Health Care and Making Stuff Up

There have been a lot of awful things said on all sides of the recent health care debate and most of it has been a huge pack of lies, damn lies and things said by Fox News commentators.

However, while randomly reading the wiki page of Stephen Hawking, I came across an interesting paragraph.

In 2009, Investor's Business Daily (IBD) claimed in an editorial, "People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." This caused widespread criticism, as Hawking does in fact live in the UK, and has received NHS treatment.^[34] Hawking personally replied that, "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS," he said. "I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived."^[35] Eventually, IBD issued a correction,^[36] but continued to defend the original editorial, calling the mention of Hawking a "bad example" and accusing those that mentioned their error of "chang[ing] the subject."^[37]

So, you know what, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Sarah Palin. Stop making stuff up just to scare people. Have a decent reasoned debate, but stop talking out of your ass.

Emily's new skill

Now that Emily is potty trained she has discovered that she can actually stop peeing before she's done.  She used to use this skill to finagle a greatly extended bedtime by magically having to pee three or four times in a ten minute span. 

Well now she has a new use for this skill.  Emily likes to be told stories while on the potty but after telling stories in the car, during breakfast, and every other waking hour of the day, its sometimes hard to come up with another one on the spot. 

Emily: "Daddy? Can you tell me a story while I try to go peeps?"
Daddy: "Sure sweety..... ummmm.... let me think of one.....hrm."
Emily: (look of concentration and then she stops peeing suddenly) "That's OK Daddy.  I'll wait."