What in God’s name is going on in the Commonwealth of Virginia?
Last week, the state House and Senate in Virginia passed a bill that requires women to undergo an ultrasound procedure before having an abortion and, in many cases, it would require them to have a transvaginal ultrasound! That’s right, I am not making this up. In many cases, especially early abortions, the doctor would be forced to insert a probe inside the woman’s vagina in order to see the reproductive organs.
Vaginal Probe State Mandated Penetration
The anti-abortion crowd gets more disgusting with each passing year.
At this point, I assume you know that a new health care system is being implemented in this country. If you don’t know this then…..well, there is no sense in reading this cause, honey, you are on another planet.
We’ve heard all the arguing and seen some of the commercials and watched the elections and all. We’ve heard how the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has vowed to repeal the new law. Well, that’s a total crock because while the House of Representatives will vote to repeal it, it’s unlikely that the Senate will do the same and, if by some chance they do repeal it, well, Obama-Man is sitting there with his ole veto pen. End of story.
We’re gonna be living with this new law for some time. That being the case, I thought I would regularly send you a short explanation of what all of this means to you to cut through all of the stuff that you see and don’t have time to sort out.
A number of the provisions of the law will not take effect for quite a while, but some things are already in effect. So, right now, here’s the deal:
Any health plan that you get through your job or any new individual plan has to let any kids you have under 19 to have coverage. In other words, they cannot be denied coverage if they are already sick or have some medical condition.
If your health insurance allows you to have coverage for your dependents, then they can be covered until they are 26 years old. After that, you kick them out of the house and they’re on their own.
Insurance companies cannot drop you from their plans when you get sick just because you made a mistake on your coverage application.
Many insurance companies say that during your lifetime you can only be covered up to a certain point. Today, there are no limits.
If your employer offers a health plan, you generally can’t be turned away or charged a higher premium because of your health status or disability. This protection is called “nondiscrimination.”
If family members are eligible but are not currently enrolled under your health plan at work, you may be able to add them during a “special enrollment” opportunity outside of the usual “open enrollment” period.
I have been watching the “Today” show for a good thirty years. I’ve been through dozens of co-hosts and countless funky weathermen. Unfortunately, in the last few years I’ve watched “Today” morph from a true news show to a morning version of “Entertainment Tonight.” And I’m tired of it. So, Matt and Meredith and Al, if you are listening, I need to tell you that I’m gone.
The tipping point came yesterday morning. Waiting for my coffee to brew, buttering my toast, I switched on the TV to Channel Four and heard that familiar opening theme. You know the one I’m talking about, the one that starts with the three heavy notes. I can’t convey that sound in writing, but if you take a second you’ll hear it. Then, after this dramatic intro, you hear the somber voice of Matt Lauer.
“Soaker,” he announces.
Huh? Did he say “soaker?” What the frig does “soaker” mean?
I glance at the television and see a quick shot of a street and it looks like it is raining. I am puzzled.
He then gives us the next one word verbal “headline,” which I will get to in a minute.
After this titillating intro, Matt proceeds to give us a little more information on that FIRST story on this NATIONAL television broadcast that is being watched my MILLIONS of Americans. I have to assume it’s something significant. I am on the edge of my seat.
He proceeds to tell us that it is raining pretty hard in Florida. Yep, that’s it. The first story of the day is that it is raining heavily somewhere in the state of Florida. People are getting – you guessed it – soaked. What the heck? Is that it? Are you kidding me?
Matt and Meredith
Then, for a live, action-filled report on this breaking story, the camera cuts to some dweeb who is standing in the middle of this “soaker” wearing the obligatory heavy rain gear. His hood is over his head but, honestly, I don’t see any rain falling on him. Now, mind you, he is not talking about a hurricane. No one has mentioned the word “tropical storm.” Heck, he hasn’t even used the word “tropical depression.” No, it was just a lot of rain. It was a “soaker.”
They cut to a street where you can see some water backing up. I also see cars flying back and forth, zipping right through the puddles. Meanwhile, this brave reporter, who wants us to think he is risking his life for us, is using the obligatory buzzwords to keep our attention. “I will add, Matt, that there have been no DEATHS or no SERIOUS INJURIES due to this STORM. “
This was the first story of the day. This was the hard news that the producers of “Today” thought I just had to know. Then there was the second most important story of the day.
It seems that there was some beauty contest in Australia or New Zealand or one of those semi-English speaking countries. After hours of inane interviews and silly talent displays, the field was pared down to two young girls. The emcee, a woman, took out the card with the winner’s name on it and, in true Ryan Seacrest form, milked the announcement for several minutes. The tension was palpable. Finally, she declares the winner and the place goes nuts. The new Miss Marsupial is screaming her lungs out, jumping all over the place. The runner-up gives her the obligatory hug while no doubt cursing her under her breath.
But, wait a minute! The emcee is yelling something over the din. She is screaming “I made a mistake, I made a mistake!” Well, it seems that she screwed it up and named the wrong person. So, she had to suck it up, stop the premature celebration and announce, practically in tears, that the original winner was really the runner up.
A funny story, if you ask me. Maybe a little sad as well.
But my point is was this really the SECOND MOST IMPORTANT
Anne and Al
NATIONAL story of the day? I mean, c’mon folks, do I really need to know about this screw up? Didn’t anything happen somewhere in the rest of the entire world that qualified as real news? We’re in a war for God’s sakes, didn’t we win some skirmish somewhere or capture some terrorist? Didn’t some city or state pass some controversial new law? Believe me, Matt, I can take the hard news if you got it.
But the more I think about it, maybe the “Today” show and other “news” shows are just giving the public want they want. Maybe most folks don’t want to hear about some boring debate in the U.S. Congress, even if it is about a bill that would reduce carbon emissions and possibly stave off the DESTRUCTION OF OUR PLANET. Maybe people just don’t want to be too serious and they’re just looking for fluff. In some ways I guess can’t blame them. But, for me, I must say adios Matt.
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