The Affordable Care Act Steamroller

This time last year (for those of you outside the northern hemisphere and not on the Julian Calendar, that was autumn of 2012), and following passage into law of the Affordable Care Act or so-called Obamacare, I received a notice from my health insurance provider that in response to federally mandated reforms my premium was going to effectively double - I say effectively because the higher rate would have ended up a handful of percentage points under fully doubling. For the record, most years prior to 2012, I received an annual notice  - as I am sure most of you had also - announcing a marginal increase in rate but with the option of maintaining the current rate if I opted to increase my deductible.  Some years it made sense to increase the deductible and in those cases I would opt for that, and in some years it did not and thus would I simply accept the marginal rate increase.  In 2012, I was informed that I had maxed-out my deductible ceiling and, ergo, the increase - the doubling - of my premium.  That higher rate for 2013 would have made my health insurance unaffordable.  Thanks to the intrepid assistance of my neighborhood insurance agent, I enrolled into a Health Savings Account, or HSA, which became available to the American public after being signed into law by President George Dubya Bush.  This HSA program lowered my insurance premium to less than half of what it otherwise was going to be increased, had I not pursued other alternatives.  If, like me, you spend most of your free time studying box scores and not researching health insurance, you may not be aware that an HSA is a tax-advantaged medical savings account - fully funded by the individual - which in effect is similar to a Roth I.R.A.  Since January of this year (2013; or 2556 on the Buddhist calendar), I have been making contributions into my HSA, have had opportunity to use my HSA to pay for health care/perscriptions, and been absolutely satisfied with the dynamics and nature of my HSA.

This week I received notice from my health insurance provider that my plan is being discontinued "because it doesn't meet all the requirements of the new health care reform laws (also called the Affordable Care Act)."

First, no matter what you've heard, if you like your doctor or your health care plan, you can keep it. - President Obama

Additionally, my health insurance provider has offered to automatically enroll me into a new, ACA-compliant plan which offers a premium almost exactly double that of my current premium.  For those of you scoring at home or even if you're alone [credit: Keith Olbermann], that is twice in two years that the advent of so-called Obamacare has caused my premium to effectively double.  Twice, in two years, my health insurance plan has doubled into unaffordability.  

Where is the "affordable" in the Affordable Care Act?  Where is the keeping of my existing plan?  True, the option for me to keep my original, pre-2012, plan did factually exist, notwithstanding the premium increase, but who even knows if that plan exists today as it may also have been decreed non-compliant with the ACA. 

As yet, my intrepid neighborhood insurance agent - still doggedly on the case - has yet to uncover a more affordable private alternative.  Of course, if ultimately I cannot find (or qualify for) another - more affordable - plan either with or without my current health insurance provider, other options are on the table.  I could chose to not have health insurance and pay the annual jizya "penalty" (and regardless of Chief Justice John Roberts' errant judicial formulations, it is unconstitutional to force Americans to purchase any good or private service.  That, however, is a lost argument about the Individual Mandate from another time and place).  Show of hands; Who here thinks that, long-term, the penalty will be lower or equal to the spiraling cost of insurance premiums?  Didn't think so.  The other option, as explained in my notice this week, is to enroll into a "plan on the government-run Health Insurance Marketplace (also called the 'exchange')" for which I might also - not also, but certainly - be "eligible for a government subsidy."  That subsidy is YOUR money.  Show of hands;  Who here thinks that, long-term (or short-term), that government subsidy won't be a compulsory aspect of participation in the "exchange." 

I am a hard-working real live nephew of my Uncle Sam.  I do not want your subsidy.  I do not want any handout.  I am and have been content to pay my own way and to keep my existing plan.  The President and, if you vote for the Democratic Party then also your party, have been LYING about every aspect of the Affordable Care Act.  This fact is not news to those of us in The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy [credit: Hilary Clinton].  Among so much else, the ACA does not lower the cost of health care/insurance.  It does not make health insurance affordable.  It does not permit you to keep your plan, your doctor.  The President and his legion of radical Left-Wing anti-American crypto-communist extremists are bent on destroying The American Way.

The ACA isn't about the nature of health care and its costs and absolutely it is not about freedom.  It's about control.

Additional reading;  Forbes.com: "Double Down"

The Free Money Express Returns to Keeneland

The 2012 North American Horse of the Year, Wise Dan, is pointing towards a Breeders' Cup prep at Keeneland on Saturday October 5th, 2013 in the Shadwell Turf Mile.  If you have not yet made your pilgrimage to Keeneland and/or if you have not yet had the opportunity to experience true thoroughbred greatness in person, may I suggest this is your opportunity to achieve both.  And to pick up some free money in the process.  

Wise Dan won the Shadwell Turf Mile in 2012, having run (and finishing fourth; completing your Superfecta Box) in the Shadwell for the first time in 2011.  You might recall that I was at Keeneland that October afternoon and uploaded my own Android-filmed video of the field exiting the paddock and parading towards the track.  Look for Wise Dan wearing the #7 saddlecloth, his jockey in yellow silks.

Whether you make travel arrangements to visit Keeneland next month or not, Steve Haskin from The Blood-Horse posted an interesting column regarding Wise Dan in the wake of his record-setting victory in the Woodbine Mile [Canada] earlier this month.  The highlight of Steve's column is a photograph he took of Wise Dan in his stall and in muscular repose.  You can read the column and view the photograph here.

The Birthday Baseball Bunch

Last month my youngest niece, Jessie Prescott, had a baseball-themed birthday party.  This event was held at the sprawling southwestern Ohio estate of my niece's Grandma Maria.  Below are just a few of the untold millions of photos I took that day:

Jessie prepares to take a mighty cut into a giant, inflatable..... ummm..... something or other.  A jet of air suspends a Wiffle Ball, simulating a tee from which participants attempt to drive the ball through one of the holes that you see on the playing field at the back of the..... umm..... something or other.  Everyone in attendance referred to this as the Joey Votto game, thinking the ballplayer atop the something or other bore some sort of resemblance to the Reds' MVP first baseman.  Could not they plainly see this was a right handed batting player?  The bulky muscles gave the ball player, to my eye, the very resemblance of Ron Gant.  

Among the many baseball-themed games Lou creatively devised for the party was "Strike Zone:"

What might appear to the untrained eye as the underside of a box spring with a strike spray painted onto it is in fact the underside of a box spring with a strike zone spray painted onto it.  This produced hours of fun.  Even long after the last of the party guests rounded third and headed for home, we adults filled up the strike zone with our respective repertoires of pitches.

While Lou and Jessie attended to the ceremonial flag raising at Grandma Maria's mailbox.....

..... I sought out the solitude of the ball field which Lou expertly mowed into Grandma Maria's ballpark-sized side yard:

For perspective, I am standing behind third base, the pitchers' mound at center, home plate at right.  The steeple of St. Biblioteca-in-Tomes watching over our festivities in the background.  

After the preliminary games (such as "Strike Zone," above), it was time to Play Ball!  Lou arranged the kids alphabetically according to height and divvied them into teams:

This process took longer than you might expect.

Eventually, Lou had them whipped into shape!

After two innings of exciting baseball, it was time for birthday cake!  In a flash, the cake was devoured by hungry kids and one uncle of  gluttonous appetite!

No photos of the baseball game are known to exist.  Even better, however, I captured much of the game on film [OK, digital memory card].  Check out the two Lombardi-Cam videos linked below:

Jessie Prescott rips a single!

Alex Russo rips a single!

*********

In other sporting news; If you had Wise Dan to win and set a course record this weekend in the Woodbine Mile (in Canada), you scored.  The last line in the Daily Racing Form's report reads as follows:

Of the $685,361 that was wagered to Show on the race, $617,584 was bet on Wise Dan. 

Looks like people are finally catching onto the Wise Dan Free Money Express.  If by "free money" we understand it - these days - to mean "pennies on the dollar."

Joe Morgan Day at GABP

Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan was honored with a statue sculpture of his likeness outside Great American Ball Park this past Saturday September 7th, 2013.  I was there, of course (and as always), for this Big Red Machine celebratory occasion.  The throng of humanity was so great and so dense for Joe Morgan Day that I was at no point on Saturday able to acquire a photo of said statue sculpture.  Watch this space for a future inclusion.  

Saturday morning I rode out of The Ranch at 8:45 a.m. in hopes of a ringside space to occupy for the 10 a.m. statue sculpture unveiling ceremony.  My stealthy progress was swift and devastating until I reached Mehring Way at 9:30 a.m. whereupon my advance ground to an emphatic halt by Joe Morgan Day gridlock.  It took me 20 minutes to creep from Elm St. to Joe Nuxhall Way, a distance of maybe 1500 feet, perhaps slightly more than a quarter mile, after which I was rewarded by paying $12 for the privilege of parking underneath the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  Exiting my Jeep Covert Operations Assault Vehicle I dashed [OK, I walked] for the stairwell and made my way rapidly [leisurely] up out of the humid depths of the Central Riverfront Parking Garage and into the brilliant sunlight and cloudless blue sky of autumnal Cincinnati.  Already the multitudes of Reds Country had surrounded the temporary dais near the intersection of Joe Nuxhall and Johnny Bench Ways.  This was the scene that greeted me at 9:55 a.m.:

Oh the humanity!

Scanning the theatre of operations for a commanding viewpoint, I made no delay in seizing the high ground in Crosley Terrace:

I wasn't kidding about the cloudless blue sky!

Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman emceed the event and introduced one-by-one the members of the Great 8 [Rose, Bench, Perez, Foster, Griffey, Concepcion, Geronimo and of course Morgan] who took their seats alongside the still-veiled statue sculpture.  Thunderous applause welcomed each member of the Great 8, the longest and heartiest reserved for The Hit King Peter Edward Rose.  The speechifying that ensued was reverential, inspiring, and humorous.  I counted three references to Joe Morgan Honda located on Interstate 75 at exit 29 in Monroe and one reference to Joe Morgan wine [cue: Tanya O'Rourke!]

Before and during the ceremony, I photographed two pioneers of Cincinnati broadcast media:

700 WLW's Bill "Seg Man" Dennison (facing camera; sunglasses, lanyard) and also:

The silver-haired, silver-jacketed Nick Clooney, former long-time news anchor at WKRC channel 12 and father of an Hollywood actor of some alleged repute.

The statue sculpture was unveiled, more applause thundered up and down the Ohio river valley and then we assembled fans took up our places in line for the ballpark gates to open.  Projecting its message to all corners of Reds Country was this massive notice for Little Joe, prominently positioned overlooking Crosley Terrace:

The gates opened promptly at 11:01 a.m. and we Reds faithful (and a handful of Dodgers heathens) were showered with our gift (for the first 20,000 fans) of a Joe Morgan #8 t-shirt provided graciously by the Rawlings Company - they of the Golden Glove Award among so much else.  Like baseball gloves.  Once inside the ball orchard, Joe Morgan #8 t-shirt draped over one shoulder, I set about capturing the scene prior to the on-field portion of the day's celebration:

Drifting around to the third base side of the concourse, I ran head-long into the quartet signing that day's National Anthem:

The Mistics!  That's me in the middle.  I've been going to Reds games since the mid-1970s and attending dozens of Reds games each year since the mid-1980s and I am here to attest; The Mistics are, hands down, the all-time greatest singers of the National Anthem in Reds history!

I didn't get around to buying tickets for Joe Morgan Day until the week before, so I opted for old high school era stomping rounds - the very last row.  Here was my expansive view from Row V, Section 530, Seat 25:

I zoomed-in for a closer look at the summit of Mount Adams, Claudio's old neighborhood before he ditched Reds Country for the financial hubs of, first, Hub City and, now, The QC of NC:

I can just see my corner table in The Celestial from here.  Well, almost.  River traffic was brisk.  Viewed below, the Belle of Cincinnati steams past GABP:

Here we pause for a moment of silence in remembrance of the old Delta Queen.....

.....Thank you.  Next, check out the XL-length coal barge(s) being pushed up river:

As you might expect, I took a voluminous amount of photos of the on-field ceremony for Joe Morgan Day.  I'll share just a few:

The players of the Great 8 were announced individually by Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman (seen standing behind the podium on the dais) and the Great 8 stood in line (on the infield grass, in front of home plate) of their classic batting order.  In the photo above, Johnny Bench walks the red carpet, gesturing appreciatively to the crowd, on his way to joining his teammates.  Next up, Peter Edward Rose:

My Nikon Coolpix L12 captured the moment Pete Rose and Johnny Bench shook hands, something they haven't done on the field before a Big League game in Cincinnati since, oh, maybe Opening Day, 1978.  Once Joe Morgan was introduced and he took his place in the lineup, the Reds placed the image of them alongside their lineup from some 1970s postseason game of unknown description on the scoreboard:

Little Joe next proceeded to the podium where he made a heartfelt address to his biggest fans, his old teammates and the Reds organization:

After Joe's address, the Great 8 took their positions in the field - one wonders bittersweetly if this was to be for the last time - for Joe Morgan's ceremonial first pitch (below):

The 2013 Cincinnati Reds then went out and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in 10 innings, the winning run scored by pinch runner Billy Hamilton.

Little Joe

This weekend will see the Great 8 of the Big Red Machine [Rose, Bench, Morgan, Perez, Foster, Concepcion, Griffey and Geronimo] reunite in honor of Joe Morgan on Joe Morgan Day (Saturday September 7th) at Great American Ball Park and, in particular, for the unveiling of the Joe Morgan statue outside GABP.  Of course, Lou and I will be there.  Did you even need to ask?  Before returning to the subject of Little Joe, inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown during that glorious year of 1990, here are a selection of my Reds/baseball-related photos from the past few weeks:

I took in a Reds-Diamondbacks game one steamy August evening from the sumptuous - and air conditioned - setting of the Riverfront Club.  In the photo above, the Reds and D-backs go through pre-game warm-ups.  I stuffed my face with Montgomery Inn pulled pork barbecue slider-sized sammiches.  In-between trips through the all-you-can-shovel buffet, I snapped yet another photo of the venerable Roebling Suspension Bridge:

I know.  How many photos can one guy take of a bridge?  Right?  The Riverfront Club affords one of the best views of this historic Ohio River span from the Cincinnati side.

The game progressed at an American League pace [read: grindingly slow].  By the 8th inning, I was the last man standing in the Riverfront Club:

This allowed me to enjoy a few dozen bite-sized Mr Redlegs red velvet cupcakes (topped off with an edible, candied Mr Redlegs moustache) in relative silence:

Flanking my cupcake are two grilled s'mores sammiches.

The Reds had the lead going into the 9th inning and so manager Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker initiated launch control for the Cuban Missile:

3 outs, in quick succession, and - to coin a phrase - this one belonged to the Reds.  Thus, I rounded the buffet and headed for home.

August is also National Mike Birthday Month, and this year Jungle Jim's threw together a smashingly tasty white sheet cake.  See if you can discern the cake's thematic decoration:

On Tuesday, The Incomparable Joe Wilhelm was the guest of honor in my luxury box seats for the Reds-Cardinals game.  Even being the guest of honor he had to pay for his ticket.  We arrived early enough to watch the dastardly Redbirds take batting practice:

  

I tried to get Joe-Joe to pose for a photograph at the ballpark's "Sweet Spot" candy shoppe and in front of the Frisch's Big Boy concession stand, but The Rocky of Rookwood refused.  Surreptitiously, I snapped his photograph from across the ball orchard:

Can you see him?  Allow me to assist you:

It was a great night, weather-wise, for a ballgame.  Cloudless sky, no humidity, game time temperature in the lower 70's.  Joe and I each opted for ice cold Coca-Colas, mine of the $10 Joey Votto souvenir holographic variety, Joey's of the $1 kids-sized:

That night, and that night only, my close personal friend Robert (he let's me call him Bob) Castellini gave his approval for one free refill of the $10 Joey Votto souvenir-sized holographic drinks.  This effectively halved my per unit cost.  Nothing says quality fan experience like "halved per unit cost."

We were graced by a visit from one of my sources deep within the Reds organization, code named BOSS.  Alas, there exists no photographic proof.  BOSS was informative and entertaining, as usual.  After he left, Joe and I marveled upon the ease at which BOSS exudes his unique brand smooth professionalism.  The same goes for my other source deep within the Reds organization, code named CAMPBELL, who has been more than generous to me with his time, information and rarefied realm of Riverboat of access.  And, naturally, I do not say these things in the expectation of future considerations.  Ahem.

Moving right along.....

It is virtually guaranteed that when Joe and I go to a Reds game together that something historic will occur.  We were there in 1995 (with Lou) for the only post-season pinch hit grand slam in Major League history when Hamilton, Ohio native Mark Lewis jacked one in the decisive game 3 sweep of the hated Dodgers in that season's NLDS.  We were there in 2007 for the Major League debut of Homer Bailey when he went 5 innings and earned the victory over the in-state rival Indians of Cleveland.  We were there 2003 when P.E.D.-Slamming Sammy Sosa of the toothless Cubbies blasted his 500th career performance-enhanced, corked bat home run.  We were there, sometime in the 1990s, when Lenny "E-4" Harris collected his 500th career hit.  And, among so many other historic baseball events which we have witnessed and which cannot be further recounted here due to space limitations, we were there for the Major League debut of Reds' prospect Billy Hamilton.  The speedy Hamilton was sent in to pinch run for Reds left fielder Ryan "Brass Monkey" Ludwick in a 0-0 tie.  Billy Hamilton is pictured below leading off first base:

Billy Hamilton promptly swiped second base off Redbirds' catcher Yadi Molina and then scored what eventually proved to be the winning run when "The Toddfather" Todd Frazier drove Hamilton in.  Viewing the game from his remote mountaintop retreat in North Carolina, the Paleo Rider suggests the possibility that Hamilton scored from second base before any dastardly Redbird laid leather upon the old horsehide.  Replays are inconclusive.  I accept the word of the Paleo Rider as solid, petrified fact.

Sighted in the stands that same night was a rarely seen - these days - Reds jersey:

A sleeveless #3 road jersey of former second baseman Pokey Reese.  Pokey, as no doubt all of you will recall, was about as slick fielding a second baseman as you could find being that Pokey was, as Brandon Phillips is today, a converted shortstop.  Which brings us back, full circle, to Joe Morgan.  All the rage today is that Dat Dude BP is the greatest second baseman in the long and storied history of Cincinnati baseball.  Greater credence is given - in certain quarters -  to this assertion now that, as of last night's 5-4 loss to St Louis in 16 Innings, Dat Dude Fan Favorite joined Joe Morgan as the only two Reds' 2Bs with 100 or more RBI in a season.  There is very little to be critical of BP's on-field abilities (the way he wears his uniform is simply a reflection of the broader trend among his teammates and League-wide to look like, as Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman once described the style, "an unmade bed").  Phillips is the best second baseman in the NL today.  Yet before we permit ourselves to be caught up in the narcissism of now, let's review a few, basic facts that will remind us all of just how great was Little Joe and, also, as to exactly what degree we may consider Morgan to be superior to Dat Dude Hissy Fit.

Not including the current 2013 season, BP has been awarded through his first 11 Major League seasons (only 7 full seasons, to be fair): 

3 All-Star honors
3 Gold Gloves
1 Silver Slugger
Voted as high as 13th and 22nd in NL MVP balloting.

In 2007 BP achieved the 30/30 mark of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season and in 2008 and '09 he was 20/20.  In 2011 Phillips batted .300, his career-best (so far).  As noted above, in 2013 Brandon has driven in 100 RBI (and counting), his most to date.

To date, Dat Dude has not led the National League in any significant offensive statistical category.

Through his first 7 full seasons [having at least 500 plate appearances per season as qualification], Little Joe was awarded:

3 All-Star honors
Voted 2nd in Rookie of the Year balloting (1965)
Voted as high as 4th in NL MVP balloting.

Morgan never achieved the 30/30 mark at any point in his career nor was Morgan ever 20/20 during his first 7 (full) Major League seasons.  However, during those first 7 big league seasons, Joe Morgan led the NL in runs scored (122 in 1972), triples (11 in 1971), bases on balls (97 in 1965, 115 in 1972), and on-base percentage (.417 in 1972).

However, it is when one looks at the totality of Morgan's Hall of Fame career that we begin to understand the clear delineation between the two.

During his lifetime Morgan was a consecutive NL MVP award winner in 1975 and 1976.  A 10-time All-Star.  5-time Gold Glove.  4 times was 20/20.  Joe led the League in bases on balls 4 times, OBP 4 times, and once each in runs scored, triples, slugging percentage and sacrifices.  For those of you who accept Al Gore levels of junk science, Morgan also twice led the NL in OPS.  

Seven times Morgan stole 49 or more bases in a season (twice stealing as many as 67).  BP's career mark, so far, is 32.  

Twice Morgan has hit .320 or higher in a season.  In six other seasons Little Joe hit .285 or better (for a cumulative total of 8 seasons of .285 or better).  Only twice, so far in his career, has Phillips hit .285 or better.

Four times Morgan slugged .490+ (slugging .508 in 1975, .576 in 1976).  BP has yet to slug .490 (slugging .485 during his 30-homer season). 

Morgan averaged 62 strikeouts per season for his career.  BP is averaging 97 per season, to date.  Nine times Morgan struck out fewer than 53 times in a season in which he had 500+ plate appearances, BP hasn't ever struck out fewer than 75 times in a 500+ plate appearance season.

Morgan grounded into double plays an average of 6 times per season for his 22-year career.  Thus far, Phillips is grounding into double plays at an average clip of 19 per season.  [Adam Dunn is averaging 8 GIDPs to date for his 13-year career.]

Baseball-reference.com has Morgan ranked 68th all-time among batters.  Phillips is ranked, 11 years into his career and with a long way yet to go, at 457th.

BP is the best second baseman in the National League today.  Phillips has the opportunity to be the greatest second baseman in Reds history.  This isn't about how good Brandon Phillips is now or about how great he may someday become.

Joe Morgan remains, as of 2013, the greatest second baseman in Reds history.

Odds & Ends from the Summer

Among the countless hours [read: minutes] of video I shot this summer, I have uploaded - thus far - just two short clips.  These two videos may be the most significant, memorable videos you view this year.

Bumble Bee

.....and.....

Unsynchronized Hazard Lights

From the "Funny Because It's True" file;  I have long documented, over the past decades, my experiences being subjected to moronic baseball fans at the ballpark.  Notably, among the single-functioning brain cell fans' imbecilic questions to which I have been plagued, are (in no particular order, and from adults only; kids we may excuse):

"Which river is that beyond the stadium?"

"Is Cincinnati in Ohio?"

"Which retired number is Pete Rose's?"

"How do you know which team is batting?"

"Where is the scoreboard?" 

"How do you know how many outs there are?"

"How do you know the score?"

"Where do you look to see the score?"

Having established the forgoing for contextual purposes, Claudio forwarded to me this link from your satirical friends at The Onion, published on August 10, 2013.  The lines between satire and accuracy are thus blurred.

Long-range Reconnaissance

Today marks the eagerly-anticipated Major League debut of Reds' heralded prospect Billy Hamilton (I have his autograph).  Of course, he is not the first Major League ballplayer to have that name.  Easily the most famous (to date) was Hall of Famer "Sliding" Billy Hamilton who played from 1888-1901, four times stealing 100 or more bases in a season (during seasons in which he played in 137, 123, 133 and 132 games). Our modern Billy Hamilton is similarly swift, having stolen 103 bases in 135 games at Dayton in 2011 and then stealing 155 bases in 132 games in 2012 (combining his stats from Bakersfield and Pensacola).  Interestingly, the Hall of Fame Billy Hamilton played some minor league games for Haverhill, MA (in the New England League) in 1903-04, 1906-08 during the very years that my grandfather was born and being raised there.  Here is an 1889 baseball card for the Hall of Fame Billy Hamilton, then playing for Kansas City in the old American Association:

Originally I had intended to supplement Big Strick's ballpark photos with turn-of-the-century photos of baseball from those very same cities Big Strick was visiting.  Alas, this summer I did not have that much free time.  I did find this one (below), also from Kansas City, which I found to be pleasingly evocative of those by-gone days of yesteryear:

The panoramic photo, above, depicts a baseball game being played in 1909 along "The Paseo," [seen at left] which everyone knows [?!] is/was the main thoroughfare through K.C.