Lessons unlearned

   



  Learn how we maybe setting ourselves up for another financial crisis.

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Program is now

     In its efforts to damage the Affordable Care Program the Trump administration has eliminated the publicity budget to let people know when the enrollment period is.  The 2019 ACA (Affordable Care Act) enrollment period has been shortened from 90 days to 45 days (November 1- December 15, 2018), and the advertising budget to promote open enrollment has been slashed in an effort to further sabotage the program. That's why you're seeing zero advertising about the enrollment window.  The 2019 Open Enrollment Period runs from Thursday, November 1, 2018, to Saturday, December 15, 2018. If you don't act by December 15, you can't get 2019 coverage unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start January 1, 2019.

Bet you didn't know this Thanksgiving fact

     In 1953, someone at Swanson severely overestimated the amount of turkey Americans would consume that Thanksgiving. With 260 tons of frozen birds to get rid of, a company salesman named Gerry Thomas ordered 5,000 aluminum trays, recruited an assembly line of women armed with spatulas and ice-cream scoops and began creating mini-feasts of turkey, corn-bread dressing, peas and sweet potatoes — creating the first-ever TV dinner. Thomas later said he got the idea from neatly packaged airplane food. Turkey dinner is still the most popular TV dinner.


P.S. First immigrant caravan

Trump had a full schedule yesterday

                       Here is the only official duty tRUMP carried out yesterday.




P.S.
     With the killing of a doctor in a hospital in Chicago yesterday in a another mass shooting we now know why doctors can't  "stay in their lane" in spite of what the NRA wants.

Oakland Mills High Food Pantry is empty

 The Oakland Mills High School food pantry is currently empty, organizers said this week. The Oakland Mills High School PTA is seeking donations.

The Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry supports the Oakland Mills community, organizers say.
Here are the items that are most requested:

• Nonperishable goods—canned vegetables, canned fruit, applesauce, dried fruit, fruit cups, dry beans, yellow rice, instant oatmeal, pasta, pasta sauce, granola bars, peanut butter, jelly/jam, juice boxes, kids snacks (graham crackers, goldfish crackers, pudding, etc.)
• Diapers (sizes 3 to 5)
• Baby food (jarred food, puffs and infant rice)
• Feminine products
• Household products
• Coats, hats and gloves

Those who would like to contribute may drop off donations to The Other Barn at 5851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. The Other Barn will be open from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

#hocoblogs

Trump's "overseas" visit to review the California fire damage: Rake more!

From Michael Moore:   "On a foreign visit today to California, the USA Leader (he wore a USA cap so the Californians would know where he’s from) declared that had the people of California done “more raking” these fires wouldn’t happen. He repeated that there is no “climate change” but added, “I want great climate.”

P.S.
    Surprising he didn't send his Secretary of State on this visit to California. 

The caravan you haven't been hearing about

       With all the pre-election talk about the caravan of migrants from Central America we are soon to have a second caravan of travelers from another direction.  If you travel Interstate 95 in a couple of weeks you will notice all the Canadian license plates from Quebec and Ontario headed South to warmer climates.  This annual Northern migration has not received the attention of that the Southern migration received but its impact on our economy is greater than any migration of immigrants from the South. The past few years has taken us to Florida for a few Winter weeks and it seems that the people we meet in our pickleball matches are from the friendly confines of Canada.  Last year the Canadians were a little hesitant to bring up the topic of our new Administration as they were not sure of our political leanings.  Once it was determined that we were as mystified as they were on what was happening in our Country they asked how long we felt the Trump Administration would last and how could our Country has so many supporters of a person who lies and bullies others so often.  For mild mannered Canadians they couldn't understand how we could be so different.  They seemed reassured some when I pointed out that Trump could only win because of our crazy Electoral College that made him the winner even though he got almost 3 million less votes than Clinton.  Three million votes in Canada is a lot of votes.  I pointed out that if some of the Canadian transplants would just switch there citizenship to the US and become Florida voters we might have a chance of becoming more civilized as a country like Canada.

New White House position

      Rumor has it that the White House will soon be bringing on an official White House meteorologist to determine if the weather forecast precludes the President from showing up at events in the future.  Something about not wanting to have the weather cause a "bad hair day.

P.S.

   When times were different.

Which looks like the future?

Some days are like this

Something they will never understand

A guy took his girlfriend to the Super Bowl game.  They had great seats right behind the team bench.  After the game he asked her how she liked it.

"Oh I really like it, " she replied, "especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents."

Dumfounded, her boyfriend asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well; they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game all they kept screaming was......'Get the quarterback! ' Get the quarterback.  I'm like Helloooooooo?  It's only 25 cents!

New face of Congress

The cost of the Access Hollywood tape is now being paid.

History does repeat itself

     45 years ago I got up in Amsterdam Holland to go get my copy of the International Herald Tribune to read what the latest news was on the Watergate affair.  What had flown under the radar was the growing scandal involving Vice President Spiro Agnew, Maryland's gift to our Nation.  The headline blared "Agnew Resigns."
    Rachael Maddow has recently released a podcast examining the story of this resignation scandal that has so many parallels to our current situation with the corruption of the Trump administration.  Central to the Agnew defense was the attacking of the press and the Justice Department.  Sound familiar?  Here is a link to this fascinating podcast. 

 P.S.
     The fact that Donald Trump has held sixty-six rallies since being elected president but still hasn’t visited our troops in a combat zone tells you all you need to know about him. Word is that his bone spurs are acting up again.

A year with two Autumns

 

        Having spent a couple of weeks in Alaska this past September I have had a chance to experience two Autumn seasons this year.

      While the local scenery can't quite compare to Alaska's Autumn we have some areas that are worth a visit.   Yesterday a hike in the Patapsco State Park in Elkridge had this view of our local Autumn colors.

#hocoblogs

Weekend funny

Community Action Council's Holiday Meals Program needs your help

     Each year, CAC’s Howard County Food Bank provides nutritious food to more than 35,000 people and this Thanksgiving, CAC has promised to provide holiday meals to 1,000 families in need. CAC has the funding secured for 600 of those meals and is asking the community to help cover the cost of the remaining 400 meals.

A donation of just $20 will cover the cost of one family’s holiday meal – a turkey, holiday sides, produce and bread. That’s it! I’m donating this year and I am hoping that you will join me in supporting this amazing cause.

Please help a Howard County neighbor have a wonderful holiday. You can donate online to this cause here:https://cacholidaymeal.causevox.com/

#hocoblogs