Sorry for the interruption, regular programming will resume at 3PM and apologies are extended in advance to Corinne and FT (as well as any international lurkers) for the flag-waving moment. That said, who remembers this movie? For that matter, who remembers patriotism?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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Oh, goodness, I thought I was gone for the night but I popped in on Allison from PAC. Remember her? I'm not sure how the time difference works, but her Charlie had surgery yesterday or is having it today. I'm concerned about linking her blog here since it will show full names but please, can we send some good thoughts up for her Charlie?
Good thought to PAC - hoping it went well.
Morning all!
I call it coke also but I live in Texas so people might stone me if I say pop or soda :)
My favorite coke is Dr. Pepper :)
LM was up twice last night but once he was really wet.
Hi all!
Kristin - How are you?
I really enjoyed reading the healthcare reform bill debate. It's very interesting to read opinions (AP's) which are 180° from mine.
Of course, I'm not American and I do not know the ins and outs of this reform so it's probably not my place to discuss it extensively.
What I wanted to say is that the American healthcare system *is* the most expensive in the world and definitely not the most efficient.
Earlier this year, Paul Krugman (former Nobel prize of economics) came to the university where I study (UCL) for a conference which I got the chance to attend. The topic was not the healthcare system reform but someone asked him a question about it. He said that if nothing was done, the United States would go bankrupt because of it.
I'm definitely not saying that Obama's reform was the right one but at least he tried to do something, you know?
There are many, many things I hate about Belgium but amongst the few I really like is the health care and overall social security coverage.
Sure, we're one of the most expensive countries in the world as far as taxes are concerned (Tax freedom day was June 8th, 2009 this year - by comparison, the US tax freedom day was April 13th 2009) BUT if I get sick, I don't have to worry about being able to afford the care I'll need.
Women get their mammograms for free from the age of 50 on (and they're very inexpensive before that), no matter the socio-economical background, same goes for men and prostate cancer screening tests, colon cancer tests are available for free for people 50+, etc. And we have one of the best healthcare systems in the world (again, probably one of the very few things I really like about Belgium)
I think having access to good quality, affordable healthcare is a universal right which should not be denied to *anyone.
Re: DrPepper
I tasted it maybe once? and I thought someone was trying to poison me. Yuck.
Did you all know that Fanta has a different taste (and color) depending on the country where you are? I love the Spanish Fanta and the Belgian/French one but *hate the one from the Netherlands or the US.
I know this is 100% random, just thought I'd share :P
Shannon - Congratulations on your finals! That is *so* great!!
Morning Corinne!
I hate when people leave the coffee on over night - the smell of burnt coffee is the worst.
Ick!
Good morning daisies - bright skies today!
Hi Kristin & Margaret!
OT- Can I just say that Jesse James is a moron? Because he is.
I feel so bad for Sandra Bullock. She finally got successful again, after a rather long period of well, nothing. And now, this happens?
It's so sad.
I read somewhere that out of the 12 last Oscar-winning actresses, 10 of them got divorced/split up from husband/long-time boyfriend.
Either this is a curse or men feel threatened by their wife/gf's success. Maybe both.
or maybe men are just schmucks who can't keep it in their pants.
Morning Margaret - how is "c" and the FIL? Hope both are resting comfortably.
Kristin - Yes, that too. ;)
C is still here - can't believe it. Haven't spoken to FIL yet today - thanks for asking :)
Morning Ladies...catching up from last night. We call it pop.
Jesse James is a moron.
Healthcare Bill---I don't know.
Sunny day here.
Corinne - I totally hear what you're saying about everybody should have access to quality healthcare. I feel the same way, I'm just afraid how our leaders will go about it, where the money will come from and how it's managed. I live in one of the wealthiest counties in the country - my daughter goes to a school where many of the children have nannies but other kids are actually homeless and would not be able to enroll each September if not for free physicals and vaccinations.
Margaret - I hope C is at peace.
Sandy - You're in Illinois, right? I knew you called that 'pop' because of Gilmore girls. In one of the first episodes (the very first or the second), Dean tells to Rory who is holding one that they call it 'pop' in Chicago and she mocks him for that.
Again, I watch too much TV. Or my memory is way too good. You decide ;)
I'm in Illinois and it's pop. It's weird how the different regions of the US call it something different.
Hi Sandy - is the fam coming home today?
I call it soda :)
They will be coming home tomorrow. Their flight lands around 5:35. I miss my girl. She's having fun and when she is down there it's all about her. They went to some marina yesterday that and she got to pet a stingray. Hubs was supposed to email some pictures but it got screwed up somehow. He's going to try later and I'll try to post them.
AP - I was born and in Oregon & spent half my live in Washington, so I have no idea where the Coke thing comes from. It's definitely not a northern thing. I think most people here call it soda.
Good morning everyone!
I *do think we all need access to good healthcare. I'm not going to disagree with that. I *don't think that this bill may have been the right way to do it. I think that in the politicians hurry to be "historical" they did not assess the unintended consequences.
All I know is that the money for this, along with 2 wars and keeping various other programs afloat - as was promised in back room deals to get this bill passed, will most definitely be huge tax burden.
Sandy - I hope your C got some well deserved rest and spoiling and will come home ready to face that yucky school :)
M - Your "C" is something else! That is one strong lady!
Good morning,all.
Raised in MT, lived in OR for years and years, and I say pop most of the time.
Thinking and reading about all the healthcare discussion.
Shannon, MT has no sales tax, either. I want to say that OR and MT are the only two states that don't.
Good morning, all!
Corinne, I did not know that about Fanta and, weirdly, find it very interesting. I wonder why it varies from country to country? I did realize something in this talk about what we call soft drinks (<--another name). If it's fruit flavored, I do call it soda, not coke. I never really thought about it but I've been on a grape soda binge lately and that's what I call grape and orange stuff. I know everyone is excited to hear that. ;-)
I'm going to try hard to not ramble on about healthcare today, I swear. Today is yardwork day around these parts. We lost so much during the freezes this year and today is the day to cut back and remove since yard garbage day is tomorrow. Fun times!
Oh, and I should say that coke (the real coke) from Mexico - is so much better than the US version and provides for some really good burps :)
When my sister was in Germany on an exchange program, she really enjoyed orange fanta and apple wine. That might explain why I don't like it if the orange fanta is different here. Every year my in-laws do a huge apple pressing event and we make our own apple wine. I don't like it plain and I don't like it with fanta.
AP - did you see your mail from me?
Oh, and AP - I do remember that movie from high school :)
K - don't you dare go across the border and get any, okay????
Lindsay - no worries - its a bit far to the border - but some Mexican restaurants and some stores carry it :) They come in a bottle as opposed to the plastic bottles.
Kristin, I have to confess, I've not checked my mail in a couple of days...ugh. Sorry. I'll go check now.
Years and years ago, we went to Mexico on vacation. You know how they reuse the coke bottles? Well, I had floaties in mine. Before I had even taken a sip, so I knew they weren't mine! I was so grossed out, I thought I'd die. Yuck!
from vacadude on the Molly site: http://www.atkinsonproductions.info/temp/fb/OwlFamilyMonday.jpg
Apparently blogger ate my comment. Ugh.
AP- I think the taste of people vary from country to country, hence the change in fanta recipes and such.
I remember that when I was in California, I thought the food had much more color in the US; ice cream colors especially.
One day, a student in the group (we were all Belgians, staying with different host families) bought 'Twizzlers' and shared them. It was the single worst thing we'd ever tasted. We thought it tasted like meds. But I know these are well liked by Americans.
I doubt that the Belgian fanta would sell in the US and vice versa. Beside the taste, it doesn't even have the same color! If I remember in the US it was very orange and in Belgium it's more of a yellow-ish color.
Kristin- I think the reason American coke and Mexican coke taste differently is because the American one is made with HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) whereas the Mexican one is made with good, old-fashioned sugar (which is in many ways healthier).
Corinne - I love Twizzlers, but I agree they taste like medicine. They're good dipped in Coke, though, lol.
Has anyone tried the 'retro' Coke that says it's made with real sugar?
Corinne to let you know not all Americans love the Tizzler LOL
Those in New England I discovered love a soda called Moxie...well not all but some. Let me tell you what when I lived there I tried it once and that stuff was disgusting with a capital GROSS!!!
Hi RiM & Shannon!
Twizzlers are just gross.
Thank goodness Molly is napping. Now I can get back to work.
I prefer Red or Black Vines to Twizzlers every day LOL
Hi Corinne and RiM and Sandy and everyone else hanging out :)
I have to ask: what/who is Molly?
Molly is a barn owl
she is in an owl box with her one owlet and waiting on 4 other eggs to hatch
I need the link to the damn owl site, please?
Thank you, Shannon!
Thanks, Shannon!
Now I'm intrigued. What is so interesting about it? I guess I should check the site :D
Corinne- I've been there twice now and it's just not doing anything for me, lol.
<---likes the live bear cam sometimes.
RiM- It's not doing anything for me, either. ;)
Corinne - it'sokay. We have reality t.v. addictions that no one else understands. :nod:
Speaking of television, have you tried Damages or Rescue Me yet? You have to start either of them at the beginning of the season.
I recorded "Justified" on F/X since itlooked pretty good, but two episodes have done nothing to convince me to stay.
RiM- I watched 'Damages' (first season) and I think I have yet another TV addiction ;)
Glenn Close is really good in it.
I haven't watched 'Rescue Me' yet but I will start soon!
Oh,good. I didn't mean beginning of the season, but beginning of the series. Geez,I am a dork. Glenn Close is very good, as is ... what'shisname. Sam from Cheers. Ted Danson.
RiM - Ted Danson is great too, you are right!
AP - I responded to your e-mail.
and I'm addicted to Molly the owl. :)
Anyone seen SW? I'm hoping she is just working her butt off and all is well in her world.
Hi SW!
SW is trying to meet a deadline in order to keep her job so she can support me in the manner to which I am accustomed. Once she's secured our future, she'll be back.
Speaking of how I'm accustomed to living, I just took the Christmas lights down off the outside of my house. Go me! :-D
Hey, I just noticed - we lost a follower and we weren't even being offensive! Ah, well.
Damn you AP - or daisies - maybe it was all the "reform" talk.
Do you know who it was?
Christmas lights - yeah you!
Last year I had a wreath on my front door - I moved it to the back of the door of LM's playroom - until I decorated this year. When I took it down this year, I did hang it up on the inside of the garage door.
:)
Well pish loosing followers LOL
We are good girls dammit :P
Yay for getting down the lights before summer
It was me - I didn't mean to do it - I'm clicking away in my profile... I love you low lifes!
Oh well it was just Margaret......
But we love our Margaret :)
Margaret! You refollow us this instant!
And yeah, I'm kind of proud of getting those lights down. Pissed, though...they were brand new but because they were blue (emphasis on "were"), the sun has bleached them out to almost white and so into the garbage they went. I hate waste but it's my own fault.
Did anyone read dear Israel's newest blog post? It's really pretty sweet...
Nope AP b/c I don't want to click on her to get to him YKWIM?
Did you get my latest e-mail?
I had to laugh. I saw this on his post and look at that bottom one - she must have had spares. :-D
Related discussions in my community:
* can post new threads but not reply to any
* regarding a post I posted earlier today
* New forum visitors - post for the 1st time and win $25 Target Gift Card
I've not been back into that email. Let me go look, Kristin.
One more time and I'll delete some and ban your ass.
*******NEW POST***************
He's giving away gift cards? Does it mention what he gave up?
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