Saturday, July 19, 2008
A Great 3rd Friday July 18 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Al Gore and the Media


As I was on the internet. (You know from the media misquote that Al Gore invented it) I came upon this excellent article in Vanity Fair. In it the article shows the mainstream media reducing politics to a personality contest. Here is a quote from Maureen Dowd, that prim and proper columnist from the New York Times
"Meanwhile, though Dowd certainly questioned Bush's intellect in some columns, she seemed to be charmed by him—one of the "bad boys," "rascals," and a "rapscallion." She shared with the world a charged moment between them. "'You're so much more mature now,' I remarked to the Texas Governor. 'So are you,' he replied saucily." And in another column: "You don't often get to see a Presidential candidate bloom right before your eyes."
On March 9, 1999, CNN's Wolf Blitzer conducted an interview with Gore shortly before he officially announced his candidacy. In answer to a question about why Democrats should support him, Gore spoke about his record. "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative"—politico-speak for leadership—"in creating the Internet,"
Here is how the media took this quote:
" A few days later the word "invented" entered the narrative. On March 15, a USA Today headline about Gore read, inventing the internet; March 16 on Hardball, Chris Matthews derided Gore for his claim that he "invented the Internet." Soon the distorted assertion was in the pages of the Los Angeles Times and The Boston Globe, and on the A.P. wire service. By early June, the word "invented" was actually being put in quotation marks."
As Will Bunch states so well on his blog Attytood:
"Eight years later, 4,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians are dead, New Orleans is still in shambles, and so is the American economy. Ultimately, all because of a "a joke."
This shows the real consequences of dismissing someone for petty reasons. We may see the same thing here.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
City Commission Meeting July 15 2008
Since the papers did not cover it I will. Here are some photos from last night.
Aetna CDI and the Arts

This decision was decided in Feb 2008 and we just hear about it now. This decision has had a ripple effect beyond what meets the eye!!Aetna creates coverage hailstorm
A Cumberland County radiology practice is crying foul over health insurer Aetna's decision to terminate its contract.e Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI), which was established in 2001 and opened its first office in Vineland in 2002, learned in late February it would be removed from the insurance company's coverage network effective Sept. 1.CDI physicians claim Aetna terminated the contract "without cause." They have asked Aetna whether the decision came about as a result of concerns over billing problems or quality of service.
"TheyÕre telling us Ôno,Õ" Dr. Satish Shah said on Monday. "Then why are we not still in? ... It does not make sense."
About 10 to 12 percent of CDI's patients are covered by Aetna, according to Shah.
Shah and the other CDI physicians believe Aetna's decision to remove the practice from its network was somehow influenced by the Connecticut-based health insurance company's then-ongoing negotiations with South Jersey Healthcare (SJH).
SJH announced last week that it and Aetna had reached agreement on a new contract. The hospital system said in a press release issued Thursday that the deal includes a "preferred" arrangement for radiology services in the area, but clarified on Friday by calling it an "expanded" arrangement.
Both Aetna and SJH denied the allegation that their three-year agreement hinged on CDI being eliminated from the coverage network.
"Our discussions with Aetna did not include any demands or requests with regard to CDI," SJH spokesman Paul Simon said.
It is "entirely coincidental" that SJH's new contract begins Sept. 1 Ñ the same day CDI's expires Aetna spokeswoman Susan Millerick said.
CDI alleges that SJH and Aetna brokered a deal that will effectively allow SJH to monopolize imaging services in Cumberland County.
"You talk to Aetna, but they don't want to listen," Shah said. "There must be some deal."
"SJH obviously wants to control all health care in the county and eliminate free choice in outpatient health care instead of concentrating on providing hospital-based care," CDI Dr. Steven Rothfarb said in a statement.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Oh The Humanity
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Tennis and Bridgeton
View Larger MapThis year instead of the Summerfest, we did other stuff. I played tennis from 8am to 9am. I walked Jesus and June in town and then played more doubles till about Noon. I went to Target to get some household items as well. Our road trip this weekend was to Bridgeton NJ. we saw this house there that was pretty cool and seemly affordable. We checked things out and walked our dogs to the Bridgeton City Park. The lake was pretty cool and the pups liked it alot. We then went to Brenner's Brew and had tuna salad sandwiches and chilled out. I then napped for a few hours which I really needed. Next weekend is a family reunion at my brother's place. This should be fun and interesting to see my nieces and nephew. I have not seen my nephew Alex yet!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Begin the Begin
"Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Myles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Life's rich demand creates supply in the hand
Of the powers, the only vote that matters
Silence means security silence means approval..
On Zenith, on the TV, tiger run around the tree
Follow the leader, run and turn into butter!!
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again like Martin Luther zen
The mythology begins the begin
Answer me a question I can't itemize I can't think clear, you look to me for reason It's not there, I can't even rhyme here in the begin
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Example: the finest example is you
(repeat chorus)
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again."