I had an entire post written explaining why I did this auction and how telelvision isn't evil and all that crap. I saved it, but Corrente crashed my browser and I somehow even lost the saved version. That sucks monkey ass as it was a brilliant piece of writing now lost forever. Boo hoo.

So from the top...

Thanks to all who participated.

And I must ask...why preach to turn off your TV? What does that do? There are other peeople in the world, many of whom we should be keeping an eye on and there they are, right on that screen. And there are ways to counter their world views, but you can't do that by turning off the TV. I get that some people think television is a waste of time, but it doesn't have to be. It's a tool, a means to an end. So why not make your own?

Who says you can't buy happiness? Time to get the economy jumpstarted with our very own Corrente-style auction! Buy some crap, feed the hamsters, and get a warm glow from being a do-gooder, all right here, right now!

This auction is for...

---one signed screener DVD of the indie feature AMAZING WORLD (90 min., English, color, NTSC)

You’re not supposed to show any part of a woman’s nipple if you want a PG/PG-13 TV rating.

Twelve years ago I made what was one of the first features shot on DV. DV was a new video format that allowed you to acquire footage you could transfer onto a hard drive with minimal if any loss of data. That footage could then be cut and otherwise manipulated, while retaining a production value that, while low, was acceptable to many viewers.

This 90-minute movie is called AMAZING WORLD. A reporter and a photographer working for a quasi-Weekly World News periodical are targeted by a back-from-the-dead psychic who is actually a murderer.

All done.

The garbage bag hung, kilt-like, over my legs as I proceeded to wash the tools I had been using. These tools were in need of washing because I used them to mix up lime putty. Other tools also got washed, though they ware not used for such an operation. They were, in fact, innocent bystanders.

As were my pants, sweatshirt, and pull-on work shoes that I really really like and are now kinda wrecked.

I have mixed batches of goo---mud, plaster, concrete, even clay---using a drill and paddle many times before. My drill has an adjustable speed and you can control it by how much you pull the trigger. So I didn't really give a second though to what I was doing. I put down some kraft paper and had an extra bucket of water for clean up.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/2009012...

Fab GF sent this to me awhile ago and I finally had a chance to read it. Yes, that's where we live (only we're outside of the city and have a septic system, so we won't participate, er, directly) and I think I know which farm the compost will be used.

The world may be falling apart, but some of us bumpkins are trying to make a, um, go of things.

Today I painted our first room. It was the water closet in the master bath and only took an hour to mask and primer, but still. The fab GF came out twice to snap photos.

The drywall has been ready for three weeks, but we had such crap weather, I didn't even want to go outside. We had drifts over four feet high and both of the roof vent pipes are bent like mofos. I don't think they're broken, but I won't know until it's safe enough to scramble up on the roof, something I hate doing even in dry weather. No sign of any leaks, but until I can touch 'em, I won't know for sure.

Monroe/Seattle Healthcare House Party
The Raw Story

We promptly start later than anticipated because one participant wanted cocoa.

The Participant noted: “This really is like a Tupperware party. It seems like it’s a party because there are little wieners with toothpicks in them, but really, it’s about selling you Tupperware.”

The Host went through the goals as stated in the Moderator’s packet:

We'll be picking up the discussion

Today, Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8EST

Lambert will be rolling out the survey so we can spread the word.

Amberglow linked to an excellent article on why single payer opponents fear the single payer option. Basically, peons like us would like public insurance so much, we would choose it instead of more expensive private health insurance plans.

Hope all of you are enjoying your holidays.

Some business...

We'll be picking up the discussion

Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8EST

after the fab GF and I have our house party, which comprises me, her, and the cats. We have two feet of snow and no one in their right mind she drive up here.

Also, we may lose power, so if I disappear, that may be why. Or I spilled my cocktail, which happens, you know.

Moving on...

Continuing from the last virtual house party on healthcare, lambert asked me separately if anyone else wanted to discuss why healthcare is an issue for them.

Our Festivus healthcare discussion rollicked along at a good pace.

Before jumping in, thanks to all for participating. And may everyone find the joy of the season.

And join us

Friday, Dec. 26, 8pm EST for more ideas and agitating

Please add as you see fit.

In response to the question, “Why is healthcare an issue for you?”, the answers ranged from rage (that would be me, lambert, and gqmartinez), not being a bully (vastleft), personal experience with the system as patient or provider (DCBlogger, hipparchia, and oceansandmountains) creating equitable healthcare system as a foundation on which to build a more just society (lambert), the basic need for healthcare, and so on.

Hello and welcome. First a little business...

Thanks, lambert for the place and the constant support.

Thanks DCB and hipparchia for yeo-woman work on the issue of single payer. You are why I got involved. Well, that and I got really pissed off.

Next virtual house parties:

All 8pm EST
Friday, Dec. 26
Saturday, Dec. 27 (fab Gf and ohio report)
Tuesday, Dec. 30 (Paul L's report)
Possibly a wrap-up on the 31st.

Spread the word.

Here's the list of questions we gathered.

1. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford it? (h/t a little night…)

2. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford treatment though you had health insurance? (h/t a little night…)

If you're inclined, send Elizabeth Warren an attagirl email. ewarren at law dot harvard dot edu

Where'd the bailout money go? Shhhh, it's a secret

You know all that money we gave the damn banks? Well, be grateful they took it and now go away.

Think you could borrow money from a bank without saying what you were going to do with it? Well, apparently when banks borrow from you they don't feel the same need to say how the money is spent...

"It is entirely appropriate for the American people to know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent in private industry," said Elizabeth Warren, the top congressional watchdog overseeing the financial bailout...

[We're having the first virtual House Party tonight at 8PM -- Because it's festivus!]

Suggestions for virtual house party healthcare topics? We can take some of the questions from the list we developed---see below.

Lambert, do you have times that work best for people all over the country? And even some of our foreign friends (hiya, Mandos) to join in? Also, is there anyway to let people who aren't registered to take that survey you created? Or do you want it limited to registrants?

Edited to correct spelling of "bugaloo." And to add Paul L's info.

Our responses (Monroe/Seattle):

Date and time:
December 27, 2pm

Please describe your event:
Lunch and discussion in support of single payer national health insurance.

What are the major areas you want to discuss?
Making single payer national health insurance a reality now.

Why should the health policy team send Senator Daschle to your event?
Please don't. But any co-sponsor of HR676 will be welcomed and well fed.

From Paul_Luckasiak (outside Philly):

Date and Time of Event
Monday Dec 29, 6:30PM

Please describe your event
Potluck dinner with health care as the topic

What are the major areas you want to discuss?
Best way to fund health care for all

Revise, replace, rewrite, do your on as you see fit---okay, just fix it. It sucks. trying to get a one-pager that cracks the whip a little. Our goal is to get press to the house party and to write a story about how single payer/healthcare for all/whatever you want to call it is a real solution and not some half-assed attempt.

(I am pleased with the last quote, I will say.)

Edited based on comments...

Don't stop now.

====

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
[YOUR EMAIL]

Headline: Locals Agree with Obama: Healthcare Is A Right

There was a lot of eyerolling with this---I mean, honestly, the original is all sleazy and weasel-y, no offense to weasels.

Anyway, revise, replace, and add your own as necessary.

====
1. What do you perceive is the biggest problem in the health system?
a. Cost of health insurance
b. Cost of health care services
c. Difficulty finding health insurance due to a pre-existing condition
d. Lack of emphasis on prevention
e. An emphasis on health insurance and not on healthcare for all as the solution to our healthcare crisis

2. What do you think is the best way for policy makers to develop a plan to address the health system problems?
a. Community meetings like these
b. Traditional town hall meetings
c. Surveys that solicit ideas on reform
d. A White House Health Care Summit

Questions to get us started. Revise, replace, add your own as necessary. We'll compile and you can choose the ones you want to use at house parties or online as you go.

Edited based on comments. Sorry if I missed tipping a hat to anyone.

The list is getting long. Damn, good questions though.

=====

1. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford it? (h/t a little night…)

2. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford treatment though you had health insurance? (h/t a little night…)

3. Have you ever lost your health insurance? If so, why?

4. Have you ever been refused health insurance? If so, why?

[I'm leaving this sticky because it's important and creative -- a virtual Daschle house party with reality-based material! But I'm also seeing people volunteering for house parties on the ground. Kudos to all on this thread, and let's do it! --lambert]

Edited to add:

RL house party volunteers as of 12/18:

• allys gift in Baltimore
• basement angel in L.A.
• Paul Lukasiak in Philly
• Me and the fab GF in Monroe/Seattle area

Can't host but will help a host:

• ElizabethF in West Palm Beach

We also have document development:

• -6Qs That Should Be Asked
• -Press release and PSA templates
• -Fun Facts factsheet

[I will revise and sharpen if others will draft. Perfection is not necessary! --lambert]

Keep a lookout for dates for virtual house parties here in the Mighty Corrente Building.

Via the PNHP website, I downloaded the Participant Guide PDF and the Moderator Guide PDF to HHS Sec.-designate Daschle's healthcare house parties thing just to take a quick look. My impressions as follows...

Thank the flying spaghetti monster with all noodley appendages, the drywall is up, taped, and mudded, and the PVA applied. Russ did an amazing job. I never could have done this. I can hang drywall and stuff, but this...smooth wall is right.

We're going on week nine of what Russ thought would be a five weeker. Ah, well. I was framing and helping for the first few weeks, but I've been inside trying to earn money. So starting this week, I get to start back with sawing and hammering and swearing. Yay. So here are some pics.

Warning: several big pictures.

It's been really cold, so cold the rain froze in the copper cups last week and hasn't thawed.

Waste Coffee Grounds Offer New Source Of Biodiesel Fuel.

I told you coffee was the bestest beverage ever and now all of science agrees with me.

Now get off yer butt and brew yourself a pot. The planet isn't going to save itself, you know---it doesn't know how to work the grinder.

Oh Yet We Trust

Oh yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final goal of ill,
To pangs of nature, sins of will,
Defects of doubt, and taints of blood;

That nothing walks with aimless feet;
That not one life shall be destroyed,
Or cast as rubbish to the void,
When God hath made the pile complete;

That not a worm is cloven in vain;
That not a moth with vain desire
Is shrivelled in a fruitless fire,
Or but subserves another's gain.

Behold, we know not anything;
I can but trust that good shall fall
At last—far off—at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring.

So runs my dream: but what am I?
An infant crying in the night:
An infant crying for the light:
And with no language but a cry.
---Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Last May, Kevin Phillips wrote an article for Harper's that I completely missed: The Numbers Racket.

Today, the AP reported (via the NYT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A record one in 10 American homeowners with a mortgage were either at least a month behind on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of September as the source of housing market pressure shifted to the crumbling U.S. economy.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said Friday the percentage of loans at least a month overdue or in foreclosure was up from 9.2 percent in the April-June quarter, and up from 7.3 percent a year earlier.

Dr. James Galbraith says, “In principle, economic growth can come from household consumption, business investment, government spending, or exports. This is a tautology, indisputable and known to everyone who has ever opened a textbook...”

Well, yeah. Note the “in principle,” though. Snort. What about in practice? Practically speaking, economic growth can also come from stealing. But be that as it may…I’m making fun because I am in disagreement with Dr. Galbraith, Dr. Krugman, and a bunch of other smart people regarding the fiscal stimulus and I am too insecure to take them head on. So I will occasionally be snide. It’s a weakness but I accept this flaw in my character.

But less about me and more about why I am confused…

Thanks, BDBlue, for linking to Yves at Naked Capitalism, who linked to this in the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/busine...

Elizabeth Warren has no power but the bully pulpit, and Elizabeth Warren is using the pulpit on behalf of us little people. My favorite part:

Meetings with Treasury officials so far have made her question whether they understand that “household financial health is profoundly tied to the economic health of the nation,” she said. “You cannot repair this economy if you can’t repair those families, and I’m not sure the people directing the bailout see that as their job.”