Posts from — March 2019

As in Standard Operating Procedure…

So who does Trump select to be the point man for his health care proposal to replace the ACA/Obamacare: Richard Lynn Scott, current Senator and former governor of Flordia.

Scott was pressured to resign as chief executive of Columbia/HCA in 1997. During his tenure as chief executive, the company defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs. The Department of Justice ultimately fined the company in what was at the time the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history.[8] Scott was never charged with any crime.[9] Following his departure from Columbia/HCA, Scott became a venture capitalist and pursued other business interests.

Yes, the same administration that is worried about testing anyone who receives government assistance for drug use has put the biggest “fox” to ever get into the “hen house” of Medicare and Medicaid to create a new health insurance program.

All the best people?

Via Crooks & Liars watch the video: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern Shows How To Lead.

She speaks in two languages and references a phrase in a third. She is uniting people after a tragedy. She is wearing a traditional Maori feathered clock and starts her address with a Maori greeting and acknowledgment. Notice that she has a sign language interpreter. These are indicators that she is leader of all of the people in New Zealand.

The supposed leader of the US is rarely coherent in the only language he claims to speak and does his best to divide Americans into competing sub-groups. The man can’t properly word a condolence message, and won’t send someone to a card shop for a sympathy card to prevent embarrassing the country again.

The British MPs got to put forward their own plans for the BREXIT problem, but there was no majority for any option after MPs’ voted. There is video showing John Bercow with another “fabulous” necktie, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Mr. Bercow is back with another path for taking another vote on a Theresa May plan. This report by ABC feature more coverage of Mr. Bercow and has pictures and videos featuring more ties.

They held the third vote and once again MPs rejected May’s EU withdrawal agreement – strike three and no Plan B. The best she can do is schedule EU elections in the UK in order to buy more time, or crash out of the EU.

It is obvious that there will be parliamentary elections on the horizon, but Britain is in worse shape than the US.

Completely different:

On Crooks & Liars Daily Show: Mexicans Are Stealing The Wall. Between fits of laughter, Trevor Noah reports that Mexicans are “recycling” the razor wire that Trump had the military add to Wall. They are selling it to home owners in the wealthy colonias to top their walls. The Mexicans are building walls and Trump is paying for it… 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

Former Florida Congresscritter Alan Grayson was known for is ‘unusual’ ties that he claims his children bought for him but he has nothing on Commons Speaker John Bercow. Every tie he wears strains the limits of the “colour” wheel, and I say that as someone who shopped on Carnaby Street in London in the late 60s early 70s.

It’s that time of year. Spring will arrive at 4:58PM CDT this afternoon, so this is the first full day. You can watch it come at em>Archæoastronomy.

The air is already filled with pollen and the live oaks are dropping last year’s leaves. The azaleas have already peaked and the pear trees were snowy with blooms at the end of February..

I would note that locally we have had 12 hours or more of daylight since St. Patrick’s Day, and usually do.

Athenae at First Draft suggests Let’s mail some Legos to Alaska. This was in response to all of the really rotten things that have been going on.

This is related to the campaign by rookie musher Blair Braverman and her #UglyDogs supporters to help Alaskan schools.

The address of the K-2 class being targeted is:

Miss Angela’s Class
DLMS
PO Box 90
Grayling, AK. 99590-0090

Grayling has a population of about 200 and is on the Yukon River. It can only be reached by bush planes, boat when the river is ice free, or dog sled & snow machine when it’s frozen.

Post cards from far away places are very appropriate to connect the kids to the outside world. I sent some Legos and will get some touristy post cards tomorrow.

The “widow’s lamp” was extinguished yesterday at 4:51:49 PM CDT [1:51:49 PM AKDT] when Victoria Hardwick & team ran under the Burled Arch in Nome. The Red Lantern Award is given to the final finisher of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The musher receives a red lantern trophy.

As this year’s Iditarod Champion, Peter Kaiser received $50,000 and the Official Truck Award – a 2019 Ram 1500 4×4 truck valued at $40,000. He completed the race in 9 days 12 hours 39 minutes and 6 seconds.

Morrow, Peter Kaiser’s lead dog, a 7-year-old female who has led Kaiser’s team into Nome three years in a row, was chosen by mushers to receive the City of Nome Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness Award as the most outstanding lead dog. She received an embroidered gold-colored harness.

As the top placing rookie, Ed Hopkins received Rookie of the Year honors: a $2,000 check & a commemorative trophy.

As the musher who bettered her previous finish by the most places, Paige Drobny received the Most Improved Musher Award: $2,000 in cash & a commemorative trophy.

Mats Pettersson was chosen by fellow mushers to receive the Sportsmanship Award: a $3,000 check & a commemorative trophy.

Mushers selected Lance Mackey as the Most Inspirational Musher Award: a paid entry fee for the 2020 Iditarod.

Mushers gave Golden Clipboard Awards to both Rohn and Eagle Island as outstanding checkpoints. They received commemorative plaques.

Aaron Peck was selected for the Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award as the person who emulates “Herbie: The Shishmaref Cannon Ball” in his attitude on the trail. Aaron received $1,049 in “pocket change” inside a Northern Air Cargo jacket.

The race veterinary team selected Aliy Zirkle to receive the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for outstanding dog care while remaining competitive throughout the race: a paid entry fee for the 2020 Iditarod & a commemorative trophy.

Below the fold the checkpoint awards:
[Read more →]

When I logged on this morning the GPS tracker said Cindy Gallea (53) finished in Nome. It turns out that Cindy actually scratched at Safety. She was down to 7 pups and pulled out in the best interests of the team.

The winds have picked up along the Bering Coast and the dogs don’t like running into the wind. Sarah Stokey had to be ‘lead dog’ for much of the last 150 miles into Nome to get the team across the line.

Standings at 4:55PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
31 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
32 Alison Lifka (37)^R
33 Michael Baker (41)
34 Sarah Stokey (52)
35 Anja Radano (2)
36 Blair Braverman (11)^R
37 Jeremy Keller (48)
38 Kristin Bacon (8)
39 Victoria Hardwick (30)^RΦ

Earlier finishers below the fold
[Read more →]

Richie Beattie (50) has been withdrawn from the race following the death of Oshi, a 5-year-old female, probably from aspiration pneumonia. Seemingly this makes Ed Hopkins the rookie winner. Under the new rules, if a dog dies, the team is withdrawn if the musher doesn’t scratch voluntarily.

Standings at 10:00PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
21 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
22 Martin Buser (21)
23 Aaron Peck (47)
24 Charley Bejna (31)
25 Michi Konno (43)
26 Lance Mackey (44)
27 Jessie Holmes (5)
28 Martin Apayauq Reitan (39)^Q
29 Ryan Santiago (49)^R
30 Jason Campeau (12)
31 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
32 Alison Lifka (37)^R
33 Michael Baker (41)
34 Sarah Stokey (52)
35 Anja Radano (2)
36 Blair Braverman (11)^R
37 Jeremy Keller (48)
Beyond Safety
38 Kristin Bacon (8)
Beyond White Mountain
39 Cindy Gallea (53)
40 Victoria Hardwick (30)^RΦ
[Read more →]

Éireann go Brách!

Well everyone agrees that he died on March 17^th, but the year is subject to debate. This is his feast day on the Catholic calendar. Enjoy as you are wont.

Wikipedia has more on Saint Patrick’s Day, if you need more.

I’m back to using the GPS.

Standings at 10:05PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
21 Richie Beattie (50)^Q
22 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
23 Martin Buser (21)
24 Aaron Peck (47)
25 Charley Bejna (31)
26 Michi Konno (43)
27 Lance Mackey (44)
28 Jessie Holmes (5)
29 Martin Apayauq Reitan (39)^Q
30 Ryan Santiago (49)^R
31 Jason Campeau (12)
32 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
Beyond Safety
33 Sarah Stokey (52)
Beyond White Mountain
34 Michael Baker (41)
35 Alison Lifka (37)^R
At White Mountain
36 Blair Braverman (11)^R
37 Anja Radano (2)
38 Jeremy Keller (48)
39 Cindy Gallea (53)
40 Kristin Bacon (8)
Beyond Elim
41 Victoria Hardwick (30)^RΦ
[Read more →]

Richie took ‘rookie of the year’ honors. He and Ed have been having their own race over that.

Earlier finishers are here.

Note: I’m using the GPS positions as the official standings are so slow to up date.

Standings at 10:00PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
21 Richie Beattie (50)^Q
22 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
23 Martin Buser (21)
24 Aaron Peck (47)
25 Charley Bejna (31)
26 Michi Konno (43)
27 Lance Mackey (44)
28 Jessie Holmes (5)
Beyond Safety
29 Ryan Santiago (49)^R
30 Martin Apayauq Reitan (39)^Q
31 Jason Campeau (12)
Beyond White Mountain
32 Jessica Klejka (24)^R
At White Mountain
33 Sarah Stokey (52)
At Elim
34 Michael Baker (41)
35 Alison Lifka (37)^R
36 Anja Radano (2)
37 Kristin Bacon (8)
Beyond Koyuk
38 Blair Braverman (11)^R
39 Victoria Hardwick (30)^R
40 Cindy Gallea (53)
41 Jeremy Keller (48)Φ
[Read more →]

3/14 is Albert’s birthday and

Π Day.

I assume you have all shopped for the perfect gift.

To start: Π ≅ 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399
3751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679….

Standings at 9:00PM CDT:

Finished at Nome
1 Peter Kaiser (9)
2 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (28)
3 Jessie Royer (14)
4 Aliy Zirkle (19)
5 Travis Beals (51)
6 Matt Hall (3)
7 Paige Drobny (40)
8 Ramey Smyth (6)
9 Mitch Seavey (32)
10 Aaron Burmeister (38)
11 Richie Diehl (29)
12 Linwood Fiedler (15)
13 Jeff King (23)
14 Wade Marrs (36)
15 Jeff Deeter (25)
16 Kristy Berington (26)
17 Anna Berington (10)
18 Matthew Failor (17)
19 Seth Barnes (45)
20 Mats Pettersson (4)
Beyond White Mountain
21 Richie Beattie (50)^Q
22 Ed Hopkins (33)^Q
23 Martin Buser (21)
24 Aaron Peck (47)
25 Charley Bejna (31)
26 Michi Konno (43)
[Read more →]