Review: Burno is Brilliant

There is not a dull moment in Sacha Baron Cohen's brilliant comedy, Bruno. Cohen's style of comedy is not appealing to everyone, and some people "just plain don't get it." I love off-beat humor, especially humor that pushes the envelope. Bruno does more than push the envelope. It licks it all over, stamps, and mails it.

I am aware that some gay folks don't like this movie for some reason or other. I haven't read their criticisms because I don't care. The character of Bruno is an extreme caricature that makes fun of stereotypes. He uses outrageous situations and dialog to make fun of homophobes, "ex-gay" charlatans, and rednecks. Whatever anyone else wants to read into this movie, go for it. That's my take. Two fists up.

Here's the restricted trailer.

In Poll, Wide Support for Government-Run Health

I am very pleased that the public is behind Obama on this. Many in both parties in Congress (who owe lots of money to the insurance and pharma lobbyists) want to scuttle the public option. I hope this poll will push the public option over the finish line in Congress. Call your Representatives and Senators...please.

In Poll, Wide Support for Government-Run Health - NYTimes.com

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This message appeared tonight while I was playing Mafia Wars on Facebook. Somehow, the HTML code appeared. Oops.

Some Health Care Facts

Here are a few facts about health care in the US that I recorded while watching a short segment on health care on CNN:

• France spends $3449 per person per year on health care.
• The United Kingdom spends $2760 per person per year on health care.
• Canada spends $3678 per person per year on health care.
• The United States spends $6714 per person per year on health care.

Do we get our money's worth for paying so much extra? You decide:

• The US ranks 50th in the world in life expectancy.
• The US ranks 44th in the world in infant mortality.

We are spending more on health care partly due to the administrative costs of having so many health care plans. Americans also go to specialists more, which adds to costs. There is more emphasis on prevention in other countries, such as Canada, which reduces the need for health care.

I could go on, but these are just the facts I recorded from the short segment. Obviously, there are other reasons for our high costs in the US.

The Back of Kennedy's Note

In case you missed it this week, President Obama wrote a teacher's note for a child during one of his town hall appearances. The story and video are here if you want to know more. What has not been reported, or if so, I haven't seen it, is what was written on the back of the note. Now it can be revealed.

Town Hall meeting
Grab a burger with brown mustard - Don't tell Michelle
Tell Congress to pass health care
Take Michelle on date in Rome on next European adventure - This is a lot of fun
Buy arugula at Fresh Market
Remind everyone again that I inherited this mess from Bush
Buy a new teleprompter
Sneak out for a smoke - Don't tell Michelle or reporters

Introducing a New Blogger

I'm pleased to announce that my friend Susan in Austin, TX has agreed to blog on Many Things. Susan and I worked together for several years and became friends. Even though we now live many miles apart, we still keep up with each other via Facebook, Twitter, and email. Please join me in welcoming Susan to this blog. I know you will enjoy her posts.

It's Been an Interesting Week

I think I have 99% recovered from my surgery now. However, I am now getting the avalanche of statements, insurance forms, etc. from that surgery. Why is it more often the case that the paperwork is more of a pain than surgery?

An acquaintance sent me an email this week calling me a "fucking bitch" and told me to "get a job." Apparently, she was upset at some of my blog postings, saying that some of my posts were "hateful." I get the irony here. Someone calls my writings hateful, yet she sends me an email calling me a "fucking bitch." I feel sad for her. No loss for me. I've lost no sleep over it.

And speaking of sleep, I guess the surgery and anesthesia after-effects have caused me to sleep more. I slept until 11 AM today, and I never sleep that late on a weekend. Of course, I cut the grass and did other yard work on Saturday, so maybe that was part of it.

I still have some job leads. It would be nice to be able to go out and "get a job," but it is far easier said than done. Every job I see that I've had no experience with requires months or years of experience. My technical writer job submissions seem to go into a black hole. I am increasingly resigned to the notion of having to go on Social Security in October. By then, it will be my last resort in paying my bills and keeping the house.

I never got my unemployment benefits started back. Seems that my resigning after three days from a 3-month contract job relegates me to unemployment hell in Georgia. It's the same thing for folks laid off from contract jobs. They are not eligible in Georgia. So, currently the only income I have is the small amount of rent that my roommate pays me. I'm living off of my home equity loan for now. I've cut back every bill I know how. My grocery budget is down to $100 a month. I turn down most invitations that involve me spending money. I'm facing out of pocket expenses for my surgery soon.

I'm not complaining...just telling you what is going on with me. I have friends who are far worse off than I am. I feel sorry for them and others with families to support. At least I'm old enough to have early Social Security as a fall back plan. Otherwise, I would just be digging into my retirement savings, such as they are. I have decided to put the house up for sale sooner rather than later, maybe as early as next year if the market has somewhat recovered. It's nice to have a house, but at the same time, it prevents me from moving anywhere in the US for a job. I'd rather be able to go where the jobs are than be confined to this area.

Well that's my week. What's going on with you?