Why Healthcare Is a Right and Not a Privilege

         Actually let me reword the title statement into a question:  Why is healthcare a right and not a privilege?  Or better yet:  Why do many people think that healthcare is a right and not a privilege?  It would be nice to have all healthcare provided with convenience with no co-pays or prescription costs.  We all deserve to live healthy high quality lives, don't we?  Healthcare is a right!

        But why stop there?  Isn't housing a right that we all deserve?   If government provided a basic standard housing allowance then no one would be homeless.  Those who wanted to work a little harder could add their own funds to upgrade, but everyone would have an adequate place to live no matter what their situation.

         Since we all have a right to life then shouldn't we be guaranteed food?   We have to have food to survive.  Government should probably make free food available to everyone and I mean beyond all of the free food programs that are now available. 

          Transportation is an essential need in today's world so that must be included as a right.  Every person in the country should be given a car or whatever allowance they needed to get them places.  Also computers and internet.  Television is a right so everyone should be given their own TV sets.  Phones too.  Sounds fair to me.  Then add to all of these a basic income--maybe $10,000 per year for example--that the government provided to everyone in the U.S.   You could live quite well without even working.

          We could surely list many more products and services that each citizen of the great United States should have courtesy of the government.  This should probably also include illegal entrants to the country who have been living here for more than a few days.  The government has so much money to do all of these great things.

          The money is there isn't it?   Well, they can always make more when they need it, right?



       

Watched a Film (and #BOTB Results)

My cup of ideas hath been running over, but thus far it's all just been making a mess on the table and spilling onto the floor...

        Just finished watching Federico Fellini's I Vitelloni.   This 1953 film follows a year in the lives of five male friends in their thirties.  The ones who work only do so out of necessity.   Trapped in the small town where they grew up, they spend time goofing off and dreaming about a vague future that includes wives, families, and getting away from their home town.

         What a great film!  This is the second time I've watched it in the past couple of years.  Once again I'm convinced that Fellini films are some of the best films about writers and writing you can find.  The late Italian director was a master at capturing everyday people wound up in everyday lives while dreaming of something vague and often fanciful.

         For some reason this film really spoke to me.  I could see myself in these young men.  This is the kind of film that prompts me to reflect on life and the different paths we all take.  If you have the patience for subtitled films I highly recommend this film.  Or any Fellini film for that matter.

          What can I say?  Fellini is my favorite film director.


Battle of the Bands Results

         This previous Battle between Johnny Winter and Taj Mahal did not turn out as I had expected.  To me Johnny Winter seemed like he would get the most votes because I figured his version was the one known to most.  I certainly remember Johnny Winter being very popular back in the early seventies.  I've heard Johnny's version of "Good Morning Little School Girl" so many times.  The rendition by Taj Mahal was new to me prior to compiling this Battle.

         Both artists turn out excellent performances, but I prefer the softer funkier version by Taj Mahal.  The juke joint band sound really does it for me.  The vocals are drenched with a lechery with a sense of fun.  Johnny does rock this song, but the style of Taj Mahal suits me better.

Final Vote Tally

Johnny Winter          8

Taj Mahal                12

Next Battle on Sunday October 1st

          Maybe some others will join me on my next Battle day.   We'll just have to check.  In the meantime, I might just fulfill my threat to post about something else before the next Battle.

  Have you ever had plenty to say, but just didn't feel like saying anything?   Have you watched any Fellini films (and enjoyed them)?   When have you felt like you were stuck in a holding pattern and waiting for your time to land?  

Good Morning Little School Girl (#BOTB)

      The best way to avoid controversy is to never say anything.  Of course, if you're known for being opinionated then not saying what you think can be a controversy in itself...

Private School Costume by Leg Avenue

         Halloween used to be mostly a kids' holiday when I was young.   Now adults celebrate bigger than the kids.   Adults spend billions on costumes each year.  A popular trend with younger women has been the sexy costumes.   These costumes are themed in occupational or character roles.  One of the recurring trends is the "sexy school girl" costume.  Often each costume company in the adult market will have more than one style of sexy school girl.

           What does this say about our society?  Do you dress up for Halloween?   Have you ever seen a Halloween costume that offended you?

          Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle on the 1st of the month.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.


Good Morning Little School Girl

      This song is among the earliest that I placed on my BOTB someday queue and now after a few years in waiting someday has arrived.  My introduction to "Good Morning Little School Girl" was the 1969 recording by blues rock group Ten Years After.  My initial intent was to use their version, however due to its length I decided to go with two shorter versions.  If you'd like to hear the Ten Years After version you can listen here, but please don't vote on this version.

      First recorded in 1937 by "Sonny Boy" Williamson with attribution to his authorship, he apparently derived the melody from an older blues song.  "School Girl" has become a blues standard and has been recorded numerous times by a wide range of artists.  When looking for cover versions I had no difficulty finding them and most of them are quite good.   Hope you enjoy the versions I have chosen for this Battle of the Bands match-up.


Johnny Winter  "Good Morning Little School Girl"  (1969)

          One of the more well-known versions of the song comes from albino rock and blues man Johnny Winter.  This hard rocking version is rooted in the traditional blues, but updated for the audiences of the hippy dippy sixties.  Get ready to boogie and bop...







Taj Mahal "Good Morning Little School Girl"  (1969)

        Taj Mahal has had an ubiquitous presence on the music scene for the past fifty years.  Not hugely popular with the masses, Taj has become a respected artist among his peers and students of blues music.  His mark has not only been left on many albums, but also in a number of film and television appearances.   Here is a loping take on the song by a legendary blues man...






Time to Vote!

        How's this pairing hit you?  Do you have a preference between these two choices?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. Which version do you like the best?   You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts (though this round I might be the only one):

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 


Winner of this Battle Announced on Friday September 22

        Please check back next Friday to see which version gets the most votes.  And please make sure that your vote is included.  If I get fired up with writing between now and then I might have another post as well.  I make no promises for now.  Blogging is not conducive to promise making.

What Happened (with #BOTB)

          Sometimes we just have to weather storms whether we like it or not...

           If you're looking for my #IWSG post then you can find it here.   But if you're just here to see what I've posted today then don't expect too much.  I had plenty to  say, but don't feel like saying much of anything today.  So let's get down to the main business I'm here for.


Battle of the Band Results

         Mine was the only BOTB post for the 1st of the month.   I'll do another next month and assess the future of first day of the month BOTB posts.  We'll see what happens after that.

          The current Battle was between two flood themed songs--"The Flood" by Take That and "Flood" by Jars of Clay.   This contest was a slam dunk for the better known Jars of Clay.  Having listened many times to the Take That song I really began to like it.  Still, like the majority of voters, I had to go with Jars of Clay.

Final Tally

Take That              3

Jars of Clay          12


 Next Battle on Friday September 15th

        I might post something before then.  I thought I knew what my next Battle was going to be, but now maybe I've changed my mind.   Guess we'll find out later.

Surprise, Surprise! (#IWSG)

       
           I think I'm a pretty good writer.   Some people have told me that before.  And I've told myself that before too.   I tend to trust what I tell myself more than what other people tell me.   But it's my world after all and who knows, I might be dreaming all of this and what anyone says is really an extension of my own mind...

The Insecure Writer's Suppport Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 

The co-hosts for the September posting of the IWSG are Tyrean Martinson,Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure!

Sept 6th question:

Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in??

Surprising Myself    

        Tucked in my office closet is a box of writing going as far back as high school.  It seemed like I wrote a lot more back then than I do now.  There are short stories, poems, songs, and other miscellaneous scribblings.  On occasion I have looked into this trove of writing and read some of the work of younger days.   I'm impressed by much of that writing.

        Even looking back over some of my older posts on any of my blogs I feel a certain satisfaction with my writing.  It should come as no surprise that I think my writing is often pretty good since otherwise I wouldn't have written it.  I tend to like what I write and, to a degree, fall in love with my writing.          

        What has been lost over the years might amaze me even more than the writing samples I have on hand.  Thinking of written work that has been lost on old computers, writing that I've turned in as test essays, and other examples that are no longer in my possession for one reason or another, I seem to remember some of that writing as having been pretty good.  Too bad I can't get all of that writing back so I could reevaluate it.  Too bad...

        I am among my top ten favorite writers.  Yes, I know it sounds a bit egotistical, but why not.  Liking what I write gives me incentive to write more.  That attitude doesn't surprise me because I see great logic in thinking that way.   What surprises me is how damn good I can write!  (Yes, I keep telling myself that.)

          Delusional?  Perhaps.  But why not.   We all create our own fantasies about who we are--who we want to be.   And even who we've been.  The writer is the main character of the book that continues to be written.  If I am writing my own story then I want it to be good.  The best story that I've ever read.

           Are you aware of your own attempts to build yourself up?     Does insecurity blind you to your own abilities?    Where would you rank yourself in your list of favorite writers?

The Flood (#BOTB)

           When our plans change, our world changes.  Then again, perspective makes the difference.

Things Change

          Like having to change horses in the middle of the flood, a technical problem forced me to use a different song in my Battle of the Bands post than I had originally intended to use.  And there was that flood in Houston.  I keep getting drawn back to the television to see what is going to happen next.  Ironic that a major natural disaster shifted some of the focus away from the nasty negative political scene.

          My silly little blogging glitch is so trivial compared to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Harvey.   Since I live fifteen hundred miles from the problem, I am not directly threatened.  However, one of my daughters lives there with her family so I've been doubly concerned about the situation.  Fortunately their house made it through with no damage and they are scheduled to return to work on Tuesday.  Things are getting kind of back to normal--for some at least.

             To keep to the flood theme I've decided to use two songs with the word "flood" in their titles.  Hope you'll take a listen and then vote for your favorite.


Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.


Take That  "The Flood"   (2010)

           I didn't recognize the title to this song when I first came across the following video, but as I listened I began to recognize the song as one I'd heard often.  Do you know this tune?   Take a listen and see what you think...




Jars of Clay  "Flood"  (1995)

           This song has gotten a lot of play in various places.  As an owner of several Jars of Clay albums I guess you could call me a fan.   This was one of the first "flood" songs that came to my mind...




Time to Vote!

        What do you think?  Do you have a preference between these two choices?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. Which version do you like the best?   You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts (though this round I might be the only one):

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 


Winner of this Battle Announced on Friday September 8th

       Sorry I've been a bit scarce of late.  But I guess I haven't been the only one who has been off-line more than usual.  I've been tempted to write posts on so many things.  Maybe there are too many.  For now, besides next Friday's BOTB winner announcement, I will be posting for Insecure Writer's Support Group next Wednesday.

          Are you a good improviser?  How do you usually cope with change in your life?   Do you have anyone in Houston?  Or are you in the region hit by Harvey?