Wednesday, August 28, 2013

ObamaCare Information

To some, the new Affordable Health Care Act will always be known as ObamaCare in a very loving and grateful tribute to a president that strives to ensure health care is affordable, available, and implemented in all states for all Americans.
President Obama signs AHCA
March 24, 2010

Today's blog is a Public Service Announcement for those of us who are still confused on how this is going to work for us and benefit our families.

What to do:

Go to the following website: http://www.healthcare.gov
Read through the information.
Sign up with your email address.
Fill out a short questionnaire.

Check out what will be available in your state and don't worry if you don't see much now since you can only sign up on October 1, 2013 and more insurances and state exchanges will be coming online within the next month.

Phone number with live people to answer additional questions is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-318-2596

There is a calculator on the site to give you a rough estimate of what to expect in terms of premiums and how much will be subsidized if you qualify based on income and family size.

Link to the Kaiser Family Foundation Calculator

Sign up begins October 1, 2013.

Sign up early to get your medical cards and information packets early.

Coverage begins January 2014.

For states in which the republican governors decided not to implement a health care exchange, the federal government will set it up to be available and launched in the same time-frame nationwide.

MEDICAID:

Medicaid expansion coverage will be available in some states and many families not covered now, maybe be eligible for coverage at that time.

Medicaid expansion coverage can be implemented at any time if the current governor changes his/her mind, or the next governor agrees to implement  the expansion.

There is no cost to the state to implement Medicaid expansion for the first three years. On the fourth year, the Federal government will pick up 90 percent of the cost.

For those who have friends and family members who need help in another language, the links at the bottom of the page will provide them with assistance in their preferred language.

Peace to all.



Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Google Chromecast; Web and Netflix Streaming

An exciting new way to stream the web through your existing smart phone, tablet, or, laptop has arrived.

What is it?

Google Chromecast is a small flash drive looking device that you plug into one of the HDMI ports on your television and configure to your internet network.

Once the device is connected to your network, your smartphone, tablet, or laptop can send a website address to the device and you can stream to your television anything your heart desires.

What Operating Systems (OS) does Google Chromecast support?

Windows 7 and higher
Mac OS 10.7 and higher
Android 2.3 and higher
Chrome OS
iOS 6 and higher

What applications are supported?

Anything you find on the internet.
You Tube.
Play your favorite games online on the big screen.
Netflix

How is this different from plugging my laptop into my TV via an HDMI cable?

Chances are that your laptop is working over time and overheating.
You can send a link to Google Chromecast without having to duplicate the same content on your laptop because it does not mirror your desktop, it simply gets the link and you are free to use your laptop for other things.
You don't need an HDMI cable.

Roku vs. Google Chromecast

Roku can't stream the internet.
Roku has many channels not found on the internet.
Chromecast streams the internet directly to your TV.
Roku has a remote.
Chromecast remote is your smartphone, laptop trackpack, or wi-fi tablet.

What other features can I expect?

The unit is USB powered or outlet powered.
1080p and 5.1 surround sound.
Small footprint.
Portable.
Can receive information from all synced devices.

Offers

Until 12/31/2013 you will receive a code to get 3 months free of Netflix that are valid to new and existing customers.

Price

The unit costs $35.00 plus tax and Shipping through the Google store.
Best Buy has the option of shipping or pick up in store

Taking into account the three free months of Netflix, the unit costs around $11.00

Valuable links



Amazon has it now! 


Google Store




Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The Plantation Mentality

Klan in Gainsville
Most people are under the impression that other people are racists. Not them. Racist images are forever implanted in our brains as barbaric lynchings, crosses burning in front lawns and white sheets and hoods.

Real racists have shaved heads and Swastika tattoos, most people do not see themselves in that light because they look "normal" and everyone around them is just like them. Therefore they are not like "those other people" and quickly distance themselves from the ugliness.

Juror B37

On her interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN she was a shinning example of a clueless racist. As the words kept falling out of her mouth, most viewers were horrified. They heard out loud what only is heard in whispers in 'polite society' and out of earshot of 'mixed company.'

Sharleen Martin of Martin's Literary Agency backed out of the book deal with juror B37 after watching the interview and the ongoing backlash received from Twitter users who were exploding with outrage.

Ms. Martin rescinded the book contract stating she had used "poor judgment."

Four of the five remaining jurors wrote a letter stating that Juror B37 did not represent them, nor their views.

It is fascinating to watch how quickly people distance themselves from someone they perceive as being a racist and yet, looks just like them. No hoods, no robes. Just the spoken words of the plantation owners.

Food For Thought

We need to consider the pervasiveness and insidiousness of accepted 'norms' and stereotypes.

The jurors in the Zimmerman trial were exposed to a narrative that was not questioned by the prosecutor or the media. Zimmerman was less on trial than Trayvon Martin.

No one questioned that "black people" had burglarized his neighborhood, or acknowledged that this was Trayvon's family neighborhood as well.

Juror B37 stated without hesitation that "Trayvon had contributed to his own death?," "had plenty of time to get home." and "he threw the first punch."

These are all assumption she made based on Trayvon's race. She was not there to witness the fight but she reached conclusions based on notions that have been passed on from generation to generation.

- Why is Trayvon Martin NOT allowed to dilly-dally?
- Is there a curfew exclusively reserved for black kids?
- Are public streets only safe for white folks only when blacks are kept indoors?

We all need to know where we come from because it is relevant to today's mind set. We need to know what people have endured and how the crimes against their civil liberties were perpetrated if we are to eradicate them in modern times.

The Plantation Mentality 
image by Gualberto107 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


The plantation mentality notion is typically used against black people to degrade them. It is used to show that their lack of gainful employment is their fault and that they expect to be taken care of by the government as if they were still in the plantation days, where the white man took care of them.

What is wrong with the ideology stated above?

For one thing, the black people on the plantation were not taken care of by anyone. They were sold and traded, raped, mutilated, and murdered. The fact that employers discriminate against minorities is not taken into account. The fact that predominantly African-American communities have been neglected by the State Governments when it comes to funding and priorities, is also ignored.

Let's accept then, that the plantation mentality means something else. An ideology that plantation owners have passed on to subsequent generations with a sense of entitlement that persists to this day.

Examples:

A white man is free to go as he pleases. A black man must justify his whereabouts.
A white child is worth more than a black child. (we see this in adoptions as well)
Voting is the right of white men. It is a privilege for minorities that can be taken away at the plantation owner's discretion. *See resources

This is the mentality left over from the days of The Slave Patrol, where white militias would scour the countryside looking for black people who where 'out of place', 'not where they belong.' - Needless to say that when they found someone that did not belong,  the treatment of the individual was typically abusive and intimidating.

The violence and ideology of the past has followed African Americans into modern times and passed on to anyone else perceived as being 'less-than' and non-white.

The plantation mentality holds blacks and minorities to a different set of standards.

The Double Standard

- Black parents don't parent right. (Watch video below)
- White parents do the best they can. Society is to blame when their kids go awry.
- White kids make mistakes. Black kids are born criminals.
- White kids experiment innocently with pot.
- Black kids are drug addicts.

Again, this is part and parcel of the plantation mentality. Blacks are inherently lazy. They lie. They steal. They will kill you in your sleep and rape your white women.

This plantation mentality is grounded in fear of knowing that retribution for bad deeds could become a possibility. Fear is irrational and there is tremendous profit to be made in this area. From becoming a celebrity, to writing a book validating preconceived notions and irrational hatred of 'others'. ie., Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, et al.

People in the media have to go back to the very few riots we had in this country. They date back to the Watt's or Oakland riots. The grainy footage of riots give validity to the notion that black people are violent and whites must be in fear of them. The fact that Rodney King was beaten into a pulp and was representative of how the African-American community is treated by the police, does not enter the equation.

We all have a boiling point. Rodney King was it that day.

Stand Your Ground laws favor whites
All actions against minorities are justified. Including shooting one on sight because a white man's life is far more valuable. If we look closely, we can see that the "stand your ground" law is disproportionately weighted in favor of whites.

The plantation mentality excuses and rationalizes behavior in whites that is unacceptable for minorities. For example:

When a white man kills, he must have a reason. An excuse. A way out. (Stand Your Ground Law)

When a black man kills, he is a criminal. He has no excuse. He has no way out. (Check out the disparity in our prison population)

We need to understand the fear of those with the plantation mentality. They know that human beings are bound to reach the boiling point when they are systematically excluded, vilified, and dehumanized by the powerful in society.

They want this to happen.

They are expecting the explosion because they too, are a kettle about to boil over. Riots would provide validation to their ideology and justification for violent actions. However, the peaceful demonstrations and reasonable discourse by black folks after the Zimmerman trial is not providing the needed relief.

Racists Should Get a Clue

It is not okay to be a racist. It shows our stupidity. However, we have, under The Constitution, the right to be as stupid as we please.

If we chose to be racists, we should have a clue from where our notions come from, and then decide if it is time to leave the plantation mentality behind.

The fear of the black against the white is a profit generating machine. The more people fear, the easier it is to separate them from their hard-earned cash while in exchange, they have their fears validated by folks who look just like them.

The profit-making machine that is the weapons industry has been using fear and racism for decades to sell arsenals and ammunition to the fearful. The NRA and A.L.E.C. have made it possible to pass laws that justify the murder of minorities based on irrational fear. The survivalists stockpile on dried food supplies and the fear is perpetuated while the profits go through the roof.

There is money to be made in the religious setting as well and it has not gone unnoticed by the church leaders who are raking in the money. Perpetuating stereotypes, hatred, and fear keeps the congregation glued to their seats and their pocketbooks open.

This is not a very Christian thing to do, but then again, snake oil salesmen have no scruples.

Instead of acknowledging racism, some, like pastor Bill Keller of Live Prayer thrives on it. He has the nerve to blame Trayvon Martin's parents for their child's death.

He floats the idea with passion to over 2 million subscribers by perpetuating racism and playing the blame-game. At the same time, just like Juror B37, he adamantly rejects that he is a racist.

For those of you who don't know this paragon of Christianity, we have included the interview conducted by Thom Hartmann.



Juror B37 Interview




Resources

New Georgia Encyclopedia: History and Archaeology; Slave Patrols
Moyers & Company:  Theresa Riley; The Fight to Protect Voting Rights in Texas
TruthOut.org: Mike Ludwig; Supreme Court Strikes Down Arizona Voter ID Law
Decatur Daily: Voter ID Law Hurts Alabama
PBS.org; Frontline; Criminal Justice by Sarah Childress: Is There Racial Bias in "Stand Your Ground" Laws?

Image(s); Klan; Public Domain. Stand your ground Graph by PBS.org

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Speak up Against Racism


Mexico City
I realize that being Latina/Hispanic/Spanish/White/Black/Lebanese/Haitian/French/British/Italian and (gulp!) White ... Makes me a completely ignorant ass who will never amount to anything. However, I still have to ask a few questions in the hope I may become smarter.

According to the white nationalists, my children and grandchildren will fall into the retarded category. All future generations will be cursed with the same affliction.

It is, after all, a curse in our DNA.

(does not explain all the Hispanic/Latino(a) kids I.Q's. that landed them in the talented and gifted program, or the fact that they are graduating H.S. with college credits and Honors)

Again, maybe my atrophied brain, small as a pea, is incapable of comprehending the subtle nuances of the inferiority premise offered below.

(I used big words above, sorry... my bad.)

For all practical purposes, we are so incredibly unintelligent that we should be on permanent disability, food stamps, and all sorts of social welfare.

I am so glad that these nice white folks finally figured out what is wrong with my entire family tree and all those billions of people of Hispanic Heritage.

After all, they should have known - or some white folks should have told them - that they would never discover America or any other lands. That they would never expand their language throughout the world and be the national language of most Nations.

Madrid - Spain
So what if they invented Lollypops? (known as chupa-chups and copied world-wide), the mop and bucket? (yes, from Spain), The submarine ?(yes, Spain again), The Beret? (no, it is not French, they are just a lot more stylish in the way they wear it.)

- Lord! is there anything a French woman looks bad in? - But I digress. It is a sign of stupidity on my part, of course.

A Mexican inventor (Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena) got the first patent for color T.V. - Maybe some of them white Gringos can say gracias?

Pancho Villa, Ceasar Chaves... The list of people goes on and they are Mexicans,
Bogota - Colombia
Puerto Ricans, Chilean, Peruvians, Argentinians, Colombians and more. The list of countries goes on as well, but my limited intelligence continues to show its signs of incompetence and I continue to digress.

Obviously, these superior white nationalists (of what nation?) must mean the slave labor that picks tomatoes that white nationalists are too incompetent ... Oops! - too intelligent to pick themselves.

Or the women they trust to raise their children because they are too lazy and uncaring... Oops!, too busy being "job creators" to do it themselves.

Which leads me to question the intelligence of white nationalists decisions to entrust their food supply, their children, and their homes, to such incompetent Latino pariahs.

White nationalists obviously don't know about people like Picasso, Diego Rivera, Miguel Angel Espino.... and the hundreds of thousands that gave life to paint, words, and many a sigh to the aspiring soul.

The racists, er... I mean, the white nationalist, must mean the brute and ignorant Mexicans that... beat the tar out of the French, Spaniards and the British.

Obviously a fluke in strategy and creative thinking. It can't possibly be that intelligent people found a way to push back against such formidable enemies. Right? - especially since they are brown?

It is such a relief that the quackery has explained our inferiority due to our ethnicity.  It is good to know that our collective incompetence is through no fault of our own.

Nothing is.

Obviously God made us stupid for a reason.

It would be interesting - ramblings of an addled mind again - to ask the Koch Brothers if they are as racist as we perceive them to be. Or do they just put racist people in The Heritage Foundation prominent positions by accident? - If so, is that a sign of intelligence?, If not, can they just come out in their KKK sheets and be themselves?

I am just asking because I am too stupid to figure it out for myself.

Again, I humbly apologize for asking questions. Please be patient, and remember that I am, after all, an idiot.

A note to white supremacists:

White Europeans are not going to give up their higher quality of life and higher standards of education to increase your numbers. You see, they are white.

Just not stupid.

White Nationalists is a special breed we grow in the United States. It may have something to do with the fact that centuries ago, European garbage was dumped here. You know, the ones they were not fit for polite society.

Has anyone done a bit of research into your DNA?

Someone should.

It is just too embarrassing for Americans in general to allow you out in public without an explanation.


Respectfully, with sombrero in hand, I request you all burn in the eternal fires of hell for making my country (Yes the USA, you morons!) the laughing stock of every industrialized nation.


P.S. Hey GOP!, how is that "Hispanic Outreach" thingy working out fer ya? - From this angle, it is not looking muy bien.

Keep telling yourselves that the Republican party is not the party of racism and bigotry, because as you hope, Hispanics/Latinos may just be addled-brained enough to believe you.

Yes, we are laughing at you.
Adios Pendejos!

Watch this:



You may want to know:
Texas State University: Tomas Rivera Book Award


Monday, April 15, 2013

Boston Marathon Tragedy

By JIMMY GOLEN | Associated Press
It is too soon. It is too early. Let's not cast blame. Let's not politicize this horrific event.

Those are the words of people who don't want us to remember that when it is okay to be as political and polarizing as possible, they do it. They don't want us to remember their deeds and their actions.

A lot of us  are sick and tired of the hypocrisy and think this is the perfect time  to remember that those who devalue our work, our skills, our existence, and our purpose in life have no problem deciding that police, paramedics, firefighters, teachers, and all sorts of social infrastructure needs to be de-funded and privatized.

Today we learned that amputations were done on site due to the severity of the injuries.

Privatize that!

Hospital personnel heard about this event in their day off and did not think twice about running out their doors and providing their services to victims.

Privatize that!

Police officers, also off-duty, marched to the site and their precincts  No one had to call them. They showed up.

Privatize that!

It would serve us well to remember these things now and not wait until memories fade, the shock is over, and the spin-masters begin to cast blame to garner political points and distribute their bumper-sticker slogans that pass for actual news and information.

Every Ron and Rand Paul comments about "Liberty" focuses exclusively on no government interference in any aspect of our lives. What they are really saying is "you are on your own. We will let the free-market (read corporations and Wall Street) decide what they wish to be involved in. If you are not part of their plan, too bad for you."

Funding of police officers, paramedics, emergency personnel, and fire-fighters is a necessity in all of our communities.

Tragedies happen. Accidents happen. Terrorism - Foreign and domestic - Happens.

No, it is not too early to remember all those people in Congress who work against the best interest in society. Vote them out.

No one has to politicize anything. Just remember what happened here today and realize who pays for the first responders, and how quickly, those who had their day off, bolted into action because that is what normal people do.

Who did this?

Who knows. Not yet. But we will know.

Theories?

They are abundant. People on social media are connecting dots, but the picture is not clear.

Some are blaming the government. Others are blaming each other. Racist groups, the NRA fanatics, the weapons industry, the "others"... The list goes on and no one has any of the facts yet.

What we need to keep in mind is that we need the services to be public. Not private.

The elected officials who don't have the guts now to say "We don't need these services unless they are privatized" know full well they can't justify it in the light of these events, but make no mistake, the ideological rhetoric will return as soon as our minds forget.

Do not forget.

These people are destroying the fabric of our society as systematically as any terrorist organization can do in a single event.

One thing is for certain, the systematic destruction of our social structure cannot recover if we don't stop this in its tracks.

It is not political. It is common sense. Do not forget.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Progressive Radio is Dead

No choices for you! 
KJFK was the only progressive radio station in Northern Nevada. Las Vegas has none.

KJFK had quality programming that included nationally syndicated shows like Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartman, Mike Papantonio, and the indomitable Stephanie Miller.

We listened live connecting with other progressives across the Nation and knew we were not alone. It felt good to have like-minded companions across state lines.

At the local level, we missed Cory Farley. A reasonable voice who had the pulse of our city and could talk about almost any subject under sun.  Thanks to Cory, we had a clearer picture of what our local elected officials were up to and how it would affect us personally. He regaled us with personal stories and experiences that were both entertaining and interesting in terms of travel, home repairs, and national news. In short, Cory kept us informed on topics ranging from soup to nuts and we were better for it.

Once KJFK went exclusively to national syndicated programs we lost the local flavor and connection provided by our hometown news.

Reno's Spaghetti Bowl
For example, we knew right away when Evelyn Mount needed more turkeys and where the farmer's market was located that week. Book sales and activities at our local libraries were helpful. Commuters chimed in on road closure constructions and the mess in the Spaghetti Bowl.

During the holidays, information on new drop off locations for Toys for Tots or where to donate to help a local family whose house burnt down mattered to us. We learned the latest news on our beloved Wolf Pack and how to help our local high schools fund their music program, or basketball uniforms.

These types of connections are not specific to Reno, NV. We are just the latest casualty in the privatization of our public airwaves. The absence of local radio leaves behind a void that national broadcasts can't fill.

On March 18, 2013 KJFK radio died.

Part of the obituary:

Given the volume of rhetoric dispensed on-air from “the other side”, we felt it vital to remain on-the-air through the 2012 General Election, despite the fact that KJFK has operated at a loss of thousands of dollars a month. Since we launched the station with an appearance by Al Franken in 2005, when nearly 500 people joined us at the Atlantis for now Senator Franken's appearance just days after we hit the air, we’ve known a passionate audience has been with us all along. Unfortunately, this station was never able to generate the revenue necessary to sustain, and we simply cannot absorb the financial loss any longer.

For the entire letter contents click here.

Compliance and homogeneous radio programming is the name of the game. Raging Limbaugh or Glenn Beck provide "news" and "information" as liberal voices are silenced across the nation.

So far progressive radio has met its demise in typically democratic strongholds: Seattle's KPTK, Detroit's WDTW, and Portland's KPOJ. KJFK served Northern Nevada and could be heard on a clear day in parts of San Francisco.

How It all started

In many parts of the country, progressive radio ceased to exist when the monopoly that is Clear Channel took over local radio stations. Bain Capital gutted the industry and conservative talk radio became syndicated and saturated every market.

They killed community broadcasting first and went back to administer the final blow to the few stations that still served a grateful population.

Where and How can You Listen to Progressive Voices


While the overlords of our public airwaves have determined that conservative talk and sports will be the only thing on the menu and you must submit to their will, there are ways of ignoring them. However this comes to a cost to you in terms of financial cost and inconvenience.

PURCHASE the right to free speech through satellite radio. Sirius is popular and even though XM radio and Sirius merged a few years back, the subscriptions to their line ups are separate. You need to purchase the right satellite radio.

Con: The required satellite radio and monthly/yearly subscription can become an obstacle for those on a fixed budget.

Pros: You will never have to listen to commercials or be offended by the lies and misinformation of talking heads without credibility. Many people don't have to change the channel going across state lines or lose satellite signal even in the worst weather.

Other Options Available

1. Invest in a smart phone and download podcasts (also at a premium)
2. Glue yourself to your computer and hope to find a website that is broadcasting progressive radio live.

The problem with the second option is that you may not find the website when they broadcast live or even find a website that still does. More and more of those websites are no longer carrying a live broadcast because the stations are not there or because they only offer a pay-to-listen service.

We will miss the Progressive voices of  Thom Hartman and the passionate voices of Randi Rhodes and Ed Schultz. We will miss the morning laughter brought on by Stephanie Miller that eased us into our daily commute. These voices have always been an Oasis in the midst of conservative screeching.

While Progressive voices are alive and well, the medium that brought them to us is now dead. Our public airwaves are privately controlling the message the  populace hears while being held hostage on their daily commute.

Clear Channel wins. Progressives lose.

Leave us a comment:

Do you have a station in your city that still provides you with progressive voices? or do you miss what you used to have? Have you ever had anything more than conservative radio in your town?

Listen live on their websites if you can:

Ed Schultz: the Ed Schultz Show
Stephanie Miller: The Stephanie Miller Show (Listing of radio stations is not accurate)
Thom Hartman: Thom Hartman Show (Radio listings not updated)
Ring of Fire Radio: Listen Live  Mike Papantonio Robert Kennedy Jr. (limited options)
Free Speech TV on line, or you can purchase a Roku player to watch at home.  

Read:

Willamette Week: KPOJ Cancelling Political Talk Radio by Aaron Mesh
An Insider's View of the Progressive Talk Radio Devolution, by Peter B. Collins
Cory Farley: 2012 Should be the End of these 13 Annoyances
Evelyn Mount Community Outreach
Daily Kos: RIP: Seattle Progressive Talk

On Air Image Photo Credit: Salvatore Vuono /Freedigitalphotos.net