In the US, Republican contender John McCain has suggested that the US lift the moratorium on off-shore oil production to ease the current fuel 'crisis' and current President and lover of oil companies George W has jumped on the bandwagon. Both of them contend that opening local oil production is the only feasible solution, one that the Democrats constantly block in Congress. Hmm... sounds like the start of a new, engineered crisis for the Republicans to use to make the Democrats look bad and win the election to me. Last time it was the 'War on Terror' (TM), this time it will be 'The Worsening Fuel Crisis' (TM).

Of course the Democrats will always face an uphill struggle in oil addicted America, in their efforts to convine normal folk that cutting back on gas consumption is a good thing. Do we really think that someone who buys a Hummer would believe converting it to run on fuel cells or vegetable oil is a good idea? Unlikely. Maybe the real question is in whether or not the current administration has been using their connections in the oil industry to slow down oil production and engineer this crisis themselves, while lining their pockets with additional dollars in the process. A nice little bonus on your way out of the White House, certainly more lucrative than writing an autobiography.

Labels: america, Environment, Politics

According to the Washington Post - yes. Maybe. Time to get the Most Haunted team to investigate...

Labels: america

Even though the writer's strike is still on the ever awesome Colbert Report, along with other less wonderful daily shows (sorry Sandra), is back on the air. Woo! Of course now that I'm living in Montreal without cable I have no way of knowing how amazing Stephen is being without a script... unless of course there was some kind of way to see him on the internet or something... Nah. That would never happen because that's why the writer's are striking... Oh wait.

And that was a standing ovation of over two minutes... only slightly spoilt by the geeky overweight guy saying 'I love you, Stephen!' at the end. We get it. We all love him. He knows, we don't need to tell him. Doi.

Labels: america, Genius, tv

Just saw Michael Moore's latest expose on the American health system - Sicko. A great film from Mr Moore, incisive, emotional and as usual he manages to bring up 9/11 as often as a Republican Presidential candidate, hopefully to more positive ends. The subject of the film is America's singularly unique approach to healthcare - privatization to an extreme degree. Every US citizen has to pay for their healthcare in monthly payments to private organisations, although more normally this is through their employer. Should the inevitable happen and they need to go to the doctor, their HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) has to pre-approve any charges raised, from the consultation, ambulance trips, x-rays and everything. This all sounds a great win for private industry and free choice (the positive view on HMOs) until it goes wrong and the company's bottom line becomes more important than saving lives - the situation Moore says now exists.

I've had to go through US medical treatment a few times now, with varying levels of medical cover. The first time was due to an icey slip into a puddle which resulted in a sprained tendon that took an age to heal but no major operation thankfully. The slip also resulted in about $5,000 in medical bills from a few hours of emergency room checkups (that weren't even that quick). Luckily this was all covered, but it would have been an unwelcome cost should my HMO have decided not to pay out. In Moore's movie the many ways that HMO's avoid payouts and the impact on peoples' lives is gone into in detail, often heart wrenching detail as death is regularly involved. Unsurprisingly the government's link with big business is singled out as a driving factor by Moore, and his old pal George W comes in for the usual treatment.

Having revealed the warts of the US system, Moore then proceeds to wax lyrical about overseas systems based on 'socialist' practices - ie, taxes pay for everyone's health cover however poor, all are equal. Canada, Britain, France and Cuba are examined and Moore acts out his country's amazement on how well these systems work. As a Brit I know the British system isn't as wonderful as Moore makes out, but I'm glad we have that rather than the US system. Equal healthcare for all is a wonderful thing, as none of us know who will be unlucky in the good health lottery.

Sicko is a great film, more emotionally wrenching than his previous offerings and a lot more human while staying political as only Moore can. Generally the US doesn't get much sympathy these days due to its oil driven global policies, but this film reminds us that the citizens of the US are often the ones who suffer. Hopefully this movie will help drive positive change for all.

Disclaimer: Many years ago I did some work for Humana, one of the HMO's mentioned in the film. In fact when you watch the film and see the ridiculously huge and be-marbled Humana offices in Louisville, look at the small brick building to the right - that's where we were working.

Labels: america, film reviews, movies, Politics

Yes, today is independence day - July 4th, the day that teenaged America cut the parental bonds. Celebrated throughout America with fireworks aplenty; the Macys Fireworks in New York, Boston Fireworks, Washington DC Fireworks, San Francisco Fireworks, and the list goes on.

In Coney Island it's a day of celebration for America, as local boy Joey Chestnut beat reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi to win the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest. The stars and stripes will be flying high tonight f'sure as New Yorkers watch the famous NYC Fireworks down the east river.

In unrelated news - SPOILER ALERT: Don't read below here if you like Harry Potter...

Seriously, don't...

Apparently there is some rumor going around that Hermione dies in the next Harry Potter book, released in a few weeks. Hermione dies!! Noooo! Not sure where this has come from, maybe she dies from eating devilled eggs, but that would be a shame - I can think of many other characters I'd rather see killed off before they get their own spin-off series. Guess we'll all find out f'real soon who JK kills off.. and if you can't wait that long then there's the latest movie to distract you for a few weeks. Phew!

Labels: america, Trends

In the good ol' days of America Freedom of Speech was a concept enshrined and valued highly - along with slavery. Now it seems that speech should not be expressed so freely, at least in Christmas - sorry, 'Holiday' - wreath form. In Colorado a local residents association wants to fine a woman $25 a day for hanging a wreath in the shape of the 'satanic' peace symbol of CND. The homeowner, to her credit, intends not to bow to this act of festive oppression.

I look forward to watching the South Park episode that is bound to come from this. Or the revisions to the PATRIOT act forbidding such acts of evil.

[From metafilter]

Labels: america, freedom