Alls Quiet On The Afghan Front....

Well, its New Year's Eve in Afghanistan, and a full moon. Due to recent events, we are alert and paying attention. We got hit last on Christmas Eve, so the chances are good we will get hit again. So tonight we are listening and paying attention, and the armor and helmets are within easy reach. I went ahead and checked our bunker for obstacles and trash (the locals that work on the bases often use the bunkers as break/lunch areas) and we are good to go. We don't have benches in our bunker, but we have sheets of cardboard down, so you can sit, as the bunker is not tall enough to stand up in. Let's hope the evening is quiet, and if its not, that no one gets hurt. If the peace is disturbed, I hope whoever is dumb enough to disturb the peace gets completely obliterated.

As I have said before, this is a strange country. Rugged and beautiful, in a way, but it has seen war in one fashion or another for thousands of years. The historic Khyber Pass is nearby, where Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan rode many, many years before. From the air, every home appears to be a walled fort, and the latest electronics show up in homes where the bathrooms are still holes in the ground, if even that.

It makes you think. Most never realize that so much of the world lives in poverty, and we as Americans take way too much for granted. And we seem to be naive when it comes to how we present ourselves, I have seen it here many times. We blunder around like tourists, even in a war zone, just because we are inside the wire. One thing I have learned quickly here, never let your guard down.

Here's hoping for a peaceful and happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Afghanistan!

This will be the first year that I am not with my wife during the entrance of the New Year, and the first time her and I will not share a kiss to start the New Year off wishing for luck and happiness.

I can't help but wonder what changes this change in routine will bring. And I can't help but appreciate all the times we spent New Year's together, even those where our "New Year's Eve" was a dinner at home and falling asleep before 12 midnight.

I can't go into a lot of detail about being here, but the hours are long, and the work can be frustrating, irritating, and interesting all in the same day. It takes a special kind of person to work here, and an even more.....special person to thrive here. Note I said "thrive" instead of "succeed" or "do a good job".

I wonder what the New Year will bring? I have watched how the Health Care reform has turned into a circus, despite efforts from so many. And the news brings info that we can expect health care costs to rise. It's simple, those in control, on both sides, don't want anything to change, especially how much they make off of US.

I will travel home in the near future, even though I look nothing like any terrorist, the simple fact of the country I am departing from will cause me much grief during my travel home, I imagine. And the simple thing of packing to go home. Here, it is simply a part of everyday life to carry at least one decent-sized knife, unusually two. I will have to be careful on my way home, and hope they are not confiscated from my checked baggage, and hope my baggage makes it.

It will be nice to see green again, even if it is winter in the US. There is very little green here, and if there are trees and grass surviving, they are covered with dust. I hope it will be cool enough for a fire, I would love to sit by a fire once more. With luck, my wife will join me to share a few quiet moments by the fire, away from the chaos of this world, and the constant peril that is Afghanistan.

Merry Christmas From Afghanistan

Life has a way of taking strange turns. Last year, about this time, life was not looking well. I had lost my job and insurance, and we were just making the best of it.

This year, I am 7,000 miles from home, working as a civilan contractor in Afghanistan. Christmas in Afghanistan....it even sounds odd to say. But that is where I will be, for Christmas and New Years. My family is taking it pretty well, but its hard for anyone here. Everyone tries hard to make the best of it, and that is great for the soldiers and their morale. The DEFAC's (mess halls) decorate and there is Christmas music, etc. But its still obvious we are all a long way from home. And there is humor too, as the troops and contractors try to cope. Given the situation, some of it is really funny.

An example:
http://www.clipaday.com/videos/santa-in-afghanistan

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! I'll post again as time allows!

Heathcare Reform....Some people still handle it themselves..

Here is a story I wish all of our bickering officials would read, its a story with an event being repeated far too often. I, too, considered enlisting as we weighed our options as the unemployment ran down, and our odds of avoiding major health care issues continued to worsen as time passed.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091025/LIVING01/710259840

I read this, and while I count my blessings on my own wife's health so far, this sounds so much like our own family...I had to simply sit and stare out the window for many long minutes.

I wish him well, and I hope he stays safe. If I happen to meet him in my own adventures in that region of the world, I will gladly shake this soldier's hand, in admiration for his sense of what is important.

Progress?

As one reviews the headlines these days, one wonders where all the promises have went. Washington seems split with wasteful bickering, and at times, it appears that the party that promised bipartisanship forgot the promise.

I hoped that some type of health care reform would happen...something to HELP all those affected with job loss, instead of solutions that are at one end of the spectrum or another. It appears I asked for too much.

I have a job now, and the promise of insurance. But the insurance situation has not really improved, has it?

Yes, my insurance with my new career is less than COBRA...but we received notice today that it is open enrollment time for next year. I currently pay about $500/month for family coverage with a high deductible (or it is to me, based on what I had in 2008). Per the information received today, the same plan for 2010 will be almost $800/month. Where is the improvements?

I am afraid the insurance reform will only make things worse, even though I had REALLY hoped for improvements.

And this delay on making a decision on Afghanistan is worrisome as well. I have the misfortune to understand violence all too well, I fear the delay will cost our troops...too many cultures in the world respect overwhelming power and decisive action over careful thought and humanitarian ideals. I think the last two items are important as well, but it is still a cold, hard, violent world in many places around the globe. And before you mention that we should focus on our problems at home before helping elsewhere, if we would stop spending $$$ inflating athletes salaries, building HUGE wasteful things, spending way too much on over-priced items of ALL types, I bet we could find the money to feed and shelter those in need. If we cut the salaries of professional athletes and corporate CEO's to something like $2 million/year max (which is a lot of money for MOST of the country), how much money would be freed for other things?

But I ask something very difficult...history has shown humanity makes poor choices until it hurts enough to make better choices. I fear this will be the same.

Political Observations....

I do want to offer some commentary on some of the things that have been having with our government lately. As we have seen, the hoped-for health care reform of SOME type has stalled as our government wastes time. And now, when we need decisive action on something, we watch as further bickering holds up a decision on the future of our deployed soldiers.

We need to keep in mind the nature of the society our troops are in, and how they may view our apparent in-fighting and lack of decisiveness, and what such...LACK of action does to the morale of our deployed troops.

I fear that our current approach, both in the goverment and with any military action our troops are in, will bring more dark times. I hope I am wrong.

A New Direction In Life....

Well, life has a way of bringing change, and it often happens when you least expect it. After 10 months of unemployment, I have a job once more. And not only a job, but an adventure. It comes at a great time in my life, and it offers a promise of great change, hopefully all for the better. I'll post more once the training and preparations are done, for they consume most of my time now.

Well.....

The President's speech last night give us a lot to think about...in many ways. More thoughts after I have read the transcript a few more times.

Now HERE's the REAL news story on the health care debate...

Okay, not really...but this article from The Onion probably has more truth in it than most of us want to know.

And I find it ironic that all the claims of bipartisanship are falling apart on this issue.

Where ARE we going as a nation? Are we actually going to be able to fix something that is broken?

Cash For Clunkers....you have got to be kidding me.

Okay, I have greeted the following news with a major "Huh?". I have made it no secret that I do not care for the program, but the following news REALLY leaves me puzzled.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/20/autos/cash_for_clunkers_end/index.htm?postversion=2009082016

We have heard a HUGE amount of praise for this program from the mainstream media, and then in the past week, we finally heard of issues, money not coming through, etc, which those of us dealing with this mess each day had been screaming about...and NOW they decide to pull the plug on the program? But NOT before pointing out how successful it was.

Did our officials miss the reality bus today?

They just don't get it....

Okay, first let me state that I am NOT politically correct, and there is a large portion of humanity that manages to jump up and down on my last nerve. However, I try to be basically a decent person most of the time. Those members of society that manage to earn my ire and and its related commentary are typically deserving of such when their personality traits (and flaws) are reviewed by a larger group of their peers than simply yours truly.

And while I will note that their hearts are in the right place, this is flawed on so many levels. As anyone that has raised a teenager will tell you, teenagers will tell you flat out that you can't tell them what to say. And then they will prove that statement to you. Our public school system already has reams of rules and regulations on what can and can't be done....what REAL percentage of compliance are we getting out of that now? And think about teens, and kids in general...don't most kids already learn the EXACT WRONG lesson from whatever is trying to be taught, BECAUSE they are so impressionable?

And why, or why, did someone NEED to create a new acronym for this? Do we really want to make sure we openly accept EVERYBODY for everything? And before you bash me for being intolerant, read the following sentence slowly.

There is a difference between acceptance and tolerance, although it can be very blurry. And there is no "magic" answer, as far as I can see. As parents, if we "accept" the Goth subculture for our teen, how EXACTLY doe our teen interpret that "acceptance"? Most teens, since they ARE still immature, will push our acceptance as far possible. How many times have you had a discussion with your teen that sounded like this: Parent - "I told you to do (X) by (X) time, why did you not do (X)" Teen - "I thought you meant do (X) by (X)" or the well-used "I forgot."

If you allow too many "doors to be opened" for your teen, you will never figure out which one you lost them through. Interpret that as you will.

Health Care for Americans...They are getting it all wrong..

As the health care debate rages, an observer would note the idiocy being spewed forth by both parties as they attempt to defend/promote their positions.

Disclaimer: At one point in my life, I would have considered myself "generally republican".

While the Republican tired mantra of "let the capitalism system work and everything will be fine" is getting REALLY old (free market capitalism+historical human greed=FAIL), the whole idea that NOW the Democratic party is being verbally persecuted is...well, ludicrous. Some of the statements made by Nancy Pelosi strike me as someone who has let herself believe she is far more capable than most of us to make life-affecting decisions for us, the "uneducated masses"....and her statements about protests over the health care reform being "unAmerican" are just plain stupid.

Let me clear my stance on this once more. When COBRA health insurance coverage for my family exceeds $1000/month, and the private insurance route is flooded with greed (we want your premiums, but we will cover NOTHING if we can weasel out of it, sign this disclaimer please), someone please show me where the current system is WORKING?

Making sure the insurance agents live in gated communities, and drive Mercedes and BMW's is NOT a sign the current system is working!

Surviving the changes....Part III

For the late arrivals, my "Surviving the changes" posts involve things I have learned since becoming a "victim of the economic downturn" in the fall of 2008. We spent some time with friends tonight, and some simple words reminded me of something we all overlook too much. In fact, in the recent rise in popularity of the various social networking sites, I feel it is something we have way undervalued, especially in a time were it could literally "save" you or your family. So what is so important that it could save your family?


Friendship. Honest and true friendship. Not the huge lists of "friends" that you claim to have on your MySpace or FaceBook pages, or all the people whose e-mail addresses or cell phone number you have in your "Contacts". I am talking about TRUE friends...people, that if you called at 3AM, after being out of touch with them for months, or even years, would be on their way out the door to help you in 15 minutes. People that are truly glad for your successes, and feel for you (but offer REAL advice) when things are down. So who, out of "your circle of friends" can you count as a TRUE friend?

Try this little execise..go through your list of Facebook "friends" and count those that you are 100% certain would take a 3AM phone call from you and ask "How can I help/what do you need?" I would guess such would narrow the list to less than ten people, perhaps. Then review THAT list carefully, and check again. I would imagine the average person has 5 or less people (other than a spouse or sibling) that would qualify as a TRUE friend. Think about that...why do some people claim to have dozens of people as friends? Could they count on these friends to help them through some major life change, and provide earnest, heartfelt advice? Probably not.

A real friend will be there for you, to give you a hand-up, not a hand-out, when you need it. They will be the ones to offer caring advice when you need it, and warmth of their presence with bolster your spirit when you feel you simply can't make it on your own. Real friends are important. Have you called, e-mailed, or otherwise communicated with anyone you would consider a TRUE friend this week, if many weeks, months, or even years have passed since you last spoke? Maybe now is the time to reach out.

Cash for Clunkers...oh well.

Well, despite all the people stating how dumb it is to continue the "Cash for Clunkers" program, our elected officials (and the well-paid lobbyists that talk to them) decided American needed to extend the program. Hopefully, the funds will be blown through as fast as the first time, and this idiotic waste can be stopped.

Here's a thought. I wonder how goverment policy would change if poor people had great lobbyists?

Cash for Clunkers....the madness increases...

Here is another video, of a fine-running Volvo being "executed" after being traded in as part of the "Cash for Clunkers" program.




As you can tell, the higher-end engines will struggle long and hard before seizing up on the mixture of sodium silicate. As someone who has seen the kind of vehicles being traded in for the "Cash for Clunkers" program, the waste should bother you. Perfectly good vehicles that could be some lower-income family's first decent car are having their engines destroyed because the "experts on everything" in Washington think this is a good idea.

And not only are the engines destroyed. 180 days after the car is sent to a salvage operation, it MUST be shredded or crushed for scrap metal, so even IF another engine could be found, this vehicle, that the government experts have deemed "dirty", will never be back on the road.

A couple of examples being proclaimed "clunkers"..

1986 Ford Bronco, garage kept, less than 11K miles -The 351W V-8 is dead now.

1999 Olds Silhouette mini-van, less than 69K, loaded, DVD, etc - Engine is now dead.


"We are from the government and we are here to help."

Cash for Clunkers....pure madness.

By now, everyone has heard of the "Cash for Clunkers" program, and what a "Over-whelming" success it has been.

Check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0IcIxhd8ks

If you are even a little-bit of a "gearhead" this will strike you as a horrible waste.

And it is. This "helpful" government program is succeeding in removing viable transportation from the less-than-wealthy...most of the cars/trucks/vans being traded would easily serve as solid transportation, or even the "first decent car with A/C AND power windows" for many.

I had hoped to hear the program had ended today, and the idiocy halted. But the government is involved, so of course the logical will not happen.

Health Insurance Companies = GREED

As the debate in Washington DC drags on about the BROKEN health care system, perhaps it would be useful to remind everyone why the current Health care system is not working, and perhaps even remind everyone of one of the root causes of the current recession.

Is everyone paying attention? This may have gone unnoticed by some, given the news flowing from Wall Street, large corporations, and major banks. And the various antics of "Overpaid Imbeciles" pretending to be politicians that "care" about us.

We got to where we are because of a human trait, something that I have noticed is not being labeled properly when the various "experts" offer their opinions on the matter.

GREED. Human greed helped push us to where we are.

Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying "Two things are infinite. The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." I tend to agree on the stupidity, I witness things everyday that seem to affirm that human stupidity is expanding at an exponential rate.

I would like to propose an expansion of that quote, a "Dredwolfism", if you will. I highly doubt I will ever be in "Quotable Quotes", but you never know. So here it goes....

"Three things are infinite. The universe, human stupidity, and human greed; and I'm not sure about the universe. Natural selection can nullify stupidity with a little time, but greed? It is eternal."

Those that have been "victims of the current economic downturn" and are trying to find some type of health insurance coverage for their families while looking for work know what I am talking about. COBRA coverage is ludicrous...In my case, for +$1310/month, I could have health coverage for my family...but my unemployment benefit (which I had never used before) could not cover the COBRA premium. Nor could I choose to reduce benefits. And spare me the whole "You are just now covering what your employer paid for your health insurance" argument, please. If such is truly the case, then many companies would be losing money at an astronomical rate, which should have reduced those executive bonuses quite a bit. Unless all companies simply variants of AIG and we simply have not noticed yet.

The company administering COBRA for my former employer had a "take it or leave it" attitude when I tried to ask about options, it did not take a calculator to determine that COBRA coverage would take my ENTIRE unemployment check, plus a few dollars more. If I could afford over $1300/month for health insurance, I would not consider myself in need of a job OR unemployment funds!
And COBRA is supposed to be a program to HELP those that lose their jobs? This "help" is putting me in a situation trying to choose what is most important for my family's survival, how is any of this actually HELPING?

How is putting someone into a position trying to choose if health insurance should be more important than food, shelter, power, water, or transportation to look for a new job any help at all?
"Let's see, honey, during the summer, the kids are more likely to get hurt, so we won't eat in June, we'll skip the mortgage payment for July, and turn the utilities off in August so the kids can go to the doctor.."

How is being forced into decisions like that helpful in any way? Simply put, they are not. But because we have COBRA, some people in the past, who decided that it was a solution, were able to convince themselves enough that what they were doing was helping the less fortunate, and therefore were able to sleep with their decisions...after all, they were helping.

Surviving the changes....Part II

Yes, some of the posts on this blog may be extensions of an initial post, while others may be single thoughts. My apologies if you were expecting solid continuity in this blog.

This is a continuation of the "Surviving the changes" post, where I pointed out my own stupidity for electing to use the offering from my employer as my sole life insurance provider, for myself, my wife, and my children.

I can't say it enough, in these times. It has been said already for those that survive this recession, they will have their lives changed. If you are going through the recession with career or financial loss, you already know all of those changes won't be positive. But take matters into your own hands and MAKE decisions that will be the best for your family...ESPECIALLY if you are gone. If you are making the same mistake I did and the only life insurance provider for you and your family is your employer, FIX IT NOW. Stop reading this blog and go explore your options. NOW. This blog will be here for you to read later, if its that important to you. But this blog is NOT more important than taking care of one's family.

I have some serious and strong beliefs on this matter. If you are a married man with a family that you care for, a wife you spoke the vows to before the alter, and children you promised to always love and care for, getting some life insurance to help them if something happens to you IS the "manly" thing to do. My own father spoke on this at length, and I now realize why (hopefully not too late) he made some of the choices he did. After my fathers death, my mother did not have to worry about money, at least for several years.

Now, let me clarify something. I am NOT an insurance expert by any definition. However, term life insurance seems the most simple to understand, manage, and pay for. The various "whole life" polices insurance agents LOVE to mention as soon as any of them learn you are shopping for insurance seem to be a gimmick to me. I have seen first hand the gleam of GREED in several insurance agents eyes when they were trying to sell me "whole life" polices. That is enough of a warning sign for me to choose something else.

Humor break...Jimmy!

Alright, I have to admit, this is my absolute favorite commercial right now...

Think with your dipstick, Jimmy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY

The actor used in this is actually a well-know acting coach. Yep, you read that right. The guy running around and whipping people with a engine oil dipstick is a acting coach.

Perhaps we should sent the oil dipstick-wielding Scotsman to Washington DC to urge our government officials in the right direction...it may be more convincing than a lobbyist.

Do YOU work WITH, or FOR a overpaid imbecile? Part I

I imagine everyone can say yes to that question at least at one point of their careers. If you think about it, that means there are a lot of overpaid imbeciles currently clogging up the workforce and occupying positions that many of us would be better suited for. However, usually such are promoted to these positions by other overpaid imbeciles who have been over-promoted. And thus, the great circle of ever-increasing idiocy at Corporate America continues to grow. Given the growing reports of competent people finding themselves increasingly unemployed, one has to wonder if the current economic crisis is actually contributing to the increase of blatant stupidity in Corporate America? At what point will there be so much incompetence at the management level that companies simply fail?!?

Oh, wait, some of that has already happened and the news media covered it quite well...I believe there were quite a few at AIG....but has the idiocy stopped?

But what exactly IS an overpaid imbecile(OI), and how is he/she defined? Can this crippling affliction be slowed, or even reversed? This bears some thought. And keep in mind, an overpaid imbecile(OI) is NOT your co-worker who did a single dumb thing...we ALL do dumb things at times, its called being human. I mean the truly moronic things, things that are constantly repeated, because the overpaid imbecile (OI) thinks this thing, event, or action is the greatest thing ever thought or did, and because the overpaid imbecile (OI) is overpaid (and usually over-promoted), AND is in a position to FORCE you to follow their lead.

Consider this...I would bet you could easily find overpaid imbeciles(OI's) in the financial markets, in the management of the banks that need TARP funds, in the housing finance field, and in our government agencies, local, state and federal. You may have even heard or seen them on the news. Does that help you visualize the entity we are trying to define?

Usually, there is not a single trait that classifies an OI. It is more plausible that there are a number of combined traits that "create" person who meets the OI criteria. I will try to relate some of the traits my observations have lead me to believe can combine to create a OI.

1. Overuse of "power words" in almost everything said or written. Only an OI would use the word "strategize" in every other sentence. If someone has, openly displayed, a copy of "Perfect Phrases for Managers and Supervisors" on their desk or bookshelf, suspect them of being an OI, or at least an OI-In-Training.
2. A fixation on the belief that flavored coffee would be a huge boost to morale, versus, say, something as simple as a clear org chart. Be very concerned you have encountered an OI if any org chart inquiry is always answered with a "Well, we are all ultimately one team..."
3. Because most OI's have meager technical skills, most OI's and OI's-in-training will attempt to over-compensate by subjecting everyone they can to a deluge of "soft skill" seminars and training sessions, in the almost fanatical belief that their "superior" soft skills will cover-up their inability to figure their way out of a paper bag, much less actually solve a technical problem.
4. Because of trait number 3, OI's will also firmly believe in consultants, despite that a consultant is quite often there to "con" and "insult" whomever hired them (acknowledgement to Scott Adams for that joke). Try to think like an OI for the briefest second (no more than a second, too much"OI-type" thought has caused brain damage)... after all, if they (the OI) can't understand something, something must be wrong with whatever it is, and competent people could not possibly be within existing staff (it would make sense to an OI that the competent people would have pumped their resume with empty accomplishments and left), otherwise whatever it was would make sense to the OI. Think about this one a moment, and your own experiences...keep thinking.....see what I mean?

More to follow as the thoughts flow forth....

Surviving the changes....

As my family and I make our way through this "post-gainfully employed nightmare" also known as being laid off, there have actually been a few bright spots....and no, the bright spots are not the lights of an on-coming train. I mean, lessons learned. And hopefully before its too late.

There we quite a few of us let go from the IT department of the same company in this area, and one thing we all realized quite soon....we took too much for granted, at work and at home, and we should have been better prepared. After all, we assisted with disaster recovery contingency plans at our former employer, trying to prepare for recovery when a disaster struck, and keep the business going. Why did we not do the same for our families?

And I don't mean a will, or a living will, or even a trust, although those are important, and have their place. I mean actually believing too much in the company you work for to take care of you and your family. How many of you reading this have life insurance for your kids, your spouse, or even just yourself with your employer? Have you considered, in this current economic situation we all find ourselves in, how stupid that is? To actually believe that trusting your Corporate employer to take care of your family is a good idea? (yes, there are some small companies that actually do care about employee's families.) Remember, ultimately, besides the safeguards offered by incorporation, why is a corporation formed? To make profits for the shareholders by using the employees' skills and abilities for as little compensation as possible while keeping a viable and productive workforce) Let's put it this way...do you actually believe the HR department actually has YOUR best interests at heart? Remember who actually provides the paychecks to the "oh-so-caring" HR staff member who dutifully listens (sorta) to whatever issue you brought to his/her desk? Unless you work at some aberration of a company, the HR staff is there to watch out for the Corporation's interests, while convincing you enough that they actually care so you will openly inform them of anything that might be detrimental to the Corporation providing a profit to the shareholders, and therefore reduce the bonuses and raises upper management will earn for doing such a smashing job of using their departmental resources.

Hey, I was stupid, and had all of my eggs in one basket too....if I ever have the opportunity again, I will remember this lesson. When I lost my employment, I not only lost the only life insurance coverage I had for myself, or my family, I also lost all the $$ I had paid in over the years. And since I no longer had a job, my little bit of savings was going to vanish fast.

So if I died in the weeks, months after losing my job, how was my family going to pay the bills, regardless of how much expense cutting we did after being laid off? I got the life insurance to take care of my family if I died....so not only did my former employer take my career from me, they also took the safety net I was counting on for my family. If you want to supplement your life insurance with some from your employer, fine, its cheap enough. But don't make the mistake I did...because right now, I have nothing to show for what came out of my paycheck every two weeks under the heading "Supplemental Life" other than the lesson to not let it happen again, IF I get lucky enough to secure a job one of these days.

Trying to use up my "15 minutes of fame"...

This is a bit belated, but this past May, I went to Washington DC to shoot a commercial with a production company hired by FamilesUSA to highlight various families struggling with the crippling financial burden brought on by COBRA insurance after losing their jobs.

Here is the spot I am in, I bet you can figure out which one is me:



I want to make one thing PERFECTLY CLEAR. I do NOT blindly endorse the current idea of universal health care as promoted by the Democratic party in their similar commercials, nor do I blindly support the current President's ideas on the matter. I also do NOT blindly support the Republican ideas either. My goal in participating in the production of the commercial was to do something about COBRA coverage because the way it currently is and the levels of expense are simply WRONG. And it was better to use up my "fifteen minutes of fame" in this manner than make an idiot of myself on Jerry Springer or one of the dumb reality shows.

My stance and opinion is very simple. The current system is BROKEN, and COBRA coverage is beyond the financial means of most of this country's current group of "victims of the economic downturn". Let me throw some numbers at you...keep in mind, in your own state, the situation may be worse, or perhaps even better. I'll have to validate these numbers later, but in general, it goes like this....

Of the total people eligible for COBRA coverage after losing their jobs, less than 10% take advantage of COBRA coverage due to the staggering cost. In my own situation, my monthly COBRA premium was TRIPLE my monthly out-of-pocket expense when I was employed. Previous experiences mean I understand that part of my health care coverage was financed by my employer, I have BEEN an employer during my attempt at this thing called a life, but TRIPLE?!?! I remember what my employees cost me, so where did this extra expense come from? Hmmm, let me see...I'll bet it has something to do with GREED.

And I'll bet the greed is coming from the insurance companies, who, of course, want to assist you in any way possible to insure as much of your $$ makes its way into their coffers.

Well, let's get this thing rolling...

Well, to start, this blog is to share various thoughts and ruminations on many things as they grab my attention. Unfortunately, I can talk extensively (VERY extensively, according to my wife) on quite a few subjects, but my only audience thus far has been my family....and my simple existence as the patriarch of the family is apparently has given them ample exposure to my thoughts on many matters. Perhaps TOO much exposure.

To introduce a little about me, I would guess one would need to know about the most recent life changing event that has shaped most of 2009 for me thus far.

One of the more politically correct descriptions for me is that I am a "victim" of the economic downturn. To be blunt, I was previously employed in an Information Technology line manager position with a Fortune 500 company, and I was laid off in November of 2008.

It was the first time in my then 39 years that any decision to end my current employment status had been made by anyone other than yours truly. Oddly, typing that very sentence brings home the impact of the event once more, even seven months later.