US taking baby steps towards providing public healthcare...

Last year around this time there were numerous articles in the US newspapers about how Indian public healthcare system is in shambles and can't take care of its people and how Indian private healthcare facilities is being used by Americans who can't afford health insurance here. But a little later a few months later when newly elected president Obama started talking about healthcare reform the same journalists started criticizing it.

After much arguing and fighting between Democrat and Republican parties the healthcare reform bill was finally signed by President Obama. This will hopefully usher in a new era of affordable healthcare for everyone in the country. I am quite sure it will be slow and perhaps painful process but hopefully the progress will be steady and there will be a day when nobody in this country will have to run to some third world country like India or China to get their hearts operated upon because they can't afford to get it done in their own country.

Insurance Company Refuses to cover heavy baby!!!

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Healthcare and insurance are two industries which pretty much control the lives of 300 million Americans. There are people who are perfectly happy with the present situation and would gladly oppose President Obama's Healthcare reforms. But then as I read newsreports from across the country I am more than convinced that these two industries have bled the nation enough, there needs to be a major revamp... not just a reform to set these greedy capitalists right.

Suspended for winking at the President

This video newsreport stuck me by surprise. Apparently a Cleveland fire fighter band member John Coleman winked at President Barack Obama as he participated in the inaugural parade and his superiors took serious exception to this act and suspended him for six weeks.

Coleman, a member of the Cleveland Firefighter's Memorial Pipes and Drums is clearly seen winking at the president in the above video. It is a miniscule... quite negligible gesture but the bosses of Coleman are not happy, they feel that he has broken protocol and compromised the decorum of the band.
I wonder what would happen if someone in India were to wink at the Prime Minister during the Republic day parade?? :):D

Novel Presidential Campaign

As the race for the American Presidency hots up, supporters and campaigners for each of the candidates are becoming more and more creative. They have created T-shirts, jewellery, caps, bumper stickers, even underwear with the names of their favourite candidates. But the latest gig by New York entrepreneur is something that is perhaps the first of its kind.
Benjamin Sherman, promoter of Practice Safe Police in New York City wants to to "have fun" with the campaign. And how does he plan to do it, by marketing condoms featuring images of presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain. Both products carry unique marketing messages appropriate to their candidacy. While the Obama condom proudly says "Use With Good Judgment", the McCain version says "OLD BUT Not Expired." The messages hint at each candidates obvious drawbacks... Obama's inexperience and McCain's age.

Sherman has created separate websites for each brand of condoms.
Highlights of the McCain Condoms:
Trophy wife approved
For the proud, liberal RepublicaN -- conservative Republican

The Obama Condoms website has a similar message too. It says: "These are uncertain times. The economy's a ball-buster and the surge went flaccid... but now there's Obama Condoms, for a change you can believe in! ObamaCondoms are strong enough to withstand the most rigid assault, light enough to penetrate the deepest trenches..."

Highlights of Obama Condoms:
FOR THE ELITIST PENIS
THEY WON'T LEAVE A BITTER TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH
WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO CLOSE THE DEAL

Quite expectedly these unique collectors items have created quite a stir in the US media, with every television news channel and print media covering it in their prime time. Take a look at one of the newscasts below.

Oh! the condoms are priced $9.95 a pair. I wonder how effective they are... but it is surely an effective way to make sure that Sherman laughs all the way to the bank



Closing comments
On an afterthought I was thinking if it were Indian scenario what would have happened. Instead of marketing condoms branded after prime ministerial candidates the campaigners would have elevated them to demi-god status by building temples, performing worship ceremonies, chanting hymns, sacrifices etc. Well, I guess American presidential candidates don't have the good luck of being equated to Gods and being worshipped.