Obamacare Legal

Wall Street Journal:
Though the challengers largely lost on Thursday, the court did affirm one of their basic arguments: that Congress can’t use its powers to regulate interstate commerce to require people to buy insurance.  Chief Justice Roberts says the government’s arguments on this point would fundamentally change “the relation between the citizen and the federal government.”


So it's a tax, not a forced consumption.
And if I don't pay the tax? I am compelled to go to jail, not to buy insurance.
The best legal minds in the country came up with this.


Remember when Obama said it wasn't a tax? Couldn't they take him at his word?
Of course they couldn't. 
We can't either.


And Roberts sold us out.

Epilepsy Update

Scherie went into surgery  a week ago Friday. 
That night she went back in to fix a leak.
She was discharged on Tuesday and friends came to watch her while I went to work.
She appeared to be getting "not better" as opposed to "worse".
Friday night I took her temp and she was at 102.
I called the hospital three times and after two hours I was finally called by a doctor who said I could bring her in or not, my call.
Scherie felt like she didn't want to move.
That night, I got her out of bed and took her to the ER.
Every tar strip and manhole cover we drove over evinced a yelp of pain.
They did not find a temperature above 98.6, but admitted her.
After all night in that room, the next afternoon they got her a room.
A nurse brought her a sandwich and she had half.
When we went up to her new room, we took the half a sandwich.
While I was trying to help Scherie move in the bed slowly, two nurses came in and gently moved me aside as they said "We can do this."
That's when they each grabbed the sheet she was on and 1,2,3 jerked her higher up in the bed.
I did not hit them. I lost my "Christian" composure and told them in a very loud voice what I thought of them and the hospital. They both fled.
A short time later security came to talk to me.
I told them they weren't removing me until I talked to the ombudsman.
The young woman was pleasant enough and asked what the problem was.
I told her.
She said she'd notify the ombudsman.
I apologized to her for my outburst but that I still had a problem with the hospital. She said she understood and thanked me for the apology.
I later apologized to the nurses.

We kept asking when she could eat and were told "after the doctor saw her".
The doctor saw her at 9:10 pm, ten minutes after the kitchen closed.
She ate the other half.


Sunday, I did some stuff around the house to get the place ready for her sister coming to stay. 
When I got to the hospital room, the woman in the next bed had 6 adult and two (shreaking) toddler visitors. And they stayed past 10pm.

I complained to the staff, and although they kept saying they understood and would tell them they have to go, they didn't.
At 10pm a nurse went to tel them they had to leave, and a young "lady" said, "I'm spendin' the night wif my momma!".
She was told only one adult could stay.
She said, "My baby is staying with me an her grammy".


I said good night to Scherie and went down the hall.
I found the unit head and read her the riot act.
What were all these posters on the wall asking for quiet for recuperation when she knew exactly what was going on in the room?
This isn't a neighborhood dispute, this is a medical emergency.
I told her off and I left.
Scherie called a short while later and said she was in a private room.


I visited her there last night and she looked rough.
I talked to her and got her to sit up. Her dinner came, and I helped her to fix and eat it.
She started looking better but was in a lot of pain.


A doctor (one I liked) came in and explained that they didn't want to mask her symptoms with pain-killers so they could observe her faculties.
She was on Tylenol! With the occasional Vicodin.
He said that he was concerned and wanted to move her into ICU for more intense observation.
I told him my concerns about the staff and he looked appalled and suggested that I file a formal complaint.

They took her to ICU and I left her there around midnight.
Got up at 4:30 to be at work by 6am for a major product launch of which I was a key player.

Our friend Bonnie called me and offered to cook us dinner. I suggested that she call Scherie instead and give her some conversation.

Scherie's sister flew in to stay with us and I picked her up on my way home from work.

We drove to the hospital.

Our friend Bonnie was there, visiting.

Scherie has a bandage wrapped around her head like that guy playing the fife in the Revolutionary War painting.
Her scalp had been puffing out around her incision and she said this morning it was even larger. The doctors lanced it and a lot of fluid (not infection) was drawn. This relieved the pressure on her head and the pain tremendously.
She has 47 staples in a cross like pattern holding her scalp closed.

Bonnie had obviously worn her out visiting her and she wanted to sleep, so we left.
She looks a lot better.
And she was thrilled to see her sister.

Seems Simple Enough

If I left my gun out and my kid killed another kid, would I be responsible?
This president's team shipped guns to Mexican criminals.
An American border agent and numerous Mexicans died.
Why isn't someone in jail?

What Would Dad Do?

Remember that scene in "It's a Wonderful Life" where a young George Bailey doesn't know what to do about Old Man Gower mixing the wrong formulation?
He looks up at the cigar poster that says "What Would Dad Do?".

There are times I miss my dad.
But he did his job.
I know what dad would do.
When I wish he were around, I realize he is.
I carry a part of him with me.

On Fatherhood

I have three boys. One is bio, one is step and one is adopted.
One owns his business, one is a  CPO in the USN, and the other a federal inmate.
You do your best, there are no guarantees.
There is:
"Raise up your child in the way he should go and when he is old he shall not depart from it."
I often wonder how old he has to be.
I "adopted" a niece when she turned 18 and helped her through some rough times.
She calls me dad.
I walked her and her sister each down the aisle.
I am proud.

Obamandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Obamandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away". 


Apologies to Shelley


I posted this after it occurred to me.
I then googled it out of curiosity only to find that I am not the first. 
But I didn't steal it.

Hospital Life

Two things wall mounted electric hand dryers aren't good for:
1) Cleaning toilet seats.
2) Drying hands.

Scherie Update

Scherie is in a room now in NICU here at UM.
She's responsive. Has not talked to me yet but hears and obeys the nurses.
Her head is wrapped in bandages but I see hair sticking out.
They removed a lot of brain scar tissue.
She no longer has the thick plastic plate under her scalp.
It has been replaced by a titanium mesh, no adamantium :(
She will probably be released Sunday, but her head wil hurt.
Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.

Epilepsy Journal (final edition?)

Scherie's surgery is at 7:30 AM Friday.
Takes between 4-6 hours.
Taking more brain out, not just some minor scarring as I thought previously.
All hand crafted labor, no lasers, no robots.
Made in America.
All goes well, she's home Sunday night.
Just thought some of you would want to know.
Thank you to everyone praying for her.

It's Flag Day

If ya got 'em, fly 'em.

Remember the test question, "What item in this picture is unlike the others?"

Shopping News

(Old)NFO has a great list of major corporations and their political contributions.
You might be surprised who supports which.
And the Heinz was a surprise.
Home Depot surprised me, given it's support for gay rights.
Thanks NFO.

Ungrateful Disgrace

This clown would be the first to as the US military to save his butt, and the last to thank them for doing it.
Liberals. A national disgrace.
They should have to wear funny clothes and gather in large groups on the street so we can laugh at them.
Oh yeah. They do that already :)

68 Years Ago

My Dad, my friend Nate and some other guys went to the beach.
And changed the world.
Thanks.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Survives Recall Election, Fox News Projects

There is a God in Heaven, and all is right with the world.

A Facebook Exchange

Ed Bonderenka:
Yesterday at 7:31pm ·
I was listening somewhat to Neil Patrick Harris prattle on about his upcoming "marriage" to his "fiance" David. 
Now really. 
Isn't marriage between a man and a wife?
Check out the definition of wife.
Get a "union" but leave marriage alone.


Don: So who put you in charge of deciding that? I don't recall being asked.


Ed: You're right. You weren't asked.
I said: "Check out the definition of wife."
Did you do that?


Don: You asked if a marriage was "between a man and a wife" but never waited for an answer. First off, since when is "wife" a gender? Second, let me ask again who put you in charge of defining marriage for all of society?


Ed:   Wow, you skipped the whole "man and wife" and went to redefine "wife" rather than challenge the definition of marriage as "man and wife". Then you say I didn't wait for an answer, 
I'm still waiting.
If you can re-define "wife", why can't I... keep the historical definition of "marriage". Who is anybody to re-define it?
Sample of many definitions:
a woman joined in marriage to a man; a woman considered in relation to her husband; spouse. 2. a woman (archaic or dial., except in idioms): old wives' tale. keep the historical definition of "marriage". Who is anybody to re-define it?


Charity:  I have the smartest dad in the whole world! :-)


Fred:  I believe you were pretty specific on what you wanted Ed and you get hit with emotion over facts... Gays can do whatever the he'll they want but it doesn't change the fact that they're the same sex as one another and there for it cannot be ...a real "marriage". It clearly means a man and woman and not any other way. Even those people who change their sex aren't really changing their sex, just cause they have or don't have a penis any more doesn't change their sex (there is actual scientific proof backing that up)If they believe in marriage and the oh holy "god" and all his/her/it's meaning then they would respect what marriage is and who its for and leave it alone.


Don: Way to keep avoiding my question Ed. You asked if a marriage is between "s man and s wife". Aside from the fact that you're referring to one party based on gender and the other by duties, where do you come off presuming to define what a marriage is for all of society? The bigger question is this: what business of it is yours who Neil Patrick Harris marries?


Don: Ed's talking about Civil law here, though, so religion has nothing to do with it. Ed simply refuses to mind his own business.


Ron: Yup..Ed you are right! The sanctity of marriage, ( Divorce rate in the 30% range), needs to be Protected. Knowing that Adding "Our Relationships" to the mix would Improve the Success Rate.. (The Good Lord knows you don"t need us to Challeng...e that "Sanctity"), you can have your "Definition of Marriage". Call it what you wish, I feel we waste too much time and resources on the semantics of the issue. Recognize the Union, award us the same respect and rights! We Don't want or need your Approval. Keep Your Definition of "The American Family" as well, it's as narrow and bigoted as the Religious Right that Champions it's causes....


Don: If you step back and look at it, the basic problem here is that "marriage" really consists of two parts: the traditional, ritual-bound union that pretty much every church sanctifies and the set of legal rights that are bestowed by the ritua...See More


Ed:   Don, I agree, and many conservatives do. 
It was pretty much my point. 
Why redefine terms that have been accepted for centuries? 
Ron, if civil unions gave you the same rights, but without society's "blessing", would that be enough? Or to you need to force our "approval"?


Don: All that said, I still don't get why Doogie Howser's marital status is your concern.


Ed: What concerns me is what we consider "marital" status. 
I understand that you don't care, but I would have to suppose that "any" definition of marriage (ie poly-anything) would not concern you.


Don: It doesn't. I'd like to, just once, hear a legitimate reason why same-sex should be illegal. Please bear in mind that a religious argument is not legitimate and never is when discussing civil law.


Ed:  Marriage is an explicit approval of a relationship bestowed by the state. It is not a right. 
A large majority of this country does not approve.  And doesn't want to be forced to approve. 
Civil unions are a recognition sans approval.


Ron: The perception is.. this is less about the "Sanctity of Marriage, and more about the Right's narrow definition of "The American Family", and the protection of it's beliefs and standards. This Lifestyle is Not a Sin, and recognizing these rights is Not a compromise with the devil. Judgement does not suit you Ed.


Don: No, Ed, it's about the fact that Christians refuse to accept that the supreme law of the land is the Constitution, not their private rule book. They're all for freedom as long as it's applied to anyone who agrees with them.


Ron: BRAVO DON!


Ed:   ‎"The perception is.." that's your perception, Ron.
It's judgmental of you to call me judgmental.
I'll protect my "beliefs and standards".
Why is that bad?
"The lifestyle is not a sin". I didn't ring that up. I'm not out to offend you.
I like you. but I'm entitled to my beliefs, and not having others' forced on me..
and Don: Show me gay marriage in the Constitution. It is to laugh.


Don: You show me ANY mention of marriage in the Constitution.


Ed:   Then why did you bring up the Constitution?