It just isn’t pretty.
I mean…shoes with no socks? C’mon now!
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Damn, that's a cute panda.
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Which was, of course, the panda nation’s response to this indignity:
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Damn, that’s a cute panda.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Which was, of course, the panda nation’s response to this indignity:
see more Acting Like Animals
Oh look – it's Health Reform!
The Health Reform bill’s birthday would be March 23, 2010, which is the day President Obama signed it into law. But today does mark a major milestone of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Today on September 23, 2010 the American people can say hello to new rules for playing the game of health insurance coverage, and the new rules are definitely in our favor. 15 new provisions of the PPACA go into effect TODAY.
This is a lovely video that explains the challenges of the old health care system, all of the things that went into effect immediately after President Obama signed the PPACA this past March, all of the changes that happen today (Phase I), and it provides an overview of the changes that are slated to go into place in 2014 when Phase II is rolled out.
It’s worth nine minutes of your time to see all of the wonderful advances in health insurance that have been earned for the American people. And while it is a cartoon, I believe that this video simplifies the subject without dumbing it down.
There is also an easy to navigate White House website devoted to health reform, which I enjoyed browsing last night. There is a section containing personal stories of people who are benefitting right now from changes made to health insurance and medical coverage. There is an entire page that lists myths and facts of health reform – what it is and isn’t, what it can and can’t do.
Oh look – it’s Health Reform!
The Health Reform bill’s birthday would be March 23, 2010, which is the day President Obama signed it into law. But today does mark a major milestone of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Today on September 23, 2010 the American people can say hello to new rules for playing the game of health insurance coverage, and the new rules are definitely in our favor. 15 new provisions of the PPACA go into effect TODAY.
This is a lovely video that explains the challenges of the old health care system, all of the things that went into effect immediately after President Obama signed the PPACA this past March, all of the changes that happen today (Phase I), and it provides an overview of the changes that are slated to go into place in 2014 when Phase II is rolled out.
It’s worth nine minutes of your time to see all of the wonderful advances in health insurance that have been earned for the American people. And while it is a cartoon, I believe that this video simplifies the subject without dumbing it down.
There is also an easy to navigate White House website devoted to health reform, which I enjoyed browsing last night. There is a section containing personal stories of people who are benefitting right now from changes made to health insurance and medical coverage. There is an entire page that lists myths and facts of health reform – what it is and isn’t, what it can and can’t do.
Fresh Pesto and Tabouli
September 22nd marked the official first day of Fall, and I (admitted defeat, bidding a woeful adieu to summer) celebrated by cutting all of my basil, parsley and chives down to the ground. When one has grown a ton of basil and parsley over the length of an entire summer, it only makes sense to prep some pesto and tabouli. A few glances at the interwebs and a quick dash to the Wedge Co-Op for fresh tomatoes, garlic, green onions, some walnuts and quinoa, and I was ready to begin.
Pesto
First I made the pesto. I stripped all of the leaves from the stalks and chopped the leaves using my mini Cuisinart food processor, then I chopped the walnuts, crushed the garlic and shredded the parmesan-reggiano. I mixed everything in a big glass bowl and then added half a cup of olive oil. That’s it! It was lover-ly. For more blow-by-blow, this is the recipe I used from Simply Recipes.
The big white pieces are broad, flat shreds of parmesan…mmm… A little pesto goes a very long way when mixed into pasta.
Tabouli
I used this recipe from greatpartyrecipes.com to make the Tabouli, but I made a couple of changes. Instead of the gluten-containing bulgar I used quinoa, I skipped the mint because it was exorbitantly-priced, and I left the cucumber out because I somehow lost it between the checkout line and home, and I didn’t feel like going back out to buy another.
I started cooking the quinoa and then chopped the parsley – stems and leaves – in the food processor. I diced tomatoes, minced the garlic, and sliced the green onions. Once the quinoa cooled a bit, I mixed everything together and finally added the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
It was also lover-ly and simple.
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Afterwards, the kitchen looked like this.
I was done with cooking for the evening, so I threw a little of the extra quinoa on a plate, mixed in some pesto, added a side of tabouli and had a loverly (if quite herby) dinner.
Best PSA ever
I dare you not to choke up – I double dog dare you.
Thanks to Toward a Moral Life for introducing me to this video.
How I discovered DeCadence
A glance through my Hotmail –>
leads me to an email from sister –>
of the video Bitches Ain’t Shit (NSFW, duh)–>
While watching this video, I saw a related video in the sidebar that caught my interest –>
which was this video (also NSFW) –>
which was okay, but what really caught my attention was this video in the new sidebar –>
because I LOVE the Mortal Kombat song, especially for the damned elliptical machine at the YMCA at 5:30 in the morning. And anyway, that video was this (this one is fine for work) –>
and I loved this video because it was sort of flash mob. I noticed that it was done by a group called DeCadence, so I followed the link to their youtube channel, on which I found that they had done an a cappella version of one of my favorite songs by Madonna, Like A Prayer –>
They’re goofy, and I love vocal harmony, and so now I’m completely smitten with this group, and excuse me I have to go purchase a CD from their website nao, kthxbai.
DADT Fails in Senate
Damn it.
From Ed O’Keefe at the Washington Post:
Efforts to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” suffered a near-fatal blow on Tuesday as senators fell short of earning the 60 votes necessary to start debate on the annual defense policy bill by a vote of 56 to 43.
Tuesday’s vote does not end efforts to lift the military’s 17-year ban on gays serving openly in uniform, but makes it almost impossible to ensure a repeal is included in the final House-Senate compromise version of the defense bill that lawmakers may vote on during a lame-duck session after November’s midterm elections.
The vote’s fate was sealed early Tuesday, when Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who supports repealing “don’t ask,” said she disagreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid’s decision to restrict the number of amendments to the bill.
This is an except from a larger article. Read the full article here.
If you’re not familiar with DADT, or if you only know that Lady Gaga seems really interested with it, I encourage you to visit the ServiceMembers Legal Defense Network. They explain what DADT is, the controversy around DADT, and they lay out why repealing DADT is a crucial matter of national security as well as a civil rights issue.
~~~~~
UPDATE: Check out Joe.My.God for a very good collection of reporting and video about the defeat of the Senate DADT vote.
Hrab Quote
I was catching up on some Skepticality podcasts when I heard this one from George Hrab:
We know we have a limited time here, and so pretty much we have to sort of enjoy ourselves and you know, not hog too much of the buffet line.
I like that idea.