Tuber Mirum

Well, nap we can agree on one thing, CarolAnn's post was articulate and insightful. As long as you're confessing, why don't you also confess to not knowing me at all. I know all this cyber-babble is fun and it's great to exchange opinions with people all over the world, but I'm old fashioned enough to believe that one shouldn't presume to know a man until you've had a chance to look into his eyes. or at least carefully read what he's written. I certainly am concerned with my fellow man. Like many liberals (am I assuming too much here?) you equate opposition to a brainless system to indifference for the poor. I'm convinced, like CarolAnn, that we can do it better. In spite of what you may think, I'm not some Dickensian mill owner who's kicking widows and orphans to the curb. Not likable in your eyes? I'll take that as a compliment. The last time I heard that kind of an argument, it came from none lesser than Banshees Scream: "Pay no attention to the impression you have gained of me, get to know me properly and you'll see what a lovely guy I am" Perhaps if, like CarolAnn, you came up with a constructive idea for helping people with no health insurance instead of whinging about how your taxes are getting wasted on the undeserving (that is in any case the message which comes over, and I do take the trouble to read your posts carefully) you might come over in a more sympathetic light. If you are at all interested in doing so.

Thank you CarolAnn for that highly articulate and insightful post. I must confess to not knowing the ins and outs of the current system and the proposed one. My argument with Deadsox is that he clearly doesn't think that those who can't afford to pay for heath care under the current system should get any if it means it gets paid for with taxes paid by him. Doesn't make him a very likeable chap in my eyes because it suggests he isn't exactly concerned with the wellbeing of his fellow men. Except to the extent that they shouldn't have to pay taxes for things he doesn't agree with.

Even less understandable since the complaint is about her appearance on the Hartlepool Deadlypool, which devotes the following thirteen words to her:

The mere repetition of neoliberal dogma and the constant affirmation of an "I'm all right Jack / Let them eat cake" attitude is but a poor argument for denying basic health care to millions of ones countrymen.

What did the email say? Since you ask: She's right. I can't name anyone else who played for England Ladies.

Hmm, just discovered a rant in my email inbox written 3 weeks ago from some friend of Linda Uttley's accusing me of ridiculing her for having died. Do you think I should reply?

So Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2010 Hartlepool Deadlypool is now taking entries. After long deliberation about revising the scoring system we came to the conclusion that it was futile to attempt to improve upon that which is intrinsically perfect so the 2010 game bears an uncanny similarity to its 2009 predecessor. A very few very subtle changes have been introduced, but these are mainly spelling corrections. In 2010 we will be reintroducing the practise of informing participants by email of the progress of the game. Here is the entry form. And the Rules. And the scoring system. The deadline is the 31st of December at midnight GMT, so that gives you all about 4 days to come up with your teams. Nothing could be simpler. Thank you.

They're never going to "switch him off"...and people on life-support in vegetative states can last many many many years. Well there could be a power faliure or some clumbsy person tripping over the cord Battery backups. Batteries Run Out After Time Is that a newspaper headline? Also there could be a Storm or a Flood Or a Plague of Frogs.

I don't think even the worst possible government would actually force you to enjoy the benefits of free universal healthcare if you were to insist on paying your way. Assuming you could. As stated in my previous post, nap, we won't have a choice once government run healthcare is established. Free you say? What in life is free? Won't we be paying for this through our taxes? I'd rather continue to pay as I have been than put something as important as our health in the government's control and pay fro that. Assuming I could pay? I have been paying for my healthcare since becoming an adult. It may sound like a strange concept but people can and do pay for things like healthcare, food and housing. People? All people can pay for healthcare? That's interesting news. Or do you just mean people worth mentioning, i.e: those of a certain socio-economic rank and/or ethnic background? Anyway, I'd be surprised if you didn't have a choice. Here in Germany nobody is under the illusion that healthcare is free for anyone but the very poorest in society. Anyone who can afford to can also choose to opt out of the state system (a monthly payment clearly distinct from your income tax) and pay much more for a faster and better private service from the same doctors and hospitals much to the detriment of those in the public system. I reckon you could do that in the USA too. If your conscience allows it.

Astronaut enthusiasts, rap enthusiasts, music enthusiasts and anyone else for that matter will no doubt all be equally appalled by this little offering from Buzz Aldrin.

Well I know who, but I'm buggered if I know what. Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm trying to imagine how any other kind of finale might look.

Mind they roads now!

Welcome Captain! Captains are always welcome.

In the meantime the death of Nobel laureate Paul Samuelson puts Why Not? over the three hundred mark and in an almost unstoppable position. That in spite of Football Fan already having 8/10 hits albeit sadly not in the right order. Some very unlikely to die indeed people are going to have to get their skates on if I (or anyone else) am to have a chance of topping the scoreboard.

That is really hard. There are so many people I wanted to vote for for so many reasons. In the end I went for Godot, MPFC and DDT simply in honour of their intellectual eminence, humour and relatively consistent relevance. But most of the rest missed out by a very slim margin indeed. Josco wherever he is, ATJ who really is one of the wititest people alive, Tempus Fugit who is a true genius in his own mad way, Bruno Brimley ditto, Windsor a man of unstinting pigheaded character and principle, Alphonsin who let me crash at his house, Arnold a man of few words but all of them searingly relevant and insightful, honez who is an example to us all in literary precision not to say pedantry, Lady Grendel who is one of the loveliest people you could hope to meet. And so on.

I'll be taking part in your deathpool, Vaagheid. Don't get depressed by the lack of interest, Deadpooling is probably still quite a new thing in the Netherlands and it may take a while to pick up, but somebody has to be there at the start to get the ball rolling and at the moment that seems to be you. So don't give up, give it a bit of time to get a bit better known. I bet this time next year you'll have hundreds of entries and will be cursing the amount of work you have made for yourself.

Stevie of Odstock sounds a bit silly. Edwin of Odstock has a certain nobility to it, don't you think?

Not any more - he's dead. Anyone else not understand a word of that link?

My money is on March the 18th 7lb 14oz. And it will be a child. Named Edwin. Or possibly Pickles.

Apparently the whole thing is disgacefully badly organised with about twice as many permits given to the press than there is room for in the courtroom. They also decided not to have the trial in a bigger room for some reason. A Jewish commentator I heard on the radio said Demjanjuk's unlikely to get found guilty unless he can be proven to have committed murder over and above the call of duty. "Like having torn the head off a baby for fun" is how he put it I think. Roughly.

Just realised I ate some turkey yesterday, purely by chance without being specially thankful for anything. I wonder if a lot of people in the US who didn't eat turkey yesterday weren't thankful either?

Just updated the site for that Chinese rocket scientist fella and Ludovic Kennedy. Have I forgotten eny others? Looks like it's mainly between me and highly suspicious mystery team Why Not? but a couple of others still have a good chance. Remember this year's HDP runs until the 25th of January so there's still plenty time to catch up. The HDP 2010 promises to start on time and to be more communicative than its 2009 predecessor. The wallpaper will probably stay the same though.

I'd say that's perfectly normal behaviour for research scientists who know before they start which result they're supposed to get.

It looks to me as though Her Majesty is scowling on that picture.