Travels

I have some photos from my trip to SF, and back.

In the Weeds


This was shot from the railing of geekchick's house. She was kind enough to put me up for the night, when the airline told me I couldn't fly to Knoxville, because I was supposed to be on a plane to Kuwait. I wasn't pleased with them, but a pleasant evening talking with her, and Chris, while drinking a Boodles and Tonic, put me in a much better mood.


Rime



I got more colorful photos here last year, but I don't know as they were more interesting. I spent Friday afternoon, before the conference, walking about this park collecting my thoughts, pondering how to do a one-day workshop here (perhaps in Mid-Sept) and just communing with Calif. (yeah, that's me... fuzzy-headed hippy). It was really good to soak in the hills, and the shore; they were so different from Tennessee, and I didn't realise how much I missed both of them.

The Leading Edge


I'm not sure anyone would believe me if I told them I was at a wetland, and didn't take any pictures of birds.

(comments at Better than salt money)

Lighting

For reasons which are moderately apparent, I was asked to do some self-portraits last night.

The light was difficult. My skin tones, and the wood, are fine, but the shirt is actually a sightly blue-toned lavendar.

Play the Fife Slowly II


Just Looking


If you look in the background you can see my youngest sister peeking over my shoulder.

Side effects

I just got off the phone with Adam Schiff's office (D Calif.). It seems someone reported he had signed onto a Blue Dog letter. I was told, very gently, after I explained that I wanted a public option, no trigger; prescription drugs with the gov't being able to bargain: because what I really want, single payer, isn't going to happen anytime soon, that he supported a public option.

That's when I was told a blogger had made a mistake. I said I was sorry if I'd added to a hectic day, and was allowed to explain that I really wanted single payer. That I far preferred a gov't "beaureaucrat" making the decisions over a corporate one. I wanted the interest of that gatekeeper to be the solvency of the system, not the profit margin.

I was allowed to ramble about the VA, NHS, and Canadian systems.

If he is being called madly because of a mistake, well I'm sorry, on the one hand. If it turns out he did/was considering the possibility, then a lot of calls probably stopped it. I worked to get him elected in the first place (Maia and I ran lights for a fundraiser, when he was running against Fred Rogan). I'd have no qualms against working to unseat him if he drops the ball on this.

To be honest, I was surprised to see it. He's a trifle more conservative than I am, a bit less progressive, but he's been pretty much on the right side of the issues, showing a bit more spine than most Dems when Bush was in Office.

So... if someone who looks to have as freindly a constituency as this, gets swamped with calls, there may be some spillover (because it will be talked about in the waiting room for 15 minute calls; when they are doing face-to-face with constituents).

Might be the time to call your rep too. Tell them you heard about the Blue Dog Letter, and you are against it.

Public Plan
No Trigger
No Profit over People
Bargaining Power for Prescriptions

In short, healthcare, to make a healthy nation.