It appears that God has lifted His veil of protection from the Republican Party – at least for a day or so. Tampa is getting drenched this morning, and the GOP has cancelled the first day of their convention. Bummer. Don’t worry, though. They should be in full swing tomorrow. Therefore, I need to totally isolate myself from all news media. I just can’t stand listening to (or about) the RomRyan Empress. Especially since I think they’re gonna win in November. Let’s face it, the economy sucks, the Republicans get to spend unlimited amounts of money (a tiny investment when compared to all the tax breaks they’re about to receive), and they have the vote fixed in most of the “swing” states. I just don’t want a “voucher” system to replace Medicare.

Supposedly, those of us under 55 (I can’t believe I wish I was a little more than three years older) will get a voucher, with which we can buy insurance. Cost will be kept low because all the insurance companies will be competing against each other for my business. Yeah, I’m sure they’ll just jump at the chance to offer low-cost health insurance to old people – ‘cuz there should be a lot of profit in that. And we won’t even have the advantage of being in a group plan that can at least negotiate some sort of decent rates.

I was looking at health insurance costs for the “near” elderly (people 55-64) from 2006 (relatively ancient data, in the scheme of things). The average cost for all people (and that would include people still working and on group plans from work, as well as those who have no coverage at all) was $6,251 a year (as opposed to $3,412 for the 25-34 year old crowd).

But if you’ve got some sort of health problem, that goes way up. Asthma? $10,310. Cancer? $12,357. Diabetes? $11,114. And how much do you suppose that will go up for people over 65? 50%? Double? Triple? Who the hell knows. More likely it’ll be just go Cheney yourself if you’re old – we can’t afford you. Buy life insurance from Alec Trebek instead and get ready for those “final expenses.”

Sorry, but I’m taking this all quite personally (it feels as if I’m being legitimately raped).

Of course, there was some sad news over the weekend. As everybody knows by now, Neil Armstrong passed away at what seems like the way too young age of 82. If somebody who was a fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut only made it to 82, how many years can a schlub like me have left? Not many, I don’t think.

On a more locally sad note, West Virginia native (transplanted here some 63 years ago) Reggie Schwartzwalder passed away at the age of 100 (a nice round number). Reggie is the widow of Ben Schwartzwalder, who coached SU football and got us our only National Championship back in 1959. Come to think of it, even 100 doesn’t seem old enough.

Speaking of 100 (ish), “competitive eater” Takeru Kobayashi ate 110 hotdogs (without buns, though) in 10 minutes at the NYS Fair yesterday. The description of his efforts – is truly disgusting.

…it wasn’t a performance that would make someone want to eat. People gasped as Kobayashi stuffed hot dog 100 in, waiting for what’s called a “reversal of fortune” in competitive eating.

But Kobayashi jumped up and down a little in his red sneakers and jiggled his body, as if to force the food downstream. Then he moved on to eat 10 more hot dogs.
[…]
He attacked each dog the same way — fold, stuff, chew, and take a shot of water.

When he was done, the slight Japanese man lifted up his shirt and flexed his abs, which were still visible over his distended stomach.

Yum.