9/04/18
I drove past this between Salida and Cotopaxi on State Highway 50 in Colorado. I had to turn around and tell whoever that I stood with them totally assuming I was correct. I was and got the biggest hug of appreciation for doing so.

From my understanding, there are close to 3000 children being held around this country after being seized from their parents at the border.

Many will never see their Mom and Dad again because Republicans are totally evil.

You bastards!

4/30/10

Democrats Did What In Florida??

The way I read this every Dem voted for this. Wow very Republican like.

The House Democrats used their 44 votes in the 120-seat chamber to block numerous bills today.

One of them was-

an ultrasound requirement—similar to the one passed by Oklahoma on Tuesday—that would require an ultrasound on a woman prior to abortion, within the woman’s view, and with a description of the fetus’ development. It would go even further than the Oklahoma law in requiring that the woman also pay for her ultrasound.

Not sure how this will end up but it appears our side at least for a day kicked some right wing ass!

Fighting back like this could carry a price.

Why Don't I Believe Him

Rat bastard Arpaio says they "won't go around racial profiling and grabbing people because of the color of their skin". My ass!

Why are these people below jumping on the band wagon for this in particular McInnis from Colorado.

Because they are appealing to the far right of the party of teabaggers and whatever label put on these people.

No matter what others say this is the type that now make up the party of Republican. This is where the majority of them are at. Just watch what happens this summer.

LTFO and stay out of the sun and Arizona.


Noteworthy supporters of law
• Russell Pearce
• Sarah Palin
• Joe Arpaio
• John McCain
• Andrew Thomas
• J.D. Hayworth
• Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Fla.)
• Rep. Debbie Riddle (Texas)
• Scott McInnis (Colo. candidate)

4/29/10

Iraq Is In The Air Of Ciudad Juárez

Just like the seven killed a couple days ago you have to look a bit to find the story of the 16 killed yesterday

Of those 16 eight people were dragged from a bar and executed in the parking lot.

Real sick fuckers who kill people but first play with them are the worst.

When society reaches that level there's no bringing it back to civility the way it is now.

Our Third War Front will end when the profit motive is taken away from the killers.

That's not going to happen.

We love da guns and wars toooo much!

LTFO In Maricopa County Arizona Today

I feel sorry for the innocents when Nazi bastard Arpaio launches his latest crime and immigration sweep.

Arpaio says he will focus on high-crime areas and target immigrant smugglers and the drop houses where they hide their customers.

Yea look the fuck out down there. This piece of human shit may be fooling the stupids but make no mistake about this.

Armed with gestapo like tools there will be abuses that will rival what the SS did decades ago.

Take it to the bank!

You Just Took It Up The Yang Yang Again

Another one we should have got and were never going to.


Anyone think we're going to get anything different from these same men is thinking a delusion.

It's real simple and clear about this separation between government and religion. Plus this is my land and I do not want to see religious symbols on my property.

Wait till later kiddies the best is yet to come.

Count on it.

4/28/10

I'll Be Around

I just heard this on my favorite streaming station (KDNK-Carbondale) a song I've enjoyed since the first time I listened to it.

The Natives Loved Obama In Radar's Home Town



 Glad to hear that . But if you look on the front page of the Ottumwa paper you will see this picture. Outdated a bit I think.

Nazi bastard Steve King tried to rally his goose steppers from distant NE Iowa via a video address in Ft, Madison.

Also in this paper are a number of letters to the editor that are negative.

Radar must have left a mark on his neighbors but was unable to convince the local fishwrapper to stop being just that nothing but a cheap whore.

Hat's off to Ottumwa, Iowa. You betcha! It's nice this reporter was able to write this in a positive way.

4/27/10

Obama Headed Into The Depression Cornfields

If you are not from the cornfield state chances are if you have driven across it you took I80 or I35. It is not flat like many think. Hell a lot of easterners think it's Idaho and that's no shit.

Where Obama is headed today was depressed to begin with. Iowa holds 25% of the planets best soil but it is not where Radar O'reilly came from because when it's hilly and the soil sucks you're not growing much and the economy of this part of the state has always reflected that. It's a different breed of cat down there and it doesn't get fed well at all.    Article link




So President is going to spread some money around as he will in other parts of the nation that are hard hit because of eight years of Bush whore-ism and help is needed in areas like this wherever they may be.. But that ain't good enough for the dumb clucks that comment at the whore Des Moines Register that actually used to be a paper.

Nobama's message will be of more misery and despair under his Socialist Liberal rule for southern Iowa.


LOL, yes he is a very competent liar....and people like you keep believing in his word. Sad, the state of intelligence of some people.


He is full of as much c.r.a.p. than the pig farm he'll be around, You won't be able to tell the difference from him or the pigs.


Remember not to let him smoke in or around a public place!

There are some inbred stupid bastards down there let me tell ya-after all we're getting close to the state where they have to be shown everything over and over again because they can't remember.

I have a feeling the leader of our country may be not treated very well by the likes of those he's there to assist. Help that is needed badly and then blamed for the situation he had nothing to do with.

It's not exactly the South but it is just a bit north of there.

We'll see and I hope not but it would not surprise me.

4/26/10

What My Fishing Bud Does During The Winter

Check this out-it's good stuff.

You can't go back but there was no such thing back in the flatland's of Iowa during the 50's.

I wish there would have been more of everything.

Busy

It's that time of year where the next couple months are so hectic. Of course I fell asleep in the chair and have stuff to do before I get to work.

There are people coming today to probably buy my pickup. That will get me down to one vehicle.

Gotta run-have a good one and don't take any shit!

4/25/10

Ciudad Juarez Quick Death

Bang you're dead just like that just plain gone. It happened on Friday where seven were gunned down.

But in a Nogales warehouse a U.S. Border Patrol trainer teaches a Mexican federal policeman how to fight the war.

Another big but!!
"It's a win-win for both countries." Ya see there. 

The story gone so fast just like the lives of those killed on Friday.

The price of doing business with a government run by corporations.

4/24/10

Yea-Dead Is Dead

Another American has died for a failed policy. Why does this young man deserve extra notoriety?

What's happened to the hundreds of "investigations" in other cases of death on our two war fronts?

Was it because he served at the inauguration of President Barack Obama as a member of the Massachusetts National Honor Guard's volunteer regiment?

Are we supposed go rah rah when you include this at the end of the piece?

On Saturday, a spokesman for the provincial governor of Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan said 15 insurgents were killed in a joint military operation with Afghan and NATO forces on Friday night. 

In Baghlan province, to the south, 10 Taliban soldiers switched sides to join government forces, according to a spokesman for the provincial governor.

So the soldiers death is justified because these two things happened?

Whores you were whores you are and whores you're gonna stay.


Does Rover write this shit for you?

4/23/10

School Children Labeled Cannon Fodder By Obama Administration

That is correct folks. Once again this country slips farther into the shitter this time at the hands of a Democrat.
The Obama administration is trying to make the case that improving the quality of school meals and ridding schools of junk food is critical to combating child obesity and ensuring that young people are fit for possible military service.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said "The fact that so many youngsters are not fit for military service is, indeed, a wake-up call for this country,"

75 percent of all Americans ages 18 to 24 cannot join the military because they are fat fucks. Maybe this is a good reason to stop our aggression around the world because our younger citizens would rather chow down on corn sweeteners and spend the day texting instead of participating in the "War on Terrah".

I'm alright with that actually. Use our tax money for positive things rather than the killing of innocents in my name.

4/22/10

Scary Numbers

The HCB is a big one with many numbers. Penalty numbers are known values it seems.

Americans who don't get qualified health insurance will be required to pay  penalties starting in 2014
The penalties will be fully phased in by 2016. 
 Penalties will be phased in starting in 2014.
By 2016, those who must get  insurance but don't will be fined $695 or 2.5 percent of their household income,  whichever is greater.
After 2016, the penalties will be increased by annual cost-of-living  adjustments.

To me these numbers raise the very possibly pissed off flag way up in the air more so than being scary at this time anyway.

The numbers that need to be seen but aren't is approximate cost of this item you will be forced to purchase so that there will no punishment by the government.

Anybody who comes around here knows where I'm coming from.

To me I find these aspects very scary. I want government participation in our society but not like this.

Can You Go To Hell For Looking The Other Way

At this level of religious bullshit not caring and turning your back on the rape of children by buddy's of yours who wear the same flowery robes resignation is not enough.

At this level and depth of debauchery jail is more appropriate.

4/21/10

Celebrating Easter

Today-the paid holiday we take later. Going to spank a white ball around.

It's 38 here and we're going to a place where it's going to reach 72. The shorts are on.

I expect to suck bad.

It will be fun.

We are going right here.

4/20/10

And The Winner Was

I hate like hell to link to this local paper because of several reasons but on this item of interest there's not much choice.

Local dispensary Rocky Mountain Remedies won top honors for the best strain of medical marijuana at the inaugural Western Slope Cannabis Crown in Aspen during the weekend. The Kandy Kush strain, grown in Steamboat, beat out entries from 140 other participants and won the growers a trip to the 23rd annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam this November.

Nice job boys!! I'll be down soon to try some of that winning strain as my lobster claw syndrome has been acting up.

It Is Worse Out There

On election day 2008 this is the prick I saw standing on the corner here in lily white ski town USA. Needless to say I was a bit surprised so much so I forgot to call this slug a dumb fucker when I drove off. He was so happy he straightened right up and smiled like a good nutter. The only thing missing here was a gun.

Guns have long since entered the picture with these people even more so today along with even more hateful rhetoric and some homegrown terrorist killings that are not of course to the nut pounding pundits.

It is worse than I have ever seen in respect to what the Right is doing to change opinion. It now has become fashionable to target government employees to achieve their goals of no government.

Our side has as usual has not been effective in counteracting this and it's tough when the media is on their side for the most part.

I have no real answers this morning but I know many Bloggers on the left have done their part and wish the biggies on the left would do the same somehow.

Being nice don't do it. We are losing.

4/19/10

Elementary There One Fly

This is my new vehicle. A 2006 Honda Element with a manual transmission.

I've been screwing off bunches the last couple days and was going to go a bit into detail about this transaction as it was interesting to say the least but will just explain a bit.

I bought this for 10K and dealers are asking 17K for the same thing with more miles. I got this from a mad Romanian who sells cars. There was some minor repair on this and they did miss a few minor items when we got it home where we were able to look it over better. Some of those things I addressed yesterday.

I have driven this about 400 miles and it performs very well and will be ideal for what I wish to use it for.

It has less than 32K and is close to being the second new car I have ever owned.

Better yet on the first tank got 27mpg which is very important to me cuz I'm cheap. I do not think this will always be the norm.

Need to say as well this may very well be my last vehicle so it gets treated well.

Have a good one everybody and if ya got any questions spit 'em out.

4/16/10

Coupe De Element

The legwork was done yesterday by a very good friend of mine. This afternoon I'm headed to the front range again to purchase a Honda Element. We really didn't get a good look at this last weekend but John did  as I will before I write the check. That's another story but during this process another story came up from years ago that involved the same two characters John and myself and once again a Honda.

Last Saturday at a Honda dealership in Boulder we were looking at a Element with a five speed. Both the manual and automatic transmission shifter are on the dash. That brought back the memory of this car.


A 1971 Honda 600 Coupe. In that same year John and I drove down from the cornfield to Kansas City Missouri where I bought this same identical car that is almost my favorite blue.

This was one incredible little car. They made a sedan as well which is as ugly as the coupe is cool looking. It cost something like $2006. I think the radio was like $18 or some damn thing. In any case they told us there was no need to break it in so off we headed east to Columbia at top speed of 80 mile an hour to see Black Oak Arkansas. You betcha there Jim Dandy.

What's that got to do with last Saturday? It isn't much but what triggered this was that almost 40 years later we're doing the same damn thing together and this Element has the shifter on the dash just like the 600 Coupe did so many years before.

Thanks John for being a lifelong excellent friend!

So we will see how this story plays out but at this time it appears there will be a different car around and I am very much looking forward to it for a variety of reasons. More coming for sure.

Link to more pictures of this car.

4/15/10

The Wild Center Saves A Town

This is a story about a town in the Adirondacks that shows the power of long time residents and summer residents and their desire to not let a town die.

There are stories in and around the Adirondack Park that way back in the 70's when the Adirondack Park Agency was first established that in the 80's or 90's Tupper Lake would just fade away due it's vanishing timber industry. Years ago the town had a vibrant economy and paper product's was a large part of it and few Adirondack towns could rival the industry there. But, as time went on the timber industry moved and as the older loggers moved on to burials or new jobs somewhere else the town lost it's mojo and all that was left was a state run hospital for the developmentally disabled which employed a large percentage of the town's residents. There was talk of this hospital closing and the town might just fade away.

Well the hospital was reduced in size and soldiered on through the last 30 years and now it still employs are large percentage of the town and adds greatly to the town economy. Over the years Tupper Lakes position of being near a large lake, a ski area and being less expensive than some other Adirondack towns has offered the town to see a resurgence in it's popularity with retirees and vacation home seeking urbanites from Canada and Montreal and southern New York buying vacations homes they are doing better and have become another succesful Adirondack town.

Well, one person and another who either already had a camp in the town or moved here for a job saw the beauty of the town and the Adirondack Park decided that having a museum dedicated to our area would be a good thing. Good thing? How about great! So be prepared to spend 60 minutes watching a story that has one guy donating a million dollars of his own money, someone handing over an otter she loves and a town, county and state doing what they know was the right thing to do. It's a just a good story and nowadays a rare item. Even though it happened some years ago it still shows that when we as a people are presented with what we know is the right thing to do, we do.

Enjoy the story

Triplets

It might not be much but I can't tell you how nice it is to see the first flowers of the year. They were up this morning. Compared to past years it did not snow as much but it's surprising how much snow is still out here. It will go quickly now and it won't be fast enough for me.

These are in the same spot where generally the first columbines appear but that's a few weeks away yet.

I like the third one-click on it once then again.
 

Calling Bullshit On The Nutters

This is supposed to be believable?

Tea Party supporters are wealthier and more well-educated than the general public, they tend to be Republican, white, male and married, and their strong opposition to the Obama administration is more rooted in political ideology than anxiety about their personal economic situation, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The dumb bastards who kan't spell and don't want no guvment are smart as hell and wealthy and on and on.

I have a hard time even looking at the "news" and haven't been near as much. Better off falling asleep in the chair like I have been.

This mentality combined with the media will not be beaten back at the polls in November. I just don't think it can. Our society loves to believe lies and distortions. It's like the soap operas they watch. It must be them as the people I know don't watch.

It's getting worse out there and wait till the heat of summer when they really start ramping up the lies and mind fuck propaganda payed for with unlimited funds.

Just wait and see.

Don't Shoot Anymore And We'll Leave You The Gas And The Base

I read this and shake my head in disbelief that we have been in this country for years and this is what we have accomplished.

If U.S. troops were allowed to leave peacefully, the Americans wouldn't destroy the base, the crane and the fuel. Khan assured him the valley's fighters would honor the deal. For U.S. commanders, the Korengal Valley offers a hard lesson in the limits of American power and goodwill in Afghanistan. U.S. troops arrived in 2005 to flush out al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. They stayed on the theory that the American presence drew insurgents away from areas where the United States had a better chance of fostering development.

How is the rest of the country going to be any different. And nobody says squat except for those wearing the chest medals giving handjobs to those who vote to fund more death and destruction in Afghanistan.

We're so screwed.

4/14/10

Genetic Problems In The Cornfield

Yea no shit-imagine that.


This is not the first time for this situation. Already some "farmers" are dumping more powerful and toxic chemicals on their land.

Of course we wouldn't want to go the organic way that does work even on a large scale.

Wouldn't want to piss off them corporations ya know.

4/13/10

Not A Statistic To Be Proud Of

These numbers are not good and is in my opinion an indication of things to come.

Colorado has the fastest-growing child-poverty rate in the nation — a distinction attributed to a burgeoning number of poor in Denver's suburbs and a widening gap between Latino and non-Latino income.

Another business closes here on Wednesday and this past weekend heard of a lifelong friend who lives here who is letting his house be foreclosed.

Punishishment In Order

I get so tired of this do-gooder mentality. Maybe this fellow didn't have a tarp.

State officials say they are investigating whether anything illegal occurred when someone drove an open truck and trailer filled with dead cattle through Twin Falls in southern Idaho.


If this was happening everyday or more than once a day and body juices were running out the back then we have an issue for sure.

Turns out this fellow wasn't aware of the requirements completely but did his best to comply with what he knew. LINK

If only this nitwits would care as much for the innocents killed in Iraq in their name for lies. Plus the 4000+ on our side with the number growing in Afghanistan.

We love war and death but can't stand a few dead cattle rolling through town uncovered.

4/12/10

Bishops On Patrol

Benny the Rat says Bishops are supposed to turn in priests who rape children.

I may have been born in a cornfield but I'm smart enough to understand these bishops who are supposed to do the turning in are rapers themselves.

Nothing will change-sex with young boys is way too good when you know you're going to get away with it.

Nick The Romanian

It was business this weekend looking for a different ride. There is a story happening and it has yet to be played out but looks like it will come together at the end of the week. That's where Nick comes in who is the dealer I'm dealing with that is the story. The result at Honda dealership were what was expected and probably worse when they came with the numbers after I gave them mine.



Came across this go-cart track that never knew was there since 1988. The shifter carts can touch 90mph on the short straight away.






We want to rent this track for an hour sometime later this spring. Told we could get in a cart that will hit 70. I'm all for that and more.





This is what happens some times when these motors come apart at high rpm's and they are expensive and small.


Here is a rotary that puts out almost 50HP and they turn it way down so it stays together longer.

These small motors cost upwards of 5K.




Gotta run and today starts what will be the beginning of an extremely hectic next two or three months for me. There will not be the time to post near as much. If Nick the Romanian comes through yours truely is going to have one nice ride.

And it's not stolen.

Have a good one.

4/9/10

Business Kinda

I have two vehicles and would like to get down to one. I need a mode of transportation that is versatile and one that fits this description is the Honda Element.

Before I can really consider it for sure one has to be looked at very close and taken for a extended drive. There are none even close to here so down to the front range to do this.

Do not plan on buying one from a dealer or anyone else for that matter but just wish to gain information as this could well be the last car I have.

There's a problem though and that is I'm cheap when it comes to cars and these things aren't.

Have a good weekend and appreciate the stop by.


4/8/10

Yea-Real Estate Is In The Shitter Here In The Colorado Mountains

I have so many thoughts on this I'm unable to even begin.

"I sat here — happy and content in my little home — and watched all these big boys play with money, and I saw how greedy everyone got, selling and going bigger and selling and going bigger. Now I'm getting punished along with the rest of them,"

Here prices have come down a bit and a few things have moved -more high end than other. They still think "she's coming back". My ass!

I'm so pissed off not only about here but where ever these agents, lending company's and especially the whore appraisers and how they artificially inflated property values because they are nothing but cheap low life real estate whores-sonsofbitches pass all!!

These figures are dramatic and the article contains a lot of info.




4/7/10

Another Blog

Since there's more satisfaction playing around with pictures than blogging about politics and the others who are so different than me it's time to have a place to put a few more pictures up. Not on a daily basis probably but whenever. Not always the best ones and maybe it might be one of the worst ones if there's something there that's interesting. We'll see

Calling it One Fly's Picture Place. Got a better name spit it out. Got an idea for a particular type of picture like to hear that as well.

I see unlike this site when you save the big file they are maybe in the neighborhood of a couple hundred kb. The ones at the new place are smaller than that and don't know why. You are welcome to these and all I ask is that if you should use them give the old boy a little pat on the back. That would be nice. If you should want one in the original file size I can send it to you.

I'm thinking these posts of photos will be of a series. Like the dragonfly's. You betcha.

Just Down The Road

This has been going on for at least two decades and there have been missing sheepherders as well with claims of murder.

4/6/10

Kiss Net Neutrality Good-Bye And Your Ass As Well

This is something we needed to get but like most else it is not going to happen.

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Federal Communications Commission lacks the authority to require broadband providers to give equal treatment to all Internet traffic flowing over their networks.

This is the last straw folks the last nail in the coffin. Soon the corporations will control everything on the "Net". The last bastion where the truth and the whole truth could be written and reported on will soon be gone.

The battle is lost against this dark side of our country assisted by media corporations that profiteer from lies and war for the same. If this ruling ever makes it to the Supremes anyone who thinks they will rule in favor of "We the People" is downright fucking nuts.

Everything for and by the corporations!

This is a sad and dark day here in what used to be my country.

How Can You Drive Away?

This happens way too much and confuses and pisses me off to no end.


I think it's similar to the killing of innocents in our name for lies like in Irak ya know dere.

4/5/10

The Finger Snapper Was Nowhere To Be Seen

Every once in a while good things happen and this was one of them.

Rescue workers have pulled at least 115 miners alive from a flooded coal mine in northern China

And not once in this piece even though the word miracle was used was there any reference to religion.

But this article didn't originate from here.

Imagine that!

It's No Wonder They're Screwed Up

Getting pummeled on a daily basis with shit like this.

"Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, dishonesty and a host of other ills cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings and shattered dreams," said Thomas S. Monson, the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The poor kids-there should be a law against this insane crap.

4/4/10

Woking Escalante

This is another video my bud and I had talked about doing for sometime. Even though there are a couple of mistakes we felt it still had merit to post. I actually prefer not to be in these things but since I am the end user of this 30+ year old wok well----

4/3/10

A Nice Music Find With Downloadable Songs

If you have been here much you know I post and like music from Africa particularly from West Africa.

This site I just ran across last night is by far the best ever. If the best is rated a 10 the others I've seen and used is maybe a 1.

What so nice is that all these songs are downloadable and there is a massive amount of material and artists found here at Awesome Tapes From Africa plus other links as well that take you to other sources.

This made my day and I was blown away by some of the music I had never heard before.

Check it out and you will not be disappointed.


4/1/10

A Guest Post By Barbara O'Brien From MahaBlog

Thanks to Cujo who points out the problems with Barbara's post. OTC has never gone to the HC trough other than to say it's a piss poor bill. Make your own mind up but I'll go with Cujo.

Cujo359
said...

No, the HCR bill did not end lifetime limits on coverage. That was eliminated from the Senate bill, and never restored.

Children with pre-existing conditions may not be excluded from current policies. Thanks to the way the law was written, insurers still have the right to refuse to write new policies for children with pre-existing conditions. That supposedly will end in 2014 (at least, it will be against the law), but ...

There will be no enforcement mechanism. The states are already underwater, they can't add staff to administer the programs. There was no LOE or budget assigned for enforcement at the federal level. That means it's up to the President to make a budget request. We're talking about billions of dollars here, since complaints from a customer base of almost 200 million people are bound to be rather numerous under the best of circumstances. If there's one thing both this Congress and this President have shown, it's that they aren't going to go out of their way to make insurance companies do anything.

OTOH, we will be required to pay for insurance. It will cost much of the (formerly) discretionary income of most people who do not have insurance today, and they will not be able to make use of that insurance, because the copays and deductibles will be too high.

Oh, and if your employer provides health insurance, it's probably going to get worse after 2016, which is when the excise tax starts rising.

This bill sucks, and anyone who can figure out the finances of the people who live from paycheck to paycheck, a category that includes most Americans these days who are lucky enough to still have jobs, would know that.

You don't even know what's in the bill, and you're trying to tell me I'm wrong for opposing it? The attention to detail that you are demonstrating is what allowed this piece of crap to pass in the first place. Thanks, but I think you need to do your homework before you start lecturing people.


Health Care Reform: The Morning After


Many politicians and pundits warned us that the health care reform (HCR) legislation that just became law will destroy America. Government bureaucrats will take over health care decisions, we were told. The old and infirm would be hauled away by death panels. Everything about the way we receive our medical care will change, and change drastically, they said.

Medicare recipients have been frightened by stories that their benefits will be cut. Middle-age people are worried they will lose their jobs when the law’s dreaded regulations, or taxes, or maybe regulations with taxes, would destroy their employers’ businesses.

The truth is, very little will change for most people. If you were insured by employee benefits before HCR, you will be insured by exactly the same policy in exactly the same way after HCR. You will have access to the same doctors on the same terms. “Government bureaucrats” will no more be involved in your health care than they were before.

And the same is true of Medicare, which of course is a government program, although many of the people who opposed the HCR bill don’t seem to know that.

Here are the “cataclysmic” changes to health care that are now in effect, or which will go into effect within the next six months for people who are already in group insurance plans:

  • The law says you can’t lose your insurance coverage because you get sick. Before, in many states, if you were stricken with a severe illness such as mesothelioma cancer that would be expensive to treat, your insurer could use just about any excuse to cancel your coverage. That is over.

  • HCR has ended lifetime limits on coverage. As long as you are receiving medical care, your insurer pays the bills.

  • Your children can be covered on your existing policy until they are 26 years old.

  • In six months, insurers cannot refuse to insure people under the age of 19 because of “pre-existing conditions.” This provision will go into effect for everyone in 2014.


And if you are on Medicare, you will be asked to struggle with the following:

  • You get a free annual checkup.

  • The co-pays and deductibles on many preventive care services are eliminated.

  • If you are in the Medicare D “doughnut hole,” you will get a $250 rebate check in a few weeks. The hole itself will be closed gradually and will be gone by 2020.

But what about all those terrible regulations and taxes that are about to drive businesses out of business? Um, there really isn’t much to report. Oh, wait, here’s one — a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps will go into effect July 1. That’s about it.

However, beginning this year a tax credit will be available for some small businesses to help provide insurance coverage for employees.

Soon the politicians and pundits will start trying to frighten you about the provisions that will go into effect after this year. I assure you they are about as scary as the provisions that go into effect this year, but I will discuss them in a follow-up post.

Barbara O’Brien

Thursday's Sunshine Shimmy

It's a beautiful day.