It’s fun time again here at the “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog because it’s Friday–so it must be “Fun-Filled Friday!” YEAH! No matter what kind of week you’ve had (mine was a little rough, but you deal with it, right?), there’s always room for a little reflection about things other than diet from time to time. And this is one of those times. ENJOY!
The biggest debate going on in America right now is over whether healthcare should be automatically given to the citizens of the United States or not. Should the government be involved in providing free coverage to insure every American? That’s the question at hand and you’ve got those on both sides of the issue fighting hard for what they believe is right. Some in the U.S. House of Representatives believe this kind of bureaucracy is absolutely necessary to give healthcare to a majority of people while others say healthcare is not a “right” guaranteed by the Constitution and should therefore not be granted.
I am personally opposed to universal healthcare coverage because the government doesn’t have any business putting its nose where private companies can do the job perfectly fine. Is the current system perfect? By no means. Reform in the system is necessary to standardize the costs involved for providing healthcare so that more Americans can afford coverage. But as a member of the uninsured class, I shudder to think what would happen to our nation’s healthcare system if Big Brother government was looking over the shoulder of my doctor to make sure he is giving me the “right” medical advice. What if they require my family physician to prescribe me a statin drug for my “high” cholesterol while recommending I eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet? Will that “free” healthcare be worth it then? Just something to think about.
One of the leading voices in support of universal healthcare in America over the past few years has been controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. His 2007 film SICKO attempted to make the case that healthcare is so much better everywhere else in the world except for the United States. Listen to his comments on Capitol Hill a couple of years ago just prior to his film’s theatrical release:
Speaking of controversial, did you hear about the “Performance Rights Act” that is working its way through both houses of Congress right now. It seems the age-old relationship between record companies and radio stations that play music is no longer as congenial as it once was. For decades, radio stations have given free airplay to artists to share their music with potential buyers in a mutually beneficial relationship. But now S. 379 and H.R. 848 threaten to shake things up and require radio stations to pay royalties to the artists whenever they play their songs.
A Save Free Radio petition has been started online by the Free Radio Alliance which opposes any performance fees on radio stations to play music. I personally think that this is a desperate move on the part of record companies to extract more money out of their artists since declining music sales have hit them hard in recent years. But they’re biting the hand that feeds them since most people make purchasing decisions about music by what they hear on the radio. If this law gets passed by both houses of Congress and President Obama signs it into law, then this will radically change music radio forever.
Here’s a video from a gentleman who shares his concern over this potential law:
Speaking of potential laws, did you hear about what is such a menace to society in North Carolina that state legislators say must be brought under control? Here’s the culprit:
Yep, it’s clotheslines! Growing up in the South, I’m used to seeing these everywhere. Especially in this economy where people are trying to pinch every penny, drying your clothes under the sun is a lot more energy-efficient and cooler for you home than running a dryer. But it became serious business this week when discussion about overturning local ordinances banning clotheslines took place this week. They shot it down, but it makes you wonder what the big deal is. If people want to dry their clothes outside on their own private property, then why not?
Now that you’re thinking of being outside on a hot summer’s day, I just have to tell you about Bob’s Pickle Pops. A dear low-carb friend of mine told me about these and they look rather interesting. Check out this Food Network feature on the show “Unwrapped” recently:
YUMMY! I’m gonna have to try one of those sometime soon. Remind me not to ever get a birthday cake from Wal-mart, though, because you just never know what you’re gonna get:
This REALLY did happen! Okay so this is how the conversation probably went:
Wal-mart Employee: Hello, this is Wal-mart, how can I help you?
Customer: I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week.
Wal-mart Employee: What do you want on the cake?
Customer: “Best Wishes Suzanne” and underneath that “We will miss you.”
Okay, you can STOP LAUGHING now! You just can’t fix stupid!!! If you think that’s hysterical, then be sure to check out AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com and submit any “odd” photos of your family. There are some weird ones on there, so prepare to be entertained.
I really enjoy role play allegory videos like this one between the customer and advertising:
So well done and oh so true! Finally, I got a nice diet-related video to share from a former “fat” person who says that fat can be a blessing and she shares why it was for her:
That’s all I have for you this week, but we’ll be taking next Friday off for me to attend my 20-year high school reunion in Tennessee. Don’t worry, though, be happy–and we’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more “Fun-Filled Friday.” Have an AWESOME weekend!
