What a week. We have lost Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and BILLY MAYS!
I am one of a million, I know, but here are my quick comments:
-- Ed McMahon. The venerable sidekick, I first became acquainted with him when my parents let me stay up and watch The Tonight Show. Carson and McMahon were an incredible team and I continued watching even when I was old enough to stay up and make my own decisions.
-- Farrah Fawcett. When I heard the news I immediately e-mailed my college roommate to remind him of Farrah's sultry poster that graced the walls of a million male dorm rooms in the late 1970s. We don't recall either one of us having one (I actually had one of her successor on Charlie's Angels, Cheryl Ladd) but we remembered well the famous pose that helped make her famous.
-- Michael Jackson. I was a big fan of the Jackson Five as a young teenager and remember being so impressed with Michael because we were roughly the same age (I'm about 10 months his senior) and he had this incredible voice. As time went on he made some amazing music and nobody can deny his talent. The weirdness and creepiness of his adult life was, however, well -- weird and creepy. While I love some of the songs -- e.g. Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat It -- those videos that are getting such accollades don't do a thing for me. Major weird, in my opinion. And although he was not convicted of the molestation charges, there is absolutely no defense for having little boys visit and sleep in the bed with him (nor any excuse for parents who let their sons visit him under those circumstances). His life, in so many ways, ended up being tragic. Really sad.
-- BILLY MAYS!!! I put this in all caps because this is the way you always heard the venerable TV pitchman's voice. My blogger friend Bob wrote a hilarious post a few months ago about Billy Mays. He must have made a mint pitching those TV products like Oxyclean or those beads that you attach to your jeans. He became somewhat of a caricature of himself (laughing all the way to the bank) with his jet black hair and beard and his most recent gig was on ESPN.
We will miss them all. Celebs, like them or not, have an undeniable presence in our lives and culture. We have those "remember when moments." I'll remember all four of these.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day
It's early Sunday morning and today is Father's Day. I am waiting for Wife, Daughter and Younger Son to go to church with me. Later Older Son will join us and we'll have lunch here at the house.
I have stated earlier here that I don't receive gifts and/or recognition well and, although I will love having all of us together today, I would be fine to just bypass the Father's Day stuff. I remember reading, however, a post by Kelly where she talked about how maybe our children have a need to give to us and we need to learn to be gracious receivers. So that's what I'll be today and let me tell you, folks, I am ever thankful for those three people who give me one of my favorite titles -- Dad.
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I'll be thinking of my own dad today, who left me in January 2006. He was far from perfect and sometimes I can still think of some of the things he said and did, especially in my adult life, and have imaginary arguments with him in my mind. That's probably material for my therapist to deal with one of these days when I finally go to one.
I decided shortly after he died, however, that I would do well to concentrate on the good things about my dad and let go of the things I might have liked to change about him (which is a work in progress). A female friend who lost her dad a few months before I lost mine told me that losing a loved one is kind of like childbirth. It's painful and grueling, but as time goes on the memory of the pain fades and you just enjoy all the blessings. I think that's a great analogy.
So when I think of my dad today, I'll think of how he worked and provided for his family; his wit and sense of humor; his total, unconditional love for my mother and how he cared for her when she was sick; and his sense of service (and what he taught me about that). There are other things as well but those are the ones that immediately come to mind. And I'll refrain from those imaginary arguments.
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I have truly been blessed to be a father. I have made a truckload of mistakes and I have no doubt that, when my children decide to get therapy, it will take a few visits to deal with me. So, if I'm still around and they want to send me the bill, I'll pay at least half.
There are plenty of books and reading material out there about being a dad, being a good husband or just being a man in general. I have read my share of them, or parts of them. I am a bit of a skeptic, though, and I take some of the advice with a grain of salt. I'm especially cautious about the "latest and greatest."
Being a Christian, and being a part of a church of the Evangelical ilk, a lot of the reading material that has come my way has, naturally, been slanted toward that way of thinking. But some of it just doesn't do it for me and, at the risk committing heresy, some of it I just flat disagree with.
A few years back there was one of these latest and greatest books about manhood that was making great waves, especially in the Christian world. I had heard a lot about the book and what an impact it was having on men.
It did not have that effect on me. Not only was it, in my opinion, poorly written, but the author kind of gave this loose formula for what he thought constitutes a godly man, talked a lot about movies that he thought men should like and cited a few Bible passages. Problem was, the author described a man with whom I had very little in common. I didn't like some of those movies and had not seen some of them. And I thought he took a bit of license with the Scriptures he used to support his theories.
So here is where I have arrived:
-- Just because I read something that may not help me, that doesn't mean it is not helpful and possibly life changing to someone else. So I need to be careful in voicing my opinions or at least in how I voice them. By the same token, those who read the "latest and greatest" need to understand that, just because it might have been helpful and life changing to them, that does not mean it will necessarily be so for everyone else.
-- There is room for disagreement. I don't have to "break fellowship" just because I do not agree on some "formula" for being a man.
-- I am blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of being a husband and father. With all of the "how to" advice out there -- some of which is very good and some of which is not so good -- I find it amazing that the greatest commandment ("Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength") and the other one that is like unto it ("Love your neighbor as yourself") is the best advice I can get, and take hold of, for being the best husband and dad I can be.
Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there.
I have stated earlier here that I don't receive gifts and/or recognition well and, although I will love having all of us together today, I would be fine to just bypass the Father's Day stuff. I remember reading, however, a post by Kelly where she talked about how maybe our children have a need to give to us and we need to learn to be gracious receivers. So that's what I'll be today and let me tell you, folks, I am ever thankful for those three people who give me one of my favorite titles -- Dad.
###############################################
I'll be thinking of my own dad today, who left me in January 2006. He was far from perfect and sometimes I can still think of some of the things he said and did, especially in my adult life, and have imaginary arguments with him in my mind. That's probably material for my therapist to deal with one of these days when I finally go to one.
I decided shortly after he died, however, that I would do well to concentrate on the good things about my dad and let go of the things I might have liked to change about him (which is a work in progress). A female friend who lost her dad a few months before I lost mine told me that losing a loved one is kind of like childbirth. It's painful and grueling, but as time goes on the memory of the pain fades and you just enjoy all the blessings. I think that's a great analogy.
So when I think of my dad today, I'll think of how he worked and provided for his family; his wit and sense of humor; his total, unconditional love for my mother and how he cared for her when she was sick; and his sense of service (and what he taught me about that). There are other things as well but those are the ones that immediately come to mind. And I'll refrain from those imaginary arguments.
###############################################
I have truly been blessed to be a father. I have made a truckload of mistakes and I have no doubt that, when my children decide to get therapy, it will take a few visits to deal with me. So, if I'm still around and they want to send me the bill, I'll pay at least half.
There are plenty of books and reading material out there about being a dad, being a good husband or just being a man in general. I have read my share of them, or parts of them. I am a bit of a skeptic, though, and I take some of the advice with a grain of salt. I'm especially cautious about the "latest and greatest."
Being a Christian, and being a part of a church of the Evangelical ilk, a lot of the reading material that has come my way has, naturally, been slanted toward that way of thinking. But some of it just doesn't do it for me and, at the risk committing heresy, some of it I just flat disagree with.
A few years back there was one of these latest and greatest books about manhood that was making great waves, especially in the Christian world. I had heard a lot about the book and what an impact it was having on men.
It did not have that effect on me. Not only was it, in my opinion, poorly written, but the author kind of gave this loose formula for what he thought constitutes a godly man, talked a lot about movies that he thought men should like and cited a few Bible passages. Problem was, the author described a man with whom I had very little in common. I didn't like some of those movies and had not seen some of them. And I thought he took a bit of license with the Scriptures he used to support his theories.
So here is where I have arrived:
-- Just because I read something that may not help me, that doesn't mean it is not helpful and possibly life changing to someone else. So I need to be careful in voicing my opinions or at least in how I voice them. By the same token, those who read the "latest and greatest" need to understand that, just because it might have been helpful and life changing to them, that does not mean it will necessarily be so for everyone else.
-- There is room for disagreement. I don't have to "break fellowship" just because I do not agree on some "formula" for being a man.
-- I am blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of being a husband and father. With all of the "how to" advice out there -- some of which is very good and some of which is not so good -- I find it amazing that the greatest commandment ("Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength") and the other one that is like unto it ("Love your neighbor as yourself") is the best advice I can get, and take hold of, for being the best husband and dad I can be.
Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The New Health Care Plan
I have been following with interest the unveiling of President Obama’s health care plan. It has taken him a while to get to this, one of the hallmarks of his campaign for “change,” what with all the economic matters he has had to address. Still, only a few months into his administration, it’s obvious that his minions have been working behind the scenes on this health care overhaul.
I don’t pretend to understand all of it, but the basic premise seems to be that there will be health insurance available to all Americans. If you have insurance through your employer, the president says, you will be able to keep that insurance and stay with the physician of your choice. He has reiterated this time and again.
As I understand it, though, in addition to private health insurance, there will be a government alternative which will provide competition of sorts, according to President Obama, that will assure that those currently without insurance will be able to get it.
This would include the unemployed and “uninsurable.” However, even if you have insurance through an employer or you are self-employed and finance your own health insurance, you can switch to the government sponsored brand if you so desire. Again, this is my feeble understanding and if I’m wrong here, I expect my blogger friends to correct me.
Of course there is that pesky little question of cost and how your government will pay to insure all of these folks. A couple of ways the president has mentioned include the tax increases he is proposing for those making more than $250,000 (the so-called “wealthy,” which is laughable, but I digress), and making health benefits that you get from your employer taxable. Thus more revenue for the government to use for the government sponsored plan.
So, if I am understanding correctly, if you make more than 250 grand, not only is your tax bracket going to change so you’ll pay more in taxes, you are also going to be taxed on the value of employer provided health insurance. A double whammy, if you will.
The president vehemently denies that this is “socialized medicine” and he doesn’t even want to call it national health insurance. To his way of thinking, it’s competition for the private sector insurers which will only improve things across the board for all of us and bring back some semblance of sensibility to a health care system gone seriously awry.
Critics say that private employers will encourage – subtly or otherwise – workers to move toward the government sponsored plan. And why wouldn’t they? Providing health care for workers is a huge expense.
Personally, I am not passing judgment on any of this just yet. Those who have read my entries here know I am both fiscally and socially conservative. I am skeptical of anything government gets involved in. I believe in limited government and I certainly do not want the government telling me what doctor or hospital I can use, whether I can even see a doctor or have surgery, etc. And -- I know, I know -- President Obama says this is not what he is proposing. But if there is this massive shift away from private sector insurance to government sponsored health care, I am not convinced some of these “never evers” can’t happen.
Still, something needs to be done, so I am willing to listen.
Here are some still unanswered questions in my mind:
-- Is health care a right or a privilege? If someone who is a lazy bum and does not work, does he/she have the right to health care?
-- Why are employers expected to provide health insurance? I am not so sure this is a good system. For one thing, it discourages entrepreneurship. Many people have great ideas for starting their own businesses but are probably afraid to quit their “day jobs” because of the health insurance. In addition, if your small business grows and you want to hire workers, you will have a hard time competing for good applicants with the bigger companies who are better able to provide insurance. Why can’t health insurance be like any other type of insurance and a person just pays for it his/herself?
-- Why does health care have to cost so much in the first place? Could that be part of the problem? I have a number of doctor friends that I love and respect but sometimes their complaining about the cost of practicing medicine rings a bit hollow when I see the houses they live in, the cars they drive and the trips they take.
-- Should there be caps on malpractice claims? With these outrageous judgments against doctors and hospitals, you can bet insurance is going to cost more. And going to the doctor or hospital is going to cost more too.
As I said, I am undecided on all of this and will stay tuned to see what Congress comes up with. The president is on a fast track and thus far his rock-star status has stood him in good stead for pushing through his agenda. We'll see if that happens with health care.
I don’t pretend to understand all of it, but the basic premise seems to be that there will be health insurance available to all Americans. If you have insurance through your employer, the president says, you will be able to keep that insurance and stay with the physician of your choice. He has reiterated this time and again.
As I understand it, though, in addition to private health insurance, there will be a government alternative which will provide competition of sorts, according to President Obama, that will assure that those currently without insurance will be able to get it.
This would include the unemployed and “uninsurable.” However, even if you have insurance through an employer or you are self-employed and finance your own health insurance, you can switch to the government sponsored brand if you so desire. Again, this is my feeble understanding and if I’m wrong here, I expect my blogger friends to correct me.
Of course there is that pesky little question of cost and how your government will pay to insure all of these folks. A couple of ways the president has mentioned include the tax increases he is proposing for those making more than $250,000 (the so-called “wealthy,” which is laughable, but I digress), and making health benefits that you get from your employer taxable. Thus more revenue for the government to use for the government sponsored plan.
So, if I am understanding correctly, if you make more than 250 grand, not only is your tax bracket going to change so you’ll pay more in taxes, you are also going to be taxed on the value of employer provided health insurance. A double whammy, if you will.
The president vehemently denies that this is “socialized medicine” and he doesn’t even want to call it national health insurance. To his way of thinking, it’s competition for the private sector insurers which will only improve things across the board for all of us and bring back some semblance of sensibility to a health care system gone seriously awry.
Critics say that private employers will encourage – subtly or otherwise – workers to move toward the government sponsored plan. And why wouldn’t they? Providing health care for workers is a huge expense.
Personally, I am not passing judgment on any of this just yet. Those who have read my entries here know I am both fiscally and socially conservative. I am skeptical of anything government gets involved in. I believe in limited government and I certainly do not want the government telling me what doctor or hospital I can use, whether I can even see a doctor or have surgery, etc. And -- I know, I know -- President Obama says this is not what he is proposing. But if there is this massive shift away from private sector insurance to government sponsored health care, I am not convinced some of these “never evers” can’t happen.
Still, something needs to be done, so I am willing to listen.
Here are some still unanswered questions in my mind:
-- Is health care a right or a privilege? If someone who is a lazy bum and does not work, does he/she have the right to health care?
-- Why are employers expected to provide health insurance? I am not so sure this is a good system. For one thing, it discourages entrepreneurship. Many people have great ideas for starting their own businesses but are probably afraid to quit their “day jobs” because of the health insurance. In addition, if your small business grows and you want to hire workers, you will have a hard time competing for good applicants with the bigger companies who are better able to provide insurance. Why can’t health insurance be like any other type of insurance and a person just pays for it his/herself?
-- Why does health care have to cost so much in the first place? Could that be part of the problem? I have a number of doctor friends that I love and respect but sometimes their complaining about the cost of practicing medicine rings a bit hollow when I see the houses they live in, the cars they drive and the trips they take.
-- Should there be caps on malpractice claims? With these outrageous judgments against doctors and hospitals, you can bet insurance is going to cost more. And going to the doctor or hospital is going to cost more too.
As I said, I am undecided on all of this and will stay tuned to see what Congress comes up with. The president is on a fast track and thus far his rock-star status has stood him in good stead for pushing through his agenda. We'll see if that happens with health care.
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