Don’t Box Me In

Thanksgiving is over and the next holiday will be Christmas. It is really not my holiday, as I decided a few years back that I was no longer going to be a Christian. Yes, I believe Christ was an important prophet and teacher. I also believe that Buddha, Mohammed, Moses, Confucius, Gandhi, George Fox,  Zoroaster and others were important prophets and all have something to teach us. I try to be opened minded, respectful and tolerant of all religions. That is if  said religions are being used to do good in the world. We have all seen too many crusades and jihads doing evil in the name of religion.

That being said my family is made up of mostly Christians and will be celebrating Christmas. To me that means I will have to suffer with a phobia I have. You see, I am allergic to boxes. Not just in a physical way, but in a mental way also. To me they represent things like packing up and moving. Moving to me represents change, and I can be slow to accept change. I note every time I have ever moved to a new residence has always been on the hottest day of the year or the coldest with the most snow fall of the year.

At Christmas time, I will be crawling into my attic, dragging out heavy boxes of Christmas ornaments and the artificial Christmas tree. It means spending time helping decorating the tree and house. It seems like a waste of time when I’ll be packing it all back up after a few weeks. It’s not that I’m lazy (OK maybe a little) but it seems like time wasted that could have been better spent. All the time decorating and shopping in the Christmas season would be better spent volunteering to help those less fortunate. Wouldn’t that really be more in keeping with the spirit of the holiday? The first Noel seems to have been replaced by the first one through Wal-Mart’s door on Black Friday gets the Xbox 360.

Here is a poem I wrote a few years back about my box phobia:

I Like My Beer In a Mug…Don’t Box Me In

It’s hot today I comment,

as I open my lunch box

looking for a cool drink

like a thermos of iced tea

but the only thing I see

is a small box of cereal.

Why would my wife pack this?

I refuse to pour milk into a box of cereal.

Cardboard makes a terrible bowl

but it’s not really cereal

it’s actually orange juice.

Orange juice in a box??

I imagine paper cuts

and very bloody lips.

At home I open the fridge

still looking for a cool drink.

It’s stacked with boxes of Kool Aid.

I like my Kool Aid in a pitcher,

any old pitcher will do.

It need not have a smiley face

but it surely shouldn’t be in a box.

For Christmas, I got a box of wine.

Ask any self-respecting wino and

he’ll say wine in a paper bag yes,

wine in a box—sacrilegious.

Imagine a couple in love

sitting at a Paris Café

at an intimate table,

on it sits a box of wine—on ice.

I ask your opinion,

is that a romantic picture?

Well Christmas is over,

its time to put away

what must surely be

the great invention

of the 20^th century

the artificial Christmas tree.

My wife says we need

a new box to store it in.

I ask her, “Where do we find such a large box?”

She takes me to a box store.

They sell nothing but boxes,

little boxes, big boxes, white and brown boxes.

It’s actually a franchise.

I’d sooner own a hat blocking business.

Insurance costs on employees

must be out of sight,

what with the danger of paper cuts.

My wife recycles boxes

so more boxes can be made.

It’s a vicious circle,

a plot against me.

Scientists now study

the power of pyramids.

Future archeologist will study

the mystery of the box.

They will find

civilization fell

the day a tavern owner

started serving draught beer in a box.

The Youngstown tramps: “Eddie Loves Debbie”

“Just Give it Away”

I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land. ~ John Stewart

EX-Mayors, Ex-Bishops, Excellent Pizza and Fish

Today November 22, 2009 Mr. & Mrs. Elecpencil attended the Artists of the Mahoning Commons Holiday Open Studio and Art Sale.  It was held at, the Ward Bakery Building (across from U-Haul), 1024 Mahoning Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio. We attend every year and this year Mrs. Elecpencil bought two pieces of jewelry from two different artists. The pieces are handmade and very reasonably priced. You will also find great paintings, sculpture, photography and furniture. Our area truly has some talented artists and quite a number have studios at the former Ward Bakery. Check it out next Sunday (Nov. 29) from noon to 5pm.

Mr. & Mrs. Elecpencil also enjoyed fish dinners Friday at the Fireplace Restaurant & Lounge at, 2075 East Western Reserve Road, Poland OH. We had  generous size pieces of fish and it was as good as I’ve ever eaten. Great service, beautiful atmosphere and they have Labbats on draft. What’s not to like?

I picked up a pizza last week from Cornersburg Pizza at 3518 Canfield Rd in the Cornersburg area. They are also located in Austintown and Boardman. Their pizza had ample cheese, good sauce and a crispy crust. The two young men working were very courteous despite being very busy. In a valley of great pizza I’d say this is one of the best pies you’ll find. Drop me a comment and tell me what area pizza is your favorite!

I heard former Y-town Mayor McKelvey filling in for WKBN radio talk show host, Ron Verb one day last week. Every time the former mayor hosts he talks about the war being waged on the public about political correctness. Your rhetoric is getting old and boring McKelvey. He concocted stupid what if scenarios about being PC.  Sadly, the callers who chimed in sounded as pathetically dumb as the former mayor. Mayor, being PC just means having some manners and using a little common sense. After hearing McKelvey I realized what a great city Youngstown is.  That’s because they had to be a strong city to survive McKelvey’s years as a mayor.

And now a politically un-correct (as McKelvey would say) word about a man I am glad is no longer an area resident. I’m talking about our former Youngstown area Catholic Bishop Tobin. When he was our bishop he eventually suppressed the free speech of  mine and other  local Catholic left-wing voices. He did this by rejecting letters written to the Catholic Exponent by people who opposed the war in Iraq. It seems Tobin supported the war even though the pope did not.

Tobin and other right-wing Catholic Orwellians  drove  me to decide to leave the Catholic Church after fifty years. Now that Tobin is bishop in Providence, Rhode Island he is busy driving parishioners from the church in that diocese.  Read about it here:  Tobin at it again.

Tobin and some other bishops have decided they are going to deny  lawmakers and parishioners who are pro-choice the sacrament of communion. They say it is because these Catholics do not believe in the core Catholic teachings about being pro-life. The death penalty is also a pro-life issue but Tobin has not denied communion to lawmakers or parishioners who are pro-death penalty.

Is the Catholic Church  going to deny communion or even ex-communicate all members who don’t believe in the core Catholic teachings? If they enforce these core teachings on liberal members who are pro-choice, use birth control, and believe in gay rights and conservative members who use birth control, are pro-war, pro-death penalty, and pro-pollution of our planet by corporations,  I think you’re going to find the pews pretty empty.

That being said, I dare conservative bishops like Tobin to state ALL of the core Catholic teachings and throw out anyone who doesn’t agree with them. I also believe that churches that want to get involved in politics should lose their tax exempt status.

The one section of the Catholic faith I have always respected is the Catholic Worker Movement. I have always admired its founders Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. Maurin’s, “Easy Essays” are my favorite poems.  I am excited to welcome to the Youngstown area a Catholic Worker home located at 620 Belmont Ave. Youngstown OH. I think they will be very successful as I think they are very much-needed in our valley.

Area Band: Jones for Revival

More Jones for Revival

I firmly believe that our salvation depends on the poor. ~ Dorthy Day

You Got the Wrong Number

A week ago I got a phone call from the National Rifle Association (NRA).  I am not nor will ever be a member so the call surprised me. A woman asked me to listen to a recorded message from Wayne LaPierre, Vice President of the NRA.  Mr. LaPierre was ranting about how there is a behind-the scenes, closed-door effort by the United Nations (UN) to make a law that would confiscate weapons from gun owners worldwide. The truth is, the UN has been trying to pass a law to try and stop the illegal trade of weapons, to organized criminals and terrorists  for about a decade. The NRA has twisted that into a disinformation campaign to raise money.

My first thought was that the NRA and gun stores must not have made enough money painting Pres. Obama as a socialist who was going to confiscate guns. Another boogeyman was needed to fill the NRA coffers so they dragged out the UN because opposing them has worked in the past. After all the UN is evil because of agendas they have like world peace. Where is the profit for the gun lobby in ideas like that.

After the spiel by LaPierre a man came on the line identifying himself as an NRA member. He said, “Do you want third-world dictators  and Hillary Clinton to dictate our gun rights?” I then realized the name Hillary Clinton must also be a big fund-raising trigger word. I responded, “Does LaPierre’s lying bull shit actually raise money or gain NRA members?” I continued, “If people are actually dumb enough to believe that crap they are too stupid to be allowed to own a gun.”

He countered with, “NRA members know it’s the truth about the UN.” I envisioned bus loads of armed men in camouflage on their way to NYC to attack the UN. Surely if they believed the UN wanted their guns they would descend on NYC. Not unlike like the nutbags who thought the government was setting up death panels in a health care bill descended on D.C.

The NRA telemarketer again said, ” So you must think third-world dictators and Hillary Clinton should dictate our gun rights?” I replied, ” Why hasn’t the NRA ever opposed the, School of the Assassins at Fort Benning Georgia that trains death squads for third-world dictators?” I added, “Why does the NRA back right-wing candidates like Ronald Reagan who supported third-world dictators who killed over 100,000 citizens throughout Latin America? Those numbers including nuns, priests and union organizers.”

The telemarketer responded, ” I don’t know anything about Fort Benning or any of the other nonsense you are saying.” I replied, “Read some history books instead of, the NRA’s  National Rifleman magazine.” I then had the phone slammed in my ear. I think people really need to learn more about our countries history with dictators.

I am left thinking I don’t have a problem with people owning guns I just have a problem with an organization that must be involved in the illegal gun trade if they oppose UN measures to stop terrorists from getting guns. I think Homeland Security needs to check into that. I’d also ask NRA members if the want to join an organization with a leader named, LaPierre. That sounds kinda like a Frenchie furriners name so I’d check to see if he had an American birth certificate.

The NRA has drafted up a hate list see here:

http://www.pinkpistols.org/antigun.html

Area band the Bedspins: A Beautiful Day

Pulp Free

“Every gun that’s made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.This world in arms …is spending the genius of its scientists, the sweat of its laborers.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Oakland Theater Cured My Phobia

Last night Mr. & Mrs. Elecpencil went with friends to see, “The Rocky Horror Show” at the Oakland Center for the Arts in downtown Youngstown. Before I get into a review of the Oakland’s play I want to talk about the movie. I have seen the movie several times since it came out in 1975.

The last time I saw the movie was several years ago in Cleveland, at the Cedar Lee Theatre. It has been playing at the Cedar Lee one Saturday a month at midnight for 20 years. After that viewing of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”  I decided I could never see the film again. That was because of the disease I am afflicted with that I have talked about before. It is the illness I have known as, “asshole magnetism.” I experienced it big time at that Cleveland showing  from the three assholes that surrounded me. It is a long and humorous story I won’t talk about now because it would take away from the nice experience I enjoyed at the Oakland last night. If you see me out and about ask me about my asshole experience at the Cedar Lee and I will share it with you.

Last night, the cast at the Oakland ended the phobia I have had with “Rocky” since that bad Cleveland experience. I was healed and am now able to dance the “Time Warp” again. Director and singer extraordinaire, Robert Dennick Joki did a galactic job of playing, Dr. Fran N’ Furter.  He brought a John Water’s Divine look and  attitude to the part. He also designed the costumes which gave the show some fresh camp. Shawn Lockaton did an excellent job playing, Riff Raff. This is the third play I have seen him in and he always delivers. I expressed that to his number one fan, his mother after the show. She is very proud of him as she should be.  I loved the idea of a mistress other than a criminologist narrating the story. Nicole Zayas dominated in the part (pun intended).

Brad and Janet were played with exuberance by Eric McCrea and Alyssa Connelly. The rest of the cast was top-notch, as was Debbie Pesce’s choreography.  A huge pair of red lips to all involved. You need to go see this play because as Dr. Frank N’ Furter says in it, “A mental mind fuck can be nice.” It is playing tonight Nov. 7  and Nov. 13 and 14 at 8:00. There will also be a special midnight  show Nov. 14. Call: 330-746-0404 for reservations.

Before we went to the Oakland, we ate at the Rosetta Stone Cafe in downtown Youngstown. Our friend Patty and Mrs. Elecpencil got hamburgers which they both enjoyed. Our friend John got a fried haddock dinner he liked with what he said was the best coleslaw he’s ever eaten. I had a Cajun chicken salad that was spicy and delicious. The waiter made a few mistakes, but all in all I’d recommend you give it a try and I think you’ll be glad you did.

Realtime Digimob playing outside the Oakland.

Digimob at Cedars

Don’t dream it, Be it
-Frank N Furter

Living in the Mahoning Valley and Smiling

I haven’t gotten around to making a list of the best things our valley has to offer. I got to thinking, I just need to add some of the places  I have experienced on each blog I post.  More than anything else on my blog, I want you to go to the Armchair Activist section and utilize the actions you agree with.

The following are just a few of a weeks worth of  places I enjoyed in our valley. Yesterday at work we order food delivered, from the Grub Club. It is located at 300 Pratt Street in Niles, Ohio.  They have excellent subs and any sub can be turned into a salad which is very large. There is another Grub Club located at 3600 Southern Blvd. Youngstown OH. Here is their menu.

I needed some hardware goods the other day so I stopped at my favorite hardware store, Handyman Hardware & Supply. It is located at 2200 N. Bellwood Ave. (off of 422 in the McKinley Heights area) Niles, Oh. They have plenty of help and will make sure you find what you are looking for.  You can get in and out quick and once you shop here you’ll pass those big box hardware stores right up.

My daughter was home from college this weekend and wanted me to bring home some fish on Friday. Some of her favorite fish comes from the Buena Vista, home of Uncle Nick’s Greek Chicken. Luckily the Bueva Vista has established a couple of  BV~II~Go locations. One is in Niles on Rt. 422 so I was able to call ahead and pull up to their drive in window. Their fish dinner includes two large pieces of fish and is so mild even the not so crazy about fish, Mrs. Elecpencil enjoys it. The original Uncle Nick’s Buena Vista in Warren, OH. has been around since 1956 making the best fried chicken in the area.

Mr. and Mrs. Elecpencil took their weekly journey to Rulli Brothers grocery store located at 8025 South Ave. Boardman, OH. It is a beautiful new grocery store and locally owned.  It has a very extensive wine and beer selection, nice produce, and good prices on meat. The Elecpencils’ got boneless skinless chicken breasts on sale for $1.29 a pound.  Shop locally owned stores, you’ll be glad you did.

Wednesday, on the way to Rullis we decide to grab a bite. We went to my favorite bar, the Royal Oaks. It is the oldest bar in Youngstown and is located at 924 Oak St.  Here is a nice article on the Oaks. It was Wednesday so the special was 15 wings for the price of 10. We had 15 Raspberry BBQ wings, fries, and a generous serving of onion rings. Great BBQ sauce really made the wings, good hand cut fries, and some of then best onion rings I’ve ever had. I also love their ribs and burgers which are some of the best around.  Besides our food we had a beer and a pop and the bill came to  a very reasonable $12.

I was just going to do a small segment on these area places and here I went and filled up this post. These area businesses and many more, I will talk about, make me smile and be happy I call this valley home! I will save my issue about a wrong number phone call I received until next time. Meanwhile, enjoy our valley!!

Happy Halloween: Roseanne Halloween

I am going to start featuring some area music. I will lead off with the Zou.

When the Ink Dries

They Don’t Make Them

“A grandmother pretends she doesn’t know who you are on Halloween.”

Erma Bombeck

Dumb White Folks

I have never been able to understand racism. Support by poor white Southerners for slave owners during the Civil War has always puzzled me. Many of these whites lost their jobs at plantations because the plantation owners replaced them with black slaves.  Yet, when the end of slavery was threatened the same plantation owners were able to convince the poor white former plantation workers that they should pick up arms to fight for the plantation owners.  The plantation owners didn’t go to battle or if they did they called themselves, colonels and stayed back from harms way while the poor whites were in the front lines dying.

The plantation owners convinced the poor whites that the war was over states rights. You know like the B.S. today from the right like: those on the left are going to outlaw your God and guns, that gay marriage rights would mean a loss of heterosexual rights, that dirty air, low wages, non-unions, corporate welfare and tort reform are what is needed to make America’s businesses grow.

I ran across this video awhile ago. It show whites in New Orleans trashing blacks who suffered during Hurricane Katrina:

These whites are not unlike the former white plantation workers who were used like puppets in a war to fight for the interests of the rich.  The whites in the video are being used in a class war today.  They are puppets for today’s rich ruling class that stays in power by promoting the kind of hate seen in this video.

The best explanation of how working-class whites are used I have seen is explained in this video:

Atomic Rooster: The Devil’s Answer

Broken Wings

“At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when he brought some people into being.” ~ Friedrich Otto Hertz

Plenty to do so Enjoy

Last Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Elecpencil attended Christmas in the Woods in Columbiana Ohio.  There were over 100 crafters selling beautiful handmade goods.  It is also going on this Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18. I highly recommend you check it out.

B.E. Taylor will be performing Christmas music both days (noon-1) and from (2-3).  Check out appearances on his site to catch the longer versions of the Christmas shows he does throughout the PA, OH and West Virginia areas. Mrs. Elecpencil and I loved his show last year in New Castle, PA so much we will be attending it again this year. You can also catch his show on December 4, 2009 at Victory Christian Center in Coitsville, OH.

Today Mr. and Mrs. Elecpencil ventured down to Newell, West Virgina. we attended the tent sale held at Homer Laughlin China Co. It’s a crazy event where Fiestawear lovers like Mrs. E stand in line for hours to buy Fiestaware seconds and  discontinued china items. It was actually lots of fun visiting with people from all over while freezing in line.

On the way home we stopped in picturesque Lisbon Ohio. We had a late lunch at Pondi’s Restaurant and Bar on Rt. 45. It’s a small quaint place that has been around forever. Mrs. E enjoyed a very good hamburger while I had a Haddock sandwich with hand cut fries that was excellent. I was surprised that with a soda and a draft beer we ended up with a bill under $15.00. Good value and great food. I’m told their dinner menu offers steaks and blackened fish that is excellent.

While in Lisbon we swung by Mary’s Pizza located on N. Beaver St. near the high school. Mary’s  started in 1961 and many folks claim it’s the best pizza they have ever eaten.  I have never tried Mary’s pizza but I learned they have frozen ones to go so I thought while I was in Lisbon I’d check it out. I’ll be eating it sometime this week so I’ll let you know my opinion.

Update: Mr. and Mrs. Elecpencil heated up Mary’s pizza for our Saturday dinner. This is really different pizza that I can’t really compare to any other pizza. It came out of the oven with a crunchy thin layer but with a thick layer of dough on top. Very good meat sauce with lots of cheese.  If you like thick dough this is the ticket. Don’t ever order it with extra sauce or cheese as it already has a generous amount.

I’m tired of having people tell me there is nothing to do around here. That is just so much B.S. Truth is every day I can find a dozen things to do. The only thing limiting me is time and money. Get out and take a fall drive and enjoy yourself!

Greenslade: Bedside Manners are Extra

Red Light

“People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness.” ~ John Wannamaker

Senator Combover and Health Care

The Elecpencil stopped at Dubic’s  Palm Cafe today for lunch. They are located at 301 Steel Street in Youngstown. The place was packed and for good reason. They smoke chicken, ham and lamb every Saturday. I am not a lamb fan but the ham is the best I have ever tasted! You can buy ham by the pound and a half or whole chicken. Don’t take my word for it check out Casey Malone’s  review here: Palm Cafe.

Also cross the street and go to Roscoe’s Poultry Market for some chicken or steaks to grill up at home. Roscoe’s also has spices and their own line of soda.

I was surprised to hear President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s  based on hope for what he might do in the future. I’m already disappointed I haven’t seen any of that change he promised while campaigning.  Obama won in a field of 205 people nominated. I’d love to see the rest of the list but the names are kept secret for 50 years. One good thing about Obama winning is that Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh’s brains exploded upon hearing the news. Both of their brains were put in the same thimble with room to spare.

What in the heck are the congressmen and senators doing about a health care plan?  I want a health care plan but I’m worried about this crowd. You see I am a CSPAN junkie. I have taken a good look at the senators and congressmen. I therefore ask myself, do I want this bunch of politicians picking our future health care plan?

The last CSPAN Senate hearing I watched I was thinking, oh look there is Senator Combover from Montana, Sen. Combover from Indiana, Sen. Combover from Florida etc. Do we want a group that thinks their combovers look good making life or death decisions for us? It’s amazing the king of combovers Donald Trump isn’t a senator. How early do you think he gets up in the morning to tease that rat’s nest?

Still don’t get what I am saying? Think locally. Former Congressman Jim Traficant might run for congress again. I suppose his slogan will be, “Put the con in congress.” Do you want Jimbo who picked out that rug picking your health care plan? I understand that Jimbo’s wife is a hair dresser. Wow, ladies I ask you do you want your hair done by a woman who let her hubby wear that throw rug? The woman must be blind.

I would think that Traficant’s health care plan would include some preventative health options. Like to improve your health you need some more exercise. Jimbo would set up an exercise program where you have a choice in physical exercise. You can either go to Poland, Ohio and work on his farm for free or do the same in DC working on his boat.

When my wife and I were dating I use to play a game with her when, we were somewhere like a mall that was crowded. I called it, “Toupee alert.” I would say, “ Toupee alert and it’s a really bad head carpet.” My wife would then have to figure out who I meant. It was kind of  a “Where’s Waldo” of  bad hair pieces.  Oddly enough my wife still married me.

The congress has health care so they can drag their feet about passing a plan for others.  There are tons of folks who are without health care and in trouble now.

Horslips: Trouble With a Capital T

Horslips: Sword of Light

Here in Washington, DC, we do anything we please and get away with it… Why? Because the average American voter doesn’t even read a newspaper anymore and has the attention span of a cocker spaniel… You don’t care, so we don’t care! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha… – Wiley, Non Sequitur, 9/24/2000

The Secret War We are Losing

Mr. and Mrs. Elecpencil did something today that we only do a couple of times a year. We went to see a movie today. We went to Tinseltown in Boardman, Ohio to see, “Capitalism : A Love Story.” This is Michael Moore’s latest film and I highly recommend it.

Some film credits have claimed it’s, Moore’s best film. I have seen all of his films and think it is impossible to pick one over the other. That is because each film represents a place in time and the time is right for this film. Some critics are claiming Moore offers no solutions in, “Capitalism: A Love Story.” I feel any critic that says that just wasn’t paying attention.

Moore’s answer is more democracy in politics and the workplace. He shows workers applying direct action and workers who own their own companies and control the means of production. He ends the film by asking people to join him in fighting back against the corporations that own our politicians and control our media. Moore features Ohio politicians, Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur. We Ohioans are lucky to have these two representing us.

I agree that Moore is right we all need to wake up and realize there  is a class war going on and we are losing. We are losing because if we even say the word, “CLASS WARFARE” the media goes crazy calling us communists. Meanwhile the media pushes the agenda of the top 1% in this country. That includes agendas like Tort Reform, tax cuts for the rich and getting rid of Estate Taxes.

I note that while I was in the movie a group of citizens was elsewhere applying direct action. That was happening at the teabagger party going on in Warren, Ohio’s Courthouse Square. Unfortunately, these poor and middle-class citizens were being used by the corporate owned media FOX NEWS. These teabaggers were fighting for Tort Reform, Repeal of Estate Taxes and against providing health care for needy fellow Americans.

Did the teabaggers invite politicians like Kaptur and Kucinich that have the peoples best interest at heart? No, they invited former Rep. Traficant who went to prison for serving his own interest.

Teabaggers are busy bashing Obama as if he has passed some radical agenda for this country. The truth is he hasn’t done much of anything yet and in the end will probably be shown to be just one more corporate owned politician. The following video from last nights, “Saturday Night Live” sums up my thoughts on Obama better than anything else I have seen:

Root Boy Slim: Hey Mr. President

Boogie till You Puke

There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning. ~ Warren Buffett

Unnecessary Operations Craze?

I saw a tea bagger on the news going on about being against health care because we are 200,000 short on doctors. No facts on that number as the GOP fired the facts checkers years ago. He said Obama’s  plan simply won’t work because of this shortage already. Five minutes later in the speech he says a big problem we need to fix is unnecessary  operations.  It seems to me if there is a doctor shortage they’d be too busy to do all of these unnecessary operations. I know I always have to wait at my doc’s office. I even have to wait months to get in. When I see my doctor  he says, “This doesn’t look good you should have come in sooner.” I tell him, “I called in May your secretary said September was the soonest appointment.”

Unnecessary operations? Is the doctor in his office saying, “The next patient that walks in the door is getting an unnecessary operation.” He then throws a dart at a dart board. The board reads large intestine. Doc thinks, “I’ll schedule the operation at 8 am and I can still make my 9:30 tee off time at the Country Club. That should all work out if I take out 8 ft. of intestine or less.”  Note to self, bring a tape measure.

Or is it the patients that want an unnecessary operation? Mrs. Miller is thinking, “I’m bored I think I’ll get an unnecessary operation.” How exciting she continues, “I’m going to call the girls and see if they want to go robe and slipper shopping.” She decides she’ll have one kidney taken out like Mrs. Jones who entertained the bridge club last month with tales of her kidney operation.

As far as I am concerned there is only one unnecessary operation. That would be a vasectomy. I took a friend once to get one so I could be his ride home. We went into the waiting area where he had time to read one GQ magazine and one Sports Illustrated. After the operation they had him sit in the waiting room for a while to see if he was OK. He now read an Oprah magazine. He was 6′3” before the operation he is now 4′5” as he has never been able to stand up straight again. No vasectomy for me thank you very much.

Some doctors are worried that if we had a new health care plan where everyone had access to a public option they’d be out of business. That would be because the public wouldn’t have to settle for the doctors that graduated at the bottom of their class. You know, like the ones in your present health care plan. Bad doctors need not fear they can always  get that bottom of the food chain medical job. You know a company doctor. It’s that job where when you get hurt the company doc gives you a Tylenol staples your hand back on and sends you back to work. For company doctors the Hippocratic oath is replaced with the term, no lost time accidents.

I am amused by FOX NEWS speak on how a public option (or pubic option as I saw on one tea baggers sign) will provide poor health care and yet it will put the supposed superior health care companies out of business. I thought competition was the lifeblood of the GOP’s beloved free market system.

Paul Hipp: We’re Number 37

Pirates of the Heath  Care-ibean: Go Ahead and Die

Financial ruin from medical bills is almost exclusively an American disease.  ~Roul Turley