Making Ripples: post-corporate adventures in Floyd County Virginia

Hypocrisy dominates Health Care "reform" campaign

Anyone who believes that the Health care reform bill is anything but a naked power grab should look into the following facts. Any one of them should be enough to make you feel betrayed by those you have elected.

1. This bill is cleverly misnamed: H.R. 3200: America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.

It should be titled America's Enforced Health Choices Act.  Any individual who doesn’t have acceptable health care (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income. It is a tax and the IRS will collect it from you.

According to Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold, those who fail to pay the fee for not buying health insurance could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty.

Where in the Constitution does it say that ordinary citizens will subject to fines and jail for not having federally approved health insurance? Your elected officials and certain union members, and illegal aliens are exempt from these requirements of course.

2.  Those working to impose this bill on us have  exempted themselves from being subject to this bill. Our elected officials have repeatedly refused to allow themselves to be covered by this bill and it appears that they have given unions special exemptions from the provisions of this bill.

We are being forced to accept a health care system that our "elite" leaders are avoiding. So much for equality under the law.

3.  In spite of bland assurances that services will never be rationed, staffing has already begun for an unelected, largely unaccountable group of bureaucrats charged with containing Medicare costs. Obama has stated that such a group, working outside of “normal political channels,” should guide decisions regarding that “huge driver of cost ... the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives.

Most of this group is already in place as a result of the Stimulus Bill which contained funding for a $1.1 billion enterprise run by federal bureaucrats—not practicing doctors on the front line or patients and this part of the President’s plan dictates that doctors and hospitals will be overseen and reviewed by The National Coordinator of Health Information Technology. 

This “Coordinator”, who has already been appointed by President Obama, will be responsible for monitoring treatments to ensure doctors and hospitals strictly follow what the government deems appropriate and cost effective, and to “guide medical decisions at the time and place of care.” So much for Obama's assurance that the government will not come between you and your doctor!

HR 3200 adds another layer of bureaucrats who will allocate resources on the basis of budget needs, not patient needs. This is a great employment opportunity for those who desire absolute power over their neighbor's lives.

4. Democrats are already planning to institute $500 Billion in Medicare cuts. So much for Obama's assurances that Medicare will not be affected.

5. Our president and his supporters continue to insist that this vast bucket of unionized services and patronage handouts will not add to tax burdens or deficit spending. This is so blatantly false that it boggles the mind. The Congressional Budget Office has contradicted these claims of a "deficit neutral" program again and again.

6. Finally, our representatives in Washington are planning to ram this bill through under cover of darkness again. They have refused to allow a period of 72 hours between finishing the bill and voting on it. Remember that these representatives are not subject to this bill or the "death panels" they are forcing on an unsuspecting populace.

Some will protest that the bill does not explicitly state that the Federal Government will lower medicare coverage, deny services to the elderly and mentally incapacitated, or interfere with patient/doctor relationships. The simplest answer to such a blatant denial of reality is to look at the many clarifying amendments which were killed at the behest of Nancy Pelosi and her chairmen.

These amendments were all killed:

-  Require all members of Congress to get their health insurance through the government-run plan.
-  Prevent bureaucrats from making personal medical decisions for patients
-  Keep the Federal Government out of health care decisions
-  Require government-run plan to operate under the same standards as private health plans
-  Ensure that Americans cannot be forced into a government-run health plan
-  Stop seniors from being stripped of their health care choices like Medicare Advantage
-  Keep the federal government  from choosing "favored" physicians
-  Ensure that Health Savings Accounts would not be shut down or gutted by federal mandates
-  Allow Americans to continue to enroll in private individual market health plans

If you are not angered by the actions of our President and other elected officials, you are not paying attention. With very few exceptions, this  country would be vastly improved by replacing all incumbents as soon as possible.

It's time to stop drinking the Socialist Kool-Aid. We are heading toward a bleak future as a second-rate nation dominated by a "entitlement" mindset. We will experience a fiscal tsunami of out-of-control spending that will wreak havoc on our economy unless we all get involved in the 2010 elections.

Gloomy weather depresses spirits to match economy and government

The last few days have favored us with soaking cold mists and chill winds. Mushrooms shoot up overnight and green mold appears on every vertical surface including our relatively new vinyl siding.

My normally sunny spirits are on hold and my thoughts increasingly turn to the state of our economy and the nonsense that is spouted by those we have elected and the media lackeys who curry favor with them.

To shake off my gloom, I drove into town to pick up supplies and prospect for business. Downtown Floyd has a charm that lifts my mood in the worst of seasons, but this inclement weather is hard on visitors.

The streets of downtown Floyd are normally crowded with strolling shoppers on Fridays, but today there were only a few hardy souls bundled up against the cold.

Inside the shops people chatted and exchanged greetings as usual, but conversations inevitably touched upon a sense of dwindling confidence in the economy and unhappiness with government policies.

Money is so tight that most people I know have significantly changed their buying patterns. Local businesses are lowering prices or developing lower priced goods and services to reflect the needs of their customers.

Even though most business owners are trying to be realistic and are doing what they can to tough things out, there is a pervasive feeling that the economy is not stable and may subside at any moment.

Most people still seem to have long term hopes, but are actually planning and executing on a month to month basis.

It seems like more people are making major changes to their lifestyles in an effort to deal with worsening financial situations. Those with jobs are developing craft opportunities in an effort to generate additional income. Those who are out of work or are in changed family circumstances are doing odd jobs and even cleaning houses to make ends meet.

People are resilient and those who concentrate on providing worthwhile products and services for those who need them will survive and will be ready to take advantage of the next economic recovery.

The current economic situation will not change for the better until true job creation occurs in the free enterprise sector. For more thoughts on what that might entail, read past the jump.

Business and Art make a good mix in Floyd

(This was originally written for the Floyd Press and appeared in the Thursday, September 24 issue.)

A number of local Floyd VA businesses display art by local artists on their walls. Are they just being public spirited or have they discovered a way to harness artistic talent for the benefit of their customers? It appears that their generosity is paying off in unexpected ways.

According to the business owners who display local art, it started with their desire to support local artists but it has become a vital benefit for their customers and staff as well.

These enlightened business include restaurants, financial advisors, health care professionals, and coffee shops which have adopted a business model where they provide free display space for local art and accept payment for art on behalf of the artists. They do not charge a commission for this service and the artists are responsible for recording the sale and paying taxes.

One of the recent additions to the ranks of art-supporting businesses is the Avellar, Stone, & Houston Financial Group whose offices are shown in the picture above. They have made almost a hundred feet of wall space available for displaying the work of local artists. The display space will include their lobby, the main hallways and their conference room. Currently, art has been hung in the lobby and one hallway with more to be hung in the coming week.

Gary Stone, Brecc Avellar and John Paul Houston (shown in the picture above) are enthusiastic supporters of local artists and invite visitors and tourists to come in and view the art on display. They are also planning to join the ranks of businesses that are open to visitors on First Fridays.

Floyd businesses have been supporting artists in this way for many years. The Barter Clinic, The Blackwater Loft, Oddfellas Cantina, Cafe del Sol, and Tuggles Gap Restaurant are among those that exhibit different local artists every month.

Customers make a point of looking at the art on display and often provide feedback on how much the art contributes to their enjoyment of doing business in such pleasant surroundings. Employees in several businesses mentioned their enjoyment of the artwork as well.

Employees of one business confided that customers are so used to seeing art that they will actually complain when there is no art on display. Fortunately this occurs only during the brief intervals between exhibits.

This continuing cooperation of business and artists has a positive effect on the viability of Floyd as a destination for potential settlers and cultural tourists. A town with one art gallery is not as desirable for a weekend visit as a town with multiple galleries and showplaces for local artists.

Art in Floyd is an integral part of local community life, not just a commodity that is sold only in our fine gift shops and galleries. People visiting Floyd get an unusual opportunity to immerse themselves in the local art and music community. It leaves them with a lasting and favorable impression.

Floyd's galleries also support local artists and have become a significant tourist attraction. The best known are the Bell Gallery and Garden, the art galleries at The Station on Locust, Over the Moon Gallery, Jeanie O'Neill's Gallery and the Jacksonville Center.

Whether you visit Floyd's art galleries or patronize the businesses which support local artists, you will have a chance to see the latest works by a growing number of local artists.

Hang in there

There are times when all seems lost. We've all been there. The job of a lifetime turns sour, that one true love turns out to be a mirage, or you have really screwed up and there is little hope for turning things around. You may be so crushed and scared that you can't even see where things went wrong.

You may feel very much like this lizard, who had been so careless that he was caught by Buffy, our old huntress

When you find yourself in this kind of situation, there are at least two ways you can go. You can bow to the inevitable and take your lumps, or you can defy all reason and insist on working your way through to a more satisfactory conclusion.

The first way absolutely guarantees that you will end up smaller and weaker, possibly dead.

Choosing the second path, giving no quarter, and keeping your own counsel is no guarantee of success either. However, if you survive, you will emerge stronger and smarter.

It's a hard choice and no one can make it for you.

Giving up in the face of superior force is no shame, but that choice may lead to a surprising loss of integrity. Hanging in there and toughing it out until you find a way to handle your situation with honor is the best way.

If you got into your current predicament because of an error in judgment, take that as a sign that you are missing vital data. Treat failure as a learning experience and you will emerge from each failure emotionally stronger and more ready to tackle life.

Life is continually changing. The successful actions of a few years ago may cause a business to close today. There is no rest point, only change.

Social and political situations may change so radically that your once comfortable life can vanish in a few months. Failure to anticipate threats can expose you to dangerous situations like that pictured above.

If you find yourself in the grip of adverse circumstances in spite of your best efforts, do not give up. If you are pursuing a worthwhile goal, you may find the inspiration you need to wrest yourself from your current disaster and move on to other challenges.

Buffy carried this lizard around by his foreleg for at least a half hour. Each time she tried to pin him down with a paw, the lizard desperately pulled himself out of harm's way. When she finally put the lizard down in order to get a better grip, he was gone before she could bite down.

(I took this picture many years ago and have revisited this subject several times on this blog. Each time I discover new insights. This time I decided that ending something on your own terms is a more satisfactory learning experience than ending it because you are forced to do so.)

There are times when all seems lost. We've all been there. The job of a lifetime turns sour, that one true love turns out to be a mirage, or you have really screwed up and there is little hope for turning things around. You may be so crushed and scared that you can't even see where things went wrong.

You may feel very much like this lizard, who had been so careless that he was caught by Buffy, our old huntress

When you find yourself in this kind of situation, there are at least two ways you can go. You can bow to the inevitable and take your lumps, or you can defy all reason and insist on working your way through to a more satisfactory conclusion.

The first way absolutely guarantees that you will end up smaller and weaker, possibly dead.

Choosing the second path, giving no quarter, and keeping your own counsel is no guarantee of success either. However, if you survive, you will emerge stronger and smarter.

It's a hard choice and no one can make it for you.

Giving up in the face of superior force is no shame, but that choice may lead to a surprising loss of integrity. Hanging in there and toughing it out until you find a way to handle your situation with honor is the best way.

If you got into your current predicament because of an error in judgment, take that as a sign that you are missing vital data. Treat failure as a learning experience and you will emerge from each failure emotionally stronger and more ready to tackle life.

Life is continually changing. The successful actions of a few years ago may cause a business to close today. There is no rest point, only change.

Social and political situations may change so radically that your once comfortable life can vanish in a few months. Failure to anticipate threats can expose you to dangerous situations like that pictured above.

If you find yourself in the grip of adverse circumstances in spite of your best efforts, do not give up. If you are pursuing a worthwhile goal, you may find the inspiration you need to wrest yourself from your current disaster and move on to other challenges.

Buffy carried this lizard around by his foreleg for at least a half hour. Each time she tried to pin him down with a paw, the lizard desperately pulled himself out of harm's way. When she finally put the lizard down in order to get a better grip, he was gone before she could bite down.

(I took this picture many years ago and have revisited this subject several times on this blog. Each time I discover new insights. This time I decided that ending something on your own terms is a more satisfactory learning experience than ending it because you are forced to do so.)

Farm cat cheers up rescued rabbit

We had the chance to join our neighbors for a Labor Day barbecue this year. There were lots of laughs, good food and good company.

We were entertained by Chester, their recently acquired farm cat who showed an unusual amount of purpose in addition to a winning personality.

I first noticed Chester when he greeted us on our arrival at the party. A complete extrovert, he checked everyone out and played with those of us who are into cats.

After a brief session searching the grass for interesting varmints, he charged up the hill toward the rabbit hutch and disappeared.

When we visited the rabbit hutch later, Chester had climbed into the hutch and was inside on the rabbit's bed. When I asked if he would harm the rabbit, his owner said he visited the rabbit often and would spend considerable time with it.

I have read about friendships between animals of different species, but this was the first time I had seen it in action. I was somewhat surprised to see the difference in their behavior toward each other.

Chester was outgoing and friendly but the rabbit was almost completely unresponsive.

Chester was interested in the rabbit and watched it closely. The rabbit came over and sniffed the cat once but seemed relatively withdrawn otherwise.

The owner said the rabbit had been rescued from a place where it had been severely neglected. I figured it had probably never been socialized as an animal raised by an affectionate owner. It certainly did not show the normal curiosity exhibited by animals raised under humane conditions.

There is a wide range of personalities in domestic animals and humane treatment tends to bring out the best in them, but watching this cat interact with the rabbit, it seemed that over time the cat might have a positive effect on the rabbit in spite of its past neglect. 

We all do better with friends around us. It's nice to see that this is not confined to human friendships.

Birds on the Wires

 

Jarbas Agnelli, of São Paulo, Brazil,  has the ability to recognize beauty in random events and has created a video that will touch you in ways you will not expect.

Jarbas noticed that a particular feathered flock resembled notes in a musical score. He then composed a song using the “melody the birds were creating.”

View "Birds on the Wires" and see if your awareness of life expands just a little..

First Friday in Floyd VA is a winning combination

The Friday Night Jamboree may have been the original attraction that drew musicians and cloggers to Floyd  from all over Virginia and North Carolina, but the entire Floyd community now puts on a show that entertains hundreds of visitors every Friday night, especially on the first Friday of every month.
 

These Friday night celebrations have become a major "photo opportunity" for visiting photographers. You see them everywhere capturing images of joyful celebration. These images appear on the Internet every week and bring more visitors from far places looking for a night of music and family fun.

Floyd has created a truly hospitable small town environment that offers good food, lodging, shopping, and entertainment for visitors and encourages them to return and bring friends.

Floyd attracts talented people and visitors are made welcome, especially those who bring their own musical instruments.

Last Friday was the First Friday in September and almost every shop and gallery in town was open and there were artists receptions and live music everywhere.

Watching kids choosing penny candy from the barrels in the Floyd Country Store is a show in itself. Woody and Jackie Crenshaw have created a family venue in the Floyd Country Store that has something for almost everyone.

On Locust Street, you will find enthusiastic audiences cheering musicians as they play everything from gospel music and Bluegrass to Jimmy Buffett tunes. In the coffee shops and downstairs at Wildfire Pots, you will hear Blues, Celtic music, Jazz, Flamenco music, and tunes written by local singer/songwriters.

It is a common sight to see crowds of spectators gathered around musicians jamming on the sidewalk, with visitors waiting with instruments in hand for a tune that they can join in on.

It is almost impossible to hear and see everything during a single Friday night, so you end up returning and then you find that there are even more interesting places you have missed.

 

This recent First Friday, The Blue Ridge Art Connection at the Station on Locust featured a reception for visiting artist James Underwood, a prize-winning pastel artist from Bedford, VA. His work can be seen at www.underwoodart.com

They also exhibited work by students who have taken classes from the artists of the Art Connection. This group was admiring an oil painting by one of the students. The Art Connection encourages and supports beginning artists as well as promoting their own art.

  

The Jacksonville Center for the Arts featured a Breezeway Gallery Exhibit that showcased members of the Jacksonville Center. Live music and refreshments created a party mood. The Jacksonville Center for the Arts has trained many of the local artists who are now professionals.

The overall effect is that the presence of so much talent and a willingness to share with newcomers has created a steady increase in the number of artists who are contributing to the local economy.

It is not just the art community and musicians that attract visitors to Floyd, it is the concerted effort by most business establishments to welcome visitors and make them feel at home.

The town is so small that visitors are easy to identify and most people in town will go out of their way to be helpful. As a fairly recent transplant of five years, I can still remember the pleasant shock I experienced coming to Floyd for the first time. People made us feel welcome from day one.

Many of the visitors I spoke to this weekend mentioned being pleased with their accommodations at the Hotel Floyd and local Bed and Breakfasts. More than half of the visitors I met Friday were planning to returning to Floyd for another visit.

Have you noticed the all-black wooly bears this year?

We may be in for a very severe winter if you believe the Farmer's Almanac.

Here in Floyd, VA, we are seeing an all-black version of the common wooly bear caterpillar without the traditional wooly bear stripes. It is completely black from end to end and has a soft fuzzy coat like a normal wooly bear.

At left is the winter severity legend in pictorial form. Image from the Wooly Bear Festival in Vermillion, OH

According to legend, the severity of the upcoming winter can be judged by examining the pattern of brown and black stripes on woolly bear caterpillars--the larvae of Isabella tiger moths.

If the brown stripe between the two black stripes is thick, the winter will be a mild one. A narrow brown stripe portends a long, cold winter. So, what will happen when there is no brown stripe at all?

This is what a normal Isabella tiger moth wooly bear looks like:

Our black wooly bear was identical to this, but was all black. It did not resemble the caterpillar version of the leopard moth that is pictured below:

The leopard moth larva has a spiky coat, while the common wooly worm has a softer and even coat. We were so startled to see the all-black wooly bear that we did not get a photo. As soon as I see another, I will post the photo here for a comparison.

If you don't believe in wooly bears, then you might consider what is happening to our weather recently.  Trees are already turning color and some are dropping their leaves. Nights are cold enough to justify turning on the heat again. Temperatures warm up to the eighties by noon, but drop to the fifties and below at night.

I am not taking any chances. I have been hard at work splitting and stacking firewood in preparation for a long hard winter.

I am already concerned about next year which should be even colder than this one as I have little confidence in the computer simulations that predict a global warming trend.