Back to deliver inspiration from the wilderness
Good morning, everybody!
Well, like Moses I have been to the mountaintop. And while Moses returned to his people with the Ten Commandments, I have come back bearing the secret to a new national health-care plan that I’m sure will be effective and also immensely popular politically.
It works like this:
Everyone in the country gets an extra week of paid vacation with all expenses tax deductible, but only under the condition that the week be spent in strenuous outdoor activity in a setting of great beauty and with no Internet or cell phone connections.
We’d be a much healthier nation, mentally as well as physically.
I guess that’s another way of saying, yes I had a good vacation. Thanks for asking.
Meanwhile, 2,100 comments on a “gone fishin’” post? You’re quite a bunch of Chatty Cathys.
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275 comments Add your comment
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
7:59 am
no fish pictures?
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:01 am
Jay, it just wasn’t the same without you … and we did pretty much wreck the joint Friday night doing our own traveling music. Glad you had a good time!
Me, I think the US would benefit from the standard British vacation package of 25 days/year … 10 “personal” days that also incorporate sick days just ain’t right. Talk about being in the HOV lane to Burnout Land!!!
Mrs. Godzilla
August 3rd, 2009
8:06 am
Jay,
I’m with ya’ on that.
Life’s little complications seem to melt away when you have to dig your own latrine!
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:08 am
Meanwhile, 2,100 comments on a “gone fishin’” post?
We love you, man!
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:11 am
10 “personal” days that also incorporate sick days just ain’t right.
You’re just trying to flush out Swampy Dave, aren’t you?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 3rd, 2009
8:13 am
Well, I was halfway expecting a story about the 75-lb. trout that got away, and this is all we get from Bookman after we worked so hard to keep his blog going? Young people just got no gradatude anymore.
I’m all for more paid vacation but some of us got to work. Half the people on this blog would come down with the DTs if I stopped hauling beer for a extra week.
I see the sales of hearses have went way up ever since they leaked details about this Obama health plan. You can’t just stack old people like cordwood after they go into the hospitle and dump them in pickup trucks.
Have a good day everybody.
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:18 am
I coulda sworn that Kyle Wingfield’s blog used to say he’d start allowing comments the first week of august, but now it says “Kyle Wingfield will begin blogging daily laer this month. Commenting on this blog will open then.”
whatever. I’m wondering, though–who, do you think, would be Kyle’s go-to guy at the AJC for advice on how to handle all the losers and wanna-be columnists and assorted master baiters who’ll be doing their best to make his life miserable?
think think think…
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:19 am
I see the sales of hearses have went way up ever since they leaked details about this Obama health plan.
Come on, Jay, you know you want to do a Deather post. Let yer love flow…
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:19 am
“You’re just trying to flush out Swampy Dave, aren’t you?”
flush being the operative term.
(meOW!!!)
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 3rd, 2009
8:19 am
Welcome back, glad you had a good time.
Catch anything?
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
8:31 am
Jay
I read about a university prof, challenged a class to go three days without a cell phone. No calls. No texting.
Number who made it? Zero.
So much for mental health with the upcoming generation.
Welcome back.
Oh, and your health care plan? Note to the Pres: it answers the ‘what’s in it for me?” question!
PS – don’t ask Bosch if he likes trees…. or the indoors becoming the outdoors…
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:32 am
Paul –
“PS – don’t ask Bosch if he likes trees…. or the indoors becoming the outdoors…”
I didn’t see much of him on Friday, then I wasn’t around over the weekend – how’s he doing? what’s the story on his house? it’s not gong to be condemned, is it??
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:33 am
Welcome back Jay!
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
oh, and for the students, I wonder how many of them don’t have a landline …
“Millions of cost-cutting Americans are asking: Ditch the land-line phone and go completely wireless, or keep paying two bills for dependability and peace of mind?
Many have already clipped the cord, and wireless-only households have surpassed those solely dependent on land lines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tracks the information.”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/073009dnbusphonelines.3709d9b.html
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
Paul,
Actually, I do like trees. Just not in my bedroom.
USinUK,
Things are going well for us. We have worked hard the past few days to get some kind of normalcy back, so all is good. Not perfect, but good. I mean, ya’ know is life ever perfect? Not in my world.
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:36 am
wow, Paul … that is some kind of superhero talent you have …
you summoned Bosch just by mentioning his name … (or maybe it was the word “trees”)
hey Bosch – how ya holding up??? what’s the latest??
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
8:37 am
I vote with USinUK for the vacation plan. With a couple more weeks, I would happily make one of them Jay’s plan of disconnected outdoor physical activity. I actually managed to squeeze half a week doing that this year. Americans work to much while accomplishing too little. Tired, dispirited people are not productive people. American business leaders have got the formula wrong. Add a nasty commute to that and it is a formula for disaster.
Swami Dave
August 3rd, 2009
8:37 am
Wow! I guess you know you have really arrived when you get your own stalkers.
Welcome back Jay, glad to hear you had a good vacation.
-SD
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:39 am
Bosch –
“We have worked hard the past few days to get some kind of normalcy back, so all is good. Not perfect, but good. I mean, ya’ know is life ever perfect? Not in my world.”
glad to hear it … you guys have definitely earned a good August with no trauma!!
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
8:39 am
Hey Bosch!
How’re you doing? Followed your exploits as I cruised through the posts. Glad you realized there are people you can pay to do some jobs they are really good at…. chainsaws and highwire balancing and all that.
Sometime you may want to pick up a copy of Kuschner’s “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” Thoughtful read. People who want to see Cause and Effect and You Get What You Deserve in Life won’t get it, though.
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
8:40 am
The order in the new world order has been restored.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
8:41 am
USinUK
[[that is some kind of superhero talent you have ]]
Nope.
’tis simple magic, is all -
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:43 am
Gale –
hey you!! hope you had a good weekend
“Americans work to much while accomplishing too little. Tired, dispirited people are not productive people. American business leaders have got the formula wrong. Add a nasty commute to that and it is a formula for disaster.”
exactly … it’s good for personal health, it’s good for morale, it’s good “family values” …
(hey, I’d just be happy by reintroducing “sick days” back into the benefits package – the whole idea that you can get knocked out by swine flu and therefore lose all your sanctioned days off because of it is a sign that we have gone WAY too far on the “marketplace is always right” scale)
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:45 am
Paul –
““When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” Thoughtful read”
catholics have a term for that: vicarious atonement. the theory that good people pay for bad people’s sins …
yet another reason why I’m no longer affiliated with that organization
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
8:50 am
“Ask AP: Income taxes, states without budget woes”
“Have any states managed to avoid this sort of budgetary mess – and, if so, how?”
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/1165535.html
(Apologies for the erroneous link before.)
jt
August 3rd, 2009
8:52 am
Hey J-Book-
Did you get harrassed by any federal, state, or local officials?
Brad Steal
August 3rd, 2009
8:55 am
“the week be spent in strenuous outdoor activity”
i don’t like the sound of that. we’ll end up a as a nation with herniated disks.
getalife
August 3rd, 2009
8:55 am
Or take off the month of August like Congress and other countries.
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
8:57 am
Mornin’ USinUK. Ok, weekend in Atlanta. My cat got stitches removed, so he can now scratch his own chin. It’s lovely to not have that collar bumping against me while he begs for his ears to be scratched.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:58 am
When bad things happen to good people? Thanks Paul – glad you think I’m “good people” – my family sure is – that’s for sure.
So, did anything fun happen last week? I haven’t paid attention to news since last Tuesday.
Kayaker 71
August 3rd, 2009
8:59 am
Well, it looks like Timothy has finally said the inevitable….. the middle class will probably be taxed for paying for this health care fiasco. “No new taxes on those making less than 250K/yr….. not a dime”. Yeah, right.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:59 am
USinUK,
On that vicarious atonement thing – I’ve got some folks covered for a while – ya’ know if any of you want to howl it up, you can be covered for at least one good romp. It’s on me, really.
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:01 am
USinUK
Also in that article—There were also health differences between those with and without land lines. Wireless-only adults are more likely to smoke, binge drink, have no health insurance and not wear a seat belt, according to Blumberg.
Most if not all wireless contracts come with free long distance and enough minutes and roll-over options to make land lines dinosaurs. I get my internet services via an air card which is bundled with my cell phone getting me a good deal on both.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:02 am
Back to Reality
Should look like a flashback for many here with their daily posts a few years back. Just switch a noun.
July 2009: 42 Americans die in Afghanistan. Highest number since the invasion in 2001. ‘Nary a peep from the major news organizations, let alone any questioning of the mission.
August 2, 2009 – two days into the month and 9 Americans are dead.
Thanks, Pres. Obama.
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
9:06 am
Kamchak, how reliable and fast is that aircard bundled with your cell phone for internet?
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Next vacation you might visit the local court house and go shark fishing.
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Seems like the super powers will never learn that outsiders will never control Afganistan.
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
9:10 am
Gale –
“It’s lovely to not have that collar bumping against me while he begs for his ears to be scratched.”
I always feel so bad for cats who have to wear those collars … you just know they’re mortified … give him a scratch behind the ears for me (although, my sweet cat used to love having his face rubbed more than his ears scratched)
Bosch -
“ya’ know if any of you want to howl it up, you can be covered for at least one good romp. It’s on me, really.”
now THAT’S what I call a random act of kindness …
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:11 am
“Eat More Trout” and “Four Day Work Weeks” should be the bumper sticker slogans of the moment.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:12 am
Paul,
I heard Gates in an interview about two months ago stating that he would not recommend any additional troops than the 20,000 or so committed. Has that changed?
Curious Observer
August 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
So what’s your point, Paul? You want to drag Obama through the mud, while excusing the 4,000 deaths that occurred on your Republican president’s watch? Nice objectivity you have.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
Bosch
[[So, did anything fun happen last week? I haven’t paid attention to news since last Tuesday.]]
See my prior post. Not fun. That, plus the Dems (Axelrod) finally figured out that on health care they’ll have to explain what it means for Average Joe.
Some said the recession’s bottomed out. If the stim package was meant to restore confidence, it may have had its effect. Even though only a trickle has hit. Pelosi & Company won’t pull back the unspent.
Geithner & Summers have broached the topic of tax increases on middle class. Prepare for all the Dems who lambasted Bush I over changing on ‘no new taxes’ to go after Pres Obama with equal fervor. (I thought you could use a laugh).
Some here questioned why Cash for Clunkers cars have to be destroyed, rather than finding new homes for poor folks. Seems that’s at the behest of the Climate Change lobby. Old gas guzzlers contribute more carbon emissions and getting them out of circulation is more important than mobility for poor folks.
Prof Gates is continuing appearances addressing the ‘incident’. Book sales are up. Go figure. Money and Power, remember?
And we have a new phrase for “I apologize’ or “I made a mistake.” It’s “I could have calibrated those words differently.” Kinda like when he told foreign audiences “America could have calibrated its actions differently.”
You asked….
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:14 am
‘Nary a peep from the major news organizations, let alone any questioning of the mission.
Only speaking for myself—I never questioned Pres. Bush’s mission in Afghanistan because that is where the bad guys are/were.
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:16 am
Ya…interesting how the media once again sidesteps that July was the deadliest month in afghanistan thereby giving Obama yet another pass. When Bush was in office we had to hear daily screaming, whining and crying.
Dems…where is the outrage?
Dr. Watson
August 3rd, 2009
9:18 am
I work for a company that gives five days paid vacation after a year of work. After a second year of work, they reward you with five days paid vacation. If you haven’t died of a heart attack by the end of the third year, they reward you with … wait for it … just kidding – 10 days paid vacation.
At least they’re still matching 401-K contributions.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:18 am
Old gas guzzlers contribute more carbon emissions and getting them out of circulation is more important than mobility for poor folks
Right. Like they’re going to trade in their shopping carts for a clunker that is too heavy to push and require insurance and gas and a license to operate — things that poor people just don’t seem to have in abundance.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Bosch 9:12
[[I heard Gates in an interview about two months ago stating that he would not recommend any additional troops than the 20,000 or so committed. Has that changed?]]
Not from the SecDef. But the generals are rumbling –
Curious Observer
[[that occurred on your Republican president’s watch? Nice objectivity you have.]]
I take it you’re not an American? As he was obviously not the leader of your country?
So because Pres Bush blew it in Iraq (at the beginning/midpoint) you think that should insulate Pres Obama on any criticism in Afg?
Fascinating….
Angry Black Man
August 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Welcome back Jay. over 2100 posts with only a fish to muse on… I wouldn’t tell management about that. They might smell blood in the water with all the cutbacks and all.
Glad to know we have a pilot back at the wheel. I’ll check back with everyone later. Gotta kick someone out of the country
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Obama officials: Taxes may rise to pay health care
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090803/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_economy
Whats this…? After increased taxes on smokes, alcohol etc now we get more from Mister Tax and spend? How can this be. PELOSI!! deliver us from the hands of this Evil Genius!!
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
9:20 am
Some here questioned why Cash for Clunkers cars have to be destroyed
Pretty sure the drive trains (the things that are actually responsible for the gas-guzzling) have to be rendered inoperable, but that other salvageable parts of the clunkers can be resold.