Millions to lose health care while illegal aliens are covered

How many people will lose medical care  as Obamacare becomes more and more involved -- 3 million, 7 million, 13 million, 14 million?  Projections have increased as the Affordable Care Act and its effect become better known.

Some in the administration maintain that 13 million elderly now in Medicare Advantage plans could lose their insurance and be left without access to medical care. This would be one result of Obamacare taking 700 billion dollars away from Medicare.

You may ask how the bomb brothers benefited from 100 thousand dollars in welfare, housing, food stamps, health care. Well, think about this. If a person sneaks across the border into the United States he or she immediately qualifies  for health care, welfare, subsidized housing, food stamps and an Obamaphone.  This is included in immigration bills Congress is considering. This is to be done while millions lose health coverage. Lovely, isn't it?

I stop church services Sunday morning

I stopped church services yesterday morning. Yes, it was unintentional; I came close to passing out.

I'll say more about it but first, this was senior Sunday, not for old folks but recognizing nine who are graduating from high school this spring.  Eight of the nine attended as all were honored for their academic and service accomplishments.  One thousand dollar scholarships went to two of the nine.

One surprise to me was that most of them were soccer players, some being outstanding for four years.  In my time it would have been baseball and football, with a little attention to basketball.  Things change.

Now to my problem in church.  I remained sitting as the congregation sang the Doxology and a hymn, to be followed by the pastor's sermon.  Suddenly, I felt if I were spinning and the whole world had dropped away. I fell against Jen and said, "I'm passing out."  Several came to help, put me in a wheelchair and took me to the car.  Two boys followed us home and helped me to the couch.  I thought my blood pressure would be low, accounting for my condition, but it was high.  Last night I had a swimming head and could not stand. I'm hoping the doctor can help.

The sinking of the Yamato

Seven days after that Easter Sunday when the battle for Okinawa began, fierce fighting continued on sea, land and in the air.  The USS Pickens was there during the day, serving as a decoy and as a  hospital ship. As dusk fell, orders would come to make smoke and  leave the battle area.  Allied planes were ordered to leave and ships were ordered to attack anything that flew.

On April 7 as dusk fell and we retreated towards Japan, we were informed that the Yamato, the world's largest and most powerful battleship had left Japan and was on a suicide mission to defend Okinawa. Although we were confident our forces would destroy the ship before it reached us, we could not help but be somewhat nervous.   Planes form Task Force 58 met the Yamato, hitting it with 12 bombs and 7 torpedos within the first two hours of battle. The ship sank with near total loss of life.

When I described this as a suicide mission, I was not exaggerating. The men were told they would not be coming back, and the ship had enough fuel to last only one day.

Film tax credits would pay tuition for 70,000 LSU students.

Those among you who follow this blog know that I am highly critical of the program of tax credits to makers of films in Louisiana.  It is a waste of money, beneficial only to a few film makers and some wealthy individuals.

A contributor to Political Talk has put this in prospective.  Tuition at LSU for 15 hours is $3498.  In 2012 we gave away in tax credits 261 million dollars, enough to pay LSU tuition for more than 70,000 students.

LSU does not have that many students, so their housing and food could be paid, also.  Now, I am not advocating that this is the way to spend the 26l million, but every cent could be better utilized than wasting  it the way the state is now doing. Can't our state officials find a better way to use all that money?  Are they afraid of their wealthy friends?

Roses are at peak of beauty now.

We have few rose bushes now; I especially miss the Mr. Lincoln, Queen Elizabeth and Peace roses that bloom so beautifully for many years. I do appreciate those  we have that are in full bloom now. I don't know the name of the rose shown here but the bush is at its  peak of loveliness with delicate pink roses and shiny, glossy leaves.

Anniversaries -- celebrated or not

A year ago I questioned the lack of a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Louisiana joining the union April 30, 1812.  Thinking about this I spared some thought of some other anniversaries.  For example, as a l0-year-old I attended a ceremony in 1934 that recognized Shreveport's 100th year.  At this date the only remembrance I have of that  is some supposedly Indians dancing around a fire.  Did Shreveport observe its l50th birthday in 1984?  If we did I don't recall it.

When I went to Homer in January, 1950, there was talk of some kind of observance of its founding in 1850, but nothing was done.  Did Homer mark its 150th birthday in 2000?

One anniversary I remember because I wrote an editorial celebrating it  -- the 75th birthday of the Homer newspaper the Guardian-Journal, which started in 1876. Was note made of its l00th year, I don't know.

They won't miss me

All five living presidents and their wives will attend the dedication of the George W. Bush Library and Museum on the SMU campus in Dallas Thursday, April 25. Nancy Reagan will be unable to attend but this will be the largest group of notable officials at any event  since Ronald Reagan's funeral.

The media has been invited to attend the ceremony and tour the library and museum which, with other material, gives a chronological history of  Bush's eight years as president.The library and museum will open to the public in May and once open the facility is expected to attract 400,000 visitors a year.


Safety will be a concern with so many government officials and former officials in one place, but extra security will be provided.

Several days ago I received an invitation to attend the dedication Thursday (seriously) along with a picture -- probably a copy of a painting -- of the front of the facility.  I appreciate  the invitation but will not attend.