Entertainment Overnight: Happiest of Holidays

Local boy, Anthony Glise, makes good, very good.


From an hour North from Kansas City, in St. Joseph, my home town, coincidentally.

Happy Holidays.

Another Thing Our Far-Too-Expensive "Healthcare System" Is Getting Us Americans

Another thing our far-too-expensive "health care system" is getting us Americans.

Dead.

It's getting us dead. It's killing us. Literally killing us.

From today's Sunday New York Times:

Editorial: America's Shocking Maternal Deaths

A bit from the article:

The rate at which women die during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth has fallen sharply in many nations as maternal care has improved. The United States — and particularly Texas — is a glaring exception.

In Texas, for instance, according to a study in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, the maternal mortality rate doubled from 17.7 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 35.8 in 2014. Compare that with Germany, which had 4.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014.

In California, the rate fell from 21.5 in 2003 to 15.1 in 2014, but in the remaining 48 states and the District of Columbia the rate increased from 18.8 in 2000 to 23.8 in 2014. The United States as a whole had the second-highest maternal mortality rate among 31 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Only Mexico had a higher rate.

A big part of the problem is the inequality embedded in America’s health care system. The 2010 Affordable Care Act made health insurance more available, but millions of families still cannot afford the care they need.

Further proof of our obscene, outrageously high, outrageously expensive, even obscene, unconscionable, immoral, heartless, inhumane, extremely poorly named health care system and why we needed the Affordable Care Act. It's also why we need a "single payer" health care system. It's why all states, even those overseen by Republican legislators and governors need to expand Medicaid to their citizens.

Medical Bills Are the Biggest Cause 

of US Bankruptcies: Study

Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent 

of U.S. bankruptcies

Make no mistake, too, our health care costs and expenses are killing other groups of Americans, too.

Chart of the Day: America's Health Care 

System Is Killing You

American Health Care Killed My Father

For-Profit Insanity Is Killing Americans

The Myth of American Health Care: The Lies 

That Are Killing Us

Even the people on the inside of the health care industry know this. Here's from the doctors themselves.

Obamacare isn't enough: Physicians explain 

why America needs single payer universal 

health care

Physicians for a National Health Program

It's also why Republicans are wrong, deeply wrong, on fighting improvements on our health care system.

News man and Midwesterner Walter Cronkite, who died in 2009, it should be kept in mind, said it best about America's health care system.

We need to fight to change this. We are the only nation on the planet that ties health care to profit, and with horrible, literally lethal results.

Links:

EpiPen Soars and So Does Bosses' Pay

EpiPen Price Rises Could Mean More Riches for Mylan Executives

Mylan CEO's Pay Rose Over 600 Percent

Why in Heaven's Name Aren't Teeth Considered Part 

of Our Health?

Entertainment Overnight -- Classical Guitar

I was fortunate enough to go to high school with this classical guitarist. He lived, in fact, only about 2 blocks from our own house. He, Anthony Glise, of St. Joseph, has long since gone on to produce and perform untold numbers of pieces of classical guitar music and write his own, as well. He's traveled and performed here in Kansas City as well as across Europe.

I hope you enjoy.



Link to his Facebook page here:  Anthony Glise

Latest snow/weather forecast

 

Link: 41 Action Weather Blog

Bishop Finn: Our institutions fail us again

Justice was done but only partly and then weakly, weakly at that.

Our institutions fail us, once again. In this case, two of them--these people's Catholic Church and our court system.

From the Kansas City Star this afternoon:

Bishop Finn verdict: Guilty

As you can see, I'm happy with this, with the one guilty verdict but still, Judge John Torrence "... acquitted him on another count of failing to report."

Here's the other disappointing thing:

"Torrence sentenced Finn to two years of probation then suspended the sentence, meaning that if Finn completes the unsupervised probation without any new incidents happening, his criminal record will be expunged."

This is so disgusting.

To begin, it should have gone to a jury, to a juried trial.

I saw this little figurative slap on the wrist coming.

I'm disgusted.

Isn't it super that Catholic leaders have gotten off easy one more time and they're free--still--to molest or sexually or physically abuse the students--their children--in their own schools and churches still longer?

They'll never learn, at this rate.

To Judge John Torrence and the Catholic Church--you all disgust me.

You deserve each other.

Congratulations to all Catholics.

To our disgust--but not our surprise--you get to keep your male hierarchy that keeps molesting and abusing your own children:

A) We hope you're happy;

B) We can't believe you keep giving these people money;

C) We can't believe you still support these people in any form, verbal, financial or otherwise and finally,

D) Unless and until you stand up, speak up and demand this end--including getting the resignation or firing of Bishop Finn--you are culpable for what Bishop Finn, Shawn Ratigan and all the rest of the people like them have inflicted and for what they will continue to inflict into the future on your children, because it will surely continue to keep happening, as we see time and again, across the nation and world.

Seriously, y'all are disgusting, vile, enabling human beings.

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/06/3800269/bishop-finn-verdict-guilty.html

Huge, not-good news for Missouri

Breaking news from NPR today:

Mysterious New 'Heartland Virus' Discovered In Missouri

Two Missouri farmers have been infected with a brand-new tick-borne virus that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling the Heartland virus.

The men recovered but suffered serious illness that required hospital care and weeks of convalescence. Symptoms included fever, severe fatigue, headache and nausea. Their platelet counts plummeted, but even though platelets are necessary for blood clotting, the men didn't suffer abnormal bleeding.

A report on the new virus is in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

So far, the Missouri men are the only known cases of Heartland virus in the world. But experts are sure they'll find more.

After all, the men lived 60 miles apart and got infected independently. That means there must be more of the mysterious new virus in the northwest Missouri environment.

Link to the full article here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/08/29/160272241/mysterious-new-heartland-virus-discovered-in-missouri

Kansas City: Senator Blunt doesn't want to hear from you

One of Kansas City's Senators, Roy Blunt, has what he calls "listening posts" where he comes out and listens to what his constituents have to say. He schedules them all through the area so he knows what our concerns and questions are, according to the page. At least that's what he says. He has a list up right now on his web page and it shows he's going all around the Kansas City area BUT HE ISN'T COMING HERE. He's going to Warrensburg, Platte City, St. Joseph and all around us BUT NOT KANSAS CITY. So much for representing us and this area, eh? So much for listening to us. Thanks, Senator Blunt. We'll remember you, too. Link: http://blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/constituent-services?p=listening-posts-kansas-city-region

Happy Leap Year, babies!

Happy Leap Year! Enjoy that extra day! I really only point out this day because I (we--my siblings and I) have a sister who was born on this Leap Year Day. So every 4 years she gets a birthdate birthday. Every other year it's just a birthday. We figure she's now 13 birthdays old now, God bless her. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECKY and to all Leap Year babies. You know who you are. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year

I'm so old...

...the only name for it was corn meal mush.

Support local artists?

This beautiful song is done by two local artists. They are called "Eyelit" and are trying to get their album printed and mastered. You can go here for lots more information on how you can help: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eyelit/eyelit-the-woe-dies-first-full-length-album. Their Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/eyelitband

"Paper Moon", 1973

Filmed, in large part, an hour North in certain people's hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri, for what it's worth. A great film, for sure.

I'm so old...

...I remember Kresge's 5 & 10, which was called, of course "five and dime"--and their wonderful "counter" (read: soda fountain) and how cool it was to go up, sit down and order a soda. Wow. If you never experienced it, you had to be there. So it goes. (You know it's a long time ago if you do a Google search for it and can't find too many good pictures of what their stores looked like, too, right?).

The world gone mad

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has pointed out--rightly, it seems--that Bishop Finn and the local Catholic Diocese may challenge US pornography laws in their defense of Shawn Ratigan and the Bishop. Talk about a world gone mad. The Catholic Church, going against the nation's pornography laws, all so they can try to defend a former priest who, it is known, took terribly inappropriate pictures of young and very young children in local Parishes he worked for and then stored those on his computers. All this was revealed in a brif article in the Kansas City Star Friday (see link below). It's bad enough yet another in a long line of Catholic priests has abused his positionn and exploited childern who were entrusted to him. It's yet another bizarre twist to think that this church organization would fight the nation's pornography laws that were designed to protect all our citizens, but especially the children, and instead, that this church would fight to tear those laws down, all so it could save itself and one of its priests and the church's hierarchy. A topsy-turvy world gone mad. It makes me nearly nauseous. Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/11/3271959/mark-morris-digesting-the-legal.html; http://www.snapnetwork.org/_bishop_to_challenge_us_child_porn_laws_snap_responds

Kansas City Diocese headlines in big Catholic news

There is a cureent events humorist, one Yonah Ward Grossman, whom I follow on Facebook who also happens to have a photoblog. A recent entry highlights some Catholic Church "wins", in spite of the fact that the Catholics involved end up "losing". The Kansas City mention: "In Kansas City, Mo., our old friend Robert W. Finn cut a deal with prosecutors to avoid a second round of criminal charges and possible jail time in connection with his cover-up of priest Shawn Rattigan’s unholy habit of taking photographs of prepubescent girls’ private parts which he stored on the Church’s computer. Bishop Finn will have to report weekly to said prosecutor to detail every suspicious episode involving abuse of a child in his diocese for the next 5-years, although Bishop Finn had already agreed to do this in writing, but failed, leaving his shutterbug priest to abuse more children after the photographs were discovered. So far bishops of Catholic diocese have cut deals to avoid similar prosecution in Manchester, N.H., Phoenix, Az, Santa Rosa, Ca, and Boston, Mass." The good news? We got yet more coverage of the travesty that is this local situation. The bad news? These people will, likely, get away with their further sexual abuse of the children in their own churches they were to be guiding, mentoring and teaching--children that should have been protected by these "leaders". Link: http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=2165

Penn Sate and the Catholic Church

"Jerry Sandusky is unfit to be a Coach. He is however totally fit to be a Catholic Priest." --Gilbert Gottfried, comedian, on Facebook

KC Star vs, the Catholic Church League: Score one for the Star and decency

Yikes. It's getting hot over at the Catholic League. It seems they wanted to put an ad in the Star to defend Bishop Finn and his actions total lack of action in and on the Sean Ratigan sexual misconduct situation and the Star said no. Yes, they turned down their $25,000.00 ad. To which I say, I can't believe it but GOOD ON YOU, STAR. It should have been turned down, I should think for at least this one reason--in some of the opening sentences, the Catholic League writes and admits this: "Last December, crotch-shot pictures of young girls, fully clothed, were found on Fr. Ratigan’s computer; there was one photo of a naked girl." The Catholic League has the nerve to write and admit the above, and then DEFEND BISHOP FINN and his total, utter denial of Ratigan's situation. Man, those Catholics and the Catholic League have chutzpah. That said, I think if I were the Star, I would have run the ad and for two reasons. First, they need the money and they need it badly. Then, it would have let the Catholics have their say. Fine. But then, I'd have run an editorial, probably the next day, answering the ad. For the Catholic League--and any Catholics--to defend Finn when they can admit the above--that a child's sexual parts or private parts or whatever you want to call them, were both photographed and then kept on a priest's computer and FINN DID NOTHING for at least 5 months? That's beyond inexcusable. By our Missouri laws, fortunately, it's illegal. It's also illegal BECAUSE OF THE LAST CATHOLIC SEX ABUSE SCANDAL THAT TOOK PLACE, too, if anyone needs reminding. There are so many things wrong with what the Catholic League claim in their proposed ad, it's nearly mind-numbing. They're either lying to themselves or to the world so badly, so completely, it's shocking. And the League's playing both Finn and the church as victims is not just ridiculous, it's insulting. So kudos and salutations to The Kansas City Star. You all didn't take this dirty Catholic money. Good on you. Someone should give you an award of some kind for integrity and doing the right thing. "...the ultimate goal is to have the Catholic Church cede its autonomy to the state." Right. What nonense. If Bill Donohue and all these die-hard Catholics weren't such lapdogs for Finn and the church, they would be ashamed of themselves for putting Finn and the church ahead of the children and their safety and protecting these pedophiles, instead, time and again. Clearly "They know not what they do." (Side note: thanks to Tony at TKC for bringing this to the city's attention.) Links: http://www.catholicleague.org/kansas-city-star-vs-catholic-church-2/; http://www.catholicleague.org/taking-aim-at-bishop-finn/; http://www.tonyskansascity.com/

Notes on the outrage that is Bishop Finn

The Star reports today that Bishop Finn testified yesterday to a grand jury. Good. Great. But it's just a start. There's at least four things about yesterday's proceedings that seem extremely pertinent. The first is that Bishop Finn needs to be asked in a very public forum like this why Msgr. Robert Murphy, who was "the diocese's seond-in-command", didn't have direct orders from the Bishop himself to report any and all accusations of sexual abuse or suspicions of sexual abuse and/or misconduct. What was that about? Why would or did Msgr. Murphy get a letter from a principal in St. Joseph a year and a half before anything was done about it, yet he said nothing, not a thing, to Bishop Finn of it? And let me be clear, I don't blame Msgr. Murphy for this oversight completely at all. Bishop Finn should have spelled out he needed--not wanted, needed--to be notified of any and all improprieties or suggestions thereof, immediately up notice by anyone and everyone in the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese but especially and particularly from Msgr. Murphy. Second, the Kansas City policeman--Capt. Richard Smith--who saw one picture of Ratigan's and said it "didn't constitute pornography" failed the Diocese, too. What if the one picture he saw was of his own child? Would that not have made any difference? Further, I find it extremely difficult to believe this officer didn't ask if there were any other pictures of which he should be aware. Third,The Star reports that "In December, diocesan authorities found what prosecutors later alleged was child pornography on Ratigan’s computer." And while that's true, actually, from earlier Star reports, it has become clear that Ratigan had at least inappropriate, if not pornographic, pictures of area Catholic Diocese children on three of his computers through the area. The first was in St. Joseph, the second in Independence and the third right here in Kansas City. Finally, I hope this grand jury will interview--at length--the principal I mentioned earlier, from St. Joseph, who sent the letter a year and a half before any concerns were raised about Sean Ratigan. It seems she and maybe some parents there could absolutely shed some light on Ratigan's activities and on Bishop Finn's total, complete and utter lack of response to this situation. Oh yeah, we need many more answers than what we've gotten. I still contend that, like Monsignor William J. Lynn of Philadelphia, Bishop Finn should be charged in some appropriate, local court for "a charge of conspiracy to endanger the welfare of children." For Bishop Finn to say, yesterday, as he did that "We're doing the best we can to cooperate with law enforcement" seems a blatant and ugly mistruth. Link to original post: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/16/3147922/bishop-testifies-before-grand.html

On the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese and its problems

...Msgr. Thomas J. O’Brien, has been named in at least 27 civil lawsuits yet remains a priest. Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, think that even though O’Brien’s been out of ministry for years, he can likely still be prosecuted, especially if Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn takes action. “In the face of all this credible evidence that O’Brien repeatedly violated kids, it’s immoral for Finn to passively sit in his office and do nothing but brainstorm with his lawyers about how to beat wounded victims in court,” said David Clohessy, SNAP’s director. “Kansas City Catholic officials recruited, educated, ordained, trained, hired, shielded and transferred O’Brien, giving him more and more opportunities to sexually assault kids,” said Dorris. “It’s irresponsible for those church officials to now sit passively back and do nothing while O’Brien lives out his retirement comfortably among unsuspecting families and vulnerable kids and while many of O’Brien’s victims live out their lives in pain.” --Surviors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). For more information: David Clohessy, SNAP Director (314-566-9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com)

Suicide in San Diego linked to St. Joseph??

Out in the news today: "SAN DIEGO (AP) — When a 32-year-old woman's naked body was found hanging from a historic Southern California mansion's balcony with her ankles and wrists bound, investigators were quick to say they weren't ruling out suicide. The woman's sister said investigators confirmed that it was suicide during a visit to the family home in St. Joseph, Mo., to discuss their findings. They told her Wednesday that it would have been difficult but "very possible" for Rebecca Zahau to kill herself." Read the full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/sister-investigators-rule-mansion-death-suicide-015120193.html

Fantastic live music performance tomorrow evening

Ken Sugita, violinist and Anthony Glise, guitarist play tomorrow evening at 7:30 pm at Visitation Church, 5141 Main Street.

Mr. Glise is a St. Joseph native and major, internationally renowned guitarist.  (See links below).

From an online Mel Bay profile of Mr. Sugita:  Ken Sugita began his violin studies at the age of three in his native Japan. He made his first major concert tour as a featured soloist with some of the leading orchestras in the U. S. at the age of nine. At the age of 14, while studying in Scotland, he became the first Japanese-born musician to be awarded the Governor's Prize for Music in Edinburgh. 

The duo gave their first at the Lincoln Center (yes, THAT Lincoln Center) in New York in 1982.

Tickets are $15.00 prior to the concert and $18.00 at the door.  (Phone 816.235.6222 for tickets)

It will be the best money you can spend, ladies and gentlemen, unequivocally.  Don't miss it.

Ticket Information:

Presenting Organization: Venue Visitation

Name: Terri Goddard

Phone Number: 816-235-6222

Email Address: venuevisitation@church.visitation.org

Website Address: http://www.venuevisitation.net

Links:  http://www.pitch.com/events/the-sugita-glise-duo-1708841/
http://kcmetropolis.org/event/the-sugita-glise-violin-and-classical-guitar-duo/2011-04-13
http://www.melbay.com/authors.asp?author=1793
http://www.goodnewsmusic.com/audiocds/8913097.html
http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Christmas-Ken-Sugita/dp/5557511083