F.O.O., I'm noting only 1 "this day in history" item associated with a subject near, dear, & vital to my heart, soul, & what I feel is the best part of me that keeps me sane living in a place I absolutely hate living in. Jack Kerouacdied 40 years ago today.
Knowing what I know about Jack & in talking to people who knew him, I think he'd be absolutely blown away by his popularity & the continuing sales of his books. At the time of his death, most of his best work was out of print due to bad sales, and he had very little money to speak of. Now, his estate is worth millions & is, sadly, still the subject of some rather ugly litigation between his nephew, Paul, and his last wife's family. I've said here before & again here now that while On the Road is the book that made Jack famous, my favorite Kerouac book is Big Sur. And, to my glorious happy - happy joy - joy "Beat" soul, I learned over the weekend that a documentary has been made about Big Sur! Yes, I will be ordering it later on this week. ;D Here's the trailer for it!
And, from Big Sur, some of the most beautiful words I've ever read that so spoke to me long before I "realized" I was Buddhist.
When the various experiences come to light in meditation, do not be proud and anxious to tell other people, else to Goddesses and Mothers you will bring annoyance and here I am a perfectly obvious fool American writer doing just that not only for a living (which I was always able to glean anyway from railroad and ship and lifting boards and sacks with humble hand) but because if I don't write what actually I see happening in this unhappy globe which is rounded by the contours of my deathskull I think I'll have been sent on earth by poor God for nothing --
Let's Countdown.
Here’s why Keith was in DC the other night!
#5 "Medicare for Everybody" - Ah yes, I remember those other 7 words well:
Keep your government hands off my Medicare!
Some House Dems are calling for the public option to be called Medicare E – as in Medicare for Everyone. The CBO said the House plan would come in at less than the $900 billion mandated by President Obama; the House plan contains a "robust" public option. In case there’s anyone reading this diary doubting the need for a public option for any reason but especially because you have health insurance through your work, please read the following health insurance horror story - fresh from my life this morning! Most of you here know of my husband’s health situation. He needs constant daily medication, quarterly visits to have blood work done, and all that kind of "fun" stuff. He has a job; he has health insurance through his job. However, since it was determined the premiums for each employee at his business were going to go up $400/year, the insurance is being changed. Effective Nov. 1, all prescriptions have to be paid out of pocket up to $5000; for us, that would mean $3000 every 3 months. Doctor visits also have to be paid out of pocket. The new policy is a big hit with the "healthy" people who work with my husband, but they won't be so thrilled with it if they get sick. All employees are also now subject to "health screenings," and if it's determined they are "at risk" for whatever ailment may befall them, they'll get dinged. I can add my husband to my health insurance at my job, but now my monthly deduction from my check will go from $98 to $349 - just for adding my husband to my policy. My husband’s company health insurance wants to nickel & dime him to death – LITERALLY. Progress is also being made to strip the health insurance industry of their anti – trust exemption. 3 GOPers switched sides to vote for this?! Hell, I better start my fallout shelter again! Only 47 Senate Dems voted to extend current Medicare reimbursement rates to doctors beyond the deadline. I wonder how I can find out who the wieners were who just said no? President Obama’s entering "...a quiet period"? $hit! It was a quiet period that got us in the message mess we have to climb out of now! Here’s Rep. James Clyburn. He’s the Majority Whip, and he thinks the votes for a public option are nearly there. So, if there is indeed a "Medicare Part E" in a final health care bill that President Obama signs, I think Keith should get to go to the signing ceremony! I’m wondering about where the numbers the Senate Finance Committee used in saying a public option wouldn’t be cost effective came from. Could they have been from the HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY?! Even Rep. Mike Ross from Arkansas spoke out in favor of a public option today. Margaret Carlson said there was a time when the health insurance industry was in the non – profit arena. When was that?
#4 "Health Fair for All" - 2 more free health fairs have been set thanks to your great generosity in giving to the National Association of Free Clinics! YES! And, over $1.2 million has been raised! One is going to be in Louisiana; NOW, Senator Landrieu might – just might – be persuaded to listen to a public option. There will be a health fair in New Orleans on November 14. A 2 – day long health fair will be in Kansas City, Missouri on December 9 & 10! How ‘bout us??!! ;D Here’s Nicole Lamoureux! These clinics need volunteers, too!
** The Brits are witch crazy & are testing potential witches in the manner of Python. Well, of course they are. A team playing a soccer match in Spain had to put an injured player on a door because a team didn’t have a stretcher! The FAUX News morning crew can’t read or interpret a poll. An advisor to Goldman Sachs has no problem with bonuses getting paid out with taxpayer money. The Mannity has admitted his program is not White House approved! Did he get water boarded after all?! **
#3 "Packing Their Bags" AKA "GOP Will Eat Itself" AKA "Big Tent, Small party" - There’s NoNo! According to a Washington Post/ ABC poll, the GOP is continuing their plan on how to win friends & influence people. ;D Tea Party Express II is going to launch this weekend because it worked so gosh – darned well the first time. The positive upbeat tone of the ad for the second (or 3rd?) round of tea bagging is "countdown to judgment day." Yea, these "people" REALLY know how to party! Richard Wolffe...Richard Wolffe...RICHARD WOLFFE! {giggling like a little girl here!} Hey! How ‘bout us Midwesterners?! The sharpest decline of self – identified GOPers is in flyover country! Damn! Maybe being land locked has its advantages?
WPITW – Gretchen Carlson didn’t like it that Keith & Rachel got to have lunch with President Obama the other day. I’m sure her invite just got lost in the mail. ;D Lonesome Rhodes is inflicting his interpretation of the Founding Fathers upon Samuel Adams. "Progressives" are tyrants & slave – owners now! Mr. Rhodes has an armed Beckerhead guarding him?! Oh, that’s just great. Lou Dobbs is doing his best Lonesome Rhodes impersonation on CNN these days. Damn, he REALLY wants to go to FAUX News. And, to go off on a slight tangent, tonight’s Dobbs impersonation sounded like that owl in the Tootsie Pop commercial! Or, maybe it’s the turtle. YOU DECIDE – HA!
#1 "Spamalot" AKA "Mixed Nuts" - Bat$hit Bachmann is using the same data mining organization used by the White House that Cornhole Cornyn said was the basis of an Obama Enemies List. Yippee for Richard Lewis – nice shades! He’s doing a benefit at the behest of Kitty Bruce – Lenny Bruce’s daughter!! YES!! Oh honey, I’d give you such a smooch on the mouth if you walked in my house right now! There’s an auction for some of Lenny’s stuff? ‘Scuse me...I’ll be right back. ;D