1958 Climate Change

Frank Capra was way ahead of his time. Here's a film he produced in 1958 warning of the danger of Climate Change.

Canadians Tell You The Truth About Health Care in Canada

The usual talking points against a national health care plan is that it's "socialized medicine" and in Canada, they have to wait months for elective surgery. Anybody who lives in a border state or anybody who has friends or relatives in Canada, knows this is just nonsense. Hospitals and the medical community are not owned by the government, so it's not socialized medicine and the waiting times are no different than they are anywhere else. I have health insurance that costs me over $300 per month and I had to wait six weeks with excruciating back pain before I could see a Neurologist. Is that long enough?

It now appears that Michael Moore has received a subpoena regarding his recent trip to Cuba made as part of his new film, Sicko. It shouldn't be surprising, I suppose.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 11:17 PM
Within 10 Minutes I Was in a Bed

From: Al
Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 8:51 AM
To: mmflint@aol.com
Subject: Hospital Care in Canada

Hello Mr. Moore,

Great job as always with Sicko! It was very interesting to see the way your health care system operates. I have many friends that live in the US, and it makes me sad knowing they may end up in a situation like the ones shown in your movie. I had always presumed that if you had health insurance in the US, you were covered. I didn’t know about all the red tape that comes with it.

I would like to share a story about the health care system in Canada. Please know that this is not a criticism on your system, but a clarification on our system. While my story isn’t as drastic as some of the others on the site, it does point out the incredible care that I received.

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I loved this man

Charles Lane 1905-2007

Anybody who could play somebody this cantankerous had to be one of the nicest guys around. What an amazing life and incredible contribution to entertainment. When you saw Mr. Lane in a part, you knew you were going to enjoy the show or movie. He was the oldest member of SAG and also a survivor of the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake. Another link to Hollywood's golden era is gone. Thank you for a wonderful life.

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Summer's Simple Pleasures

What is summer all about? The diner back home will be full of youths trying to be hot with Wildroot and Vaseline in their hair while they stay cool with Italian Ices and Carvel. But I'll be in a place where you'll need a jacket at night. I won't be going for Carvel but Dairy Queen right across from the lake, if we're good. I'll be sneaking Craven As and Matinees in the park whenever I can. I don't know why I even care that my Aunt and Uncle know that I smoke, but I do. I started a 34 year smoking habit right there and there was something extra special about those Canadian cigarettes and the cool summer nights. I'll be exploring the grain elevators at the dock, getting out there by walking across a railroad trestle. I never stopped to think that if I fell into the bay, I'd be a goner since I couldn't swim, but when you're a kid, you don't think about these things. It was right around this time that I came to realize that I was happiest by myself, exploring different areas. I would walk through the same areas every ten months or so because I spent my summers here, but ten months is a long time when you're a kid and even the same areas needed exploring once again. In the first few years of my summer visits, I couldn't wait to get back to New York. I missed the action, the activity, the crowded streets. But in later years, I came to dread the return home. It was like going from an open world, to one behind a wall. As an adult, it surprises me to realize that my it never occurred to my relatives to offer me a year round home. Maybe it did occur to them, but it was just too big of a deal for them and they didn't want me to miss the smelly subway, the hoods at school and the crap at home.

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