First this...WASHINGTON, July 16 — The Bush administration says it plans sweeping changes in Medicare payments to hospitals that could cut payments by 20 percent to 30 percent for many complex treatments and new technologies. [...] Medicare pays more than $125 billion a year to nearly 5,000 hospitals. The new plan is not expected to save money, but will shift around … [Read more...] about 3M’s Medicare Boondoggle

Today would have been my late father's 72nd birthday. In his memory I post an article by a friend who grew up much as I did. [I added the explanatory text in brackets]: The Bris [Circumcision of male Jews on their 8th day of life] Miriam Karp, Cincinnati OH USA July 17, 2006 A tiny little head, cradled in his father’s arms. The proud chain, pushing over each other in … [Read more...] about A Friend Writes on Sending Her Son Off to War

The indispensible site Watching America has this must-read post translation (a translation only available on the WA site) of a Lebanese opinion piece on the new Middle East turmoil. We'll give you WA's set up and then a key excerpts here:Is the Israeli attack on Lebanon a signal that the United States can no longer be counted upon to follow through on its commitments? … [Read more...] about Lebanese Wonder, ‘Can We Count on America?’

From Cox & Forkum: … [Read more...] about Disproportionate Response

Dore Gold, president of the Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs, and Israel's ambassador to the UN from 1997 to 1999, has a piece in the Telegraph that needs to be read in full. The key quotes are at the end:This is a regional war. Iran is seeking to dominate Iraq, particularly its southern Shia areas - the provinces where British troops are deployed. Iran's aim is to dominate … [Read more...] about Former Israel Ambassador: Iran Seeks To Dominate Middle East

...in the 21st century. … [Read more...] about The “Rat Pack” Lives On

Is there "blowback" in Chicago? … [Read more...] about Big Box Stores

TMV wings his way back to California today after his appearance in his other incarnation at a county fair in Iowa. The temperature was well over 100 degrees yesterday...with humidity that seemed to match. Over the past few days TMV has been on a very limited blogging schedule. All of his posts have been done very quickly. He'll resume his usual posts — which take more … [Read more...] about TMV Wings His Way Back To California Today

Written BEFORE Hezbollah terrorists kidnapped Israel soldiers. LETTER FROM JERICHO: From His West Bank Oasis, Palestinian Adviser Talks Peace. By JO-ANN MORT in The Forward's July 14, 2006 Issue … [Read more...] about A Discussion with Saeb Erekat

From a local physician who is Israel Affairs chairman of his synagogue:Chaverim: It goes without saying that our thoughts and prayers are with Israel at this time. And I am sure many of you would like to know that my daughter A_____, who is in Israel this summer, is safe (having spoken with her yesterday), and so too is my sister S_____ living in Haifa. Some of you have … [Read more...] about Some Other Things Which Recently Popped Into My Mailbox

A friend of mine subscribes to the mailing list of author and columnist Naomi Ragen and forwarded this column to me: From: Naomi Ragen To: Date: 7/16/2006 12:34:55 PM Subject: Thank you Israel, from Lebanese Christians Thank You Israel - By Brigitte Gabriel For the millions of Christian Lebanese, driven out of our homeland, "Thank you Israel," is the sentiment echoing … [Read more...] about Comments from Some Lebanese Christians in Exile

In a world beset by chaos and turmoil and uncertainty, it's good to see some good old-fashioned homophobia from a Kentucky State Senator. … [Read more...] about The More Things Change

...and there are signs it is not enamored with either party. … [Read more...] about A Big Voting Group Is Up For Grabs In 2006

Can MSNBC be refocused so it grows and thrives? Someone is trying hard to do just that. … [Read more...] about Strengthening MSNBC

Here's one theory. … [Read more...] about Why Are Some People Such Jerks Online?

Our linkfest giving you a variety of viewpoints. Will Rep. Cynthia McKinney Be Slapped Down In Tuesday's Democratic Primary? She faces some stiff opposition this time and the Atlanta Journal Constitution has endorsed one of her opponents. The Chicago Tribune Company Reports Some Revenue Falling BUT other revenue GOING UP from an interesting area... Some Are Calling What … [Read more...] about Around The ‘Sphere July16, 2006

Check out the credentials on the Democratic candidate for the 3rd congressional district of Nebraska: The Omaha World Herald is now reporting that Democrat Scott Kleeb, a [cattle] rancher with a PhD from Yale on International Relations, has taken the lead in the [cash on hand] race against his Republican opponent, State Sen. Adrian Smith in the open seat contest in NE-03. A … [Read more...] about That’s Dr. Rancher To You

Is the term "World War III" to become a new political tool to accentuate differences between the political parties? Newt Gingrich says this:Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich says America is in World War III and President Bush should say so. In an interview in Bellevue this morning Gingrich said Bush should call a joint session of Congress the first week of September and … [Read more...] about Will The Term “World War III” Become A Political Tool?

Click on this You Tube clip at your own risk: It gives you a tiny taste of one of the most dreadful movies ever made, Sextette, screen legend Mae West's truly repugnant 1978 swan song. She was 85 when she made this film which co-starred a young Timothy Dalton, who went on to have a career in spite of it. Sextette has become something of a "camp" novelty in recent years, … [Read more...] about A REAL Horror Movie: Sextette

David S. Broder and Dan Balz have a must read piece in the Washington Post titled "How Common Ground of 9/11 Gave Way to Partisan Split." It must be read IN FULL to be appreciated but here are two key sections:It was the moment that was supposed to change everything. But almost five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, American politics has reverted to many of … [Read more...] about How 911’s Common Political Ground Disintegrated