You Don't Say!

Hello My Dear Friends! Thousands of years ago, Cats were worshiped as Gods. I have not forgotten this but, apparently many of you have! My personal physician has gone on maternity leave. Breeders! WTF! I will be interviewing for a temporary replacement ahead of my six month wellness exam. Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about your healthcare concerns. What? You say. My healthcare concerns? Whatever do you mean PoKitty? Well, let me tell you. The slimy underbelly of the Affordable Care Act is about to be exposed. It's called "reinsurance". That's a program set up in the ACA that reimbursed insurers (with your tax dollars) for losses they incurred by participating in Obamacare. That program expires at the end of this year and, guess what! Yup. Bend over, here it comes. Many insurers, like UnitedHealth and Humana, have dropped out of the program in many states. Others, Like CareFirst Blue Cross of Virginia, are dropping their Bronze (lowest cost) Tier options. That's going to produce about a 70% price increase to consumers. All insurance carriers will be increasing their rates across the board by about 20%. You see, the creators of Obamacare knew their system would never work. Heck, everyone with a brain knew it wouldn't work. "Reinsurance" was built into the ACA to cover up that fact. It was also deliberately created to expire in 2017 so the next President of the United States would have to deal with the fallout. Classy. Who could've seen that coming! Wondering what's going to happen with your insurance? Insurers have to post their rate increase requests on HealthCare.gov by tomorrow. Check it out, if you dare....
A school district in North Carolina is doing away with the Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Why? Because, according to the Wake County School Board, competition for the honor is unhealthy. UNHEALTHY! LOL! Striving to be the best, working hard to be number one, is a little too stressful. Apparently failure is far better for your well being. Mediocrity is better for the soul. How lucky kids are today! It must be amazing to come of age in a vanilla world where success is a burden, safe spaces protect you from controversy, and everyone gets a trophy! Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya!
Veterans' Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald yesterday, while being questioned about the on-going problem of long waits for Veterans to be treated at the VA, put everyone's concerns to rest when he said hey, "When you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line"? Well, no Mr. McDonald, they don't. Gosh darn it, you have a point! Of course, I don't go to Disney for treatment of pancreatic cancer so the urgency factor isn't really there. But I get you. If you can't fix the problem, mock it! Well done Mr. Secretary. Well done!
Po

Mind;Blown!

Hello My Dear Friends! I have two stories to tell you that I believe highlight why I have doubled my catnip budget. First the story of Braxton Linton. Mr. Linton served 14 months in prison for using sensitive information on his employers computer to steal $70,000 through a credit card scam. Upon leaving prison, he was promptly hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a department head at the VA hospital in Puerto Rico overseeing, of all things, purchasing. After receiving information that Linton was steering contracts to one company in exchange for bribes and investigation was launched. The VA's Inspector General found that the amount spent on contracts had increased 6 fold since Linton took over and that criminal misconduct was taking place. Nothing was done. A deputy director at the hospital notified the Department of Veterans Affairs that Linton and the hospital director DeWayne Hamlin had racked up $1.2 billion (that's BILLION) in "problematic credit card charges" in an 18 MONTH period. Nothing was done. Now a worker at the hospital, who was arrested for Armed Robbery, has been given her job back because, according to VA Under Secretary David Shulkin, "criminal prosecution or conviction for off-duty conduct does not automatically disqualify an individual from federal employment".  It all makes perfect sense once you hear the argument the armed robber used to get her job back. She argued that she couldn't be discriminated against as a felon since the hospital's HR director is a convicted sex offender! I told you it all made perfect sense. Thank Goodness Mr. Obama has cleaned up the Veterans Administration or we would be in real trouble!
Second is the story of William Johnson. Mr. Johnson is apparently a "White Supremacist" who was selected as a delegate from California by the Trump team. Mr. Johnson is the leader of the American Freedom Party which, according to their manifesto, "exists to represent the political interests of white Americans" and to "uphold the customs and heritage of European American people". Mr. Johnson denies that label and explains his organization this way: (I'm paraphrasing here) 'People of every race take pride in their heritage and are encouraged to to do so. African American, Hispanic Americans, Arab Americans all freely and openly celebrate their heritage but, when Caucasian, Anglo Saxon Americans show pride in their heritage they are labeled racists, supremacists or hate mongers. This isn't right nor is it fair. You can be proud to be black; you can be proud to be Hispanic but if you're proud to be white, you're a racist'. He says he doesn't believe that being white makes you better than anyone else (the definition of a supremacist) but he also doesn't believe that being proud of it makes you a racist. Hmmmm. You be the judge.
Po

Just To Be Clear

Hello My Dear Friends! Secretary of State John Kerry, during his commencement speech at Northeastern University, took a shot at Donald Trump by saying "We will never come out on top if we accept advice from sound-bite salesmen and carnival barkers who pretend the most powerful country on earth can remain great by looking inward". Really? So, Mr. Kerry, it is your contention that if America looks inward, to it's people, it will fail? Wow. He went on to say to the graduates that they are embarking on a borderless world". Seriously? I hope they don't take him at his word and wander into Mexico! My point is, Mr. Kerry, like many of his contemporaries, believes that the American people, left to their own devices, would implode and perish. He is, of course, wrong but this is the message he chose to pass on to the next generation of leaders; 'If you look inward you will fail'. Thanks for that, Secretary Kerry. You are a Goober.
A Pennsylvania girl was denied entrance to her prom because she wore a tux. The clearly stated dress code was girls in formal dresses so, she was denied at the door. Whatever. It was a private Catholic school and they have the right to make the rules. However, as a Catholic school, it seems a bit bizarre that this...

is unacceptable, but this....

is perfectly fine. Catholic school has changed A LOT since I was young! Call me crazy but I would rather have my 17-year old daughter covered up a bit but who am I to judge. Rules are rules.

Finally, the Great American Bathroom Law War continues. The Fed is threatening to sue North Carolina if they pass their law banning cross use of bathrooms. I'm sure you know the story. Now, however, with this battle growing more and more contentious, I have a new fear. I read a comment recently from a North Carolina woman who said she was "bringing her gun" into the bathroom to protect herself from the "perverts". Yikes! I have a friend, she's older, wears her hair short, loose clothing, and has, more than once, been mistaken for a man. She has been humiliated, while waiting in line for the bathroom, by morons who say "I think you're in the wrong line" or "This is the line for the ladies room". Not everything or everyone is as they appear. Now we have to worry that a version of said morons might pull out a gun! Is there no end to this nonsense? People, until unisex or family bathrooms are available everywhere, please, just pee, wash your hands and leave. It really is that simple. No eye contact, no chatter, just do your business and be on your way. You have nothing to fear but pee itself!

Po

Thoughts Over Catnip

Hello My Dear Friends! Happy Friday! Last night, 15 minutes before the NFL Draft began, video surfaced of a top draft choice, Laremy Tunsil, sucking on a gas mask bong. Tunsil, who was expected to be drafted first or second, dropped all the way to 13th overall. Lucky for him there wasn't a video of him hitting a woman or he may have dropped to 15th! You've got to love the NFL!
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner called Presidential candidate Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh" and also said of Cruz, "I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life". Not a fan, John? In other Cruz news, Cruz named Carly Fiorina has his running mate. I like Carly Fiorina but Ted Cruz naming a running mate is sort of like the Buffalo Bills naming their starting quarterback for the Super Bowl...a tad premature.
A 25-year old man, who threatened to blow up the Baltimore Fox TV Station, is recovering after being shot by police. The suspect, who had a flash drive he wanted aired on the news, was dressed in a panda bear onesie with a surgical mask and sunglasses. I can see why officials took the threat so seriously! Turns out that the "bomb" was a bunch of candy bars wrapped in plastic with wires sticking out and the flash drive contained a video of the suspect ranting about the government. I can understand the anger over the government but, what I can't understand, is why they make panda bear onesies for men!
About 20 raucous protesters were arrested after a Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California last night. The anti-Trump protesters blocked the road after the event, attended by some 18,000 Trump supporters, damaged vehicles, including police cars, smashed windows, sprayed graffiti and then waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Classic! Is it any wonder why Trump is so popular.
The 'Bathroom Wars" continue. Nearly a million people signed a petition to boycott Target stores over their position on allowing customers to use the bathroom/fitting room that matches their gender identity. Target doesn't care. As you may recall, last year there were calls to boycott Target after they removed the signage separating "boys" and "girls" toys. In 2012 a boycott was called for against Target when they starting selling tee shirts to support the Family Equality Council, a group opposing the Defense of Marriage Act. In each case the boycotters got bored after a week or two and moved on. I suspect the same will happen here. Target ranks 92nd on Forbes Most Valuable Brands list with about $74 billion in annual sales. I doubt that a dust up about bathroom assignments is going to change that but, if it really bothers you, try peeing before you leave the house. Enjoy the weekend!
Po

The Beat Goes On

Hello My Dear Friends! I often wonder if there is a light at the end of this tunnel of insanity that has become our day to day existence! Hillary Clinton, in a recent speech, called on Donald Trump to come out of his ivory tower and listen to the common folk. She then went home to her modest little $2 million Westchester Estate, or was it her $2.85 million Washington, DC colonial, maybe the NYC condo. I don't know. I do know that hypocrisy never rests. In other insanity, Ted Cruz and John Kasich have "joined forces" to beat Donald Trump. I've got news for you boys. The windshield doesn't care if it's one bug or two. The windshield always wins. Anyway, enough about politics.
Beyonce's new single "Sorry" has her Beyhive, as it's known, cyber slashing women they believe are "Becky with the good hair". If you're smart enough to NOT know what I'm talking about, the aforementioned "Becky", according to the song, had an affair with Bey's hubby Jay Z. Now, I actually care less about this than I do the Kardashians, however, cyber-bullying is a real problem today and, instead of condemning it, Beyonce seems to be basking in it. Her loyal followers first thought "Becky" was designer Rachel Roy. Well, some of them did. Others confused her with Rachel Ray and started attacking her. Can you imagine Rachel Ray with Jay Z? LOL. Anyway, both Rachel Ray and Rachel Roy were overrun on all social media forums by The Hive. It was brutal. Now they've turned their sights on British singer Rita Ora. When celebrities don't condemn their fans bad behavior, they become responsible for it. Cyber-Bullies, like the Beyhive and Beliebers, adopt a pack mentality and try to one-up each other with their crudeness and cruelty in an attempt to catch the attention of their idol. The problem is, Cyber-Bullies don't just attack celebrities. They attack everyone. 9 teen suicides this year alone have been directly connected to cyber-bullying. It's a real problem. People like Beyonce should be using their power over their followers to stop Cyber-Bullying, not re-tweeting their venom and encouraging the behavior. It's a damn shame when someone as popular as Beyonce will use the Super Bowl halftime show to glorify the Black Panthers but she can't muster the courage to ask her fans not to act like animals.
Po

The Trouble with Protesters

Hello My Dear Friends! As many of you know, on Saturday, the Captors attended the Donald Trump rally at OnCenter. Everyone expected protesters to be on hand, and they were. The problem is, protesters today have no idea what they're doing. Now, I love a good protest as much as anyone. Protesting in an American tradition. People need to be heard. However, on Saturday, we noted the following reasons why today's protesters are just wasting their time and yours. Let's begin outside the event. Prior to the doors opening, there were literally thousands of people in line. The line stretched about a quarter of a mile. Yet there were only about 5 protesters scattered about and one of them was the standard "Repent" guy that goes to everything. At the end of the rally there were hundreds of protesters but they missed their mark. The point of protesting is to change people's minds. The time to change people's minds is before they get where they're going!. Before they absorb the message At the end of a rally, people are energized by what they've heard and on their way home after a long day. Protesters, at this point, are simply a nuisance, a backdrop, white noise. No one is listening. No one cares. So, lesson number 1 protesters, you need to get up and out of Mom's basement a little earlier to affect change. Next is your signage. This goes for both inside and outside the event. I'm not even going to begin to address the grammar and spelling issues since, apparently, these are no longer a priority in our society. You have one chance to get your message across on a sign because most people are walking past you. So, your message needs to be clear and concise. Writing a paragraph on a piece of cardboard is a waste of time and energy (not to mention wasting a tree, which many of you seem to be really concerned about). No one is going to stop and read a long, scribbled message. Print neatly and, PLEASE, make sure you actually have something to say. "Trump Sucks" is not a message. it is, at best, a tee shirt. Next, and this is REALLY IMPORTANT, know your audience. Writing "No Trump" on the American Flag is a really stupid thing to do. To be clear here, WRITING ANYTHING on the American Flag is a bad idea. No matter what you write, if you write it on the American Flag, the only message people see is "I'm a disrespectful little cretin". Seriously, you should know better! Back to the message. There were about 8-10 protesters inside the event. Kudos to those of you who stood around for 5 hours just to get thrown out. At least you showed some commitment to your cause. However, with that kind of commitment, you should have put a little more effort into your "protest". One guy pulled out his hidden sign and jumped up to shout "Trump funded Hillary". Duh! Everyone knows that goober. He even talks about it during his speech. Actually, two guys came to share that revelation. One guy, and this still baffles me, Jumped up with a sign that said "Ambiguous Blvd". You stood around, and I do mean stood, there were no seats, for 5 hours to tell everyone that you could go either way? Wow. Now, I gave this sign way more thought than I should of and I can only come up with this; you meant Ambivalent. You were trying to say that Trump keeps flipping on issues but what your sign said was that you couldn't make up your mind. Oh well, maybe that was worth 5 hours of your time. Finally, and I can't stress this enough, if the best chant you can come up with is "Hey hey, ho ho, (fill in the blank) has got to go", don't chant at all. The sixties called. They're over. You really need to put a little more effort into your anger. So, in conclusion, protesters of today, you're lazy and lack creativity. If you really want to make the world a better place, why don't you start by becoming better protesters!
Po

Thoughts Over Catnip

Hello My Dear Friends! For the past week and, I suspect, during the week to come I have been receiving 3-4 political calls per day. Most are robo-calls asking for push-button answers to a host of stupid questions. I, for one, always give the opposite answer of what I believe or, if given the chance, choose the most outrageous option available. I do the same thing with "where are they now" questionnaires from college and the like. The last one of those I filled out I said I was studying the cotton-top tamarin monkey in the rain forests of Colombia. I never heard from them again. I do this, not just to mess with them, but because I don't think it's any of their business. Today an actual human being called to ask about my political views. Oh Joy! The conversation went something like this:
Goober: If the election were held today, who would you vote for?
Me: For whom
Goober: I beg your pardon.
Me: You said who would you vote for. It's for whom would you vote.
Goober: Okay. So who would, or, er, um whom would it be.
Me: Bernie Sanders, unless it's raining, then John Kasich
Goober: Ooookay, so Bernie Sanders?
Me: Unless it's raining. It's bad luck to vote for Socialists in the rain. Even Democratic Socialists.
Goober: Thanks for your time...click
We didn't even get to talk about the issues! Oh well, next time.
Remember when television commercials were entertaining? Many of them now are just baffling. Take Liberty Mutual Insurance. There message appears to be "Hey, we'll insure any idiot on the road"! Have you seen the one with the couple who claim to have had "a perfect driving record" until one of them hits a food truck. They're upset because their insurance company raised their rates. You hit a freaking food truck! Do you know how big they are? You're a hazard. You shouldn't even be on the road. Then there's that on-line University of Phoenix commercial where the girl is singing to the tune of "If I Only Had A Brain". A verse in it says "took two bullets to the chest, got three kids, I never rest, and I've also got a brain". Really? LOL! Could have fooled me. I have no idea what that has to do with choosing a University but more power to you!
Finally, the debate over White Privilege roars on with many Universities holding workshops and retreats to address the issue. For those of us who are clueless to our obvious White Privilege, Mount Holyoke College has cleared it up for us. Excerpts from their website, "White Privilege is a set of advantages and/or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis. The inability to recognize that many of the advantages that whites hold are a direct result of the disadvantages of other people. It's about thinking that your clothes, manner of speech, and behavior in general, are racially neutral when, if fact, they are white. It's about not having to assume your daily interactions with people have racial overtones." I hope that clears it up for you. Now, go and enjoy the weekend!
Po