STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

EVERY SINGLE GROUP will be better off if ALL of its members get counted in the census.

The census numbers control everything from how many Representatives a state gets to how much extra federal money your local school district receives.

If you want something for a group you belong to, then the more people counted as part of your group means the more potential votes in that group. Therefore, the larger your group, the more political power it potentially has.

PLEASE DO NOT HIDE FROM THE CENSUS. I have NEVER heard of the census information being used against a person. THE CENSUS people are not police, they just want to count you. PLEASE HELP THE CENSUS people count us all.

THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID OF THE CENSUS PEOPLE AND MANY, MANY REASONS TO BE COUNTED.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.

FUN BOOKS AND MOVIES

Several people lately have asked me for book recommendations. Here are some books which I think everyone may enjoy.

Timescoop by John Brunner. This must be the one of the most funny books on time travel that I have ever read.

Letters From Earth by Mark Twain. The Adam and Eve diary must be read by anyone in a relationship. I think this is where the man who wrote Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus got his ideas.

The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey. An attorney saves a woman wrongly accused. Now why would I love this book?

Hot Money, Enquiry, and Whip Hand by Dick Francis. I grew up riding horses, so I love Dick Francis books. But these books are good reads and have something to say about greed, desire and new adventure after a horrible loss.

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. A fun alternative world with real witches, vampires and kick ass women.

Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters. Adventure and laughs in the Highlands of Scotland.

OLD MOVIES you should see:

Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood, both with Errol Flynn. NO ONE swings a sword as well as Errol Flynn.

If you have not already seen Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon, you should immediately rent them.

THE IGNORED TRUTH

GET RICH QUICK also means GET POOR QUICK.

That is what investment advisers mean when they say, "High returns requires high risk." The word 'risk' should be read to mean, you can lose everything you invested and sometimes you can lose everything you invested and more.

The whole financial mess, which has put so many people out of work, would never have happened if the investors had not thought that they had insurance against their losses, should there be losses. If the Republicans had allowed the regulation of the insurance industry, AIG would never have been allowed to insure so much that they almost brought down the entire world's economy.

Historians know that it is very easy to convince people that the "other guys" caused a problem which "our guys" actually caused. Now the Republicans are saying that the economic mess, which happened under a Republican administration, is actually the fault of the Democrats, who just got stuck cleaning up the mess.

A VERSION OF HEALTH CARE IS NOW THE LAW

OK, OK, I am jumping the gun a little as President Obama has not actually signed the bill passed by the House of Representatives, adopting the Senate's bill. However, he has said he will sign it.

Thank you to everyone who called, wrote, and/or sent money to try to pass health care. I know none of you are completely happy, but please celebrate anyway. Real progress has been made.

Next will be the elections, which could not be more important this year. But first, a toast to Congress and the President. "Good health to you."

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS

I think the whole US has a mild form of collective post traumatic stress disorder.

They symptoms seem to be:

Fear of the future,

A feeling of helplessness, and

A feeling that nothing will ever get better.

So, I prescribe the following:

Get a grip. Almost all of you still live in a place with hot and cold running water, and heat. Very few of you are starving to death.

Have some fun. The weather is warming up so go for a walk, go to a park, a street fair, a farmer's market or throw a 'bring your own' party. Hold several 'March Madness' parties.

Stop blaming other people for whatever situation you are in. Each day do at least ONE THING to improve your life, even if all you do is make one phone call.

Say to yourself, life is worth living, I am glad for my friends and family. Together we will all make this a better world.

TIME FOR ANOTHER PUSH FROM US FOR HEALTH CARE

It is again time to call, write, or email your US senators and representatives regarding health care.

Even Warren Buffett says that our current health care system is not working.

I know that no one totally likes the current health care bill. That it what happens when there is major legislation which affects every citizen. We all have a perfect health care plan, which we think should be the law. However, congress and the president have to listen to all of us and reach a compromise. Reaching a compromise means that none of us get our version of perfection.

If we do not do anything, the problem will get significantly worse. Private insurance companies will continue to raise their rates until only the rich can afford health insurance.

SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM by calling your senators and representatives asking them to vote for the compromise health care bill. This time, you should try to give them money for their reelection campaign. Most of them are not voting for the bill because they are afraid that it will mean that they will lose the next election. You can also volunteer to work on their next election campaign.

THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES are spending HUGH SUMS on lobbying congress to vote down any reform. Maybe millions of small checks to our senators and representatives will help them understand that we REALLY NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM.

MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU WRITE, "VOTE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM" in the "for" part of your check.

I am not certain that it is worth sending money to any Republicans. The Republicans have made it very clear that they will vote down ANY plan to reform health care. You may disagree with this statement, but I always say that actions speak louder than words.

GET YOUR FLU SHOTS

My friend has been very ill with the flu. She did not get her flu shots.

I have not gotten the flu from her (not yet at least). I got both my flu shots, the seasonal flu shot and the swine flu shot.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you get both flu shots if you have not done so already.

The swine flu shot is widely available now. If you get your shot now, you will be covered if the swine flu returns next year.

Getting the flu is no fun and is expensive. You have to buy cold medication and lose time from work. BE BRAVE, face the needle and get your shot.

MY APPEAL BRIEF IS FILED

I have not been posting because I have been working on an appeal brief, which is now done and filed with the court.

I would post a redacted copy of the brief, but this blog does not accept pdf documents.