More than liking the President,

.... we need to try to understand and appreciate the chess game at which he excels. W/o repeating all the reasons for believing this is a bluff, let me remind all of you that he's said himself it isn't the budget he wants, he knows it's DOA in the House AND most importantly, the Senate. Do you think President Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Biden and others have all taken leave of their senses? Maybe one at a time, given human nature, but not en masse. I'll grant this is a big risk because of the public's automatic and expected (perhaps desired for some reaon) reaction.

Yes, let's raise our voices against the chained CPI; I certainly do so myself. But don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Wait and see - I'll wager the day comes when you'll thank him. I certainly wouldn't want to challenge him to three-dimensional chess. (or basketball for that matter; I'm only 5' tall!)

So he's either stupid or lying?

Maybe he's just right, did that ever occur to you?

We don't get anywhere by acting like Repugs either

Not to digress, though I do...

But I think a lot of people miss out on the pleasure of God because they try to impose human limitations. I like how you think. Nothing in science contradicts a reasonable human concept of God, after all. Nature is the great cathedral.

I don't care WHO discovered it first

It's beautiful. Always before, I thought bat faces resembled chihuahuas, which I also like. But they're mud hens next to the panda bat.

That's one of the few things I really loved where I retired - the county and state offices are located in a beautiful old building on the public square, and the belfry houses a huge population of bats which fan out all over town every evening. So we have fewer bad bugs than we would otherwise. Nobody else seems to love them, but I do. The bats, that is, not the bugs.

Thank you for this wonderful post.

Every financial expert I've ever heard

... speaks against buying pet insurance on a purely financial basis. I never had it because I felt the expense could better be lavished on my dogs themselves, even when they got old and creaky. But then I'm a fair bush medic in the first place, and can do all kinds of emergency care up to and including ceasarians.

Not everyone has those skills, plus a sickly or vulnerable animal naturally will need more care than a sturdier one. So the only thing I can say is that it's a tossup and depends on the situation. Just remember that pet insurance companies are even more notorious for dodging benefits than the companies that supposedly insure us.

I deeply admire people who are willing to take on an animal that's already sick and/or badly injured, knowing it's likely to cost them a mint. I wouldn't in a million years; not because I don't care, but because I have very limited funds and most of that goes to keeping the dogs I already have in top shape. By the time my last chows were 13, they started developing progressive paralysis and the vet recommended putting them down because it was incurable. But through heavy efforts on my own, I kept them on their feet and happy for another 3 years. The last 6 months I had to lift those 70-lb dogs up front and back to accomplish it and then lead a slow yard walk 6 times around the perimeter of the house 6 times a day, and it almost ruined my back - but it was worth it. They never went off their feed.

But facing huge medical bills is another thing entirely. For dogs I already loved, I would. In your case, you're the only rightful judge of what to do.

I don't have Twitter

But this might be enough to get me started. Thanks. I've never been a video game player either, yet hunting 1%'ers could entice me too. Not with assault weapons necessarily, and I don't know what the weapon would be - but if someone designs such a game, this old lady might buy into it.

Endless cheers for Officer Lugo!

And Biscuit. I didn't know his breed was so close to wolves; I knew it about Chows, which have always been just about my favorites, but not Shih-tzus. Probably had a lot to do with the little guy's survival.

As for Officer Lugo, I think she must be closely related to angels.

Of all the things I have to yelp about in RedNeckLand,

... one immense blessing is our area's only veterinarian. He takes care of all animals large and small, livestock and pets, and does what he can to ease financial burdens. For instance, if I'm facing a large and unexpected bill, he has no problem letting me pay on time if needed because he knows my word is good. (He doesn't take credit cards.) I even buy a year's worth of Comfortis flea prevention because it's so much more economical per dose that way. I have to crush it and parcel out the right amount for the dogs myself, but then I'm not some homicidal idiot either.

Not every vet in the world will let you do that.

If you want someone to call you extreme,

... don't look at me. I'm for all those things too. And more.

What I'm not for is holding my breath in a hissy fit when I don't get everything I want right now. And I'm not deaf; you know as well as I that some of us threaten defection or staying home or starting a 3rd party etc. All of which would be self defeating, and I'm NOT into that. Let's not follow the road to ruin; that's what we want the opposition to do.

I've only begun to write 'adoring' letters to Mikey encouraging him to start another party. It's really hard and I have to take something to settle my stomach first, but I do it for love of party and country. I know the man's a fool; I just hope he's fool enough to take the bait.