Heh. [That's the politest comment I could think of, mind you.]

No doubt.. :D

Michale

Beastie Boys
Michael Jackson
Madonna
The Bangles
U2
The Who
Suzanne Vega
Genesis
Bon Jovi
Bruce Springsteen

Honorable mention to chris de burgh and weird al

JL

I had a girlfriend who was way into Barry Manilow. Didn't work out.

Heh. [That's the politest comment I could think of, mind you.]

David -

No Peter Gabriel? No Talking Heads? Top 25 maybe?

:-)

Do yourself a favor and listen to the version of "Nantucket Sleighride" from the live Mountain album (1972? I think...). It's 17.5 minutes long, and it is awesome. Leslie West rocks.

-CW

Team obamacare:

100,000 signups (not all paid)

5 million cancellations...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/11/12/the-obamacare-exchange-scorecard-around-100000-enrollees-and-five-million-cancellations/

I think "train wreck" is putting it nicely....

Michale

And the hits just keep on coming...

Pelosi was right.

We HAD to pass obamacare to find out what was in it..

Because gods know it would NEVER have passed if people knew beforehand what was ACTUALLY in it!!!

obamacare is toast..

The only question is will Obama go down with his sinking "signature legislation"??

Michale

Do you agree with Republicans, some Democrats and President Clinton that Obama should keep his promise to the American people and let people who like their plans, stay with their plans???

Michale

Gee, doesn't THAT sound familiar....

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/11/13/No-Hope-Left-Obamacare-s-Website-Techies-Say#sthash.gMOreILp.dpuf

obamacare won't be fixed by 1 Dec...

It's really that simple...

Michale

You can't "fix" obamacare and allow those millions of Americans to keep their less expensive plans.

obamacare will only work if those millions are forced to pay for the more expensive plans that have a ton of things that are not needed...

If I were Dems, I'd pick up this mantle as much as possible.

They already are. Dems are getting behind the GOP plans to make sure those people can keep their plans..

But I doubt Obama will let that happen. As I said, obamacare will only work if those millions are forced to pay for more expensive plans..

Because let's be honest, Republicans are pretty good at bitching about it, but how are they working to fix things?

Apparently pretty good as long as Democrats are not obstructionist...

The Counter Terrorism issue is a perfect example..

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/12/1254979/-Palin-Asked-for-Her-Alternative-to-ACA-She-NAILS-It?detail=email

Look, if ya'all are going to keep posting crap from DailyKos and HuffPo as if it were gospel, then I am going to insist ya'all quite ridiculing cites from Drudge and Breitbart... :D

Michale

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/12/1254979/-Palin-Asked-for-Her-Alternative-to-ACA-She-NAILS-It?detail=email

Why.I'd.Keep.Asking

-David

You listened to some cool music CW. I didn't even hear of Mountain until recently.

Mine looks more like:

1) Journey
2) U2
3) REM
4) Men at Work
5) REO Speedwagon
6) Rush
7) Duran Duran
8) Foreigner

And Slick Willy throws down the gauntlet!

LOL. On this, Clinton is just being smart. He is emphasizing "fix" Obamacare.

If I were Dems, I'd pick up this mantle as much as possible.

Think of how good it would be if Dems and Republicans worked together to fix Obamacare?

Because let's be honest, Republicans are pretty good at bitching about it, but how are they working to fix things?

-David

Anyone wanna make a wager??? :D

Michale

Oh, you don't want to hear my 7th grade music list..

Barry Manilow tops the list and it goes down from there. :D

Michale

Touché!

Heh. But me-n-Michale have this thing where we pretend not to gloat too much, while simultaneously gloating all we think we can get away with. We're polite... in rubbing each other's face in the mud, that is. Heh heh. I'm sure he'd agree.

nypoet22 -

The whole "wedgie" idea came from the part of my brain which has never evolved past the 5th grade playground. You might tell your students that, for some, you just never grow out of fart jokes and "heh heh, he said Lake Titicaca" sorts of juvenile humor. You do learn to disguise it better as you get older, but there's a little Bart Simpson in us all, I think (at least in the males of the species...).

So, please do share the term with them. See what they think. And give the guy smirking in the back row who is drawing cartoons in his book extra credit for having such insight....

Heh.

nypoet22 [9] -

Well, OK, you brought the subject up, so here's my top ten groups from junior high (as we called it back then, for all the "middle school" whippersnappers today).

* Jethro Tull
* Led Zeppelin
* Pink Floyd
* Black Sabbath
* Uriah Heep
* Yes
* Kansas
* Mountain ("Nantucket Sleighride" in particular...)
* Styx ("Grand Illusion" and before, mind you, none of that later nonsense...)
* Jimi Hendrix

Not a bad list, if I do say so. That's just off the top of my head, I would have to check my album collection (yes, you young'uns, I said album collection) to fill out the top 25.

Anyone who sneers at Styx on that list has not ever heard their first two albums, I'd bet. They used to be as progressive (as we call it nowadays) as Yes. Do a search for the song "Madame Blue" if you don't believe me. To say nothing of "Krakatoa/Hallelujah Chorus"...

Anyone else willing to post their list?

Michale [10] -

I'll address the website thing in tomorrow's (Wed) column.

I'd be very interested to hear your 7th grade music list. Might Lynyrd Skynyrd be somewhere in there? I would put them in my top 25, personally, but I don't think they merited the top 10.

Michale [12] -

I don't know, I saw it as a positive sign that the White House is contacting 275K people (who previously had problems) this week to encourage them to try the website again. They wouldn't be doing that if things hadn't improved. As for a complete redesign, that is precisely what is happening now. Any time you hear "the whole website is being taken down for X hours in the dead of the night" what that means is that a major part got redesigned and is ready for testing and use. So we'll see.

David [14] -

The news the media's not reporting: a minimum wage hike won in New Jersey, with about the same vote as Christie. Democrats have taken heed, and are now planning on making a minimum wage hike a central part of their 2014 platform. Makes good sense, eh?

Michale -

General comment: if you can, post a photo in a comment of the new grandkid. If you have problems, send me the photo via email and I'll post it. I'm sure all the people here who you annoy on a regular basis will all go "Awww!" and cut you a little slack as a direct result.

:-)

Michale [18] -

Actually, you're wrong and db is right. Healthcare costs (or "healthcare inflation") have been increasing slower than they have in decades. But db is going out on a limb by stating Obamacare is the reason, because a large part of it may be due to the collapse of the economy and the recession. Even economists aren't sure of the causes, yet.

OK, that's enough for now. Like I said, new Obamcare/website column will post tomorrow, folks.

-CW

And the hits just keep on coming.....

Com'on people!

What's it going to take for you to admit that obamacare is a train wreck??

Hell, forget the website..

The MILLIONS of Americans who have had their health plans cancelled, despite an unequivocal promise from Obama is enough to label obamacare a complete and utter EPIC fail.....

What's it going to take??

Or are you saying that ya'all completely and unequivocally support obamacare regardless of how many Americans are screwed beyond belief......

Obama uber alles...

Is that it???

Michale

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/363699/truth-about-navigators-john-fund

Michale

"So I personally believe, even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honor the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they got."
-President Bill Clinton

Obama's GOT to be fuming about this.....

Ya'all wanna talk a civil war within a Party??? :D

Michale

This is why Democrats will be leading the charge to repeal obamacare...

Michale

Doesn't bode well for Obama's "signature" legislation...

What an embarrassment for Democrats and the Left in general...

Michale

And it's not even doing THAT well either.

Except for the select few, health insurance costs are rising as high as 400%...

So, there's another EPIC fail for ya..

But yes, the website healthcare.gov will be working better by 12/01/13

And what do you base that on?? Besides wishful thinking and political ideological enslavement, of course?

There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE to support your claim.

Yet there is plenty of empirical evidence to support the conclusion that obamacare will never be fixed...

But hay, let's go with it.

If obamacare is not fixed by 1 Dec, then you will subsequently, in all comments on the subject, refer to obamacare as 'crapcare'...

Deal?? :D

Michale

"No I can't, because obamacare IS the website..."

Well, that's certainly news.

I thought that Obamacare was designed to eliminate absurdities in the health insurance system, as it's done by, for example, eliminating lifetime benefit limits.

I thought Obamacare was designed to hold down the cost of health care as it's done because 2012 had the slowest rate of per-capita increase in health care costs since 1970.

I will leave it to others to point out your previous comments opposing much more than "Obamacare the website" & I will leave it to others to wade through your comments in the future to hold you to your "Obamacare is the website" dictum.

But yes, the website healthcare.gov will be working better by 12/01/13

Well, now we know how "good" obamacare is...

THREE percent of target...

Yea.. GOVERNMENT is the way to go, eh?

Michale

That's a pretty big IF, David...

The word around the beltway is that it's unlikely, given the scope of the problem that obamacare will be fixed this year...

If this turns out to be true, you can bet that it will be DEMOCRATS leading the charge to repeal obamacare..

p.s. Congrats, Michale! And Grayson is a great name btw.

Thanx... :D

Michale

In John Boehner's district, the Tea Party nuts were defeated by incumbent Republicans who were trying to act as un-Tea Party as possible.

They also passed a school levy ... in other words, a tax.

The Republicans who are winning are tacking to the left. See also Chris Christie.

This is a good sign for Democrats in general. It means we're winning the issues.

The Republican Party's 2014 campaign strategy can be summed up in two words, really: "Obamacare bad."

Which basically means if the team can fix the website and weather the PR storm, we're going to be in good shape for 2014.

When you think about it, it's great that we're even having a national conversation around healthcare. Instead of war. Or a financial crisis.

That's how far we've come. If I were the Dems, that would be my pitch for 2014/2016: how far we've come.

-David

p.s. Congrats, Michale! And Grayson is a great name btw.

hehehehehe

It's funny because it's true.... :D

Michale

And that pessimistic notion is coming from DEMOCRATS....

Frankly, considering the tech involved and the huge code problems the website has, it'll be a miracle if obamacare.gov will ever be fixed..

Based on what I know, it's better than even odds that the whole website will have to be thrown out and a complete redesign will have to be done..

Michale

Apparently, Obama doesn't think so..

White House relying more on insurance carriers to help fix HealthCare.gov
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-relying-more-on-insurance-carriers-to-help-fix-healthcaregov/2013/11/09/ecfcc294-489b-11e3-a196-3544a03c2351_story.html

Interesting point in that article..

The Obama administration’s broader cooperation with insurers is a tacit acknowledgment that the federal insurance exchange — fraught with software and hardware flaws that have frustrated many Americans trying to buy coverage — might not be working smoothly by the target date of Nov. 30, according to several health experts familiar with the administration’s thinking.

Looks like ya'all might want to think really hard on any wager we make?? :D

Actually, I only want one thing..

For ya'all to concede that obamacare is a train-wreck and that Obama royally scrooed the pooch....

Michale

Oh well. :D

CW,

I bet no quatloos unless the drill Thrall dictates the battle won't start until December 1st. [Image: throbbing brain, under the mini-dome of Triskelion]

Fair enough, Provider. :D

Dec 1st it is... I guess that will give us a lot of gristle to hash out that will serve the fundraiser quite well. :D

And tell him not to worry, by the time he needs it, the Obamacare website will be working. Heh. Couldn't resist....

I'll believe it when I see it! :D

DB,

Can you please quit equating "Obamacare" the Law and healthcare.gov the web site?

No I can't, because obamacare IS the website...

What is the primary function of obamacare??

Is it to provide healthcare?

No, that's the job of the hospitals and the doctors..

Is it to pay for healthcare??

No, that's the job of the insurance companies..

Is it to enforce the penalties and collect the penalties?

No, that's the job of the IRS..

obamacare's sole function is to bring health insurance to the masses..

That's it. That is it's sole function.

And the ONLY way that obamacare does this is thru it's website.. The SOLE access to obamacare is thru the website..

obamacare IS the website..

Now, you'll say, "No, you can call and sign up for obamacare"...

What happens when you call?? The operator that you talk to logs into the website and signs you up..

Next, you'll try, "But you can mail in your application for obamacare"..

And, when you mail in your application, the person who receives it will... wait for it... wait for it... will log into the obamacare website and enter in the information.

obamacare is a website. That's the beginning and the end (how apropos :D) of obamacare.

It's a website.

Except you've conflated problems with the web site & problems with the law. The web site problems are a technical issue.

True, but it's a difference that makes no difference.. And a difference that makes no difference IS no difference..

The "problems" with the Law seem to involve Fox "News" finding someone to condemn the law on screen;

Oh come on!

You can't throw a dart at the United States without hitting HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS of people who condemn obamacare.

FNC doesn't have to "find" anyone. You can read all about them all across the MSM..

So what exactly are you asking for? What exactly are the terms of the bet?

The stakes will have to be decided and agreed upon.. I kinda like the one where EVERYONE in Wegantia calls obamacare 'crapcare' if I win. :D

As far as the determining factor. I would say that if, on Dec 1st, obamacare is the same train wreck it is now, than I "win"...

Of course, the hard part of that will be determining obamacare train wreck-y-ness... :D

but hardly the death throes of the Tea Party.

Troo dat...

JL,

but it also makes them look bad for using such extreme tactics when they could have had their way if they'd just been a bit more patient,

That's a double edged sword. It makes Democrats look bad for letting the country shut down over something that is going to be delayed anyways..

Of course, the argument that "hind sight is always 20/20" IS a valid defense..

But it's a valid defense for BOTH Partys as well..

Michale

i don't teach in NY at the moment, but I may soon depending on how things work out. yes, middle schoolers are challenging at times, but they're also exciting and fun. there's a reason everybody remembers what music they listened to in the seventh grade.

JL

JL

More power to you if you can. This makes you an awesome human being!

perhaps i'll suggest the term wedgie to my 7th and 8th grade students. i'm sure they'll appreciate the humor, if not the irony.

;)
JL

regarding cheetos, many of my students' favorite snacks are "hot" cheetos, or another similar food product called Taki, which is spicy and corny but doesn't have cheese.

will the website work by december 1? maybe. by christmas? maybe. by new years? who knows. if it doesn't, that makes the republicans look smarter for suggesting a delay. but it also makes them look bad for using such extreme tactics when they could have had their way if they'd just been a bit more patient, a bit more cautious, a bit more... conservative?

JL

Can you please quit equating "Obamacare" the Law and healthcare.gov the web site?

Because I will gladly take, "And how many quatloos do you want to wager that, if obamacare is STILL as bad or worse than it is right now, the Left in general (and Weigantians in particular) will STILL defend Obama and his train wreck??" for $25 to the local homeless shelter

Except you've conflated problems with the web site & problems with the law. The web site problems are a technical issue.

The "problems" with the Law seem to involve Fox "News" finding someone to condemn the law on screen; only to find the individual never applied/isn't impacted in the first place. Not that Fox offers retractions.

So what exactly are you asking for? What exactly are the terms of the bet?

CW,

Cheap shot on promising not to rag Michale about the election results. As I saw it Michale was "righter" than you. McAuliffe won underwhelmingly in VA. A win is a win; but hardly the death throes of the Tea Party.

The 2014 primary season will be interesting. Agree entirely

I bet no quatloos unless the drill Thrall dictates the battle won't start until December 1st. [Image: throbbing brain, under the mini-dome of Triskelion]

Heh.

Oh, and my congratulations as well! Welcome to the the newest in Clan Michale (as Craig Ferguson might say...)!

And tell him not to worry, by the time he needs it, the Obamacare website will be working. Heh. Couldn't resist....

:-)

-CW

Fair enough..

Let's wait til Thanksgiving.. Which is close enough to the end of the month to be a good jump off point...

And how many quatloos do you want to wager that, if obamacare is STILL as bad or worse than it is right now, the Left in general (and Weigantians in particular) will STILL defend Obama and his train wreck??

I am serious. Let's make a wager on that...

If Weigantians are willing to put some REAL skin in the game, I'll hold my obamacare water until that time..

Any takers???

Oh and I am a new grampy today.. :D

Grayson Michale Worley
Born 1337hrs 8 Nov 2013. 7lbs 6oz...

:D

It's been a REALLY long day...

Michale