Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good point, Craig!

Rez -- I met your niece on Saturday -- she is such a beautiful young woman. Really appreciated her coming!

>(*V*)<

craig, superb job! you win the avis trailus miximus, the "avi".

Nope, don't particularly trust elections, here, there, or anywhere.

I read the article you linked about Howard Dean Jamie. I like him and I think he got the royal shaft from his party. Not really sure exactly why.

I am getting to see one serious problem with the health care system/Medicare for myself. A friend of mine's mother is in her 70s. She is bored and very obsessed with her health. She uses health care for her entertainment. I have seen that fairly often in older people.

She thinks she knows so much more than any of her health care practitioners. She goes from Dr. to Dr, mostly specialists. I can't even count how many she has been through in the last year. She is staying down here with her daughter but also travels to another state and hits several Drs there. She addicted.

She's having the same tests, expensive ones, over and over and over by different physicians and I can't see how medicare is paying for all this.

She has some early dementia so I'm not sure she even remembers what she is doing so I can't really blame her. Her daughter, who she lives with, fusses at her but she pays no attention to her.

If she can get away with this, you know there are many others doing the same thing. Something is terribly wrong with the system that allows this. There should be some sort of flag that comes up somewhere saying how many damn echocardiograms do you need lady? Now if there are many others doing the same thing then stopping this BS can cut a significant amount out of our health care costs.

I think even without a total overhaul, there are things like this flaw in this system that if found and corrected can really cuts some costs.

Also I think Medicare/Medicaid needs a formulary. Have less expensive, but tried and effective medications included. Have an option to include other more expensive medications but make the practitioner go to a little work to prescribe them. Requiring a little work will eliminate a lot of over prescribing.

We can cut significant health care costs by KISS. Keeping it simple, stupid. Some of this debate may be just a game to make it look like someone is trying to do something. These health care entities put a lot of money into the pockets of our politicians. Now who wants to bite the hand that feeds them???

sorry about the lack of a gold statue or gold star to present you, but the "avi" created by ivy in the last thread seems a fitting symbol of appreciation for valor from all of us twittering, tweeting trail mixers to our courageous and gracious host.

good morning, patsi, ct here valiantly stood up for the cause in your absence this weekend. she invoked your name as well as your fervour in her spirited remarks. you would have benn proud.

ct, you deserve a belate avi. >(*V*)<

oops. seems i'm missing a few letters, words and marbles this morning.

"A friend of mine's mother is in her 70s. She is bored and very obsessed with her health. She uses health care for her entertainment."

I hate to say it, Carol -- but I'm seeing the same thing among some friends and acquaintances.

Pat, I think I might have got us both in trouble though.

Pat -- I haven't gone back over the threads....but I can imagine it was about the Letterman BS. I am so disgusted with the acceptance of ugly, misogynistic thinking and talking that I can't even start on it. It's a new world out there. Younger and younger girls are subjected to disturbing, sexually suggestive public "jokes" and liberals shrug it off. And now it has become out-of-bounds to even question it. I thought we fought those battles in the 70s. Obviously not well enough.

Yep Patsi, it's like it never happened.

Even had a book suggestion for you Patsi but I'm sure you are little pooped in that area. It would be titled "Thoughts from Two Old Southern Feminazis, What we can Share But You Won't Care."

Well off the pay the bills. Ya'll have a good day.

Good title, Carol! Love it.

"Ayatollah Ali Khamenei orders inquiry into vote-rigging claims in Iranian poll"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/15/iran-opposition-rally-banned-mousavi

patsi, re women obsessing on health may pay off. uk research shows men in worse shape.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8097639.stm

patd -- I don't know...actually at least in my circles, it isn't just women....I know a lot of men who seem to live for the next visit to the doc...:)

mornin'

Craig, kudos.

"Ayatollah Ali Khamenei orders inquiry into vote-rigging claims in Iranian poll" - now that's likely to uncover voting fraud - when pigs fly. There is little doubt i my mind that the vote in Iran was rigged. The interesting thing to watch will be the reaction of the Iranian prople to it.

ROFL, when pigs fly indeed, Pogo! What a hoot...and you are right....it'll be interesting to see what happens in the streets.

Great thought, Craig. I also thought the same thing,however, the US pretends to be transparent and allows monitoring during elections. Iran does not. Iranian elections are notorious for the ridiculous. Landslide for the A-man? The big lie...which took me right back to Florida..where Bushco stole the day and our Supreme Court blessed his elevation to POTUS. Iran wrote the book on election fraud and probably Rove took a few pages from their book.

BlondeW -- I've been thinking about you and your husband -- how are the treatments going?

Medicare reimbursements for routine tests are _really_ low--small numbers of pennies on the dollar. Expensive tests often require pre-approval by CMS.

What kills medicare is expensive chronic conditions such as mine where reimbursements amount to the better part of $100k per year with the actual billings around $200k.

BW, I think James Baker orchestrated the actual Florida Bloodless Coup. Rove, of course, was the political force in the campaign. But, Baker stepped in and saved the day.

We ? We had absolutely nothing to do with the 2000 election it was rigged from the beginning just as Iran's recent election. Whats the difference? I think Blonde hit it .

Considering that Akmadenijad was thought to be the hand-picked puppet of the ruling Mullahs, I don't expect to see pigs dive bombing pedestrians any time soon.

Hi Patsi...hubby appears to be fine as we have to wait a few more months for a follow-up scan. I think of you often because I purchased cancer insurance for myself based on your comment about your parents. Thank you! I am still recovering from a broken hand and my plans of an active summer are a bit dashed. So, I am growing corn. And we still have that hospital bill...they exhausted hubby's yearly benefits. The bottom line in heath care costs...things are expensive, human services are discounted. Doctors get paid less than surgical equipment. Sad.

" Doctors get paid less than surgical equipment. Sad."

That really IS sad.

BW, I'm really happy that your husband is doing well. Watch the corn grow--it's therapeutic.

Hi Flatus...been eating a ton of tofu which always reminds me of you and Stinky making tofu! We have been eating out of the backyard garden...veggies go right in the stir fry.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/we-have-no-standing-to-complai.html#comment-236359

ct

I agree with you. There has to be some limit on use. Sure there are doctors who just want to keep the money rolling in and there are patients who abuse the system. How do you control the costs on them while preventing a serious condition being missed.

The thing that might help in the situation you describe is all medical records being computerized at least with Medicare so that some sort of red flag went up over repeated tests within a short period of time.

It is such a juggling act between stories such as your friend and the ones who can't get the care they need at a reasonable cost.

BW, I wish I had your green thumb (sans associated breaks :). Our gardens never do well here in South Carolina. And the little beasties are eating more than the fair share we allot for them. We have the state's most contented rabbits.

We do have a weekly farmers' market about a mile from us. Stinky chose the best green beans that we've had in years. They actually tasted like real vegetables!

This morning I made plum jam from the plums one of our friends brought over yesterday afternoon. They're from a tree in her yard that suddenly decided to produce fruit after 12-years of just sitting there looking pretty.

I never put pectin in any of my jams or marmalades. I just boil until the temperature reaches 222, then my work is done except for the bottling and cleanup.

Khamenei has ordered an investigation of the Iran election. It is probably just to quiet people but Khamenei does have to convince the other Ayatollas to support Ahmahdenijab

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/15/iran-opposition-rally-banned-mousavi

Jamie...interesting points about the future of American medicine and health. I do know GE is well-positioned in the medical billing records software...may explain their extreme push in getting Obama elected via their cable outlets. However, the change is needed. As I stated above, it is not the human cost of medical procedures, but the cost of medical equipment. Many doctors make less than a real estate broker on some surgeries! Too bad they do not work on commission. Too bad I can't pay my medical bill by the pound!

Craig....
ah yes.... not being able to claim the high ground when it comes to election fraud.... another wonderful legacy the last administration left us with....

Bwino.... the thought of your hospital bill still pisses me off....
and Rick and I had tofu with supper last night.... we went to a local chinese restaurant that makes a wonderful dish called "vegetarian paradise".... lots of crispy veggies and tofu in a delicious sauce.... I wish you and hubby the best...

and speaking of corn.... 14 of my seeds have sprouted.... I don't know how... we're having the most abysmal weather this June.... we kinda had June weather in April.... and are now having April weather in June....

Flatus...plums are the new pomegranates!

patd

Sorry I didn't see that you had grabbed that Guardian article.

Patsi

Welcome back. I am really enjoying the Garth book. How has the tour gone so far. You would have been proud of Carol. She really carried the banner for you while you were away.

RR

Our weather is awry this year, too. Seems like spring and we have not gotten our usual string of 100 degree days.

I am still working on the hospital bill....our portion is down to $7000. after countless hours of work. Of all of the procedures, etc., the hospital is now the queen bee of high cost. Black hole sucking money from your pockets as you enter the doors.

ivy, re dog bones. best bone for chewing rather than house valuables for my dogs is the galileo made by nylabone. here are some ratings on it. it's expensive comparatively speaking but lasts longer according to my vet, any of the nylabones are preferable to real bones. my dogs also really like the wishbone and circle shaped nylabones as well as the galileo.

http://www.viewpoints.com/Nylabone-Galileo-review-3ea25

more info, reviews and picture.
http://www.petco.com/product/2566/Nylabone-Galileo-Bone.aspx#description

RR...great news about the corn. I am really enjoying the yard this year. I am also bird watching...it is a good year for the birds. No flu.

oh and I forgot I wanted to say...

Patsi.... welcome home.... please tell us about your weekend....

and I think the problem with older people going to multiple doctors isn't so much for entertainment as it is that they are lonely and needing attention.... it's hard being a care giver for the elderly.... it's hard listening to their physical complaints.... especially if that's all they talk about.... OTOH, doctors have to listen to them.....

I noticed this with my father in a recent doctor's visit I attended with him....
I realized maybe I need to listen to him more and not just dismiss his complaints as "hey, you're just getting old".... maybe I can't do anything about his aches and pains.... but I can listen... or at least try....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/we-have-no-standing-to-complai.html#comment-236397

renee, and don't forget how therapeutic the human touch can be... for some, the closest thing to a hug is when their dr/rn listens to their heart and measures their blood pressure. perhaps we could save some healthcare dollars by setting up a hug-me service.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/we-have-no-standing-to-complai.html#comment-236357

Thx Patsi. . .Nichole, SIL's kid, she's smart and engaged (politics) too and that's most important to me.

I'm looking forward to reading up on an Okie boy done good. My brother use to live in Yukon. The town had/has? "Home of GB " painted on it.

btw, I saw on CNN a report of a tornado touching down in Sublet on Sunday. Isn't that your old stomping grounds? :-)

interesting update on iran happenings

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/

Howard Dean is doing a great job defending the public option. He even corrected Noroh on three false statements that came right out of the Republican/Big Insurance talking points.

Rez -- Be sure and tell your niece that I thought she was a real beauty -- gorgeous skin! I would have mentioned it then but thought I'd sound weird! ha...I did tell her that her uncle has a really funny sense of humor and is one of my favorites on the net.

And yes! That's my hometown! We are directly in Tornado Alley -- the same corner of our roof was lifted off twice through the years. I've been trying to track some hometown folks on my Facebook page to see if any damage was done. (Haskell County has the distinction of being the flattest county in Kansas...)

It is interesting that some folks can afford to see a doctor for entertainment....almost bullemic. I feel my brother has some hypochondriacal tendencies and he is able to get tested because he has excellent health insurance. It is supposed to be preventative, but he may be wasting services on his fears of the disease du jour. And he found an excellent pill doctor in the process.

I think the 2004 election, Diebold, and the Ohio voting machine locations are much more disturbing than the Supreme Court effort. While I'm not usually much of a conspiracy person, it's an odd coincidence that the Diebold CEO died in a plane crash and a Bush family friend took over the business. That and add the fact that computer security experts have proven that the early machines were easy to manipulate. They used two sets of books, one for reporting results and one for verifying the vote.

Some people aren't going to be happy, but if we go to a single payer or government sponsored health care plan there's a good chance that terminal care is going to have to move into a hospice plan with pain killer rather than the very expensive major (there's a term for it, I can't think of it) treatments now undertaken. Britain has had to do this under their system.

Blondie, I can go to a doc any time for $20. One of the last things I need to do is pay $20 to be reminded that I'm suffering from advancing age. :-)

It is an interesting phenomenon, though, watching people have what I take as "meaningful" interactions with store clerks, waiters and waitresses, nurses, bank tellers and other frontline service folks as if they are old, dear friends.

don, I think you are talking about palliative care supplanting therapeutic care.

Pogo...my friend in her 70s has stopped telling her doctor of all of her aches and pains...he will just give her more tests and pills for her old age according to her. No limit to the $20 visits? Hypochrondriac nirvana.

Don 1...nothing wrong with hospice. It was the choice of both of my parents over hospital treatment.

However, I think the age of the patient is important in health care...do we throw thousands at an older person to save their life or to a child whose life is ahead of them? Tough medical choices. Moral decisions.

Must call the hospital...denying any more credits on the invoice. Time to make payment arrangements, but I have worked the bill as much as I can. It has been interesting to say the least...and the last threat from the nurse auditor...we really could have charged you more!

If solving the health care riddle were easy we would have done it years ago. The AMA, big Pharma, big Insurance, to say nothing of the trial lawyers, and a slew of others with a financial stake in the current system are going to fight tooth and nail to impede any real change in the system. Opening Medicare up to younger folks, with a corresponding increase in the medicare tax, may be the only change we are likely to see, if we see that. I'm not particularly encouraged.

Bill Maher Takes On Obama: "This Isn't What I Voted For" (VIDEO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/bill-maher-takes-on-obama_n_215338.html

One thing about stealing an election, it's cheaper than rising an army.

don, was the word you're looking for "catastrophic"?

"The AMA, big Pharma, big Insurance, to say nothing of the trial lawyers, and a slew of others with a financial stake in the current system are going to fight tooth and nail to impede any real change in the system."

pogo, unfortunately, you are so very right.
one avenue to take toward change would be for the disgruntled of the status quo to band together in coops (if they can find willing health care providers) and set up their own systems.

play a little guitar?

http://www.playalittleguitar.com/

Thought for the day :
" Who to himself is law, no law doth need. "

Good morning, all--

Craig hit the nail on the head with this one. Same thing I've thought since the 2000 election, only more coherently. Conciseness not my strong point.

Meanwhile, a thought comes to me, along w/Dwight Yoakam's song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUHI1T-NTME

and Dwight's comment that he wrote the song after hearing a friend observe of another friend "his brain must look like the inside of a clown's pocket--"

I wish I could think of Ahmadinejad as a clown and then I'd wonder what the inside of his pocket looks like--but he's about as scary and crazy as a Stephen King clown so I don't.

(Now if he were from a my little southern hometown and this suspicion of fraud came up, we'd know it was bribe money in the pocket--)

1937 Waylon Jennings singer of innumerable country songs (Ramblin' Man)
1941 Harry Nilsson [Johnny Niles], laid-back singer/songwriter

763 -BC- Assyrians record total solar eclipse event on clay tablet
1215 King John signs Magna Carta at Runnymede, England
1389 Battle of Kossovo; Turks defeat Serbs, Bosnians
1520 Pope threatens to toss Luther out of Catholic Church
1567 Jews are expelled from Genoa Italy
1590 Pope Leo X threatens to ex-communicate Martin Luther
1664 NJ established
1775 George Washington appointed commander-in-chief of American Army
1844 Goodyear patents vulcanization of rubber
1864 Battle for Petersburg begins as Gen Grant assaults Confederate line
1871 Phoebe Couzins is 1st woman graduate of a US collegiate law school
1919 1st nonstop Atlantic flight (Alcock & Brown) lands in Ireland
1924 Ford Motor Company manufactures its 10 millionth automobile
1924 Native Americans are proclaimed US citizens
1951 1st commercial electronic computer dedicated Phila
1956 John Lennon (15) & Paul McCartney (13) meet for the 1st time as Lennon's rock group The Quarrymen perform at a church dinner
1967 Gov Reagan signs liberalized California abortion bill
1986 Pravda announces high-level Chernobyl staff fired for stupidity
1991 Philippines volcano Mount Pinatubo errupts

imho, as the percentage of women doctors increases, we'll probably see a similar decrease in physcian pay scale. and the inverse would probably happen with the increase of males in nursing positions.

speaking of another expensive health care area, wonder what the numbers show comparatively in those states that encourage midwifery vs those that don't.
here's an interesting wiki piece on it in uk:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwife#Midwifery_in_the_United_Kingdom

File under, "It would be nice if you had asked first".

We don't need to ask for any stinking permission. We are the Obama administration.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/Forgot-to-ask-file

The closer the election the more subject it is to the kind of 'fraud' that occurs in every election. Wanna talk about Chicago, 1960? What happened in Iran, it would seem, is at least on a different scale, and therefore different.

By the way, had Al Gore carried his own state of Tennessee, Florida would not have mattered. Eight years as Vice-President and he couldn't build an effective base in his own home state?

sturg - verrrrry cool site.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01013/bermuda-elbow_1013252c.jpg

TIR,
That picture of Bermuda from your link is so beautiful. The water and sky are so blue, it looks fake. I've been to Hawaii, but never Bermuda. That picture is enough to make me want to.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/we-have-no-standing-to-complai.html#comment-236415

KT, You're post really made me think about the things you said. I was trying to picture the inside of a clowns pocket, but wasn't sure what I'd find there. :)
(lint, balloons, whistles, toys?)

here's an al jazeera's inside story interview on current situation in iran.
warning it's 24 minutes long.

http://enduringamerica.com/2009/06/15/iran-enduring-americas-shirvin-zeinalzadeh-on-al-jazeera/

What's in a clown's pockets ?

Well , I've got 56 cents in mine.

All in small change, no big denominations like quarters.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/we-have-no-standing-to-complai.html#comment-236404

Don1one

Quite a while back a politician got into trouble by having the honesty to say, eveyone owes a death. People used to die in their own homes surrounded by loved ones saying so long it's been good to know you.

Now too many live through final months of agony of "just one more procedure" to assuage the guilt of their children when they would much rather just pop off in a nice opiate haze.

Hospice is a good thing and as we have discussed here often, get your directions to the doctor in writing so the relatives will just have to follow your decisions.

LOL CBob!
.... pennies, nickles and dimes. What more could one ask for.

", get your directions to the doctor in writing so the relatives will just have to follow your decisions."

Good. Always worth repeating Jamie.

Cbob

Start quoting Chapman and pretty soon you will be expecting ethical behavior.

Who to himself is law, no law doth need,
Offends no law, and is a king indeed.

GEORGE CHAPMAN

C Bob,

Harry could be intense -- in his caring, his anger, his pursuit of the dad who vanished (and who turned up years later as the A Number One scout who built most of Cincinnati's Big Red Machine in the 70's).

He was a great collaborator in so many ways. But his songs rarely share creative credits: they didn't need to as Harry was quite a human wellspring of expression.

Here is something that stands out even among his songs -- a lyric he co-wrote with the art of rock and roll's true polymath Klaus Voorman.

It's name is Salmon Falls.

Each drop of rain
Falls a million times its own length
To crash upon earth's floor
And with its pain causes life to start anew
Each second lights its way magically through your entire life
Like a salmon traveling upstream to its final destination
And with its goal in sight
Life ends to start anew

Each man lives far beyond his span
And rides the life of all mankind
And not until his kind is past will he
And not until you die
Will each second of your life conclude
And not until it crashes against the earth
Will a drop of rain have fallen
Not until all men are dead will you die
And life will start anew
And you will have traveled
A million times your own time

And magically
And magically
Salmon falls
Magically

Something more idiomatic of Harry's will follow...

patd... hugsRus is my motto.... I always hug my parents upon entering their residence and upon leaving.... and if I met you (or any other tmer) expect a big one....

KT.... "It" was the first Stephen King book I read.... I was surprised to see a good friend who loves literature as much as I do reading it.... King writes very well.... and needless to say.... I'll never look at clowns quite the same way as I did before I read it....

I think what's disappointing many on the left at the moment on Obama's healthcare plan is that many really thought he was going to completely change the system and bring in a universal single payer one...... but he never said that during his campaign.... and I remember every time one of us pointed out that fact, we were told were wrong and/or had sour grapes over Hillary not winning....

(Thursday) Here's Why I Did Not Go To Work Today Lyrics

Here's why I did not go to work today...

Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday has its own peculiar way
Of saying "hey"

Sometimes Thursday almost
Makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day

Yeah, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Let's go have a picnic
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Hope it doesn't rain

When I'm feeling Thursday
I go and have a drink
If Thursday was a boat I bet it'd sink

I did on Monday
I tried on Tuesday
Wednesday's simply not my cup of tea
Thank Heaven it's Friday
Thank the Lord for the weekend
Thursday now, that's such a crazy, lazy day

They say Monday's child is full of grace
Tuesday's child is fair of face
Thursday's child has far to go
And it's no wonder
When the week becomes a rat race
You can bet, win, show or place
But never bet on Thursday
'Cause God's not on its case

Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Don't get me wrong
It's just that Thursday's twice as long as it should be
It's Twice as long

Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, Fridays
Don't get in my way
But Thursday's just a crazy, lazy day

Monday is a blues day
That goes for Tuesday
Wednesday's just the middle of the week, yeah mm
Friday is just another payday
The weekend's just another heyday
But Thursday's surreptitiously unique

That's why I didn't go to work today

Thursday's got its own peculiar way
Of saying "hey"
Sometimes Thursday makes you want to run away

Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day

Newsweek. Being poor hurts - literally

http://www.newsweek.com/id/202012

CBob.... ROFL!

and for those who would like to see the rerun of Maher's program..... it's run again tonight on HBO at 8pm EST.....

Just a coincidence? Was Top Dem trading on information gleaned from a closed door meeting? The mutual funds were sold, and the stock purchased on the day after the meeting, but when were the orders placed? I would like to see the dates and times these orders were placed.times, as they may have been entered on the close of business of 9/18, for the sale and purchase to take place on the 19th. I wish these investigative reporters would investigate the whole story before having it published. I mean the way this story is written one could conclude that Sen Durbin may have taken advantage of information not available to the public. I think the Senate ethics committee should immediately start a full investigation to clear the good name of Sen. Durbin from any wrong doing.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/1620776,CST-NWS-durbin13.article

http://www.suntimes.com/news/blogentries/index.html?bbPostId=Cz92rnFRd7GOJCzEwW8TMs1knhCz26kSsdJH01XB9NWgE6vERel&bbParentWidgetId=B8k88rWwXopuz5STgLeVwBLu

Jamie,
I liked that quote so much that I felt the need to look at some other George Chapman quotes. The first that came up was "Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most always like it the least. ". Smart guy, and he wrote that so long ago. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_chapman.html

http://tinyurl.com/Perfect-Timing

Hi Chloe and CB--just a hint of how yours truly's mind works.;) When Craig mentioned yesterday that I was "committed" to being here he should have said "she should BE committed for the strange tracks her mind runs on." LOL

I've actually ruminated myself about what's in the pockets of some of the clowns in Congress--money from the AMA, insurance lobbyists, big pharma, big oil, big coal--a few with phone numbers for escorts--and I'm pretty sure Sen. Burris DID at one time have Gov. Blagoevich's brother's number in his--

while the ex-Gov himself surely has volumizing shampoo, conditioner, hair spray and a brush in his, despite his claims of poverty--

Feel free to throw something at me at any time to stop me--:D

"Each drop of rain
Falls a million times its own length
To crash upon earth's floor
And with its pain causes life to start anew
Each second lights its way magically through your entire life"

Really beautiful, 911.

No KT. Don't stop! I love the way your mind works. :)

The question you asked about what's in the pockets of those in Congress made me realize how much you can tell about a person by what's in his pockets. I love the free association type of thinking, where one thing freely leads to the next. I especially like the fact that you never know where you'll end up when it's over.

Chloe,

There is a pretty much universally acclaimed documentary about Harry. Its name? "Who Is Harry Nilsson And Why Is Everybody Talking About Him?"

The real question has become why are we not seeing this movie and talking about why and when is this happening.

The filmmakers' previous film was the first rate "The U.S. vs. John Lennon". (My favorite Lennon doc? I think its name is "John and Yoko: The Year of Peace" which uses so much wonderful interview footage to recreate their year of peace rallies in Canada.)

It is VERY hard to get distribution for movies -- all sorts of movies, particularly as theaters keep closing. But these people seem obsessed with getting just enough limited distribution to be rewarded with an Oscar nomination. (!?)

So now they have waited several years for that magic to happen. In that time direct to DVD sales have suffered... so it is less likely they would make the rights money from that they would have two or three years ago.

Here's the link to the trailer on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmmwMx06Pg8

Craig,

I haven't had a chance to review everyone's comments and someone may have already said this, but I'd just take issue with one part of today's post. It's not that we "elected" the wrong guy in 2000.

They just "swore in" the wrong guy.

You're right though. Our recent record gives the U.S.A. no standing on this one.

Hey, CBob--thanks for the reminder of Waylon's Bday. Lord, I miss him--

Who's as dumb as Jon and Kate?

Apparently the Group of 8 --

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aq3lMVEOm878

I wonder... was any one of them shaking an umbrella and mooing "Victory in our time"?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/we-have-no-standing-to-complai.html#comment-236444

9/11

"Who Is Harry Nilsson" turns up on IFC and some of the Premium channels at regular intervals. I love Paul Williams calling him a "bunny rabbit with sharp teeth".

Thanks for the clip 911.
The same page had a link to Nilssons 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE2_Svc0jbU&feature=related
Unbelievable.... what a voice. I'll have to see if I can download it on itunes. I remember how much I loved his Nilsson Schmilsson album.

NEW THREAD.. http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/06/three-stories-for-the-weirdnes.html

Hmm, if it was a woman clown, there would undoubtedly be a least one safety pin.

Musical things I didn't know had happened. Paul Williams was elected Chairman of ASCAP with Jimmy Webb as Vice Chairman

http://www.ascap.com/press/2009/0416_williams.aspx

NEW THREAD

Shooter Jennings (tatted up singer son of Waylon) has proposed to his long time girl friend Drea de Matteo. This was on stage after a gig. She is an actress that played Christopher's love interest Adriana La Cerva.

(more about her here) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriana_La_Cerva

They evidently have a daughter (toddler) together. Well wishes from the Casa Dooty clan.