Random thoughts.

Couple of things I have been thinking about recently...and they are in no particular order:

Prince Harry, now a shiny Second Lieutenant in the Blues and Royals Regiment (Armoured) was denied to be deployed with his regiment to Iraq because of security concerns. I understand this but still think it's unfair of the British Army for a few reasons.

First, he's third in line to the throne. The likely hood of his grandmother, father, and older brother dying while he is deployed is pretty small. Also I'm sure he knows in advance that if he's captured, he's screwed, and he accepts that risk.

Second, he obviously wants to follow in his family's footsteps. His father was in the RAF, his Uncle (Prince Andrew) fought in the Falklands with the Royal Navy, his Grandfather served in the Royal Navy during the WWII and so on and so forth. He graduated from Sandhurst Military Academy (no mean feat) and wants to serve, so let him.

Third, special treatment. He doesn't want it, so don't give it. I'm sure that the higher ups in the Royal Family didn't influence the decision, but I'm sure they aren't unhappy about it. Even still, he decided to join the army, let him do what soldiers do.

Next topic.

I've been reading in the spec about nursing homes and hospital beds etc. The gist of the story is that if someone is in a hospital bed waiting for a nursing home placement, and the family refuses the first one that comes available, the hospital then charges the family 300$ per day. This makes people unhappy but really I don't think they are looking at too big a picture.

For starters, hospital stays are far more expensive than 300$ per day, regardless of the reason for being there. Next, if you can't or won't care for your aging family at home, why do you think you can be picky about where they are placed? I know everyone wants there family in the best nursing homes but I think the focus is wrong.

Geriatric patients clogging up hospital beds backs up the whole system. That's fact. Granted, that's only one cause, but it's the one we're talking about here. Nursing home fees are set by the province, one costs the same as another. If you are unhappy with the one your family member is in, my question is what are you doing to make it better? Even if it isn't a brand new facility, there are still things you can do.

It's been my experience (I used to be a charge nurse in a nursing home) that the family that squawked the most were the ones who only came to visit a few times a year. The fact remains that the population is getting older and they need to be cared for. Whose responsibility is it? Family or government? If you cannot or will not take the job on yourself (many can't, most won't) and you are relying on nursing home placements, the onus falls to you to help make it as positive an experience as possible. I could list a dozen ways to do this, but that's not where I wanted to go with this note.

Next topic.

The natives. Holy canoli the natives. I have never been supportive of their illegal activities and if my opinion counts (and lets face it, it doesn't) give them what they want.

If they as a people want to be a nation unto themselves, say yes. Why not give them a large parcel of land and make it a brand new country (let's call it "Nativeland" for sake of argument) and any status native that wants to can move there, our government can even help with the relocation. Give them a one time lump sum to set themselves up and that's it. No more government money. Period. If they want to come and go from Nativeland to Canada for shopping or to see a show or what have you, they go through customs on each end.

They will have to build embassies in any country they want to have diplomatic ties with, hire and train their own armed forces and emergency services. Build schools and hospitals etc. And they have to pay for it themselves the same way every other nation does. By taxation of their citizens. What do you think will happen next?

Next topic.

Slurpees are awesome.

This is what has been occupying my thoughts lately.

Be well all.