I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

IronJawedBCAngel

I like crawfish, but not as well as lobster.  I suspect the flavor difference for me is because of where they come from.  Ed has been fishing a local pond that they have stocked with trout, and it doesn't taste anywhere near as good as what I remember catching in the brook in Vermont.  I think living in a warmer muddier environment flavors the meat, but it is good! 

I love otters, but don't think I could join them in their sashimi.  My husband loves those survival shows, and this guy was eating a crawfish raw on an episode recently.  Made me squeamish.  If I can find my recipe, I'll post the recipe for crawfish and cheese grits.

otter

IJBCA, we had supper at a seafood restaurant (Wintzell's Oyster House) Wednesday night and I came that close to ordering cheese grits and... shrimp.  (I've had crawfish twice in the past week, so I deferred on that one this time.)  But the deep-fried jumbo shrimp looked too good to resist.  They tasted even better.

If you have a good recipe for cheese grits, though, I'd like to try it.

otter (hunkering down for some severe weather headed this way)

IronJawedBCAngel

Thinking curried shrimp for supper tonight!  Wish we had a really good seafood restaurant here, but Kentucky is just too far from the coast to have truly fresh seafood.

crazy4carrots

Seafood here tonight too -- mussels in a fennel cream sauce.  I wangled the recipe out of the chef at our favourite restaurant, and the secret ingredient is >>>>>fennel pollen!  There's a "pollen farm" (for want of a better description) in California that harvests pollen from various herbs and veggies like fennel, and sells them on-line.  The flavour is just stupendous and can't be duplicated.  A little goes a long, long way!  I also got a little container of dill pollen and will try it out on my Hungarian cucumber salad.

BarbaraA

Yum, Linda, that sounds divine! I went to Seasons 52 for lunch today and had goat cheese ravioli with light tomato cream sauce with asparagus, spinach and roasted red peppers. It was huge so that will be dinner also. Making myself hungry again.

crazy4carrots

Barbara -- I'll have some of that too!!!  My favourite flavours!

River_Rat

I ran across something that I think is pretty cool - let's you know where your Federal tax dollars go:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/taxreceipt 

River_Rat

An interesting chart:

 

BarbaraA

R_R, the chart is interesting in that I had a meeting with an Australian today and we discussed taxes. Their taxes are much lower and they do have national health care. BUT he did say that the vast  majority of people carry private insurance as the care is better. I found his comment also interesting.

crazy4carrots

Barbara -- It also means that no Australians go without access to medical care.  It would be interesting to hear from some of our Australian sisters about the cost of private insurance in comparison to U.S. costs.

Anonymous

Medigal wrote:

Shirley:  Aw, come on now "catching up with Medigal"??  How can you catch up with someone who can't prove how old she is?   But if you want to make it a race, you can win and be lots older as long as they let me keep my Medicare and Social Security.    I am really concerned about what they are stirring up in Washington with Medicare.  WE paid for that for YEARS while working and they have NO right to change it on us midstream.  Not that the politicians have a conscience or a brain about what they are doing.   Any of you who want to pay "more" taxes can pay my share.

Hey, Medigal.  "They" are not going to change midstream how we receive our Medicare.  Or SS. 

We'ver heard recently about GE not paying ANY taxes after earning over $5 billion profit here in the U.S. and another $9 billion out of the U.S.  I didn't realize that these huge corporations hire hundreds of tax lawyers in order to no pay taxes.  So, what do you think if our tax code changes?  I believe Obama's appointed, bipartisan Deficit Commission suggest 8%, 15% and 25% with NO tax deductions...no loopholes.

I sure hope the dishonest do not scare the seniors who are now receiving benefits into thinking they will be heating dog food.

Anonymous

Well of course the taxes are higher in other countries.  They have "free" healthcare, and whatever else they furnish.  But, has anyone noticed the riots in some of these countries because of the austerity measures that had to be taken?  C'mon.  As far as corporations and taxes that's another story. 

I agree with Medigal.  We need people in D.C. spending OUR money wisely.  Heck, it's easy to spend other people's money UNTIL it runs out!  I think most Americans are waking up and are getting tired of all the waste. 

bluedahlia

Is the U.S. the only country on that list that doesn't have "free" healthcare?

Wabbit

If so we need to add our health insurance premiums + our taxes to do a true comparison.

AnneW

The Scandinavians are rioting??

River_Rat

Barbara, we have good friends in Australia and they say that the private insurance covers extras like getting a better hospital room.  One of our friends had a stroke and got the best of care from the public portion, got the neurologist she wanted and everything.

When they visited here and one of their little ones got sick they couldn't believe how much it cost. 

White Rabbit - Too true, that would be a good comparison.

AnneW - Too funny. 

Wabbit

After itemized deductions my federal income taxes compute out to approximately 10% of gross income.  The flat tax proposal would actually be a significant tax increase.  I think most families with children would pay more if the child deductions and credits went away also.  If they do away with stuff like the non-taxable portion of SS benefits it would be a large increase for all seniors too. 

The 'idea' with basically doing away with Medicare and transitioning to private insurance is being said to be for all those who are under 55 now.  So I suppose I could say "I'm fine ... too bad for you" but I feel awful for friends, family and even strangers who are those 'yous'.

crazy4carrots

RR -- Thanks for the info re Australian insurance.  I had thought it was similar to ours here.  Most employers here offer full-time employees supplemental insurance, which covers private hospital room, out-of-hospital drugs, dental, physio, optical etc. Some of us continue with it.

Blue -- I looked at the chart RR provided, and it's true -- all other countries have one form or another of universal healthcare.   Which is why healthcare costs per capita in those countries are so much lower...

Anne -- you gotta watch out for those Norwegians, Swedes and Finns

konakat

Interesting how the countries that have the highest taxes have the happiest people.  I've provided a variety of sources that should satisfy all. 

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/happiest_countries/index_01.htm?chan=rss_topSlideShows_ssi_5

http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/14/world-happiest-countries-lifestyle-realestate-gallup-table.html

Medigal

Those people in other countries with "free" healthcare who are buying private insurances remind me of what is happening in our country with Medicare and the Advantage programs.  I would hate to get stuck with Medicare and not be able to buy one of the Advantage plans.  It could be "very" costly if one had a lot of medical bills.  Yet, our gov can't learn from other countries so they will probably try to trash our Advantage plans and bankrupt all the elderly with just Medicare coverage!  America the Great!  Must be something I ATE!

Medigal

Ladies:  Talking about taxes, I would like to share something we saw this morning which brought a smile to our faces.  We had taken our DD to work by a different route to avoid a parade in the area so she wouldn't be late.  Upon returning home, we noticed a police car was parked horizonically at the stop light to stop traffic from crossing.  Our first thought was that the parade had changed routes and we were now in the midst of it. However, when we got up closer to the light and the police car we saw why traffic was being stopped.  The policeman was giving a guard to a mother duck and her six little duckies trying to cross the wide street.  When they all were safely on the sidewalk and on their way to where they were going, the policecar pulled away and allowed traffic to continue.

Now "that", to me, was our tax dollars at work in a very beautiful way!  I can't believe anyone in the cars waiting for the ducks to cross could feel resentment for the action of the officer.  It warmed our hearts to see that the gentleman cared that much for that mother and her baby ducklings to make such they didn't get squashed in the on-coming traffic.  It's nice to see something good happening for a change and that our officers are as protective of animals as they are of humans.

River_Rat

Konakat, good links.  I love this from the Forbes (when you click to read the whole story):

"The Scandinavian countries do really well," says Jim Harter, a chief scientist at Gallup, which developed the poll. "One theory why is that they have their basic needs taken care of to a higher degree than other countries. When we look at all the data, those basic needs explain the relationship between income and well-being." 

Medigal, that is a wonderful story, which painted a very nice picture in my head. 

208sandy

Medigal:

Nice story - made me smile.

Thanks,

Sandy

Anonymous

Medigal wrote:

Those people in other countries with "free" healthcare who are buying private insurances remind me of what is happening in our country with Medicare and the Advantage programs.  I would hate to get stuck with Medicare and not be able to buy one of the Advantage plans.  It could be "very" costly if one had a lot of medical bills.  Yet, our gov can't learn from other countries so they will probably try to trash our Advantage plans and bankrupt all the elderly with just Medicare coverage!  America the Great!  Must be something I ATE!

Medigal, I believe you will be able to buy the Advantage plan from AARP.  They backed the HC bill and I believe they were given a token.

Anonymous

WhiteRabbit wrote:

The 'idea' with basically doing away with Medicare and transitioning to private insurance is being said to be for all those who are under 55 now.  So I suppose I could say "I'm fine ... too bad for you" but I feel awful for friends, family and even strangers who are those 'yous'.

The "I'm fine......too bad for you" is not how we feel.  There needs to be some straight talk about the "entitlements".  Under this administration they want to continue kicking it down the road as if there's no problem.  Increasing taxes for those who make $200,000 and above will NOT take care of the entitlement programs.  Also, I believe in the Ryan plan there is help for those who do not make enough....supplement them.  We need to have an honest discussion becaue, WhiteRabbit, I have children and grandchildren (two generations) who need to know how to prepare for their retirement years.  This president continues to make Ryan (and republicans) into uncaring people.  It's just not so.  He invites Ryan to the "budget speech" then tears him apart.  That's what I call couth.  I have NEVER seen/heard a president do what he has done.  He is dividing us instead of bringing us together. 

Medigal

Shirley:  We have been members of AARP probably since it started and the only good we ever got out of it was some decent hotel discounts when we traveled.  I am very disappointed in the people who are running AARP now.  They are not helping the seniors like many think.  They also seem to be in it for the "money" like everyone else.  I checked out the AARP Advantage Plan "first" thinking it would be a good deal.  When I checked, it was for United Healthcare and NO bargin by any means! United Healthcare is costly when one wants to purchase it outside of AARP and I thought members would get it a lot cheaper.  Not on your life!  So we stayed away from AARP Advantage plans and found others which were less costly and gave us the coverage we needed. 

The problem with Advantage plans is even though the gov pays them a certain amount to run them for the gov, "we" end up paying "two" premiums for our coverage.  The Medicare premium and the Advantage Plan premium.  For a couple on retirement income, this can be very costly monthly, no matter which Advantage Plan one goes with.  This is why we had to stay away from the AARP plan.  If AARP is getting a "pass" from the gov to keep their plan, and we lose the one we have, I will be "very" ticked off!  We should not be forced to go with a more expensive Advantage Plan just because AARP is playing footies with the government, imo.  This is discrimination against other better, less costly plans.  But, like our gov cares about what healthcare ends up costly anyone, much less the seniors.

rosemary-b

Jb

Proof?

Wabbit

Have we heard from our friends in the path of that nasty weather yesterday?

Wondering about Otter because I think it was coming her way when she was here last.

Medigal

JBin:  I cannot prove that AARP is a scam but I will agree with you that it has not done what is best for the seniors who thought it was to benefit them.  I can get my travel discounts now at better rates without AARP so basically it is useless for my needs.  I enjoy reading the magazine it sends monthly but am very disappointed with the lack of action in Washington to help seniors.  But as for calling it a "scam" that would be hard to prove unless one had access to their books. 

otter

I'm fine -- thanks for asking!  Yes, the weather looked pretty scary for awhile yesterday.  Actually, it looked scary off and on all day and into the evening.  Last time I checked the colorweatherradar, there was a radar-indicated tornado headed directly toward my neighborhood.  We weren't there -- we were away for a few days.  So Hubs just pulled the plug on my laptop (figuratively speaking) and we called it a night. I was nervous on the drive home today, but everything seems to be fine.

(I am watching home video and snapshots on the local news right now -- glad I didn't see them last night!)

otter

P.S.:  It is the weekend, so that means we can talk about food, right?  Okay:  The sun is made of melted butter.  And, I don't plan to offer any evidence to support my claim, because I don't play "prove it."  If you doubt my statement, then you'll need to prove I'm wrong. 

Wow.  That felt good!  I sure wish I'd known those rules when I was on the debate team in high school.