual exam has its own advantages. It is very safe and does not require sedation. The virtual exam is usually completed in about 15 minutes and patients can drive themselves home afterward or immediately return to work.

In 2008, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services, issued a report that found that there was not enough evidence to determine whether Medicare should cover virtual colonoscopies. Medicare based its decision not to cover the virtual exam on the task force's findings." . . . [and on the cost if additional problems were found]

Mark E. Klein, the author of this editorial, concludes that this "do as I say, not as I do" is why Americans don't trust their government with health care--read the whole article here.

Frankly, I think that 10% figure is enough of a reason to go with conventional procedure--if this runs in your family; it means the polyps are then removed immediately. With the virtual, a second procedure is necessary. Also, I don't believe the WSJ article mentioned that most insurance companies don't cover it--so why pick on Medicare? Gulp! Did I just defend the government?