We're Number 37!

Every semester, when we got to the chapter on the U.S. health care system in my Social Problems class, I would tell the class that the World Health Organization ranked the health care systems of 191 countries in 2000 and then ask the students where they thought our system ranked on that list. Typically, about half the class would say we were in the top 5. Almost all the students thought we were at least in the top 10. You should have seen the shocked look on their faces when I told them we were ranked 37th.

Here is a fun little song about our ranking. Warning: the song makes fun of right wing ultraconservatives that disrupted the health care town hall meetings.




Here is a link to the press kit from the 2000 release of the WHO report that gives a summary of how the rankings were determined.

Rumor Has It

Marcus and I are a pretty boring couple. I love to read and he likes Star Trek. We spend most of our time together just hanging out at home. We’re just not that interesting.

Or so I thought.

Last week, one of Marcus’ coworkers came into his office, shut the door, and sat down. He said he was concerned about something and wanted to talk to Marcus about it. This coworker’s wife was at the hair dresser the day before and another woman heard her mention that her husband works for Toro. The other woman said “My neighbor works for Toro too.” The wife asked who the neighbor was, and it turns out it was Marcus. Then the woman said “You know he and his wife have been separated for about 6 weeks and she just recently moved back home.”

Seriously!

When the husband heard the story he thought it sounded odd, so he wanted to check with Marcus to see if it was true, and just in case it was to offer him some support. Of course Marcus told him that it wasn’t true.

I just can’t even imagine people sitting around and talking about us. It’s even crazier to think that someone came up with a totally baseless rumor about our marriage. Weird.

I guess I need to start using our front door more often instead of parking in our detached garage and entering the house through the back door!

Women in the Military

I discovered this article on MSNBC.coms website today. Apparently, the Associated Press released the photo of a Marine after he was severly wounded in Afghanistan. He later died during an operation in a field hospital. The crux of the article is an explanation of why the AP decided to release the photo. As someone who has 2 cousins in the Marines, I have an opinion about that, but that actually is not the focus of my post.

After reading the article, it is very clear that the photographer was in a combat zone, on the front lines so to speak. It's also clear she is a woman. So female Marines (and women in all branches of military service) are not allowed on the front lines, but female reporters/photographers are? Hmm.......That makes about as much sense as openly gay people being barred from serving in the U.S. military at all.

A Long Time Coming

Here is link to Richard Beck's blog about ACU's changes to opening chapel this year. (Dr. Beck is a Psychology professor at ACU and a member of our church). He explains what changed and why much better than I could.

While it was fun to play The Battle Hymn of the Republic in the Big Purple every year and the huge American flag was pretty cool looking when it was dramatically released, it was all very innapropriate during a worship service. It bothered me both as a student and an instructor and I am so thankful that President Money and the Board of Trustees finally had the courage to do away with it.

Apparently they have taken quite a bit of flack for it, so if you are a former ACU student and you are glad they made this change please contact President Money or the Alumi Assoication to state your support.

You can mail letters to:

Dr. Royce Money

Abilene Christian University
Abilene, Texas 79699

Or contact or call our alumni association:

Toll free: 800-373-4220

Fax: 325-674-6679

E-mail: jae08a@acu.edu

Marcus' Graduation Pictures

Here are some pictures from Marcus' graduation taken by our good friend Shannon:

He's trying to find us in the bleachers during the ceremony

Caleb's checking out Uncle Marcus' Tarleton pin

Marcus hugging his mom

Marcus and our nephew Caleb

Marcus and Me with our good friends the Delcambres

Marcus and Me with his family