Free Movie Time

I won a double pass to a preview screening of Sicko by Michael Moore last week, but of course it wasn't really a sneak preview. I asked Bobby if he wanted to come, he had to work of course. So I asked Randy. He's usually good for a few free beers and a movie, but not this time. He had already seen the movie a few days before on youtube. So I went by myself, and I got there late so it was a good thing because finding two seats together was impossible. I ended up sitting next to a gay couple who were quite friendly, well at least the one closest to me was. The opening scene of the movie is perhaps the most graphic, and the old queen sitting next to me almost fainted. I advised him that this was only the beginning of the film and that he should think about watching the rest of it. He stayed for the whole thing and touched my knee gently at the closing credits. I'm pretty sure it was an accident, so I didn't say anything plus his boyfriend looked to be a very jealous type. It was an honest mistake - my stylist gave me a free haircut because of all the free goodies I brought her from Japan, but she gave me the "extra gay" cut. I didn't tip. Twenty-five percent of zero is still zero.

I'm not going to critique the film because it is a documentary. It's done in the usual Michael Moore style and has a few funny moments, but I just want to say that he does skew the facts a little bit in his favour. I happen to know, thanks to our fair brethren to the north that the Canadian health system is not as good as Mr. Moore paints it. The truth is, he covered the health system in the province of Ontario which just so happens to be the best in that country. My friends on the west coast and on the Canadian prairies tell me that even though Moore says that health care is totally free (it may be in Ontario), it is not the case in Vancouver. Each taxpayer is required to pay a monthly fee for basic coverage, and in one of the prairie provinces (I forget which), a for-profit health care system is already available for those who can afford it. I'm also pretty sure that he simplifies the French case. So you see, while the health care systems in Canada, Great Britain, France and Cuba may be better than the systems in the States, they are not necessarily free. I still believe that the point Moore is trying to make comes across loud and clear, despite a few inaccuracies and am amused that the anti-Moore camp focuses the majority of it's attention on the coverage of the Cuban health care system. They can't argue with the NHS, and ignore the French and the Canadians. For good reason I say, generally. Fucking Socialists. I never really thought about it, but I guess my own little example of free health care never would have been possible had she been born in New Jersey. Technically, Japan does not have a free health care system - it's very much like the States, but at least in Japan infants get a free pass. Foxy has changed so much since the above photo. That was taken when she was a week old. Now she's looking more and more like Jabba the Hut with a toupée, little by little each day.

I sent some Vermont chocolates back to Japan for my mother-in-law because she got some as a gift when she came to the wedding and wanted more. How could I deny? The package was opened by Customs officials because they suspected an explosive device. Apparently, they did not sample any of the fine chocolate from the Green Mountain State. It may have been a good thing, because when my father-in-law sampled a piece, he lost a dental filling. It's a good thing he's got insurance.

I spent the weekend before the Fourth camping with Bobby, his boss' family and some important clients in Vermont. Fifteen people in all. It was the first time I'd been camping in many years and it was the first time that I was able to use my tent, the five-year service gift I received from a certain employer. It was actually quite large and I fancied taking Foxy and Ali camping next time around. How young is too young to go camping?