I had health insurance through my employer for eight years. When I was laid off, I continued the coverage through COBRA, although I had to pay the full premiums, which went up by 40% a month later. Because my next employer was given to gossiping about her employees' health issues, I did not feel I could continue COBRA through that company, and instead relied upon my previous employer. It took me another year to find a position that offered benefits, so I came within a week of exceeding the 18-month limit on COBRA. The new position ended after six months, and I again elected to continue coverage through COBRA and pay the premiums out of pocket. They were expensive enough at $340 per month for one person, but I just found out that the premiums have risen to over $600 per month! This amount is unreasonable even for a person who is earning a salary, but for a person on unemployment, it's impossible. It would be difficult to get insurance again if there were any lapse in my coverage, but I find myself faced with having to choose between food and shelter and having health insurance. Then I think about my parents, both teachers, who had to give up their health insurance 26 years ago, only to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and cancer, and I fear a similar outcome.Here is the link to add your name to the list. Please write or call your elected representative today and insist on health-care access for all. If you don't know the contact information, Congress.org is an excellent one-stop resource.
I know that my story is far from the most dramatic or tragic, but it is unfortunately very common. The current system punishes entrepreneurs and small businesspeople, who usually cannot afford to provide benefits, and their employees. Why do we deny basic health care to so many of our fellow Americans when this denial bankrupts thousands of families, and enriches the already wealthy? Detractors like to compare the possible reliability of national health insurance to the U.S. Postal Service, but for the sake of argument, let's say they are equivalent. Rich people are welcome to send all their correspondence via private carrier, but I at least have the option of paying 47 cents to send a letter, rather than spending $10 on FedEx every time.
If I and the other 50-100 million Americans without reliable coverage were able to pool our resources and spread out the risks across a common health insurance fund like the one enjoyed by federal employees, it would cost a fraction of what we're paying now, and open a whole new world of possibilities for all Americans.
Companies large and small would no longer be obliged to devote their resources and personnel to providing services unrelated to their mission, and would be able to compete with foreign companies. Individuals would be able to start new enterprises, or pursue careers based on their skills and inclinations, not just on which employer offers health benefits.
If there are people who are happy with their current health insurance, I do not wish to take it from them. If people wish to pay for experimental procedures or extra tests out of pocket, I would not deny them that luxury. But I think everyone has a right to basic, affordable health-care access, and it is criminal that here in America, supposedly the richest country in the world, people--including children--are suffering and dying because they cannot get regular check-ups or preventive care. Tens of millions of people like me are just holding on by our fingernails right now, desperately hoping that this will be the year that American legislators vote in favor of universal healthcare access. We're all in this together, so I beg you to do the right thing and help lift this burden.
May 26, 2009
Healthcare Coverage for All Americans
Recently, I got an email from President Obama asking me to sign my name and stand with him in demanding health care reform. He also asked for personal stories about health care reform, so I wrote the following:
April 2, 2009
Why ER is My Favorite TV Drama Ever
NBC's television drama ER is airing its final episode tonight after 15 years on the air. I have been watching since the pilot episode aired, dating back to my first apartment in Austin, and I think I can say that of all of the series I have watched or followed over the years, it is the one that has not only touched me the most, but also taught me the most.
Although the show has inspired several generations of med students, including some friends, watching the grueling process of becoming a doctor made me realize that I didn't want to become one myself, while allowing me to learn a lot about both common and unusual diseases and procedures. I found myself watching the show with the subtitles on so that I could better understand the symptoms each patient presented with, and the doctors' diagnoses and prescriptions. I remember being kind of thrilled when I was doing a temp job 14 years ago at a local hospital, and I knew what all of the orders and supplies were on the bills I was processing: CBC--check; Chem 7--check; #10 French--check. Watching ER also helped me ask my doctors more intelligent questions.
I have long felt that the passage of time is the most heartbreaking thing we humans experience. It is what brings meaning to life, to friendships, to families, to relationships. It gives us new friends and family members, yes, but also ages us, and takes from us the ones that we love. Television shows, especially sitcoms, but also dramas, often succumb to the instant viewer gratification of instantly revealing everything about a character, or creating short-lived goals or personality traits to satisfy a story line.
ER's writing team always recognized the importance of focusing on long-term character and story arcs, and rewarding viewers who stayed with the show and got to know the characters. Some doctors, like Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic), were introduced as distant and mysterious, and the show took several seasons before viewers found out exactly what had happened during the war in Yugoslavia, and why he had lost his faith in God, the catalyst being an archbishop (James Cromwell) who was an ER patient. Because this was revealed so gradually, our knowledge felt earned, like our getting to know a close real-life friend. Knowing how he had tragically lost his first family enriched the experience of watching all of his subsequent romances, and finally the birth of his son. Likewise, knowing Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) had been through with her bipolar mother, made it easier to understand why she was fearful about becoming a mother herself. I have to give a special commendation to Sally Field, whose portrayal of Abby's mother was so carefully observed that it enabled me to recognize bipolar disorder in a family member.
Sure, there were plenty of spectacular sweeps-month stunts, in which trains derailed, torrential floods washed through Chicago, apartment buildings exploded, psychotics drove tanks through the streets, ambulances crashed, and helicopters went amok. It was as dangerous for actors to star on ER as on the Sopranos, since it seemed that every season, a character or their relative had to die in some spectacular or melodramatic fashion. But always, the characters and their struggles continued in long storylines that were consistently involving, and illuminated complicated social issues--mental illness, war, religion, gay rights, drug abuse, interracial relationships, and work-life balance.
ER has been a sort of residency program not just for fictional TV doctors, but also for an array of actors whose talent was encouraged to blossom on the show. Of course, George Clooney is the most recognizable alum, but Maura Tierney, who was best known for her comedic role on NewsRadio, turned in moving dramatic performances season after season. Visnjic even got to use his experience in a Croatian production of Hamlet in one episode. John Stamos became more than "Uncle Jesse" on "Full House," and Parminder Nagra (Dr. Neela Rasgotra) was able to go beyond the teenage soccer player of "Bend it Like Beckham." Laura Innes (Dr. Kerry Weaver) has gone on to direct award-winning episodes of ER, and I have also been reminded of how much I loved and missed Noah Wyle's* portrayal of Dr. John Carter, the dedicated doctor who begins the show as a clueless med student, but becomes the battle-scarred survivor.
My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this show's success over the years. Your characters and stories have touched our hearts.
*Incidentally, at a grand total of 254, Wyle also wins the prize for starring in the most episodes. Next are Laura Innes and Laura Cerón (Nurse Chuny Marquez).
Although the show has inspired several generations of med students, including some friends, watching the grueling process of becoming a doctor made me realize that I didn't want to become one myself, while allowing me to learn a lot about both common and unusual diseases and procedures. I found myself watching the show with the subtitles on so that I could better understand the symptoms each patient presented with, and the doctors' diagnoses and prescriptions. I remember being kind of thrilled when I was doing a temp job 14 years ago at a local hospital, and I knew what all of the orders and supplies were on the bills I was processing: CBC--check; Chem 7--check; #10 French--check. Watching ER also helped me ask my doctors more intelligent questions.
I have long felt that the passage of time is the most heartbreaking thing we humans experience. It is what brings meaning to life, to friendships, to families, to relationships. It gives us new friends and family members, yes, but also ages us, and takes from us the ones that we love. Television shows, especially sitcoms, but also dramas, often succumb to the instant viewer gratification of instantly revealing everything about a character, or creating short-lived goals or personality traits to satisfy a story line.
ER's writing team always recognized the importance of focusing on long-term character and story arcs, and rewarding viewers who stayed with the show and got to know the characters. Some doctors, like Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic), were introduced as distant and mysterious, and the show took several seasons before viewers found out exactly what had happened during the war in Yugoslavia, and why he had lost his faith in God, the catalyst being an archbishop (James Cromwell) who was an ER patient. Because this was revealed so gradually, our knowledge felt earned, like our getting to know a close real-life friend. Knowing how he had tragically lost his first family enriched the experience of watching all of his subsequent romances, and finally the birth of his son. Likewise, knowing Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) had been through with her bipolar mother, made it easier to understand why she was fearful about becoming a mother herself. I have to give a special commendation to Sally Field, whose portrayal of Abby's mother was so carefully observed that it enabled me to recognize bipolar disorder in a family member.
Sure, there were plenty of spectacular sweeps-month stunts, in which trains derailed, torrential floods washed through Chicago, apartment buildings exploded, psychotics drove tanks through the streets, ambulances crashed, and helicopters went amok. It was as dangerous for actors to star on ER as on the Sopranos, since it seemed that every season, a character or their relative had to die in some spectacular or melodramatic fashion. But always, the characters and their struggles continued in long storylines that were consistently involving, and illuminated complicated social issues--mental illness, war, religion, gay rights, drug abuse, interracial relationships, and work-life balance.
ER has been a sort of residency program not just for fictional TV doctors, but also for an array of actors whose talent was encouraged to blossom on the show. Of course, George Clooney is the most recognizable alum, but Maura Tierney, who was best known for her comedic role on NewsRadio, turned in moving dramatic performances season after season. Visnjic even got to use his experience in a Croatian production of Hamlet in one episode. John Stamos became more than "Uncle Jesse" on "Full House," and Parminder Nagra (Dr. Neela Rasgotra) was able to go beyond the teenage soccer player of "Bend it Like Beckham." Laura Innes (Dr. Kerry Weaver) has gone on to direct award-winning episodes of ER, and I have also been reminded of how much I loved and missed Noah Wyle's* portrayal of Dr. John Carter, the dedicated doctor who begins the show as a clueless med student, but becomes the battle-scarred survivor.
My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this show's success over the years. Your characters and stories have touched our hearts.
*Incidentally, at a grand total of 254, Wyle also wins the prize for starring in the most episodes. Next are Laura Innes and Laura Cerón (Nurse Chuny Marquez).
February 15, 2009
Oscar Party 2009
Bollywood comes to Austin this coming Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009! The show starts at 7 p.m., but come at 6:30ish to finish filling out your ballots and get a bite to eat. As usual, costumes and red-carpet glamour are encouraged!
August 11, 2008
If the Food Channel Did Business News
Although I did not actually buy shares of Apple Computer last spring when I should have (now up 57.52%--dang!), I am tracking AAPL's progress on my Google Portfolio page, so I get the company's news feed every day. Last Thursday, the headlines looked like this:
Mmmmmmm...waffles! They say that like it's a bad thing.
Mmmmmmm...waffles! They say that like it's a bad thing.
August 5, 2008
Letter to Neiman Marcus Customer Service
I should preface this posting by saying that a couple of years ago, I started doing research about animal cruelty issues, especially with regard to farm animals.
I received an email asking me to participate in an online survey regarding my shopping habits in exchange for a chance to win a $2,000 NM gift card. I did participate in the survey, but was bothered by the question about whether I was more comfortable buying fur at a "bricks and mortar" store or online. There was no way to answer "I do not buy fur."
As long as there are no laws that require fur to be labeled with the country of origin, and while furriers buy from "producers" who kidnap and slaughter household pets for fur trim (China), and engage in the extreme cruelty of skinning gray foxes alive (for the love of God, why?), I will neither purchase fur nor wear the vintage furs I inherited from my grandmother. I wish that NM would be more proactive in refusing to carry fur until such laws are in place, or leading the way in insisting on humane treatment of fur-bearing animals.
Thanks for listening.
I received an email asking me to participate in an online survey regarding my shopping habits in exchange for a chance to win a $2,000 NM gift card. I did participate in the survey, but was bothered by the question about whether I was more comfortable buying fur at a "bricks and mortar" store or online. There was no way to answer "I do not buy fur."
As long as there are no laws that require fur to be labeled with the country of origin, and while furriers buy from "producers" who kidnap and slaughter household pets for fur trim (China), and engage in the extreme cruelty of skinning gray foxes alive (for the love of God, why?), I will neither purchase fur nor wear the vintage furs I inherited from my grandmother. I wish that NM would be more proactive in refusing to carry fur until such laws are in place, or leading the way in insisting on humane treatment of fur-bearing animals.
Thanks for listening.
August 2, 2008
Random Peeve
Random pet pronunciation peeve:
I hate it when people pronounce the title of the movie "Amélie" as if it rhymes with "homily," and with the emphasis on the first syllable. I wonder how many obnoxious tourists accost Mlle Tatou and say, "Aaaah gist luuuuved yew in that movie 'Ommily.'"
It's ahh-meh-lee, if you please, with a broad, light "ah," not "aww."
There now, I feel a lot better. Which reminds me of a spelling peeve. "Alot" is not a word. It's "a lot." Two words. Count them. Thank you.
I hate it when people pronounce the title of the movie "Amélie" as if it rhymes with "homily," and with the emphasis on the first syllable. I wonder how many obnoxious tourists accost Mlle Tatou and say, "Aaaah gist luuuuved yew in that movie 'Ommily.'"
It's ahh-meh-lee, if you please, with a broad, light "ah," not "aww."
There now, I feel a lot better. Which reminds me of a spelling peeve. "Alot" is not a word. It's "a lot." Two words. Count them. Thank you.
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