Archive for the 'Journeys within' Category

Where Will You Be Rising For Women Today?

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 14th February 2014

Good morning!

I’ll be in SF at City Hall. Last year was a blast! Girls and guys…Don’t miss out this year! Come join me today, on V-Day. Support your sisters by rising and dancing to put an end to violence and gender inequality for women and girls.

Last Year at One Billion Rising:

San Francisco Uses Valentine’s Day to Draw Attention to Sexual Abuse Against Women

This Valentine’s Day, San Francisco is hosting a seemingly a-typical Cupid event, yet one that’s probably more compelling than any Hallmark bouquet you might get.

For the second year in a row, city leaders will welcome “One Billion Rising for Justice Day,” a global campaign spanning 207 countries that raises awareness of domestic and sexual abuse against women. One Billion Rising began in 2013 in response to the alarming statistic that one in three women throughout the world will experience sexual or domestic abuse in their lives. The campaign invites survivors of abuse and their allies to join in solidarity to fight against the oppression and humiliation inflicted upon victims.

On Feb. 14, from 4-6 pm, thousands are expected to gather at City Hall in San Francisco to dance in support of One Billion Rising. The evening will include musical performances by the Black Eyed Peas and Taiko Drummers from Ruth Asawa SF School of the Arts. There will be appearances by many city leaders, including Mayor Ed Lee, District Attorney George Gascón,V-Day Executive Director Susan Celia Swan, Commission on the Status of Women President Nancy Kirschner-Rodriguez and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu.

Last week, Chiu proposed a resolution confirming the city’s adoption of “One Billion Rising for Justice day” this year. The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the resolution tomorrow at their regular board meeting.

Mariya Taher, the Community Liaison Manager at Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent (WOMAN Inc.), an agency that helps victims of domestic abuse in San Francisco, says she thinks that the “One Billion Rising for Justice Day” is a necessary reminder that gender discrimination happens right here in San Francisco. “The well-known statistic that 1 in every 3 women will be a victim of gender violence is a horrible reality and this also means that the likelihood of you knowing someone who is a survivor of gender violence and/or sexual assault is very real,” says Taher.

In conjunction with the event, VDAY has organized a free legal clinic at UC Hastings to consult survivors of domestic and sexual assault. Throughout the day, volunteer attorneys will provide legal advice to survivors of abuse who are facing problems, including employment and immigration issues.

Taher says that the importance of recognizing and eliminating violence in the city is a community effort. She concedes that domestic abuse and sexual assault not only affect women, but are also on the rise in the LGBTQ community in San Francisco. Although the event draws attention to the prevalence of sexual assault, it is also a time to “celebrate the strength of survivors who have undergone these experiences.

“It is a global movement, and it’s time to dance in protest of the violence that occurs in our communities today,” says Taher.

A powerful video showing the abuse of women…and women rising.

*****

Readers: I’ve written so many times about the repubs trying to take away our rights of our bodies. Telling us what we can and cannot do. I can’t tell you how many more writes I have in my queue, about this. It’s time to end this madness. This means that we all need to participate in more than one way. It means blogging about it, and supporting women by attending events such as One Billion Rising, and writing congress. All of us (women and men) need to care enough to do something.

Men: The best thing you can do for your woman and for the wonderful women of this world for Valentine’s day…really any day…is put an end to the violence and abuse toward women and girls. What will you do in support?

It’s a bit quiet out there. How about flapping your lips?! It’s Friday…Its V-day…It’s Valentine’s Day. No excuse…Your lips should be flapping today for so many reasons!

Last but not least…thank you Eve Ensler for your strength, passion and dedication to helping women and girls RISE.

Happy Friday! Happy V-day! Happy Valentine’s Day! Blog me.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

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Posted in Bitch Badinage, Human Rights and Equality, Journeys within, Love, Sex & Relationships, Wonderful Women Of The World | 22 Comments »

A New Force for America’s Families

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 18th January 2014

Good morning!

A New Force for America’s Families

Women of Color Strongly Support Workplace Changes and Policies to Address Economic Hardship

In order to better understand public attitudes and beliefs about women and the economy, A Woman’s Nation Foundation, in conjunction with the Center for American Progress and AARP, commissioned a large national survey of 3,500 Americans to accompany the 2014 edition of The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink. The bipartisan poll was designed and conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and TargetPoint Consulting and includes significant oversamples of African Americans and Latinos allowing us to look deeper into the attitudes of these important groups of women, as well as make comparisons across these groups.

Overall, our poll finds that African American and Latina women are among the strongest supporters of new steps by employers and governments to help women better adapt to changing family and workplace structures. Facing more difficult economic realities than many other Americans, women of color overwhelmingly desire increased economic opportunities, more flexibility at work, and back legal changes to ensure that women and workers are able to contribute fully to their families and to the national economy.

The overall survey results are described in detail in the full report. The most important findings from the African American and Latino oversamples include:

Women of color face more serious economic challenges than do white women but express greater optimism about their own futures. The overall economic situation for women of color is quite difficult. Forty-three percent of African American women and 45 percent of Latina women report annual family incomes of less than $40,000 per year, compared to about 3 in 10 white women, or 31 percent. Although women in general are more likely to live in two-income households than in one-income ones—47 percent of women live in two-income households, while 31 percent live in one-income households, with the remainder either retired or otherwise not employed—women of color are far more likely than white women to say that they could not get by without two-incomes: 57 percent of African American women and 59 percent of Latina women say this, compared to 45 percent of white women. Forty-two percent of African American women and 39 percent of Latina women also believe that the statement, “The harder I work, the more I fall behind,” describes them well, compared to only 30 percent of white women and 28 percent of Americans overall. Similarly, African American women are more than twice as likely as white women to report being unsatisfied with their jobs—22 percent versus 9 percent, respectively.

Reflecting the difficult economic prospects facing many women of color, majorities of both African American and Latina women—55 percent and 53 percent, respectively—report having received some form of government benefits in the past year including nutrition assistance, unemployment benefits, Medicaid, state children’s health insurance benefits, or reduced-price school lunches. In contrast, only 19 percent of white women report having received government assistance.

Despite these differences in more objective economic pressures, women of color express greater optimism about their own situations and experience less stress than do white women. For example, 83 percent of African American women and 74 percent of Latina women expect that their financial situation will get better over the next five years compared to only 52 percent of white women. More than 6 in 10 African American women—67 percent—and Latina women—62 percent—say that the statement, “I believe I have the ability to make significant changes in my life to make my life better,” describes them well, compared to only 47 percent of white women. Perhaps as a result of this increased confidence about the future, women of color report lower levels of stress than do white women. A full 50 percent of white women say they are stressed these days compared to majorities of African American women and Latina women that report not feeling that stressed. Fifty-eight percent of each group, respectively, report stress levels below neutral on a 0-to-10 scale.

Women of color overwhelmingly want society to adapt to the realities of contemporary family structures. Nearly 9 in 10 African American women—87 percent—and more than three quarters of Latina women—76 percent—agree with the statement, “Government should set a goal of helping society adapt to the reality of single-parent families and use its resources to help children and mothers succeed regardless of their family status.” Although agreement with this concept is strong across groups—64 percent among Americans overall and 62 percent among white women—women of color show the strongest preferences for government policies designed to help today’s families as they actually exist. Latina women, however, appear more conflicted than other women about how best to deal with these family changes. Sixty-seven percent of Latina women also agree that, “Government should set a goal of reducing the number of children born to single parents and use its resources to encourage marriage and two-parent families,” compared to only 45 percent of African American women and 47 percent of white women.

Women of color are more likely than white women to express regrets about their own decisions regarding family, work, and education. The poll asked respondents whether they had any regrets about a range of decisions in life and whether they would choose to do things differently if they had the chance. In general, African American and Latina women are more likely than white women to say that they would have delayed family decisions around marriage and kids and focused more on their own education and career choices. Forty percent of married or divorced African American women and 46 percent of Latina women would have “delayed getting married” compared to 32 percent of white women. Likewise, 34 percent of African American women and 46 percent of Latina women would have “delayed having kids or had fewer kids” if they could do it all over again compared to only 20 percent of white women. Fifty-five percent of African women and 49 percent of Latina women say they should have “gotten out of a bad relationship” sooner, compared to 37 percent of white women. Interestingly, African American men express similar attitudes with 51 percent of black men saying they should have delayed marriage and 33 percent saying that they should have delayed having kids or had fewer kids.

What would these women have done instead? Sixty-eight percent of African American women and 75 percent of Latina women say that they should have “put a higher priority on [their] education and career”; 53 percent of white women say the same. Roughly similar proportions of women of color also believe they “should have stayed in school longer”—63 percent of African American women and 74 percent of Latina women.

Women of color strongly believe that employers and governments need to provide greater economic opportunities for workers and more flexible work-life arrangements for families. African American and Latina women are some of the strongest supporters of concrete changes to workplace structures and governmental policies to help women and workers achieve more secure and stable lives. Looking at seven different things businesses have done to improve the lives of their employees, huge majorities of women of color say each of these changes would be very useful to them. For example, 87 percent of African American women and 93 percent of Latina women say that businesses providing up to 10-days of paid sick leave would be very useful to them, compared to 81 percent of white women. Seventy-six percent of African American women and 68 percent of Latina women say it would be very useful for employers to provide more opportunities to work from home and more flexible hours; 56 percent of white women agree. Sixty-one percent of African American women and 56 percent of Latina women would find on-site child care very useful, compared to 40 percent of white women.

Moving to governmental policies, women of color are strongly supportive of measures to ensure equal pay, end pregnancy discrimination, increase the minimum wage, increase child care support and paid leave for care giving, and expanded access to college. Examining the table below, African American women are the strongest supporters of these policy changes with intense support roughly proportionate among white and Latina women. Anywhere from 59 percent to 82 percent of African American women strongly support each of these measures with 46 percent to 79 percent of white women and 44 percent to 81 percent of Latina women strongly supporting these policies.

****

These findings are based on 3,500 total interviews conducted by landline and mobile telephone from August 21 through September 11, 2013. They include 1,097 white women and 665 women of color—specifically, 322 African American women and 252 Latina women. Telephone numbers were chosen randomly and in accordance with Random Digit Dial methodology. The sample was adjusted to Census proportions of sex, race or ethnicity, age, and national region.

The margin of sampling error for adults is plus or minus 1.7 points. For smaller subgroups, the margin of error is higher. Survey results may also be affected by factors such as question wording and the order in which questions were asked. The interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.

Full survey results by race and gender can be found here.

Read the executive summary for The Shriver Report here.

*****

Blog me.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Aliens, Health & Well Being, Journeys within | 23 Comments »

25 Gifts of Happiness

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 23rd December 2013

Good morning!

I mentioned the magazine Live Happy. Today I am posting their pick for “25 Gifts of Happiness.” It might be a bit late to post but these gifts are not only good for last minute gifts but ones that you can keep on giving throughout the year…for no reason at all, except to be nice to someone. And when is it not an ideal time to be nice to someone?

Here’s the list. All of these are wonderful gifts. I gave comments to a few of my faves in RED.

PS: Anna of Guam…I almost forgot to say, your comment inspired me to post this. Hafa Adai.

25 Gifts of Happiness

Young people celebrating together at Christmas

The Live Happy team shares our list for happiness holiday giving

As holiday gift-giving approaches, we hope you’ll join us in giving the gift of happiness. A gift of one’s own time, talent or regard, a gift from the heart (instead of the pocketbook), or a gift that gives back creates lasting happiness for both you and your loved ones. To get started, the Live Happy team shares this—our list of 25 gifts of happiness:

1. Give your family the gift of a best friend–with four paws. (Happiness truly can be a warm puppy or kitten.) ( I will just add that as much as I love a puppy finding a home - Please don’t buy a puppy from a dog store. Or a breeder if you just want a loving house pet. Adopt and make sure that the family has had a conversation about wanting a pet as well as a particular breed. As much as I love this idea, many pets are brought to the shelter a few weeks to a few months after Christmas because the thrill of having a pet wore off. A pet is not just for Christmas but a lifetime. Please be mindful about this decision. )

2. Give the gift of charity to your children. Ask them to choose toys and clothing that they’ve outgrown and give them to a children’s charity, explaining that they have so much and others don’t have enough. (I love this idea!)

3. Invite a friend, neighbor or coworker who would be spending a holiday alone to your holiday dinner. (It’s never too late to make that phone call when someone is going to spend the holidays alone.)

4. Gift from your garden or the local fresh market. Making jam from the season’s produce is its own reward; giving it to others doubles the bounty. (more on this later)

5. Pay someone a compliment. (Soo easy – do it!)

6. Use your talents to do or make something special: Teach a friend yoga, a grandma how to tweet. Make a one-of-a-kind book of photos for your son, a collage of a friend’s selfies.

7. Give a coupon book of favors that you’ll deliver during the year. For a husband, a car wash, his favorite pie and an evening with his buddies. For a friend, time with you, running Saturday errands and a latte at the office.

8. Just be there. Make the effort to visit relatives, especially your grandparents. All they need is you! ( So simple huh?)

9. Give together-gifts. Meals you’ll cook together, sunrises you’ll get up to see together, books you’ll read before bedtime together. (Time is precious – sometimes the best gift is some of yours.)

10. Give the gift of talent. If you can sew—offer to sew on buttons, make new pillow covers. If you can paint—offer to paint a room for a friend. If you know IT, clean up your friend’s computer.

11. Be an angel investor. Help fund a small loan for someone who is building or growing a business—it will improve lives. Kiva is a micro-finance website where your contribution gives again and again. Once a loan is repaid, your dollars can be lent again. (This is one of my faves and something I have been doing for years. This is a good reminder that I need to re-invest my original investment. For $25 you can help someone out big time)

12. Give an experience off someone’s bucket list. You’ve always wanted to skydive, right?

13. Give an experience for the future. Planning a trip together, whether it’s to the café round the corner or a more ambitious weekend in the mountains, means you’re giving your time and attention.

14. Plan an unplugged weekend. No cells, no TV, no computer. Just each other. ( You know I love this one already. Again giving your time.)

15. Give an experience in the moment. Call faraway friends with a surprise serenade of holiday carols. (I do this on birthdays for friends. However, this is a sweet thing to do for the holidays too.)

16. Connect the dots. For example, give a friend a lasting memory of her beloved mother or father. If the mother loved flowers, give a gift of flowers to your friend.

17. Write an accomplishment list for your spouse (or child!). Read it to him or her. There’s nothing like knowing your special someone knows just how special you are! ( I love this idea. If I had kids I would do this.)

18. For yourself: Pay attention to the moments that bring you the most joy for a week. As they happen, write them down. Commit to having more of those kinds of times in days ahead. ( I began to make conscious notes in my head awhile ago, but I like the idea of writing them down as “happiness reminders.”)

19. Be a workout buddy. Sign up for an exercise class together and hold each other accountable to attend. Support someone who has a hard time getting active. Be ready with a quick SOS pep talk. (Oh, I could use this.)

20. Adopt a relative at a VA hospital or retirement home for the holidays.

21. Leave hugs. Before you say goodbye to family and friends, give big hugs. Everyone needs to stock up on hugs! (One of my faves to do and receive.)

22. Start the day with a positive thought—pass it along. (It is amazing how starting the day this way can make a huge difference in the outcome of the rest of your.)

23. Bring the show. Homegrown entertainment is appreciated by all. Encourage your kids to sing, play instruments, or put on a play at family and friends’ gatherings. No doubt others will join in.

24. See someone who needs help? Be the one to offer it. (Someone always has a bigger struggle that we can be there for.)

25. Look within yourself for happiness. It’s there waiting to be discovered! (Ah…yes, Happiness is a choice. Choose it, please. :)

From the premiere issue of Live Happy magazine.

*L*I*V*E*H*A*P*P*Y*!*

Readers: I could have commented on every one…but I ran out of time. :( :) Can you think of any others? Blog me.

Thank you Janet: Merry Christmas to you too!

It is the day of Christmas eve for my international and Guamanian friends. So if you are celebrating this evening, I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

Peace & Love to all!

xoxo

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in ChitChat, Entertainment & Laughter, Good Reads and Good See'ds, I'll drink to that! Let's eat!, Journeys within | 20 Comments »

Collaboration Of Imagination

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 21st December 2013

Good morning!

The Landfill Harmonic

Favio Chavez, Recycled Orchestra's Director

Feeling powerless to help others? A single selfless act is all it takes to make music out of misery.

The source of inspiration can often be found in the most unlikely place. One of those unlikely places is a landfill in the slums of Cateura, Paraguay.

In 2009, a documentary filmmaking crew stumbled upon a local garbage picker who was making instruments from items found in a landfill. Nicolás Gómez, who goes by Cola, made flutes out of pipes and cellos from tin cans and meat tenderizers.

A community like Cateura is not a place to have a violin,” said Favio Chávez, director of the Recycled Orchestra. “In fact, a violin is worth more than a house here.”

Favio Chávez, a music instructor, started teaching the local children how to play classical music on these recycled instruments. From there, the Recycled Orchestra was born.

This collaboration of imagination and ingenuity gave the children of Cateura, a place where misery is high and opportunity is low, hope for a better life. “The world sends us garbage,” Chávez says. “We send back music.”

Chávez and his youth orchestra are now receiving invitations to play concerts all across the globe and plans are already underway for a world tour. With the Landfill Harmonic documentary trailer spreading through social media, the Recycled Orchestra is inspiring millions by showing how far the power of music and hope can take you when you have nowhere to go but up.

Watch it:

*****

Readers: Simply wonderful yes? It is amazing to me how someone can make something incredible out of what most of us would consider nothing more than junk. I am continually blown away by people who can create the extraordinary out of the ordinary…who can see the possibilities that no one else can…and more importantly, they follow their vision, and they have a profound positive affect on people’s lives.

Big kudos of congrats goes to Nicolás Gómez for his vision and talent in making these instruments, and to Favio Chávez, the music instructor, for bringing this Orchestra to life.

Blog me and let me know if you have seen The Landfill Harmonic play.

On a side note, I was sent this write by a resource of mine. The funny thing is, I discovered this fun and inspiring piece of news also in a new magazine that was sent to me. I love this magazine. It is called Live Happy.

If you haven’t picked up a copy you might just want to buy a subscription for yourself and one for a few friends. (Disclaimer: no I am not getting anything from saying this – I just like the idea of it) There is a happiness movement that has been going on and it is gaining speed. This magazine focuses on living life with a more positive attitude…choosing happiness, and watch how your happiness becomes contagious and ripples into other people’s lives.

That is it in a simple nutshell but in my opinion it is much more. No doubt I will be blogging more about this in the new year.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Peace & Love to you.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Entertainment & Laughter, Health & Well Being, Journeys within, Style | 27 Comments »

Just Noticing: Observations Of A Blogger

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 8th December 2013

Good morning!

“Just noticing…”

From the New Republic:

The Huge Obamacare Story You Aren’t Reading

Today it’s a few hundred thousand people. By next year, it will be at least a few million. Their health insurance status is changing dramatically: What they have in 2014 and beyond will look nothing like what they had in 2013 and before. For many of these people, the difference will be hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. In a few cases, it may be the difference between life and death.

You probably think I’m talking about the people getting cancellation notices about their private insurance policies. I’m not. I’m talking about the people getting Medicaid. Both stories are consequences of the Affordable Care Act. But one is getting way, way more attention than the other.

It’s no mystery why. Stories of people losing something are more compelling than stories of people gaining something. The policy cancellation story is also newsier, because fewer people expected it to happen. Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid was something the advocates of reform advertised. Reform’s effect on people with skimpy or medically underwritten insurance policies they liked was something that few advocates, including the president, even acknowledged. Had Obama pointed out, all along, that some people might lose existing plans or pay more for coverage in 2014, it would seem a lot less shocking.

But there is also a class element to the way this debate has evolved. By and large, the people receiving those cancellation notices and facing large premium increases are at least reasonably affluent. They’re not necessarily rich, particularly if they live in higher cost areas of the country. Many of them sweat monthly bills just like most of the country does. But, by definition, they don’t qualify for huge subsidies that would offset premium increases mostly or completely. By contrast, the people getting Medicaid are poor. They have to be, because it’s the only way to sign up for the program. And as political scientists have shown, the poor don’t command the same kind of attention from politicians that the middle class—and particularly the upper middle class—does.

And this fact, I suspect, is also magnifying the impact of those cancellation letters. The best estimates suggest that 12 to 15 million people currently buy coverage on their own—i.e, in what’s known as the non-group market. It appears that only a fraction of them will get to keep their current policies. The rest will end up having to get new coverage, or updated versions of their old coverage, that offers greater benefits and/or is available to everybody, regardless of pre-existing condition. That will drive up the price of insurance.

But when you take into account the subsidies, which for many people will knock the price of insurance right back down, and the number of people who would gladly pay more for insurance that offers real protection from financial shock, the number of people who truly end up feeling worse off ends up a lot smaller than 12 or 15 million. And even those people will end up with good health insurance, though they’ll be paying more for it and may not want it.

Meanwhile, the best available projections suggest that 13 million people will eventually sign up for Medicaid. That’s a much larger number of people, most of whom had no insurance—none—before. That doesn’t even include more than ten million presently uninsured people expected to get insurance through employers and the new marketplaces, assuming all of the websites start working better, or the millions of seniors getting extra help with their prescrpition drugs.

Of course, the story of the Medicaid expansion is also one of suffering. But that’s because Republicans governors and lawmakers are blocking expansion of Medicaid in their states. About 5 million people who would be eligible for Medicaid under Obamacare’s new guidelines won’t be getting it. Here’s a mental exercise. How many stories have cable news and the networks run about people with private insurance getting cancellation notices? And how many have they run about people who would be getting Medicaid if only their state lawmakers would stop blocking expansion?

You can find examples, usually from domestic policy writers in print. My colleague Alec MacGillis has waged a lonely crusade to remind people about this situation. The New York Times had a terrific front-page story on this in early October, and Politico‘s Jen Haberkorn wrote about it a few weeks later. In the Washington Post, Ruth Marcus on Friday wrote about Paul Tumulty, in Texas, who can’t get insurance because Governor Rick Perry has blocked that state’s Medicaid expansion. Tumulty, who is the brother of Post staff writer Karen, has kidney disease. Wiithout Medicaid he can’t get comprehensive coverage, because, as Karen put it, “he is, paradoxically, too poor for subsidies.”

But these articles are the exception more than the rule. Obama tried to draw attention to the issue last week, when he visited Texas. But the trip didn’t generate much in the way of new coverage of Medicaid.

Should the president have been more candid about the impact his plan would have on people buying their own coverage? Yes. Should we pay attention to those people, particularly when they must now pay more for equivalent coverage? Definitely. Should this put extra pressure on the administration and some states to fix their websites? You bet. But that’s not the only Obamacare news right now. The law is making life better for a great many people—and would help even more if only Republican lawmakers would relent. Those stories need attention, too.

*****

Thoughts? Blog me.

Helen: I can’t tell you how shocking it was for me to reach such comments when I first starting reading the comments on my blog years ago. So yes, not censoring works twofold. I don’t censor any comments no matter what. And, when readers can be anonymous here, they don’t need to censor themselves either. So we get to experience truly how people feel – and what they may not say to each other, but they can easily say here without having to fear being known or exposed.

Silvia: Really? Huh…If I remember correctly, back in the day…it wasn’t me that said Doug was “hung like a porn star.” I don’t believe those would be words that would come from my mouth. I believe that it was Azza who had been “looking.” I will speak for myself, and reveal things about myself, but it is not like me to divulge such personal info about my partner. But I could be wrong, and just hinted about it using different words. No biggie. However, if I did it was certainly “a moment,” and one that I won’t repeat here for obvious reasons. :)

But to answer your question, a lover can satisfy me in many ways. Yes, it is very important to me that I have an exciting and healthy sexual relationship. However, I am much more interested in the total package, and I am not just talking about the visuals. What I want from a man is far more than just dick size. So much more has to be revealed to me before he’ll even get a chance of getting a peek at seeing the juiciness between these thighs.

Trina: That’s a good question to ask when you’re applying. Let me know if you get and answer. I’m sure other girls would want to know too. :)

Eddy: Haha! Good for you for having a good attitude and working that asset!

Shelia: Now we’re talking. Good love comes in all sizes.

Brittany: I think you got played girlfriend. You thought you were showing her something. This girl was experienced. She knew way before you kissed her you were her bitch.

Evelyn: That is quite the family story. Yes, life is stranger than fiction. Happy to hear you and your sis made up and all is good. Too bad your parents are racist. They are missing out.

I miss Anna and Peter too. Where are you two? Howie? There are plenty of readers making comments - how about coming back and saying hello?

I love that I have so many readers who visit this blog, but yes, without the longtime faithfuls spending time here, it would be pretty strange. No, ZL and Prism Princess hold their own all by themselves. I barely have enough time to be here everyday as moi. I certainly don’t have the time to be someone else, let alone two girls!

Speaking of…ZL: I’m so happy to hear you and your man are happy, and enjoying each other thoroughly. I could hear it in your voice on the phone. You can’t get any better when mind, body, and spirit are connected.

Troy: Thank God no one agrees with me all of the time, otherwise I wouldn’t get to experience another viewpoint to compare it too. However, with all due respect, I am not sure our opinions differ as I haven’t really given a well-informed opinion yet, which is why I am asking what others think. Like I mentioned I like her, yet I know very little of her, spiritually and politically. What I said was mostly HOPEful thinking.

Dafne: I’m with you sister. My thoughts exactly.

Mike, TM: I am happy to see your comments here. I feel the same way about our president. And I always learn something from your posts. Be well and be safe.

Social Butterfly: Nice to hear from you. Thanks for taking the time to express your informed viewpoint. I agree with you about the need to rely on God – I can’t hang with that one. Although I am not sure that I got the same impression as you did from watching the video. Thanks for posting. With respect to Hillary Clinton, I am still a supporter, and …Elizabeth warren, like you, and Shellie, I think she’s amazing too, and would get my support.

Erica: Thanks for your opinion too. Nicely stated. That was eye opening and didn’t occur to me earlier. I do not trust anyone who uses God to assist in the arguments either, especially in politics. I would HOPE that she would leave the God message out of politics but the truth is…well I think we may already know the answer to that one.

Silva: You’re welcome!

Readers: I am on a deeper spiritual path currently and I am looking to break some limiting beliefs of mine, so my mind is quite focused on the spiritual aspects that she addresses. Not necessarily appropriate for politics. I may have been blinded by the “Light” so to speak. :) So, thank you. This was personally a juicy topic for me. So happy that it spurred some insights for me to think about.

Happy Sunday Everyone!

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michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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