Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 19th, 2013
Good morning!
I am home and ready to get back to blogging. I enjoyed myself immensely and…I have missed being here with all of you. Although I have to admit, not posting daily was a nice break and one that I most certainly needed, not just from the blog but from my normal daily life. However, I am fully rested and rejuvenated, inspired, and exhilarated, and ready to begin again.
For those of you curious to where I was, and I see that many of you were, I was in Italy and around Europe (places that are best not to be disclosed). Thanks to those of you, who saw me or even thought you saw me, for not disclosing my whereabouts. I am grateful that you honored my anonymity.
As much as I want to just dive in, and get back into my routine, I have to admit that although I did what was needed to get back into this time zone, I am not quite here yet. So please be patient with me.
First of all, thanks to all of you for sending anniversary wishes, and congratulatory sentiments! It has been a long ride – 6 years – one that I never thought would last this long. But without all of you, I would not be here, so a huge thanks goes to all my dedicated and loyal readers, and yes even the newbies – you know who you are. I HOPE you’ll all be here with me as long as I continue.
Onto today’s blog…
I found this write on Think Progress. It backs up what I heard on the news this morning. If the media would stop focusing on the problems in Washington and focus on what good Obamacare is doing for all, we would all learn that health premiums are due to drop fifty percent (!) as a result of the Affordable Care Act, not to mention a lot more about the good the ACA is bringing to millions of Americans.
I don’t know about you, but that certainly makes me happy. It even makes some republicans happy, but of course, you won’t hear them giving kudos to Obama – all they seem to want to do is make noise about wanting to repeal it. I think it is time they shut their traps and be grateful for what they will surely benefit from – don’t you?
Here’s the write:
Most Media Coverage Ignores Premium Drop, Focuses On GOP Effort To Undermine Obamacare
Early on Wednesday, as House Republicans prepared to vote for adelay of the Affordable Care Act’s employer and individual mandates, New York state officials announced that health care premiums in the new exchange will plummet by at least 50 percent as a result of the law.
For reform advocates, the story represented a reprieve from the constant drum beat of media coverage about implementation delays, predictions of rate shock, and employers dropping coverage. But a ThinkProgress analysis of television reports about the health care law for Wednesday, July 18th, confirms that even with good news to report, bookers and segment producers are still far more interested in broadcasting stories about the political brinkmanship in Washington, DC than the actual, tangible progress of implementation. New York joined Oregon, Montana, California, and Louisiana in reporting lower than expected rates in the law’s new health care marketplaces.
ThinkProgress’ review of all national and local news segments containing the term “Obamacare” from 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday to 11:00 P.M., found that Americans were far more likely to hear about the GOP’s 38th and 39th efforts to legislatively slow down the law — bills that the Senate has pledged not to take-up and President Obama said he would not sign — that learn about lower insurance rates for New Yorkers. Of the 147 segments identified by media program Critical Mention to include “Obamacare,” almost all or 120 mentioned the House vote, while just 71 — or less than half — discussed the lower premium rates:
The results signal that administration officials will have an uphill battle spreading the word about the law and its implementation and will have to to break through the clutter of negative news and the millions in negative advertising to convince Americans to enroll.
As it already stands, 40 percent of Americans don’t know whether the Affordable Care Act is actually law, and for that, the media may be at least partly to blame.
ThinkProgress intern Joseph Diebold conducted the research for this post.
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Readers: Thoughts? What’s on your mind? Blog me.
Demarco: I wanted to single your comment out because your mother leaving your father was such a big deal. I HOPE that your mother is enjoying her new life. Big hugs to her.
Eveleen: I know exactly who you are referring to and I know your mother. I would just like to know if you have you discussed this with her. It gives me an idea of the maturity of thought that went into your decision. Please get back to me and let me know what she said. Love to you.
Tabasum: To hear you say those words brings a smile to my face. I think it is the first time I have heard an arab woman say that being an arabic woman today is exciting. My biggest wish is for freedom for all women around the globe. Thank you too for the kind words. Sending my love.
Nathan: When I am on the dance floor with my “posse” it is a bit intimidating to break in. :) However, I enjoy dancing with anyone who likes to get down on the dance floor like I do, as long as they are a gentleman abut it. Please do ask the next time you are there.
Rick: You were perfectly clear. Nothing more needs to be said.
Lea: I watched that video – thanks for the beauty and the beach. I do LOVE hanging at the beach and I promise Guam is on my list to visit. Who can miss an opportunity to spend time with the Girlz of Guam? Love the way that sounds. Hafa adai.
As good as this feel to write again, I have go to go now. Yes, this girl is back to work. Happy Friday everyone!
Peace & Love…it feels good to be back.
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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July 19th, 2013 at 11:52 am
How Meditation Can Help Arthritis, Asthma and Other Inflammation Problems
Stress is bad for everybody—but particularly for people who suffer from a chronic inflammatory condition such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. That’s because stress contributes to inflammation…so it makes sense to take steps to reduce stress.
A particular type of stress-reducing technique appears to be uniquely beneficial when it comes to quelling inflammation, according to a new study. Best of all, this technique requires no drugs (or any foreign substance, for that matter)…it’s easy to do…and it can be done anywhere.
How the study was done:
Healthy volunteers were divided into two groups. One group was instructed in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a technique in which a person meditates by focusing attention on his breathing and bodily sensations while sitting still, walking or doing yoga.
The thing to notice is that this sort of meditation emphasizes mindfulness —which means to foster an awareness of each sensation, emotion or thought as it unfolds in the moment, catching and then releasing it without judgment.
The other group participated in a program that combined physical activity, music therapy and instruction in improved nutrition—all of which are known to improve well-being but do not include the idea of mindfulness. Both groups received the same amount of training and did the same amount of at-home practice for eight weeks.
Before starting and again after the end of the eight-week programs, the researchers provoked stress in the participants by asking them to give short impromptu speeches and to do some mental arithmetic problems.
Next, a cream with an irritant was placed on the participants’ forearms to induce inflammation, then a sucking device was applied to raise blisters. This allowed the researchers to collect some fluid from the irritated skin so that levels of two cytokines (proteins released by the immune system) could be measured.
Researchers also measured the size of the resulting inflamed areas of skin and the amount of the stress hormone cortisol secreted in the participants’ saliva at various times throughout the day.
Results:
It was not surprising that the stress caused by giving speeches and doing mental math caused increases in markers for stress—and the levels of the cytokines and cortisol were about the same in both groups. But:
Participants who had practiced mindfulness meditation showed significantly less stress-induced inflammation (as measured by the area of inflamed skin) than those in the other group…and their cortisol levels on a normal day showed a healthier circadian rhythm.
In other words, the meditators had reduced their bodies’ inflammatory response—something that would be good for anyone, but that could provide an especially profound health benefit for a person with an inflammatory condition!
Bottom line:
If you have a chronic inflammatory health problem—or if you want an extra measure of protection against the harmful effects of inflammation—consider taking a class in mindfulness meditation.
It’s a very popular sort of meditation, and you shouldn’t have trouble finding a class in your area. Or visit the Web site of the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society to search for an MBSR-trained practitioner near you.
To read more on mindfulness from Daily Health News, check out Make Your Brain Bigger In Eight Weeks …and Meditation, Military Style.
Source: Melissa A. Rosenkranz, PhD, associate scientist, Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior and Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her study was published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity .
July 19th, 2013 at 11:55 am
Conservatives are getting a break from the MSM. Their lies about ACA don’t get aired. If the press would just cover the states that are implementing ACA, the people would find out how beneficial it is to their state and to them.
July 19th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
welcome back, Mischa : )
July 19th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Hafa Adai:
Out standing Michelle. I am looking forward to your visit.
July 19th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
The honest truth is most of the MSM are owned by a few corporations or 1% er’s. Those groups are only interested in the bottom line. So they are into entertainment pieces, lies, or true stories that serve their own financial or political interests.
July 19th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
I agree with TP. Most of the people I know think that ObamaCare will raise their premiums . When I ask them where they got that idea, they say Fox or CNN or some other Right publication.
July 19th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
There is this idiot on huff post”
Hi, LeTA0.
OLJW00 replied to your comment on Holly Paz, IRS Supervisor, Admits Scrutinizing Applications From Tea Party Groups
OLJW00 July 19, 2013 at 1:49am
Show me your stats on a Conservative site board where you argued for Liberalism.
I am calling you out.
To reply to this comment, follow the link below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/LeTA0/irs-scandal-holly-paz-tea-party-applications_n_3451684_270237922.html
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My reply to him was.
Commented Jul 19, 2013 at 11:46:07 in Politics
“LoL All this talk is cheap. Produce the link to the site or give it a rest. i will see you there. Try this site. It doesn’t censor. You can let it all hang out and nothing is off limits for topics. Pick one call me out and hang on for dear life. http://blog.michellemoquin.com/”
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Okay OLJW00 show me what you lying sack of shit conservatives have to offer. First let me say that the biggest lie you have going is that bullshit monker “Conservative.”
If “conservative” means you get to be racist without having to admit it, and the rest of us are supposed to just accept that is okay, the yeah you are a conservative. But if it is supposed to mean something about being a true financial conservative, or political conservative or legislative conservative or Constitutional conservative that is just plain bullshit.
Republican administrations spend more that twice what dems do. Republicans use the legislature to change any law they do not like regardless of the history or the principle of stare decisis.
Republicans use the Constitution to lie about being concerned about believing there is something special about it. They will change it in a hot minute if that change furthers their agenda.
your turn dipshit.
July 19th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Zen Lill, my mother called to ask if it is okay for a 71 to try your exercise program? She is in excellent health. She takes no medications, but she could stand to lose about 15 to 20 pounds.
She has put on that weight in the last six months.
July 19th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Barbara, if your mother is in excellent health theres no reason why her # (age) should prevent her from working this program, everyone starts slow and even the weights are low bc is rather you do more per-exhaust of muscles than go larger (from my observation people, men and women, tend to break perfect form when the weight is too much esp in the beginning, I’d rather you retain muscle memory that’s spot on than hv you lifting more than necessary). If she’s been eating full meals switching to 5-6 smaller meals might be a challenge so she can do what u recommend fr clients with families, eat 4 smaller a meals throughout the day and then enjoy the one bigger meal e the family. Keep it high in protein and high in green leafy carbs and she and you will be good to go!
Thanks fr asking, that’s an important one. Aging with excellent health is best though I really want her to practice the art of very low focus on her number, her body will guide her best, and her thoughts will shift as she does the ‘I love you’ exercise. There’s beauty and health to be experienced no matter the #.
Luv, Zen Lill
July 19th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
The Right is dedicated to making whatever good that comes out about ObamaCare be denied or made to look negative. They are traitors and bigots that will do anything to prevent Obama from helping America be a success.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:19 pm
The republicans are good at name calling to suit their purposes. They try to intimidate by slander.
If the media says anything good about Obama, then that source is labeled part of the liberal media. The hope is to cast doubt about its authenticity.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
All you hear from these fools is how popular Fox is. The fools don’t seem to realize that if you appeal to the salacious, and silly, you’ll get more viewers.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:34 pm
I’m tired of hearing that all the groups are the same. Some idiots don’t seem to be able to distinguish from being biased toward the good as to being biased towards the bad.
They are not the same.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Frankly, I don’t remember seeing a post from you here. Do you have another alias?
Oh, and about your name, LeTao is that a O or a Zero?
July 19th, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Still you have to hand it to the republican they have tried everything imaginable to stop the Obama administration from accomplishing anything. They just will not quit.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I checked on that OLJW00. It appears to be just another fool trying to keep that bullshit IRS story going.
That is one pathetic bunch of bigots. They just can’t stand the fact that black man is in “their” White House.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
The name is spelled with a Zero. You have to check out that huff bullshit. It is controlled by “moderators” who use the supposition that they are moderating for civility to steer the conversation how they wish.
They will not allow you to offend their white audience. If you get even close that will drop you shit on the cutting floor.
I invited the punk OLJW00 but he’s got glass balls. All talk and no substance.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:54 pm
I live in California and I know that many of my friends here are telling me about the insurance companies planning on lowering their rates to compete once the ACA becomes official here.
July 19th, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Funny most of my friends say they hear that the ACA is being repealed. I tell them it’s the law, but they are just too ignorant to check out other sources.
November 1st, 2013 at 9:49 am
“Michelle Moquin’s “A day in the life of” Blog Archive Flap Your Lips Friday” ended up being a fantastic posting. If solely there were far more sites like this particular one in the actual web. Anyway, many thanks for your time, Kenton