March 29, 2013

Many poor and vulnerable people and their caregivers rejoice at this news.

March 29, 2013

Keeping His Promises to the Poor and Vulnerable: Thank You, President Obama!

HHS finalizes rule guaranteeing 100 percent funding for new Medicaid beneficiaries

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a final rule with a request for comments that provides, effective January 1, 2014, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These payments will be in effect through 2016, phasing down to a permanent 90 percent matching rate by 2020. The Affordable Care Act authorizes states to expand Medicaid to adult Americans under age 65 with income of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $15,000 for a single adult in 2012) and provides unprecedented federal funding for these states.

“This is a great deal for states and great news for Americans,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will have access to health coverage and the federal government will cover a vast majority of the cost. Treating people who don’t have insurance coverage raises health care costs for hospitals, people with insurance, and state budgets.”

Today’s final rule provides important information to states that expand Medicaid. It describes the simple and accurate method states will use to claim the matching rate that is available for Medicaid expenditures of individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of poverty and who are defined as “newly eligible” and are enrolled in the new eligibility group. The system is set up to make eligibility determinations as simple and accurate as possible for state programs.

Under the Affordable Care Act, states that cover the new adult group in Medicaid will have 100 percent of the costs of newly eligible Americans paid for by the federal government in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The federal government’s contribution is then phased-down gradually to 90 percent by 2020, and remains there permanently. For states that had coverage expansions in effect prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the rule also provides information about the availability of an increased FMAP for certain adults who are not newly eligible.

The rule builds on several years of work that HHS has done to support and provide flexibility to states’ Medicaid programs ahead of the 2014 expansion, including:

* 90 percent matching rate for states to improve eligibility and enrollment systems;

* More resources and flexibility for states to test innovative ways of delivering care through Medicaid;

* More collaboration with states on audits that track down fraud; and

* Specifically outlining ways states can make Medicaid improvements without going through a waiver process.

For more information on the improvements made to Medicaid, please visit:

http://www.medicaid.gov/State-Resource-Center/Events-and-Announcements/Downloads/MMF_Jan-Dec-2012_FINAL.PDF

For the full text of today’s final rule, please go to:

http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/03/20130329a.html

This is a huge relief to those who would not be covered for conditions no one can afford. I will be passing this good news along to those who have loved ones dependent on Medicaid.

This is what the GOP wanted to slash and are doing in every state that they control. It will save the lives of many people we may never meet, but they are our fellow sojourners.

Thanks to ProSense for finding this story and letting me post it here. She posted it in GD, where you can see it here:

HHS finalizes rule guaranteeing 100 percent funding for new Medicaid beneficiaries

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2584523

March 25, 2013

Well, I found some, these may be them (dial-up warning):

Pope Francis' first Mass as Pontiff - in full

Also found this one from PBS:



Watch the complete Inaugural Mass of Pope Francis

Another one:



Pope Francis celebrates mass at St. Anne Parish

And a last one, I think:



Pope Francis Holy Mass conclusion of the Conclave

Hope those who understand this better will enjoy them. I'll take some time to see them during the week. Enjoy Easter if I don't hear from any of you.

EDIT:

Excuse me, I don't know what the order of these events were. Here are some more videos:



Pope Francis - Mass of Inauguration

Another, I don't know how these may have progressed. It seems like this event may have taken most of the daylight. I don't know what a Homily is in this context:



Pope Francis - Homily at Mass of Inauguration

The same search results shows this youtube channel, which appears to be official, but I don't know if it is. Any opinion on the validity of what they are offering is appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mhfm1?v=ENWYRPkA7Ao&feature=pyv&ad=7367214752&kw=catholic%20masses

I only mention it because the theme is quite different from the videos, AFAIK, with Fatima, etc. It comes up first in search results.

March 20, 2013

Obama called it a manufactured crisis and Boehner and Ryan admitted it.

As far as the kids and these manufactured crisis's - this is classic eugenics. A way to stunt the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual stature of children. Part of what is required to achieve is described by Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

When we consider the history of discrimination, domestic violence, crime and job loss we are talking about destroying individual and societal progress.

Talking with representatives, this is part of what is stressed in the face of budget cuts to take care of people in need.

Here's a bit of the concept from Wikipedia :

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often portrayed in the shape of a pyramid with the largest, most fundamental levels of needs at the bottom and the need for self-actualization at the top.[1][8] While the pyramid has become the de facto way to represent the hierarchy, Maslow himself never used a pyramid to describe these levels in any of his writings on the subject.

The most fundamental and basic four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "d-needs": esteem, friendship and love, security, and physical needs. If these "deficiency needs" are not met – with the exception of the most fundamental (physiological) need – there may not be a physical indication, but the individual will feel anxious and tense. Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon) the secondary or higher level needs. Maslow also coined the term Metamotivation to describe the motivation of people who go beyond the scope of the basic needs and strive for constant betterment.[9]

The human mind and brain are complex and have parallel processes running at the same time, thus many different motivations from various levels of Maslow's hierarchy can occur at the same time. Maslow spoke clearly about these levels and their satisfaction in terms such as "relative," "general," and "primarily." Instead of stating that the individual focuses on a certain need at any given time, Maslow stated that a certain need "dominates" the human organism.[10] Thus Maslow acknowledged the likelihood that the different levels of motivation could occur at any time in the human mind, but he focused on identifying the basic types of motivation and the order in which they should be met.

Physiological needs are the physical requirements for human survival. If these requirements are not met, the human body cannot function properly, and will ultimately fail. Physiological needs are thought to be the most important; they should be met first.

Air, water, and food are metabolic requirements for survival in all animals, including humans. Clothing and shelter provide necessary protection from the elements. While maintaining an adequate birth rate shapes the intensity of the human sexual instinct, sexual competition may also shape said instinct.[2]

Safety needs

With their physical needs relatively satisfied, the individual's safety needs take precedence and dominate behavior. In the absence of physical safety – due to war, natural disaster, family violence, childhood abuse, etc. – people may (re-)experience post-traumatic stress disorder or transgenerational trauma. In the absence of economic safety – due to economic crisis and lack of work opportunities – these safety needs manifest themselves in ways such as a preference for job security, grievance procedures for protecting the individual from unilateral authority, savings accounts, insurance policies, reasonable disability accommodations, etc. This level is more likely to be found in children because they generally have a greater need to feel safe.

Safety and Security needs include:

* Personal security
* Financial security
* Health and well-being
* Safety net against accidents/illness and their adverse impacts

Love and belonging

After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is interpersonal and involves feelings of belongingness. This need is especially strong in childhood and can override the need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies within this level of Maslow's hierarchy – due to hospitalism, neglect, shunning, ostracism, etc. – can impact the individual's ability to form and maintain emotionally significant relationships in general, such as:

* Friendship
* Intimacy
* Family

According to Maslow, humans need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance among their social groups, regardless if these groups are large or small. For example, some large social groups may include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, and gangs. Some examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and confidants. Humans need to love and be loved – both sexually and non-sexually – by others.[2] Many people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety, and clinical depression in the absence of this love or belonging element. This need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs, depending on the strength of the peer pressure.

Esteem

All humans have a need to feel respected; this includes the need to have self-esteem and self-respect. Esteem presents the typical human desire to be accepted and valued by others. People often engage in a profession or hobby to gain recognition. These activities give the person a sense of contribution or value. Low self-esteem or an inferiority complex may result from imbalances during this level in the hierarchy. People with low self-esteem often need respect from others; they may feel the need to seek fame or glory. However, fame or glory will not help the person to build their self-esteem until they accept who they are internally. Psychological imbalances such as depression can hinder the person from obtaining a higher level of self-esteem or self-respect.

Most people have a need for stable self-respect and self-esteem. Maslow noted two versions of esteem needs: a "lower" version and a "higher" version. The "lower" version of esteem is the need for respect from others. This may include a need for status, recognition, fame, prestige, and attention. The "higher" version manifests itself as the need for self-respect. For example, the person may have a need for strength, competence, mastery, self-confidence, independence, and freedom. This "higher" version takes precedence over the "lower" version because it relies on an inner competence established through experience. Deprivation of these needs may lead to an inferiority complex, weakness, and helplessness.

Maslow states that while he originally thought the needs of humans had strict guidelines, the "hierarchies are interrelated rather than sharply separated".[5] This means that esteem and the subsequent levels are not strictly separated; instead, the levels are closely related.

Self-actualization

"What a man can be, he must be."[11] This quotation forms the basis of the perceived need for self-actualization. This level of need refers to what a person's full potential is and the realization of that potential. Maslow describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.[12] Individuals may perceive or focus on this need very specifically. For example, one individual may have the strong desire to become an ideal parent. In another, the desire may be expressed athletically. For others, it may be expressed in paintings, pictures, or inventions.[13] As previously mentioned, Maslow believed that to understand this level of need, the person must not only achieve the previous needs, but master them.

More at the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#Hierarchy

We may wonder at times why people act in the ways they do. Take away those steps, and one doesn't have the personal freedom of maturity. I regard Obama as having made it to the top of the 'pyramid,' by virtue of his extended family and their desire to see him achieve. He was accepted and loved and particularly in Hawaii, was able to experience good things.

As far as childhood hunger and worry, it is claimed that the reason aristocrats called the poor 'the little people' was their height was literally stunted by starvation. Add to that the fact their time and energy were consumed by the task of basic survival, they had no time to look up and think of 'higher things.' Politics has been called 'the luxury of the leisure class.'

It has also been claimed that the only source of 'higher things' allowed to the poor were religions that supported the status quo or monarchy, to keep them accepting their servitude.

Just a few ideas to toss in. Here's the pyramid, with interesting descriptions in the layers:

March 17, 2013

And another one. The Voice by Celtic Woman:

The Voice by Celtic Woman

I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name

"Listen, my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain

I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep thoughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow

I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice

I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice, I am the voice
I am the voice, I am the voice

March 17, 2013

Well, they can't ridicule us. Joke is on them. Proud of our lives. Illegitimi non carborundum.

March 16, 2013

Shortage of labor, changes in land ownership, and the separation of the classes, then the guilds.

It's been years since I read about it, but have seen The History Channel episodes (before they went nuts) and a lot of BBC programmes about the era. It laid the basis of part of our modern life with the emphasis on labor, as you say.

I've read that the 'Little Ice Age' stratified European society more, even though this article doesn't delve into that. I read of knights freezing to death on horseback. The horses were moving, so they survived, but - wow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age

All these events through time - nothing lasts, except the RCC, but it morphed back and forth as well. I haven't seen if there was a climate component to the plague years. My family left London for Amsterdam and then to the colonies a few years before the plague that felled tens of thousands hit there.

March 16, 2013

I saw this idea used on a short-lived SciFi channel series, 'Prey.' Hazmat suits everywhere.

The Black Death is Bubonic Plague, and I believe it can be treated with modern anti-biotics. But if not treated, a fast and awful death according to this report from New Mexico in 2011:

...The bubonic plague became known as the Black Death when it swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing 75million people.

Although it is now rare, there are still between 10 to 15 cases in the U.S. each year, half of which are in New Mexico.

It is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, carried by fleas.

Symptoms of bubonic plague appear suddenly, between two and five days after infection.

They include:

* Chills, malaise, high fever
* Muscle pain, severe headache, seizures
* Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo.
* It is commonly found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the initial infection (bite or scratch)

The disease can be cured if the patient is treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of infection...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385127/Man-diagnosed-bubonic-plague-Americas-case-year.html

March 15, 2013

LOL at the tweet. Snarling at Rand Paul with his woman head-stomping crew of troglodytes.

But he's against drones which makes it all okay. Just overlook all the other stuff, that just doesn't matter:

Like his attaching personhood riders on budget bills, voting against VAWA, Social Security, Medicaid, Obamacare, Planned Parenthood, the Voting Rights Act and food stamps and care for the poor.

What a champion of life and liberty! But only for rich, white males, apparently.

Kiss off, Rand!

March 11, 2013

Yup, you're on 'race traitor' list now. Only tough in a group. Divide their IQ by the numbers.

Watch out if they get liquored up... And keep your animals out of range.