And there is no more.

When you draw your line, you've got to be prepared to defend your flanks. If your enemy finds a way around, your position and tactics are compromised. There are a number of strategies you can employ at this point, you can look them up if you want, but suffice to say the bulk of these lead to retreat. Then you regroup and restage to reform a more defensible line.

Unfortunately, however, if that keeps up for long, you reach a place where there is no exit. All your lines are gone and somebody else is doing the drawing. If you surrender, you might be tolerated. If you resist, are a criminal.

There is really no limit to how far it can go. Everything you think that has value only has value here and now and only because you are there to give it value. The value is not the thing itself, but your perception of the thing.

It can all be lost forever like a kite in the wind.

Sleep and eat.  That's what I'm supposed to do.  All the while I'm being endlessly hounded by countless minions of policy with the triple-press forms of death.  Sign here, initial that, give us the right to banish my cat.  Miss one question, or check the wrong box, include the wrong receipt, and my coverage is canceled.  I can refuse but my coverage will be canceled.  If I get agitated we won't feel safe and I will get arrested and my coverage will be canceled.  And after the policy review, for some reason unbeknownst, my coverage might be canceled. I might consider getting a lawyer or that is it: I am out of the system.

Just so, I can get the drugs, that keep me alive, but can't make me well - in fact they make me feel sick. I have to go to the doctor to get the right drugs, and I have to go to the lab so he can measure the results. Then back to the pharmacy to pick up another script, or not. Repeat for 30 years.

Swoosh.

Become one or die and be one.  You figure it out.

X-mas Redux

For months Mom has been trying to get me to set a date for a trip home this Christmas. I didn't get to go the last couple of years, so she has a point. I actually promised her back on Mothers Day that I would "make it happen".

Well today she called and it turns out my sister-in-law has "scheduled" to have her 3rd baby right in the middle of November! Oh that is such wonderful news!! I am so glad everything is OK. So have I made any plans to go home yet? No, Mom, I haven't really thought about it this week. "Well, I guess that's for probably for the best since it will just be so crazy around here."

The truth is that they don't want me anywhere near the newborn. There is an infinitesimal chance that I could infect the baby with pneumonia. Suddenly, science sounds all rational. I'm sure it's best for everybody. I really do understand.

So let me be the first to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! Shit that's going to take a lot more practice.

Republicans Hate Children

I just saw Trent Lott (R - Mississippi) glibly condemn 60,000 kids from his own fucking state to suffer needlessly and quite possibly die.

The president wants to remove 100,000 MORE children from SCHIP. I'm sure it's about some principal or another.

All they really care about is themselves.

American Health Care

What could be worse than living through your brain being eaten away from the inside???

What can't think of anything? How about being blind and having cancer and being thrown off your balcony because it is too expensive to pay for your care.

Even death will not end the pathetic and meaningless posturing and judgement. A Navy Vet, nonetheless.

I really am tired of this world. I don't know how to say that any clearer.

AAA Slime

For some reason, the markets are all confused. On paper, the economy looks fine. All the people who make their living in finance are making money hand-over fist. So, by their beloved Reaganomics, they "trickle it down" to us consumer grade folk and we're all obviously living large.

Oh except those gross subprimes. Those lazy bastards who actually believed the refi marketing hype. But now they be overextended and can't pay they notes, and shit. But don't you worry, the goldilocks economy is doing great! The market is higher than ever! Just look at these numbers!

Wait, now, I can explain. Some of the A Lines are, well, defaulting. Well, more than usual, in fact, maybe a lot more. No big deal, everybody relax, it only means that we have to readjust everybody's credit rating, just a little bit, down.

It only means that more people than ever will have bad credit or no credit at all. Our economy is based on profits, not credit - right?!

I look at it this way: I could have been a AAA Line guy. I could have the credit collectors calling about that $30 million dollar loan, remember?! How do you plan to pay that back exactly, Jack? Have you had these assets recently appraised, Jack?

But this does not mean that the economy is ill. Stop saying that! Sure there are some inequalities, but only for the stupid people, really. We've got to thin the heard. It's only nature. It will all work out eventually. You know, status quo.

Right now it looks like gas could raise up to $4.50 before it really began to "adversely affect demand". Hence, $4.50 becomes the target price, since that is what the market will bear. So when you see the gas at $4.44, and you start to wonder in your mind how your going to stop using so much gasoline, remember I told you today, it's too late. You can do something right now. You can move your demand curve. Not a gesture, nor token, nor misdirected rage. Just make a simple plan. A simple way to cut down on the gas you need, forever. Combining trips, a different route, a carpool on Tuesdays, sell your car, be creative. When the price of gas falls back to $3.44, you keep the plan going. Find better and better ways. Improve your generous yield. Grow your human capital. Reinvest the dividend of your fine time.

Care for the plants and animals. Care for the birds and the fishes. Care for the children and their mothers. Care for the sisters and the brothers. Care for the sick and the needy. Care for the friends and the enemies. Care for the men and their weary souls. Care for all this and care for all of us.

The ability to care is a fundamental part of the true gift of being human. It's risky, but don't give up on it. They may seem little or insignificant but so what they're your cares. Just care good, you only get one shot.

Medco + Walgreens = Death

“Medcations that you need for more that 3 months are considered "maintenance medications" and are not covered by your prescription insurance.”

You know, one dude gets messed up in fighting dogs and everybody has condemned him to "a special place in hell". You christians can be so colorful in your language.

Yet when men fight each other we turn it into a reality TV show.

When a soulless corporate abstraction determines they could save a buck by making me suffer - it's not wrong. "We" have a law that makes that a requirement for them to try and make a profit off our fears of getting sick. Of course when you do finally get sick (and you ALL WILL GET SICK) you are no longer covered.

Stupid Americans. The price of gas will never go down. You will get sick before you get rich.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS MURDER

Monster Hoax

Damn, well, I've seen some big ugly pigs, but nothing quite like that.

If there is one single word that most accurately describes this world it's "unfortunate".

Y'all have fun.