Obama Wants to Digitalize My Health Records? I Say Umm I’m Not So Sure Yet

By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

January 18, 2009

Susan was quoted in the article Obama Wants to Digitalize My Health Records? I Say Go For It! by Merely Me (Fri January 16, 2009) and she asked me to make some of my words about it. I’ve therefore created some based solely on the alphabet, and my monotonous words follow this boring preface.

Having a record of what groceries I buy or if I smoke is quite a bit different than my medical history. I smoke in public, and when I buy groceries in public there are usually people nearby (who I never force to sign confidentiality forms when they see me pulling an item from the shelf), and strange, unknown cashiers ring up my purchases.

United States Prison Population, Heatherwood Apartments Mill Creek

United States Prison Population, Heatherwood Apartments Mill Creek
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Oct 6, 2008 – Why does the United States have the highest prison population in the world? What causes crime?

You see, every once in a while I like to ask easy questions that I know have no chance for controversy.

Okay, hands up — how many people out there have been treated unfairly at work, when paying bills, when buying a home or renting? Any happy campers out there?

Work hard at a job, and get underpaid or laid off. Injure yourself, hopefully you can prove in a court of law (after you’ve hired a lawyer which you can’t pay for because you’ve been fired or injured from a job) that the injury was work-related or the termination of employment wasn’t due to some type of discrimination.

American versus American, Putting it into Perspective

American versus American, Putting it into Perspective
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Oct 1, 2008 – Some people seem to think that because Republican candidates say they are pro-life, that means they are actually pro-life. Earlier tonight on CBS, I heard Sarah Palin say that she’s pro-life, but believes it should be up to the states to decide. That’s fine, but why not just say that about every single issue? If I were a politician, I would completely see that position as politically expedient: Pass the buck on a controversial issue to avoid any backlash by potential supporters. The Supreme Court decided on Roe versus Wade on January 22, 1973. Has there been a serious attempt to overturn it since then? Abortion is used simply as a wedge issue against Democrats. When women have the majority in Congress and Washington, let abortion rights be discussed seriously and honestly at that time.

Lois Lane Proves Liberal Bias in the Media | Non Humor

Lois Lane Proves Liberal Bias in the Media
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Sep 30, 2008 – The well-known reporter Lois Lane is supporting Barack Obama. Through her secret identity of Margot Kidder, she called my mother from the volunteer headquarters of Barack Obama. Here is the story as told by my mother, Annette Alt:

Livingston resident Annette Alt received a phone call a few minutes after 8 pm from Superman co-star Lois Lane, otherwise known as Margot Kidder.

Greenwashing is the New Brainwashing | Non Humor

Greenwashing is the New Brainwashing
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

The term greenwash is used in the full article I’ve linked to, but not in this excerpt. You’ll get the idea.

TIME Magazine: Eco-Buyer Beware: Green Can Be Deceiving By Bryan Walsh
Vice president of the environmental marketing firm TerraChoice, Case last year sent his researchers into a big-box retail store to evaluate the green advertising claims of some of the products on its shelves. The results were startling: of the 1,018 products TerraChoice surveyed, all but one failed to live up fully to their green boasts.

Municipal Pornography and Fantasy Gifts Store against Liquor Store | Non Humor

Municipal Pornography and Fantasy Gifts Store against Liquor Store
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

[I originally posted this as an opinion at Northfield News Letters to the Editor 8/30]

Aug 30, 2008 – Mister F. has written that Northfield needs a new Liquor Store. He very handily stated several supporting reasons why it would be a good idea.

Does a liquor store pose more of a threat than a pornography and fantasy gifts store? In Minnesota, one must be 21 to purchase liquor; you must be only 18 to purchase an “adult” movie, 17 to see an Rated “R” movie (unless you are accompanied by an adult, whereas you only need be six years old).

So the reason no one is screaming for a porno shop is because less people talk about porno than liquor. Liquor is much more socially acceptable. Anyone can verify that there is a healthy market for pornography. Logically, if pornography was made more available by retailers to consumers, there would be a substantial increase in sales and profit from X-rated material. Talk about reaching new heights!

Dogs Invading Northfield, Minnesota | Non Humor

Concerned about Dogs in Northfield
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

[In the last half-hour I've sent this letter to the Northfield News, the Northfield Police Department, some members on the City Council, the Northfield Transit Director, and two mayoral candidates. I haven't polished it -- I hadn't intended it for publication when I sent it. To save myself some time, I'm posting it here as-is (other than adding relevant links.]

Aug 27, 2008 – I was just reading the Northfield Police report from today’s edition and see I’m not the only confronted by a dog problem. If I had seen there was a dog problem when I left for my groceries the morning of July 27, I would have re-considered and called the taxi immediately instead of trying to walk. The dog I mentioned in my transit article which I wrote the same day. It was a large dog, such as a Labrador or Doberman. I didn’t get a good look at it, for it seemed content to protect the intersection he owned at Roosevelt Drive and Jefferson Parkway, and I scurried off after the second set of barks and a glimpse of his silhouette near the boulders and trees at the southwest corner of that intersection.

So I am far less worried about graffiti now than being attacked by a dog

Electing Naughty People in 2008 | Non Humor

Electing Naughty People in 2008
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Aug 27, 2008 – We know Senator McCain lies, Senator Obama lies, and Senator Clinton lies. In 2008, McCain or Obama will be elected President. Roughly 60% – 75% of Americans will vote — roughly 200 million people will elect a naughty person to lead the United States. Being naughty and lying is something we discourage our kids (nephews and nieces in my case) from doing.