January 24

Cold, cloudy and intermittent snow. I am looking at the forecast and trying to decide if, probably when, I will get out and get a path to the back gate so I can move the trash tote to the back curb for collection. It is so cold I just gently tossed the last bag of trash I tied up this morning beside the tote because I really didn't want to step outside. I think I will also have to do something about the front walk to the mail boxes. We aren't getting the minimum accumulation of snow that would require the landlord to send out the shoveling crew.

We are avoiding the broadcast news. I prefer to read the news because I don't have to listen to the irritating voices of Trump or his minions. Those just send me into swearing frenzy wishing I could throw something through the screen that would hit them. No such luck. Also by reading the news I don't get all the repetition and the succession of talking heads saying the same things over and over and over and over again.

So what am I finding? Note: I won't link to many of these items. You can find a lot of sources on line. I did.

First up--the story I found on NAKED CAPITALISM citing a UK investigative report from the Guardian describing United Health Care and its "money-saving" (to put it politely) strategies which are potentially (likely) detrimental to the health and longevity of elderly people in nursing homes. The company rang a bell with me so I went looking for more info and found that the U.S. Senate has been investigating that same company on this side of the Atlantic. For the same practices: paying bonuses for nursing homes to NOT transfer ailing patients to hospitals, delaying medically necessary treatment that requires hospitalization and other practices. The accounts almost (ALMOST) made me wish the case against Luigi Mangione would be dismissed. I really do wish we had a corporate "death penalty."

Then there are the poor abused ICE agents who can't find a place to pee in peace. The residents of Minneapolis who are offended by their presence and activities gathering to hassle them when ever the step out of their hulking SUVs and many of the stores and gas stations won't let them in or serve them. Poor babies. Maybe they should wear diapers and brownbag their lunches. Or better yet leave the state.