If It's the Weekend, There Must Be an Election Once again, it's election time in Switzerland. One initiative on the ballot here in the local canton of Zürich is a proposal that would prevent doctors in the two largest cities of the canton (Zürich and Winterthur) from dispensing medication directly. Residents in the two cities would be forced to go to the pharmacy (with the appropriate prescription when necessary) to take their medicine, while residents of the smaller towns could receive their medicine from the doctor (or the pharmacist). While I can't imagine what benefit restricting the availability of medication could offer the average voter, I trust there must be some benefit. The campaign committee for restricting availability of medicine to the pharmacies even says that voting against the proposal would be going against the will of the people since polls show the people want medicine restricted. (There's a new election strategy for Mr. Bush ... suspend the election when poll numbers purport to show he would win anyway; then claim that, according to the polling numbers, declaring Bush the winner without an election merely reflects the democratic will of the people.)

At any rate, medication not withstanding, the above cartoon (from the doctors' lobby group campaigning against the restrictions) somehow speaks satirical volumes about life in Switzerland: Zürcher art.
posted by Steve at 11/30/2003 03:04:00 AM

Leapin' Lizards, Do You Mean the Sun Won't Come-out Tomorrow? After a year, I thought it was time to check back in with that former blank-eyed singing optimist. Seems Annie needs some Prozac.

Annie by Jay Maeder and Andrew Pepoy
November 28, 2003


... tomorrow, tomorrow, I fear you tomorrow ... and talk about exit strategies ...

November 28, 2003

linked from The uComics Web Site
the self proclaimed "Best Comic Site In The Universe!"
posted by Steve at 11/28/2003 08:47:00 PM

We Gather Together ... For those of you who asked how I celebrated Thanksgiving this year, I went with tradition. I had an American-style feast and watched the Dallas Cowboys play the Washington Redskins - just like old times.

Before Mom starts hyperventilating with the thought that I made a sneaking trip to Dallas and didn't call home (as if I would): I ordered out from the new Zürich Domino's Pizza and watched a video Tivo sent over from the states. Due to overtime play I had the last quarter of a Cowboys vs. Redskins game on the tape - which I watched for old times sake. I think Thanksgiving and the Superbowl were the only days I ever did watch football.

Wasn't that Supposed to be Free? In Zürich Domino's offers 30 minute delivery or it's 3.00 CHF off (of a 21.00 CHF pizza). But the ever punctual Swiss haven't delivered a late pizza yet!
posted by Steve at 11/27/2003 08:36:00 PM

Oh ... What's That, Vacation Has Been Over? Nope. all you faithful and vigilant readers, you didn't miss anything in the last month or so ... and thanks to newer blogger magic, I can back-date my posts. So KEEP reading below for catch-up posts on what has been going on in the last month.
posted by Steve at 11/15/2003 10:30:00 PM

I've attempted to leave this blog in the state it was in early 2006 as a historical artifact, but Google broke my original Archive page. What you see above is a quick reconstruction to rebuild some archive functionality without altering the original blog layout (or researching too deeply into Blogspot).

Original Contents Copyright 2002 - J. Stephen Holyer. All Rights Reserved.