Time out to acknowledge the world around me

After my flurry of productivity, I've realized that I need to speak to my supervisor before proceeding. Aaaand she's in a meeting. So I'm back (isn't it wonderful?) and thought I'd comment on my President's address to Congress on health care reform.

The Good:

• Gotta be one of his best speeches yet. It just felt good to listen to, and had I not been analyzing him (thanks to Mom's skepticism mostly) I would have been totally swept away.
• He finally laid out what he considers to be essential to the plan, and dispelled a lot of myths. Although, some were so ludicrous I still can't believe anyone bought it. Death panels?! Really guys, come on now.
• I agree with the plan (the broad strokes of it at least), and think that it would do what I feel should be the main goal- make sure everyone has access to coverage.
• We're further along on this issue than ever before, and congress agrees on 80% of the content.
• Senator Kennedy's wife seemed so touched.
• Lady O looked lovely, per usual.
  

The Bad:

• That other 20% is killer.
  
• Things are still a bit fuzzy for me. I think it's partly because Congress is doing the law writing, but I wish we'd gotten more details.
• I have a hard time believing this won't cost us a lot. Saying that the deficit won't increase seems deceptive, because I suspect premiums will still rise. On the other hand, I think it may be worth the initial cost for greater rewards later. But I hope we're being honest about it.
  
• The public option (option, not takeover folks) seems really important to me, and we might be losing it.
•  I have mixed feelings about invoking Senator Kennedy's legacy. I think it was effective and tasteful, but I always hesitate when we use those who have passed on to get anything done, even if they would support the legislation.
  

The Ugly:

• Representative Joe Wilson. Enough said.
• Actually this image says it better:

The Beautiful:

• My President will Call.You.Out. Loved it.
  

Just a sidenote: between Joe Jackson and Joe Wilson, it's like all the Joe's in the world got together mid-summer and said "Hey, let's just make *sses out of ourselves in public. Ready? GO!" Clearly they both need more people.

Home Training

A list of things I wish people agreed with me on:

1. Please and thank you really are the magic words.
   
2. Unless they're wide open, I like to knock on suite doors and expect others to do the same.
   
3. I like to speak to people, and get made fun of for checking in all the time, but asking "how was your day?" is second nature to me. Besides the fact that it's polite and kind, it's the quickest way to find out interesting things about a person. You learn if people are pessimists or optimists, what they find important, or at least they're short term-memory capacity if you consistently ask this simple question and wait for the answer. And it's much more natural (at least to me) than contrived getting to know you questions about family background.
   
4. Hand in hand with the importance of speaking to people is listening and acknowledging that I've heard someone rather than ignoring them. Just because I don't feel as though something applies directly to me, or do not usually have conversation with someone, doesn't mean I get to invalidate what they're saying by pretending I cannot hear it when they are a few feet away and project and enunciate well.
   
5. If I am cooking in my suite, it's not required, but is definitely kind, to ask if anyone wants some. In my world, breakfast is not made and given to neighbors before the people in the room have a chance at the french toast.
6. Along those lines, if taking food that I have not had a hand in preparing, paying for, etc., I try and show gratitude. At the very least by saying hello to everyone who may have had a hand in the purchase and prep (i.e. the people in the suite). A thank you to the cook is also nice. Taking cookies without a hello and walking out is not nice.
   
7. I've always thought gossiping about one's friends was impolite. Or one's something other than friends for that matter.
8. Hypocrisy in general is unkind.
   
9. Carrying on a conversation as though others are not in the room and using pronouns so they don't understand exactly what's happening makes the anti-Sam's-ideal-manners list as well.
   
10. Talking through television and movies because they are not important to you is also not the most considerate thing.
11. Everyone should clean their own hair from the shower drain and take responsibility for their mess in general. Beyond manners, this keeps us from living in a collective pig sty since we have not paid for a cleaning crew.

I'm sure I could offer more explanation as to the source of this list, but that may lead me into some impolite territory of my own. So, I'll let it stand.

Have a nice day.