politics

UHC

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I didn’t know Melissa Mia Hall, but I do know this: she didn’t have to die. She shouldn’t have died, in fact, because the U.S. should have already instituted a universal health care system that would have ensured she was covered and could control costs. She shouldn’t have had to call her doctor and beg for meds because she couldn’t afford an office visit.

And now a Georgia judge has ordered the ACA completely dismantled. The ACA isn’t my favorite way to get to a decent health care system, but it’s what’s possible right now. If the Supreme Court strikes it down… well, let’s just hope that it prompts Americans to support Medicare Part E (for Everyone)–just expand the Medicare program to cover everyone and empower it to actually negotiate for drug prices as well as instituting sensible controls on the costs.

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In other news, yesterday was a crazy-ass day. More details later, if appropriate.

Randomness for 1/29

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1) Best Worst ad placement ever.

2) Marketing ebooks in brick-and-mortar stores. This is pretty damn cool. Too bad I don’t have any of this tech.

3) To respond to a previous Randomness: The United States of Awesome. Fucking Delaware.

4) Wall decorations that prove you’re a total grownup. “I simply haven’t met a boy yet who interests me! And until I do, I’d rather walk alone than date just anyone!”

5) “Hand monster!!!” Video.

6) Why I’ll never eat at a Chick-Fil-A.

7) Axe Cop… The Movie!

What worked in Tunisia might not work in Egypt

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But we can hope.
Protester kisses police officer in riot helmet

Good luck.

And it goes without saying that the Obama administration should be pressuring Mubarek to hold elections, right? And that he should be pressuring the Saudis royal family, too? Of course if does. It also goes without saying that he won’t do it in any substantial way.

Randomness for 1/26

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1) Which TV jobs go to which character?

2) The Comics Code Authority is dead.

3) I feel safer knowing this woman is in prison. Great work, authoritarian assholes!

4) The United States of Shame. Although I have no idea why Iowa, Ohio, or Utah should be ashamed of those things. (Go WA state!)

5) Dine like a Basil Fawlty customer (for some reason).

6) “If there’s a camel up a hill then it’s Gong Li with me…” Video. I laughed so hard at this that I actually cried, I kid you not.

7) A more serious video on redesigning medical information. Hell yes.

Five things make a post.

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First, early reaction to the sample of A Key, An Egg, An Unfortunate Remark is pretty good. I have to write much more of it before submission (it’s about 30% finished) but early signs are positive.

Second, there’s a gorgeous sunrise outside my window, all blue and pink. The sun will be above the cloud level soon, turning the day into the usual dismal gray, but this was nice.

Third, I’m making good progress on the synopsis of The Twisted Path aka Twenty Palaces 4

Fourth, I’ve seen exactly two of the movies on the Oscar nomination list, and both of those are up for less showy awards. I’m not particularly embarrassed by this lack but it does mean that I’m unable to take part in the blog discussions of it. See also:

Fifth, I skipped last nights State of the Union address, so I can’t comment on it. See? No blog material.

Back to work.

Randomness for 1/25

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1) A dating service for people who like white hats with anchors.

2) A hotel that’s free to stay at… but it’s decorated with beach trash.

3) You should date an illiterate girl.

4) From boiling water to instant fog. Video. Now that’s cold.

5) Casting the 1940’s version of Harry Potter films. Too many of the biggest stars of the day, but fun to think about.

6) Phelps family protests the movie RED STATE. A counter-protest breaks out. Some NSFW text.

7) Five Angry Birds status updates.

Randomness for 1/15

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1) Why you shouldn’t text and walk. Video.

2) Five self-defense books for women who want to lose a fight. Comic Life put to good use, I say. via Martha Wells.

3) Casey Kasem might curse at me for following a funny bit with a sad one, but Reading as Comfort.

4) Perspective on the “Tiger Mother” book, via Douglas Triggs. It’s interesting to hear the way the WSJ edited Chua’s book to make it seem like she’d written a manual for creating “model minority” children. And by “interesting” I mean “fucked up.”

5) Nothing is Forgotten. A webcomic.

6) Pixar’s sculpture zoetrope. Wow. Video. via Tor.com

7) “But if you’re going to go there, you have to go there. If this feels safe, comfortable, or affirming, you’ve done something wrong.” Ta-Nehisi Coates on the Confederacy, but there’s a lot to think about for anyone who needs to do a little world-building.

Randomness for 1/12

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1) Commissioner Gordon is a Jerk.

2) What’s it like living in Playboy Mansion? Apparently, the answer is: rigidly schduled.

3) Drill Close to Reaching 14-Million-Year-Old Antarctic Lake.

4) Hoping for a big time Hollywood deal? Hah!

5) Muslims protect Christians.

6) Don’t buy your comics from this asshole.

7) “Inland tsunami” sweeps away cars in Toowoomba, Australia. Video part one. Video part two.

Five things make a post

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1- It’s snowing. This isn’t going to be one of those big storms that hit other parts of the country, but it’s still pretty. (Added later: coming down harder now)

2- I’m a little behind where I want to be on the copy edit, but I’m well ahead of where I need to be to return it to my publisher on time. The rush is mostly about productivity (without letting quality suffer).

3- No one needs to find a backlog of Glenn Beck shows on the AZ killer’s TIVO to speak out against the rhetoric of violence in modern American cultural/political discussion. Personally, I’m sick of it and yes, at the moment this is a tactic that conservatives are using. I wish the heads of the G.O.P. would speak out against it the way McCain [tried to, badly, when Obama was accused of being an “Arab” by a woman who almost certainly meant “Muslim”] during the last presidential campaign.

4- As a not-so-side issue, I’m also sick of the way we as a culture denigrate our government. Most every candidate runs as an outsider determined to change the way things are done. Obama certainly did. I’d rather see us have a clearer view of our public servants; no, they’re not always great. They are often quite good, though, and doing their best to serve the constituents who voted for them.

5- Watched SHARPE’S RIFLES yesterday. A pretty good movie, but those Chosen Men sure did reload quickly when the camera was on other people. My wife leaves for work in an hour and my son is still sleeping. Hopefully I’ll be able to squeeze in IRON MAN 2.

Randomness for 1/6

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1) Woman laughing alone with salad.

2) “How’s Your Poor Feet!” Manly slang of the 19th century.

3) The year according to Tom Toles. Excellent.

4) Amazon.com pulls ebook that explains how to game its sales rankings. What? You mean Amazon’s sales rankings aren’t worth anything? Who could have known?

5) Are you a Comic Sans Criminal?

6) Countries winning the fight against poverty, in a way that’s so simple no one in the U.S. will believe it.

7) A new white person complaint, daily.