Stephen King may have started his newest epic, “Under the Dome” in 1979, but he clearly needed the events of the past eight years in order to flesh it out and finish it. For “Dome” is a microcosm of the United States after 9/11.

I’m about three-quarters of the way through the 1,075-page novel, having absorbed most of it via audiobook to give my eyes a rest in the evening. It took about 200 pages to begin seeing the pattern of the various threads King weaves into the tapestry of exploitation of fear.

All the characters, as interpreted by King, are there:

Andy Sanders, the first selectman of Chester’s Mill, is George W. Bush thinly disguised — a good-hearted, if slightly befuddled figurehead cajoled, controlled and bullied into unspeakable acts by his second-in-command.

Big Jim Rennie, the second selectman of Chester’s Mill, is Dick Cheney, barely disguised at all. Big Jim is sanctimonious, hypocritcal and a world-class crook, with a grasping need for power and avarice. He even has a bum ticker, a la Cheney.

Police Chief Pete Randolph, a dunderhead way out of his league and also controlled by Big Jim Rennie/Cheney, is an amalgamation of several Bush administration officials, mostly Donald Rumsfeld. He steps into power when the fair-minded, well-liked police chief dies within minutes of the dome’s descent. At least in real life Colin Powell didn’t have to die for Randolph/Rumsfeld to gain his position.

The white hats include a Republican newspaper editor and an Iraq war hero whose distaste for the Army and the powers that be solidified during a stint that saw him participating in torture and other actions that turned his stomach.

The body count is large, but the political commentary trumps it. King was clearly deeply affected, if not sickened, by the actions of the Bush administration and its war on terror. His use of his indomitable bully pulpit — a huge readership and worldwide audience — is perhaps an attempt to work out his angst. Readers, particularly those who don’t lean to the left, may find the political commentary a little tough to swallow, but may also find themselves powerless to put down the book, because it is immensely entertaining.

Some have called this Stephen King’s “The Stand” for the 21st century. I don’t agree. “The Stand” was, at its heart, a battle between good and evil. “Under the Dome” is about fear — indidividual, group and societal — and how it can be used to control and manipulate even good people into doing terrible things.

King calls this novel “Under the Dome.” He might as well have named it “After the Towers Fell.”

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit, private foundation that focuses on health care issues, has developed a handy calculator to answer that question.

The Health Reform Subsidy Calculator factors policy holders’ age, income and region and applies those figures against four different health care reform plans being considered by Congress. While the Baucus plan being considered by the Senate Finance Committee has gotten the most ink recently, there are actually three other proposals under consideration. The difference is startling.

For a family of four, headed by a single earner, 45 years of age, making $45,000 per year in a medium-cost area:

House Ways and Means/Education and Labor Committee proposal: Plan premium would cost nearly $12,000, with the government picking up about $9,600 of the cost. The total cost to the family would be $2,322, or about $200 a month. The same holds true for the proposal being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Senate HELP Committee’s proposal would have the family paying about $1,600 per year, or $130 a month. The Baucus plan would be the spendiest for the same family, with the government kicking in $8,700 in subsidies, while the family would have to pay about $270 a month.

Keep in mind those premiums don’t include co-pays or deductibles. And if you’re a single person making a living wage, the situation is considerably less rosy.

A single man, age 27, earning $29,000 a year ($15 an hour in a full-time job):

House Ways and Means/Ed committee: $2,730 total premium and he’d be responsible for 80 percent of that, or $183 a month.

House Energy and Commerce: Responsible for 91 percent of premium, or $207 a month.

Senate HELP: Responsible for 53 percent of premium, or $152 a month.

Baucus plan: Responsible for 100 percent of premium, ranging in cost from $175 to $193 a month.

This calculator offers an opportunity to focus on concrete figures and actual costs, rather than silly diversions like death panels and such. Do the math. It may surprise you.

Well hello once again, this is Billy Jeffrey and welcome to my eighth and final “True Beauty” blog.

First off, if you watched episode No. 8, the final episode last night, Thank You! “True Beauty” was one of the hottest shows on television. Over 10 million viewers are tuned in each week to catch the drama of my housemates and I and we are all very thankful you’re there with us.

I have received thousands of e-mails, MySpace and Facebook messages and text messages from people here in the valley and around the world and I want you to all know I really appreciate your feedback — positive or negative. Many of you have have visited my GNC store to meet me in person and I can’t tell you how much fun that is for me.

It’s 1:27 a.m. and once again I am writing to you from Los Angeles. I just got back from a little spot on the Sunset Strip, where people from production, Joel, Nole’ and I watched the final episode just blocks away from where it all began – where 10 people from all over the country began a journey called “True Beauty.”

First, I have to tell you about Sunday night. The Oscars are the biggest night in Hollywood and I was right in the middle of it. Pre- and post-award show parties, red carpets and shoulder to shoulder with some of the biggest names in show business, and I was actually “supposed” to be there this time.

What a feeling to be around such talented and gifted people that began their career with a dream. A dream to be an entertainer, the same dream I have had since the sixth grade. People you all know were actually coming up to me saying, “Billy, right? From True Beauty? We really hope you win. We can’t wait for tomorrow night!”

Monday began with mixed emotions, but that doesn’t even begin to describe what I felt. How did I get into such an amazing experience? How did I make it all the way to the final episode? I can’t believe that it’s all ending.

I don’t have to fill in gaps this time. To be honest, for the first time in this experience, what actually happened is exactly what you saw in Monday night’s episode. This was by far the best of the eight episodes and it was all “right.”

I’ll be honest: I have never been driven by money. It has never been the focal point of my life and never will be. Throughout the competition I never really thought of the $100,000, probably because I never thought I would make it that far. A few times though, I did catch myself wondering how that money would break down …

$100,000 (winnings)

$40,000 (game show tax)
$10,000 (goes to God)
$10,000 (goes to charity)

After paying off some bills etc., that leaves less than $20,000 dollars. Now don’t get me wrong, that’s a great chunk of change, but I’m not going to be rich, you know what I mean? So the money was never the motivation.

You see, it’s no secret I have been dreaming of Hollywood for a long time. But what most people don’t know is, I have also been buying the Most Beautiful People issue of People magazine for years. I used to dream what it would be like to be chosen and placed in a category unmatched by any other on planet earth.

To be honest, being interviewed by the editor of People magazine, Jess Cagle, and even to be in the running for the issue was such an honor. To come so close to the magazine that I’ve seen on the newsstands around the world and not make it, is heartbreaking.

But like I said, if you look at the bigger picture, I just don’t see how I could have possibly lost last night. I am walking away from “True Beauty” with much more than cash and a title; I think we all are. I’m walking away with an experience that has given me so much more than I gave to it.

To Joel Rush, my trash talkin’ reality TV best friend, thank you for not only the shirt off your back literally, but being there every step of the way. I don’t have to say any more, you know you’re the man – just ask you! Ha ha, I love you bro.

As for Julia, the judges picked the “True Beauty” without a doubt. My description of Julia could last for hours, but since it’s 4:41 a.m., I’ll give you this. She is, and will be, one of the most caring, most loving, most energetic and most beautiful people I will have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my lifetime.

One story I have never told until now is that after we found the “spy room” I went upstairs smiling all the way. Smiling, because I knew finally the “nice person” would finish first. All these years of wanting validation for being what I thought to be a good person, I was going to be there for it. But, I knew it wasn’t going to be me.

As the final night in the house began to wind down and Julia sat on her bed, I sat down next to her and whispered, “Sleep soundly Julia, tomorrow you’re going to win it.” After a hug and a smile back, I still don’t think she believed me, but the rest is now reality TV history.

I can’t describe the feeling of knowing that I will be able to check in from time to time and live through her success as she begins her new journey. I called Julia shortly after the episode ended tonight and although I won’t tell you what was said, I have a special place in my heart for that girl.

As another chapter of my life begins, I can’t tell you how fun it’s been writing these blogs and sharing my thoughts and experiences with all of you. I can only hope you have learned a few lessons along the way as my housemates and I have. The first is that I am living proof that almost anything can happen – if you set “goals.”

To my critics over the years, and you know who you are, you have mocked me, made fun of me and even went as far as starting vicious rumors about me. I hope this show gave you some insight on me as a person and what I’m about.

Pay special attention to the fact that although I knew most of my housemates were doing the same as you have, I did not say one negative thing about anyone. That’s just not me and it never will be. You see, your hatred toward me only motivates me to be a better person and a better man.

Thank you ABC, Ashton and Tyra, Michael, Lisa, Shelia and Denise for the opportunity to be a part of this project and something so special. I hope someday I can repay the favor, although I don’t see how.

To the judges Cheryl, Nole’ and Vanessa: Thank you, thank you for so many lessons learned. Since I was a kid, people have always said to me, “You’ve got something.” Well, you were the first three people ever to tell me, “You’re missing something.” Thank you for helping me find “confidence,” the missing piece of my puzzle. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I love you guys.

To my housemates: Hadiyyah-Lah, Ashley, Monique, CJ, Chelsea, Ray, Laura, Joel and Julia, a sincere thank you. Each one of you has made an impact on my life, some very positive and some very negative. We will be a part of each other’s lives forever and although it’s sad but true, some of us will most likely never be friends. As hard as that is for me to say, I wish you all the very best.

A special thanks to everyone that has been there for me. My family, my friends, my teachers, my classmates, my coaches, my pastors, my employees, my customers, my Chippendale family, friends and fans, all the “True Beauty” cast, crew (who worked the hardest) and fans, the media, the city of Lewiston, the state of Idaho, the great Northwest and everyone in between. I can only hope you are proud of what kind of man I am becoming and what kind of “True Beauty” I will be.

What’s next? Only time will tell. What’s for sure is this, I am still the small town kid from Lewiston, Idaho. You see, the show isn’t over for Billy Jeffrey, it’s finally just begun.

I return to Lewiston March 1 and will be at GNC daily through March 7 inside the Lewiston Center Mall.

Did you miss episode No. 8? Remember, “True Beauty” is available online www.abc.com. What are your thoughts? Contact Billy at www.billyjeffrey.com and visit the abc.com message boards and let them know your thoughts.

According to rumor, Trout Unlimited Chief Operating Officer Chris Wood and former Missoula Mayor Daniel Kemmis are being considered for the post of Under Secretary of Agriculture overseeing the U.S. Forest Service in the Obama administration.
Wood served as senior policy and communications advisor to Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck during the Clinton administration and was instrumental in crafting the 2001 roadless rule. After President Bush was elected, Wood went to work for Trout Unlimited and also served on the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee where he played a significant role in getting Gov. Jim Risch’s Idaho Roadless Rule adopted.

Kemmis, a Democrat, was mayor of Missoula, served as speaker and minority leader of the Montana House of Representatives, is the former director of University of Montana’s Center for the Rocky Mountain West and the author of several books on the resource conflicts in the West. In particular, Kemmis has been critical of the difficult process land managers and the public must negotiate when proposing actions on national forests and other public lands. He is an advocate of collaborative solutions to difficult natural resource issues.

What are your thoughts on the inauguration of President Barack Obama and his speech?

Associated Press photo