Chuck Lorre produces the TV shows Two and a Half Men (which I don't watch) and The Big Bang Theory (which I do). Ever since he produced the TV show Dharma & Greg, he has shown, in place of an end card (think "Sit Ubu Sit" or "Bad Robot"), a card with a dense paragraph - but for only a couple of seconds. In the early days, the only way to read the entire card was to tape the show (with a VCR) and then pause the frame at the exact correct moment. These days, pausing a DVR shows the card - and in much better clarity. (These days, the entire collection is also listed on his web site.)
Here is his recent # 280 card, which I thought was quite funny (and I could relate to) -
You know you're getting old when... You throw your back out on the toilet. You shave your ears. Your second wife calls your first wife “ma’am.” You're genuinely excited when your prescriptions arrive in the mail. You read the obits in the newspaper to check the ages of the dead people. You read a newspaper. You're bummed out that the smokin’ hot chick from Body Heat now looks like William Shatner in drag. You say “bummed out.” Women your age have real breasts and artificial hips. Masturbation leaves you winded. You try to amuse the kid hooking up your Blu-ray player by telling him about Betamax. You pee in morse code -- dots and dashes -- and have to look down to see when you’re done. Your car radio is set to “classic rock” so you have something to switch to during NPR pledge drives. Your doctor says things like, “that’s normal for a man your age” and “consider yourself lucky.” Beneath your chin is what appears to be a neck skin hammock. Beneath your penis is what appears to be two ping pong balls hanging from a flesh-colored bolo tie. You choose your new car because it offers great lumbar support and convenient cup holders. Watching “The Who” perform at the Superbowl made you inconsolably sad. You wonder if the orgasm you're about to have will actually end your life. Your doctor tells you a new medication will reduce the amount of semen in your body and your only response is, “so what.” Your car radio is set to “classic rock” so you have something to... oh, wait, I already did that one.
Chuck Lorre has a complete list of cards on his web site. To read his very first one, go here.
Note the ones that have (c) next to the number. Those are the ones that were censored and were never broadcast. Here, for example, is the broadcast version of #255 and here is the uncensored version.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Jazz Fest 2010 – Day 2
Jazz Fest Day 2 was much different from Day 1.
A few days before our “second Friday” Jazz Fest day, I had been getting sick. Not feeling sick, but sounding it – including harsh chest congestion. The Thursday night that Jason, Jason, Carlos and I saw David Sedaris live was the night that my throat hurt the worst. (On the way home, Carlos stopped at Walgreen’s for me and bought me all the correct drugs for my symptoms. Dating a hypochondriac has its benefits.)
I slept great Thursday night, but woke up Friday morning almost completely hoarse. By around 1 pm, right about the time Carlos and I hit the New Orleans Fair Grounds (where the Jazz Fest is held), I had totally lost my voice. I could either whisper or have Carlos read my lips. We quickly worked out some basic hand signals (and I still remember A through G in sign language – which turned out to be not much help) and were off to…
Fleur de Ladies Brass Band at the Jazz & Heritage Stage. They really grooved! I searched around for a video of them, but came up with nothing. Picture the Hot 8 Brass Band – but as women with attitudes.
Besides the music, Carlos and I love the food. I was really looking forward to a (highly recommended) Duck Po Boy. Carlos thinks that no one should eat a plate of shredded duck on a piece of French bread. I ate that and a plate of Crab and Crawfish Sushi. Both dishes tasted odd. I think because of my sickness. Or maybe Carlos is right.
We then listened to The Dixie Cups ("Chapel of Love") for a bit on our way to...
John Boutté at the WWOZ Jazz Tent. We arrived one song into his set and so asked around if he had played "the hit". Apparently, we weren't the only ones there for "the hit". As more and more people swelled the Jazz Tent, each new arrival asked if he had played "the hit". John Boutté's music runs from blues to gospel, all of which he sings really well - and we all loved. I really hope that his "hit" gives him more exposure.
I went to Amazon to see about buying one of his CD's. They're all expensive Imports. Spread the word: Let's get his music released locally.
Here's the "hit", the theme to HBO's current show "Treme"...
The Nicholas Payton Sextet followed John Boutté. After John Boutté finished his set, the Jazz Tent cleared out. I bet that's never happened to Nicholas Payton before.
Carlos and I then listened to Allen Toussaint...
on our way to...
"Unfinished Blues with Harold Battiste, Ellis Marsalis, and Karen Celestan with interviewer Kalamu ya Salaam"
The Music Heritage Stage, where older musicians are interviewed, is inside the club house (read: the air conditioning). That was our original motive for going there. We stayed for the entire show. Hearing how these mid 20th century jazz musicians got together was fascinating.
From Ellis Marsalis: "I remember in high school skipping my bus stop and riding one more further with Harold so we could jam together. He didn't want to play piano so that's how I ended up playing it."
From Harold Battiste: "I helped Sam Cooke compose 'You Send Me' and ended up playing on it."...
A book based on their experiences is coming out in June.
Here's a quick NPR Jazz story about the same.
Carlos and I then met some friends of his from school and caught almost the entire Earth, Wind & Fire set...
They were a last-minute replacement for Aretha Franklin. After the Unfinished Blues session, we were talking with one of the employees of the Fest. She told us that Aretha was "scared of the oil spill". I added that I saw on her Biography that she is scared of flying. Our employee friend told us that, since this is her second time canceling at the last minute, she won't be ever asked back. Too diva.
We did leave before the final two EWF songs. Apparently even though the band was a last minute replacement, they were able to track down Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire's original/best known singer)...
...and have him sing the final songs with the band. Carlos and I heard those as we were walking out of the Fair Grounds back to my car.
Overall, another great day.
A few days before our “second Friday” Jazz Fest day, I had been getting sick. Not feeling sick, but sounding it – including harsh chest congestion. The Thursday night that Jason, Jason, Carlos and I saw David Sedaris live was the night that my throat hurt the worst. (On the way home, Carlos stopped at Walgreen’s for me and bought me all the correct drugs for my symptoms. Dating a hypochondriac has its benefits.)
I slept great Thursday night, but woke up Friday morning almost completely hoarse. By around 1 pm, right about the time Carlos and I hit the New Orleans Fair Grounds (where the Jazz Fest is held), I had totally lost my voice. I could either whisper or have Carlos read my lips. We quickly worked out some basic hand signals (and I still remember A through G in sign language – which turned out to be not much help) and were off to…
Fleur de Ladies Brass Band at the Jazz & Heritage Stage. They really grooved! I searched around for a video of them, but came up with nothing. Picture the Hot 8 Brass Band – but as women with attitudes.
Besides the music, Carlos and I love the food. I was really looking forward to a (highly recommended) Duck Po Boy. Carlos thinks that no one should eat a plate of shredded duck on a piece of French bread. I ate that and a plate of Crab and Crawfish Sushi. Both dishes tasted odd. I think because of my sickness. Or maybe Carlos is right.
We then listened to The Dixie Cups ("Chapel of Love") for a bit on our way to...
John Boutté at the WWOZ Jazz Tent. We arrived one song into his set and so asked around if he had played "the hit". Apparently, we weren't the only ones there for "the hit". As more and more people swelled the Jazz Tent, each new arrival asked if he had played "the hit". John Boutté's music runs from blues to gospel, all of which he sings really well - and we all loved. I really hope that his "hit" gives him more exposure.
I went to Amazon to see about buying one of his CD's. They're all expensive Imports. Spread the word: Let's get his music released locally.
Here's the "hit", the theme to HBO's current show "Treme"...
The Nicholas Payton Sextet followed John Boutté. After John Boutté finished his set, the Jazz Tent cleared out. I bet that's never happened to Nicholas Payton before.
Carlos and I then listened to Allen Toussaint...
on our way to...
"Unfinished Blues with Harold Battiste, Ellis Marsalis, and Karen Celestan with interviewer Kalamu ya Salaam"
The Music Heritage Stage, where older musicians are interviewed, is inside the club house (read: the air conditioning). That was our original motive for going there. We stayed for the entire show. Hearing how these mid 20th century jazz musicians got together was fascinating.
From Ellis Marsalis: "I remember in high school skipping my bus stop and riding one more further with Harold so we could jam together. He didn't want to play piano so that's how I ended up playing it."
From Harold Battiste: "I helped Sam Cooke compose 'You Send Me' and ended up playing on it."...
A book based on their experiences is coming out in June.
Here's a quick NPR Jazz story about the same.
Carlos and I then met some friends of his from school and caught almost the entire Earth, Wind & Fire set...
They were a last-minute replacement for Aretha Franklin. After the Unfinished Blues session, we were talking with one of the employees of the Fest. She told us that Aretha was "scared of the oil spill". I added that I saw on her Biography that she is scared of flying. Our employee friend told us that, since this is her second time canceling at the last minute, she won't be ever asked back. Too diva.
We did leave before the final two EWF songs. Apparently even though the band was a last minute replacement, they were able to track down Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire's original/best known singer)...
...and have him sing the final songs with the band. Carlos and I heard those as we were walking out of the Fair Grounds back to my car.
Overall, another great day.
Job Update
A quick update on my job.
I am the Manager of the Duplicating & Graphics Department at one of the universities here in New Orleans. Our department handles the copying, printing, graphics, and copy machines for the entire university, as well as some other associated departments around the city and the state. Think of us as an on-campus Kinko’s – with the addition of overseeing 120 copy machines around the campus/city/state.
I got a (sort of) promotion at work. I say “sort of” because my boss gave me more responsibility, but no more money.
I am now also Manager of the Warehouse and Delivery departments. The Warehouse orders and delivers (via many vendors) all the cleaning products used by every janitorial department on every campus (and it’s a shit load!). The Delivery department handles those deliveries, plus the deliveries for all other departments under our larger umbrella department (17 total).
The Manager who formerly handled Warehouse and Delivery is a good friend of mine so we are having an easy transition. It is still tough to take on all these new responsibilities, while still trying to maintain our current customers - and more importantly, increase our sales.
It’ll all work out, but for now it’s really stressful at work. [Sound of me popping open a third beer.]
I am the Manager of the Duplicating & Graphics Department at one of the universities here in New Orleans. Our department handles the copying, printing, graphics, and copy machines for the entire university, as well as some other associated departments around the city and the state. Think of us as an on-campus Kinko’s – with the addition of overseeing 120 copy machines around the campus/city/state.
I got a (sort of) promotion at work. I say “sort of” because my boss gave me more responsibility, but no more money.
I am now also Manager of the Warehouse and Delivery departments. The Warehouse orders and delivers (via many vendors) all the cleaning products used by every janitorial department on every campus (and it’s a shit load!). The Delivery department handles those deliveries, plus the deliveries for all other departments under our larger umbrella department (17 total).
The Manager who formerly handled Warehouse and Delivery is a good friend of mine so we are having an easy transition. It is still tough to take on all these new responsibilities, while still trying to maintain our current customers - and more importantly, increase our sales.
It’ll all work out, but for now it’s really stressful at work. [Sound of me popping open a third beer.]
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Mother's Day
A few years back, my sister Christine and her girlfriend Karlie took over the Mother's Day Crawfish Boil from Aunt Mary and Uncle Greg. As always, the crawfish and the company were perfect.
Carlos and I caught up with, among other people, my 41-year-old cousin Paul who is battling colon cancer, which has also somehow attached to his liver. He seems very upbeat about the whole thing - even though he is about a month into chemotherapy. We'll see. I think it'll turn out okay.
My parents were in Eldora, Iowa for my dad's cousin's wedding. My mom hated to miss Mother's Day, but she said 45+ years ago, when my parents first got together, that since my dad was willing to move to New Orleans for her, she would attend all his family events. (My dad grew up in Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale, Illinois - and his parents are from Iowa.) I bet the wedding was on a farm.
Christine and I were discussing the fact that mom wasn't at today's event.
ME: Did you call mom today? I called her right before I got to your house.
SIS: No, but I will right now. I sent her a Mother's Day card next day air so she'll get it tomorrow in Milwaukee, where they'll be.
ME: I bought her a card - and Carol Burnett's new autobiography, which I will leave on mom's coffee table for her to see when she returns.
Sibling rivalry never truly dies.
Carlos and I caught up with, among other people, my 41-year-old cousin Paul who is battling colon cancer, which has also somehow attached to his liver. He seems very upbeat about the whole thing - even though he is about a month into chemotherapy. We'll see. I think it'll turn out okay.
My parents were in Eldora, Iowa for my dad's cousin's wedding. My mom hated to miss Mother's Day, but she said 45+ years ago, when my parents first got together, that since my dad was willing to move to New Orleans for her, she would attend all his family events. (My dad grew up in Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale, Illinois - and his parents are from Iowa.) I bet the wedding was on a farm.
Christine and I were discussing the fact that mom wasn't at today's event.
ME: Did you call mom today? I called her right before I got to your house.
SIS: No, but I will right now. I sent her a Mother's Day card next day air so she'll get it tomorrow in Milwaukee, where they'll be.
ME: I bought her a card - and Carol Burnett's new autobiography, which I will leave on mom's coffee table for her to see when she returns.
Sibling rivalry never truly dies.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Music Wandering
As Pandora does for you automatically, tonight I started with one song that I love – and let the song guide me through the rest of my night.
At least in my mind, the prior song prompted me toward the next one. It may have been a memory from my past or a trigger within the song, but the playlist flowed naturally for me.
Here are the songs I wandered through this evening. Find the songs on LimeWire or YouTube. And make your own journey.
(The first song) Beds Are Burning – Midnight Oil
Wire – U2
Tempted – Squeeze
Tom Sawyer (DJ Z Trip Remix) – Rush
Romeo’s Tune – Steve Forbert
Shelter – Lone Justice
I’ll Be Your Shelter – Taylor Dayne
You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
Shelter - Ray LaMontagne
Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan
Blue On Black – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Hope It Gives You Hell – The All-American Rejects
Ledbetter Heights – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Riot Van - Arctic Monkeys
Supernova – Liz Phair
Cotton Fields – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Send The Pain Below – Chevelle
Woman - Wolfmother
Son’s Gonna Rise – Citizen Cope
John Lennon – Citizen Cope
Bullet and a Target – Citizen Cope
And then I stopped. I thought that song was a good spot.
Here are the videos of a few of the above tunes…
Beds Are Burning – Midnight Oil
Romeo’s Tune by Steve Forbert
You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
Blue On Black by Kenny Wayne Shepherd (an acoustic version)
I make at least one mixed CD per month – and this is how I pick the songs: I throw enough stream-of-consciousness darts at the wall and see which ones I like best.
Of all the songs I went through above, only three made it onto my May 2010 Super Mix. Which ones do you think? (Hint: I have NEVER put U2 – my all-time favorite artist - on any mixed CD ever. They just seem too personal to me to share.)
At least in my mind, the prior song prompted me toward the next one. It may have been a memory from my past or a trigger within the song, but the playlist flowed naturally for me.
Here are the songs I wandered through this evening. Find the songs on LimeWire or YouTube. And make your own journey.
(The first song) Beds Are Burning – Midnight Oil
Wire – U2
Tempted – Squeeze
Tom Sawyer (DJ Z Trip Remix) – Rush
Romeo’s Tune – Steve Forbert
Shelter – Lone Justice
I’ll Be Your Shelter – Taylor Dayne
You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
Shelter - Ray LaMontagne
Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan
Blue On Black – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Hope It Gives You Hell – The All-American Rejects
Ledbetter Heights – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Riot Van - Arctic Monkeys
Supernova – Liz Phair
Cotton Fields – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Send The Pain Below – Chevelle
Woman - Wolfmother
Son’s Gonna Rise – Citizen Cope
John Lennon – Citizen Cope
Bullet and a Target – Citizen Cope
And then I stopped. I thought that song was a good spot.
Here are the videos of a few of the above tunes…
Beds Are Burning – Midnight Oil
Romeo’s Tune by Steve Forbert
You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
Blue On Black by Kenny Wayne Shepherd (an acoustic version)
I make at least one mixed CD per month – and this is how I pick the songs: I throw enough stream-of-consciousness darts at the wall and see which ones I like best.
Of all the songs I went through above, only three made it onto my May 2010 Super Mix. Which ones do you think? (Hint: I have NEVER put U2 – my all-time favorite artist - on any mixed CD ever. They just seem too personal to me to share.)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Jazz Fest 2010 - Day 1
This year, Carlos and I were planning on going to Jazz Fest only one day, the "second Friday" as people in New Orleans call it - Friday, April 30. Then I found out that Jonny Lang was playing the "first Sunday" in the Blues Tent. He's been one of my favorite artists since his first album in 1995. (My blog is named after one of his songs.)
I last saw him in a small bar in Biloxi in 1996 and I have wanted to see him again ever since.
He put on a great show! I'm hoping it's one of the shows that will be available at Jazz Fest Live soon. (He has also released a live CD earlier this year.)
Jonny Lang (right) didn't play until 5:40 pm. Since Carlos and I got to Jazz Fest around 11 am, we had plenty of time to walk around and see all the other things.
On Debbie's recommendation, we first saw Miss Sophie Lee. Her boyfriend Bart plays piano with the band. (He also plays guitar, accordion, and probably many other instruments.)
We spent the next hour or so eating our way through the food booths. I started with a Crawfish Pie and a huge tea, and finished with a Cuban Sandwich.
Our friend Julie works at the company that produces the Jazz Fest posters so she was manning the poster booth. We visited with her for awhile (and got some much needed shade). Because of her job, she was also able to get us free tickets to the Fest! (For next Friday's Fest, I bought $25 tickets from my employee Pat's friend. The tickets are usually $45 to $60 plus fees.)
Carlos wanted to see one of the cooking demonstrations. (Read: Sit in the shade, drink iced tea and wait for the free taste servings of the demonstration food.) We saw the 1:30 show of [something I can't remember now] and the 3:00 show of Jambalaya.
After walking through the craft booths (in the hot sun!), Carlos had a brilliant idea: see the band playing in the (indoor, air conditioned) grandstands. It turned out to be the Imagination Movers so the audience was full of parents and kids under 5.
Carlos then wanted to make a full circle around the outside of the track, to sample all the other music playing. We heard a small part of The Levon Helm Band, Juan Luis Guerra (where we ran into our new mayor Mitch Landrieu and the new President of Honduras, smiling for photographers and surrounded by body guards), The Radiators and the Blind Boys of Alabama. We had to ask someone who the guy with Mitch Landrieu was. I told Carlos, who moved from Honduras at age 8, that I thought he should know who he was. He disagreed.
Now refreshed, we wandered over to Jonny Lang. Then, sunburned and pooped, we made our way home.
Overall, a great day.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Hobbies
Carlos and I are still cultivating our love of cooking. Last night, we made:
Shaved Raw Asparagus with Parmesan Dressing (very good!)
Mushroom Meatloaf (bland - but I have a solution for next time)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (ditto)
We are hosting our Monthly Family dinner next Sunday (May 2) so are trying to perfect the menu. I think we'll serve all of the above, working on the seasoning. Carlos is going to come up with a nice dessert that mixes well with the other dishes.
I have picked up two new hobbies recently.
New Hobby #1 - Genealogy. During our Katrina evacuation, I bought a family tree program, but never took it out of the box. I finally did earlier this month. My dad's mom (who had 8 brothers and who died at 98 in 2003) kept great family records. I added all her research into my program.
Then I started with my mom's dad, who died in 2004. I was able to trace back to my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather (Christophe Mequet) who was born in 1700 in France. My method: Using the relatives I already knew, I searched the internet for other people who have published family trees with my relatives included. I found my great grandfather (Hector Mequet) in this family tree.
My next goals:
1) Find out if any of my relatives fought in the Civil War.
2) Prove or disprove the long-standing family legend that my grandfather's grandparents were first cousins.
3) Prove or disprove the long-standing family legend that, along those same family lines, that we have black relatives.
4) Find pictures of as many relatives as possible.
New Hobby #2 - Gardening
I have had "Start a garden" on my To Do list for many years. This past weekend, motivated by my brother-in-law Jeff who planted a tomato garden when I was in Atlanta recently visiting, I finally got around to it. Here are pictures on Day 0 - before anything was started, and Day 1 - minutes after everything was planted.
The garden consists of:
Cucumbers
Green Bell Peppers
Red Bell Peppers
Yellow Bell Peppers
Orange Bell Peppers
According to the packaging, I'll have food in 75 days. I'll post updated pictures soon.
Shaved Raw Asparagus with Parmesan Dressing (very good!)
Mushroom Meatloaf (bland - but I have a solution for next time)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (ditto)
We are hosting our Monthly Family dinner next Sunday (May 2) so are trying to perfect the menu. I think we'll serve all of the above, working on the seasoning. Carlos is going to come up with a nice dessert that mixes well with the other dishes.
I have picked up two new hobbies recently.
New Hobby #1 - Genealogy. During our Katrina evacuation, I bought a family tree program, but never took it out of the box. I finally did earlier this month. My dad's mom (who had 8 brothers and who died at 98 in 2003) kept great family records. I added all her research into my program.
Then I started with my mom's dad, who died in 2004. I was able to trace back to my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather (Christophe Mequet) who was born in 1700 in France. My method: Using the relatives I already knew, I searched the internet for other people who have published family trees with my relatives included. I found my great grandfather (Hector Mequet) in this family tree.
My next goals:
1) Find out if any of my relatives fought in the Civil War.
2) Prove or disprove the long-standing family legend that my grandfather's grandparents were first cousins.
3) Prove or disprove the long-standing family legend that, along those same family lines, that we have black relatives.
4) Find pictures of as many relatives as possible.
New Hobby #2 - Gardening
I have had "Start a garden" on my To Do list for many years. This past weekend, motivated by my brother-in-law Jeff who planted a tomato garden when I was in Atlanta recently visiting, I finally got around to it. Here are pictures on Day 0 - before anything was started, and Day 1 - minutes after everything was planted.
The garden consists of:
Cucumbers
Green Bell Peppers
Red Bell Peppers
Yellow Bell Peppers
Orange Bell Peppers
According to the packaging, I'll have food in 75 days. I'll post updated pictures soon.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Recipe: Shrimp Mushroom Casserole
I made this dish for Carlos last week and we both loved it. Carlos hated mushrooms before we started dating. He’s come a long way. (He’s still not really a fan of them raw in salads – yet.)
½ onion, finely chopped
½ sweet bell pepper, finely chopped
4 shallots, finely chopped
4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
1 ½ cups light cream
½ tsp celery salt
½ tsp white pepper
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp salt
Slight pinch of cayenne pepper
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
¼ lb mushrooms, sliced
2 lbs peeled and deveined shrimp, cooked in salted water
Seasoned bread crumbs
Sauté the onion, pepper, and shallots in the butter over low heat until tender. (Do not brown.) Add the flour and mix well. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients, except the bread crumbs. Stir together and pour into a well-buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top, and bake for about 20 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven.
Serves six to eight people.
The recipe is from this book. This is the first recipe that I have made from this book. Once I use it more, I’ll let you know if it’s worth buying.
Bon Appétit!
½ onion, finely chopped
½ sweet bell pepper, finely chopped
4 shallots, finely chopped
4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
1 ½ cups light cream
½ tsp celery salt
½ tsp white pepper
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp salt
Slight pinch of cayenne pepper
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
¼ lb mushrooms, sliced
2 lbs peeled and deveined shrimp, cooked in salted water
Seasoned bread crumbs
Sauté the onion, pepper, and shallots in the butter over low heat until tender. (Do not brown.) Add the flour and mix well. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients, except the bread crumbs. Stir together and pour into a well-buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top, and bake for about 20 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven.
Serves six to eight people.
The recipe is from this book. This is the first recipe that I have made from this book. Once I use it more, I’ll let you know if it’s worth buying.
Bon Appétit!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Obama orders hospital visitation rights for gays, lesbians
Washington (CNN) -- President Obama has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a rule that would prevent hospitals from denying visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners.
The president's Thursday memo said, "There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. ... Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides."
Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by relatives-only policies at hospitals, Obama said, adding that they "are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives -- unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."
When Lisa Pond collapsed during a family vacation in Florida three years ago, her partner of 17 years was kept away from her hospital room.
Janice Langbehn begged and waited for hours to stand by Pond's bedside at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, but it wasn't until her partner's sister arrived that she got any information. In the end, the person Pond was closest to was relegated to a waiting room as she died from an aneurysm.
"To hold Lisa's hand wasn't a gay right, it was a human right," Langbehn told CNN on Thursday.
Obama requested that the regulation make clear that any hospital receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, which includes the vast majority of U.S. hospitals, must allow patients to decide who can visit them and prohibit discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
Read the rest of the article here.
The president's Thursday memo said, "There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. ... Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides."
Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by relatives-only policies at hospitals, Obama said, adding that they "are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives -- unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."
When Lisa Pond collapsed during a family vacation in Florida three years ago, her partner of 17 years was kept away from her hospital room.
Janice Langbehn begged and waited for hours to stand by Pond's bedside at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, but it wasn't until her partner's sister arrived that she got any information. In the end, the person Pond was closest to was relegated to a waiting room as she died from an aneurysm.
"To hold Lisa's hand wasn't a gay right, it was a human right," Langbehn told CNN on Thursday.
Obama requested that the regulation make clear that any hospital receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, which includes the vast majority of U.S. hospitals, must allow patients to decide who can visit them and prohibit discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
Read the rest of the article here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)