DOLLARS AGAINST DIABETES - DADS DAY

PERSONAL

I slept in this morning until 9am and awoke to a -3, after 10+ hours of sleep, and a clear morning. I took my am pills, and put my flag out and I settled into my Lazy Boy for 2 quick massages.

Monday we took a short trip to the mountain to see if the spirits were feeling favorable. But whatever I tried was cold. They have a new layout and cool sports bar, I guess someone has to pay for it. I also got an e-mail from Mary Ellen and a Jacques grand kids photo slide show of Tanner and Kaleb in their LL Championship. I'll try to set up a link in “SPORTS”.

From yesterday, “By the way, the one sweetie pie we brought home from only lasted about an hour. Thanks Bobbie, opp's, I mean Dennis.” Check out comments: I think Bobbie took a little umbrage.

Denise did give Judi the location of the many family photo's she has on record, so hopefully we can all share, on those walks down memory lane. Denise was smart enough to give the address to JUDI, so there is some hope for access, Judi gave it to me, so I'll try later today.

Again, today my format changes may continue. I think my permanent “Hero's” box is up, I am still not sure how to keep it up and add the other Hero's yet and the “pay pal” box for direct connections to MY charities of choice is not complete yet, so you will have to go directly to their link. If “pay pal” works the way I want, a donation there goes to me for distribution to one of the many I list in my “Community Organizers” section. I will try to keep a running tally. I will also try to keep posting the direct links for those charities.

I did almost forget “DADS DAY” Dollars against Diabetes, but I got my UA Journal yesterday and they reminded me.

POLITICAL

I still don't know what did happen in Astoria? I did get a email from my friend, and sister, Suzanne saying she really liked my letter. However, I don't know if she read it from my blog or if it was published elsewhere.

Come on Salem, Get behind the President, we need that cleaner energy and those good jobs. I did get a good email report, he thought so anyway, from the Oregon Speaker of the House. I would have felt better if it had a job's report that was not just about roads and bridges. Buildings, Manufacturing Plants, and an Energy program (see: clean energy and Bradwood). I think they even did something about workers rights. Here I am trying to keep the President's grade from falling from a B+ to a C, because of Health Care and American Rights at Work and getting the Oregon Legislature from a C- to a B. I have them at C- right now because I am still watching how, as Peter so eloquently put it, the Legislature has Your Back; to the Oregon National Guard. OK, what did YOU do for the Guard today.

The President has called on the thousands of participants in his conference call to observe a National Health Care Day of Service on June 27th and I will try to post and find a way to participate however I can.

His speech yesterday to the A.M.A. was pretty gutsy.
Please listen to the call, and pass this note on to any of your friends who might be interested:

http://my.barackobama.com/may28audio

I did give them a story, but I am sure there are many more compelling than mine. Help if you can.

Putting a human face on the health care crisis is exactly what's needed. We've all been affected by our health care system in some way or another, and it's through your story and others like it that the need for reform can be truly driven home.

So please upload a photo to go with your story and make any edits you feel are necessary to make your story even more powerful.

If for any reason you've changed your mind about sharing your story publicly, that's okay, too. Please let us know and we will not include it on the site:

http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare/stories/update_landing
Thank you,

Health Care Now ! Based on the information I have been getting, Senator Wyden's “The Healthy Americans Act” is NOT the best option, it does include taxing of benefits. The republicans are sure afraid of just offering a government alternative and allowing you to keep what you have if you choose too.

William --

Thank you so much for sharing your story about health care and for allowing us to share it with the public to support health care reform.

Whether it's a story of personal experience with the deficiencies in our current system or of the experience of someone close to you, it is invaluable to us as we tell the larger story of why reform is necessary to the American public.

We're launching a new feature on our website next week to dramatically increase the visibility and impact of the stories that we have received.

This new section of our website -- "Health Care Stories for America" -- will make hundreds of thousands of stories available for folks to read and share challenges so many Americans face in getting quality, affordable health care.

Before we go live, we wanted to give you the opportunity to add a picture to your story and make any other final edits to it before it gets posted.
I have a question? I seem to remember growing up, they had a County Hospital that was for those that couldn't afford Health Care or did not have insurance. All those County Hospitals got taken over or destroyed, mostly because we did not want to pay for them through taxes. That was 30+ years ago. Today some the richest Corporations in the country are “for profit” hospitals and insurance companies. We have been hearing for years (decades even) that we need to DO SOMETHING about health care. I wonder how many Hospitals could be built, and staffed with the MONEY we are paying for Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance, Scholarships to Med School, and Nursing. We could even treat Med School scholarships like joining the National Guard or going to one of the Service Academies. You commit to 4-6 years of saving people for the government in one of these “County” institutions, “paid just enough to get by”, just like the services are now. Wouldn't that be a sure bet for an “All Volunteer” program?

President Obama; I am still giving him a B+, with that Supreme Court nominee (Yes we Can), and based on his AMA speech yesterday, but if his Health care plan includes taxing benefits he will for sure fall to a C-.

Priorities?Thank you for using C-SPAN Mail System.

Message sent to the following recipients:
Senators Wyden, Merkley, and Congressman Blumenhauer
Message text follows:

William Mehrens

June 16, 2009

It amazes me to no end, that Congress found the time to deal with family
smoking, an important issue for sure. But with the Health Care Crisis,
Two Wars and the absolute need for a level playing field with the Employee
Free Choice Act, do you really believe this is more important.

Sincerely,

William "Wally" Mehrens

Bring our people home!

At the 11th Hour, on the 11th Day, of the 11th Month a cease fire was signed to end the war to end all wars in 1918. How's that worked out so far?

It's hard to believe that “Big Ed”, Rachael Maddow and Keith Olberman are on the same network as Erin Burnet and Jim Cramer..........From SEIU

CNBC isn't exactly a shining example of responsible journalism.  The financial news network has been ridiculed for enabling the financial crisis with flawed reporting and fawning coverage of failed CEOs.

Well, CNBC is at it again.  Yesterday, CNBC's Jim Cramer and Erin Burnett made a ridiculous, irresponsible statement.  Cramer and Burnett compared the aftermath of Iran's recent election to what would happen under the Employee Free Choice Act.

SPORTS

The College World Series is going on, and there are some pretty darn good ball players out there.

I still think Felix Hernandez is the Cy Young leader right now in the American league.

I still think Zambrano is the Cy Young leader in the National league.

I am sure Roberto Clemente is looking down with pride.

Both of the following historic accomplishments deserve many repeats: so here I go again;

Randy Johnson got his number 300 win and he was lucky enough to share it with his son in the dugout. There have been less than 30 players in the history of baseball that have accomplished that. The way the game has changed that may be the last 300 game winner in baseball.

Jamie Moyer has 250, you go guy! Will you be able to pitch past 50?

Do you realize how hard it must be to get to 250 wins in MLB, especially without a 90+ mph fast ball, come on Phillies he just needs run support for 17 wins a year and 3 more years!.

Imagine having played 2,624 games in their history (Cubs - Dodgers) and each team had won 1,312. That still astounds me.

I still hope to get to a Beaver game before San Diego pulls all the talent up.

From Mary Ellen: Tanner & Kaleb Jacques playoffs

Hi All,

Just sending along this website www.CaliberImages.net if you want to look at some of the pictures of the boys.  Click on the website address, then Land Sports, then 2009 SCLL Pac Coast Championship Game.  Kaleb is in photo #5, 6, 44, 51, & 55.  His uniform is number 1.  Tanner is in pictures # 9, 11, 28, 38, 53, 54 & 55.  They ended the season in 2nd place after losing only 2 games all year.  Kaleb's NW 8's team also took second place. 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS

I still plan to get a permanent link for Denise and her walk/run, right now you can get there here:

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=206439510610&h=VyGOF&u=ohEQM&ref=mf

The American Rights at Work ads are getting better all the time.

Are there better Community Organizations than the National Guard or the USO?

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS

I did hear from Brother Dragers paralegal and answered her questions as best as I could. I hope his efforts in his asbestoses case is successful.

Please, I hope everyone can share the American Rights at Work, the MS walk, the March of Dimes walk, The Epilepsy Run/Walk and the Recovery websites; so my taxes and donations can be utilized to their fullest extent.

Whether you attend a church service, a Mosque, G & L gathering, or Synagogue service, please say a prayer that God; yours, mine or ours; keeps our service men and women in the Palm of their hand.

A reminder, I had a new nominee for my hero's list, Dianna Paulie McCoy.
We met on the Mondale, Ferarro Presidential campaign. I didn't find out until after the campaign that she was the widow of a boat yard hand from the painters, I think. A much more faithful Democrat than I, and an excellent teacher of the Political System to many of my brothers and sisters, the blood in her veins runs through a number of Iron Workers. Also proud to be Irish, maybe even a relative; I just wish she was a better card player.

Could you even say a special prayer for my nephews Daniel, Christopher, Ryan and all the families separated right now. And, ANYONE, not just me, facing some health challenges today.

Mike, an Debbie; Happy Anniversary yesterday? This is not a short post, I have really been getting long winded lately, (I did a word count before posting and this is well over 2000; not so short) but I am feeling 3+.

Now don't forget to say your prayers. I'll see you next time on my blog.