RIP Studs Terkel.

Good work, man. Go in peace...

Terkel won a 1985 Pulitzer Prize for "The Good War," remembrances of World War II; contrasted rich and poor along the same Chicago street in "Division Street: America," 1966; limned the Depression in "Hard Times," 1970; and chronicled how people feel about their jobs in "Working," 1974.

"When the Chinese Wall was built, where did the masons go for lunch? When Caesar conquered Gall, was there not even a cook in the army? And here's the big one, when the Armada sank, you read that King Philip wept. Were there no other tears?" Terkel said upon receiving an honorary National Book Award medal in 1997. "And that's what I believe oral history is about. It's about those who shed those other tears, who on rare occasions of triumph laugh that other laugh."

Scary enough.

By TANALEE SMITH, Associated Press Writer

SYDNEY, Australia – A German doctor hoping to gain permanent residency in Australia said Friday he will fight a decision by the immigration department to deny his application because his son has Down syndrome.

Bernhard Moeller, a specialist physician, came to Australia with his family two years ago to help fill a doctor shortage in a rural area of Victoria state.

His temporary work visa is valid until 2010, but his application for permanent residency was rejected this week. The immigration department said Moeller's 13-year-old son, Lukas, "did not meet the health requirement."

"A medical officer of the Commonwealth assessed that his son's existing medical condition was likely to result in a significant and ongoing cost to the Australian community," a departmental spokesman said in a statement issued Thursday by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

"This is not discrimination. A disability in itself is not grounds for failing the health requirement — it is a question of the cost implications to the community," the statement said.

Moeller said he would appeal the decision.
...
Don McRae, director of clinical services at Wimmera Health Care Group, said the hospital had invested a lot of time and energy in recruiting the German specialist and were very happy when he and his family arrived in Horsham, in central-western Victoria about 100 miles northwest of the state capital, Melbourne.

"We were very surprised by the decision," he said of the immigration department's rejection. "It's distressing for Dr. Moeller's family and distressing for the community who have welcomed him and relied on his medical services."

Immigration Minister Chris Evans has no power to intervene in the case until the review tribunal or a court upholds the department's decision.

That post below?

The quoted material -- I see now I neglected to provide the link -- wasn't me. That came from a story about the Pope commenting on the world's current financial crisis, putting things in His perspective so to speak. Worth considering, I thought.*

As is this:

"I believe.....

That to have a friend, a man must be one.

That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

That 'this government of the people, by the people, and for the people' shall live always.

That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

That sooner or later...somewhere...somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.

In my Creator, my country, my fellow man."

So whose creed might that be? Reid's creed, better know as ... The Lone Ranger. (Hi Ho!)


*But then again, I seemed to be one of the few who thought his words worthy on road rage and the need to be cautious re. the dehumanizing effects high-speed travel and monotonous miles.

A house built upon the Rock.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Jesus adds: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock …but everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.”

Fear Not.
Maybe the reason those who don't owe anybody anything -- and are living quality lives with their families within their means -- really haven't been affected by the fear-mongering and are not afraid is because they understand the true value of life.

They're already saved, and don't need a billion dollar bailout today and again tomorrow, to convince them of the inherent goodness of life. Tough times don't last; tough people do. And you can't measure their worth by totalling up life insurance policies, stock payouts, and property values. No fudging the figures until one day you wake up, the bill's have come due, and suddenly the desperation sets in.

"Who was that masked man?"

And what all was in that bill anyway? Sweetner details:

Doctors often complain that insurers, especially managed care companies, interfere in their treatment decisions. But doctors and mental health advocates cited the work of such companies in arguing that mental health parity would be affordable, because the benefits could be managed.

Pamela B. Greenberg, president of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, a trade group, said providers of mental health care typically drafted a treatment plan for each person. In complex cases, she said, a case manager or care coordinator monitors the patient’s progress.

A managed care company can refuse to pay for care, on the grounds that it is not medically necessary or “clinically appropriate.” But under the new law, insurers must disclose their criteria for determining medical necessity, as well as the reason for denying any particular claim for mental health services.

Andrew Sperling, a lobbyist at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy group, said, “Under the new law, we will probably see more aggressive management of mental health benefits because insurers can no longer impose arbitrary limits.”

The law will also encourage insurers to integrate coverage for mental health care with medical and surgical benefits. Under the law, insurers cannot have separate cost-sharing requirements or treatment limits that apply only to mental illness and addiction disorders.

How bout that Sarah Palin ??

God bless you sister. That was ... real. Joe Biden: more scripted me thinks. (Do you think the "emotional moment", when he mentioned -- the second time around -- wondering if his kids were going to make it, was real? Hm. No doubt that was a trying time in his life, it just makes me suspicious -- these x amount of years later -- that he would uncontrollably lose his voice like that, in such a public moment. Scripted, I'm guessing. Hoping for the Hillary-like bounce when she shed a tear or two -- natural or not: you be the judge -- during the primary.)

And the morning-after media reactions to realness, after collaboratively trying for weeks to paint a portrait based on artifice? C'mon you gotta admit, they are kind of cute and amusing in their ability to get things all wrong, and then insist they should still be judging or interpreting for us.

Well done, Governor! (whoops -- cap that G !)

"Time for..."

"... a cool change. Yes I know that it's time for a cool change..." *

Not my own shot, but here's a pretty picture of what the cooler nights and crisper days bring up here...

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*Little River Band, naturally...

"I've never been romantic
And sometimes I don't care
I know it may sound selfish
But let me breathe the air
Let me breathe the air..."