It is really hard to capture in words the kind of month that April is for many individuals I know, and for this country, but that was what I tried to do in the last few days. A couple of the anniversaries I missed include yesterday being the birthday of one Adolph Hitler, a fact I never let my friend Kevin forget, while Monday was also the 235th anniversary of the original "Shot Heard Round the World." That of course was the original shot at Concord, Mass., beginning the Revolutionary War that would change the course of history. And here we are.
As for today, it started off with one of the funnier highlights I've ever seen. I'm hoping this links to the correct video, but if not just go to www.mlb.com and search for the highlight from last night's Braves-Phillies game. The story is not that Atlanta stole one from Philly, but how it ended. Former Pirate Nate McLouth hit a walkoff homerun, but as he rounded the bases the entire Braves team left the dugout and ran down into the tunnel, instead of meeting him at home plate, as is usually customary. It was the ultimate silent treatment. Pretty funny. You can see in the background all of the players scrambling to get down the tunnel.
Some notes:
- One thing that has come out of the new health care bill is a willingness by some insurance carriers to close the gap between college graduation and health coverage. That is to say that many college graduates who are not on their parent's plans in college will end up being dropped from insurance when they graduate (including yours truly). Several providers say they will help close that gap, giving them potential new business, as well as helping bring costs down. Young people are the least likely to buy health insurance, because we're, well, healthy.
Said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:
'I welcome the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Kaiser Permanente, and Humana to the growing list of insurers who are offering to continue health insurance for young adults graduating from college or aging out of their parents' plan. This initiative, complementing the permanent policy in the Affordable Care Act, will enable young people to retain insurance coverage at an important moment as they begin their adult lives and launch their careers. Many young adults under the age of 26 have traditionally had a difficult time getting access to – and affording – health coverage. The Affordable Care Act, and the voluntary actions of insurers to eliminate the coverage gap for young adults on their parents plans, will give greater health security to millions of American families.'This also seems to jive with some of the new student loan policies, geared toward helping recent college graduates keep their heads above water for the first few years, when debt can really mount. An illness or accident when uninsured can destroy you financially for years.
- This story, detailing how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce saw its first quarter lobbying costs drop relative to the final two quarters of 2009, is a little misleading. In the last two quarters of 2009, the Chamber dished out some $105 million in lobbying, but spent less than $20 million before that. So let's see what happens in the summer and fall.
- A local newspaper has an interview with a former Massey coal mine worker, who talks about just how bad the mostly nonunion mines are. It is common knowledge that, because of the lack of union protection, most miners are afraid to speak out. There aren't too many other jobs in West Virginia. I am actually reading an interesting book (thanks to Adam), called Deer Hunting with Jesus, which is about a small Virginia town much like many of the ones Massey operates mines in.
Also on the Massey front, the company's board member responsible for governance has resigned. Many reasons were given, none having to do with the events of the last couple of weeks, but one has to admit this comes at an awkward time.
Continuing on Massey, that resignation is not nearly the biggest of its worries. At a time when energy legislation aimed at limiting coal usage is working its way through Congress (again), investors are calling for serious reforms at the nation's largest coal company. One of those may include the job of outspoken, American-flag shirt wearing Don Blankenship.
- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and his hair, were in rare form yesterday, as he challenged a U.S. attorney in his ongoing court battle over corruption charges. Can we get him on Sarah Palin's reality show? If nothing else, it guarantees that Ted Stevens will also make an appearances in some remote Alaskan city.
All joking aside, even though this whole thing seems like a big joke, we are still talking about the arrest of a sitting governor that is dragging out months later. Yet it gets very little coverage. How is that not news?
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One more funny thing caught my attention this morning. As I was watching Fox 'n Friends (yes, I do that), there was a story about a high school that wouldn't allow a girl to bring her 23-year old brother to prom with her. The brother had just returned from a tour in Iraq, obviously the sticking point for that show. But the school had strict age limit policies, which it enforced (as it should have).
The funny part was at the end of the segment when one of the men suggested cutting proms altogether. Too expensive, too awkward, too much controversy, blah, blah, blah. Gretchen Carlson, the highly educated host who is paid to act like a stay at home mom with very little knowledge of anything other than Wikipedia (yes, stay at home mothers, you should be offended by the way she portrays you), was incredulous. She could not believe they were suggesting cutting prom. Me neither, honestly, but it isn't like these guys have serious sway on Podunk High School's prom. It was the perfect transition to the next segment as well - nuclear Iran.
Speaking of Fox, well, I give you Jon Stewart - have a nice day:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Bernie Goldberg Fires Back | ||||
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