short notes:
will brady's ruminations
will brady's ruminations
2005-01-08
PORTRAITS
foundryman
¶ 19:36 0 comments
foundryman
I came across Stephen Muskie's site somewhat by accident, while stumbling about the whimsical landscape of the humble Farmer [mentioned here below] and was impressed by the breadth and scope of his work | It had a somewhat familiar ring | When I learned he has photographed for Yankee magazine, it then made sense; I had seen his work before | Nicer now to know whose work it was ~ and is ~ and I'm happy to provide a direct link to his own site now | While this is one of his portraits, his landscapes and wild birds are captivating too | He makes a living from his work, so I hope those who like to purchase his work will give him a response | Photo © 2004 / Stephen O. Muskie
¶ 19:36 0 comments
PLEASANT DISTRACTIONS
PORTRAIT CREDIT: stephen o. muskie
The humble Farmer from St. George's Maine, sent me an e-mail the other day suggesting that I could "... can hear your kind of jazz on my on line radio program. He also invited me to dinner |
Well, I checked out the streaming feed available from Maine Public Radio and was pleasantly surprised to discover that he doees, indeed play the kin do fjazz I like | So I got curious about his dinner suggestion, and about the Bed and Breakfast he says he runs together with his "nearly perfect wife" | After reading his description of "Spaghetti for The Single Person" I was quick to learn that no false hopes of exotic gourmet cooking would be expected:
¶ 17:49 0 comments
PORTRAIT CREDIT: stephen o. muskie
The humble Farmer from St. George's Maine, sent me an e-mail the other day suggesting that I could "... can hear your kind of jazz on my on line radio program. He also invited me to dinner |
Well, I checked out the streaming feed available from Maine Public Radio and was pleasantly surprised to discover that he doees, indeed play the kin do fjazz I like | So I got curious about his dinner suggestion, and about the Bed and Breakfast he says he runs together with his "nearly perfect wife" | After reading his description of "Spaghetti for The Single Person" I was quick to learn that no false hopes of exotic gourmet cooking would be expected:
1 box of spaghettiSeriously, his quips, comments and musical selections are a fine way to warm an hour of your evening | Go hear the humble Farmer |
2 quarts of water
1 bottle of Ragu, Meatless Spaghetti Sauce
1 green box of Kraft grated Parmesan cheese
Bring two quarts of water to a boil in one of those blue double boiler colander things --- the top one has holes in it. Put in only as much spaghetti as you want to eat right then. Do not break spaghetti. Stand over it and swirl it with your fork --- be careful and spaghetti won't poke out in the little holes. As the bottom part of the spaghetti gets soft, the rest gently sags like a frozen rag into the boiling water.Reduce heat so it doesn't boil over. Set timer for 12 minutes and read Maine Times Personals. "Antique dealer seeks attractive young woman interested in one night stand." "Ornithologist seeks attractive young woman willing to sacrifice everything for a few cheep thrills." Shut off heat, lug boiler over to the sink, lift out top part and slowly dump spaghetti on plate that came from Sicily and bears the inscription: "Ristorante Borgia." Open bottle of Ragu meatless spaghetti sauce and pour just the right amount of cold sauce onto the hot spaghetti. By the time you shake on some Kraft grated cheese the whole thing is room temperature, and you can get the whole business into you in about two minutes standing right there at the kitchen counter by the sink looking out at the apple trees. Do not move feet. Lean to the left and rinse off plate, fork and spoon under the faucet. Double boiler does not require washing. A single man easily finds room to put the cheese and sauce back in the refrigerator because there is nothing else in there but a gallon of skim milk. Leave plate, fork and spoon on the counter because you will use them in another three hours for perhaps the 9,000th time.
¶ 17:49 0 comments
SOCIAL INJUSTICE
Although the State of Connecticut, under chief thief John Rowland, was capable of shoving through a $229 million dollar gift to ENRON weeks before it went bankrupt, it appears that same state is unable or unwilling to pay state pharmacies on time to ensure that clients on Title 19 get their medications as prescribed | Now, I recognize that Connecticut now has a different governor, but the problems created by that wave or corruption have not gone away | What I am getting at is the direct impact the costs of that corruption has had upon those most in need |
I try not to burden my state legislators with case-by-case problems of clients but one that came to light this morning is particularly disturbing. Moreover, it sounds as if it might have much larger ramifications |
This morning -at home- I got a phone call from a man on the other side of the state, distraught after being told by his Assertive Community Treatment [ACT]* team nurse that he didn't have any medications for the weekend | After a couple of phone calls I learned that the pharmacy owner was refusing to provide any meds to clients whose pharmacy bills the state has gotten behind in paying the pharmacy bills | In this man's situation the bill amounts to some $2,000 (approximately). I've no idea how many other clients are so adversely impacted |
While I can understand the pharmacist's frustration at not being paid, it seems unconscionable to deprive people of prescribed medications, I also know this problem [i.e.pharmacies not getting paid] is not a new one. I'm not certain which is the culprit, but just because Connecticut's Department of Administrative Services [or the Office of Policy + Management] is disinclined to pay vendors in a timely manner for essential services to the state's most fragile citizens doesn't mean the poor and disabled should be punished | Top managers at DAS and OPM [people like Mark Ryan, for example] should be held personally accountable for the social damage done in such cases |
In this specific situation, I'm trying to work out with the pharmacist, by phone, so the man to get his weekend's work of medications and hope that this could get resolved on Monday | For the record, I also took the time to raise the question to one of the legislators on the Public Health Committee |
Although the State of Connecticut, under chief thief John Rowland, was capable of shoving through a $229 million dollar gift to ENRON weeks before it went bankrupt, it appears that same state is unable or unwilling to pay state pharmacies on time to ensure that clients on Title 19 get their medications as prescribed | Now, I recognize that Connecticut now has a different governor, but the problems created by that wave or corruption have not gone away | What I am getting at is the direct impact the costs of that corruption has had upon those most in need |
I try not to burden my state legislators with case-by-case problems of clients but one that came to light this morning is particularly disturbing. Moreover, it sounds as if it might have much larger ramifications |
This morning -at home- I got a phone call from a man on the other side of the state, distraught after being told by his Assertive Community Treatment [ACT]* team nurse that he didn't have any medications for the weekend | After a couple of phone calls I learned that the pharmacy owner was refusing to provide any meds to clients whose pharmacy bills the state has gotten behind in paying the pharmacy bills | In this man's situation the bill amounts to some $2,000 (approximately). I've no idea how many other clients are so adversely impacted |
While I can understand the pharmacist's frustration at not being paid, it seems unconscionable to deprive people of prescribed medications, I also know this problem [i.e.pharmacies not getting paid] is not a new one. I'm not certain which is the culprit, but just because Connecticut's Department of Administrative Services [or the Office of Policy + Management] is disinclined to pay vendors in a timely manner for essential services to the state's most fragile citizens doesn't mean the poor and disabled should be punished | Top managers at DAS and OPM [people like Mark Ryan, for example] should be held personally accountable for the social damage done in such cases |
In this specific situation, I'm trying to work out with the pharmacist, by phone, so the man to get his weekend's work of medications and hope that this could get resolved on Monday | For the record, I also took the time to raise the question to one of the legislators on the Public Health Committee |
UPDATE: 1230 hrs: The man got three days worth of medications delivered which ought to get him by for the weekend | * ABOUT ACT TEAMS: "Assertive Community Treatment is a team treatment approach designed to provide comprehensive, community-based psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, and support to persons with serious and persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia | Services are provided within community settings, such as a person's own home | FOR MORE ABOUT THE "ACT" Model see the Assertive Community Treamment Association website
¶ 09:22 0 comments
2005-01-06
NOTABLES
Shirley Chisholm | 30 nov 1924 - 03 jan 2005 |
Susan Sontag | 16 jan 1933 - 29 dec 2004 | ¶ 07:13 0 comments
Shirley Chisholm | 30 nov 1924 - 03 jan 2005 |
Susan Sontag | 16 jan 1933 - 29 dec 2004 | ¶ 07:13 0 comments
SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Finally found the website for Backwoods Home, a publication devoted to "the self-sufficiency lifestyle" |
The site is filled with useful stories on everything from ice fishing to chimney building, and links to othr sites that foster independence by providing actually useful information |
Quite a bit of it is also relevant to folks living in urban settings | Those who seek ways to unhook from power supplied by utilities outfits or want to learn more about intensive gardening techniques, and people looking for productive ways to recycle what others foolsihly discard as refuse can all find material here that applies |
For those who are more urban oriented and think the "Backwoods" site would not be relevant, another place to visit is the Path Project, an equally engaging self-sufficiency resource treasure |
Yet another self-sufficiency site is Off Grid, about which I thank Steve Spence for telling me |
In closing, I have to make note that "Rebel Wolf" has finally gotten his much anticipated Energy Self-Sufficiency Newsletter up and running | I haven't looked closely at the content but based on his website, I'm sure it is short on gossip and long on useful information | ¶ 04:30 0 comments
Finally found the website for Backwoods Home, a publication devoted to "the self-sufficiency lifestyle" |
The site is filled with useful stories on everything from ice fishing to chimney building, and links to othr sites that foster independence by providing actually useful information |
Quite a bit of it is also relevant to folks living in urban settings | Those who seek ways to unhook from power supplied by utilities outfits or want to learn more about intensive gardening techniques, and people looking for productive ways to recycle what others foolsihly discard as refuse can all find material here that applies |
For those who are more urban oriented and think the "Backwoods" site would not be relevant, another place to visit is the Path Project, an equally engaging self-sufficiency resource treasure |
Yet another self-sufficiency site is Off Grid, about which I thank Steve Spence for telling me |
In closing, I have to make note that "Rebel Wolf" has finally gotten his much anticipated Energy Self-Sufficiency Newsletter up and running | I haven't looked closely at the content but based on his website, I'm sure it is short on gossip and long on useful information | ¶ 04:30 0 comments
2005-01-05
IRAQ QUAGMIRE
really, what's more to say? | For those who complain about "graphic images", I suggest you "change the channel" | Life ...and death... is not always pretty | This image spares you the more daunting images that are found at the crisis pictures website | When we ~ or our leaders ~ base decision making upon lack of personal experience, then the end result can be catastrophic, especially if the decision made is going to battle against others, rather like the Hessians did against the American colonists in the late 1700s | The results are the same, albeit more troubling and extenisve in their scope | Live with it or do something to change it |
¶ 20:52 0 comments
really, what's more to say? | For those who complain about "graphic images", I suggest you "change the channel" | Life ...and death... is not always pretty | This image spares you the more daunting images that are found at the crisis pictures website | When we ~ or our leaders ~ base decision making upon lack of personal experience, then the end result can be catastrophic, especially if the decision made is going to battle against others, rather like the Hessians did against the American colonists in the late 1700s | The results are the same, albeit more troubling and extenisve in their scope | Live with it or do something to change it |
¶ 20:52 0 comments
SOCIAL INJUSTICE
Not that folks with mental illnesses have enough problems these days I'm getting more reports of the Connecticut Department of Social Services increasing their "spend down" orders on indigent disabled people |
I find this dispairing, Dickensian, and disgusting |
In the first instance, a case manager at a Connecticut social services office ordering that clients process 12 pages of paper to verifiy that their conditions haven't changed from half a year ago, AND ~ placing the burden of debt re-payment directly onto the backs of the poor ~ by refusing pharmacies permission to "carry" medication debts and billing the poor later while ordering "spend downs" two months after the last one occurred |
For those not in the know, "spend downs" are a curious bureaucratic calculation required of the poor to pay extra money for essential medical needs becuase their income level might be "too high" to get essential needs paid for |
To compare this to folks getting health costs met via an insurance plan, basically, you lose your insurance every few months and have to pay full costs of medicines, or hitch-hike to the hospital with your wheelchair in tow, instead of getting transprotation costs met until you have paid a goodly amount directly |
So maybe you have to pay $750, though you receive $827 per month to live on | You can take it out of your food or rent money, they don't care and, apparently, neither does the general public |
Here's a typical brochure that attempts to explain "spend down" to a poor person | See if you can understand it |
I'm not saying the hapless case workers don't care about those whose essential medical needs are abruptly cut off | Some do | But others seem to enjoy giving their clients a hard time about it | It is this latter kind of "worker" who should feel, first hand, what the client has to go through when denied ~ say ~ a thousand dollars of prescription drugs until they come up with the cash upfront |
Not that folks with mental illnesses have enough problems these days I'm getting more reports of the Connecticut Department of Social Services increasing their "spend down" orders on indigent disabled people |
I find this dispairing, Dickensian, and disgusting |
In the first instance, a case manager at a Connecticut social services office ordering that clients process 12 pages of paper to verifiy that their conditions haven't changed from half a year ago, AND ~ placing the burden of debt re-payment directly onto the backs of the poor ~ by refusing pharmacies permission to "carry" medication debts and billing the poor later while ordering "spend downs" two months after the last one occurred |
For those not in the know, "spend downs" are a curious bureaucratic calculation required of the poor to pay extra money for essential medical needs becuase their income level might be "too high" to get essential needs paid for |
To compare this to folks getting health costs met via an insurance plan, basically, you lose your insurance every few months and have to pay full costs of medicines, or hitch-hike to the hospital with your wheelchair in tow, instead of getting transprotation costs met until you have paid a goodly amount directly |
So maybe you have to pay $750, though you receive $827 per month to live on | You can take it out of your food or rent money, they don't care and, apparently, neither does the general public |
Here's a typical brochure that attempts to explain "spend down" to a poor person | See if you can understand it |
I'm not saying the hapless case workers don't care about those whose essential medical needs are abruptly cut off | Some do | But others seem to enjoy giving their clients a hard time about it | It is this latter kind of "worker" who should feel, first hand, what the client has to go through when denied ~ say ~ a thousand dollars of prescription drugs until they come up with the cash upfront |
PIX CREDIT: Critical Art Ensemble, a collective of five artists of various specializations dedicated to exploring the intersections between art, technology, radical politics, and critical theory |
¶ 08:08 0 comments
2005-01-04
LOCAL EVENTS
A Tri-Lakes Fishing Tournament is to be held on 12 February 2005, in Moodus, Connecticut | The sponsoring organization is none other than the Moodus Sportsman's Club, of which yours truly [that would be me] is a member | Go to the site for more information and to see a copy of the registration form if you are interested |
¶ 08:27 0 comments
A Tri-Lakes Fishing Tournament is to be held on 12 February 2005, in Moodus, Connecticut | The sponsoring organization is none other than the Moodus Sportsman's Club, of which yours truly [that would be me] is a member | Go to the site for more information and to see a copy of the registration form if you are interested |
¶ 08:27 0 comments
2005-01-03
TSUNAMI
It really is difficult to say much about the impact of the 26 december tsunami that hit the costal areas of the Indian Ocean | The sheer magnitude of destruction is astounding | Sorrow being almost the least of concerns to survivors just trying to stay alive, much less fathom what has hit them | So I'm left to second guess what the world's leaders can or ought to do in adressing the situation | So here's some thoughts:
The USA sending troop ships suggests a potential help; the soldiers could assist in building new housing [assuming, of course, that construction supplies would be readily available] and assisting with urgent medical care needs |
The modular home industry could offer up their current supply of unsold mobile homes to send overseas...that ought to be a Christian gesture for all those devout in the Carolinas |
Likewise, solar energy industry giants BP and Grumman, who boast of pioneering in solar energy technology could be mobilizing their forces to put up powere generating stations that don't require massive amounts of fossil fuel to get started |
Corporate food disrtibution giants such as Archer Daniels Midland, Kraft, Mitsui's Food Division, members of the UK's Food + Drink Federation and others in the food service industry can, I'm sure, easily direct some of the processed foods they have on hand to the region |
In short, while the USA rightfully took a drubbing about it's initial paltry offerings of support, the Corporate Nations of the world have to be held accountable for participation as well | Short-term profit margins notwithstanding |
It really is difficult to say much about the impact of the 26 december tsunami that hit the costal areas of the Indian Ocean | The sheer magnitude of destruction is astounding | Sorrow being almost the least of concerns to survivors just trying to stay alive, much less fathom what has hit them | So I'm left to second guess what the world's leaders can or ought to do in adressing the situation | So here's some thoughts:
The USA sending troop ships suggests a potential help; the soldiers could assist in building new housing [assuming, of course, that construction supplies would be readily available] and assisting with urgent medical care needs |
The modular home industry could offer up their current supply of unsold mobile homes to send overseas...that ought to be a Christian gesture for all those devout in the Carolinas |
Likewise, solar energy industry giants BP and Grumman, who boast of pioneering in solar energy technology could be mobilizing their forces to put up powere generating stations that don't require massive amounts of fossil fuel to get started |
Corporate food disrtibution giants such as Archer Daniels Midland, Kraft, Mitsui's Food Division, members of the UK's Food + Drink Federation and others in the food service industry can, I'm sure, easily direct some of the processed foods they have on hand to the region |
In short, while the USA rightfully took a drubbing about it's initial paltry offerings of support, the Corporate Nations of the world have to be held accountable for participation as well | Short-term profit margins notwithstanding |
PIX: Katsushika Hokusai | The Hollow of the Deep Sea Wave off Kanagawa | Late 1820's | Color woodblock print — H.10-1/4 x W.15 in. | Bequest of Richard P. Gale ~ Minneapolis Institute of Arts |
¶ 08:14 0 comments
2005-01-02
HEALTH PROBLEMS
I took a virtual roller coaster ride down the carpeted stairs in my stocking feet, arms flailing about uselessly in the air | While coming down, I heard a "pop" and felt a rather uncomfortable sensation | That was late last October | Although I've seen the doctor a couple of times, he's taken his sweet time at ordering an MRI, after giving me ~ half-heartedly ~ a single page of exercises I could have obtained from one of the physical therapists at work | My 
shoulder is still in pain | So am I for that matter | That pain made me ~ well, cranky enough at the New Year's Eve party for Bruce to bring me home early |
And it took well over a week for the insurance scammers to approve the procedure | Obviously, they are not concerned about any of this waiting | What's more sobering, is that most of the folks I've spoken with, plus the websites I've pulled up and read, suggest that the longer it is between the trauma and the treatment, the more likely one can expect surgury in one's future | I can't begin to say how excited this prospect makes me |
I took a virtual roller coaster ride down the carpeted stairs in my stocking feet, arms flailing about uselessly in the air | While coming down, I heard a "pop" and felt a rather uncomfortable sensation | That was late last October | Although I've seen the doctor a couple of times, he's taken his sweet time at ordering an MRI, after giving me ~ half-heartedly ~ a single page of exercises I could have obtained from one of the physical therapists at work | My shoulder is still in pain | So am I for that matter | That pain made me ~ well, cranky enough at the New Year's Eve party for Bruce to bring me home early |
And it took well over a week for the insurance scammers to approve the procedure | Obviously, they are not concerned about any of this waiting | What's more sobering, is that most of the folks I've spoken with, plus the websites I've pulled up and read, suggest that the longer it is between the trauma and the treatment, the more likely one can expect surgury in one's future | I can't begin to say how excited this prospect makes me |
3 jan 04 | UPDATE: Although I waited for half an hour [and was the only one at the radiology clinic] the scan itself was completed in about 25 minutes | Positioning was more uncomfortable than I'd expected, given that the way my shoulder was placed exacerbated the stress on the injured area | I asked to see the pictures, was told I could ask through my doc |
¶ 23:05 0 comments
WEBPAGE UPDATE
In my obsession to catalogue I've finally begun to lay out the subject index for this and my rondak.org pages |
Thus far I've only completed people, places and things written about in the year 2001 | But I've also got a section on illustrated essays I've done and some of the many images I've used since going online in 1999 |
You are welcome to take a peek |
Outside of this, as I go through the old weblog entries, I'm checking out old links that I referred to, and adding the good ones to the links lists | Most recent subject areas updated and added to include: "racism + prejudice", "homesteading", "homelessness", "wood heat + firewood" as well as "aboriginal peoples + culture" | Folks with some knowledge in these areas are encouraged to review the entries and comment | ¶ 22:43 0 comments
In my obsession to catalogue I've finally begun to lay out the subject index for this and my rondak.org pages |
Thus far I've only completed people, places and things written about in the year 2001 | But I've also got a section on illustrated essays I've done and some of the many images I've used since going online in 1999 |
You are welcome to take a peek |
Outside of this, as I go through the old weblog entries, I'm checking out old links that I referred to, and adding the good ones to the links lists | Most recent subject areas updated and added to include: "racism + prejudice", "homesteading", "homelessness", "wood heat + firewood" as well as "aboriginal peoples + culture" | Folks with some knowledge in these areas are encouraged to review the entries and comment | ¶ 22:43 0 comments
