Wednesday, October 23, 2013

A Catholic's Thoughts on Contraception, the Sanctity of Life and Universal Healthcare

The Affordable Care Act is being criticized for mandating access to contraception. As a Catholic, I am aware, although I do not agree, with the Church's stand on birth control. Providing access to birth control is not the same as mandating its use. It simply gives women the choice of whether to conceive or not. It should be plain to all that if you don't believe in abortion, it makes sense to ensure as many women as possible have access to contraception. Failure to do so increases  the number of abortions and children born to parents who cannot afford to care for them properly.

With so many Americans living below the poverty line, I struggle to understand the mentality of conservative politicians as they slash away at food stamps, housing assistance, Head Start programs and subsidized child care for the working poor. In spite of their opposition to abortion, it does not appear that they truly believe in the sanctity of life. If they did believe life is sacred, they would be fighting to ensure every citizen, at a minimum, has a roof over their head, enough to eat and access to healthcare. If all Americans are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, doesn't that mean they are entitled to at least those things that are necessary to sustain life?

As far as the healthcare debate is concerned, the question the American people should be asking themselves, isn't "how can we afford to pay for universal health care?"  It is "how in the name of God and conscience can we continue to refuse to do so?" Something most other civilized nations understand. No wonder the rest of the world looks at this country and shakes their heads.

When conservatives finally succeed in repealing the Affordable Health Care Act, and I believe it will be eventually repealed, I doubt their priority will be replacing it with a better plan to provide quality healthcare to all Americans. Instead, they will turn their attention to dismantling Medicare, the most successful and least costly healthcare program in the nation. The voucher system they are proposing will undoubtedly be structured to channel billions of tax dollars to insurance companies. Once this is accomplished, they will move on to their stated goal of privatizing Social Security. An idea those on Wall Street have been salivating over for decades.

 Greed reigns in America and the only thing that is cheap is human life.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

A message from Putin worth reading

The majority of Americans oppose military intervention in Syria. That does not mean they believe the use of poison gas is acceptable. It means dropping bombs on Syria isn't the answer. Putin's editorial in the New York Times does a good job explaining why the United States must not attack Syria. He also addresses the issue of American "exceptionalism" which has, unfortunately, become a philosophy used to justify whatever this country chooses to do.

America's decision to "liberate" Iraq was a violation of international law with tragic consequences. Only the most naive among us continue to believe is was about anything but oil. So many brave American soldiers sent to their death and tens of thousands wounded. The death toll in Iraq estimated to be over 200,000 men, women and children with as many as 2,000,000 people forced from their homes. And the violence continues.

Some fault President Obama for not immediately striking Syria when the news of the use of chemical weapons became public. How many of these critics turned a blind eye when Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Iranians and his own people. Weapons provided by the United States.

I thank God President Obama paused to carefully weigh the evidence and options before authorizing military force against Syria. Doing so showed wisdom, not weakness. It's time for America to stop making enemies and join the world community to resolve the problems facing mankind.

Putin Warns Against Attack Syria





Sunday, September 1, 2013

The Butler - A movie that makes you think

Went to see The Butler last week. In my opinion Forrest Whitaker gave an Academy Award performance. Oprah was excellent as well. The movie, which tracks the civil rights movement, took me back to my high school days. Hard to believe how blacks in this country were treated only a few decades ago. Wondering if the people who see this movie will be limited to those who actually believe all men are created equal or if those bigoted souls among us so desperately in need a wake-up call will go as well. Here's hoping.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Special Labor Day Promotion

I'm running free book promotions for my novella Confessions of a Liberal Lover and new mystery novel A Monster's Game. Visit my website at http://MaudMuller.net to find out more.  Hope you'll take advantage of this promotion and if you do, that you'll take a moment or two to post a review.

Monday, August 19, 2013

We're the Millers - A truly terrible film

Saturday my husband and I took our grandson and his girlfriend to brunch and a movie. Left it up to him to pick the movie and he chose We're the Millers. We sat there cringing as we watched one of the worse movies I have ever seen. Afterward, my grandson admitted that all he knew about the movie was it was a comedy staring Jennifer Aniston. Snce he's an Aniston fan, he thought it would be a good film.

IT WASN'T

The movie is filled with continuing references to male and female genitals, drugs and profanity masquerading as comedy. Aniston plays a stripper, which allows her to take off her clothes several times and dance suggestively, apparently to prove that she isn't over the hill quite yet. Throughout the movie, she mugs for the camera, which I assume is to compensate for the fact she lacks any real acting ability.

Why a star of Aniston stature would sink to this level is beyond me. I would feel sorry for her, if the movie wasn't so terribly offensive on so many levels. My advice is to avoid this movie. It's a waste of time and money and under no circumstances allow your children to see it.





Saturday, August 17, 2013

A Visit to Detroit is Encouraging

While visiting the Detroit area, I'm hearing more optimistic reports on the future of my hometown. Clearly corruption and incompetence in city government played a significant role in the sad situation Detroit is in, but apparently things are beginning to turn around. Stories in the Detroit newspaper report progress in both job creation and renovation. Hope the outlook for the future of this once great city and its people continues to improve.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Say a Prayer for Detroit

My latest novel, A Monster's Game, is set in my hometown of Detroit. It breaks my heart to see what is happening to that city. When I was growing up, the Detroit Public School system was one of the best in the Midwest and we never locked our front door. I can't believe America is going to continue to turn it's back on Detroit. We're a better country than that.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Time to Head North

We've only been home from Europe for a few weeks, but now it's time to pack up the RV and head north. This year it will be a much shorter trip since we're only going to Michigan and Wisconsin with a possible quick stop in Chicago. Of course, you never know. We may decide to head west or linger near the Gulf in Alabama or the Florida Panhandle. 

That's what's so great about RV'ing. There's so much freedom to wander wherever the wind blows you.

Response to new book covers has been great!

So grateful to all those who have passed along positive comments about the new covers for Confessions of a Liberal Lover and A Monster's Game. Hoping now that a few readers will post a review. Always nice to get feedback.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Home from our European Tour

Hard to believe the trip we looked forward to for so long is now over.  Our two and a half months in Europe was an incredible experience we'll never forget. Plenty of pictures on Facebook of all the cities we visited. Our favorites were Vienna, Brugge and St. Petersburg.

Now it's time to get back to work. Have finally succeeded in getting the digital publishing rights back from Red Rose Publishing for Confessions of a Liberal Lover. Now it's out there on Amazon in both paperback and digital editions with a bright new cover.

Also obtained a new cover for A Monster's Game. Although the old cover was creative, it simply wasn't appropriate for the books genre. The new cover doesn't have the pizzazz, but it gets the storyline across.

Love to have comments on either of the new covers. Drop me a line on Facebook or emmuller0925@aol.com.



Sunday, May 5, 2013

Setting sail for the Greek Islands

Hello All

Have been posting pictures from out journey on facebook. Our first cruise will end tomorrow. It has taken us accross the Atlantic to the Canary Islands, Barcelona, Marseille and Livorno. Next we set sail for the Greek Islands, Turkey, Athens and Naples. Friend me on Facebook at Eileen Muller Sugg to follow our journey.

Regards
E. Maud Muller

Friday, April 19, 2013

Just picked up our rental car to drive to the port in Miami. This time tomorrow we will be on our way to Tenerife, Lanzarote, Barcelona, Provence, Florence, Rome, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul, Ephesus, Athens, Naples, Budapest, Keszthely, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Germund Schleiden, Brugge, Warnemunde, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Copenhagen, Southhampton and New York.

Grateful to have a wonderful lady moving into the house to keep our dear Bo company. Neighbors will be keeping on eye on things for us as well.

It has been a challenge, to say the least, packing for a two and a half month trip. Had to include formal wear for the cruises and potential major swings in the weather. Finally have everything  ready to go.

My plan is to blog about our travels and include pictures of the wonderful sights we will be seeing. Hope you enjoy them.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The NRA's "solution" to Newtown is more guns. This is so pathetic it makes me ill. What if the next shooter armed with an assault weapon and/or high capacity clip decides to target a shopping mall, fireworks display, art fair or public library?
 
The idea that gun violence can be stopped by keeping the mentally ill from obtaining weapons is equally ridiculous. As was the case in Newtown, what will stop a mentally ill person from taking his parents guns. Or stealing them from friends or others.

As long as these types of weapons are available to the public we are all in danger.If Congress had not let the assault weapon ban lapse, would those children in Connecticut still be alive? 

Monday, March 25, 2013




Getting ready to republish my first novel, The Neocon Conspiracy. Decided to save a few bucks by designing the cover myself. Had a lot of fun doing it. Hope to finish working with my editor and have the new edition of the book available in digital and trade paperback editions by the end of the month. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

At inauguration, Pope Francis appeals for protection of poor, environment

At inauguration, Pope Francis appeals for protection of poor, environment

How encouraging to hear Pope Francis speak words consistent with the teachings of Christ instead of condemnation and doctrine.


Sunday, March 17, 2013


Hope everyone, Irish or not, has a pleasant St. Patrick's Day. Having once been married to a man named Francis Joseph O'Brien this was a big holiday in our house. I can remember going to the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Southfield Road in Detroit and hitting the bars on Michigan Avenue. Sometimes I think our two daughters only relate to their Irish heritage and have forgotten I also made a contribution genetically speaking. Of course, I was never as much fun as their Dad. There's always something magical when Irish eyes are smiling.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Hoping to get the revised edition of The Neocon Conspiracy finished by the end of the month. Considering a title change and a new cover. The next project will be a print edition of Confessions of a Liberal Lover. Want all this done before we embark on our European tour. Should have plenty of time to write while we're on the trip. Trying to decide what my next project will be. Have a started a sequel to a Monster's Game featuring Alamanda Tyler, but may delay this in favor of a mystery with strong romantic elements set on a cruise ship. Should have plenty of time for writing, when we're not touring the cities we'll be visiting. There are so many, sometimes it makes my head spin.

Friday, March 8, 2013

It's truly sad when journalists are so intent on playing to the prejudice of their white audiences they will distort the meaning of the words of a four year old boy. There is an entire segment of our society more than willing to believe blacks and Hispanics are violent and lazy by nature. Feeding these types of assumptions is dangerous and immoral. Here's a link. Be sure to watch the entire clip.

Racist journalism at its worst

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Yesterday was my daughter Connie's birthday. Although she, her older sister Mary and I live many miles apart, it was a special day since I was able to speak with both of them. Hopefully the next year will be a better one for Connie who has had more than her share of trials and tribulations. And I wish Mary continued success in her career. It amazes me how she is able to balance being the mother of two and serve her country in the military. I am proud of both my daughters and speaking with them yesterday made me realize how fortunate I am to have them in my life.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

A Monster's Game on sale at Amazon.com

Amazon is running a sale on books published through Createspace. A Monster's Game is being offered for $5.73 which is 43% off the list price of $9.99. Thought I'd mention it for all you bargain hunters out there who still prefer a book you can hold in your hand.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Interesting article on the history of racism in the Opinionator well worth reading. It's tragic so many people in this country continue to use race and ethnicity as an excuse to abandon those so desperately in need. Do they really believe the value of human life is determined by the color of a person's skin or the amount of money in his bank account? Is it moral to write-off those living in poverty as lazy freeloaders not worthy of saving?

The Convenient  Fallacy of Race 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Free, quality public education is critical to a democracy. Although any parent has the right to send their children to private secular or religious schools, taxpayers' money should not be used to pay for it. Funneling money from public to private schools that are not accountable to the citizenry and are free to teach any curriculum they chose is simply wrong.

Governor Walker does everything in his power to undermine public education

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

It has been cold in sunny Florida these past few days. On Sunday the high struggled to reach 60 degrees. Played in a golf outing with friends and neighbors dressed in heavy slacks, a long sleeved shirt, sweater, jacket and ski cap. Funny, I remember the times in Michigan when I played golf in weather a lot colder and didn't pile on nearly so many clothes. Perhaps it's true. After a person lives in Florida for a while, their blood thins and they lose their tolerance for the cold.

The good news is I'm golfing again on Thursday and the high is supposed to be almost 80 degrees. While on the golf course basking in the sun, I will give thanks we fled the cold dreary Michigan winters sixteen years ago.

Stay warm you folks up north!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Great article on the state of the American Dream in the New York Times by Timothy Egan. Here's the link: Timothy Egan - NY Time Opinionator

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Would love to have folks take a moment to preview the short except from my novel, A Monster's Game. Here's the link: https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1119308

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Recommend watching the slideshow on the Huffington Post. Debunks some of the misrepresentations and downright lies told about the state of healthcare in America and the Affordable Healthcare Act. It would be interesting to find out how many opposed to universal healthcare are without health insurance themselves.  Lies & Distortions about the Healthcare Reform Debate. 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

My stepmother Leona Muller died this week. She was 91 years old and suffered from severe COPD so her death was not a surprise. Although we had planned on stopping in Vancouver Washington to see her the last time we visited our daughter and her family in San Francisco, we headed home instead for what we thought at the time were good reasons. Now we will always regret our failure to make that last visit.

We have many fond memories of the delicious meals Leona prepared for us when we came to California to visit her and my father. The four of us had great fun on the golf course, playing bingo at the Indian reservation casinos and quick trips to Las Vegas and Laughlin.

However, what I am most grateful to Leona for is the way she encouraged my father and I to get to know each other better. Had it not been for her, I doubt I would have ever told him I loved him or heard him say he loved me.

Thank you Leona for you kindness, friendship and most of all for the gift of my father. May you rest in peace.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Authors are never completely satisfied with their work. On rare occasions, however, this dissatisfaction reaches a  level where the author has no choice but to pull a published work from the market. Yesterday, I made the difficult decision to "unpublish" my first  novel, The Neocon Conspiracy. Although I continue to believe it is a good story, the quality of the writing simply does not measure up. In a way, this is a good sign because it means over the years, I have become better at my craft. Thus, I can recognize the flaws in my early works.

Over the next few weeks, I will be working with my editor to evaluate the strengths and weakness of The Neocon Conspiracy. The objective, of course, is to "republish" a work that I can be truly proud of and that readers will enjoy. Wish me luck.
Some say Fox News is at least partially responsible for the "dumbing down" of millions of Americans. I guess this is an example of why. Those of us who really do care about saving the planet for our grandchildren and their descendents cringe when we hear something like this.

Fox News explains why solar works in Germany but won't in U.S.
Hooray! A Monster's Game is finally available in print. It's hard to express the satisfaction I feel over having completed this undertaking. The book is listed for purchase on the Createspace site and will soon appear on Amazon.com and the sites of most other on-line book sellers. My next goal is to have it featured in local books stores. Here's a link to Createspace is you would like to check it out.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

The war on abortion continues to rage. In spite of my personal belief that life begins at the moment of conception, I am pro-choice. The decision to have a child belongs to the mother, not the government, at least until the fetus is viable outside the womb. In my mind, the more rationale approach to reducing abortions is to address the reasons many women seek abortions. Poverty, absence of affordable child care,  violence towards women and lack of access to contraception. As a Catholic, I have always found the church's anti-contraception position bordering on the ridiculous. Clearly if a woman who does not wish to have a child uses contraception, the issue of abortion becomes moot.

The focus of today's post, however, is not abortion; it is universal healthcare. Specifically, the hypocrisy of those who claim to be pro-life but refuse to support making healthcare available to all Americans. During his presidential campaign, Mitt Romney infamously proclaimed on 60 Minutes, “Well, we do provide care for people who don’t have insurance. If someone has a heart attack, they don’t sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care.”  

What should be obvious to all—and what Romney apparently understood when he was governor of Massachusetts—-is those with health insurance have a good chance of receiving care before they suffer a potentially fatal heart attack. Routine healthcare services, including periodic physical, gynecological, eye and skin examinations, laboratory and radiology tests and diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopies, improve the quality of life and increase life expectancy. Those who lack access to these types of services frequently fail to receive treatment until their cancer is inoperable; they suffer a debilitating stroke, a potentially fatal heart attack or go blind.  

The question is not whether America can afford to provide healthcare to our citizens. The question is how can any moral person in this country refuse to do so? Either life is sacred or it’s not. It is the ultimate hypocrisy to fight for the lives of the unborn and not fight just as hard to ensure no one in this country suffers and dies needlessly.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Harold Meyerson link in the previous post has been fixed. Sorry about the problem. It really is worth reading. I've also begun following a few more blogs including CNN news.

Spending a lot of time planning tours for our upcoming European Tour. Don't want to just spend time riding around on a tour bus, but private tours are far too costly so we are trying to come up with alternatives. Will not skimp on tours in St. Petersburg or Istanbul since these are cities everyone tells us are two of the most interesting in the world. Also on the agenda is to attend a opera in Vienna.

With so much to do to get ready for the trip, it's tough keeping my nose to the grindstone so I can get the print edition of A Monster's Game out and do a bit of promotion. Will be sending requests to sites that publish reviews of books by independent authors, but there is a lot of competition in this area. Too many books too few reviewers.

Tonight is bowling night (don't laugh) so it will take my mind off of everything but trying to knock down those darn pins. My goal is to score at least a 100 or more. Sad to say this is the same goal I had when I bowled as a teenager.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Great article in the Washington Post by columnist Harold Meyerson. He offers insight into the true cost in terms of suffering and premature deaths resulting from America's continued failure to make healthcare available to all its citizens. Here's an excerpt:

"...The big question raised by the data in this study is how Americans have allowed themselves to sink to the bottom of so many indexes that measure the quality and duration of our lives. What's truly exceptional about America, it turns out, is the indifference we show to our compatriots, the absence of the kind of national solidarity more evident in the nations that surpass us on all these indexes."

Read the entire column at: American exceptionalism in healthcare is cause for shame

Saturday, February 2, 2013

A Monster's Game print edition is getting closer. I have finally received approval from Createspace for the print edition of A Monster's Game. The biggest problem was the cover. The designer I was working with insisted the cover fit the required specification in spite of repeated rejections by Createspace. The solution was to have him send me a file and allow me to make adjustments.

A review copy is in the mail. If there are no surprises, the book will be on the market in a week or so. This has been along journey. Although I will have to devote some time to marketing, I should be free to work on another project. The dilemma is choosing which one of the half dozen already in the works, I should pursue.
Whichever it is, it will be fun getting back to writing again after spending all my time editing for the past year. 

Friday, February 1, 2013

Blogging again. After an extended absence, I am expanding my presence in the blogoshpere from lurker to writer. With any luck, I will succeed in filling this blog with interesting, funny and sometimes controversial information visitors will find worth reading.

With at least a zillion bloggers worldwide, it took a lot of soul searching to come up with reasons for me to make it a zillion plus one. The most pressing one was some of my more politically conservative Facebook friends and family are threatening to defriend me. Thus, if I want to keep abreast on what's going on in their lives I need another outlet for my occasional rants.

It is not my intention, however, to use this blog as a political and social soapbox. There are plenty of those out there already doing that who are far better at it than I could ever be. When I do stumble upon an article I believe is well written and "on point" I will share links. I will try to keep my comments to a minimum.

In the spring, I will begin posting about my adventures on a two and a half month long European tour my husband and I have been planning for over a year. On April 20th, we will board a 16 day transatlantic cruise on the Celebrity Refection. This will kick off a journey that includes three more cruises and several weeks of independent travel by car.

As an avid reader, I will also be using this blog to review some of the books I have read. Hopefully most of the reviews will be favorable, although I expect some will not, since I'm a stickler for telling the truth.

Finally, I will occasionally share my trials and tribulations as an author. With three books under my belt, I believe I'm getting better at doing what I love most, but that's up to readers to decide.

Wish me luck and if you are so inclined stop by to keep me company. It can get awful lonely in the blogosphere.