Let Them Die or Tax Them To Hell, Says Mike Strobe

In the Salt Lake Tribune, Mike Strobe wrote: "Annual healthcare costs are roughly $96 billion for smokers and $147 billion for the obese, the government says. These costs accompany sometimes heroic attempts to prolong lives, including surgery, chemotherapy, and other measures."

Somewhat as food-for-thought, he indicated that since socialistic engineering of remedies are rebelled against and have unintended consequences – besides restricting individual liberties – he suggested we just let certain people die. I guess we could put tattoos on their heads stating, "Do Not Treat Tobacco or Fat-Induced Diseases."

In this spirit, according to Mike, the Obama health plan does allow increases in premiums for smokers. But absent social engineering, perhaps we should let die, or tax to hell, all "personal-choice," malady-causing behaviors (e.g., engaging in X-game or high-impact sports, swilling bacon ice cream, live rattlesnake preaching, great white shark tipping, piranhas petting, etc.).  But wouldn't that just put us all in that high-tax bracket? I mean, haven't we all done a little great white shark tipping?

Anyway, just food-for-thought.

Loren M. Lambert © January 27, 2013

Responding To Greetings

Unless you have a pecuniary or amorous relation with the person asking, "How are you?" keep in mind it is just a two-word addition to the salutation, "Hi." Your response should not top this three-word investment.

Loren M. Lambert © January 26, 2013

"There's No Blood Doping Police In Bed" (Lance Armstrong's Bonus Chapter on Amazon.com)

I was going to demand a refund for the Lance Armstrong autobiography I bought my son for Christmas a few years ago, but since we now know the whole story (as noted below), and we can derive the full benefit from his experience, we decided to keep it

"There's No Blood Doping Police In Bed," or "How To Run An Effective Blood Doping Program to Enhance Your Sexual Prowess," are Armstrong’s Bonus Chapters to his autobiography, on sale on Amazon.com.  Armstrong indicates that it really does work on the bike and in bed (even with only one testicle), and so far, nobody gets ordered to give a urine sample after a good hill climb of Ms. Pyrenees in the sack.

The proceeds of Armstrong’s book will go to fight cancer, with the remaining proceeds to make amends for the cancer inflicted on the cycling world.

Live strong and get your "Live Stronger Than Armstrong" wrist bands today!

(Note: Lance, if you come to read my feed as you often do, know that I forgive you and still admire your cancer survivorship. Too bad we won't know how great you were without the EPO [blood doping].)

Loren M. Lambert © January 26, 2013

LDS General Authority, Elder Larry Echo Hawk, Praises President Obama

After receiving an award from the J. Reuben Clark Law Society this evening, Elder Larry Echo Hawk, member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to President Obama as a U.S. leader who would go down in history as doing the most to advance the well-being and rights of the Native American populace, in four years, than any other president and would thereby elevate the status of our nation because "great nations, like great leaders, should keep their promises."

Loren M. Lambert © January 25, 2013

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

I’ve had the privilege of listening to two different interviews of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. What a gem of a human being: intelligent, humble, masterful, well-spoken, and a superior representative of this country. She has all the strengths of her fellow Supreme Court justices, yet none of the hubris, haughtiness, nor wounded disdain that a few of them bear. She reconfirms a belief I have gained through my experience: Those who opine that the government should not or cannot be a reflection of the diversity of our populace have either been blinded by their own prejudices (both conscious and subconscious) or have not sojourned beyond their own limited vision and insular set of acquaintances.

Loren M. Lambert © January 23, 2013

All Work and No Creative Writing or Snow Angel-Making Makes Loren ... Scream!

All work and no creative writing or snow angel-making makes Loren not only a dull boy, but makes him want to pull out all his hair, shred his clothes, and run down Wall Street and Main Street screaming (not pretty – as known by the few who have witnessed it). 

Loren is only currently restrained by the low-digit temperatures that would cause his pathetic little chest ornaments and other accoutrements to freeze and shatter upon contact with any object. Whereas, the creative writing and snow romps are a wonder to behold – and actually one of the seven wonders of his world.

Therefore, be it decreed, by both the Utah and U.S. legislatures, that the world would do well to give him back his play before he's forced to bust it from its chops. Please, for the love of Pete and of Penny, and all that is holy and good – do this!

Loren M. Lambert © January 20, 2013

Marketing of Sex and Fear

The marketing of sex is good, but the marketing of fear is better, and a constitutional clause of the second amendment is the big red cherry atop the arm dealers’ fearless brows. And while there was a run of guns, there was no run on condoms when Mitt Romney and Rand Paul were on top for their fifteen minutes of fame.

Loren M. Lambert © January 19, 2013