Saturday, August 31, 2019

End of the Week Follow Up

How'd I do?

Physical therapy ~ Done

Walk ~ Done

Scripture study ~ Done

Re-writes ~ Closer to done

Read ~ Done

Eat healthy ~ Nicely done

Good sleep ~ Mostly done but a couple bad nights

Errands ~ Done

Make something fun ~ Nope, maybe next week

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Thursday, August 29, 2019

REAL Week 526

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:
Right up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. My pushups are against the wall.

Using 1, 2, and/or 4-lb weights:
PT ~ Physical therapy
UBP ~ Upper body exercises, pushups, and chair sits against the wall

SEALFit shared some good hints I want to learn and remember:

23: 1/2+ mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

24: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch 

25: Rest

26: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

27: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb 
x5 Stretch

28: 1+ mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

29: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Brain Dump

This was posted on a friend's social media. I politely chose not to respond. They're allowed to believe what they want. I'm not the thought police. I needed to explore each topic, to explain to myself what I believe and why:

2. I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Somehow that's interpreted as "I believe Obamacare is the end-all, be-all." This is not the case. I'm fully aware that the ACA has problems, that a national healthcare system would require everyone to chip in, and that it's impossible to create one that is devoid of flaws, but I have yet to hear an argument against it that makes "let people die because they can't afford healthcare" a better alternative. I believe healthcare should be far cheaper than it is, and that everyone should have access to it. And no, I'm not opposed to paying higher taxes in the name of making that happen.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are rights. These are given by God. No one needs to ask permission or pay a fee. Granted, over the years, Americans have managed to put a price on all three but that's a flaw in human nature not in God's plan. 

Anything that requires consent is not a right. Healthcare services are not a right: Healthcare services are a contract of consent. You are contracting with a nurse, doctor, drug store, hospital for their services. Throw in the government, and you have a whole extra layer of people, which means paychecks and benefits. How is that going to be cheaper?

As to Obamacare, it could be seen as a trial run. You say you know that Obamacare has problems, and then you say you want to put Obamacare on steroids and pretend it will solve all the same healthcare problems that the first one failed to solveSo what you're saying is that the Obamacare claims were lies and failed to deliver. Adding more money and people to an already problematic system will only create more problems.

You don't want to be painted in a certain light and then do exactly that with those that don't agree with you. Accusing people who don't want the government involved in healthcare of wanting people to die is manipulative and a lie. If I believed Universal Healthcare would save more lives, I'd support it. I don't believe it, and no honest evidence exists that says it will. Do you seriously think people won't die under universal healthcare because they can't afford treatment?

Under Obamacare, I know a number of people who lost their medication that worked because it was too expensive to be covered. The government will decide what's affordable and what isn't. Congress members fly on private jets, at taxpayer expense; do they fly you around on a private jet? You still think people won't go without treatment?

Many doctors left the field under "Obamacare" because they couldn't afford to continue to work. One doctor, after factoring in all his expenses and what the government would pay for his services, showed that he would have to pay to see patients. With a shortage of doctors, people will go without treatment. How is more government going to improve that?

Cheaper under government control? "Obamacare" added 160 new departments. That means people who have to be paid and covered by insurance and other benefits, not 160 people but hundreds of people. Medicare 4 All will add even more departments and more people to pay and cover with paychecks and benefits at taxpayer expense, and that's before anyone sees a healthcare provider. Do the homework on the countries with government controlled healthcare that are going to a free-market system, because the government can't afford to pay for everyone. Wait lists of months instead of weeks is the norm. Surgeries are cancelled because of a lack of funding. People going without treatment.

If you want to pay higher taxes, feel free. Check the little box on your IRS form and send the money in. Forcing others to do what you think is right is enslaving them to your way of thinking.

For the record, we have a national healthcare system called the VA. Some veterans have received excellent care. Others have died waiting months for a first appointment. What makes anyone think the government will improve if you add millions of more people?

How can anyone believe that government will make anything cheaper? Why does anyone see the government as benevolent? Why does anyone believe those in government saying Medicare 4 All magically will be affordable? Medicare 4 All is not Free healthcare. It will be funded by the taxpayer. The taxpayers are over 24 trillion in debt. The current entire annual budget is $4 trillion. Medicare 4 All alone is projected to cost almost $3 trillion annually, by the millionaires proposing it who are also saying that they won't raise taxes on the middle class. Who in their right mind thinks this is feasible?

"If you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan." Lie
"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor." Lie
"Your insurance will cost less." Lie

The lies are being repeated. What disturbs me is that there are people who believe it will be different this time.

You want to do something? Start a nonprofit. Others have done it. Or find one already in existence you like and contribute to it. St. Jude and Shriners hospitals have variations on not charging for services. The Ronald McDonald Houses give families a place to stay while children are going through treatment. Check Charity Navigator to see how the charities rate. 

For the record, Goodwill is not a charity; it is a For Profit company. This does not change the fact that they teach job skills and hire the often unemployable. They work with local schools to help students learn how to write a resume and interview.

Do the homework. 

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

One Day Follow Up

How'd I do, so far?

Physical therapy ~ So far so good

Walk ~ So far so good

Scripture study ~ So far so good

Re-writes ~ So far so good

Read ~ So far so good

Eat healthy ~ So far so good

Good sleep ~ So far so good

Errands ~ Not yet

Make something fun ~ Not yet

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Monday, August 26, 2019

Carpe Diem

What needs to be done?

Physical therapy

Walk

Scripture study

Re-writes

Read

Eat healthy

Good sleep

Errands

Make something fun

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Saturday, August 24, 2019

End of the Week Follow Up

How'd I do?

Physical therapy ~ Done

Walk ~ Done

Scripture study ~ Done

Re-writes ~ More done than it was at the beginning of the week

Read ~ Done

Eat healthy ~ Much improved

Good sleep ~ Success some nights and utter failure others

Errands ~ Done

Make something for fun ~ Family friends brought banana bread, so waited to do this.

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Friday, August 23, 2019

Brain Dump

On a friend's social media, I politely chose not to respond. They're allowed to believe what they want. I'm not the thought police. I needed to explore each topic, to explain to myself what I believe and why:

1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. Period.

The churches used to do this. Was it done perfectly? No. Government has made it increasingly difficult for people to help. They've shut down soup kitchens, stopped many stores and restaurants from giving away leftovers, and banned people and churches from bringing food to the homeless.

Pretending the government will accomplish this task is living in fantasy land. It's failed spectacularly so far. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The government costs exponentially more. If all the money given to the government for the war on poverty ($22 trillion) were equally distributed to every person in America (329 million), cutting out the government, each and every person would be given $67,000. The government wastes billions of dollars, losing it, without a trace.

If you could keep more of your money, what would you do with it?

Using shaming language "should" "call itself civilized" is manipulating emotions. The only ones who are going to feel guilty are those who are already doing what they're able and then some.

Sorry, but you can't legislate morality, and yes, taking care of others is a moral issue. It is a Judeo-Christian concept, the whole "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Some other cultures also aspire to this idea but many do not. Many believe that you are clever and superior if you can steal from and/or trick others. Mix those two cultures together, and it gets really messy.

Jesus charged us, as individuals, to take care of the poor, the orphans, the widows.

Why wait for the government to do a slipshod job? Be the change you want to see! Encourage others to follow your example. Be a shining light on a hill.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

REAL Week 525

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:
Right up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. My pushups are against the wall.

Using 1, 2, and/or 4-lb weights:
PT ~ Physical therapy
UBP ~ Upper body exercises, pushups, and chair sits against the wall

SEALFit shared some good hints I want to learn and remember:

16: longer short walks PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch a little yard work

17: longer short walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch 

18: Rest

19: 1/4-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch Defrosted fridge 

20: 1/4+ mile walk PT UBP 0-lb 
x5 Stretch

21: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

22: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

Welcome Good Friday

Jesus endured suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, an unjust trial, beating, flogging, a crown of thorns, a grueling walk carrying the cro...