UK Elections - A Taste of America's Style, Really

Dr. Nafeez Ahmed, a political scientist in the UK, wrote a blog the other day entitled  Election Saturation that caught my eye. This year, the three candidates for Prime Minister decided to engage in American-style televised TV debates.  Dr. Ahmed writes: 

Nothing new in the debate, no meaningful elaboration of anything that’s been said, but instead each leader standing behind the firing line, indulging in the same banal repetition of exactly the same slogans and quick-fix supposed ‘policy’ solutions to micro-issues, without ever even daring to address the real fundamental problems we, and the world, are now facing. Indeed, nothing really seems to be any clearer than it was before the debates started. Now we have a better idea of who wants power. But most people still don’t feel like the debates have helped them make their minds up. In fact, many people feel more confused than ever.

Welcome to American-style polictics!  It was bound to happen that with the internet and satellite television that the 24-hour news cycle would spill over to infect the rest of the world.  The only saving grace in the UK is that this particular election cycle lasts for only 3 weeks.  And since the Prime Minister is the one who calls for elections, it is not clear when the next election will be.  Here in the US, it feels like our politicians are now in "campaign mode" all the time.  They get sworn into office and immediately start working towards their re-election.


I'm not saying anything original when I blame this constant electioneering on the rise of the 24 hour cable news shows and the decline in viewership of the big 3 TV networks.  Reporters and talk show hosts are clamoring for information to fill the on-air hours.  Anyone with an opinion, regardless of expertise, is fair game to be interviewed and spout off on the "story of the hour".  Some networks have gone as far as organizing and/or sponsoring events just so they can cover them!


Politicians are caught up in the quest to seem relevant and current and to have an instant opinion.  I think that is why it is easier for some to just follow the party line.  They don't have time to mull over information and ideas to grasp the overall concept and decide what their true opinion might be.  


Our candidates now have to be more "telegenic" than intelligent, with a true triumph of style over substance.  I think we are using natural selection to weed out the thinkers, the deliberators, the compromisers and the quietly competent.  Our founding fathers would be soundly defeated if they were to stand for election today.  They would not be given the time to deliberate the big picture and the long term consequences of the Constitution.  Henry Clay, the "Great Compromiser" would be portrayed as a flip-flopper.


What's the solution?  Americans (and clearly, other citizens of the world) need to stand up and say "enough is enough"!  We need to demand that our news outlets give us the facts and not opinions.   We need to question what we hear and not swallow it hook, line and sinker.  We need to stand up against half truths, hypocrisy and obfuscation.  We need to expect that the experts actually have credentials when they give commentary.  Truly, we all need to go into rehab for "news addiction" to break the 24-hour news/infotainment cycle.


The first step is to act like Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler on Saturday Night Live and ask "Really?".  Is that really breaking news?  Is that person really qualified to talk on the subject?   Are those really the facts?  What does that really mean to me?


If we all take that first step, we will be one step closer to thinking for ourselves and to shaping our country the way we really want it to be.

...of minimizing visits to your vet!

I was just reading this article (I love you, but we need to spend more time apart!) about what to do to keep your horse in good condition to avoid extra visits to the veterinarian. It got me thinking about what dog owners should do to keep their dogs in peak condition, too. What would you add to my list? How about you cat owners? What should you do for the kitties?

Keeping dogs healthy on a daily basis(in no particular order):

1) Daily exercise - just 15 minutes of exercise per day will extend the healthy life of your dog. Exercise can be a walk, a run, a game of chase or fetch, or whatever your dogs enjoys that gets him moving.

2) Fresh water - the water bowl should be replenished with fresh water at least once a day. Make sure your dog has access to water as much as possible. It's good for them and it helps flush toxicants out of their systems.


3) Feed the best food you can afford. Consider supplementing your dog's diet with vegetables and fruit to help give him a natural source of vitamins. Just like we should do, try to cut back on the processed food in your dog's diet.

4) Give each dog in your household individual attention every day. Get to know her special personality. Brush her coat (and her teeth!) and check her over for lumps and bumps and look in her ears, and even practice a few obedience commands. Just a few minutes a day will increase your bond with her and will help you discover any issues more quickly.

5) Feed your dog once or twice a day (instead of free-feeding) and watch him eat. Learn his eating pattern so that you can tell quickly when he is losing his appetite or may have trouble chewing or swallowing. This will also help him to be on a regular "potty" schedule, too.

6) Establish a routine. Dogs prefer routine. Get in a habit of doing the above every day.

7) Once a week, check your dog's leash and collar, his toys, bedding, the fence, the yard, your house, etc. for anything hazards. Make sure the collar fits properly, that the ID tags are not ready to fall off (or already missing!) and that the buckle works properly. Make sure your leash isn't frayed and about to break with one good tug. Check your fence for breaks or holes being dug. Make sure toys and bedding aren't coming apart so he won't choke on parts or swallow something he shouldn't. Ensure that his crate closes securely. Finally, make a sweep of your house and remove all potential hazards from dog level.

Just a few minutes a day can keep your dog healthy and happy and out of the vet's office. Although we love our vets  (shout out to Drs. Tom and Sue at East Hilliard Veterinary Services !) , let's try to keep our interactions to annual check-ups and holiday greeting cards!!

Roll Over or Get Tough? My choice is for Time Warner Cable is to Get Tough on Itself!

Time Warner Cable, my local (and only cable) provider is in contract negotiations with several TV networks for programming.  Time Warner (TWC) states on their "Roll Over or Get Tough" website, that some of these networks are demanding increases of up to 300%.   They are asking customers to tell them if they should "Roll Over" and accept the increases or "Get Tough".  Not surprising, rolling over means price increases to the customer and the potential of losing favorite shows (although if TWC 'rolls over', why would the shows go away?).  Equally not surprising, the website encourages the "Get Tough" option, even when you choose "Roll Over".

Without knowing what channels are involved or what a 300% increase really means, I can't voice an opinion on whether TWC should get tough, roll over or even sit and stay.  Perhaps the 300% increase brings those particular networks into alignment with what other networks are already charging.  Maybe the current contracts with these networks unfairly favor TWC.  Maybe these networks have really improved their programming and the shows are more costly to produce.  TWC doesn't tell us any rationale for the increases (other than price-gouging) nor do they indicate what shows may be involved.

As a customer, I don't really care what TWC has to pay to its program providers. TWC's sole purpose is negotiate with said providers and deliver a programming package that is attractive to the consumer.    I don't like that TWC is dragging its customers into this by threatening them with price increases or loss of favorite shows.  On the "Roll Over or Get Tough" website, TWC declares that these TV networks are being unfair, especially in today's economy, and will hold our TVs hostage.   Actually, TWC is the one holding us hostage.  Why should TWC automatically pass the increases on to us?   If they feel that, in this economy, customers can't or won't pay more, then TWC needs to look at ways to become more efficient and to reduce their own overhead.  One way would be to stop producing and mailing the monthly channel guide. It serves no purpose when a searchable program guide is located right on the television! And the same information can be found for free in the local newspaper or on the internet. TWC could stop being redundant and at the same time,  use that reduction to offset increased programming costs.

Another way to reduce overhead would be to cut back on TWC's media budget.  It seems that TWC often runs public (and expensive) campaigns against the TV networks whenever the TV networks want to change the status quo. TWC did this with the Big Ten Network a few years ago. They certainly could save a lot of money on advertising if they stopped this behavior.


If it weren't for the fact that TWC faces little or no market competition , they would not be able to use us, their customers, as a club to bully the TV networks into doing their bidding.  It's a win-win for TWC....either the TV networks roll over or TWC gets tough on its current customers. 

So, Time Warner Cable, my opinion is for you to get tough, quit whining about the cost of doing business, and expend some of that energy at trying to improve your costs, your service and your relationshiop with your customers.  Or we will be rolling (our mouses) over our web browsers to watch our favorite programs on-line.

Amy

H1N1 Vaccine Controversy

Just yesterday a friend of mine was contemplating cancelling an appointment for her two young children with the pediatrician to get H1N1 flu shots.  When I asked her why she would cancel, she said that she was concerned about the safety of the vaccine, that it hadn't been tested enough and that the risk of H1N1 to her kids really wasn't that great compared to the seasonal flu.  When I explained to her that:

1) a vaccine shot is made up of the inactivated virus and a carrier and that the H1N1 vaccine is made with the same process that has been used for the seasonal flu shot for years.

2) the main side effects from the H1N1 shot will be the same for the seasonal flu shot - irritation, redness and/or soreness at the injection site and a possible allergic reaction to the egg albumin in the carrier.  If you have a seasonal flu shot before, your risk for the H1N1 flu shot will be similar

3)although H1N1 is a new virus for us, the vaccine has been tested for a long time.  By this I mean that the carrier has been tested and monitored for many years (see #1 above).  The virus in the vaccine is inactivated (killed) and a person cannot contract H1N1 from the shot itself.

4)as far as the risk of kids contracting H1N1, the following facts are known....flu activity is much higher so far this year than in other years...this a bit worrisome because fluu season is typically from December to May...H1N1 has more of an effect on children and people under the age of 65 than does the seasonal flu...Ohio (where we live) is one of the states currently reporting widespread flu activity. 

my friend said that was the information she needed to hear.  She said that her pediatrician also said the vaccine was safe but media reporting on the "vaccine controversy" had caused her to have doubts.

What I don't understand is why an intelligent, caring person like my friend would begin to question something that was designed to protect her children despite the fact that her pediatrician assured her it was safe.  Why does someone start to disreguard the opinion of a trained professional for that of someone in the media?  It's no mystery that the "media reporting" she referred to was coming from Glenn Beck and his ilk at Fox News.   I don't have a problem with Mr. Beck expressing his own opinion about the H1N1 vaccine.  I just don't want people to blindly accept everything he says.  THINK FOR YOURSELF, PEOPLE!   Listen to what is being said and then dig for the facts from a trusted source.  There is excellent information on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  They have pages dedicated to H1N1.  You can very quickly and easily find answers to just about any question you may have.  You can even read the transcript from press conferences with the media and see the questions the reporters asked and read the answers for yourself.  There is a separate site for information on vaccine safety.  You can become well-informed on H1N1 and the vaccine in the time it would take you to pursue the online Land's End catalog for the latest outerwear! 

I'm not saying you shouldn't watch Fox News or listen to Rush Limbaugh.   Just take the time to do a gut check and THINK FOR YOURSELF!  Don't let someone (with a hidden agenda) keep you from doing what's right for you and your family.  Being informed is truly the American way!