"man up", "tough love": just how many euphemisms does the NFL use to describe bullying?

Huh

I just found out that one of my first cousins on my father's side has the same autoimmune disorder I have - Sjogren's. It's surprising because autoimmune disorders run so strongly on my mother's side!

I've read that the Pope has asked the bishops to poll lay Catholics on

such hot button issues as clerical celibacy and contraception. There's been a lot of discussion of how to go about this. My question has been raised before - who is a Catholic? Is someone who was baptized, given First Communion and confirmed but who hasn't been to Mass in 20 years a Catholic? What if that person has been away over the precise issues involved?

Now - this is my kind of Art!

Visit to the rheumatologist:

"How are you feeling today?"

"Pretty Good!"

then, as the visit proceeds, you notice that ache in your hips, and that sore wrist, and recall this and that that you've been placing in the background so you can get on with your life!

So the entire visit was punctuated with - "um, it hurts here, too. Not too bad, but it hurts."

Amazing coincidence : The South Carolina attorney who says that Healthcare.gov compromised his

personal information also claimed that the South Carolina Department of revenue comprised his info:


"Having lived through one security breach in the state of South Carolina with the Department of Revenue, "

http://www.wistv.com/story/23864518/only-on-10-midlands-man-has-personal-information-compromised-on-healthcaregov

About those problems with the ACA roll-out - a little context -

my husband works for a tiny division of a large company. Health care insurance was formerly tied to the nearest local plant, this year the insurance was transferred to the main office.

Last year we missed the sign-up because we fell into a crack. Every time we signed up, a computer transferred us to the wrong policy. It took 6 months to straighten this out. It didn't help that everytime someone manually corrected our policy, a computer somewhere removed us again!

This year, I started calling people in mid-October to check on sign-ups. Then I sent an e-mail.

Yesterday, there was an e-mail back with a link to the PDF for the policy options. Supposedly the paper copies went out last week ( ); still haven't seen them. We now have less than 10 days to go on-line and sign up for 2014.

I read through the PDF very carefully, but still had to go to other sources like the IRS to answer questions about the FSA and HSA.

I had to go to two differnet web sites and a phone call to find out my expenses for last year so I can plan for next year.

It took my husband hours last year to sign up through the web site, so I'm really looking forward to this year.

So, this is what a private system that has been in place for years looks like!

I CAN'T LOG IN TO MY HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY'S WEB SITE -

They're having technical issues.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Obamacare a/k/a the ACA, but I still think someone should call Congress right f***ing now!

White lies and damn lies:

White lie " You'll be able to keep your current policy *"

*unless it isn't worth the paper it's written on, in which case you'll be offered an actual, decent helath insurance policy at a price you can afford.


Damn lies:

"Saddam has chemical, biological and nuclear weapons aimed at us."

"Don't worry about your student loan; you'll get a good job after graduation and pay it back quickly."

"Work for the city 20 years and you're guaranteed a good pension."

"Sure, the price of the house is steep, but with prices rising you'll be able to flip it at a profit in a few years!"

"Our pipelines are perfectly safe"

"Besides, we can always clean up any spills."

I make my fruit cake with dried fruit soaked in Irish Mist -

so, currents and raisins, of course. Anything else? Dried apples? Cherries?

Walnuts or hazelnuts?