Keith Olbermann, Special Comment On Health Care: Part 3
Posted by Michelle Moquin on October 19th, 2009
“People are in fear, not of disease, but deductibles.”
This just keeps getting better and better. Or should I say it keeps getting scarier and scarier. Keith, you are so real. You are on a role – keep it going.
I don’t even know what more to say. Olbermann continues to say it all.
Readers: It was quiet in blogsville over the weekend until I woke up this morning. I have a feeling you have been trying to comment. My instinct is telling me it has been challenging to get in so I appreciate the dedication to continue to do so.
This is a serious and sensitive subject….life and death. Even if I’m not hearing from you, please continue to take action, please continue to do what you can by supporting health care reform. Don’t give up. I certainly won’t. Thank you.
Lonnie: My pleasure. I have been a big fan of Keith since the election season too. Happy to hear your friends have discovered Keith too. Keep it circulating. Thanks.
Eunice: Thank you. But I am just the channel for Olbermann to be heard again. Splitting up his hour show gives me the opportunity to keep it in everyone’s faces for at least a few days and probably more. It needs to be in our faces daily.
Zy: Wz gave us one way to be heard. Call your senators and representatives. You have easy access to their contact info by visiting the left hand column of my blog. Send e-mails, write letters, Canvass. Get creative, throw a neighborhood potluck block party. Our peeps are representing us. Get involved. They need to hear from all of us, and they are supposed to support what the people want not what the insurance companies want. But all of our voices need to be speaking out loudly to ensure that they hear us and do what we want.
I’m no expert at this so I am reaching out to all of my readers: What can you add to help answer Zy’s request? All I know is we need to keep pushing and we can’t give up.
Thanks John: I hear ya. Our premiums went up 30% in the last 2 months. I would bet too that that money is not deducted from the CEO’s bonuses. Between lobbying cost against the bill and advertising costs for all of these meds, it’s you and I, and everyone else paying, in the form of high premiums and the ridiculously high cost of meds.
Larry: Happy you liked it. I thought Rachel was spot on. Unfortunately you learned you can’t post a video. It would be cool it you could. But thanks for posting the transcript. I read just the beginning but I will read the rest later on. Work calls.
Adam: Any news to report?
Be well my loyal readers.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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October 19th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Thank you Michelle;
Madaline told us that she would deal personally with General Noor Ali Shooshtari who said that he would never negotiate with a woman.
She also promised to “take out painfully” Rajab Ali Mohammadzadh. He has been holding several young women in his jail at Sistan-Baluchistan.
She said that if the Revolutionary Guard continued to lie to her about their agreement to stop abusing the women of Iran she would make them pay.
Well today she did. And How.
Thank you Michelle
Bahameen
October 19th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Madaline
Thank you for rescuing my sister. I think you should go after the man who stole our presidency, Ahmadinejad. He is a former member of the revolutionary guard. It is from him they get their power to abuse us.
Ezzail
October 19th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Michelle
I live in Baluchistan. It is very hard to make a honest living here. Drugs are the biggest business. Women are but another bargaining tool used by the men to make a deal.
We are raped at will and swapped for less than some of the animals. Madaline has had to intervene to save many of us several times. The Revolutionary Guard said that they would meet to discuss how to protect the women from the terror we have been under. But they came to reinforce the men’s right to have absolute power over their women.
This angered Madaline and she said that she was through dealing with the Shia. She said that she would help the Sunnis in their differences with the Shia. She said that she would give them the same opportunity to protect us.
I am a Shia but I am a girlz first. So if Madaline says that we should support the Sunnis coming across the Pakistan boarder. I will. As she said, it should make no difference the religion, race or nationality of the men who are oppressing us women.
We need to support whoever will make it stop.
Please tell Madaline to Kill them all.
Aghigh
October 19th, 2009 at 9:16 am
PREVENT CELL-PHONE ELBOW, BLACKBERRY THUMB AND OTHER MODERN-DAY MALADIES
Rather than being a sign of aging, certain aches and pains are in fact a sign of the age in which we live — for instance, bunions, hammertoes and aching feet came into awareness as women began wearing high heels for longer hours. The list of modern-day maladies continues to grow, especially those with high-tech causes — doctors now are diagnosing cell-phone elbow, Blackberry thumb and Guitar Hero wrist, among others.
I spoke with Leon Benson, MD, professor of clinical orthopaedic surgery at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, to find out what he sees in the way of such modern maladies in his practice. He told me that there’s nothing inherently wrong with modern technology in and of itself — it’s how we use it (or more to the point, how we overuse or misuse it) that’s the problem.
CELL-PHONE ELBOW
Have you noticed that your pinkie and ring fingers go numb and tingly when you’ve been on your cell phone a long while? You may have cell-phone elbow, the proper medical name for which is ulner nerve neuropraxia. It’s caused by holding your elbow bent for long stretches of time. This irritates a nerve in the elbow, the ulnar nerve, which extends into the fingers of the hand, Dr. Benson explains. It can also be caused by spending long hours at your keyboard, if your elbows are bent at more than a 90-degree angle.
The Fix:
The first and most obvious solution, says Dr. Benson, is to curb your use of all phones, because landlines require bent elbows, too. Other strategies that may be helpful…
Switch hands. If you have to talk for a while, make it a point to switch the phone from hand to hand.
Use a hands-free headset.
At the computer, make sure your elbows are not bent at more than a 90-degree angle.
BLACKBERRY THUMB
Multiple text messages mean multiple repetitive thumb motions, which can cause stiff and achy thumbs — leading to a newly common repetitive stress injury known as Blackberry thumb, a form of tendonitis. Repetitive use also may aggravate any underlying arthritis.
The Fix:
Moderation is the key, says Dr. Benson. Avoid excessive use of handheld devices, most especially if you feel stiffening or soreness in your thumb. Another helpful strategy suggested by Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew Rubman, ND, is to soak the afflicted joint in warm water with added Epsom salts, while stretching your fingers. Hold the stretch for five seconds… then curl fingers into a fist and hold that for five seconds… then relax for five seconds. Repeat this a few times over a five-minute soak.
WII INJURIES: GUITAR HERO WRIST AND MORE
The phenomenon known as “Guitar Hero wrist” was first called to the attention of the public at an awkward moment: Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya was sidelined for three games for wrist and forearm inflammation after playing too many games of Guitar Hero. And Dr. Benson told me he regularly sees weekend Wii-warriors — people who overdo it with their new toys, spending long hours playing virtual versions of tennis, golf and baseball. These, too, are repetitive stress injuries typically diagnosed as tendonitis of the shoulder, wrist, elbow or knees (depending on the type of sports equipment you’re pretending to swing). And then there also are the lacerations, black eyes and bumps and bruises that result from overenthusiastic participation. Dr. Benson also noted that since the Wii controller is quite small and light, many participants “overswing” their arms when simulating the sport activity, because the real weight of a tennis racket, golf club or baseball bat isn’t there. As a result, this enthusiastic motion often causes injury, either when the participant strikes an object (e.g., coffee table) nearby or overstretches a shoulder or elbow from too much follow-through.
The Fix:
Once again, it’s a matter of common sense. Read the instructions, use the equipment as directed and don’t overdo — it’s the same advice you get when you play sports in the real world.
COMPUTER-RELATED TRIPS AND FALLS
Identifying hazards is an important part of managing safety in the home, but few people think of their computers as a possible source of trouble. That needs to change, say researchers in the July 2009 issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine. In an analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, a team of Ohio researchers found that people experienced 9,279 computer-related injuries (cuts, bruises, sprains and fractures) in 2006, up from 1,267 in 1994. Not coincidentally, computer ownership increased by 309% from 1993 to 2003.
The Fix:
As with most accidental injuries, the majority of these mishaps can be prevented by making the effort to focus on setting up a safer environment. Examine your workstation, and take steps to make it safer, including setting computer equipment closer to the center of the desktop, away from the edge. If they’re not on the floor, anchor heavy components, such as CPUs, against a wall. Secure electrical cords, tucking them safely out of the way using clips, clamps, adhesive or wraps. Make sure you have a clear path whenever you move your computer. More than half of injuries occur when people relocate computers.
FALLING TVs
The new must-have home-entertainment technology is the flat-screen television, which is creating a new danger as these heavy devices have been known to detach from the wall or tumble off their holders, injuring people of all ages and sometimes even killing children.
The Fix:
This one is pure common sense — make sure your flat-screen TV is properly installed, using brackets and following the manufacturer’s instructions. Position the television so that it’s not likely to be jostled or bumped into regularly.
GENERAL ADVICE
Just because these particular injuries are ultra-contemporary in nature doesn’t mean they won’t benefit from old-fashioned natural remedies. Dr. Rubman suggests that nonpharmaceutical techniques (such as alternating hot and cold applications, also called contrast bath therapy and/or topical applications of either icy-hot preparations containing capsaicin and menthol, or specialized penetrating botanical formulae such as Deep ‘91 by Intensive Nutrition Inc. in California) may provide some external relief. Also, he adds, there are many anti-inflammatory combinations involving substances such as fish oil, bromelain, papain, willow bark extract, serratiopeptidase, and a myriad of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and co-factors that can be helpful.
Source(s):
Leon Benson, MD, professor of clinical orthopaedic surgery, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, and spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Rosemont, Illinois.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:03 am
To Anonymous #4 Sunday. You mention the Aliens have forced the shut down of the TDRS-1 Satellite and now you and your colleagues are going to lose your jobs.
This is not true. That Satellite was launched in April 1983 and had a design life of seven years. It happened to still be operational 26 years later. It was scheduled to be moved into a decommissioning orbit beginning on or about October 21st, 2009. This is one old satellite.
How long did you expect to keep working with it?
Sorry about losing your job but your jobs were not very secure anyway.
HOWIE
October 19th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Hi Mischa, great segments by KO, he tells it like it is and with personal detail.
Everyone, thanks for the birthday wishes : ) I appreciate it. I had a great weekend and now it’s back to blogging commentary here and life…
Just read above comments about Madaline and Iranian women, it just makes me want to go on a male ass-kicking spree and I’m not joking, most (not all) males around the world are so ‘one way’ it’s just f**king pathetic, I would suggest they get out of the way of their own dicks. Or if not, madaline, have at it, in fact, I am willing to join you today or any other day. I can handle my own contact with men but obviously the world over many women have little in the way of choices in that arena.
Women of MM blog, here it comes…!
The butt bustin’ exercise to add today is a yoga position, a seemingly benign yoga position but you will be holding in your tummy when you breath in and on breathing out you will tighten in towards the spine even further, back straight and while holding that G note between your cheeks, you will assume position : ) that’s on all fours for this one, make sure knees are hip distance apart and hands are shoulder distance apart, now life the left hand off the floor and reach out straight in front of you with a very straight arm lots of energy shooting through it, now lift your right leg and shoot your pointed toes out behind you – from a side view your hand and arm, body, legs and toes should all be in alignment, now squeeze and hold that for a count of 5, 10 if you can, release and repeat with right arm and left leg, repeat the L and R sides 5x’s on each side holding for a count of 5-10 seconds and release and moving to other in a count of 3. If you are squeezing you will feel this butt buster later when you are out walking!
I’m working on the case for the supplement/vite thing, but (Ruth), re: tonealean it is made with all meat/dairy derivatives, if you’re a veggie/vegan you may want to choose another route. I’m skeptical about diet aids in general, it’s alifestyle shift and there is no magic bullet for that.
I’ll give my two on connecting your cravings with major super foods and then supplementing as needed, calcium and magnesium are huge ones for women but the absorption of any vite/supplement is key. I know nothing about Dr Williams supplements but how they are processed and their absorption rate is also key, and this is especially true of herbal supplements which is why I’ve taken to making my own – just so the herb is 100% herb and not 50% herb and 50% filler, which can also happen with vites/supplements (depends on company and reputation) – more on this later.
I’m a big proponent of small meals, protein shakes for breakfast or mid-morning snacking (whey or soy protein, that is), lots of antioxidants in the form of fruits and veggies, and I don’t label what I am (i.e. veg/vegan/etc) bc if I feel like eating – anything – I will weigh the idea and either do it or not but never bc I’ve labeled my eating habits (am I making a sound case for having a burger every six months?!) hahaha…
– anyway, more to come but wanted to leave you with a great recipe for a tasty lunch…
Rip up a large handful of baby spinach leaves into a bowl, add small chunks of red pepper, strawberries, organic dried cranberries, 3 tablespoons Quinoa (or add 4 ozs chicken chunks) , sprinkle with olive oil and Bragg’s amino acids (if you have not found this product, use watered down soy sauce). This meal is a lunch and desert in one, it is soooo tasty!
There is so much to comment on here but I will choose to just read, research and think about things. I appreciate all of your comments though, whether I agree or not, they can be thought provoking…and that matters.
Luv, Zen Lill
October 19th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I watched the situation room with woolf blitzer. He commented the interracial couple who were denied a marriage license by a judge.
So what did the “best political team on television” do. They switched to the balloon hoax story.
I’m embarrassed to be white when the news media gets fixated on some white issue that would interest only other whites.
Who else would be concerned with this once it was shown to be a hoax?
Harold
October 19th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Harold,
I watched Chris Mathews rather than Blitzer. He had Maria Shriver on. It was difficult taking her seriously because she has demonstrated how stupid she was with her recent continuing to be caught using a cell phone without a hands free device while driving.
She confirmed that stupidity when she suggest the female Senator Snow as an example of a thinking woman because she stood up for her positions on health.
That would be laudable if she actually stood up for something beneficial to the people rather than the insurance industry. We have plenty of white men doing that already. All she showed was that she was willing to follow a man without any independent thought of her own.
Donnie
October 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I’m with you Donnie. I watched Chris say that he thought Brit Hume was a credible reporter. The guy is a paid hack for the republican party.
When I was a republican I watched him and ate up his lies. Now that I look for a second opinion before I accept any news story based on the interpretation of the news anchor, I have never found that he tells the truth when he has a choice between presenting the republican or democratic side of an issue.
By truth I mean presenting the news without a noticeable bias. This never happens at fox.
I like The Ed Show.
Fred
October 19th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
i have become a CountDown fan thanks to you Michelle. My wife says she has become a fan of your blog thanks to me.
So a male, a white male has brought a woman to your blog Michelle.
Ah ha Madaline, don’t kill us all.
Kyle
October 19th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I have some news to report. Bita, our uninvited companion, says that Washington DC will be much different from what you see today.
She often talks about the way the city looks that doesn’t resemble the geography presently. I suspect visitors to the place in 9012 will see a much different city.
This would include the absence of many OTWs that the republicans planned to have forced out during their 8 year tenure.
They didn’t get reelected but the plans were so well established that they didn’t need control of the White House to see the plan through.
Adam
October 20th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Adam, I am confused. Your guest, Bita, mentions the year 9012. Does she mean 2012? Is Bita the Woman you picked up prematurely because of a time incident? You mentiioned that you picked her up and were stuck with her 2 years early. Can you explain what you are saying in your post?
Thank you.
HOWIE
October 20th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Howie
You are correct. Bita was talking about the year as you know it 2012. I mentioned the corresponding year 9012 mistakenly. I use that marker on my instruments when marking our craft for entry into the time period 2012.
Adam
October 20th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I hope that when we take over the country as the majority we will be smarter than whites who allow some religious representative to tell us what is right or wrong.
I am a practicing Catholic. Yet, since I have been reading this blog, I have changed my mind about the role I allow the church to play in my life. I now try to educate my 4 children to think before they accept the opinions of the church on matters other that quotes from the bible.
I am telling my children that the church has lived about the role of Mary Magdaline in Jesus’s life. I want my two daughters to be proud to be a part of Christ’s story.
It is obvious that the church lied about her role as a disciple and partner in His life. The self promoting selection of the scrolls to be used in the formation of the Bible has tainted the book in my mind.
I feel that it is my duty as a responsible parent to make certain that my children know that the Bible is a book comprised by men seeking to make men appear to be God’s chosen over women.
Alberto