Universal Nothing!

Just a few thoughts for a Friday.  I keep seeing that Bernie Sanders is getting a lot of support.  I don't get it.  I have always liked him, but does anyone want to scratch the surface on his ideas?  Healthcare, Universal Healthcare.  Who wouldn't want that, but how can it happen?  Seriously?  Isn't that the problem with the system?  We are a capitalistic economy and country.  If we create Universal Healthcare, what happens to all the insurance companies?  All those jobs are lost forever, so what happens then?  Why isn't anyone asking that question?  I have thought about it forever.  We are too late.  If you can tell me how Sanders can pull it off, without catastrophic unemployment, by all means let me know.  

I can see why Bernie Sanders is appealing, but what is the reality that he could do any of the things he wants and supports?  Have you not realized that it doesn't matter what is promised during campaigns?  Newly elected Presidents can't get things done.  There are too many moving parts that cause delays, hiccups, and postponements.  It's BS if you think any candidate gets into the Oval office and can do what they said they were going to do, and Sanders' radical proposals will never get through Congress ever.  Don't you see that?  Haven't we been living through seven tempestuous and mostly unproductive years with Congress?  How will he get anything done?  Seriously, stand back, people, take a breath, and re-assess.  I am not an anti-Sanders person, but he can't do what he promises.  He can't.  It would mean dismantling much of our economy.  I've thought a lot about how we could all be covered, and so far haven't been able to come to a resolution.  The insurance companies are huge.  They are a large part of our economy and, whether we like it or not, provides hundreds of thousands of jobs for people all over the country.

Please, I am open to hear how he can actually proceed on any of his policy plans.  I don't see it.  His heart is in the right place.  He's been saying the same ideas for decades, but we, the United States of America, are made up of a vast array of mechanisms that are all intricately intertwined.  Nothing is easy. Yes, I know, the saying nothing worth it, is ever easy, but we can't just sit back and cheer and support someone with beautiful dreams and ideas.  It's not realistic.

If you haven't been watching a television show on CBS called Madam Secretary, I think that it illustrates fully how complicated running this country is.  It's worth taking the time.  I actually have been thinking that all the GOP candidates should binge watch it.  They always make things sound so easy.  They're going to bomb here or invade there without any forethought of any knowledge or consequence.  It's all sound bites.  It's all to feed a 24/7 news cycle and twitter sphere.  I highly recommend taking the time.  Not all episodes are equal, but you will definitely see how incredibly difficult it is to keep putting out fires all over the world.  Some will succeed, others won't.  Even that's a simplification.  

Sidebars:  What a terrible week for deaths.  David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Rene Angelil, Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Elizabeth Swados (hardly mentioned, but one of the very few female composer/directors in theatre),  Brian Bedford, Monte Irvin, and many more.  Tough week. -- Anyway, trying to catch up on the nominated movies, next up The Revenant, if I can stand it.  --  Martin Luther King's Birthday weekend. Another 3 day weekend where most people don't even know why we have a day off.  Sad.  Better to stay in school and learn about him and his importance than another ski weekend....

Okay, that's it for now.  It's a new year.  My brain is still shifting all over the place, so my blogs may too.  Enjoy your family and friends wherever you may be.  Happy Weekend!  Happy 2016!!

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@DianaPodolsky

Round and Round I Go

I have had so much difficulty writing these past few months.  So much is going on in the world that I have definitely gotten overwhelmed by it all, and focussing on one subject has been impossible.  It's almost the end of 2015 and we are nearing a clean slate for 2016.  Before we go, I just have a few things I want to ruminate about.  

The first is the all encompassing and media darling, Donald T***p.  It's hard to bear watching.  The things that come out of his mouth and the cheers and applause he gets from his disciples are unsettling and appalling.  Since I live in the world of eternal hope with some dips in depression, I have to believe the likelihood of us inaugurating President T***p are slim to none.  I am going with that premise for this rumination.  Then what?  What does Donald do after he loses the nomination?  How can he pick up the pieces after all he's said and done?  Would I ever give one dime to anything with his name or likeness on it again?  I had already boycotted T***p Tower in New York.  A personal choice, but how can his business associates turn the other cheek?  According to him, some of his best friends are Muslims.  How do they ever break bread with him again?  How do you spend thousands upon thousands to be members of any of his golf courses?  How does the PGA continue to go all in with their prestigious tournaments at any of his courses?  How do you find construction crews to build his next ostentatious tower?  I just can't see him being able to go back as if nothing happened, as if all the things he said didn't have an impact, as if he didn't insult every minority group multiple times, as if, as if, as if.  I can't imagine sitting around the family table with all the extended family, as if.  He has been married to two immigrant wives.  The current wife wasn't a citizen until after they got married.  How can he ever go back?  The Pandora's box is open.  The curtain has been pulled back completely.  How can he ever continue, as if....

On the other side of this, is Hillary Clinton.  I absolutely don't get the hate and the visceral reactions when her name is mentioned.  Many women are the worst haters.  I don't get it.  What did she actually do?  What is her sin?  It feels so anti-woman to me.  Can someone please explain it to me?  She is a thoroughly accomplished woman. She went to Wellesley College and Yale Law School.  She fought for women's issues all her life.  As First Lady, she dared to present a comprehensive health care plan that may have crossed the traditional lines for a First Lady, but she tried and got roundly demonized.  She suffered through public humiliation and thrashing for her husband's dalliances and Congress' unending hearings for everything under the sun.  She stood by her man.  Is that her sin?  She ran for President in 2008 and made some huge campaign errors.  Is that her sin?  She was chosen to be Secretary of State under Barack Obama.  Is that her sin?  I am constantly stunned by the lack of support from so many Democrats.  I don't get it.  If someone could explain to me why she is so hated, I'd appreciate it.  She's done more than most in this world.  I know that polls say she has a trustworthy issue, but they all do in politics, so why does she get so vilified?  I really don't get it.  

What I do know beyond any reasonable doubt, is that the next President of the United States must be a Democrat, and for the three that are running, it really only leaves one.  I know that many people love Bernie Sanders.  I have always admired him, but his socialist views will stop him, even before his Judaism gets realized.  Martin O'Malley is not ready yet.  That leaves Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  It would be amazing to have a woman for President, but even more so, an extremely qualified woman.  There may be 4, I will say that again, 4, Supreme Court appointments during the next Presidency.  For the millennial generation that don't understand what that means, please do your homework.  That is more important that almost anything else anyone says or does.  Those appointments are for life.  Life, you hear that?  You must register to vote. You must take the time in your day when the primary and general elections are held.  OK?  Sigh.  

Okay, and the last thing that has been really sticking in my craw is the great Pete Rose.  The MLB commissioner has continued Pete Rose's baseball ban for life.  It was crushing, but whether you agree or disagree with that decision, it's the total hypocrisy of MLB that kills me.  Pete Rose is banned because he allegedly bet on baseball and still gambles today on sports.  He lives in Las Vegas and it's legal.  He is one of the all time great baseball players to have played the game.  No one argues that.  Robin Manfred, commissioner, didn't like that Pete still gambles and yet, MLB is a huge investor in DraftKings and FanDuel.  Both sites have been called gambling by NY State, Illinois, Nevada and others to follow.  So, let me get this straight Commissioner Manfred, it's not okay to gamble if you're Pete Rose and one of the greatest players ever, but it is okay to invest heavily in websites that promote heavy gambling to keep people interested in your sport?  Maybe we should just go back to steroids for the players to keep people watching. 

Things that I have been ruminating in my head about for weeks now.  I hope that 2016 brings us all a world full of peace, love, and prosperity.  Happy New Year and drink responsibly.  

Don't Want Your Prayers!

This umpteenth mass shooting that's still active in this moment, these are the tweets  90 minutes since the news was released from our candidates:

Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump  10m10 minutes ago

California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!

Dr. Ben Carson ‏@RealBenCarson  4m4 minutes ago

My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.

Marco Rubio nothing

Gov. Mike Huckabee ‏@GovMikeHuckabee  16m16 minutes ago

Praying for those impacted by the shooting in California today.

Chris Christie nothing*

Carly Fiorina nothing*

Jeb Bush ‏@JebBush  14m14 minutes ago

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.

Jeb Bush ‏@JebBush  14m14 minutes ago

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.

Lindsey Graham ‏@LindseyGrahamSC  3h3 hours ago

On @MorningJoe, @SenJohnMcCain and I talked about strategies to #DefeatISIL. http://thetandd.com/the_spot/graham-you-can-t-fix-iraq-without-dealing-with-syria/youtube_db6da046-979c-11e5-8a4a-33963a6cae4e.html …

John Kasich nothing*

George Pataki nothing*

Rand Paul nothing*

Rick Santorum nothing*

Lindsey Graham nothing*

* Nothing meaning they are tweeting about other things than this tragedy or they haven't tweeted for awhile....

Can You Hear That Beat?!

Since the tragic terrorist attacks, the Republican candidates have gone over the top crazy.  Where are the educated journalists, Republicans,  and Americans to cry foul?  It's f**king insane what's going on.  The rhetoric is dangerous that's coming out of the mouths of Ben Carson and Donald T***p.  Did you see that T***p riled up a crowd to beat on a black man that was protesting his speech?  Seriously, he encouraged these disciples to attack this man and had no apologies.  If you don't believe me, Google it.  It's appalling.  The anti-refugee speak is idiotic and ill-informed.  They know nothing, but spew venom so easily.  No care about the carnage that they leave in their path.  None, whatsoever.  

Every Republican candidate wants to be Rambo, except Rand Paul.  They want to, talk tough, send soldiers into Syria to "take Isis out," and be the great victor.  Let me make this completely clear to all of you, the only Presidential candidate that served in the military, but didn't see combat...Lindsey Graham.  That's it.  None served. None saw war, carnage, and death.  Only one candidate has children that serve/served...George Pataki (two sons).  Both these men are in the undercard.  They barely get air time.  All the others that are crowing to go into Syria and send troops on the ground, have never seen one second of the military.  Would they send their children?  Grandchildren?  Hell, no.  That's for others to sacrifice, not them.  

Remember President Teddy Roosevelt?  He was a hawk.  He wanted war.  He was ready to send young men into battle.  When his own son was tragically killed in war, he changed his tune.  That loss almost broke him and he wasn't so eager to send more troops into battle.  BUT why did it take his personal loss to change?  Why can't you just see how painful it is for parents to send children into war and receive their dead bodies at home?  I watch tons of movies, I can make believe things without having to actually experience them to know how I feel about different life issues.  President Roosevelt couldn't without suffering an unbearable loss.

So, all these GOP candidates shouting tough talk and wanting to send other people's children into harms way, shame on you!  I don't even understand why there are so many disciples buying all this bullsh*t.  Haven't there been enough injuries and death?  

Let's be specific on the kids but not going to be sacrificed:

Jeb Bush has 3 adult children, 2 sons and 1 daughter (George, Noelle and John, Jr.).  

Ben Carson 3 adult sons (Rhoeyce, Ben Jr., and Murray).

Chris Christie has 4 children that range in age 12-19 (Patrick, Andrew, Bridget, and Sarah).

Ted Cruz has two young daughters (Caroline, 7 and Catherine 4).

Carly Fiorina has two adult step children.

Lindsey Graham has zero.

Mike Huckabee 3 adult children (David, John, and Sarah).

John Kasich has twin 15 year old girls (Emma and Reese).

George Pataki has 4 adult children ( his two sons are serving).

Marco Rubio 4 children (Amanda, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominic).

Rick Santorum has 7 children...SEVEN.

Donald T***p has 5 children (Ivanka, Donald, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron), plus 6 grandchildren.

Between the candidates they have 39 children.  Some may be too young to serve and some may be too old, but do you think any of them would send their own children (other than Pataki) into a bloody and brutal war?  They are sending other people's children to fight their battles.  Do any of them even know what the hell they are talking about?  There are so many lies being sold and told and no one is calling them out.  Carson seems completely uneducated and uninformed.  T***p must be embarrassing Wharton because he keeps fabricating numbers and tales.  Come on, people, why are we so easily led to believe lies and bad information?  We bought it going into the Iraq War and haven't recovered since.  Before you write me and tell me you weren't for the Iraq War and you don't believe the BS, I applaud you, but too many do.  I don't know what has happened to so many that they believe anything.  No one Googles to confirm information.  If you say it with authority and confidence, it's "true."  We all know people like that, but do we want a President to represent us that will say anything?

Where are the news/media people?  I want there to be a fact checker at every debate.  FACTS, people, not opinions.  I want there to be a buzzer, or maybe even a taser, every time a candidate stands up in front of the American people and fabricates information.  I'd like that for those in the audience too.  The debates have become more Gladiator vs. lions in the Coliseum than actual policy and fact.  I can't imagine (not even in the movies) that there could be a President T***p.  I'm not making any declaration that I will move to Canada if that were to happen, but I'd cry.  I'd want to take my Country back.

When you hear the candidates, beating he drums for more war.  Remember whose children are being sent.  They're not theirs or mine.  Are they yours?  

Sidebars:  Plenty of cartoons, satires, verbiage going around Facebook about Thanksgiving and the refugee situation.  Much commentary on who were the first refugees to come to Plymouth Rock.  It certainly wasn't the Native Indians that had thrived here.  It was all the newcomers on the Mayflower.  Some seeking refuge and religious freedom and others searching for adventure.  When your families get together on Thursday to share another turkey day, this year pause and think about how this Country was created, what sacrifices were made, all the bloodshed and victories, to make the United States of America.  We all came from somewhere else.  That's the country that was built.  Let's try to remember that. 

Wishing all a very peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving!  

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@DianaPodolsky

Does the SS St. Louis Mean Anything to You?

I have been hesitant to weigh in on the tragic mass murders in Paris.  It strikes straight to the heart.  I saw many postings on Facebook why the world wasn't as upset by the murders in Beirut and Nigeria.  I've thought a lot about that.  I don't think that it is a simple answer.  Partly, I think that so many Americans have been to Paris or seen so many films showing life in Paris that there is a deep connection.  The romanticism of life in gay Paree has been well documented in cinema that we have a true relationship with Paris.  There may also be deep cultural reasons for the complete disregard for Beirut and Nigeria.  The "other."  The Russian plane alleged bombing we can clearly understand.  That story has flowed in and out of our consciousness, but we can relate to the tragedy.

Okay, so now we are five days since the mass terrors in Paris.  The news is still focussed on the lives lost, the hero stories, the investigation and the questions linger on....Now, there's much talk about the Syrian refugees flowing en masse into Europe.  Could a terrorist sneak through?  Well, you don't have to say much more than that to get the USA Republican Governors to declare they're not accepting any Syrian refugees, if they are Muslim.  Wow, how helpful.  How perfectly christian.  Most of these Governors that have declared blockage of taking in any refugees are self-proclaimed Christians.  Well, I have news for you:  A) that isn't a Christian act

B) it's not Constitutional.  Many have stated that we never turn away refugees, but now is the time.  We have to protect ourselves from all the Muslims that want to  come here and kill us.  

I get the fear, but the lack of knowledge and history slaps me in the face.  The Governors refusal feeds the hate, it doesn't help.  AND it isn't true that we never turn away refugees.  May I remind the Governors and all the people that the United States of America wouldn't accept, turned away, and sent a ship load of Jewish refugees back to certain death in 1939.  The SS St. Louis left Germany with about 1000 German Jews trying to escape the Nazis.  They paid all the money they had to board this ship and to find a new life in Cuba.  Cuba wouldn't accept them, so the ship's Captain tried to get the US to let them dock and disembark.  No go. "We have hit our quota of Jews."  So with few supplies left from their cross Atlantic travels and subsequent limbo, this boatload of desperate and terrified German Jews were refused.  What another great moment in American history.  So, Governors, we've refused mothers, daughters, sons, and fathers before.  We've done that.  We know how that ended, don't we?  

Look, I understand that there are concerns, but you can't possibly speak out of both sides of your mouth.  You can't say you are christian and proclaim that you aren't willing to help families and people in desperate need.  It isn't the "American" way or is that all just BS.  Recently, it seems that way.  Leave it to a Presidential election season to bring out all the hate and fear mongering.  Democrat or Republican alike, if you speak out of your ass before knowledge, you are playing right into the hands of all terrorists.  Too bad that you don't flip out when white American males shoot up schools in this country.  Oh, how you segregate and compartmentalize all the hatred.  Where are all the leaders?  We need people all over America to stand up. I know it may be scary, but somehow so many American citizens and leaders have forgotten that we are a Nation of immigrants and refugees.  

My head is swirling with so many thoughts about too many connected topics, but this is a blog and not a tome.  I will end with this.  I love Paris.  I will go again, but I will wait.  I think that we are adjusting to a "new normal." We may always have to be more cautious and more aware forevermore.  This is how the people of Israel have lived since 1948, and they have thrived.  We can too, if we don't let all the fear take us down. 

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@DianaPodolsky

Sweet Cruise of Youth

About six months ago, my husband told me he wanted to take this cruise called a Malt Shop Cruise.  It's a week in the Caribbean and every day there are different artists performing: Neil Sedaka, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, and Darlene Love, to name a few.  I am always over the moon to see Neil Sedaka. He never gets old.  Okay, so I said yes.  We were lucky to even get on this cruise and get a cabin.  The day finally arrived. I had no idea what to expect, but from the get go, I could tell we were part of something special.  All the passengers were here to have fun, relive their youth, dance, sing, and party.

Seriously, people, I don't think I can do this justice.  This was one of the most fantastic experiences I've ever had.  There were people from all over, many that had taken all 6 of these chartered cruises.  Many couples were high school sweethearts and still together.  Many women travelled together so they could have fun, fun, fun 'til their Daddy took the T-Bird away.  There were theme nights:  prom night, pajama night, sock hop night, costume night, and more.  Everything went.  All that mattered was the fun.  And boy howdy, everyone was having fun.  It was as if time had stopped and everyone was back in high school again for just that one week. They may have wrinkles, grey hair, and more weight, but you really couldn't tell by all the festivities. 

Unlike most cruises, this cruise had activities all around and about music.  Trivia games were music oriented.  And the concerts...oh my goodness, the concerts.  First night up, Chubby Checker.  He put on a very entertaining show.  Full of energy and twists.  Wouldn't say he was ever a great singer, but his performance level was high.  The audience ate it up.  Screaming, singing along, and twisting.  Night 2:  one of my all time favorites, Neil Sedaka.  I have been seeing him in concert for some 40 years.  He still sounds amazing and you can't go wrong with his songs.  He played for 90 minutes and had the whole room singing and clapping.  Night 3:  Darlene Love.  She looks and sounds fantastic.  She sang many of her hits, though you may not realize that they are her hits.  In the early years, Darlene Love sang the tracks and others got the credit.  Ah, that Phil Spector, what a guy.  Anyway, thanks to the documentary Twenty Feet From Stardom, she finally gets the credit she so richly deserves.  Night 4:  The Brooklyn Reunion which is a combination of three Doo-Wop groups, The Mystics, The Passions, and The Classics.  The audience ate it all up.  Took them back.  Night 5:  Does the name Frankie Avalon mean anything to you?  He looks gorgeous.  It is his own hair and a full head of hair it is.  He sang great, told stories, honored Annette Funicello, Elvis Presley, and more.  Night 6:  Bobby Rydell and Sonny Turner the lead singer from The Platters. First of all, though I knew many of Bobby Rydell's songs, I had zero idea how well he sang.  Gorgeous voice.  He honored Bobby Darrin for a segment, told stories and jokes, sang, and took the audience to its heights.  Lucky for Sonny Turner that he was up first.  As great as he was, I wouldn't want to follow Bobby Rydell.  (Dawned on me, if that's why the high school in Grease is Rydell High. Anyone know?).  Night 7 and the last night:  Little Anthony and the Imperials.  Sigh.  Well, they were good, not great.  They are entertaining, but Anthony has lost a step.  We saw him at Feinstein's in NYC a few years ago and it was basically the same everything.  Okay, so that touches on all the shows at night.

Every day there were Q&A's with the talent.  The room overflowed with people trying to be there in person.  Fortunately they were taped and were shown on closed circuit television all week.  They had special concerts with The Toys, Lou Christie, and Jay and the Americans during the day.  I completely missed Jay and the Americans appeal, but the rest of the passengers flipped and were over the top about  them.  The Toys and Lou Christie much more my speed.  Frankie Avalon and the great DJ/Host/Emcee, Jerry Blavat, did a cooking segment to sell Frankie's new Italian cookbook.  

There was so much more than all of this, but to capture the feeling that filled the air is impossible to convey.  These people were there for the music.  Relive their high school days.  Make new friends.  One woman brought her sister on the cruise because this was her last hurrah, literally.  They had a great time.  And did I mention that all the singers, now just think about this for one second, all of the singers are in their 70's!!!!!!!!!!!  It is astonishing to me how incredible they sounded and how well they looked and moved.  There was some very fancy footwork going on during the concerts.  Jimmy Maddox was the king of the Piano Bar.  People were fighting to find seats in the small bar to hear him play rock and roll, drink, and sing along.  A hugely talented piano player.  Another great way to meet people.

To say that this is just a Malt Shop Cruise, is not doing it justice.  This is a very special fairy dusted cruise on the seas to celebrate life and music.  I don't care what age you are, if you like this period of music, 50's-60's pre British-invasion, this is a cruise not to be missed. How many more times can you see these singers?  Already signed up for next year:  Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, Dionne Warwick, Ronnie Spector, The Letterman, and many, many more next time.  Come on, people, let's do the twist.

Sidebars:  Well, just think about any other time in music that could bring so many people together.  I think that our children could never have an opportunity like this.  Music today will never live on in the annals of history.  Don't think in 30-40 years, Time-Life could ever put together a Kanye West, Drake, Demi Lovato cruise.  Don't think anything like that could ever happen.  Music today is so processed and synthesized that I don't think in the long view it will last or have the same place in music history.  Now, before you start yelling at me, this name or that name, there will be exceptions, but very few.  Couldn't put together a disco era cruise. First of all, too many are dead, but it wouldn't be the same.  Currently there are Country, Soul, Broadway, and Malt Shop cruises.  There may be others, but that's what I gleaned from others on the ship.  Broadway cruises were the only ones I'd ever heard of before this, and that seemed dull to me.  Rather see the music in context on a Broadway stage.  --  Happy to see that the Gloria Estefan musical, On Your Feet, opened to good/great reviews. Brava.  Loved seeing my former client, Alma Cuervo, getting her due in the reviews as Gloria's Abuela!  This week, catching up on everything I missed last week.  Seeing King Charles III Wednesday matinee.  Many movies to see still, too.  Dying to see Spotlight.  Hope everyone is doing well.  NYC is really having Fall for the first time in years.  Enjoy!

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@DianaPodolsky

Big, Bigger, Monopoly

I am a victim of the Affordable Care Act.  I do not blame the President.  I am glad that so many people have coverage that never did before.  I am a victim of not being part of group coverage.  I do not have an employer, so the choices for me are minimal.  It doesn't matter if I say that I can pay for premium coverage.  I can't get it.  I have to have an employer.  That sucks completely.  I now have the worst medical coverage that I've ever had.  I need to have a referral to see a doctor that before I could see, regardless if they took insurance.  It was on me.  I had to be responsible.  Now, it's not my choice, it's the insurance company.  Not my choice.  

With all the grousing and criticism by Republicans and others all these years about "Obamacare," what would they do?  Ben Carson mentioned getting rid of Medicare and Medicaid while campaigning this week.  That's not going to happen. No one has come up with any suggestion.  Not one.  They just hate the ACA. We can't have universal healthcare.  The insurance companies make too much money.  What would happen to them if we all had Medicare?  Anyone out there know?  From where I sit, we are screwed.  We will never be able to all have quality coverage.  Our system is too big and too corrupt.  

Don't get me started on the pharmaceutical companies.  If I blame President Obama for anything, it's when he made an advance deal with the drug companies a year ahead of any ACA legislation.  I don't understand the grotesque need to make bazillions off the backs of sick people.  Maybe the pharma companies should stop spending so much money on commercial time on television.  Over the past twenty years, the amount of drug ads has increased to an obscene level.  They are promoting drug use for anything that ails you or didn't even exist.  I don't get it.  Take the time to listen to all the list of possible side effects.  Why would anyone take any medication.  The pharmaceutical companies are making us a legally drug dependent country.  Why should they even promote their products?  You actually have to have a disease, an ailment, a problem.  You have to go to a doctor to get any of these prescription drugs so why do I have to hear about erectile dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, bladder issues, restless leg syndrome, and now there's the inappropriate laughing illness?  

Our country is just a basket of hypocrisy.  Nancy Reagan famously championed "just say no" to drugs and now, every time you turn on the TV, they are pushing drugs.  Granted they may not be marijuana, cocaine or speed, but that doesn't mean they aren't potentially as harmful.  AND now, Walgreens is buying Rite Aid.  WOW! Won't that be too big to fail?  Won't that be a monopoly?  That's what we do in America.  We allow so many companies to grow and grow and grow.  The only ones that are happy are the top echelon executives and the shareholders.  It's unnerving.  Look around, people.  We are down to the last few independent pharmacies.  By the time anyone wakes up and realizes another monster has been created, they will all be gone.   

Next time you are watching television, count how many commercials run and what percentage are drug commercials.  It will astound you. I am spewing all over the place, I know, but these issues are huge, complicated, and can't be resolved for all.  Everyone has a position and point of view.  The drug companies are not there to help people, like I thought when I was growing up.  They are there to make money off the very people that need their medicine.  Just look at Martin Shkreli...bought a drug company and raised the cost of each individual pill 5000%.  He did get push back from all corners, so he lowered it some, but he still raised this medication an unconscionable amount. That's where we are people.  I don't have answers, but major frustration.

I long for the days when we were embarrassed and uncomfortable to hear about tampons and sanitary napkins. 

Sidebars:  Wednesday night in NYC.  Torrential rains.  Good night to stay in and watch TV, but what will it be?  There's the often entertaining and informing GOP debate.  Don't forget Game 2 of the World Series between Kansas City Royals and the NY Mets. Mets lost a heartbreaker last night.  Ugh!  Then, there's just regularly scheduled  programs.  What to do?  If you watch the debate, I hope you will post or tweet comments  -- Saw the movie Bridge of Spies and give it two thumbs up.  The quality movies are rolling out fast.  It's so unfortunate that they even release movies the first 9 months of the year.  We have to get through so much mediocrity to get to the "real" movies.  Although there is something to be said that the powers-that-be don't think you can remember to nominate a great movie released in March....How good could it really be then?  Something to think about. -- I'm sure there's more, but my brain is rainy day mush.  Enjoy what ever you choose to do.

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@DianaPodolsky