The lunatic fringe

Is the majority in the Arizona legislature and governor's office.  It's almost surreal.  They are passing legislation that deletes all requirements that their citizens comply with federal laws and regulations.  This inspired bit of nastiness is intended to make it illegal for illegal immigrants, or those who can't prove that they are legal immigrants, to drive cars, get medical care, send their kids to school and who knows what else.  Police also arrested and detained two immigration advocates pretty much for having the temerity to enter the State Capitol, a building that should be public.  The governor and/or the legislature have ruled that public funding will not be available for the uninsured residents who need transplant surgery.  Phoenix is hosting the Tea Party's national convention this weekend, which is ok, I suppose, and the Tea Party will be right at home here.  And I think I heard that Phoenix is also hosting a UFO convention.  Actually, it seems Phoenix may be the leader in UFO sightings, but I haven't check that out.  All of this nonsense is going on while the state labors under a 6.5 million dollar deficit, and I have found no legislative initiative that looks to creating jobs or reducing that deficit. 

The sacrifices I have to make to avoid Minnesota winters may be more than I can handle on a continuing basis. 

Quirky coincidences

A couple weeks ago I transcribed one of my December interviews for my Spotlight on Members column in my church newsletter, and was interested to hear my subject mention Thomas Jefferson's 1800 revolution, not a common event in day to day conversation.  Yet just that day, this historic event was the subject of  my American history lecture, which I am listening to when I drive.  A quirky coincidence, I thought.

Today I read that a new dollar coin is coming out honoring our 17th U.S. president, and, guess what.  That is  the subject of the section of American history I listened to in yesterday evening's lecture.  Now how about that?
Quirky coincidences!  This is my reward for paying attention. 

So do you know who our 17th president was?  Hint: He succeeded Abraham Lincoln after his assassination.  And to think I hated history in high school.

Health Scare? Really?

From the February 11, 2011, issue of The Week:

Health scare of the week: Sleeping with your pet

Experts suspect up to several million cases of zoonotic diseases—those passed from animals to humans—may occur every year.

More than half of American pet owners sleep with their furry companions, and that can be a big mistake. A new University of California study warns that such close contact can transmit serious illnesses from pet to caretaker, including meningitis, worms, and (through fleas) even the bubonic plague. Experts suspect up to several million cases of zoonotic diseases—those passed from animals to humans—may occur every year, ranging from skin conditions like ringworm to life-threatening ailments such as staph infections. While pets provide a lot of comfort and can reduce stress, researchers say, they are animals and can carry potentially dangerous bacteria, parasites, and bugs. Researcher  Bruno Chomel tells HealthDay.com that it’s not wise to let pets lick you on the mouth, and recommends hand-washing whenever you’ve been handling them. “Having a pet in the bed is not a good idea,” he said.

 Anyone willing to bet that this scared me?  I have been sleeping with dogs, the four legged furry kind, for probably 45-50 years.  And I have never had meningitis, worms or the bubonic plague.  Where in hell does this big scare come from.  Anyone read of any cases of bubonic plague within the last 40 years?  

Really now, if I don't sleep with my dogs, where in the world am I expected to sleep.  They, after all, own the bedroom and the bed.  The key words in this scary headline are "suspect" and "may".  Some people "suspect" that  the world "may" have been created in seven 24-hour days.  

I will concede that it is wise to wash your hands before handling food, etc., but who doesn't do that anyway?  

My Oranges are sweet

I have a childhood memory of standing around the wastebasket in our kitchen while mother peeled oranges and shared them with us.  I recall one evening when we simply couldn't get enough oranges, and, as I recall, she just kept peeling until we had our fill.   I'm now thinking they must have been oranges from a tree very much like the one in my Phoenix back yard.

My orange tree has survived two bouts with consecutive morning freezes, and the fruit is still remarkably sweet and delicious.  I just peeled and ate one, thinking of my mother, and have prepared juice from several others, some of which I am now enjoying with a nice added shot of vodka.

Phoenix is certainly colder than I expected, and we're in our second bout, but if my oranges are still sweet and edible and there is no snow on the ground, I think I'll make it through another winter here just fine.

Contrasting Governors

The governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer, has been happily announcing that she plans to save a few million dollars towards the Arizona billions of deficit, by dumping about 280,000 of the poorest and neediest from medicaid rolls.  The savings will be a drop in the large leaky bucket of the state's spending.

The governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, has announced that he'd like to borrow a billion dollars to boost our state's employment by around 28,000 and accomplish a number of projects that will improve our state and our quality of life.  Yes, Minnesota also has a deficit of billions, 6.5 billion as I recall.

My question to Ms. Brewer: How many jobs will you create by dumping these poor and needy folks from Medicaid rolls?  How much are you willing to spend beyond your expected savings from this move towards the emergency care and treatment some of these people will need because they didn't have the early medical intervention that might have prevented emergencies?  Bottom line, why do some politicians continue to seek budget balance by snatching the safety nets of the poor?   The savings are really so nominal that the net effect is simply to punish the neediest and make hardly a dent in the deficit.

Borrowing a billion dollars may sound like a bad idea, but generating revenue, improving our intrastructure  and putting people to work are very good ideas.  And with interest rates at an all time low, borrowing now is much less expensive than when interest rates rebound to their previous or some future higher rate.  It's a gutsy and far sighted move by our new governor.

Michelle wrote to me

I just checked my exciting email message from Michelle Obama.  She's thrilled to be going to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the democratic convention next year.  Now really, Michelle, why do you think I would share your excitement about that.  We invited you to Minneapolis and now see that you have turned us down.  I'm not thrilled at all. Phooey!