Some Unhealthy Habits
Posted at 5:30 AM on August 12, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(16 Comments)
Radio Heartland has 3 pairs of tickets to give away to Dar Williams and Haley Bonar in concert at the Minnesota Zoo on Friday, August 21st.
Use the online form to enter by 1pm tomorrow. Obey the rules. Have fun.
A note in yesterday's blog from Aaron recommended that we get Bud Buck on the job to cover some of the hurly-burly of home district meetings being held by congressmen on the topic of health care. We aim to please, so we assigned him to cover Congressman Beechly's meeting yesterday.
Here's Bud's report:
I didn't see the Congressman at his "Towne Hall Forum", but I did ask people why they were there, and I got some interesting answers.The reason was either "Health Care Reform", "The Creeping Socialist Takeover" or "The Secret Government Plan to Harvest Grandma's Vital Organs While She Is Still Living".
Very confusing.Instead of any official-looking people, I saw a group of sweaty red-faced shouters bellowing at a cluster of tight-jawed brow furrowers. Meanwhile, a frantic crowd of TV people elbowed each other for a good angle on the venom and spittle that was flying back and forth across the room.
I had to concentrate to keep my mind focused on my assignment, which was to "observe the event and reach some conclusions about what is needed for good health care".
I'm not a doctor, but here's what I am prepared to say, based on what I saw. These people are really going to need some good coverage.
Bellowing at the top of your lungs for 30 minutes straight places a strain not only on the vocal cords, but the lungs and the heart and the whole circulatory system. If there's a weak spot in one of the major vessels, a person could have an aneurism or a stroke right in the middle of chanting "Read The Bill," "Read the Bill"! I saw one protester slumped over in the corner gasping for breath after a mere 90 seconds of screaming that Obama is Hitler.
Also, clenching your teeth and trying to hold back intense emotions brought on by being shouted at is very damaging for the jaw, the molars and the soft palate, especially when you have stringy, underdeveloped neck and shoulder muscles. I noticed several of these suffering people looking ashen and totally depleted, not from over - exertion but from a prolonged and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to be more like Gandhi.
In the press pool, I noticed some reporters were nursing sharp elbow injuries in the rib cage and facial areas and there were a few camera operators with rather severe cases of faces permanently frozen from Repetitive Viewfinder Squint Syndrome.
Regardless of what this meeting was about, the short and long term health effect on the people in attendance was all negative, in my opinion. Their voluntary participation in such a stressful, high-risk event made them candidates to have their coverage dropped by insurers who are simply trying to limit their exposure to such reckless group behavior.
But when I tried to ask a few of the attendees if their policies would cover any potential Towne Hall Health Care Forum related injuries, I either got the cold shoulder or was shouted down.
It made me nervous to see so many people courting physical pain and financial ruin, so I got out of there as quickly as possible.
And where was Congressman Beechly? At home, relaxing, I'm told. Staying hydrated. Getting his rest. Taking the best possible advantage of his already excellent health care coverage.
This is Bud Buck!
Do you think calm, relaxed people inherently healthier than those whose passion rises quickly? Really? Wanna fight about it?
Comments (16)
thanks, Bud - i've been studiously avoiding those "news" events. merely anecdotal evidence (from my observations) proves that you have a 100% chance of dying sooner or later. it would be nice if not people (not just Cong. Beechly) had options in affordable, preventive care so that they could live as long as they were supposed to live and not die of, say, a tooth infection.
in the meantime, come to the Carlton County Fair
Leave it Bud to ask the important questions! Such focus in the midst of such Chaos, wow! I've often wondered what allows people to behave so, but I just don't get it. On the other hand I never listen to anything but RH so miss all radio commentary from the volatile edges Our most curious thing lately was why was Dale speaking when he shouldn't have been and he solved that for us the next day. That's healthy living in my book.
Good Morning!
I try to keep a relaxed continence and seem to still be alive so as far as I'm concerned it works great. I'll continue in this manner and decline the offer to fight about it though I will be supportive of health care reform which I think is long overdue.
Have a great Wednesday!
Good morning RH,
It must be true that the peaceful people on the planet enjoy a more serene quality of life, if not a longer life span. That's mostly in the genes, is it not? (Lucky brand fits me best, though they're more spendy than Levi.) I'm told a smattering of blog-posted smut is harmless and adds a probable health boost, as well - similar to a daily cocktail.
Good hearing from Mark - good to know he's not incontinent!
I'm feeling better already. This health reform thing is really working. Truth be told there was this horrible virus at my house.It actually killed my computer. I was the one who suffered-no RH or TB for over a week. As with most health problems it was cured with a combination of money, time, and professional guidance. I now have a new computer, a new modem, and new anti-viral software. It's good to be back. I missed you all!
Beth-Ann
thanx for playing the Beatles' Sunshine song - love to hear their songs all the time
i worry about my daughter and her boys and the fact that she or her husband have to take jobs that have health insurance, not because the jobs are all that fabulous
i also worry about how so many people are not doing their homework so they understand what happens when you don't have it; most of the pictures i have seen at those mtgs are old guys like me who already get govt healthcare!
pls keep Bud covering the debate, always love to read his perspective
My grandmother did not get ruffled much (she was sometimes a "fretter" and did tell off a couple of men at her apartment building who were being offensive and prejudiced once - but generally unruffled). If we can use her as one data point she lived to be almost 96 and passed in her sleep without any major ailments or illnesses. I can only hope that I do as well as she did.
I have mostly not paid attention to the vitriol that is apparently coming out of the town hall meetings about health care. I think agree with Bud Buck - and also wonder why "heated debate" seems to have replaced "polite and rational debate" in so many political arenas.
Thanks Bud for proving what I already thought. These forums have become chaos, and nobody listens to each other.
I think there are some bad effects on health due to those forums including those Bud Buck describes. I guess we should make use of our right to free speech and we do need health care reform, but those forums and a lot of letters to the editor that I have seen seem to be the work of an unfree speech effort, kind of like yelling fire in a crowded theatre.
Perhaps a good song about the crazy behavior at those forums would be the one that includes the line "freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose'. I think this song is: It Was Good Enough for Me and Molly Mcgee.
hi, everyone--
well, what's listening got to do with it, eh, aaron??
can you say "Darwin awards"?
having seen advanced alzheimers in a family member, i have wondered if in the future we might possibly be able to put in a claim for voluntary self-termination at some point....not a good way to live out your final years...anybody else remember Vonnegut's tales about horrendous overpopulation problems caused by everyone living a really long time?
yeah, well, i guess i come down on the quality rather than quantity--and see no reason why everyone shouldn't have access to basic care.
gotta run--i'm moving to utah at the end of this week!!! eek! much packing and sorting and selling of furniture and so forth to accomplish--
will look forward to listening to and talking with y'all from out West!
Well, I guess I do need some music for relaxing or about relaxing. Just the thought of those health care forums makes me tense. Thanks for the relax music, Dale.
Greetings! I think it goes without saying (and I'm sure there's evidence to support it) that a relaxed attitude is healhier than being uptight and worried. But living with passion is the juice of life when the passion if positive.
I generally avoid sensationalistic news, talk radio, town meetings and opinion blogs -- it seems to be mainly annoying people wanting to hear themselves talk -- IMHO. Sounds like I'm turning into a misanthrope in my advanced years ... But I love Dale and RHers, because of your wit, intelligence and respect. Have a great day, all!
Kay H - got any milking equipment you want to get rid of before you move?? :-)
wish you well in this new adventure - i'm so glad you'll have the ability to talk with us from Utah!
I had been comtemplating getting the equipment to hook up our TV again, but reading about the forums, I may reconsider.
Welcome back Beth-Ann (I sympathize, as I have intermittent internet connection), and Mark. Good luck Kay with the move! I forget where in Utah... Luckily you'll still be in contact. Joanne, what's IMHO? (If it's text-speak, I only know OMG and LOL.) WISH I could get up to the fair tomorrow, Barb...
OK, this is not a direct comment on this post, Dale, but since Heartland sometimes takes blog requests as well, isn't it time to check in with the makers of the Intimida to see how they plan to deal with the GM claim of a Volt that may get 230 miles to the gallon? Such a development could easily lead to more car cubes,m some of them, surely, Intimidas.
jimck
(Saint Paul)
Barbara in Robbinsdale - yes, IMHO is textspeak for In My Humble Opinion. One of those goofy phrases you see and pick up on blogs or teens IMing each other (IM is Instant Messaging). My 14-year old son is a whiz at this stuff. He types faster than most professional secretaries (like me) and usually wins keyboard speed contests at school.
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