Read it and Weep

Wis. GOP bypasses Dems, cuts collective bargaining

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Senate succeeded in voting Wednesday to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers, after Republicans outmaneuvered the chamber’s missing Democrats and approved an explosive proposal that has rocked the state and unions nationwide.

 

Bill Would Require Paternity Tests for Newborns

(TOPEKA, Kan.) —
A bill introduced in the Kansas House would require every newborn in the state to be genetically tested to identify the child’s father.

State Rep. Melody McCray Miller, a Democrat from Wichita, says the bill is intended to help men who have been named as a child’s father, or who want to know if they are the child’s father. The bill would also apply to married couples who have several children.

The bill says a court could intervene if someone refused to take the test or have it administered to the baby.

McCray told The Hutchinson News that the cost of the tests would not be added to the hospital bill, but she didn’t know the financial impact of the legislation.

http://www.kwch.com/news/kwch-news-rdm-paternity-tests-newborns-20110211,0,2590564.story?track=rss

Laughter Is Good for the Soul

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f5a57185bd/funny-or-die-s-presidential-reunion

Sorry it won’t imbed, but don’t miss it!

Somebody’s Mad and They’re Not Going to Take it Any Longer

It appears that people in California are a tad upset about the rate increase on their health insurance. But instead of taking it lying down, they’re taking action.

A consumer group filed a lawsuit Monday against Anthem Blue Cross, accusing the insurer of raising rates to force members into policies with higher deductibles and lower benefits.

Consumer Watchdog accuses Anthem of violating state law by failing to offer policyholders comparable coverage and minimize rate hikes after the company directs customers to alternative plans when closing out existing plans.

San Rafael resident Mary McNamara Feller, a plaintiff in the suit, which was filed in Ventura County, said she had to do something after Anthem last month proposed raising rates on the policy covering her and her husband nearly 39 percent to $1,658 a month.

She said the company offered her the option of switching to a policy with a higher deductible and skimpier benefits by a specific deadline, but also told her she could stay in her current policy. The company notified her of the enormous premium increases in her plan after the deadline had passed.

“It just seems like there’s no end in sight,” said Feller, 56, adding that she experienced a similar increase last year. “The way Blue Cross handles this is by forcing plan members into plans that increasingly put people at risk financially. … It’s no longer just about us. It’s about 800,000 people who don’t have any recourse.”

The rest of the story…

The Surgery that Saves (Little) Lives

Payton McKenzy, almost 4 weeks old

This photo was taken a week and a half before my new granddaughter’s surgery.  Payton was born with a congenital heart defect, Transposition of the Great Vessel.  The surgery to correct this was done this past Tuesday (9/8/09) when she was almost one month old at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, where she was airlifted by helicopter the day after she was born.  She’s currently recovering there and will be there for several more weeks.

A video of the same type of surgery is available online at the Discovery Channel website.  It’s amazing!

You can watch the video here . If you’re squeamish at the sight of blood, this video isn’t for you. 🙂

I’ve downloaded the video and will save it to show Payton when she’s old enough to watch it.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, good wishes, and positive thoughts.  We love you!

 

~~wicked

GOT 4TH OF JULY MEMORIES?

Time to share. We the poeple of the best generation have some of the best memories. Share them here!

Susan Gets a New Look

For all you Susan Boyle followers:

Scottish Singing Sensation Gets Dye Job, Makeover

LONDON – Say it ain’t so, Susan!

Singing sensation Susan Boyle — whose dowdy image contrasted so greatly with her angelic voice that she became an instant Internet celebrity — has gone in for a makeover.

Boyle, 47, had her graying, frizzy hair dyed chestnut brown and styled in what The Sun tabloid says was a 35-pound ($50) makeover. And instead of the old-fashioned dress she wore on the TV show “Britain’s Got Talent,” the Scottish singer was photographed wearing a stylish black leather jacket with what looked to be a Burberry scarf.

Asked if she would change her looks on CNN’s Larry King Live, Boyle replied “Why should I change?”

Judges of “Britain’s Got Talent” will decide whether Boyle gets through to the next round on May 23.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090424/ap_en_tv/eu_britain_singing_sensation

wicked

Amazon Excluding LGBT Material from Searches

Yeah, I know.  I said I wouldn’t post and would keep it to comments, but I thought this might raise some eyebrows and generate some group groaning.

The title pretty much says it all, but it seems Amazon may be backing down.  When I find out for sure, I’ll let you know.  Until then, you can read all about it.

http://markprobst.livejournal.com/15293.html

wicked