I stumbled upon a Pro-Healthcare Reform rally in Chicago's Federal Plaza the other day, and I really started thinking about the current national debate on our Healthcare options in this country.

The American Healthcare system needs a Doctor. Yeah, it's sick folks, believe it or not. There has been much talk recently about the Obama's administrations efforts to overhaul the Healthcare system in our country, and boy is it facing some very determined and vocal opposition. But why? Who would be against comprehensive, affordable healthcare for all Americans? Well, I'm guessing the HMO's are none too thrilled with anything that would take money out of their pockets. They have been getting rich for years off of our premiums and deductables. Hey, I had an HMO for years, and thank God I was never turned down for anything by my HMO, except for the time they wouldn't pay for my Eyeglasses for reasons that are still a mystery to me. I'm lucky I could afford to pay up the $200 for the exam and the glasses, but what if I couldn't? What if I was suffering from some truly life-threatening disease or debilitating condition,

and my HMO said "No, that procedure is denied"? I guess I'd just be screwed. Now, there has been much noise about how changing our Healthcare system would lead us down the road to SOCIALISM in America, Really? That the government would be telling us what Doctors we could see and what procedures we could have, and that would be bad. Yeah, it's so much better that some HMO employee does it, than some government employee. There are folks that decry us getting some form of national healthcare system like in Canada or Great Britain. I must be honest that I don't know anything about the Canadian healthcare or British healthcare system, but I still haven't really heard just what is so bad about them.

I'm no Healthcare expert, and I'm not gonna offer wild speculation about which system is best or not, but I will say this. Everyone in America should have healthcare coverage. Why should some approximately 53 million people suffer in pain and sickness in one of the most prosperous nations in the World? Would should people stay sicker longer, or die sooner, in the United States of America? If you have health insurance and you like how everything is for you, GREAT. But shouldn't we think of the folks on the fringe of the system the uninsured or underinsured?

I am glad that there are efforts to try to push for more progressive Healthcare Reform in this country, and I do hope that something positive and productive comes from all of this. There are far too many of our fellow citizens in dire need of a change in the system, and I would hope that the effort isn't derailed by the HMO/Pharmaceutical lobby that is trying to use the fear and confusion to once again keep so many of us out in the cold without a pill to swallow or a Doctor to see. I do hope that more and more Americans will be able to hear that old phrase that can be music to your ears when you're feeling for from your best, "The Doctor will see you, now." 

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Well, nowadays we often lament that there simply is no such think as "Customer Service" anymore. We all could swap stories about making phone calls or writing letter to businesses about problems, and never getting anything but lip service (and sometimes you won't even get that.) Last Sunday, I went into a Dunkin Donuts located at 5707 W. North Avenue in Chicago. I was gonna grab a few Munchkins for my little chubby-cheeked niece, but my plans were sidetracked when I saw flies laying on and flying about the donuts. I asked the counter clerk if there wasn't ANYTHING they could do about the flies on the donuts, and she just said, with a slight shoulder shrug, "No, they've tried everything." Now, that just wasn't an acceptable answer.  I immediately left the Dunkin Donuts, without any pastries, and decided that I was going to voice my concern in the Public Square. On Monday, I did what most folks would do, I contacted the city's Board of Health to complain about the situation at Dunkin Donuts (afterall it was a health code violation to have flying insects on food in restaurants.) I also did one better, I "Tweeted" about it. Yeah, I went on Twitter to give voice to my complaint to the cyber-community at large. Now, here is where it gets good.

By Wednesday I heard from Dunkin Donuts via Twitter (a lot of major companies are on Twitter to get feedback about their company from their customers.) They, Dunkin Donuts, were very apologetic about mu unfortunate experience at their place of business and encouraged me to contact their Customer Service department via their website ay www.dunkindonuts.com. I promptly did just that.  This past Saturday, I got a phone call from the Manager of the Dunkin Donuts at 5707 W. North Avenue concerning the incident. He too was polite, apologetic, and offered reassurance that Dunkind Donuts had taken steps to eliminate the continuing flying bug problem. They purchased on of those Flying Bug zapping lamps.  Wow, all this in less than seven days. I went to Dunkin Donuts, today. I looked for the new bug lamp, and I didn't notice ANY flying insects in the place. I guess the lesson learned here is that sometimes it really does pay to voice your complaints to people that might be able to do something about it (Dunkin Donuts seems to care how their customers feel, ) and that www.twitter.com is a valuable tool in the marketplace of the cultural exchange. Now, it's time to enjoy a donut.

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You never really now what you'll stumble across on your travels that will just make you smile. As I was walking down the street I looked into a store window and saw these little fellas. They brought back very fond memories of my childhood. I know that Mr.Potatohead was one of my favorite toys as a kid (I think I had two of them in my time.) When I saw them all lined up it made me smile, and almost forget about all the troubles on my mind. I guess the short message is never underestimate the sheer power of Mr.Potatohead to make your day.

Mr.Potatohead

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ChicagoJobSeeker

Hello, hello, hello...

It's been a good little while since I've blogged about life, I've been swept up into Twitter, but I'm back !!! So, what's going on in the world these days? Apparently, not much has changed in the world since May. I see the the unemployment situation in America has not gotten any better, in fact I do believe that things might be getting a little worse. I was out and about on the streets of Chicago on Monday when I say this young woman, Leah Hannah, passing out her resume to strangers at the corner of State & Randolph. She even had a big sign around her neck advertising to the world that she need a job. God bless her, that really took guts (personal dignity be damned when you're out of work.) I know that my own job hunt has known peaks & valleys this past year. I haven't found my new next opportunity yet, and I'm feeling the bite of economic hardship because of it. But life goes on, and so does the hunt.

I've been thinking a lot about our nation's current financial crisis, and despite Newsweek magazine declaring that the "Recession is Over," I 'm not seeing that on the streets that I walk, daily. I do hope that I won't be forced to hang a placard around my neck and start passing out resumes on a street corner, but I might find myself in that spot. Heck, in this economy we might all find ourselves doing it. It just seems that the jobs are getting harder and harder to find, and that there are more and more people out there pounding the pavement. I do hope that we all find our pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow, but I guess first we need to see some Rainbows overhead.

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It's been a good little while since I posted one of these self-pics, but I thought I'd show everyone my new eyeglasses. Today, I got my first pair of Bifocals. Yeah, I'm getting old and my eyes know it.

I spent $300 dollars on two pair of glasses, today. I'm hoping that I won't need to get anymore for a good long time. I knew I needed to get new eyeglasses for some time now, but I didn't have the coin to shell out for a new pair. Today, I dug deep to get them. Well, here I am in my new specs.

Chris's New Peepers.

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Well, today they had the annual Cinco de Mayo Parade in Pilsen here in Chicago. The Parade didn't seen to be as big as it has been in the recent past, and the crowds of spectators was visable smaller, but a good time was had by all. Despite all the news over the current health crisis of the H1N1 virus /"Swine Flu" pandemic that is spreading around the globe, people still came out to enjoy their heritage and their community. It was musical, colorful, and a very festive celebration. Viva La Vida!

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One thing you can always say about life in Chicago is that there's always SOMETHING going on in the city. Chicago is a city of great cultural diversity, a grand mosaic of life dwells here in the city of big shoulders. I can always find something to point my camera at and shoot. Here are just a few glimpses of life here in the Windy City, from a Armenian protest against Turkey, a Illinois Worker's rally with the Governor of Illinois speaking, May Day Marches, and even a Polish Pride Parade. There's always something going on in the city.

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Are you worried about a swine flu pandemic?

 

Biohazzard

(photo credit: Internet) 

Well, I gotta be honest...Yes, I'm worried about the Swine Flu. I'm watching the news reports on all the Channels about the spread of it around the World (it hasn't made it to Chicago yet, but I hear it's just a matter of time.) I get updates from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on Twitter. And I'm investing in a large cache of hand sanitizer, too. Now, I don't thin k that folks will b e dropping dead from it, but I have noticed the raising death toll in Mexico from this unseen viral stalker. I just hope all this blows over soon, before I gotta try and get a Biohazzard Suit just for my daily commute on public transportation (and believe me when I say the buses and trains are just rolling germ incubators) .

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Cheesburger1

Cheeseburger3

Hey, hey...last friday, I want to The Cheesburger Show Tweet-Up at the Sheffield Bar & Grill, It was an event sponsored by the Chicago Tribune to promote The Cheeseburger Show on CLTV, a local news station owned by the Tribune. It was also an event to bring users of the social networking site Twitter together to share conversation, food & drink. For the most part the crowd was young staffers from the Chicago Tribune, but there were a few folks (like me) who were there just to snag a free dinner. It was a well attended gathering, but the venue was a little too small for my taste.  The Cheeseburger Show goes around Chicagoland looking for the best Cheeseburger in the city, I wonder how I can get a job like that? I'll tell you this, the Cheeseburgers served at Sheffield's aren't half bad...Yummy!

Cheeseburger4

Cheeseburgertweet

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What question do you ask when you really want to get to know someone better?

Well, it all starts with this...."What's your name?"

hello_my_name_is

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