Good For Bezos and Buffett

Jeff Bezos of Amazon is joining with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase in a bid to slash health care costs for their 1.1 million employees by combining resources to create an independent company that will initially focus on “technology solutions” to provide “high-quality and transparent health care at a reasonable cost.”  

All of this on the heels of Amazon’s announcement that they will be getting into the prescription drug business.  The news delivered a $69 billion body blow to stocks across the healthcare sector.  The health insurance companies and drug companies are already squawking.

Healthcare executives and investors in the $3.47 trillion industry quickly responded.  Among stocks in the drug supply chain, Express Scripts Holding Co was down 3.3 percent drug-store chain CVS Health Corp was down 4.1 percent, and pharmaceutical distributor McKesson Corp was down 3 percent. Health insurance stocks also took a hit.  Cigna Corp was down 7.2 percent, Anthem Inc  down 5.3 percent and UnitedHealth Group declined 4.2 percent.

I say good for Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos.  Health insurance companies, drug companies and Congress have been screwing us long enough, putting profit ahead of people. 

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Neon Of Days Past

One month ago to the day when we were in Yuma we had another chance to see the historic Hotel San Carlos.  From the first time I saw it last year I've been fascinated with the art deco building, imagining what it was like in its day with all the celebrities staying there and hobnobbing in the coffee shop.

One evening I stopped to talk with a couple of weathered old guys, who clearly had seen all that life has to offer, sitting on a bench in front of the hotel.  With limited income they now live in the low income units of the hotel.  I especially appreciate the spires on the building and when I commented on them the old guys said a short in the wiring had left them unlit, with no management intention of fixing the short.

The neon lights of the San Carlos lit up the entire street, beckoning travelers and wanderers in over the years. 

Because of the wiring problem, the grand San Carlos will no longer shine the wonderful neon of days past and that's a shame.

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Now Normal

As I've mentioned in the past, my wife is a retired teacher and our daughter is a teacher.  Whenever there is a news article about schools it gets my attention, as did the school shooting last week in Kentucky.  What struck me once again is how common place school shootings have become.   

•  Jan. 23: Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky

A 15-year-old boy opened fire inside the school, killing two and injuring 16.

•  Jan. 22: NET Charter High School in New Orleans, Louisiana

Someone driving by the school fired on a group of students in the parking lot. Only one boy was injured. 

•  Jan. 22: Italy High School in Italy, Texas

A 16-year-old boy shot a 15-year-old girl in the cafeteria. He was arrested and she was airlifted to a hospital, where she was “in good spirits” as of Tuesday.

•  Jan. 20: Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Following an argument, a 21-year-old Winston-Salem University student was shot and killed during a sorority event at Wake Forest University.

•  Jan. 15: Wiley College in Marshall, Texas

Two people in a car exchanged gunfire with a person in a dormitory parking lot. No one was injured, but a bullet was fired into a dorm room with three female students inside.

•  Jan. 10: Coronado Elementary School in Sierra Vista, Arizona

A 14-year-old died in a school bathroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

•  Jan. 10: Grayson College in Denison, Texas

A student confused a training weapon with a real one and fired a bullet through a classroom wall. No students were injured.

•  Jan. 10: California State University in San Bernardino, California

At least one shot was fired, shattering one classroom window. No students were injured.

•  Jan. 6: School bus in Forest City, Iowa

A 32-year-old man fired a pellet gun at a school bus, shattering one of the windows. No students were injured.

•  Jan. 4: New Start High School in Seattle, Washington

Two shots were fired at the school from outside the building. No students were injured.

•  Jan. 3: East Olive Elementary School in St. John, Michigan

A man standing in the school’s parking lot called 911 saying he was suicidal. He spoke with a county official for several hours on the phone, according to local media, but ultimately shot himself and died from a single gunshot wound.

Eleven school shootings just this January alone.  And the recent shooting in Kentucky was just a blip on the nightly news, forgotten in a day or two.  It is the now normal in Gun Amerika.

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Emboldened Causing Death

Do some members of the U.S. Border Patrol want illegal border crossers to die?

Why else would they destroy water supplies left in the desert by the humanitarian group No More Deaths?

According to a report compiled by the Tucson-based group, destruction of what would could be lifesaving water at makeshift aid stations by border patrol agents is widespread and routine.

No More Deaths says that about 3,500 gallons of water was destroyed over a three-year period.

The Border Patrol says such behavior is the bad action of a few rogue agents. The folks at No More Deaths believe the problem is bigger than that.

A Border Patrol spokesman says agents within the Tucson sector are told not to remove or destroy water stations or food left along trails, adding that those who disobey could face "corrective action."

The agents in the videos don’t seem to concerned about that, which makes you wonder about the culture of the organization.  (azcentral.com)

When does border enforcement knowingly cause deaths?  

There is no reason or justification for the border patrol to destroy humanitarian water supplies left in the desert.  

So long as the current administration continues an immigration campaign of misinformation and hate, the border patrol will be emboldened, causing the deaths of migrants in the desert.

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Lemonade Out Of Lemons

A Zambia tourism ad has responded to not-my-president Trump calling Africa "shithole countries."

Zambiatourism.com, which produced the ad, also advertised the country as a destination "where beautiful vistas and breathtaking wildlife are our trump card!" 

Making lemonade out of lemons.

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MLK, Jr.

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2018

We are back in Hope after enjoying our stay in Yuma.  We especially enjoyed the "happy hours" with George & Suzi and Patsy & Bill.  We look forward to seeing them at the big show in Quartzsite later this month.

We are hoping for a better 2018...

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