Monday, July 27, 2009

True Blood Versus The Originals

I have to admit that I have really enjoyed most vampire movies since I was a little girl. I remember when I was 9 or 10 years old and saw the original Bela
Lugosi "Dracula" and Boris Karloff "Frankenstein" on the Friday night late movie back in the late 1950s. Later on I read the original novels, which were very occasionally like the movies.

So, I read all the original Charlaine Harris novels after the first season of True Blood. Of course, the first seasons scripts did make changes, which can sometimes be justified. I am just not sure that they can. This became glaringly the case during the present season. Now, I really have no particular druthers on the casting choices. However, the plot changes really make no sense to me at all -- and there are many. The show is almost an entirely different thing, with some gloss from the books. I am still watching it for the only reason that I can't quite believe what the producers have done! I don't know if it will turn into a train wreck yet; but, we will see.

Health Care Redux

Health care should never be for "profit" for an insurance industry -- or the medical industry, either. Extra money should always be re-invested into making things better.
Therefore, I have useful suggestions, which I believe will help in cost containment.
1. The government should pay for ALL medical education in American medical, nursing, and allied care fields. By doing this, the egregious cost of re-paying huge loans is assuaged. In addition, all recipients of this should give at least two years to the National Health Service (preferably five -- like a military academy graduate). This will go a long way into bringing up medical care in all areas of the country.
2. Malpractice: I have always wondered why American lawyers want just "to win" no matter what the truth may actually be. (I just saw the movie "Michael Clayton" last night.) In many ways I do prefer the British system of "truth finding" to be superior in this regard. If anyone is found to be so derelict to the true well-being of patients, not only should their licenses be removed but they should also "do time" in prison for mayhem. A decent living should also be assured to all victims of true malpractice -- as well as the disabled.
3. Single-payer and non-profit/not-for-profit insurances: There is no truth to the GOP rumours about health care in Canada and Britain. The most important thing we all can do for ourselves is to be proactive about our own health: see our doctor and dentist regularly; take all prescribed medications; take needed blood tests and other tests when prescribed (ie. colonoscopy; mammography; electrocardiogram, etc.). We cannot lie to ourselves that everything is OK until it is too late. Does your family have a high incidence of heart disease (mine does) or something else? Take charge! It is cheaper to be proactive.
4. Medications should all be subsidized. No one should have to worry about living versus eating, heat, shelter, etc.
Well, I may think of a few other things; however, this is a good start.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

More Stupidity From The Usual Suspects

I have tried to restrain myself. Really. However, I have to point and laugh at those who have no shame in revealing their deliberate stupidity to one and all.

Texas School Board: You know who "they" are. They are at the top of the list of causes of the dumbing down of American education because they -- and not individual school districts -- decide what books are to be used in Texas classrooms. Talk about the thought police. They are at it again. Eliminate Anne Hutchinson et al for Billy Graham et al(gag).

Senator Jeff Sessions: Enough said.

Senators who signed on to sponsor the ridiculous bill banning cross-species creation: What!!!!! (They are all GOP except for Mary Landreau of Louisiana. Maybe she thinks Swamp Thing is real.)