Update on the Water Leak: It get Stranger...

This is the after post of the last two days of City, ATT, and Gas Company for whatever reason digging around my leak. My home warranty fixed it. Why did the company's have to tag my sidewalk and fence?


still after, not sure if I like the water meter sitting so high, but oh well



what did the tree stump ever do to you?


I will make them pay for tagging my fence. For real I called and they said I can file a complaint.

tagging the street, for what, why? Because I called in a water leak?


When all colors collide: orange plus yellow


more tagging, they tagged the stump. I wish I took a picture of the mud with paint on it!:

sidewalk:



I got the leak fixed. it was covered under warranty. That was the easy part...

Yesterday when the city came, they told me it was my leak. But remember the orange flag? That was ATT marking their lines.

Today when the plumber came, the Gas company had marked the whole strip to my side gate with yellow paint and flags. They even tried to painted the muddy water!

So of course the plumber was all, what are you planning? What are you digging?

I said I don't know! I called the city, there was a blue flag. Yesterday there was an Orange ATT flag. Today there is a yellow Gas flag. All because I called 311?

I called gas company and they had no records. I figured once I called the City, they decided to order a "diagnosis" of the pipes in the area in case it was their responsibility? But that is so costly. Anyway, here are more pictures, and I will make the gas company fix the yellow paint they tagged on my sidewalk, driveway and fence!

So I will post pics in a minute. However as I talk through this logic, yesterday City said my problem. Today Gas company did a survey. Was that a courtesy? I'm confused.

Leak at the Water Meter: City says it is My Responsibility

Okay, I live in a 18 month year old house, and this happens. I noticed the water on the driveway and assumed the neighbor (the crazy hippy) was watering. But still there on Monday, so I called the 311 City of Houston line. They sent a crew out, they dug it up, and left a note saying it is not their leak but my leak. What the crap am I supposed to do with that?

I have asked the builder for the original plumber to take a look, at my dime obviously. My question is, I'm about to go on 7 days vacation. Can I turn the water off and it not affect the air condition? Does it need water? I can leave a couple of gallons for the cat, so that is not an issue.

Is it okay to turn the water off until I return to stop it and save money until I can fix it?

Tony's: Makes me Think of My favorite:I like to Be in America, Camp , Lez Miz

It's a Les Miz Post:

The Kris and Adam Road Show

I really love their live versions of Mad World and Heartless

hAD to delete I hate auto starts

(Song starts at 3:20 for Mad World)
never mind they didn't post the Heartless version. I don't need to hear No Boundaries.

OK from the Ellen Show:



enjoy! They are both winners!

Glee: Don't Stop Believin' from Hulu; can't stop listening...

Hulu rules the universe, by the way. And I don't say that because of the commercials.

ETA: New Hulu commercial. They are aliens, and they rule the world:

Hair on Letterman: In Case you are Wondering what a "Showstopper" Is

Kradam Final: American Idol Final 2

Adam Lambert: Mad World. I thought there was a twist, so maybe the twist is no shouting. And wearing a goth looking trenchcoat....hope he doesn't inspire any future Colombiners. I can't help it but I thought of that when I see this goth kid singing those lyrics. Those lyrics are haunting. Subdued, great. Paula is better than Kara.....awesome all together. Adam can get away with saying, "we're playing dressup!" Cute...

Kris Allen: Ain't No Sunshine: I heard that today on youtube so I'm ready for it.it's good. not great....certainly not going to win the first round. I think at this point fans have made up their mind? It's one or the other. And the ones who love both...they will pick Adam because he deserves it.

Adam Lambert: Change is Going to Come. Don't know this one...maybe a little bluesy on purpose. Just to point out how versatile he is and Adam is nailin' it. Very restrained and non-shreaky (so far), this guy could do Elvis for gosh sakes....ok now the high end to prove his range. I don't think he is going to win any new ones over, but the sure ones are still with ya, Adam. And, there is the high finale note.

Kris: What's goin' On. Is this motown part two? Did they not do it this year? Anyone who getst the guy on the box gets a good set. The whole war is not the answer scream is not the way to make a point when you are singing Motown Reggae style. He's good, he got to this point, he is not going to win. (Simon just made my point: it was like three guys sitting around a dorm room. nuf said. nothing more)

Final Song: No Boundaries. Adam sang it. sang it. Can hear that on the radio. Wow, Randy bringing out the pitchty for the last song? Adam is so freaking humble. Simon will love it I predict. Kris: really, just average. Don't even hear the tune. Shows how outclassed he is by Adam. Not a slam on Kris, but Adam deserves this and I think even Kris sympathizers would agree. good night, Kris.

All the Fanboys Dreams Come True: Kradam in the Final!

Americal Idol 8 Final 3 Performances

• Danny Gokey - “Dance Little Sister” by Terrance Trent D’Arby -Paula’s Judges Pick - He got a sax solo. “pretty good” sucked didn't even look up from computer
  
• Kris Allen - “Apologize” by OneRepublic - Randy and Kara’s Judges Pick - Kris forgot some words. He’s starting over… “Kris was VERY good.” awesome. it was perfect. absolutely great. I just missed Timbaland going "eh, eh, eh"
  
• Adam Lambert - “One” by U2 - Simon’s Judges Pick “omg…piano onstage…gorgeous…amazing.”

Next is a long piece on Carrie Underwood and Idol gives back. She was in Africa recently
****

• Danny Gokey - “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker - He changed clothes. He’s got a string quartet. “Breathy, strained and awkward.”
• Kris Allen - “Heartless” by Kanye West - “He appeared magically on the side of the stage…”
• Adam Lambert - “Adam is looking “bombalicious, big boots, rocking rhinestone t-shirt, leather jacket…” Cryin Aerosmith

You think Adam is telling Danny THIS is how you do Aerosmith?

My final thoughts: Adam was strangely disappointing. He had the chance to do 2 songs his way, one slow and low and one, well, Adam and screekchy. He turned One into an unrecognizable song. It could have been Mad World part two. He made a point of saying the lyrics are amazing - from what I heard, the lyrics are of a gay son coming out to his dad (I remember that from years ago, 1993?) Anyway I hope he sails through.

I have no words for sucky Danny, he is the judges fav for whatever reason.

Kris is cute, and he can sing. I don't care but if he was in a sing off with the Apologize singer, Kris would win. Why do they criticize for going off song, but criticize for singing the song true?

lets hope for Kris and Adam, but Simon has been doing all the morning shows calling it a Kris and Danny final, and the grandmas who actually watch the network morning shows vote. I just hope Adam didn't blow it, which has made the monkeys and critics concerned.

What's Adam Watching is up too.

Vote Adam and Kris! boo Danny, he's just another Taylor Hicks, which I can't believe the judges forget about. The runners up always sell more albums. Hello, Elliot?

until this gets deleted, enjoy (maybe won't. it's not the video performance sounds better without watching):

Pelosi is a Pussy (sorry, I couldn't help myself) CIA Briefed her and has the Records to Prove IT

CIA Says Pelosi Was Briefed on Use of 'Enhanced Interrogations'

By Paul Kane
Intelligence officials released documents this evening saying that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was briefed in September 2002 about the use of harsh interrogation tactics against al-Qaeda prisoners, seemingly contradicting her repeated statements over the past 18 months that she was never told that these techniques were actually being used.

In a 10-page memo outlining an almost seven-year history of classified briefings, intelligence officials said that Pelosi and then-Rep. Porter Goss (R-Fla.) were the first two members of Congress ever briefed on the interrogation tactics. Then the ranking member and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, respectively, Pelosi and Goss were briefed Sept. 4, 2002, one week before the first anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The memo, issued by the Director of National Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency to Capitol Hill, notes the Pelosi-Goss briefing covered "EITs including the use of EITs on Abu Zubaydah." EIT is an acronym for enhanced interrogation technique. Zubaydah was one of the earliest valuable al-Qaeda members captured and the first to have the controversial tactic known as water boarding used against him.

The issue of what Pelosi knew and when she knew it has become a matter of heated debate on Capitol Hill. Republicans have accused her of knowing for many years precisely the techniques CIA agents were using in interrogations, and only protesting the tactics when they became public and liberal antiwar activists protested.

In a carefully worded statement, Pelosi's office said today that she had never been briefed about the use of waterboarding, only that it had been approved by Bush administration lawyers as a legal technique to use in interrogations.

"As this document shows, the Speaker was briefed only once, in September 2002. The briefers described these techniques, said they were legal, but said that waterboarding had not yet been used," said Brendan Daly, Pelosi's spokesman.

Pelosi's statement did not address whether she was informed that other harsh techniques were already in use during the Zubaydah interrogations.

In December 2007 the Washington Post reported that leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees had been briefed in the fall of 2002 about waterboarding -- which simulates drowning -- and other techniques, and that no congressional leaders protested its use. At the time Pelosi said she was not told that waterboarding was being used, a position she stood by repeatedly last month when the Bush-era Justice Department legal documents justifying the interrogation tactics were released by Attorney General Eric Holder.

The new memo shows that intelligence officials were willing to share the information about waterboarding with only a sharply closed group of people. Three years after the initial Pelosi-Goss briefing, Bush officials still limited interrogation technique briefings to just the chairman and ranking member of the House and Senate intelligence committees, the so-called Gang of Four in the intelligence world.

In October 2005, CIA officials began briefing other congressional leaders with oversight of the intelligence community, including top appropriators who provided the agency its annual funding. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam and an opponent of torture techniques, was also read into the program at that time even though he did not hold a special committee position overseeing the intelligence community.

A bipartisan collection of lawmakers have criticized the practice of limiting information to just the "Gang of Four", who were expressly forbidden from talking about the information from other colleagues, including fellow members of the intelligence committees. Pelosi and others are considering reforms that would assure a more open process for all committee members.

Brakewater is Back

I can't help myself. Our President is getting everything he wanted and he deserves it, because the sheeple who elected him would rather vote for a blank slate than someone with issues.

He is going to turn us into the Jimmy Carter years again.

He will run Industry, Finance, Healthcare, Energy, did I miss something?

His Treasurer Secretary defrauded the IRS, and now he is increasing the power of the IRS? WTF??

I will start tomorrow to enlighten you on the shit we are about to suffer, folks.

Our Corrupt Government: Owned by The UAW

The Big Business of Big Labor

By: Timothy P. Carney
Examiner Columnist | 5/8/09 6:20 AM

Imagine if President George W. Bush used strong-arm tactics to bend the law to favor a politically connected company with $1.2 billion in assets, including a private golf course. What if that company’s political action committee had spent $13 million in the previous election, including more than $4 million to elect him?

Barack Obama has done just that. The company is called the United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union - or the UAW for short.

Obama and the Democrats will employ euphemisms when discussing the President’s plan to circumvent bankruptcy law and hand majority ownership of Chrysler over to the UAW. They will speak about “the workers” taking ownership of the company, with some arguing that the workers, by right, are the senior creditors in Chrysler’s bankruptcy.

This paints the union-versus-creditors battle for control of Chrysler as a fight between blue-collar workingmen and greedy hedge fund speculators in suits.

But that abstraction—equating the UAW with “the workers”—is grossly misleading. John Doe on the assembly line will not be running Chrysler or directing the use of billions in bailout dollar. No, the union management will become Chrysler’s management.

So this is a gift to the union management, which, when you look at it closely, is a big, politically connected company whose executives pamper themselves and practice patronage on the backs of the workers.

Compare the UAW’s political activity to that of the most notorious companies that were cozy with the Bush administration. The autoworker union’s political action committee spent $13.1 million on the 2008 election.

If you take the PACs of Exxon, Halliburton, Peabody Coal, and Lockheed Martin, combine their 2008-cycle political spending, and multiply it by four, you get just over $13.1 million. The UAW’s expenditures on the 2008 presidential contest alone exceed the total House, Senate, and White House expenditures of those four companies.

And even Exxon Mobil gave 11 percent of its donations to Democrats. The UAW gave less than 1 percent of its money to Republicans. The auto workers’ union is far more wedded to the Democratic Party than any company is to the Republican Party.

The union’s $1.98 million to Democratic candidates last cycle (not counting the $4.87 million in independent expenditures to elect Obama president) is more than any PAC spent on Republicans. If you combine the political spending of the top three oil company PACs and the UAW’s PAC, Republicans and Democrats come out about even.

Peer deeper into the UAW’s finances, and it starts to look even more like a big business. The organization sits on nearly $1.2 billion in investments. This is money the UAW took from the paychecks of workers, money that now functions as an endowment out of which the union pays its staff and subsidizes its golf resort.

Black Lake Golf Club, which the UAW brags is "one of the finest anywhere in the nation," is owned by the union. Situated at the very top of Michigan, a drive of more than four hours from Detroit, it’s not exactly accessible to the union rank and file.

The resort is subsidized by workers’ paychecks, too—the union currently has $29.6 million in loans outstanding to the resort. That’s not their only posh real estate. The UAW’s Washington headquarters, home base for the union’s $1.6 million-a-year lobbying operation, is a beautiful $2.98 million townhouse in the DuPont circle neighborhood.

While UAW membership has fallen by 32.5 percent since 2002, the national headquarters has kept its spending nearly the same—a reduction of only 1.9 percent. Add these facts together, and it starts to look like the union management exists largely to preserve union management.

These are the people who would, practically speaking, own Chrysler under Obama’s plan. These are the benefactors of Obama’s upturning bankruptcy law and threatening investors.

But Obama’s team will maintain that it’s “the workers” who are taking ownership of Chrysler under their plan. When Obama and Democrats extend future bailouts and subsidies to Chrysler, they will have even more reason to claim that they are simply helping the workingmen. In truth, subsidies and special favors for the UAW are corporate welfare, and considering the UAW’s political activities, the right word might be crony capitalism.

Timothy P. Carney is The Washington Examiner's Lobbying Editor. His K Street column appears on Wednesdays.

Obama's Run on Healthcare Reform begins: beware average citizens

Obama to Propose More Taxes From Estates, Firms to Fund Health Care Reform

The measures total $60 million, but administration officials describe the plan as eliminating 'tax loopholes' rather than hiking taxes

By The Wall Street Journal

FOXNews.com

Saturday, May 09, 2009

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WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration will propose $60 billion in new tax increases over 10 years on wealthy estates, businesses and others to make up for shortfalls in its fund to pay for an expensive overhaul of the health-care system.

The measures go beyond plans the White House has announced in the past few weeks. Officials said that upon further analysis they realized that they had overestimated savings and tax increases proposed in February to help pay the bill.

The full proposals will come Monday when the White House releases a detailed analysis of its budget blueprint. Administration officials described the new proposals not as tax increases, but as eliminating "tax loopholes."

One element would raise an estimated $24 billion over 10 years by tightening estate-tax rules, giving taxpayers less flexibility to minimize their liability on inherited goods by claiming a different value on the same item for different transactions.

A second element, which would raise $10 billion over 10 years, would require businesses and others who make payments to corporations to report such payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Under current law, payments to individuals are required to be reported on a 1099 form, but no such requirements exist for similar payments to corporations. The goal is to make sure that the recipient corporations report all their taxable income.

How to pay for a health-care overhaul estimated to cost more than a trillion dollars over a decade is one of the trickiest questions facing the administration and Congress. The White House has proposed a combination of health-care spending cuts and tax increases.

Click here for the full story from the Wall Street Journal.

American Idol Vote Off.....Final 4: Allison FTW! You Rock!

Kris is safe. I would sacrafice Kris to save Allison. Really. Gosh she was so much better than the freaking judges think....

If it is anyone but Danny at this point I will erupt RIGHT HERE!

Adam safe............duh.

So Allison and Danny. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOkey Go! No Mo!

shit.....64 million...Danny is safe.

Crap. Goodbye Allison. so unfair. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

American Idol Final 4 Spoilers: Ambulances? Slow Ride, Take it Easy, Adam and Allison FTW!

arrrgggggghhhhhhh, taking so long! Want! Need! Adam and Allison must be in finals...will update as received (live blog at the end)

Danny Gokey — Dream On (I'm glad he is doing Aerosmith, should be a massive fail, especially if he doesn't tackle the falsetto. (he did it and it SUCKED! Screams! Horror movie! Bye Bye! this is the Daugherty stunner we been waiting for. Jesus freaks don't text!) I heard Living on the Edge on the way home and thought of Adam, though I really hope Adam does GnR but doubt Axl will let him)

Kris Allen –

GARARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH! Not all well in Idol land. Debbie fell, the stage collapsed, lion tigers and bears! Really I hope everyone is ok and the show goes as planned:

UPDATE: On the phone with someone there. Debbie The Stage Manager (THE GODDESS) fell down the stairs! And then was wheeled off on a stretcher. And then when Ryan came out, THE STAGE STARTED FALLING APART.

HELLO? I said those spinning orbs squeaked! The GYROSCROPE FELL INTO A GIANT SILVER ARCH!

Then everyone cleared out of rehearsal, ambulances were everywhere.

THESE SPOILERS COULD BE COMPLETE SHIT. SINCE REHEARSAL WAS CANCELED, WHO KNOWS…

Wow, not only is there no GnR music, but they only play Velvet Revolver in introducing Slash. Stay classy, Axl.

Adam: Whole lotta Love. Led Zepplin. hope he kills. Back in rockout mode, makeup hair and all. Sounds like Robert Plant. Not many flaws here, unless you hate his shrieking. Not a favorite of mine, not a Led fan, but capable. Simon will probably be bored by it. GGreat ending though....acapelo Led Zep.

Allison: Crybaby. Could be good. Could be boring.....But I like it. I would love Adam/Allison final. She's got chops, nothing has changed. Again, could be Kelly Clarkson, Pink, and latch on to the Disney Hispanic demographic (Selena, Demi). let's see what the judges say: agree, not love, just the same words. Janis, good. Simon, don't let me down: staggering transformance, complete confidence. don't try too hard. pick another song...let's go! I'm just going to talk alot! nice.

Ohh, Duet: Kris and Danny! Renegade! I love this song! Kris looks terrified. neither doing to good. I don't think Kris likes Danny. not smiling at all. I mean this is a competition...Kris' voice is cracking, not doing too well. Danny is yelling. ouch. for both. I'll just close my eyes and think of Kris singing "falling slowly"...just...not...good.

Kris Allen: Beatles? man the spoilers sucked today. Just hope Debbie ok, she's a favorite of the writers who attend these things!;

owwwwwww I just burnt my hand on soup....owwwwwwwwwwww AI curse...

Come together: with Slash's guitar! Awesome! well he's so cute and awesome he's got the cute boy vote....I love it so much better than the duet....shut up Randy.

Danny: finally got the pimp spot. We will tell who Simon wants to win. Wait, what about Adam/Allison duet? that will be the pimp spot. Ouch I hate the Dream On scream. I hope it sucks....HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!!!!! yes took it too far!!!!!! YEs he is gone!aweful!

Allison Adam: aka the final two: wouldn't Don't go breakin my heart be funny? Any Fleetwood Mac song would be awesome....crosses fingers: SLow Ride Foghat! glam and glam together! That is what fun looks like, Kris and Danny! I think it is cute Adam took Allison to his hair dresser! Gosh this song reminds me of Guitar Hero....Allison is rocking it...great harmonies...final 2 FTW!

Hitfix agrees with me: Allison and Adam final 2 now beyotch!

Sepinwall as well.

I can't wait for tomorrow's EW Popwatch review and LATimes Rushfield, who can give us some behind the scenes. Debbie get well!

ETA: This is your next American Idol, bitches. There is no debate about it:

Sci Guy: Swine Flu Antgenitic Shift, aka H1N1 (don't want to piss off the farmers)

I always liked the sciguy from the chron, who kept us all well-informed during Ike. Here is a good article on the Swine Flu. and what is a mutation. Someone tell me if I am taking your copyright information, I will just link if so...

Why swine flu scares public officials

One of the most common questions during today's live chat concerned the public health and media reaction to the swine flu outbreak. What, the readers asked, is the big deal with a virus that's infected just 40 Americans and made only one of them sick enough to require
hospitalization?

Annenberg Media See larger version.

It's a very good question.

The answer is a bit more complicated than one could address during a live chat so I thought I'd take a crack at it in a blog entry.

The influenza viruses we're most familiar with evolve from year to year and mutate all the time, a process known as antigenic drift. This drift, a gradual mutation in the genetics of a virus, causes the proteins on the surface of a virus to change, too. If these proteins change enough our immune systems may no longer recognize the flu virus. In years with enough antigenic drift a vaccine may no longer match its target.

However, there's another kind of change to viruses that concerns scientists even more: antigenic shift. During this process at least two different strains of a flu virus combine to form a new subtype. This can happen when two strains — say swine flu and predominantly human influenza — infect the same cell, replicate and assemble a brand new virus.

Here's a helpful graphic which shows how this process can occur.

The current virus in circulation has elements of human, swine, and avian viruses normally found in Europe or Asia, and it may have originated as a result of an antigenic shift. It is for this reason — we are dealing with an entirely new and unknown virus — that has elevated the level of concern for this outbreak.

It remains unclear how virulent the virus will ultimately be in humans, and the hope is that most people who become infected will not become terribly sick, and for those that do there remain ample supplies of antiviral drugs.

But those are far from certainties at this time, so rigorous vigilance and preparation are indeed warranted.

American Idol Final 5: Houston Edition Brat Pack Night: Feeling Good Muse

Wow we got so much rain in the last 24 hours. I left work yesterday at 430 because the red cells were coming, and Houston is known for two things: Hot Humidity and Flash Floods.

It rained almost all night long - The house literally rattled with the lightning and thunder. I looked out the window a couple of times to make sure the street was ok, but they don't call it the "Heights" for nothing.

West Houston (Katy, Cypress, I10-Beltway 8) got hammered hard, about a foot of water overnight. There is only one confirmed death - I don't understand the desire to drive to work at 6 in the morning when the news is saying stay home! I checked the tv, the internet and got to work ok around 0730 - it was a typical Houston drive in driving rain and stupid drivers. I say one guy drive right into another - he wasn't even looking. And why be on you cell phone, on your left ear reducing even more visibility? And no lights? Yes drivers are stupid stupid stupid, but they affect my life because I have to avoid them and get stuck in traffic because of them.

And the spoilers for tonight's AI, from mjblog:

Kris Allen - “The Way You Look Tonight” - Jamie said “I want to make an album with you now” a little disappointing, definitely overhyped by judges, I like my krissy.....
Allison Iraheta - “Someone to Watch Over Me” she's got chops. won't win, will succeed...
Matt Giraud - “My Funny Valentine” - Jamie suggested changes - Matt doesn’t play piano I don't care he is vote for the worst pic this week for a reason....

EDIT: They don't want Allison anywhere near the finals. Why tell Matt he was great? And tell her that she doesn't want to be in the finals? Look at the tween demographics - chicks sell, Demi, Seleni, Myley. I don't even know who they are but they sell. Allison is hispanic. Maybe they want to save her for a Daugherty like success, since we all know winning USUALLY gets you no where unless you are Kelly, Carrie or David? I don't get it


Danny Gokey - “Come Rain Come Shine” - Jamie suggested changes don't care TCO will lose.
Adam Lambert - “Feeling Good” (the muse version) -Jamie liked Adam I love Muse....lets see if he goes megaphone....

I love Muse, don't know this version (or song?):

Thanks St Lukes: Second follow up post

so after a 39K dollar bill, my responsibility is around $640. I love health insurance. I will be really sad when it gets nationalized, and I will never be able to get care like this no questions

asked again.

$0.00	$0.00	$633.55
				Your Responsibility: $633.55

Hospital Incidentals	$108.75	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$19.25	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$6,160.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$732.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$2,886.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$392.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$25.00	$25.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$149.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$120.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$147.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$164.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$3,718.00	$416.75	$333.40	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$83.35
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$7,360.00	$1,834.00	$1,467.20	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$366.80
03/25/2009 X-Ray or Lab Services	$17,527.00	$917.00	$733.60	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$183.40
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$3.75	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$4.25	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 X-Ray or Lab Services	$314.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
Total	$39,830.00	$3,192.75	$2,534.20	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$633.55
				Your Responsibility: $633.55

Helen is liveblogging Final 7 American Idol

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Lil Rounds: weakest of the group. still. How is I'm every women disco? She has a fan base, though. I actually feel sorry for her. what did that guy in the audience yell? Oh how awful, I think it was a black guy who yelled "American Idols don't sound like that". How rude. I mean I don't want someone to get booed or anything. They should kick him out, seriously.

Kris Allen: Gets the pimp interview on the stool and the dude who bangs the box. Whoever gets that treatment usually does very well. I like it, but not a challenge vocally. But interesting arrangement. Not going to rush to itunes to download it....

Allison: Nice entrance....don't know the song...wow, leather.staircase treatment, I think that is good. she hits all the notes. Now I know the song, Hot Stuff. I really like her voice - Allison and Adam go! absolutely one of the best singers in the competition....she has a better career coming then Jordin Sparks. she can take on Pink and Kelly Clarkson anyday....

Gokey: I don't care. I don't like him. Celebration, kareoke version. I guess he is celebrating his dead wife's time with him. ugh. I understood why people liked Archy, I just don't get the Gokey love. He is like Taylor Hicks to me. Remember that season - Daugherty anyone?

Adam Lambert: Nice suit. He looks great. Saturday Night Fever, If I can't Have You. Seriously, beautiful voice. If he can only not scream in this version....yes he screamed. But still interesting arranagement. To the finals we go........If I didn't hear the verse I wouldn't recognize this song. Are we at the point where they start playing their "best" hits? I mean, Adam could pick any one of them. Except funky music white boy. Mad World, the Elvis song, even this. I mean he is as close to a ringer as they come, but that's what they said about Carly and Michael Johns last season. Why hasn't Melinda Doolittle been invited back? Did she piss someone off? I think she waited out the contract for a year so she can do her own thing. Didn't Daugherty do that too, though?

Anoop: don't care, not going to lie. fail. going gone baby gone. Along with Matt.

Matt: see Anoop. Staying Alive. I think he thinks the hat is like his invisible cloak or something. ouch. This is kareoke.

Tonight's American Idol final 7: Born to be Wild / Falling Slowly

(Who knew Born to be Wild was from Easy Rider, a movie I have never seen)



Here's tonight playlist and observers comments of practice(Yay, Kris is singing from Once!!!!!!):

Helen's comment in this color. So they are trading off judges. Simon and Paula, then Her and Dog. I am pretty sure Simon made sure he got to comment on the ones he liked. Did you see him glare at Anoop? Not even a smile. In what world are Paula and Simon the best pair? If either Kris, Allison or Adam are out, they will be saved. They can only save until final four, which means this and next two weeks: Final Four should be Adam Allison Kris and I don't care but not Lil.

• Allison - “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith - Really good on belty parts, not as good on lower register. Over all–good (I liked it, great they are finally trying to get her to the type three. I thought that was kinda rude to say she's the only female with a chance, we all know Lil is out soon but, oh snap)
  

• Anoop - “Everything I Do” by Bryan Adams - He roughed it up per Quentin’s request. Favorite Anoop performance so far. (who knew Tarantino could give good arrangement advice? liked it, not loved. out by top 4)
  

• Adam - “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf - OMG Electrifying, wnarling…headbanging…working the stage. (I think people who tuned in this week based on the buzz will think they just caught the remake of Starlight Express. Shreaky, but the guy is going places no matter what happens.)
  

• Matt - “To Really Love a Woman” by Bryan Adams - He was OK. Sat at the piano…soulded it up. Seemed a little nervous. Quentin told him to enunciate better (Why all these Bryan Adams songs? this is a boring song... and he sucked. over)(did you see Simon's jaw keep dropping the more Kara talked? he can't stand her. that was funny and will be talked about tomorrow)
  

• Danny - “Endless Love” by Diana Ross - Danny got contacts! Singing was what you would expect. Chair pimpage from Ryan (I'm going on a limb to say I will hate this before he even sings it. if I am wrong I will change. My god why does every song have to be about his dead wife) (yup, not only was it worth saying it was bad, but it was horrible. missed words, missed keys, bad, bad, bad. maybe first trip to bottom 3?)(can you love a Adam and Allison final? What?!!)
  

• Kris - “Falling Slowly” - Really pretty vocal. Did a nice job mixing him with one of the background singers. Quentin told him to play an intrument, but he didn’t do it. (yes I loved it, I love this song and his voice is great. I love this song it won the oscar for best song! I like Q saying he's the only one playing by the rules and picking a song from a movie that touched him. Hope the obscurity of song doesn't hurt)
  

• Lil - “The Rose” by Bette Midler - She started nice and soft…then she turned it gospelly and became shouty. Least favorite (who cares. she's out this week or next)

Donnie Darko: Mad World, the original

I love this song after seeing this movie, I love it even more. It really can make you cry if you follow the story:

American Idol Spoilers, 4/7 final 8: Donnie Darko FTW! Mad World / Gary Jules version indeed

Tonight is sing your birthyear song, which does nothing to remind me that I am still old. These are my comments before watching anything:

Danny - “Stand By Me” I'm getting tired of his shtichk.
Kris - “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” by Don Henley (played electric guitar in the crowd) I want Kris in final 2. This is an odd song.
Lil - “What’s Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner lil being lil I guess.
Anoop - “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper ha ha. really? fail
Scott - “The Search Is Over” (played guitar) which one is he?oh, he's blind? poor baby.
Allison - “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt could be pretty, she's my dark horse
Matt - “Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder epic fail. so done.
Adam - “Mad World” by Tears for Fears Awesome- hope it's the version from the Donnie Darko (Gary Jules version) movie. gosh that song and video are awesome. Allow me to post it:





Tonight is going to be epic. bring it on haters and lovers!

What's Allen Watching.

Helen is on haitus

Taking a break....digging facebook...

American Idol Tonight: Spoilers

Just got them, they were late today:

Megan - Bob Marley/Lauren Hill Song [Turn Your Lights Down Low?]

Allison - Don’t Speak by No Doubt

Danny - What the Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts

Anoop : Caught Up by Usher

Scott Macintyre - "I Love You Just The Way You Are" (gosh I hope he goes home soon)
Kris Allen - "Ain't No Sunshine"
Lil Rounds - "Surrender"
Adam Lambert "Play That Funky Music" (oh no)
Matt Giraud - "You Found Me" (The Fray) on piano

American Idol Tonight Spoilers: Adam Lambert Ring of Fire

I really liked this version even if the judges didn't:



Gosh I forgot Dilana covered this first on Rockstar (I loved her!):



Just found this on a blog. I don't remember what the theme is, but I think it is every song that has ever been in the top 100 or something?

Megan didn’t perform and we never saw her - she had a “wardrobe malfunction.”
Matt Giraud - So Small (played piano)
Scott MacIntyre - I recognized his song, but for the life of me I can’t
remember the name of it. (played piano)
Michael Sarver - Ain’t Goin’ Down Till the Sun Comes Up
Allison Iraheta - Blame It on Your Heart
Kris Allen - To Make You Feel My Love (sat on a stool)
Adam Lambert - Ring of Fire (very sexy Eastern-influenced version that pretty much made every woman over the age of 20 in the audience ready to jump him)
Lil Rounds - Independence Day
Danny Gokey - Jesus, Take the Wheel (partial standing O)
Alexis Grace - Jolene
Anoop - You Were Always on My Mind

My comments: I really don't know alot of the songs. I hope Alexis doing Jolene will be the White Stripes version. Anoop is gone doing Elvis (untouchable). Adam doing Ring of Fire? Interesting. Sarvar doing country, shocker. Danny is this year's TCO, will be top 2.

American Idol Top 13 post:: Season 8

Okay, I didn't live blog because I thought things would be obvious. But most have been really entertaining so far.

Lil and Jasmine (aka the black chicks): Lil has been predicted to be a top 3 and she didn't do well. Jasmine is this years whats her name 15 year old who sang like she was 40. Both have fan bases that will keep them...

Blind guy: aweful. bad. should not be here. Voted in because blind. who cares. bad hair. Bad outfit. bad singer. but will get vote...

Anoop: will go far on charisma. This year's Sanjaya. but better. I agree with the judges comments.

Kris: Have never even remembered him. But he is good. Simon's comment about not bringing the wife in the picture meant he could get the cute tween girl voice. Bitch wife looked like he insulted her.

Adam: gay guy of the season. He has stage, presence and chops. I hope he stays a long time.

Justin wannabe: horrible, but the judges want him to go far so they gave him props. That was horrible. He is not T-lake. There is only one.

Red head Allison: at least she is not autistic like I feared, she had some personality. I really thought she was asperger's or something. I will root for the 16 year old rocker.

Megan: I love watching her horrible dance. She will stick around because she is different.

Last chick: Alexis (I really think Carly and Michael Johns were awesome, I miss them so. But I am glad Cook won). Pimp spot. Dirty Diana. I shudder Michael singing this. Her dress was a prostitute dress. But great voice. get a stylist for gods sake.

I forgot Danny: This years TCO (the chosen one). I am so glad they didn't pimp out the dead wife again (hi Scott, are you blind? oh yeah you are).

I really don't know who will go (2 will go), it should be blind dude and Anoop. Can you see 'Noop selling records? May be some of the chicks. Does Megan have fan base? Does Kris?

Why the F are we giving money to a pedifile (hello, Michael Jackson).

I'll post later with dial idol predictions that are usually right....

Oh, if you dial the normal number and dial "13" at the end, you get a sex line. That's why they are saying dial very carefully....I've never voted so what do I know.

Two will go!!!!!!!!! (blind guy and Jasmine?)

Oh, I forget puerto rican dude and wildcat. So they could go too...

ETA: 15 minutes into dialidol, looks like Kris for sure, probably Jorge, and maybe Anoop and Jasmine. Remember, a lot of people don't even start watching until tonight....

ETA: Jorge for sure, maybe Allison or Jasmine. Kris has rebounded.

Hitfix review, (bookmark this site, former AICN Moriority and Dan Feinberg. Could be the new hot entertainment blog)

ETA: OK, bands that Adam Lambert could front (and I'm not implying gayness):

AFI
My Chemical Romance
Guns N Roses

Seriously, I am hoping for and Adam / Danny / Random rocker chick finale.

Obligatory Cat Post

Aint she so pretty. Taken with my new bb Storm. Really bad camera, btw. seriously.

MGMT Kids cover on iphone by band I never heard of

Interesting. This is why I hate Apple manics....but the song is pretty cool....

Helen's Hospital Bill

First, Thanks St. Luke's. It was the best ER and overnight treatment I have ever had. Now, the bill (very oddly not detailed, I am sure the insurance company will ask for more details):

Pharmacy: 6.50
IV Therapy: 102.50
Lab: 3,223.00
Radiology-Diagnostic: 326.00
ER: 2,500.00
Cardiology: 2,922.00
Drugs required specific ID: 224.50
EKG/ECG: 628.00
Observation: 1,041.84
Other Therapeutic Services: 591.00

Total: 11,564.84

Wow! That's like a new car. I was guessing in my head $5K, but that doesn't even cover the ER visit and the Cardio costs. I wonder if it would have been the same if I went to a non-cardio specialty hospital? But I am glad I went where I did and when I did.

How does my Insurance company pay for "other therapeutic services" for $591? What does that mean? Seriously those were verbatim descriptions.

This doesn't even count the bills I have already got for the ER doc ($550) and X-Ray tech ($200).

I am glad I live in the USA where I can choose the best healthcare available to me! At least for now....

GE CEO on Obama Financial Advisory Board; The Greatest Wealth Destruction by a President

Don't you see the conflict of interest? GE owns NBC, CNBC and MSNBC to name a few. You don't think he is not going to have influence on what his peeps say about Obama's financial policy?

At least Jim Cramer is honest: "The Greatest Wealth Destruction by a President"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Happy March: New Terminator Post and Best Obama Economy Opinion yet

And courtesy of WSJ, when you are trying to articulate why this economy sucks and Obama is making is worse, click here.

"Americans have welcomed the Obama era in the same spirit of hope the President campaigned on. But after five weeks in office, it's become clear that Mr. Obama's policies are slowing, if not stopping, what would otherwise be the normal process of economic recovery. From punishing business to squandering scarce national public resources, Team Obama is creating more uncertainty and less confidence -- and thus a longer period of recession or subpar growth."

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, AND WE AIN'T GOT IT. NEITHER DOES WALL STREET.

Obama's response? We are not going to adjust our policy based on the ups and downs of the market. Well, Fuck you idiot. Thank you very much for squandering away the next 4 years before your first 100 days even starts.

Radiofrequency Ablation: Textbook explanation

Radiofrequency Ablation

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is a nonsurgical procedure used to treat some types of rapid heart beating. It's most often used to treat supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. These are rapid, uncoordinated heartbeats. They start in the heart's upper chambers (atria) or middle region (AV node or the very beginning portion of the heart's electrical system).

How is radiofrequency ablation done?

A physician guides a catheter with an electrode at its tip to the area of heart muscle where there's an accessory (extra) pathway. The catheter is guided with real-time, moving X-rays (fluoroscopy) displayed on a video screen. The procedure helps the doctor place the catheter at the exact site inside the heart where cells give off the electrical signals that stimulate the abnormal heart rhythm. Then a mild, painless radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat) is transmitted to the pathway. This destroys carefully selected heart muscle cells in a very small area (about 1/5 of an inch). That stops the area from conducting the extra impulses that caused the rapid heartbeats.

How common is this procedure?

Radiofrequency ablation is widely used. It's the preferred treatment for many types of rapid heartbeats. It has a success rate of over 90 percent and a low risk of complications. Patients who have this done can resume normal activities in a few days. It causes little or no discomfort and is done under mild sedation with local anesthesia.

See the Related Items box above for links to the Cardiology Patient Page in Circulation, Journal of the American Heart Association:

• Catheter Ablation of Arrhythmias
• Supraventricular Tachycardia

Sunday Night: Pics I Promised

Thanks, St. Luke's






I don't have any dialogue tonight. Just watching the Oscars and getting ready for sleep. Here are some photos I took in the hospital.

Helen's Home from the Hospital

That's my heart rate in the ER at 113 (that's normal in this situation), after the second SVT reset after only one doses of adenosine. The first SVT was around 195 (took 2 doses of adenosine) and lasted around 3 hours (started at 0900 at work and took me 1 3/4 hours to decide to go to work medical, where I have gone before but couldn't capture on the EKG, to being told to go to the ER by my Cardio's partner whom my work Doctortracked down), the second time at 200pm was up to 220 but only last minutes because I was already in the ER when it happened. I say minutes, probably 120 seconds at most. (You know when you're lying in your stretcher and you feel your heart start to race again, I call it "skip then run", then I said uh-oh something doesn't feel right, and then the device starts honking really loud? And the nurse who was about to give you an IV because you are complaining that you are thirsty but they won't give you water, looks up and says, "Yup, it's happening again" and than fast walks out? That's a cool feeling. The doc with about 5 others walked in and he said with a smile, "let's do this again") (Oh, and when you are all watching the monitor as your body is flush and shaking then your heart drops from 220 to 180 to 150 to 120 to 80 to 70, then pauses and shoots up to 100 and steadys. And I said, woah that felt weird or something like that. I might have said wow that looked scary for a second. The doc says that's what it is supposed to do, but reminded me why they put the sticky paddles on my chest as a "precaution")(the whole thing lasted maybe 5 seconds) sticky paddle:



I'll post more details and pics tomorrow (yes I took many pics), but needless to say I am happy and healthy to be home. Time to treat this treatable thing instead of ignoring it and waiting for it to go away. Now I know what happens when it doesn't go away - you wish you wore matching socks to work (more on that below).

It's called Superventricular Tachychardia (SVT)(link to my hospital that treated me - did you know Mom volunteered there?) and it is the healthiest form of heart chardia you want, because it is the kind you don't drop dead from and is very treatable by meds or a simple procedure called Radiofrequency Ablation.

I'll tell the fun details tomorrow, but remember always wear clean underwear? I learned always make sure your socks matched your shoes. My shoes and pants were black and my socks were blue, I paused for like half a second, shrug my shoulders and went to work. Not ever, not ever again!

You know, the whole time they were treating me (there were at least 8 people but that's for tomorrow), My feet were like this. They didn't touch the shoes. You notice the pen and the sheet? The whole time the OCD person in me was trying really hard not to cause the pen or sheet to fall. Note awkward right foot:



Here, after it was finally calm and clear (ok above was after too because I didn't have my camera the first time but did the second, but no time to snap. But I managed to text a friend "it's back" with one hand at 206pm!)

Here, is the calm relaxed pose. I asked Steve, can you remove that pen and sheet? And he did. Sigh I was so relaxed after that. I think I was there for another 2 hours in this position calling all of you or calling work to conference you or deciding NOT to call the parents until I see the doctor or get my private room. Sorry mom and dad! I knew I was ok!



More tomorrow, unless I get the urge tonight. I got some TV to catch up on!

ETA: OWWWW! It shouldn't hurt more pulling off the band aid then putting in OR taking out the IV!! OWWW!