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I took care of the small kids problem by giving her her own guitar.  She won't let me teach her a chord, but she's finally picking it up and pointing the neck the correct direction most of the time now.  We went by a music store and there was a kid no older than her - around eight years old - laying out some sweet blues licks on an electric.  I told her that he was doing that by applying scales and I'd be happy to teach her the pentatonic blues scale (which I'd have to learn myself).  Nah.  She's content.  I'm not going to push.  She'll hear more kids who lay it out and either she'll get frustrated and put it away forever, or she'll want to improve.  Either way, I'm OK with it.  Plenty of time.  Plenty of time. 

- Zurf

Topdown.  Step away from the studies.  Do you really suppose that having an annual physical is a bad thing? 

- Zurf

I'll take "Definitions of Hades" for $500 Alex...

I don't have any complaints about how I personally have received care either.  When I was a child, I had some birth defects that caused a lot of care regarding my legs.  Special shoes, leg braces, special therapies, etc.  What insurance didn't cover, a charity called "Crippled Childrens Fund" did- or almost did.  Even recently I required several surgeries in my throat and another on my shoulder, and my doctor has started to ask about when I intend to have my other shoulder fixed.  My daughter also requires some surgical procedures annually to assess recovery/worsening of a condition.  For all these surgeries, we had some expenses surely, but almost all of it was covered by insurance.  I think we were out about $5,000/year for the family max deductable.  In my situation, with a good paying job at a stable company, that's not too bad.  I'm extremely grateful for my job, for my insurance, and for the high quality medical care I've received.  So I'm not knocking our system whatsoever.

However, I am recognizing that my positive experience is far from universal.  There are many, including both of my sisters and my father and step-mother, who are at the mercy of social programs.  Therefore, when I advocate for social programs, bear in mind that my opinion is partially tainted by selfish motivation of looking out for my family. 

- Zurf

I was writing a diatribe in response to this.  I will abbreviate it briefly.  Whether people are here legally or not, the issue of health care remains.  Wherever people are they will have medical needs.  Add to that the general knowledge that there are many illegal aliens here.  Now that we have the recognition of it, how should we as a society address it?  I'm not going to give my answer, because that would take the thread down a political path that I do not wish to go.  I will leave the question unanswered for others to consider the options on their own. 

- Zurf

Go to the public books section and look for beginner books.  You can look at mine - both starting with "Zurf's..." and many others.

- Zurf

That'll teach it! 

I'm working on the intro to Rocky Mountain High and it's got pinky hammer-ons (there should be a law against having to hammer-on with a pinky) and pull-offs and power chords and all manner of inhumane whatnot.  Then I remember that John Denver played it all on a 12 string and feel even more humbled.  But at least there's no Evil B chord in Rocky Mountain High. 

- Zurf

Skimming the article, I'd say yes.  It is ONE accurate picture of the U.S. system.  It is not indicative of all health care here, just as any single anecdote from the UK could not possibly represent the whole of NHS.  Nevertheless, I can say without additional qualification that her story is easy to believe and far from unique. 

Many people talk here about their fears that health care will be rationed in a government run system.  Her point that health care is ALREADY rationed in the U.S. is absolutely and entirely correct.  That's not to say that health care wouldn't be rationed in a government run system, but that the rationing would be nothing new.  Furthermore, rationing decisions will actually be decisions rather than accidents of financial standing.  The only issue is who do we trust more to ration our health care, nameless and faceless beaurocrats in the government or nameless and faceless beancounters in the insurance industry?  Neither option is terribly appealing. 

Edit to add: While the 16% figure doesn't surprise me in the least, and I have seen higher estimates even than that, I think that it falls whoafully short if one were to take into account secondary effects.  It is my opinion that our current health care insurance/payment system prevents innovation and entrepreneurialism, and therefore limits our GDP growth.  I further submit that this downward pressure on GDP growth is substantial. 

- Zurf

Badeye -

I figured you'd be sending me for some Cape Breton style folk music.  I love Celtic and bluegrass, and there's sure enough a close association between those styles and the Cape Breton style music. 

- Zurf

What would be a particularly fitting tribute is that if they gave free admittance to anyone conceived at the original Woodstock.  They'd probably be able to come close to filling the seats that way.

- Zurf

It sure is pretty.  I don't know that I've ever heard of that brand before.  I wish you luck with it.  If Kajima says it's all right, then it's all right.  Welcome to Chordie.

Wow.  I hope justice prevails.  Sounds like this guy, at least, is legitimate and if so I hope he is freed. 

Didn't even test the substance they thought was blood to see whether it was blood or that it belonged to the victim.  Amazing.  Look, I know that CSI on TV is bullsnot nonsense, but it does seem that there ought to be SOMETHING that would have connected the victim to the man jailed aside from the proximity of his vehicle. 

- Zurf